Month: May 2017

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If You Want To Be Holy, Be Kind

I’m working my way through the audible version of Searching for Sunday by Rachel Held Evans. She shared this quote and I want to share it with you. It is so short. It is so simple. It is so true. It is so often forgotten.

If you want to be holy, be kind. — Frederick Buechner [1]

I always like to trace a quote back to its original source, and I can’t in this case. But this is too good not to share.

[1] Rachel Held Evans, Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2015), 114.

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God Comes To Us

I’m still working my way through Salvation by Allegiance Alone by Matthew Bates, and I wanted to share this gem:

In the final analysis, we don’t go to heaven; God brings his heavenly abode down to earth, having re-created the universe so that there is a new (that is radically renewed) heaven and earth. We do not go to God, but he comes to us. — Matthew Bates [1]

It’s always been the case that God has come to us, why should the end be any different than the beginning and the middle?

[1] Matthew W. Bates, Salvation by Allegiance Alone: Rethinking Faith, Works, and the Gospel of Jesus the King (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, a Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2017), 139-140.

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A Clara Shirk Scholarship Is Available

We’ve just learned that the local unit of United Methodist Women (UMW) has one $2,000.00 scholarship available for the 2017-2018 school year. Applications are available in the church office and must be completed and returned no later than May 29, 2017. Both graduating senior and current college students are eligible.

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A Church Which is Bruised, Hurting, and Dirty

I came across this in my reading and wanted to share it with you. I share Pope Francis’s preference, even though in my case, at least, the preference is mostly aspirational.

I prefer a church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security . . . More than by fear of going astray, my hope is that we will be moved by the fear of remaining shut up within structures which give us a false sense of security, within rules which make us harsh judges, within habits which make us feel safe, while at our door people are starving and Jesus does not tire of saying to us, “Give them something to eat.” — Pope Francis [1] 

[1] Pope Francis, The Joy of the Gospel: Evangelii Gaudium (New York: Crown Publishing Group, 2014), Kindle Book, 39-40.

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Death of Virginia Near

The following notice was received from the Great Plains Conference:

Virginia Near, the wife of retired pastor Rev. Richard (Dick) Near, passed away unexpectedly at their home Wednesday, April 26, 2017. There will be a memorial sometime this summer when her ashes are scattered on the Ford County, KS farm on which she was born.

Condolences may be sent to:

Rev. Dick Near
2305 27th Street
Central City, NE  68826-2700

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Food Pantry Month

May is Food Pantry Month here at Abilene First United Methodist Church. The following announcement by Julie Mayden is from our monthly newsletter:

May is the month First UMC traditionally provides food and funds for the operation of the Food Pantry which helps supply food and utility funds for those less fortunate. The following is a list of the immediate needs of the food pantry:

  • Baking Supplies: cake and muffin mixes, frosting, oil, flour, sugar
  • Canned Foods: fruit, vegetables, soup, condiments, meat substitutes
  • Cereal: hot cereal, cold cereal, cereal and breakfast bars
  • Cleaning Supplies: laundry soap, dish soap, hand soap
  • Paper Goods: toilet tissue, paper towels, napkins, facial tissue
  • Pasta: macaroni, noodles, spaghetti
  • Personal Hygiene: shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, women’s feminine products, disposable diapers, men’s shaving supplies, hand and body lotions, and creams
  • Meats: any kind of canned meat and fish, especially tuna
  • Miscellaneous: peanut butter, jelly, coffee, tea, ramen noodles, rice, dry beans, crackers, juice, syrup, instant potatoes, hamburger helpers, spices, salt and pepper, jello and pudding mixes

Grocery bags (complete list of needs attached) will be available on Sunday mornings throughout the month of May to take home with you and fill, and then return the following Sunday or to the church office during the week. Envelopes will also be available on the table in the narthex if you would prefer to donate money for utilities (if you want, you can do both). Additionally, if you have extra points on your West’s Country Mart cards that you would be willing to give to the Food Pantry, they would be very much appreciated.