This year’s Fall Family Event will be held this coming Sunday, October 4, 2015, from 4-7 pm in Brown’s Park. The whole family is invited for an afternoon/early evening of fun and fellowship. There will be hayrack rides, pumpkin painting, a gourd toss and other fun games. You’re welcome to bring a side dish, but hot dogs, drinks and the ingredients for s’mores will be provided. In the event of rain, this event will be cancelled.
New Administrative Assistant: Julie Mayden
Last Wednesday (September 23, 2015), the members of the Staff-Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) met and interviewed four candidates for the position of Administrative Assistant (Mary Reimler is looking forward to retirement in December). Of the four, Julie Mayden was selected. The SPRC, Jenny, and I are all looking forward to Julie’s first day of work on Monday, November 2, 2015. To smooth the transition, the SPRC has arranged for Mary to spend a month training her.
New Members: the Hoffman Family
Today at the second worship service, we received Herman and Chris Hoffman and their daughters, Mia and Lillian into membership at First UMC. I encourage you to extend your personal welcome if you haven’t already done so.
Finding Grace at the Salina Rescue Mission
On Thursday (September 24, 2015), Pope Francis dined with the homeless in Washington, D.C. Given his background and the emphasis his papacy has placed on the poor and vulnerable this is not surprising. I have no doubt that those he dined with were blessed. But because of a recent experience, I also suspect that he was blessed as well. Last night I went over to the Salina Rescue Mission with Tim Johnson, Harvey Bailey, and Raneta Hargrove. After we had helped prepare the evening meal and the next days sack lunches, Tim Johnson led prayers and delivered a short message. We then served the residents supper and helped ourselves to what they were having (meatloaf, scalloped potatoes and corn).
In echoing Jesus’ call for the hungry to be fed, the thirsty to be given something to drink, the naked to be clothed, and shelter and refuge given to the homeless, Pope Francis has sometimes been seen as unrealistic. Well, last night I had an experience that reinforced my tendency to disagree with that criticism. Out of God’s bounty, there was enough for everyone present. As a bonus, I experienced the entire evening as a providential means of grace in which I drew near to God, and God drew near to me.
Drop me a line at john@revcollins.com if you would be interested in serving at the Salina Rescue Mission in the future.
Rutherford Wolf — Corrected*
The Great Plains Theatre will be presenting a cast of children and youth in a production of Rutherford Wolf this weekend in Wright Fellowship Hall. Showtimes are 2 pm Saturday and Sunday, September 25 and 26 and 27, 2015. Tickets are $7 a piece or four for $20. According to Liz Collins, stage manager and third little pig, the play runs 30 to 40 minutes.
According to the GPT website, Rutherford Wolf “is a witty and riotous romp about a vegetarian wolf with allergies who is trying to get out of the forest, but who is hindered by a battery of kooky fairy tale characters who all have an extreme prejudice against carnivores.”
*Thanks to Sue Murry for catching the mistake on the dates.
Voice of the Day: John Wesley
Below is John Wesley on the principle expressed by Jesus in Matthew 25.40.*
“One of the principle rules of religion is to lose no occasion of serving God. And since he is invisible to our eyes, we are to serve him in our neighbor; which he receives as if done to himself in person, standing visibly before us.” — John Wesley.
We often think of our acts of piety—such as prayer, worship, etc.—as the way we serve God. We should continue to do such things, but we must remember that those acts benefit us far more than they benefit God because their main purpose is to strengthen our faith and draw us near to God so that we may ultimately serve God by serving our neighbor.
*Matthew 25.40: “And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” (NRSV)
The Bible Ties Freedom to Debt Relief
There’s a good article on the Biblical injunction for debt relief over at ministry matters. The concept of Jubilee has too long been ignored by both sides of the partisan divide. I would add that much of the debt owned by poor countries in the developing world was taken in their name by petty tyrants and dictators who used it only to enrich themselves and their cronies.
Link: bit.ly/1KvEGJJ
Staff-Parish Relations Committee Meeting
The Staff Parish Relations Committee meets at 6 pm today to interview applicants for the Administrative Assistant position. Given the importance of this position to the smooth functioning of the church, prayers would be very much appreciated.
Voice of the Day: Abba John the Little
In the ancient world, the abbas and ammas (fathers and mothers) of the desert were repositories of insight into Christian living. They were famous (literally famous) for short, pithy sayings that condensed a great deal of wisdom into a few words. Today’s voice of the day is from one of the best known of these remarkable individuals, Abba John the Little:
“We have abandoned a light burden, namely self-criticism, and taken up a heavy burden, namely self-justification.” — Abba John the Little.
Being willing to name, repent of, and address our sins and shortcomings is indeed a small burden compared to trying to ignore or deny them and nonetheless justify ourselves. It’s much easier to acknowledge our failures and rely on Christ to justify us. As Paul wrote, “It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn?” (Romans 8.33-34, NRSV)
Hat Tip: Sojourners
Worship Tomorrow
Tomorrow I’ll be preaching on James 3.13-4.3, 7-8a with a focus on 8a: “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” The choral anthem will be “Mighty Spirit, All Transcending.” We’ll also have special music from Mary and Carly Graefe, a pieced titled “Come to Jesus.”
Ten Arguments for Weekly Communion
Over at seedbed.com, Jason Nelson has an article titled “Top Ten Reasons to Get Rid of Communion Sunday.” His argument is not that we should do away with communion, but that we should celebrate communion every week. I hope that you’ll take the time to read the article and then take the time to join in the sanctuary every Wednesday at 5 pm.
Link: bit.ly/1QMVs9r
Richard Glossip Update
Vox.com has posted an update on the Case of Richard Glossip. His execution has been put on hold.
Link: bit.ly/1JbR2T0