Our story Sunday was one we could all identify with: Do you remember Jesus as he was traveling through Jerusalem going to the house of sisters, Mary and Martha? The custom of that day was that you prepare a meal for your visitors.
Martha was busy preparing the meal that they would serve Jesus. Mary, however, was sitting at the feet of Jesus to listen to his teaching. Martha was upset at Mary because she wasn’t helping. A woman sitting at the feet of a man was not socially acceptable at the time.
Martha was irritated thinking her sister should be more concerned with helping her prepare the meal, especially since their guest was someone as special as Jesus. Martha complained to Jesus, asking him to tell Mary to help her. Instead, Jesus tells Martha that she is worried and distracted by things that are not important. Mary has chosen what is important, to be close to Jesus and learn about God.
What would you do? We must realize that we all respond to Jesus in different ways. It does not mean that person is wrong. Each of us is called to follow Jesus in different ways.
The East District is excited to partner with Keller UMC and The Caring Congregation to host speakers Rev. Karen Lampe and Rev. Joy Dister-Dominguez on Friday and Saturday March 1-2 at Keller UMC for an in-person Care Ministry Seminar. This seminar is for churches of all sizes to establish and equip pastors, staff, and care teams (laity) to cultivate a culture of care by providing excellent care ministries for their congregations and communities. Topics covered include theology of care, boundaries, listening and spiritual guidance, elder care, visitation, care for the sick and dying, organizing your teams, healing after disaffiliation, crisis care, evaluation, and building the vision for a culture of care.
Registration deadline has been extended to Monday, February 26th. Discounts are available for groups of 5 or more participants, with individual registration starting at $75 per person. Because CTC East District is sponsoring this event, we are able to offer Central Texas Conference, North Texas Conference, and Northwest Texas Conference clergy and laity a considerable discount (a savings of $175 per person) compared to The Caring Congregation’s National Care Ministry Webinar pricing. Please consider registering a group from your church, or partnering with your neighboring UMC, to take advantage of this training opportunity. The training counts toward pastoral continuing education.
Care Ministry Seminar @ Keller United Methodist Church
14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a]For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature[b] a slave to the law of sin.
Luke 5:17-26 New International Version
Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man
17 One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. 18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”
Matthew 11:28-30 New International Version
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
