I know that it sometimes feels that our system of government has ground to a standstill and nothing good ever gets done. Well, here’s a heartwarming story out of Georgia about politicians from across the aisle coming together to get something done. Two words of caution: 1. Objectionable language has been bleeped out, but you can still figure out what was meant. 2. This clip is non-partisan, the rest of the show is most definitely not—I’m only recommending this clip not the show as a whole.
Voice of the Day: George Washington Carver
Today’s voice of the day:
I love to think of nature as unlimited broadcasting stations, through which God speaks to us every day, every hour, and every moment of our lives, if we will only tune in and remain so. — George Washington Carver*
That raises the question: are we tuned in?
*As quoted in William J. Federer and George Washington Carver, George Washington Carver: His Life & Faith in His Own Words (St. Louis, MO: Amerisearch, 2002), 72.
Voice of the Day: Don’t Be Afraid
Today’s voice of the day is a parenthetical aside from one of my Lenten devotions:
‘Don’t be afraid,’ by the way, is the most frequently repeated command in the whole Bible — something we all need to remind ourselves in our worrying and frantic world. — N. T. Wright, Lent for Everyone: Mathew, Year A: A Daily Devotional (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2013), 55.
God is faithful, Christ has conquered death and sin, and the Holy Spirit is with us. We need not fear anything.
Confirmation Sunday
Next Sunday (April 2, 2017) will be confirmation Sunday and the confirmation class will be leading both worship services (they need Jenny and me for communion and confirmation itself, but they’ll be doing all the rest). Come to either service and support Braden Adams, Sam Burton, Jack Graefe, Beth Holmes, Nick Holmes, and Miller Unruh.
Voice of the Day: The Prodigal Son
James Martin shared the following insights into the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) in a tweet on March 18, 2017:
Gospel: Henri Nouwen’s insight: We act like the Prodigal Son. We feel like the Older Brother. But we’re called to act like the Loving Father. — James Martin. Twitter Post. March 18, 2017, 9:28 PM.
I know from experience that a lot of us feel like the older brother, let us remember that we have been and often still are like the prodigal son. Let us also remember that the goal of the Christian life is to act like the loving father.
Link: https://twitter.com/JamesMartinSJ/status/843106749955690502
Graveside Service for Ron Bolliger
There will be a graveside service for Ronald Lee Bolliger on Saturday, April 1, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. at the Abilene Cemetery. The visitation will be the night before at Abilene First United Methodist Church from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Funeral for Deriece Jan Kelly-Blenderman
A Service of Death and Resurrection for Deriece Jan Kelly-Blenderman will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 25, 2017, in the sanctuary. Jenny and I will officiate.
Amanda Cormack to Preach Next Sunday
Jenny and I really enjoyed hosting our District Superintendent, Dee Williamston, as she preached at both worship services this morning. She did a great job and so did the gathered congregation.*
Amanda Cormack will fill the pulpit next week, while we worship with my folks in Council Grove. Amanda is a regular preacher at Grace United Church of Christ here in Abilene. She earned her M.Div degree from the Graduate Theological Union in 2007, and briefly served as a licensed minister in Billings, MT before moving here with her husband Chris in 2009. Since then, they have had two children: Claire, age 4, and Rob, 10 months. Claire sometimes joins her grandmother, Pat Cormack, in worship at Abilene First United Methodist Church.
*The role of the congregation in preaching is often overlooked, but nonetheless essential.
2017 Scholarship Applications
Scholarship applications are now available online and in the church office for the Abilene First United Methodist Scholarship. The completed application is due back in the church office, completed in full, no later than 4:30 p.m., Monday, May 2, 2017, to be eligible for consideration. There will be no exceptions.
No Communion Service Next Wednesday
We are canceling the regularly scheduled Communion Service next Wednesday at 6:45. Jenny and I will be on vacation.
Rev. Williamston Preaching This Sunday
Jenny and I are excited about hosting Rev. Delores “Dee” Williamston, our District Superintendent this Sunday (March 19, 2017). Dee will be preaching on John 4:5-42. The liturgists will be excited about the fact that she’ll be reading that long passage. Hope to see you Sunday!
Voice of the Day: Interruptions
A comment made by someone* in Sunday School yesterday reminded me of this quote from Shane Claiborne:
We have to remind ourselves that interruptions may not be just distractions; they may be divine appointments. — Shane Claiborne, The Irresistible Revolution, Updated and Expanded: Living as an Ordinary Radical (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2015), 106.
*I honestly don’t remember who, or I would give them credit.