We opened worship with the old hymn, Revive Us Again—and the day felt a bit like a revival.
We received three new members: Jim and Annette Wells and Jim Bailey. We already counted them as church family, but we made it official.
We had 100 in attendance—just 10 short of what we had on Easter. Some of our guests from my 10:00 a.m. Meet ‘N’ Talk time with some of the readers of Friday’s Word stayed for worship.
And the Meet ‘N’ Talk was a joy. We didn’t have enough time—45 minutes—but we knew that to start with. We had a great discussion.
Thanks to Brian McCosky, our guests took home a hard copy of every article we have ever put in the Star Telegram—150 or so. It was a huge task for Brian. (One guest already had a big collection of them. She brought them with her to the Meet.)
Brian also provided the hotdogs and brats (cooked outside—during the Saturday storm!) for our feast after worship—down at the old gazebo. We had not eaten down there for over 25 years.
A great day for it—except for a bit of wind.
Mark Callahan had to hold up the sun tent with one hand and eat with the other for a while—and on his first day at our church! (It was Kathy’s third visit.)
But all was fine.
The building did not fall.
Some of our guests stayed to eat with us.
Listen!—a lot of people worked hard for us to have that meal. I know they did because I sat and watched them! My sister and I continued to sit and talk with the Rev. Bob Weathers and wife Mary while the tents came down. (We were not useful but we were happy.)
A big thanks to all who made our meal possible.
And thanks to the singing duo, Blake ‘N’ Shannon, for the glorious rendition of The Prayer. It brought the house down and raised some people to their feet. We are blessed to have such music. Blake filled in for organist Kristi. I loved the arrangements he played of Jesus Loves Me and What a Friend. How Lovely.
Kristi and Steven will be back this Sunday. (Don’t tell anyone, but I think they went to Las Vegas!)
I think our choir is singing this Sunday.
Enjoy it while it lasts. The choir has only two more performances before summer break.
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Watch the full service on our YouTube channel by clicking here.
Matthew 5:38-48 New International Version
Eye for Eye
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[a] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Love for Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[b] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Tags: Matthew
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This is it. That “Meet ‘N’ Talk event at my church is this Sunday. May 7 at 10:00 a.m. We’ll have 50 minutes. This is for folks who might enjoy sitting down with me for a short time to talk about faith.
Where did you start? Where are you now?
Has your faith changed over the years, and, if so, why?
I’ll also let folks say whether they go to church. If so, why? If not, why?
And you can ask me any question you want to.
We’ll just talk. All who come will get a copy of my book, God, Grace, and Gooseberry.
And I will give you a copy of the last chapter of Discovering God, my not-yet-published book.
That last chapter gives an account of the most powerful religious event of my life. A miracle, I guess.
You may find it hard to believe. But if what I say happened did happen, I think we must accept the whole of the Gospel story.
We won’t talk about that experience because you won’t read it until you get back home.
Here’s the exciting part: We’ll have donuts.
And for those who stay for worship, there will be a church dinner afterwards.
By the way, this is not an effort to get new members. It is just what I say it is—a chance to meet some of the folks who read Friday’s Word.
If this is a meaningful event, we may do it again in the fall.
Drop me an e-mail if you plan to come. I want to have your packet ready for you. And enough donuts!
That’s this Sunday. May 7—10:00 a.m.
And I’ll tell you now, I’m older than my picture.
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Watch the full service on our YouTube channel by clicking here.
John 20:15-18 New International Version
15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
Tags: John
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Tucker is gone!
Long live democracy!
And kindness.
And decency.
And above all—truth.
What’s this got to do with the Gospel?
The Gospel is all about kindness and decency and truth.
Tucker has preached “replacement theory” in over 400 of his shows—the idea that there is a plan to replace our “heritage” population of white people with foreign folk.
Fear sells–especially to older people who are afraid of human diversity.
I grew up in Kemp, Texas. We had two Jews and a few Hispanics. There were black people, but great effort was made to keep them “in their place.”
Separate.
That was the world of the 1950s and it is still the world Tucker longs for.
I’m tired of it.
I’m tired of racism.
I’m tired of homophobia.
I’m tired of Christians thinking they can be mean to the neighbor and claim to live for Jesus Christ.
And I’m ashamed.
I am deeply ashamed of every Methodist who left the UMC, thinking they are doing something for God by rejecting that teenager who is gay or trans.
And I’m saddened.
Very saddened by all of you good folk out there who know better, yet you are doing nothing to take a stand.
You are leaving the church to the misguided and the ignorant.
Do something.
Find a church where the truth is proclaimed—and get involved in it. Stand for Christ and against evil.(I look forward to that Meet ‘N’ talk on May 7—10:00 a.m. Drop me an e-mail if you are coming.)