Sunday Reflection (April14, 2024)
/in From the Pastor/by Diane PalumboThe Holy Spirit progressively produces within us and among us a likeness unto the character of Christ so that we live out the commandment of love, which characterizes both the present and future. I do not always find enacting love and compassion easy; thus, this appeal from First John (3:3): “Everyone having this hope [of beholding Christ face to face] purifies himself/herself as that one is pure, and that one who is pure is Jesus Christ.” The perfect and pure one accepts us in our imperfection and impurity, offering comfort and encouragement on our journey.
The light of God’s love revealed in Christ purifies our hearts of hatred, malice, bigotry, and prejudice. The light of God’s love purifies our hearts from that which demeans another human being or a group of people. The light of God’s love purifies our hearts of that which leads us to overlook the injury we cause others. “Purification of the heart is a response to God’s love as we obey the commands of Christ” (Interpretation Commentary). This process of purification, fueled by love and compassion, gives us hope and motivates us to continue our journey.
Prayer for the Week (April 14, 2024-April 20, 2024)
/in From the Pastor/by Diane PalumboLet us pray that we live the risen life of Jesus: God of the living, who will believe that your Son is risen, if he is not alive among us today? Do not let the death of sin hold us, for he has set us free by his blood. Make us brim with his life so that it may overflow upon those around us in deeds of compassionate forgiveness and generosity without measure. Nourish our life together with you and one another through the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ. Amen.
(Claretian Publications)
Sunday Reflection (April 7, 2024)
/in From the Pastor/by Diane PalumboWe damage fellowship through indifference that fails to acknowledge how we injure others by what we say and do. We do this on personal and social levels that pass along racism and prejudice that damage our social and civil lives. We damage fellowship unintentionally and intentionally. We are without excuse, but there is a way to reconnect us when we fail each other personally and open the door to the healing of fellowship in the civil and social order (1:9-2:2). It is confession and forgiveness!
The ultimate purpose of confession and forgiveness is to restore harmony and peace within our web of relationships. Having personally experienced the transformative power of reconciliation with God and each other through Jesus Christ, we are not just called but empowered to extend this reconciliation to the world (1 John 1:1-2:2). May we invite others to partake in this transformative journey of confession, forgiveness, and reconciliation, which commences with a humble confession. Through these acts, we heal the web of relationships that envelop us and our world.
Prayer for the Week (April 7, 2024-April 13, 2024)
/in From the Pastor/by Diane PalumboLet us pray we be a community of faith and love: Lord our God, loving Father, we have neither seen your risen Son nor placed our hands into his side, but we believe that he is our Lord. May this faith unite us in love and help us be responsible for anyone in need and pain. May we be a community, one in heart and soul, believing, hoping, sharing, breaking bread with one another in joy, and praising you, our God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Claretian Publications)
INTERESTING LINKS
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Worship Service on April 21, 2024 10:30 am
- Worship Service on April 28, 2024 10:30 am
- Worship Service on May 5, 2024 10:30 am
- Worship Service on May 12, 2024 10:30 am
- UMW Monthly Meeting on May 14, 2024 10:00 am
NEWSLETTER SIGNUP
PLEASE VISIT!
Galax First United
Methodist Church
306 West Center Street
Galax, VA 24333
(Get Directions)
Phone: 276-236-9937
Email: fumcgalax1@gmail.com
Sunday Services:
10:30 am