|
5/25/2016 0 Comments May 25th, 2016 Remaining UnitedLast week was a strange week to be a United Methodist. As our denomination-wide General Conference met in Portland to vote on variety of matters, issues involving human sexuality threatened to divide our global church. With rumors of schism swirling, our bishops offered a statement of their own commitment to unity in the midst of conflict. The conference asked the bishops to lead us to find a way forward from the bitterness and hostility that has surrounded these issues for over forty years now. The bishops worked through the night to develop a plan that was approved by the conference. All votes on the issue were tabled to make room for a deeper conversation about how we might be able to live together in peace and love. The bishops will convene a special commission representing a variety of viewpoints to talk and discern a way forward. As they work, a special session of General Conference (which normally meets every four years) may be called in 2-3 years to act on whatever plan is developed. For more information, please read the bishops' letter to the church in response to General Conference. What does this mean for us? Well, right now, two answers probably apply. First of all, not much. We are still a part of the people called United Methodists, and we will continue to do what we have been doing - living out our calling to be a village church with a mission to the world. We will still worship together, eat together, host VBS, feed and teach kids at Wednesday at the Port, and so much more. Secondly, we might answer, "We don't know." The next few years will be filled with uncertainty as we do not as yet see the way forward. So I ask you to be in prayer for our bishops as they lead us - they will certainly need our encouragement and support through the troublesome time. Blessings on the journey, Jim Tongues of FireSunday's Sermon Snippet: Taming the Tongue (James 3) Words are powerful things. They have the potential to do such great things in the world - to inspire, to heal, to comfort, to bring hope, to share love. Yet words have the power to do just as much harm as they can do good. Just a few words can bring such pain into the world. James wrote to the church warning of the power of the tongue to create great evil in the world. He warns that although the tongue is such a small part of the body it has the ability to lead the whole body astray. Like bit leads a horse or a rudder turns a ship, the words we speak can guide us where we had not intended to go. If we speak harshly or falsely long enough, we may even begin to believe our own words. So James warns us not to underestimate the power of our words. Likewise, he warns us that our tongues cannot be tamed - it is as if they have a mind of their own. James also warns us that we should be deceived thinking we have tamed our tongues just because we praise God. With the same tongue we praise God and curse the one made in God's image. All this paints a rather hopeless picture - our tongues lead us, we cannot tame our tongues, and even when we think we have tamed our tongues we are wrong. So what are we to do? We cannot tame our tongues on our own, but we can begin to tame them through the power of the Spirit working within us. It requires attending to the wisdom from heaven rather than the wisdom of this world and letting our words reflect the humility of God rather than the boastfulness of the world. Practically, we can start taming our tongues through the power of God in two ways: 1) realizing that every word we say has the power to create - what it creates is largely up to the words we choose and 2) realizing that none can easily tame the tongue and thus forgiving each other when we have spoken harshly or falsely to one another. May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts together be pleasing unto God, our rock and our redeemer! Praise in the ParkJune 5th will be a special day of worship here at Port Church - Praise in the Park! Join us at 10 am at our park for worship including graduate recognition and confirmation of new members. Bring a lawn chair as only limited seating will be provided. Please reserve parking at the park for our elderly and handicapped folks. We will have a picnic following worship. Meat will be provided, so please bring a dish or two to share. Living in CommunityThank you to Dinah, Susie, and Hannah for leading our VBS Training! Thanks to all our teachers who participated! We are very excited for what God will do this summer! Thank you to Keith, Liz, and Jordan for leading our music this past Sunday! Thank you to everyone who has sold cookbooks! We are down to less than 200 copies left and these will not last long. If you know of anyone that still wants a copy, talk with Sue soon. This Week at Port ChurchWednesday, May 25 10:00 am - 12:00 pm - Office Hours Limited office hours in Dianna's absence May 25 - June 9. Please feel free to call or email Pastor Jim if you need anything outside these hours. Sunday, May 29 9:30 am - Worship Service: "Tongues of Fire: Fighting Fairly" 11:00 am - Sunday School Looking AheadPraise in the Park with Confirmation and Graduate Recognition - June 5, 10 am
Vacation Bible School - June 27-July 1 100th Anniversary Celebration of Sanctuary - July 24
0 Comments
5/18/2016 0 Comments May 18th, 2016 Living in Uncertain TimesIn these recent days, fear and anxiety have been in abundance. Much of it stems from the uncertainty we face together as to what the future holds. How will things change if so-and-so is elected as president? What will happen if our denomination makes a decision on such-and-such issue this year? We don't know what will happen or what the consequences will be, and - for the most part - those things that could have such an impact on our lives together are out of our hands as individuals. Feeling powerless and uncertain, it's hard not to live in fear and to be angry at others, especially those who are in the place to do something. Yet, as children of the God of heaven and earth, we know who holds the future. No matter the results of these issues that cause great anxiety among us, we know that God can and will work through it all in faithfulness to us. No matter what may happen, God will still be with us, and God will continue to call us to be faithful and true to our calling - to feed and teach the children of our community, to worship and pray together, to embrace and encourage the lonely and ill, to be family to one another, and to put on the best Vacation Bible School that this community has ever seen - all through the power of the Spirit! Come what may, God will always be with us, and we can choose to serve God as we have. Blessings on the journey, Jim Tongues of Fire his week, we kicked off our worship series "Tongues of Fire" - an exploration of how we as God's people are called to talk with one another. Sunday's Sermon Snippet: Learning to Talk (Acts 2:1-21) What is the miracle of that day of Pentecost when the disciples first received the power of the Holy Spirit? The sound of violent wind, the appearance of tongues of fire resting upon them, the speaking of foreign languages? I wonder if the great miracle of that day is not that the disciples could speak of God to so many in their native tongues but that anyone heard them at all. There were among the crowd those that saw and heard these signs and wonders, and yet their response was to mock that which they did not understand. "They have had too much wine." In today's world, we far too often find reactions like those of the mockers. If I disagree with you or do not understand you, I attack you and dismiss you as something less than faithful, than good, than Christian, than human. We see it in national politics as folks across the political spectrum insult one another based on who they support, even within the same party. We see it in our churches as we refuse to trust the faithful intentions of those with whom we disagree and assume they are up to no good. We see it in our daily lives every time we deride people with whom we disagree as being inherently bad instead of simply seeing what they have done as bad from our point of view. We need a a new Pentecost to help us to hear each other plain through God's spirit so that we can see each other as the miracles we are - children created by God and redeemed through the love of Jesus Christ by the power of the very Holy Spirit that binds us together even when we are opposed. That is the miracle we refuse to see when we mock others and say, "They have had too much wine." Peter stood up to defend the disciples gathered there that day but not with vengeful attacks. He simply preached the good news of Jesus as he knew, and thousands came to know him. How might we serve this world if we let the Spirit work in, through, and around us! May today be a new Pentecost for us! On-the-Job TrainingPlease remember to return your booklet from our On-the-Job Training worship series. Your answers - especially to those about spiritual gifts, skills, and where you feel God leading you and our congregation - will help us to discern God's calling individually and together. Additional copies are available in the vestibule. Please return to Pastor Jim as soon as you can. Living in CommunityPlease pray for all of our VBS leaders and teachers who will be preparing over this next month to welcome and share the love and gospel of Jesus Christ with the children of our community! Please continue to pray for the bishops and delegates meeting at our denomination's General Conference in Portland this week. Verse of the week: How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! - Psalm 133:1 This Week at Port ChurchWednesday, May 18 9:30 am - 2:00 pm - Office Hours Thursday, May 19 9:30 am - 12:00 noon - Office Hours 10 am - Sunshine Seniors Sunday, May 22 9:30 am - Worship Service: "Tongues of Fire: Taming the Tongue" 11:00 am - Sunday School 12:30 pm - VBS Training at South River Elementary Looking AheadPraise in the Park with Confirmation and Graduate Recognition - June 5, 10 am
Vacation Bible School - June 27-July 1 5/11/2016 0 Comments May 11th, 2016 Passing the Test There is only about a month left in this school year, so we have hit the time of the year dominated by yearly. It is a stressful time both for teachers and for students as they try to show how much they have learned. With important consequences resting on the test results, it's no wonder that so many folks at our schools are stressed out and worried this time of year. Please keep them all in your prayers over the next few weeks that they may have a peace about all they do. Even with the importance of these tests, we know that there is a far more important test that our kids will face - the test we all face everyday. Each day as we awake, we must make a decision whether we will try to live faithfully. Will we seek God's will in all that we do? Will we show mercy and forgiveness to those who threaten or harm us? Will we be generous to those in need? Will we love God with all that is within us and our neighbors as Jesus has loved us? This is the test that will matter far more when all is said and done, and it is one that we try to pass each and every day. It is my prayer for our kids that they learn to pass the test of faithfulness even as they strive to pass their tests at school. It is my prayer for our teachers that, despite the pressures they are under, they may help their students not only to know what they need to but also to succeed at life. Grace and peace be with our kids and teachers - and with everyone who faces the test of life - today! Blessings on the journey, Jim Tongues of FireHave you ever talked with a friend and, as the conversation went on, you felt that might as well have been speaking different languages? You had thought you knew them well, but, hearing how different some of their beliefs on things were from what you expected, you simply couldn't understand where they were coming from. Day by day, we are facing tough issues in national and church life that are continuously dividing us and making it harder for us to understand each other. Join us this Sunday for our new worship series "Tongues of Fire" as we explore how the Spirit can help us in "Learning to Talk" again. On-the-Job TrainingThis past week, we finished up our series "On-the-Job Training" by discovering the greatest way that God prepares us for the good works we are called to do. Sunday's Sermon Snippet: Loved by God (1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13) God has prepared amazing things for us to do in the name of Jesus Christ, and God has given us Scripture, spiritual gifts, and skills so that we will be ready to do them. Yet there is still something more important than any (or all) of these. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, who had been squabbling over who was more favored by God based on what spiritual gifts they had received, to show them what was truly important. What does it matter, he asked them, if you can speak in tongues, do wondrous miracles, or give away all you have but do not have love? While we don't tend to fight as the Corinthians did, we at times put too much stock into knowledge, spiritual gifts, and skills. When God needs a task done, we often protest that we are not qualified to do that good work. We are not as knowledgeable as other, someone else has better gifts than we, we are not as skilled as we need to be. While these things are certainly important, Paul claims that it is love, rather, that determines how qualified we are. Even the best knowledge, gifts, and skills are incomplete, but love from God is infinite and unbounded and can overcome any barrier. God doesn't care who has the most knowledge, gifts, or skills for a task; God cares who is willing to show the most love. General ConferenceGeneral Conference, the once-every-four-years meeting of delegates of The United Methodist Church from across the world, has convened in Portland this week. Over the next two weeks, the conference will address a number of issues important to our life together, how we do ministry, and where we are headed as God's people. You can follow news from the conference online here. Living in CommunityPrayers of Christian sympathy for Jane and her family on the passing of her step-brother Nicky. Prayers of Christian sympathy for Jennifer, Lesa, and their family on the loss of their step-father Bob. Pray for our General Conference meeting in Portland these next two weeks. This Week at Port ChurchWednesday, May 11 9:30 am - 2:00 pm - Office Hours Thursday, May 12 9:30 am - 12:00 noon - Office Hours 6:30 pm - Trustees Meeting Sunday, May 15 9:30 am - Worship Service: "Tongues of Fire: Learning to Talk" 11:00 am - Sunday School Looking AheadVBS Training - May 22, 12:30 pm, South River Elementary
Praise in the Park with Confirmation and Graduate Recognition - June 5, 10 am Vacation Bible School - June 27-July 1 5/4/2016 0 Comments May 04th, 2016 In a People House Last week, we opened up the house to enjoy the mild spring weather. The windows were already open, and we left the back door partially open to allow more of a cross-wind through the house. As I sat at the kitchen table working on the tasks of the day, I heard a fluttering noise. Looking up, I saw as a dove flew through the door and into our kitchen. It only took a moment for the confused bird to realize that it wandered into a place that it certainly didn't belong. It hovered in the air for moment, turning this way and that, trying to figure out how it gotten in so that it could make an exit. Watching this unfold, I began to stand up wondering how in the world I was going to get this bird out of the house if it couldn't find its own way out. At that moment, the dove finally saw the path of light that led back out and it swiftly flew through the door, into the yard, and far down our block as if it wanted to get as far away from that traumatic place as possible. Have you ever found yourself in a place where you did not belong - a place where you were confused, afraid, and just looking for a way back out? Perhaps it wasn't even a physical place but just a situation in life or a difficult emotional state. May God help you find the doorway through the difficult times in your life! Blessings on the journey, Jim On-the-Job Training Sunday's Sermon Snippet: Skilled by God's Provision (Exodus 35:30-36:7) God has prepared amazing things for us to do in the name of Jesus Christ, and God has given us Scripture and spiritual gifts so that we will be ready to do them. Yet doing good works still often requires special knowledge or skills, and not all of us have what is needed to meet a particular need in the community. When the Israelites were in the wilderness and began to build the tabernacle, several artisans were selected to lead the effort because they had the skills and knowledge to do it well. While they had certainly worked hard over many years to learn their craft, Moses claimed that their skills were gifts breathed into them by God's Spirit. The rest of the community gave an overwhelming offering to supply all the needs the artisans had. In this way, the work - although entrusted to those to whom God had given skills - became the work of the whole community. As we work together using the skills God has given us and supplying the needs of those who are working on our behalf, we make use of all that God has provided to do the good works prepared for us to do. Responding to God's Call Reflect on what skills, interests, and experiences God has provided you that you could use to do good. What is the most enjoyable work you have done? Looking Ahead Join us this Sunday as we explore how we are "Loved by God" to do the good works God has prepared for us! Living in CommunityThanks to everyone who helped raise $1,085 in support of AVA Care! Prayers of Christian sympathy for Bruce on the loss of his mother last week. Prayers of Christian sympathy for the Kerry, Lee, and their family on the loss of their sister/aunt. Thanks to Dinah for leading our prayers in worship this past Sunday! Thanks to Meg, Chris, and Keith for helping to serve communion! This Week at Port ChurchWednesday, May 4 9:30 am - 2:00 pm - Office Hours Youth Group cancelled Thursday, May 5 9:30 am - 12:00 noon - Office Hours Sunday, May 8 9:30 am - Worship Service: "Loved by God" 11:00 am - Sunday School Looking AheadVBS Training - May 22, 12:30 pm, South River Elementary
Praise in the Park with Confirmation and Graduate Recognition - June 5, 10 am Vacation Bible School - June 27-July 1 |
News and UpdatesFind out what is going on at Port Republic UMC this week and in weeks to come! Archives
January 2019
Categories |
RSS Feed