September 2021 - First United Methodist Church of Galax

Devotion September 28, 2021

September 28, 2021/in From the Pastor/by Diane Palumbo

Sunday Reflection (September 26, 2021)

September 27, 2021/in From the Pastor/by Diane Palumbo

I firmly believe that God’s working through others to do good is much larger

than any one person, any one group, any one congregation, or any one

religion (Numbers 11:24-29; Mark 9:38-41). Yet all religions, including

Christianity must confront the violence and evil done in its name and

many things have been done in Christ’s name that do not reflect the

love and compassion of God revealed in Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, I am

convinced that all the congregations of Christ’s Church do good things

in Jesus’ name but doing good is not limited to Christ’s Church. We could

name scores of groups that do good for society and individuals.

Given that, why does Christ’s Church even exist? God has revealed to

Christ’s Church the message of the love and compassion of God revealed

in Jesus Christ. God has given us great opportunities to do good, and God

has even equipped us with the Holy Spirit in the doing of good that bears witness

to the love and compassion of God revealed in Jesus Christ. May we take

advantage of the opportunity because if we, Christ’s Church, do not fully do

what we could do and should do, God finds another way.

Prayer for the Week (September 27-October 2, 2021)

September 27, 2021/in From the Pastor/by Diane Palumbo

Let us pray that the Spirit of God be alive

with us and among all people:

God, you grant us the power to do mighty works

but not the right to deny that power to others.

We come before you confidently for we have seen

your likeness in Jesus Christ.

We do not pray that our sight be perfect

and our understanding complete,

but that you be a lamp unto our feet

and a guide for our journey through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

(Litanies and Other Prayers)

Sunday Reflection (September 19, 2021)

September 20, 2021/in From the Pastor/by Diane Palumbo

Desire and ambition are positive in the sense that they propel us to fulfill our potential,

but we can become so consumed with desire and ambition that we destroy trust,

community, and friendship to do better than others (James 3:13-4:8). We do this on

personal and social levels, and it creates a vicious environment for us and our world,

and especially for those vulnerable and beaten down.

The book of James warns us and presents an alternative to recalcitrance to be humble, fair, and just: James calls it “willing to yield.”
Willing to yield does not mean we have no convictions, or that we agree with everyone; rather, it means that we listen carefully
to someone else instead of attacking him/her. To be a disciple of Jesus is to abandon
the seeking of position, prestige, and wealth. To be a disciple of Jesus Christ is to serve

(Mark 9:35-36).

Prayer for the Week (September 19-September 25, 2021)

September 20, 2021/in From the Pastor/by Diane Palumbo

Let us pray to God our Father who welcomes us into his kingdom through Jesus Christ:

God our Father, you tenderly stoop down to us, fallible and limited people,

and your preference goes to children, to the weak, and to the humble.

May we accept your Good News with the receptive attitude of children.

Help us understand the mystery of your greatness and love, so that the kingdom of heaven be ours.

Amen.

(Claretian Publications)

Daily Devotion September 14, 2021

September 20, 2021/in From the Pastor/by Diane Palumbo

Sunday Reflection (September 12, 2021)

September 13, 2021/in From the Pastor/by Diane Palumbo

God speaks the law of the Lord and when we hear the law of the Lord we may hear “God laying down the law.”
Perhaps a better way to understand “law” would be instruction in that God speaks words of instruction to us (Psalm 19).

The Holy Wisdom of God comes to us in Jesus Christ, and it is instruction for the benefit of the entire world
(Hebrews 1:3; Wisdom 7:26-8:1).
The instruction of the Lord “to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind and our neighbor as ourselves”
comes from Christ, the Holy Wisdom of God.
May the wise instruction of the Lord guide our lives (Psalm 19:14).

Prayer for the Week (September 12-September 18, 2021)

September 13, 2021/in From the Pastor/by Diane Palumbo

Let us pray to God who created us in God’s image:
God, in whom we behold not only the image of you
but the likeness of ourselves.
Help us to seek you and deliver us from flippancy of the tongue
and fickleness of heart.
May our worship prepare us for the task you have for us.
Amen.

(Litanies and Other Prayers, alt.)