Sunday Reflection (May 28, 2023)

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We are becoming a Christ Community that reflects God’s love to the world, and this is not any love, but God’s love revealed in Jesus Christ. We are empowered and enlivened by the Holy Spirit who unites us for the purpose of the building up of Christ’s Church so that we represent Christ to the world (1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 12-14). Each distinct person in Christ’s Church is united by the Holy Spirit into the one universal Church. Each distinct local Church is united by the Holy Spirit into the one universal Church. This is what we mean when we affirm the holy, “catholic” Church in the Apostles Creed.
The Holy Spirit has joined us together for the common good. I challenge you to explore and activate the talents God has given you to share in Christ’s Church. This can be anything from cleaning the kitchen effectively to teaching a class effectively to talking to others about God’s love effectively. Christ’s Church is being built by many different people coming together in the bond of love to share God’s love with the world. May we share our talents in building the ministry of Christ’s Church. You have a place here at First UMC or wherever you attend. We all have a place in the one universal Church.

Prayer for the Week (May 28-June 3, 2023)

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Let us pray that the Holy Spirit bring peace and unity to all humankind:  Almighty and ever-living God, you fulfilled the Easter promise by sending us your Holy Spirit.  May that Spirit unite the races and nations on earth to proclaim your glory. May the Holy Spirit lead us to listen to one another. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son who eternally dwells with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forevermore.  Amen.

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Sunday Sermon May 28, 2023

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Devotion May 24, 2023

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Devotion May 23, 2023

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Sunday Reflection (May 21, 2023)

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What if all the money and time spent on end-of-time talk were spent on making the lives of people better today? By the way, I do not deny the Lord’s Second Coming, I just do not get caught up with details only known to God. The disciples thought after the Ascension that they were living in the end times in which they would be elevated from being mere disciples to rulers in the kingdom of Israel, and then to lordship over all the kingdoms of the world with Jesus being the emperor. They mistakenly thought of the future in a narrow, nationalistic sense. Such a narrow, nationalistic sense was out of touch with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Likewise, when we think of ourselves to the exclusion of the word, we too have become narrow and nationalistic (Acts 1:1-11).
Jesus’ answer to the “million-dollar question is to stop speculating about the end-time! Rather, start bearing witness to the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ. Such witnessing is far more effective than end-time predictions. This message of hope and restoration is not only for Israel as the disciples thought but for the whole world. It is not only for Christians and the United States but for the whole world. This message of hope and restoration takes root here and branches out into our community and into the world as we share and bear witness to God’s love in word and deed.

Prayer for the Week (May 21-May 27, 2023)

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Let us pray that the Spirit of the risen Lord guide us:  God our Father, our risen Lord Jesus Christ lives now in your presence.  When we keep looking for him in the clouds, help us turn to the task he has given us to do here on earth.  Help us learn to recognize the face of Christ in our brothers and sisters.  Remind us that in your own good time you will complete the work of Jesus in us and take us to your joy and glory. Amen.

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Sunday Sermon May 21, 2023

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Sunday Reflection (May 7, 2023)

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These issues, among others, destroy mutual love and concern: Malice, guile, insincerity, jealousy, and slander. Peter talks about desiring something that brings about mutual love and concern, and he calls it “pure, spiritual milk” based upon the Messiah rejected by the world but beloved by God (1 Peter 2:1-10). When we desire pure spiritual milk, we leave selfishness behind. We find new life in Christ that brings about mutual love and concern. Yet, spiritual growth is not something we generate ourselves; rather, it depends upon the nourishment we receive from the Word of God revealed in Jesus Christ.

Prayer for the Week (May 7-May 13, 2023)

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Let us pray to our living God that in Jesus he show us the road of life: Father, you have sent us Jesus to be our way to you, and through the Holy Spirit, Jesus walks with us on the road to you. Give us the food we need for the journey, the bread of life, Jesus himself, until we reach that eternal home.  We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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