Mary’s Corner

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Greetings to all in the name of Jesus Christ!

Peace and love to you, my siblings, from my heart to yours. I have missed you all and am so very grateful for the chance to take a short sabbatical. I hadn’t realized how much my spirit needed rest and renewal. It’s so easy for all of us to get deeply entrenched in the day-to-day business of life that we forget to stop, breathe, and be present in the blessings we’re given.

I return to church this Sunday, revived and renewed. I look forward to sharing with you the things God placed on my heart while I was away.

Don’t forget—we’ll be celebrating the life of Dan Mitchell this Saturday, May 31 at 11:00 a.m. here at the church. Lunch will follow.

Blessings to all,

Mary

Kids’ News – The Lost Son Comes Home

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This Sunday, we explored one of Jesus’ most powerful parables—the story of a father’s love and forgiveness, found in Luke 15:11–32.

Jesus tells us about a man with two sons. One day, the younger son made a bold demand: “Father, give me my share of the inheritance.” And just like that, he packed his bags and set off to live life his way.

At first, the younger son had fun—he traveled, partied, and spent all his money. But soon, he found himself broke and hungry. He took a job feeding pigs, and it wasn’t long before he realized: even the pigs were eating better than he was.

That’s when he remembered his father’s love. “I will go home,” he said, “and ask for forgiveness.”

Meanwhile, the older brother stayed and worked hard alongside his father. So when the younger son finally returned and the father threw a huge party to welcome him, the older brother was angry. “I’ve been here the whole time. Where’s my celebration?”

But the father said something beautiful:

“This brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” – Luke 15:32

The story reminds us that God’s love is bigger than our mistakes. It meets us with open arms—whether we’re returning home or learning to forgive.

What We Learned

  • God’s love is always waiting for us—no matter how far we wander.
  • Forgiveness can be hard, but it brings healing.
  • Sometimes we feel like life is unfair—but God’s grace is for everyone.
  • We can be like the father—ready to forgive, love, and celebrate others.

Whether you’re heading off on vacation or staying close to home this summer, remember: God’s love goes with you. See you in church Sunday! 🧡

Friday’s Word – Some Scholars Don’t Know

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I believe Jesus is Lord. He was crucified and raised from the dead—His body transformed and the tomb empty.

I believe Jesus was right about God—and He is the only one who was right in all of ancient history.

No one else knew that God IS unconditional love.

I believe all of this.

I have good reason to believe all of this.

Everything I believe is supported by the actual experience of God.

But I do not believe anything we know is not true.

John Polkinghorne is a smart guy. He is a physicist who became an Anglican priest.

He says when we die, we cease to exist until the General Resurrection, when God “remembers us” back into existence.

Say what?!!

We know that when we die, we move immediately into God’s realm.

This is what people experience in NDEs.

N. T. Wright, author of The Resurrection of the Son of God, is considered a great scholar.

He says when we die, we enter a kind of sleep until we are raised from the dead at the (yet again) General Resurrection.

At that time, he says, Jesus will bring all of the dead from heaven back to earth to be reunited with their bodies—

And to live here—on earth. Here? On earth? Forever?!!

It appears Jesus is going to set up shop in Jerusalem and rule as potentate from there.

WE KNOW BETTER!

Everyone who has an NDE tells us heaven is our home. When we at last lay this old body down, we will never need it again.

Some scholars just don’t know beans.