We Are Like Them

This is a strange time.

This may turn out to be the quiet before the storm, the days before the fall, the last light before darkness comes.

In just 11 days, we may lose that which so many have died to save: our democracy.

I used to think Germany must have been a truly perverse nation to elect Hitler.

(Yes, he was elected.)

In 1932, the Nazi Party won only 33 percent of the vote, but that was enough for Hitler to insist that he be appointed Chancellor.

That 33 percent looks pretty good compared to us.

Nearly half of our people are vulnerable to the same prejudicial hatreds that drove the Germans.

Germans hated Jews and gay people.

In our country, the reviled groups are still the Jews and gay people, but add immigrants.

Germany was a mostly Christian nation, the land of Martin Luther. But as in America today, Christians in Germany held onto their hatreds and fears of anyone different.

Recently, millions of Methodists left the UMC so they could continue to marginalize gay people.

Millions of American Christians today support someone who called immigrants “vermin.”

(That, by the way, was Hitler’s word for Jews.)

However things go in 11 days, we are looking at a massive failure of the church.

I will tell you again: at the root of our problem is biblical inerrancy.

A majority of Christians worship the Bible, not Jesus. They have never accepted his call to love all people. Now we face the cost of that failure.

May God help us.

Max’s Corner

The Class—Discovering God

We had one of the most interesting classes we have ever had last week—and we are only getting started.

We are studying the deepest and most meaningful experiences of our lives—every Sunday.

Class at 9:45—followed by breakfast.

Speaking of Breakfast

This is a “We-Bring Sunday.” I will be there with my pigs-in-blankets. You help me. Bring something good. I’m hungry.

Food and fellowship at 10:30.

This Sunday

I’ll make this short and—well, it may or may not be sweet. Jason needs this copy immediately. He is out of town and will have trouble getting this newsletter out.

This Sunday—less excited than last week.

The sermon will be called “Joy.”

Kristi will be out—so no choir.

Blake will be doing double duty—which means playing piano and singing—or Shannon or Julian will sing. Whoever it is, it will be beautiful.

Keep our sick folk in your prayers.

Love to all of you. And—

God Bless,

MB

MEETING: PPR Committee—again, for a few minutes after church to finalize forms. Thanks.

Mary’s Corner

Greetings, beloved Church and Church friends,

I wish you peace and love in the name of the risen Christ. I was blessed this week to spend time at a grief summit. Several clergy members and I gathered together on Monday with a grief coach at Keller United Methodist Church. We spent three hours talking about grief. The discussions included the impact of losing church members, the impact of disaffiliations, and the difficulty of allowing space for our own grief while acknowledging the grief of the rest of the world. It was an amazing and uplifting encounter with God on Monday. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been there.

I want to say thanks to everyone who brought Halloween candy for the Trunk or Treat at the elementary school. We got lots of good candy, and hopefully, those kiddos will have a great time next week at their event.

I also want to say a special thank you to Brian McCosky for two reasons. First of all, Brian has pretty much single-handedly managed the issues we are having with our HVAC equipment. This has taken a lot of his time, including his entire birthday back in September. Secondly, I want to thank Brian for bringing brats and hotdogs back from Wisconsin. In the midst of juggling my responsibilities, I failed to set a date with Brian for a church picnic. Thankfully, Brian is part of a veterans’ organization and will be able to use the imported meats for an event with local veterans. I apologize to you all that we will miss out on the high-quality products that Brian brings back from Wisconsin. That said, we still need a church picnic. Apparently, the weather is going to cooperate until at least the middle of November. We will be having a church picnic on November 3, 2024, immediately following the service. The temperature that day is forecasted to be 75° with a minimal chance of rain. I will have a sign-up sheet this Sunday for those who wish to bring food for the picnic. We will invite the neighborhood via our sign out in front of the building and through this newsletter article. Please join us on November 3 for breakfast at 10:30, church at 11, and a picnic on the grounds beginning at 12:30.

Thank you for your continued love and patience with me as I pursue ordination in the United Methodist Church. I have been away from school for a while now, and I’m not sure I remember everything I need to. I have to study extra to remind myself of all the things I’ve forgotten.

My love to you all,
Mary

Kids’ News

This Sunday, we talked about the amazing journey of Abraham and Sarah. God promised them that their family would grow into a great nation, even though they had no children. It had been 24 years since they left their home in Haran, and by now Abraham and Sarah were very old—almost 100 years old! Abraham must have wondered how God would keep His promise.

One day, three visitors came to Abraham’s tent, and he welcomed them kindly. What Abraham didn’t know was that these men were actually messengers from God. During their visit, they told Abraham something unbelievable: that he and Sarah would soon have a son. Sarah, listening from inside the tent, couldn’t help but laugh. After all, she was 99 years old!

But sure enough, just as God promised, Sarah had a baby boy, and they named him Isaac, which means “he laughs.” Isaac was a reminder of God’s promise and faithfulness. Even though it seemed impossible, God gave Abraham and Sarah a family, and through them, God built a great nation. This story shows that with God, anything is possible, and His love and promises are always true.