Author Archives: John Collins

Worship This Sunday!

This coming Sunday, September 25, 2022, I’ll be preaching on Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15. It’s one of my favorite stories in the Old Testament and I’m looking forward to sharing my take with all of you. But I’m even more excited to have the choir performing “African Psalm” by Patrick Liebergen. They’ll be joined by Kurt Gartner and Cole Parsons on percussion and Carol O’Neill on the flute.

Compassion Bible Study Tonight

Today (Wednesday, September 21, 2022) is the second session of our Bible Study exploring God’s character. The plan is is start at 7 p.m. and be done no later by 8 p.m. The study will begin with a 5-10 minute video from bibleproject.com. I hope this will be an easy group for everyone to participate in. You don’t need to do any reading in advance; you only need to bring yourself and maybe a Bible (I’ll also have copies of the relevant scripture passages).

You can view the videos here: https://bit.ly/31ElWu0

Revive Thy Work, O Lord

Today, I’m praying these verses from Albert Midlane for College Avenue United Methodist Church, for the UMC in general and for the church universal:

1 Revive thy work, O Lord,
thy mighty arm make bare;
speak with the voice that wakes the dead,
and make thy people hear.

2 Revive thy work, O Lord,
disturb this sleep of death;
quicken the smould’ring embers now
by thine almighty breath. [1]

[1] Albert Midlane, “Revive Thy Work, O Lord,” 1858, Hymnary.org, accessed September 19, 2022, https://bit.ly/3BRJqeQ.

A Clarification

I want to make it clear that I did not call mathematicians atheists in this morning’s sermon. I was referencing John Wesley’s Sermon “On the use of Money,” where he talks about how some occupations may be hurtful to some people but not to others. Here’s the quote:

“So I am convinced, from many experiments, I could not study, to any degree of perfection, either mathematics, arithmetic, or algebra, without being a Deist, if not an Atheist: And yet others may study them all their lives without sustaining any inconvenience. None therefore can here determine for another; but every man must judge for himself, and abstain from whatever he in particular finds to be hurtful to his soul.” — John Wesley

Bible Study Meeting in the Parlor Tonight

Today (Wednesday, September 14, 2022) is the first session of our Bible Study exploring God’s character. The plan is is start at 7 p.m. and be done no later by 8 p.m. The study will begin with a 5-10 minute video from bibleproject.com. I hope this will be an easy group for everyone to participate in. You don’t need to do any reading in advance; you only need to bring yourself and maybe a Bible (I’ll also have copies of the relevant scripture passages).

Update: We’ll be meeting in the parlor.

You can view the videos here: https://bit.ly/3CGlV6s

Game Night This Friday

College Avenue United Methodist Church will host a game night on Friday, September 16, 2022, from 7-9 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall (please enter through the south door). Feel free to bring your favorite games along to share! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Carol Ott or call the church office at 785-539-4191.