Shelby County Today

February 7, 2017 - "It is finished" (John 19:30) 
These were the last words spoken by Jesus before he gave up His spirit on the cross. 

The Bible says he bowed His head and gave up His life. With those three words, the most important and selfless act of service ever to be seen on this earth was completed.
The sins of mankind from the beginning of earth until the end of this age were, once and forever, paid-in-full by the Lord.

The act of love shown to us by the Heavenly Father was on par with the act carried out by Jesus on the cross for the Father gave up His only Son, condemned Him to death for all mankind.

"I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them." (John 17:26) By His ministry and His death Jesus made the Father known to all men, for all time.

"He will receive blessings from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob." (Psalm 24:5,6) This is the blessing, the reward for those who do know the Lord. Those who do accept the free gift of the Holy Spirit to guide them through this world.

The eternal blessing of salvation, freedom of the penalty of sin, forever, paid for by Christ Jesus, freely given to those who seek the face of God Almighty. 
Jesus asked the Father in His prayer just before being arrested by the soldiers; "I do not ask you to take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one." (John 17:15) Freedom from the penalty of sin, forever, for the saved.

Our promise of salvation, eternal life spent with the Lord; "Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world." (John 17:24) 

That day will come with the Rapture of the Church when all the saved will be lifted up to meet the Lord in the sky.

"Knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us into His presence." (2 Corinthians 4:14) This will happen just as the Bible says, it even gives us reassurance as we grow older, that we are to wait patiently, for our time is coming. "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:16) 

If you are saved then your time is coming when you will be with the Lord in heaven, forever. 

If you do not know the Lord then I beg of you today, seek His face, pray for forgiveness and you will be saved.

May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you every day of your life...

February 6, 2017 - Starting Feb. 12 we will only have one service, and it will begin at 1pm. We will start off with an hour of Sunday school and then go into worship service / preaching.
 
The kids will start off with their Sunday school class and then join everyone for worship service. Then they will be dismissed again to go to kids power hour where there will be puppets, interactive songs, snacks, and much more for them.

Please make note of this change and we hope to see you there. 

For more information you can contact Pastor Jamie Seaton at 9365984433. God Bless.

February 6, 2017 - Sunday was the 5th Sunday of the Epiphany.  The Gospel Lesson continues with Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. We find a similar story only in the Luke Gospel in Luke’s Sermon on the Plains. Matthew’s telling of the story is more difficult and much more Jewish.  In Matthew’s telling Jesus has a problem with the Temple and those that serve the Temple.  In today’s lesson, Jesus tells those listening that they are the salt of the earth and the light that will bring brightness into the world.

It was raining Sunday morning.  Fannie went to see her great-grandchild baptized today, so the folks at Paxton had to put up with the preacher for both Sunday school and worship.  This quarter all of our lessons came from the Psalms and all dealt with praise.  Today’s lesson was Paul’s letter to the Galatians.  Paul established this church, but word has reached him on his missionary travels that trouble brews.  In the church at Galatia, some are teaching that in addition to believing in Jesus, a follower also has to keep the Mosaic Law.  This was the first known split in the early Jesus movement: This letter has often been called Magna Carta of Christian Liberty. 

Even though it was a cold, rainy morning, we had a nice crowd at worship.  Susan, Laura, and Joe have become regulars, and we all so enjoy them.  Today was Keith’s birthday, so we sang Happy Birthday to him.  Joe and Hilda had us rocking through two peppy hymns.  After the “Service of the Word” we celebrated Holy Communion.  We appreciate Fannie preparing the “bread and wine”—the elements of communion—for us.  Tomorrow we go to Green Acres Nursing Home for our monthly outreach.  We are so thankful to Hilda for organizing these outings.  This month we are collecting soap and shampoo for Community Christian Services.        

“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. God’s Speed!

December 27, 2016 - St. John's Missionary Baptist Church Women's Department is hosting an evening of elegance, dinner, music and comedy at their annual Valentine's Banquet held at the John Dean Windham Civic Center on February 4, 2017 at 6:00pm.

Catering will be provided by Tome' Catering with music by "Soul Flake" Band, Raquita McCollister and The Flash. Individual tickets can be purchased for $25 or a table of 8 can be reserved for $200. Contact any SJMBC member for more information.