Here’s the YouTube link to last night’s Mainstream UMC event: youtube.com/watch?v=KK6AL3-gxX0
Their website is here: mainstreamumc.com/
Mission to Panama
A letter from Susie Shaw:
Dear CAUMC Family,
I will be on a team serving the rural poor in Panama from March 2-10. Departure is less than a week away! We will be coordinated by two wonderful Methodist missionaries, Cindy & David Ceballos, who are living there permanently, dedicated to serving in Panama and coordinating teams like ours. Each year, they request much-appreciated items we can bring; the past several years, our church congregation has very generously provided many of them. This year, we are asked to bring both adult and children’s vitamins. Would you please be willing to contribute some of these? Every adult & child seen at the makeshift clinics receive them. Time is short, so if you can, please drop them off BEFORE FRIDAY, MARCH FIRST, at either the church office or our front porch, [contact the church office for the address]. Thank you so much!
Susie Shaw
Mainstream UMC Tonight at 7 p.m.
Mainstream UMC is an organization that works for inclusion and unity in the United Methodist Church. Their Executive Director, Mark Holland, will be here at CAUMC today (Monday, February 26, 2024) at 7 p.m. to talk about the path forward through the 2024 General Conference and beyond. As you may know, CAUMC is working to be more welcoming and inclusive of LGBTQ+ folk. Mark will help us set that work within the context of the entire denomination.
Worship — Sunday, February 25, 2024
Here’s the YouTube link: youtube.com/watch?v=W7LnDPXNo9U
You can find the bulletin here:
caumcmanhattan.org/bulletins
Looking for a previous service? Here’s the College Avenue United Methodist Church YouTube page: www.youtube.com/c/caumcMHK.
What Crosses Do You Bear?
I’m finishing up my sermon this coming Sunday, and I wanted to give examples of particular crosses that we may be called to take up and bear. I’m not finding very many concrete examples. I would love to know what crosses you all have experienced. You can email me at john@revcollins.com or text me at 620-252-9622.
Prophet, Priest, and King
You already know that Jesus was and is the messiah. You may also know that the Hebrew word for messiah, mashiah, literally means “anointed one.” (The same is true of the Greek christos which is translated into English as Christ.) In the Old Testament three types of people were anointed: kings, priests, and prophets. In the New Testament, Jesus is understood as all three. In the words of the famous hymn writer Isaac Watts (e.g., Joy to the World):
We bless the prophet of the Lord,
That comes with truth and grace;
Jesus, thy Spirit and thy word
Shall lead us in thy ways.
We reverence our High-Priest above,
Who offered up his blood;
And lives to carry on his love,
By pleading with our God.
We honour our exalted King;
How sweet are his commands!
He guards our souls from hell and sin
By his almighty hands.
Hosanna to his glorious name,
Who saves by different ways;
His mercies lay a sovereign claim
To our immortal praise. [1]
[1] Isaac Watts, “Hymn 132,” The Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs of the Rev. Isaac Watts, ed. Samuel Worchester (Boston: Crocker & Brewster, 1855), 452.
The Story of Christianity — New Start Date
Beginning March 20, 2024 [Please note the new date], I will be leading discussions of The Story of Christianity by David Bentley Hart. The book is an excellent summary of Christian history. We’ll meet at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. Paperback books will be available at the back of the sanctuary. Kindle and audio editions can be found online. We’ll cover pages ix through 47 the first time we gather.
The Story of Christianity is a concise, well-written account of Christian history. As Christians, this is our family history. Knowing where we’ve been helps us better understand where we are. But reading this book isn’t merely a utilitarian exercise. As Hart says, “… the true story of Christianity—when told in something like its full breadth—is immeasurably fascinating. It is even, one might say, rather exotic.” [1]
[1] David Bentley Hart, The Story of Christianity: A History of 2,000 Years of the Christian Faith (New York: Quercus, 2015), x.
Worship — Sunday, February 18, 2024
Here’s the YouTube link: youtube.com/watch?v=tCz3OH75Wvg
You can find the bulletin here:
caumcmanhattan.org/bulletins
Looking for a previous service? Here’s the College Avenue United Methodist Church YouTube page: www.youtube.com/c/caumcMHK.
Come Ye Sinners
Our opening hymn tomorrow is “Come Ye Sinners” by Joseph Hart. We’ll be singing a traditional version, but the first time I heard the hymn it was the contemporary version by Todd Agnew. I wanted to share it with you here.
New Website in the Works
We’re working with InterKan.net on revising our website. The new/revised website will be http://www.caumc.church. Until the new site is launched, the new address will redirect to the current website. There’s nothing you need to do; we just wanted you all to know that it’s in the works.
“Fast Car”
This coming Sunday, February 18, 2024, I plan to talk about Tracy Chapman and Luke Comb’s performance Chapman’s “Fast Car” at the Grammys two weeks ago. You won’t need to have heard the song to follow the sermon, but you can listen to it here:
The lyrics are powerful. If you have trouble catching them all you can read them here: Link
Youth Lock-In
Bring a guest and plenty of pillows, blankets, and snacks for the CAUMC Youth Lock-In happening this Friday, February 16, from 7:00 p.m. to Saturday, February 17, at 10:00 a.m. The evening will begin with a service project of hauling old flooring to the dumpster, followed by fellowship, including 9-Square or Grog. Worship will be at midnight. Don’t hesitate to contact Peggy Riley, Youth Director, with any questions you may have.