Month: March 2025

Posted on

Never Doubt God’s Love for You

Tomorrow, I’ll be preaching on what is commonly known as the parable of the prodigal son. With all the rejection and exclusion to be found in the world, it is worth remembering these words from R. Alan Culpepper:

“No other image has come closer to describing the character of God than the waiting father, peering down the road longing for the son’s return, then springing to his feet and running to meet him.” [1]

No matter who you are, where you’re from, or what you’ve done, God loves you still.

[1] R. Alan Culpepper, “Luke: 15:11-32, The Prodigal Son, the Waiting Father, and the Elder Brother,” essay, in The New Interpreter’s Bible, vol. IX (Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press, 1995), 298–305, 302.

Posted on

Looking to Borrow an LG TV Remote – UPDATED

Update: I got the TV workings. Thanks to everyone who offered to help!

I’m looking to borrow an LG TV remote. The church has a 55-inch LG TV, but we don’t have a remote. I’m looking to borrow a remote for about 5 minutes to see if the TV works. If it works, we’ll buy a remote of our own. If not, we’ll recycle the TV. Please email or text me to let me know if you have one.

Posted on

Fundraiser for True Colors

From David Procter:

On [Sunday] April 6, 2025, CAUMC’s Advocates for Inclusion is hosting a fundraiser for True Colors Flint Hills. The fundraiser will happen immediately following our church service. A voluntary donation for TC will be taken. Katie Baker, director of True Colors Flint Hills will provide some remarks and take questions. Lunch will be provided.  All are welcome. Please plan to attend.

Additional information from me (John Collins): sloppy joes will be served. I intend to bring cheese.

Posted on

Simple Acts of Kindness and Love

With all that is going wrong in the world around us, I find myself in a funk this morning. With that in mind, I’m reminding myself of this quote from the fictional character Gandalf the Grey in the movie version of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey:

“[Some believe] that it is only great power that can hold evil in check. But that is not what I’ve found. I’ve found it is the small things, everyday deeds of ordinary folk, that keeps the darkness at bay. Simple acts of kindness and love.” — Gandalf the Grey

If it was only against the evil powers of this world that we struggled, then we might conclude that only the efforts and deeds of the great and powerful matter and that the small everyday deeds of us ordinary folk amount to naught. But that is not so. In the words of Ephesians 6:12, we struggle “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil.” In that struggle, the kindness and love we show in everyday deeds weigh just as heavily on the scales as the actions of the powerful and mighty.

Posted on

Advocates for Inclusion Meeting Tonight

A last minute reminder by David Procter

CAUMC’s Advocates for Inclusion is hosting former state senator Usha Reddi on March 11 at 7:00 p.m.  Usha is coming to speak about how to best and most effectively communicate with our state legislators.  She will speak on topics ranging from how to best follow relevant legislation, which committees are most important to watch, and varieties of ways to communicate with legislators.  Her presentation will focus on issues of social justice and issues related to the LGBTQ community.  Light refreshments will be provided.  All are welcome.

Posted on

Chuck Marr Funeral Service on April 12

From Joyce Marr:

“Chuck Marr’s Celebration of Life service is Saturday, April 12, at 2:00 p.m. A reception in Fellowship Hall will follow. Chuck gave a big part of his life to vegetable and fruit production. With that in mind and in lieu of flowers, the Marr family will have a bouquet of vegetables and fruits on the altar table. Attendees of Chuck’s service are invited to bring a fresh vegetable or fruit, which will be collected in baskets at the sign-in table in both the north and south narthex. This fresh produce will be donated to Common Table, a free meal program in our community that feeds the hungry.”