Jenny and I were on vacation yesterday, but we streamed a service from a large United Methodist Church at 7:30 a.m. and then we streamed the 10:30 service from Abilene First UMC. As you might have expected, the stream from the large church had better production values, but when we watched the service that you all were in we could see the people sitting near the front of the sanctuary and we could hear the congregation singing. It felt much more like we were right there with you. That was great and more than made up for the image not being quite as sharp. My thanks to whoever started the camera.

Jenny and I are on vacation and will be gone tomorrow (June 3, 2018), but Amanda Cormack will be filling in.

Below is a list of the members of First United Methodist Church who have died since our last All Saints Service on May 28, 2017. We’ll be remembering and honoring them this coming Sunday (May 27, 2018). Please check the list and let me know of any additions or corrections that need to be made.

Irene P. Meyer, June 22, 2017
Richard Ray Danner, July 19, 2017
Joseph E. Couture, August 28, 2017
Saundra “Sandy” F. Heroneme, September 7, 2017
Marilyn Joan Holmes, September 21, 2017
Jon Dale Thayer, October 26, 2017
Shirley Reynolds, October 28, 2017
Don Hunt, October 31, 2017
Melvin G. Cox, October 31, 2017
Gerald E. Everett, November 23, 2017
Laurine S. Atkinson, December 16, 2017
Mary J. Hamill, February 7, 2018
Jill Royer, February 12, 2018
Mary “Maxine” Fiedler, February 17, 2018
Clarice Emig, May 10, 2018

Shane Claiborne has an excellent, succinct explanation for today’s celebration of Pentecost:

This past weekend Christians around the world celebrated one of our holiest holidays: Pentecost. Pentecost, meaning “50 days,” is celebrated seven weeks after Easter (hence the 50), and marks the birthday of the Church when the Holy Spirit is said to have fallen on the early Christian community like fire from the heavens (for this reason lots of Christians wear red and decorate in pyro-colors, and it’s also where the fiery Pentecostal movement draws its name).

Link: http://bit.ly/2IC5Y5k

Shane Claiborne, “Not Just Another Manic Monday: Pentecost And The Reconciliation Of Humanity,” The Huffington Post, August 13, 2011, accessed May 21, 2018, http://bit.ly/2IC5Y5k.

We’ll be celebrating the Ascension this Sunday (May 13, 2018). I’m formulating a sermon with four questions I’m going to try my best to answer. They are:

1. What exactly happened?
2. What did it mean (then)?
3. What does it mean (now)?
4. What do we do about it?

Hope to see you there.

The following was received from Clark Williamson and lightly edited.

Special music and events for the month of May 2018 are as follows:

• May 6 “Come, Share the Lord” for the Choral Anthem
• May 13 “In Christ Alone” for the Choral Anthem
• May 16 Last Wednesday practice for Chancel Choir
• May 20 “Noah’s Ark”  by Ring Praise and “God Be in My Head” by the Chancel Choir
• May 27 “Shine On Us” for the Choral Anthem and “Hymn of Promise” (tentative) by the John Wesley Bell Choir.

I wanted to highlight the following announcement that will be appearing in tomorrow’s bulletin:

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REMAIN SEATED: If, for any reason (health, comfort, personal preference, etc.), you need to or would prefer to remain seated during the hymns please do so. Don’t give into peer pressure. You be you!

This year on Palm/Passion Sunday (March 25, 2018) we’ll again be reading the Passion according to Mark in parts (like live radio theater). Drop me a line at john@revcollins.com if you’re willing to read.