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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
November 1, 2022 - Good Morning! It’s Wednesday, November 1.
What a difference one little inch makes.
On this day, five centuries ago, the world got its first look at an iconic work of art called “The Creation of Adam”. But the artwork wasn’t hanging on the wall of a gallery - it was 66 feet up on the ceiling of a church - the Sistine Chapel. When a pope dies, cardinals from around the world gather in this worship room to decide on the new one. And when they look heavenward, they see this creation by Michelangelo.
You’ve seen the image - the hand of God reaching out to the hand of Adam with the spark of life. But the hands aren’t touching. From 66 feet below it’s difficult to see, but there’s a gap between the two hands. They are separated by the smallest measure of distance. They are separated by one inch. And in that inch Michelangelo reminds us that God is Other, that He is above all others . . . and that we’re not Him.
What a difference one little inch makes.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
October 31, 2022 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus, Amen. We finally got some much-needed rain, but it will take a lot more to break this drought. This will be my last article and weekly newsletter for a while because I am having hand surgery next week. I don’t know what restrictions my doctor will give me, but I know I won’t be typing for awhile. And like that old joke, if I knew how to play the piano, I wouldn’t be able to do that either!
Last Monday evening, we had our annual Church Conference. Our District Superintendent, Dr. White, presided over the meeting. The first item was whether Paxton would leave the United Methodist Church. The vote was unanimous, with two abstentions, to split from the UMC and join the Global Methodist denomination. After the vote was certified, Dr. White left to go to two more church conferences. Because he wouldn’t have time to eat, Sue made him a snack package: sweet, salty, crunchy, and bottled water.
All the necessary paperwork to leave the United Methodist Church was filed—by email and snail mail—at the conference office in Houston. The church has also applied to the Global Methodist Church to become part of this new Methodist denomination. Starting on January 1, 2023, Paxton United Methodist Church will be known simply as Paxton Methodist Church. The Global Methodist Church is beginning the process of finding a new Global Methodist pastor for Paxton come the new year. I will continue to serve at least until January. The idea of leaving Paxton is a very hard decision, but it is time to completely retire.
The scripture for our Sunday School lesson was Ezekiel 47: 21-23. The writer continued with the theme that we Christians are to seek and show compassion for those with the least in our world. Today the scripture and our writer tackled the hot button issue of immigration. As with any group of people, there were various thoughts on this issue around our Sunday School table. We did agree that we must begin by treating all we meet with kindness. We also decided that there was way too much hate spewed on cable TV and that the rhetoric and vitriol had to be dialed back. And it was time that our elected senators and representatives to come up with a comprehensive immigration policy.
In our worship service we celebrated All Saints Sunday. For eighteen hundred years, Christian churches have celebrated November 1st as all Saints Day. Of course, All Hallows Eve comes the day before, AKA Halloween. The name “Christian” kind of stuck to the Jesus followers as the way most people in the empire referred to this new sect; eventually Jesus followers began to call themselves Christians. But the second most-used name was “Saints,” the term St. Paul used for Jesus followers.
For someone to be identified as a saint in the Catholic Church, they must meet certain criteria. But the Methodist view is more like Paul’s understanding of the word. Tradition tells us that on All Hallows Day, we remember those who have died in the past year. But we also honor the saints in our lives, as well as the saints of our church—those who have influenced us greatly.
Our church service began with a Gathering Hymn—“When the Saints Go Marching In,” a jazzy version by none other than Louie Armstrong. Sue led us in our Gathering Words, based on Psalm 149 and our affirmation of faith, the traditional Apostles’ Creed. Our second song was was “Joy to the World,” too beautiful a hymn to be sung only at Christmas time. And finally, we sang the old favorite “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.” St. Augustine provided our first bulletin quote: “Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.” The second came from Archbishop Desmond Tutu: “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”
During October, Paxton Methodists collected peanut butter and jelly for Community Christian Services; after church, we loaded up my truck with sacks to deliver next week. In November, we will collect bags, boxes, and cans of beans and rice. This month we will also be getting information for “adopting” a child from the Children’s Christmas part of CCS. Remember that a Blessing Box is located next to the Community Center in downtown Joaquin, and right next to the Blessing Box is a mini library. So you can drop off some canned goods and get a book to read!
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
October 28, 2022 - We know that 365 days a year belong to God, including October 31st. So rather than celebrate a worldly Holiday, let’s show kids how to celebrate the name of Jesus at “Hallelujah Night 2022.” This is something that we do for our community and church kiddos to have a fun and safe place to go and celebrate what God has done for us…
There will be kids Praise & Worship starting at 6:00, followed by Laser Tag, Obstacle Courses, Train Ride, Free Pizza, Free Candy, Free Snow Cones. Everyone is welcome. Please share for the whole community to come and enjoy some good Christian Fellowship.
Monday, October 31st, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Center Christian Fellowship
2471 US Highway 96 North
Center, TX 75936
October 27, 2022 - Kingdom Harvest and Smyrna Church are hosting Kingdom Harvest on Wednesday, November 30, 2022 at 6:30pm at John D. Windham Civic Center. Join us for a night of worship for the community with evangelist, Ken Freeman, and the Jason Lovins Band.
October 27, 2022 - In case you don’t feel like there is enough pressure in your life, I want to remind you it is just slightly over 8 weeks until Christmas. Many of you have already started your Christmas shopping. Some of you will wait until December 20th or 21st to get started. Thinking about that, we often hear people talk about “choosing a church” or “looking for a church home” like they were doing their Christmas Shopping. I have heard folks say, “I am shopping around for a church and when I find the one I want, I’ll join it.”
Well, that statement prompts a question. Where are we shopping? By this statement, people mean they are going from one church to another. They attend services one place this Sunday, somewhere else next Sunday, and some place different the next Sunday,. They base their decision on such criteria as friendliness, social activities, environment and “the meeting of felt needs”. They keep shopping until they have found these before settling down.
Yet, suppose we find everything in a church that we want, is that proof that it is what God wants? If we find what is pleasing to God, we must do our shopping in the word of God. There we will find all God wanted to say about the church. He will tell us about its beginning, its worship and its work. When it comes to choosing a church, let us make certain our criteria comes from the scriptures and not from men.
It’s something to think about... tbp
Join Us for Worship this coming Lord’s Day at Center Church of Christ or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com
October 26, 2022 - In case you don’t feel like there is enough pressure in your life, I want to remind you it is just slightly over eight weeks until Christmas. Many of you have already started your Christmas shopping. Some of you will wait until December 20th or 21st to get started. Thinking about that, we often hear people talk about “choosing a church” or “looking for a church home” like they were doing their Christmas Shopping. I have heard folks say, “I am shopping around for a church and when I find the one I want, I’ll join it.”
Well, that statement prompts a question. Where are we shopping? By this statement, people mean they are going from one church to another. They attend services one place this Sunday, somewhere else next Sunday, and some place different the next Sunday. They base their decision on such criteria as friendliness, social activities, environment and “the meeting of felt needs.” They keep shopping until they have found these before settling down.
Yet, suppose we find everything in a church that we want, is that proof that it is what God wants? If we find what is pleasing to God, we must do our shopping in the word of God. There we will find all God wanted to say about the church. He will tell us about its beginning, its worship and its work. When it comes to choosing a church, let us make certain our criteria comes from the scriptures and not from men.
It’s something to think about. . . TBP
Join Us for Worship this coming Lord’s Day
Center Church of Christ
www.centerchurchofchrist.com
October 25, 2022 - Hillcrest Baptist Church will host its fall festival on Saturday, October 29 from 5pm until 7pm. Hillcrest Baptist Church is located at 901 Southview Circle, Center, Texas 75935.
October 24, 2022 - Tenaha Church of Christ is hosting a Fall Festival from 5pm until 7pm on Sunday, October 30th. Enjoy hot dogs, popcorn, caramel apples, games, bounce house, and candy!
Tenaha Church of Christ is located at 102 FM 2669, Tenaha, Texas 75935.
October 24, 2022 - First Baptist Church of Tenaha is hosting a Trunk or Treat on Monday, October 31st from 6pm until 8pm. Join us in the back parking area for a fun and safe event on Halloween.
October 24, 2022 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus, Amen. We had a taste of winter this week, as we are getting closer and closer to Halloween. And then not far after that come Thanksgiving and Christmas. On Saturday morning my dogs, Sam and Gunter, and I went to the city park. They ran and played and sniffed while I walked my two miles. I had on short sleeves with a thin long-sleeved shirt over. Partway through I had to take off the long sleeves because it was really warm. So like most Texas seasons—up, down, and repeat. We desperately need some rain, and maybe we will get some soon.
I remember a story from Joaquin Methodist back in the ‘50s that Grace Childs told me when I was the pastor at the Joaquin Methodist Church. A man that people thought was a bootlegger came to church one Sunday. When it came time to take up the collection, many people noticed that this man put a hundred dollar bill in the collection plate. The church folks were horrified and asked the pastor if he was going to keep that hundred dollars—surely the pastor knew where the money had come from. The pastor just looked at them and said, “Yes, I am going to keep it. The devil has had it long enough!”
In Ancient Rome, our Christian forefathers and foremothers began spreading the Good News of Jesus and his teachings. As the new faith grew in the Empire, they realized that people loved their traditional pagan festival days and wouldn’t want to give them up. So the new church took the end-of-year Roman festival and turned it into Christmas—a time to worship Jesus’ birth. All throughout the empire and beyond, pagan celebrations were adapted and given Christian themes.
Halloween is one such festival day. Halloween is actually All Hallowed Saints Eve. In the Christian Church, the next day is All Saints Day. St. Paul called Jesus followers saints. On this day people would go to church and remember family, friends, and neighbors who had died that year. It was—and is—a day to celebrate those saints who have gone to be with God. All Saints Day has been celebrated for almost two thousand years and is still celebrated in churches around the world.
Yes, early Christians were like other ancients and very superstitious. It was believed that the souls of the dearly departed remained for a time on earth. They also felt there were evil spirits out there in the world. On All Hallowed Saints Eve (Halloween) people dressed up in costume to scare away the spirits. I am one who as a kid loved Halloween, and I still enjoy it today. On All Saints Day, I also remember those that have died—always have. So my thought is, like that preacher in 1950s Joaquin, the devil has had it long enough. We Christians can celebrate Halloween and also remember those saints that have died. Both traditions belong to us, passed on from our ancestors.
Our church service began with a Gathering Hymn—“Song of Joy,” an adaptation of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” sung by Julio Iglesias. For our Psalter lesson we opened the hymnal to page 789 and read the first four verses of Psalm 65. Our Affirmation of Faith was different this week: We used the Profession of Faith on page 46 instead of the Apostles’ Creed. The Gospel lesson came from Luke 18, about the Pharisee and the tax man going to the Temple to pray; Jesus shows the difference between their prayers. The Pharisee prays his thanks that he is better than others. He goes on to list all the godly things he does. Contrast that to the tax man who confesses his sins in pain and heartache. Jesus says that the tax man is more ready to live in God’s Kingdom than the Pharisee.
To accompany this parable, we had a quote from Charles L. Allen, a Methodist minister: “The hardest people to reach with the love of God are not the bad people. They know they are bad. The hardest ones to win for God are the self-righteous people.” Our other quote was from Hans Christian Andersen, the Danish writer: “The whole world is a series of miracles, but we’re so used to seeing them that we call them ordinary things.” Our two songs were “Where He Leads Me” and “Amazing Grace,” both so well-known that we hardly needed the hymnal.
The scripture for our Sunday School lesson was about the persistent widow and the dishonest judge. This story in the Luke Gospel shows how important women were in Jesus’ ministry and also illustrates the Good News of the Kingdom that Jesus proclaimed. This parable tells us to be steadfast in promoting God’s justice in the world. By insisting on fairness and mercy, we are able to restore “Shalom,” God’s peace, in the world. We had everyone present for Sunday School. We are all pretty laid back and feel comfortable joining in the discussion. I know I do. Thanks, Fannie, for being such a good teacher.
During the month of October, Paxton Methodists are collecting peanut butter and jelly for Community Christian Services. Remember that a Blessing Box is located next to the Community Center in downtown Joaquin. If you are clearing out your cupboards, take extra non-perishables to the Blessing Box. Currently there is caution tape around that area—because of the old tree shedding limbs—but both the Blessing Box and the mini library can be accessed.
When we delivered the boxes this week, we intended to eat at Cindy’s Restaurante next to them. But Gabriel told us they had closed for good. We have not only enjoyed eating there, but also treasure getting to know Gabriel and Monica and their kids, Cinthia and Carlos. Such a nice family, and we hope things go well for them, whatever path they take now.
At 5PM, Monday, October 24, Paxton Methodist will have its Church Conference. Dr. White, our District Superintendent, will preside. The first order of business will be for Paxton Methodists to vote on whether to leave the United Methodist Church and join the Global Methodist Church. These are concerning times for the Methodist Church Universal. No matter what, we wish everyone well.
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.
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