I’m someone who always loses the invitation to Zoom meetings, so I’m reposting this information:

We have Wednesday evening Holy Communion tonight at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday evening Bible Study will follow at 6:15 p.m. To keep things simple, I’m just going to use the same Zoom meeting, but you can come and go as you please. Here’s the information to log on, let me know if you need tech support.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://bit.ly/2Wdiguc
Meeting ID: 918 7453 9985
Password: 67410

One tap mobile
+13462487799,,91874539985#,,1#,67410# US (Houston)
+16699006833,,91874539985#,,1#,67410# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 918 7453 9985
Password: 67410

My colleague is serves in Nebraska and I’m in Kansas, but this is exactly where I’m at:

“I’m praying for justice and for peace, though I’m not wise enough to know the road to walk to get there.” — Rev. Amy Lippoldt [1]

I don’t know the road, but I’m called to keep walking.

[1] Lippoldt, Amy. 2020. “Pray for Omaha tonight, friends.” Facebook, June 1, 2020. https://bit.ly/2XrzzZ8.

The clothing center is in great need of volunteer workers. They are open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. – 12 noon and Saturday from 12 noon to 4 p.m. (The center is located in the Sunflower building.)

May is the month First UMC traditionally provides food and funds for the operation of the Community Food Pantry which helps supply food and utility funds for those less fortunate. Because we’re not gathering as a congregation in the sanctuary, we aren’t taking in kind donations this year, but you can still make a monetary contribution by sending a check to Abilene First UMC at 601 N Cedar, Abilene, Kansas 67410 or making a contribution online at abilenefirstumc.org/giving.

Jenny and I have used this prayer on Memorial Days past (it would also be suitable for Veterans Day).  It has been heavily redacted and I no longer remember where it originally came from.

Righteous God, who rules the nations. We pray to you to guard the brave men and women who risk themselves in battle for their country. Give them compassion for enemies who fight for their own patriotic causes. Keep them from the hate that hardens, from scorekeeping with human lives and preserve them from the sins peculiar to war.

Though they must be at war for a time, let them live for peace, as eager for agreement as for victory. Strenthen them as they encourage one another, and never let hard duty separate them from loyalty to your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.

We pray for those who have sacrificed themselves, giving their lives for the sake of others. We pray that we might hold them all in continual remembrance, and ever think of them as with you in that city whose gates are not shut by day and where there is no night.

Finally, we seek your forgiveness for the times when we have sent our brave men and women into battle unnecessarily. Embolden us by your grace that we might work for a world where fear has been dispelled and the nations are at peace. Amen.

Frank Gray passed away May 21, 2020. A memorial service is pending the reopening of the Sanctuary to congregational worship.

During this global pandemic, First United Methodist Church has continued to be the church. We have continued to show our love of God (through worship) and our love of neighbor (through service). We did not stop gathering as a congregation in the sanctuary because Governor Kelly told us to, and we will not resume gathering as a congregation in the sanctuary because President Trump deems us essential. Both the governor and the president are outranked by our King, Jesus of Nazareth, who commanded us to love our neighbor as ourselves. We stopped gathering in person out of obedience to that command. We will begin gathering again when doing so does not violate Christ’s law of love. In the meantime, we will continue to show our love of God by worshipping in our homes, trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit to bind us together in this difficult time.

Abilene High School has asked us to ring our church bells today at 1:30 p.m. to honor the 2020 graduating class. Our electronic carillon isn’t working, but for this special occasion, I’m going to set up the portable sound system outside and play a recording of bells.

This coming Wednesday, May 20, 2020, we’ll try to once again to hold the Wednesday Evening Communion Service at 6:00 p.m., but it will be online via Zoom, not in person in the sanctuary. Note that the meeting information is the same for the Zoom meeting and the Wednesday Evening Bible Study at 6:15 p.m. You can attend either one or both, just dial in or hang up at the appropriate time.

Join the Zoom Meeting on your computer, tablet, or smartphone via the Zoom App:
https://bit.ly/2Wdiguc
Meeting ID: 918 7453 9985
Password: 67410

Or use this link on your smartphone to dial in automatically:
+13462487799,,91874539985#,,1#,67410# US (Houston)

Or dial in manually from any phone:
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
Meeting ID: 918 7453 9985
Password: 67410

If you have questions (or difficulty with Zoom) give me a call (620-252-9622), text (same), or email (john@revcollins.com).

The scholarship committee met recently and approved the following scholarships for the 2020-2021 academic year:

First Time Applicants (Members)
Chesney Sprinkle — $750
Beth Holmes — $750

First Time Applicants (Non-Members)
Hannah J. Snowball — $500

Prior Recipients
Audrey Unruh — $500
Jaden Walters — $500
Rae Schwarting — $500
Sydney Burton — $500
Tucker Robinson — $500
Trey Hoerner — $500