This year, we’ll have our annual Service of Tenebrae at 7:00 p.m. on Good Friday (Friday, April 15, 2022). Tenebrae is the Latin word for darkness, and the service includes the extinguishing of 14 candles while the story of Jesus’ passion and death is read aloud. We’re still looking for a few volunteers to help read scripture. Email john@revcollins.com if you want to participate.
Worship — Sunday, April 10, 2022
If you want to follow along with bulletin you can follow this link or the link in the menu above.
If you’re having trouble streaming our worship videos, you may want to simply download the entire video to your device and then play it. You can do that by clicking on the link in the Vimeo logo above and then selecting download.
You can make a contribution online via tithe.ly. Other options can be found here.
Previous worship services can be found at abilenefirstumc.org/onlineworship/.
Worship Livestreams for April 10, 2022
Tomorrow we’ll be reading Luke’s account of Jesus’ passion and death. There will be a short meditation afterwards, but the important thing is the reading itself. The praise band will be with us and the choir will provide special music.
We do our best to livestream both services every Sunday morning. Please let us know if you have any problems. (It’s the only way for us to know if something has gone awry.)
The 8:15 service should be here: vimeo.com/event/1266906
The 10:30 service should be here: vimeo.com/event/1645761
Good Friday Service of Tenebrae
We’ll be having our traditional Service of Tenebrae this week on Good Friday, April 15, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. Please note that this year’s service will be on Good Friday and not Holy Thursday.
Things I Want You To Know As I Leave #2
I want you all to know that leaving you is not easy. It’s time to go, but that doesn’t make leaving any easier. It’s hard enough that I’ve been seeing a therapist. I’ve been seeing a therapist because pastoring a church through Covid-19 was stressful and because, after nine years, leaving is hard to do, and I want to leave well. I want to leave at peace and on good terms with as many of you as possible, and I want to leave at peace with myself. Toward this end, I can do the theological work myself, but the therapist has been really helpful with the psychological and emotional work of leaving.
I know that my moving means that you need to process things as well. Please take care of yourselves, and let me know if I can help.
Bible Study: Moses and Aaron
This evening Wednesday, April 6 at 5:15, we’ll have a Bible study on Moses and Aaron. Tonight’s meeting will be Zoom only at https://wp.me/P3IZ7l-nZ. You don’t need to read anything ahead of time to participate. (Most people don’t.) We’ll begin with a short video introduction and then continue the discussion from there. If you want to watch the video or study the materials ahead of time you can go to bibleproject.com/explore/video/moses-and-aaron/.
Worship — Sunday, April 3, 2022
We had some technical difficulties, so this week’s recording started late.
If you want to follow along with bulletin you can follow this link or the link in the menu above.
If you’re having trouble streaming our worship videos, you may want to simply download the entire video to your device and then play it. You can do that by clicking on the link in the Vimeo logo above and then selecting download.
You can make a contribution online via tithe.ly. Other options can be found here.
Previous worship services can be found at abilenefirstumc.org/onlineworship/.
Words of Assurance from Steve Harper
I want to share something I saw recently from Steve Harper, a retired professor at Asbury Theological Seminary—the seminary now most aligned with the GMC. Speaking of his decision to remain in the UMC, He recently wrote:
“I have learned that progressives believe in the inspiration and authority of Scripture as much as any conservative does. Our differences are about hermeneutics [the interpretation of the Bible], not revelation. . . . My witness to those who will stay in the UMC is that you will remain in a denomination that is biblical. You do not have to join the GMC to be faithful to Scripture. . . . My witness to those who will remain in the UMC is that you have not compromised or diminished your faith by commending acceptance, inclusion, and the common good. You have, in fact, decided to personify Micah’s exhortation to “do justice” (Micah 6:8). . . . In sum, my witness to those who will remain in the UMC is this: if you want to be in a denomination where biblical authority, a credible theology of human sexuality, and a commitment to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and your neighbor as yourself is in full force—you need not leave.” [1]
[1] Steve Harper, “Along the Way: Parting Words & Words of Witness,” Oboedire, March 17, 2022, https://bit.ly/3NICmF9.
Easter Flowers
We are trying something new this year for Easter. We ask that you share your blooming potted flowers for worship on Sunday, April 17, 2022. Any type of blooming flower is appreciated. Bring them to the church during the week prior to April 17. Please be sure your name is on the container and take it home with you following the worship services that day. — Pam Simpson