June 25, 2018 - Sunday was the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time.  It is hard to believe that 2018 is almost half done! June 21st was the official beginning of summer, but I think we have gotten a head start in the summer heat department. A couple of the regulars were out this morning, so our numbers were pretty slim. But we had a great Sunday school lesson and our time in worship was well spent.  I had been under the weather for most of the week and didn’t finish my sermon until late Saturday night. Not one to procrastinate, I was pretty uncomfortable with my late finish. 

Our Sunday School lesson was called “Reaping God’s Justice.”  The scripture for the lesson was Luke 16: 19-31, the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.  This story that Jesus tells makes a strong contrast between God’s idea of justice and ours. Fannie always prepares an interesting lesson and makes us think. My thoughts this week were uncomfortable because I know I have committed many sins of omission and could have done better. Joe brought up Warren Buffet and Bill Gates who are very rich but have put back billions into the community and the world. We decided that rich or poor, we are all required by God to care for our fellow human beings. 

Sue always begins our worship together by leading us in the Gathering Words and our Affirmation of Faith, which this week was The Apostles’ Creed—traditional version.  She also read the main scripture for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time.  The Old Testament Lesson was 1 Samuel 17: 32-49.  It was a long passage but one familiar to all of us.  In the scripture we see David facing off with Goliath.  Goliath was an overwhelming problem for the Israelites but David, trusting in God, slew the giant and a great victory was won. The Gospel Lesson also dealt with an overwhelming problem.  The Gospel, Mark 4: 35-41, finds Jesus and his disciples on a boat going to the faraway shore to escape the crowds.  As often happens, a bad storm comes and the disciples know they are going to drown.  During all the wind and rain, Jesus remains asleep. The disciples wake him and ask if he cares whether they drown or not. Jesus tells the winds and rain to be still and then questions the faith of his disciples.  The disciples are of course awestruck that the winds and rain obey Jesus.
Hilda and Joe teamed up this morning and sang a special for us that we all appreciated.  

After our worship service we loaded up the toilet paper and paper towels that we have been collecting this month to take to Community Christian Services in Joaquin this week.  Next month we will be collecting cans of ravioli and spaghetti.  Next Sunday will be July 1st.  We celebrate Holy Communion on the first Sunday of each month, and we have an open table, meaning all are welcome. 

We will be heading to Lakeside Assisted Living on Thursday at 2:00 for our monthly singing.  Last week was our program at Holiday Nursing Home.  Mrs. Hilda skillfully tinkled the ivories for our congregational singing and also a brief solo of her own. Stellar Walker, accompanying herself on guitar, sang many old favorites—including warming up the crowd beforehand.  Pastor Matt opened the program with one of his thoughtful, new-eyed looks at Scripture, this one about Solomon.  Sue linked his story to the Greek mythological one about Paris, Helen of Troy, and the start of the war between Greece and Troy.  

Mrs. Fannie kept it going by talking about her classes studying Greek myths and then reading a piece for us.  Sue read a children’s book from Desoto Parish Library, Footloose by Kenny Loggins.  I closed us out with our traditional final song, “God Be with You Till We Meet Again” and a benediction.
          
“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, Open Minds.” Sunday School starts at 9:30 and 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 me your email address to the Paxton email address and I will add you to the list. Godspeed.

 

June 21, 2018 - The Community is invited to join the congregation at St. John's Episcopal Church for a special worship and brunch on Sunday, July 1 at 9am. The Bishop of Texas, Andrew Doyle will be leading the service. Andrew Doyle, is the ninth Bishop of Texas. Bishop Doyle received his Masters of Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary after receiving a fine arts degree from the University of North Texas. He is an avid reader and fly fisherman.

Bishop Doyle's focus for ministry is service, evangelism and reconciliation, planting 15 new churches and more than 50 new "missional communities" in the next five years. He has written several books often mixing references from pop culture's music and movies with the latest is secular leadership trends in order to reach the broadest spectrum of readers.

The congregation at St. John's Episcopal Church is excited and looking forward the special worship. The Episcopal Church is located on 96 South across from High Roller Wells.

June 20, 2018 - Shelby County Outreach Ministries, Inc.’s Hunger Awareness Campaign to Stomp Out Hunger is underway!

We are taking orders for our Hunger Awareness T-Shirts and you can fill one out at the following locations: The Senior Nutrition Site and The Helping Hands Outreach Center.

The shirts are $15 each. If you would like to help change and make a difference in someone’s life, please come by and order one, or you can send donations to: Shelby County Outreach Ministries, Inc. P.O. Box 1029 Center, TX 75935.

For more information please come by Shelby County Outreach Ministries, Inc. 

June 20, 2018 - Strong Triumph Church Youth Revival and Explosion is set for June 21-23, 2018. You are invited to another epic move of God.

We invite you to our annual youth revival and explosion. Thursday and Friday night will be the revival and the youth explosion will take place on Saturday. The speaker for this epic all-star event is Pastor Byron Coutee, Jr., pastor of Blount Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. We welcome all choirs and praise teams to come and join us as we prepare to lift up the name of God!!!

The theme - "Empowering the youth of today to be leaders of tomorrow." Come one, come all for singing, praise dancing, and preaching!

Strong Triumph Church is located on CR 2545 in Shelbyville, Texas 75973, 936-368-2478. For more information contact Elder Faye Dell Allen, Shepherd, 936-368-2611 or 936-572-5810.

June 19, 2018 - White Rock Missionary Baptist Church, Highway 7 West in Center, Texas is holding a Vacation Bible School program on June 25-29 from 6pm-8:30pm.

Join us as we take an underwater adventure. The redeemer is an exciting and interactive learning experience for all children ages 3 to adults.

For more information or to preregister your child, please call Sonya Wilburn - 936-591-0175 or Jessica Dillard - 936-488-0673.

Children can register at the event. We hope to see you there!

June 19, 2018 - We, the members of  the Blount Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, cordially invite everyone to our Pastor and Wife Anniversary Celebration Honorees: Pastor Byron Coutee, Jr. and First Lady Larissa Coutee July 8th, 2018 at 3:00pm.

Guest Speaker: Pastor Derrick White of the Bethesda Baptist Church in Lufkin, Texas

"Keeping the commitment to serve God." ~ Colossians 1:25

June 19, 2018 - Sunday was the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time. It was also Father’s Day. It is hard to believe that we are about halfway through this year. Time really does fly by. Our Sunday School class moved out one of the big tables and we all sat around it instead of Ms. Fannie standing behind a podium. Today’s lesson was titled “Jesus Teaches About Justice.” The Pharisees and legal experts came to Jesus complaining that his disciples didn’t follow the purity codes before eating; Jesus dealt handily with them as usual. 

The Gospel Lesson was Mark 4: 26-34, one of Jesus’ Kingdom parables. Jesus describes the Kingdom as similar to the miracle of seeds that grow and produce crops. In that way, raising children is similar. We are not guaranteed that everything will turn out all right, but you do your best and most things work out. Fathers are an important part of the equation in raising children. 

Last week we ventured to Focused Care in Center and had a nice program. Pastor Matt led the singing and shared scripture and prayer with the residents. Minnie played the piano and Ms. Hilda lent her strong voice to our singing. This Tuesday we will head to Holiday Nursing Home.

“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, Open Minds.” Sunday School starts at 9:30 and 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 me your email address to the Paxton email address and I will add you to the list. Godspeed.

June 19, 2018 - DeMontre Palmer, 18-year-old from Houston, will be closing out the youth revival at the House of Refuge Apostolic Ministries this Sunday, June 24, 2018 at 3pm. Everyone invited.


June 13, 2018 - House of Refuge Apostolic Ministries pastor and church family are hosting a Youth Revival on June 20-22, Wednesday through Friday at 7:30pm nightly. Special guest speaker for the week is Minister Jerald Shields of Little Zion Baptist Church, Nacogdoches, Texas.

House of Refuge Apostolic Ministries is located at 215 South Church Street, Center, Texas 75935.

June 19, 2018 - Two ways to live; either to live in the Spirit, in Christ Jesus, or, to live in the flesh, to follow the world and God’s will.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:8)

So there you have the options, to either follow God or to follow the devil and his worldly passions, it is a choice every single person has to make in this life.

The manner in which one makes his choice does not matter for the results are the same, one is either, of the Spirit, of God, and receives eternal life in Christ Jesus, or, one is , of the flesh, the devil, and receives damnation and suffering in the lake of fire for eternity. 

I know for the world today, this is hard to accept for we live in a twisted society which does not, cannot accept discipline, or correction for their wrong doings and sins. But, that does not matter to God, for his law, his will, does not change, we either accept him and follow him or we do not. The results of which are repaid in like manner, evil for evil and good for good. 

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

For those blessed ones who are living in acceptance of Christ Jesus as Lord the day is blessed.

For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and, for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:2-4)

For those who have refused his offer of eternal life in Christ Jesus there is a much different future.

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:6-8)

I ask you today to put away the false teachings of those of the flesh, of the devil. 

I pray that you will no longer believe the lies being told to you by the world but that you will come to acceptance, believing the Word of God, accepting the Lord Jesus as your salvation from the penalties of sin, which is death of the soul, of the spirit.

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” (Romans 8:13-14)

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.” (Romans 8:16)

What better blessing, what better gift could one receive than to be listed in the Lamb’s Book of Life, being heirs to the throne of God in heaven. Amen… Accept him today, turn from the devil and accept the free gift of life, forever.

June 18, 2018 - Timpson Missionary Baptist Church will be hosting VBS June 25th-29th from 6pm-8pm! We will also serve a meal each night. Please join us for an exciting adventure through the Bible and discover all the places you could go with God!

Timpson Missionary Baptist Church is located at 2142 HWY 59 N, Timpson, Tx.

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