Month: February 2025

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Casseroles for the Emergency Shelter

From Sheryl Fjell:

“CAUMC members have donated two casseroles per month every year for more than 25 years. The Emergency Shelter uses these for the evening meal for their clients. Don Cooper made it his mission to coordinate this project for many years. We were all so thankful for his dedication to this project.  After his passing, Carol Ott called members to sign up for these donated meals. Dori Milldyke is our current volunteer and has been calling members to fill in the dates. If you receive a call from her, please say YES.  We want to keep this community service going for many years to come.  Thank you for everyone’s support.”

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Letter to Our Migrant Siblings

The following has been submitted to the Manhattan Mercury:

“To our migrant siblings in Christ,

We understand these are uncertain times for many. With that in mind, our Christian communities wish to first and foremost express to you our prayerful support and solidarity. Please be assured that you are not forgotten and that we stand with you. You and your families are a cherished gift to the world. We give thanks for you. No matter what the future holds, we hereby pledge that we will continue to accompany and serve you with every possible resource. We will continue to advocate for your just treatment and dignity within the framework of the law. Your worthiness as a treasured child of God is not dependent on your legal status in this or any other country. You are a beloved child of God, made in God’s Divine Image, and redeemed by Jesus Christ on Calvary.

May God bless you and grant you peace.

Rev. Frank Coady
St. Thomas More Catholic Church

Rev. John Collins
College Ave. United Methodist Church

Rev. Caela Simmons Wood
First Congregational United Church of Christ

Rev. Margaret McGhee
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Rev. Dr. Yvonne Amanor-Boadu
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Josh Brewer
Habitat for Humanity of the Northern Flint Hills

Rev. Melissa Atchison
Manhattan Mennonite Church

Rev. Jason E. Pittman
First Presbyterian Church

Pastor Austin English
Peace Lutheran Church

Pres. Glade Topham
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Rev. Kelly Pittman
First Presbyterian Church

Rev. James Hawley
Trinity Presbyterian Church

Rev. Isabel Call
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship”

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Voices: One Small Corner of the World

I’m working through Mariann Budde’s book on courage titled How We Learn to Be Brave. She writes about not only the courage to leave and start something new but also the courage to stay and make a lasting difference.

“It has been a recurring theme, whenever I wrestle with the call to stay. I’ve had to learn, time and again, that faithfulness isn’t always about taking big leaps, but also walking with small steps, and that it’s possible to make a lasting difference in the world by tending to one small corner of it.” [1]

Making “a lasting difference in the world by tending to one small corner of it” aptly describes the work we do together as a congregation and pastor.

[1] 1. Mariann Edgar Budde, How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith (New York: Avery, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2023), Audio Book.

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Meadowlark Bus Starts this Sunday

From The Meadowlark Messenger:

“Beginning Sunday, Feb. 16, College Avenue United Methodist Church will provide bus transport to Sunday School, Church Service, and transportation by bus back to Meadowlark. Departure times will be 8:45 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. from Meadowlark’s main entrance. Return rides will pick up at the church at 11:45 a.m. Please sign up in the Blue Book if you plan to use this opportunity. Transportation is provided by College Avenue UMC via Meadowlark transportation at no charge to residents.”

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Omnipotence Defined

I’m currently reading The Will of God by Leslie Weatherhead. (Sidebar: Weatherhead has to be one of the best last names ever.) Theologians often talk about God as omnipotent, meaning God is all-powerful. Weatherhead succinctly explains what that means and what it does not mean in one sentence.

“God cannot be finally defeated, and that is what I mean by his omnipotence—not that everything that happens is his will, but that nothing can happen which finally defeats his will.” [1]

God will have God’s way in the end. Evil, sin, and death will be defeated in the end, and God’s will shall be done on earth as in heaven. But in the meantime, we dare not attribute everything that happens to God. There is a great deal going on which God does not condone.

[1] Leslie D. Weatherhead, The Will of God (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1944), 11. Kindle Edition.

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Ushers and Greeters Needed

Bill Sturges is looking for volunteers to serve as ushers/greeters at the Sunday service.  If you are interested or want more information, please call the church office or email Bill at bsturges@cox.net.”  

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5:00 AM Every Sunday

I’ve long been looking for a book to introduce potential new members to the United Methodist Church. I think I’ve found one in Being United Methodist Christians: Living a Life of Grace and Hope. Right now, I’m reading it myself to make sure. I wanted to share the following tidbit, which appears in the book’s account of John Wesley’s time in Georgia:

“On Sundays, John [Wesley] required everyone to attend worship three times, with the first service beginning at 5:00 a.m.”

I found that fascinating, but allow me to reiterate that I really like that CAUMC has one service at 10:30. It’s also worth noting that the statement above is followed by “The [Wesley] brothers were spectacularly unsuccessful in their efforts.” That last bit makes sense to me.

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Bible Study Begins Next Wednesday

Our Bible study on Paul the Progressive: The Compassionate Christians Guide to Reclaiming the Apostle as an Ally next Wednesday (February 12, 2025) at 7:00 p.m. in the parlor. Copies of the book are available at the back of the sanctuary for no cost. We’ll cover the first chapter: “Hating Paul (An Introduction).”

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We Remain United Methodist

The large Cross and Flame on the fellowship hall has been removed so that it can be repainted. It will be refurbished and then remounted. We remain a United Methodist congregation. 

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The Jewishness of Jesus

A Sunday School Announcement from Gary Beach:

The Inquiring Christians adult Sunday School class, led by Rev. Gary Beach, is beginning a new study on February 9 using the book “What Every Christian Needs to Know about the Jewishness of Jesus.”  The class meets in the parlor at the far north end of the church building and begins at 9 a.m. each Sunday morning.  We welcome new persons who might find this study of interest.  Copies of the book are available on the table just inside the parlor door on the right if you want to pick one up in advance of this Sunday’s meeting.