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Contributing Writers: David Mathis | Tim Perkins
Past Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard
Faith
June 3, 2020 - Mid-week Bible study resumes at the Center Church of Christ Wednesday, June 10 at 7pm. Everyone is welcome to attend. Social distancing practices per state guidelines remain in effect for the safety of everyone in attendance.
Regular Sunday morning worship in one service resumed May 17 at 10:45 following eight weeks of meeting in groups of 10 or less for multiple shortened services. State recommended social distancing and non-contact practices have been followed in each service since March 22 and will continue to be followed allowing everyone who desires the opportunity to worship as New Testament Christians did in Acts chapter 20 to participate.
The Center Church of Christ is located at 110 Hurst Street in Center. Tim Perkins is the minister. For more information call 936-598-2945.
June 1, 2020 - Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church will be in revival Monday, June 1 through Friday, June 5! Services begin at 7:00 each night. Join us afterward in the fellowship hall for some great food and fellowship!
Sunday Morning Worship Services will resume Sunday, June 7th at 10:00 am!
Worship within the Sanctuary or online.
June 1, 2020 - The Pastor and members of Bright Morning Star Baptist Church located at 623 Martin Luther King Dr., officially announce that we are re-opening our doors for worship Sunday, June 7th at 10am with Sunday school. Children will attend worship with parents with social distancing requirements. We are encouraging all to wear face masks to protect those around us and practice social distancing by keeping a minimum of 6 feet distance between each other. The pews have been marked with tape so show where individuals can sit that are not in the same household.
If you or someone you love is in a high-risk category, we encourage you to stay home and continue to worship online with us.
- We will maintain social distancing between family groups.
- We will use offering boxes located at the back and front of the auditorium.
- Please feel free to wear a mask and/or gloves you bring from home. We have some masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer available at the church.
- There will be no hymn books or bulletins available. Worship will be directed by the worship leaders and the Pastor.
- Please respect others and do not attend if you are not feeling well, have a fever or underlying health issues. We want this to be a safe place for all.
The service will continue to be broadcast on our Facebook live page. So please do whatever is safe and comfortable for you and yours. We will respect your choice. We look forward to seeing those of you who choose to come and worship with us!
June 1, 2020 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus, Amen. Sunday was the Day of Pentecost, which marks 50 days since Easter. In the early church, Pentecost was considered the second most important day next to Easter. Ancient Jewish people also revered Pentecost, which for them marked fifty days from Passover.
I think people worldwide are having Covid 19 fatigue. Sue and I are retired, so we haven’t had to face furloughs or layoffs. Our hearts go out to the forty million Americans who have lost their jobs. In our country’s desire to get back to work and to normal, it seems as if some have forgotten coronavirus. But rest assured, the virus hasn’t forgotten us. This week we saw the death toll reach 100,000. We need to proceed with caution, intelligence, and greater compassion for our fellow human beings.
This was our first time back at Paxton Methodist Church in a long time. It was so good seeing everyone—at least through face masks! We practiced social distancing (not so difficult when you have a small congregation), adapted our singing, and will change up Communion for these pandemic times. It’s still worship, and we still take heart in observing it together.
We were in double digits, with all our regulars there. We had two songs: On CD “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing,” which is considered the Methodist anthem, and a beautiful hymn Mrs. Hilda played on the piano. As part of the “Prayers of the Church,” I read selections from the Memorial Day Prayer found in the United Methodist Book of Worship. We visited from a distance before and after church. The church house had been thoroughly cleaned, and the church voted to hire the same lady to clean on a regular basis.
Ms. Hilda’s sister Velma is not doing well; we all need to keep her in our prayers. Friday I had a call from Lillie, sounding so good. She is at home in Houston and is able to put 50% of her weight on her foot. She was so ready to leave the hospital and rehab behind. She wanted me to thank everyone for the cards.
The beginning of Acts 2 describes the gale force winds and the spreading of God’s Spirit like wildfire. I used the Bible paraphrase called The Message because I like the images and wording. Pentecost for Christians describes the disciples stepping out and telling the Jesus story. The Jesus followers went into the streets of Jerusalem during the Jewish celebration of Pentecost to share what they learned from hearing and witnessing the actions of Jesus. They spoke of God in the here and now—God, who is Love, the source of life, and the very Ground of Being.
During the month of May we collected cans of fruit. Sue and I will deliver them to Community Christian Services this week. In June we are going to collect toilet paper and paper towels. Our nursing home ministries are on hold.
Whoever you are, in whatever faith you were born, whatever creed you profess; if you come to this house to find God you are welcome here. Paxton United Methodist Church is an inviting church that takes to heart the idea of “Open Doors, Open Hearts, and Open Minds.” Worship begins at 10:00. Our email address is paxtonumc@yahoo.com. If you would like the weekly email newsletter about Paxton Methodist, you can send your email address to the Paxton email address, and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed.
May 28, 2020 - God gives instruction for righteous living to all who will read and study his word.
"Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teachings." (Proverbs 4:1-2)
He tells us to listen to him that we may gain wisdom and understanding about life, as he gives us only good and right knowledge. And, he warns us not to deny his teachings for to do so is to commit spiritual
suicide.
suicide.
I am going to tell you now, "If you do not have a Bible, go and get one, if you have one now, good start reading it each and every day, above all else, study God's word that you will not be deceived by the evil one and his workers that surround us all this day."
God will tell you, in his word, everything that you will ever need to know about all things.
"Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth." (Proverbs 4:5)
God speaks of wisdom and insight as they are a woman as he calls them "her" in these next verses of his Scripture.
"Do not forsake her and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. The beginning of wisdom is this. Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her." (Proverbs 4:6-8)
You might wonder, "Why is God so intent upon me gaining wisdom and insight?"
He wants you to do able to navigate the most treacherous of the waters of our journey through life on earth and nothing does more to fortify us against the evils of this world than wisdom and insight.
Wisdom being defined as the ability to discern inner qualities and to gain meaningful relationships throughout this life.
Insight being defined as the power or ability to see into any situation of life. To understand the inner nature of people and things, to see intuitively, to know, to understand.
"Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble." (Proverbs 4:10-12)
God's word will see all who study it and heed it through all the trials and tribulations of this life and this world and will place one firmly in the kingdom of God at the end of one's life here on earth.
"Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it and do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on." (Proverbs 4:13-15)
"My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil." (Proverbs 4:20-27)
Again, I say, if you do not have a Bible, go and get one, if you have one then begin today to read and to study so that you will not be deceived by the evil one and his minions.
Only two things on this earth stand between you and hell, the Bible and its instructions and the Holy Spirit of God which you receive as a free gift when you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Master.
Do it today for the time grows shorter with each passing day.
May 28, 2020 - There are some old "Hymns of the Faith" that we rarely sing anymore. We like the "camp songs" and the "praise songs" and the songs that are newer. One of those old songs, written over a century ago is entitled simply "Our Best."
Here is how the first verse starts out: "Hear ye the Master's call Give me thy best Far be great or small That is his test."
Then, when you get into the refrain, you find these words: "Our talents may be few, These may be small. But unto Him as due Our best, Our all."
Maybe one of the reasons we don't sing songs like these often is that they seem so demanding, so challenging. When God asked the Jews to make a sacrifice to Him, he told them to bring a firstling of the flock without spot or blemish. In fact, every demand made upon the man by God suggests that God not only required the best, but He also must come first.
Can you imagine what a difference it would make if suddenly we gave God the best we have? This week would be a good start.
It's something to think about...tbp
Come and join us for worship at Center Church of Christ, 110 Hurst Street, Center, Texas.
www.centerchurchofchrist.com
Here is how the first verse starts out: "Hear ye the Master's call Give me thy best Far be great or small That is his test."
Then, when you get into the refrain, you find these words: "Our talents may be few, These may be small. But unto Him as due Our best, Our all."
Maybe one of the reasons we don't sing songs like these often is that they seem so demanding, so challenging. When God asked the Jews to make a sacrifice to Him, he told them to bring a firstling of the flock without spot or blemish. In fact, every demand made upon the man by God suggests that God not only required the best, but He also must come first.
Can you imagine what a difference it would make if suddenly we gave God the best we have? This week would be a good start.
It's something to think about...tbp
Come and join us for worship at Center Church of Christ, 110 Hurst Street, Center, Texas.
www.centerchurchofchrist.com
May 25, 2020 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus, Amen. Sunday was the Seventh Sunday of Easter. We are at the end of the fifty days between Easter and Pentecost. Traditionally Christians celebrated the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven this past week. We modern people no longer look at the universe as three-tired, but there is no doubt what Luke was talking about when he spoke of the ascension of Jesus. What we often forget is that as the eleven disciples and other Jesus followers were staring into space, two fellows dressed in white wanted to know why they were all standing still and staring into the sky. Pentecost—the birth of the church—was upon them, and these followers of the Christ had work to do—just as we do.
I think the gospels, letters, and other books of the New Testament tell us where our Lord would be during the Covid 19 pandemic. We know that Jesus had an especially strong love for the poor and those that are marginalized by society. Jesus sees today’s minimum wage workers who work, serve, and help others as essential workers. Jesus says people like this are “blessed.” Jesus is with those who are sick and those who grieve. I can also see our savior at food distribution centers giving food to the hungry. We must always remember Jesus’ great commandment: Love one another.
Paxton United Methodist Church will have church services next Sunday—May 31st —The Day of Pentecost. Some of us are still leery about meeting in a group, as Texas is one of the nationwide hot spots for the virus. So if any Paxton Methodists have reservations about attending, we all understand why they feel more comfortable staying home. But with our few numbers and playing it safe, I hope it will be OK. Of course, anyone else who wants to join us is welcome. We are not going to have Sunday School, which puts us in closer proximity to each other.
Needless to say, our nursing home ministries are still suspended and may be for the rest of the year. During the month of May, Paxton Methodist has been collecting cans of fruit; Sue and I will deliver them to Community Christian Services this week. In June we will be collecting toilet paper and paper towels.
Whoever you are, in whatever faith you were born, whatever creed you profess; if you come to this house to find God you are welcome here. Paxton United Methodist Church is an inviting church that takes to heart the idea of “Open Doors, Open Hearts, and Open Minds.” Worship begins at 10:00. Our email address is paxtonumc@yahoo.com. If you would like the weekly email newsletter about Paxton Methodist, you can send your email address to the Paxton email address, and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed.
May 21, 2020 - The New Hope Cemetery Committee would like to announce that our homecoming, scheduled for Sunday, June 7 has been cancelled. This decision was made after much discussion and consideration about the safety concerns regarding Covid 19.
If you have family or loved ones at New Hope Cemetery, we still need your donations to help with the upkeep of the cemetery for the upcoming year. Please send your donations to: Alyson Porter, 1597 FM 2974, Center, TX 75935.
We thank you for your donations and are praying for everyone’s safety!
New Hope Cemetery Committee
"I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is written in my heart." (Psalm 40:8)
May 21, 2020 - The delight of all who have given their lives to God, to do his will each day, to shine the light of the gospel of Christ Jesus through our lives lived for him. To live as examples of the goodness, love, grace and mercy of our Lord God.
"I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (Hebrews 8:10)
An invitation for all people, Jew and Gentile, young and old, male and female, all are called by the Lord to come to him and to be his children. To carry his gospel to all the ends of the earth. To spend eternity with him in heaven.
"I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." (Isaiah 49:6)
The duty of all who would follow him, all that would call themselves Christian, followers of the Christ, to carry his gospel, his salvation, to all nations to the ends of the earth.
"He has told you, O man, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8)
And so what does the Father require of all who would follow him, all who would profess to be Christian?
"And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.
Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us." (1 John 3:23-24)
It is by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God that we know and understand all things, it is by his guidance that we are able to navigate our way through this wicked world.
All through a free gift from God, given as a gift for believing in his Son as Lord.
We should all take heed of the words of the apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem when he said to the masses;
"Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself." (Acts 2:38-39)
"Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified (made clean), and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." (Romans 10:9-10)
"For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him." (Romans 10:11-12)
Will you delight to do his will each day in your life?
Only by living in him will you ever know the true joy, the true pleasure of being a child of the Most High God. Call out to him this day, ask him to forgive you of your sins and he is bound by his own word to do so. He is waiting for your call, do it now!
May 20, 2020 - In the Gospel according to John, chapter 10 and verse 10, Jesus says, “I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly”. However, in order to live the abundant life that Jesus wants us to live, there are certain things we must conquer and one of those is fear.
Fear can have a ravaging effect on our lives and can be one of our greatest adversaries. There is an ancient legend of a man driving one day toward a certain city. He was stopped by an old woman asking for a ride. He took her up beside him and they drove down the road.
As he looked at her he became frightened and asked, “Who are you?”
The old woman replied that she was Cholera. He ordered the old woman to get out and walk. Yet, she persuaded him to take her. She promised not to kill more than five people in the city. She even gave him a special dagger, the only weapon that could kill her and told him that she would meet him in 2 days and he could stab her if she broke her promise. 120 people died in the city of cholera. The enraged man went to look for her, and meeting her raised his dagger to kill her. She stopped him, saying she had kept her agreement, and killed only 5 people. Fear, she said, killed the others.
Oftentimes, This legend is a true parable of life. Disease kills its thousands, fear kills its tens of thousands. Sometimes, the greatest miseries of humanity come from the dread of trouble rather than from the presence of trouble.
It’s something to think about… tbp
Come and join us for worship at Center Church of Christ, 110 Hurst Street, Center, Texas or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com.
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