Over the past week I have been secluded in the Elm bottoms and Mesquite Flatts of Central Texas. I had the opportunity to see deer, mosquitoes, birds of every variety, black flies, squirrels, and copperheads. Amongst the various aspects of God's vast creation I had the opportunity to spend time in prayer and reflection as I looked ahead toward the year and planned the sermons that we will share in Corporate worship. Over the next weeks of August we will be looking at various aspects of Corporate Worship. Then in September we will hear from Gideon and then work through First Timothy before Rev. Mark Winter arrives for our Jubilee Revival from September 26 - 28. October will find us in 2 Timothy and November will follow with a look at our heritage.
I look forward to our time together as we travel through these next months with all that is ahead.
May God continue to bless us as we continue to be a blessing to others.
Peace
Jay
Monday, August 16, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
During Vacation Bible School as well as last Sunday we have supported a missionary from Liberia, Africa named Anne-Marie Simbagoye. Anne-Marie is a French speaking native of Burundi and a teacher. During violent wars in Burundi she became a refugee in Kenya and began a school for the children of other French speaking refugees. She and her husband, also a United Methodist Missionary, later moved to Liberia where she continued to work with children in the J.J. Roberts United Methodist School Monrovia, Liberia.
Our support of Anne-Marie has qualified us as a Five Star Church in the Central Texas Conference. Should we decide to further our relationship with her and become a Covenant Partner with her work and another Person in Ministry, we could do so and then qualify for recognition with the Global Board of Missions. I hope you will consider this extra-mile of mission support: not for the recognition, but for the work that we will be able to support around the world. The total financial support of these missionaries for our church would be $1300. With only having started this initiative last week we already have over $300 pledged for this cause.
I am proud to sat that it looks to me like Wortham First is about to be once again recognized a people of God that put mission and ministry around the world high on their list of priorities.
Our support of Anne-Marie has qualified us as a Five Star Church in the Central Texas Conference. Should we decide to further our relationship with her and become a Covenant Partner with her work and another Person in Ministry, we could do so and then qualify for recognition with the Global Board of Missions. I hope you will consider this extra-mile of mission support: not for the recognition, but for the work that we will be able to support around the world. The total financial support of these missionaries for our church would be $1300. With only having started this initiative last week we already have over $300 pledged for this cause.
I am proud to sat that it looks to me like Wortham First is about to be once again recognized a people of God that put mission and ministry around the world high on their list of priorities.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
5th - Graduation Sunday!!!
I wanted to mention two things this week in my note to you the ministers of Wortham First...
1) Next week would be the Sunday for our 5th Sunday Celebration. It was scheduled to be at First Baptist Church and I was to preacher; however, the Baccalaureate Service has been planned for that evening instead. I hope you will take the time to be a part of this great worship event in the community.
That being said, one of the things that happens at the 5th Sunday Gatherings is an offering for the Ministerial Alliance Fund. Fortunately we have been able to help many families over the past months, sadly we are in need of funds to continue helping as we have. Since the Ministerial Alliance will not be receiving an offering the other pastors and I have decided to take a special offering next week. The offering will be gathered in addition to our normal monthly offering.
2) Additionally, next week will be an opportunity for you to celebrate with the graduating seniors of our church. Brittany Graham, Levi Lansford, and Bradley Paradoski will be graduating this year and will be invited to the Altar for a special time to honor and congratulate them as they move forward with their life and find where it is that God is calling them.
Peace, Jay
PS. Don't forget to bring your canned goods for the food pantry. Especially needed are canned meats, boxed dinners, canisters of Quaker Oatmeal, syrup, and peanut butter and jelly.
1) Next week would be the Sunday for our 5th Sunday Celebration. It was scheduled to be at First Baptist Church and I was to preacher; however, the Baccalaureate Service has been planned for that evening instead. I hope you will take the time to be a part of this great worship event in the community.
That being said, one of the things that happens at the 5th Sunday Gatherings is an offering for the Ministerial Alliance Fund. Fortunately we have been able to help many families over the past months, sadly we are in need of funds to continue helping as we have. Since the Ministerial Alliance will not be receiving an offering the other pastors and I have decided to take a special offering next week. The offering will be gathered in addition to our normal monthly offering.
2) Additionally, next week will be an opportunity for you to celebrate with the graduating seniors of our church. Brittany Graham, Levi Lansford, and Bradley Paradoski will be graduating this year and will be invited to the Altar for a special time to honor and congratulate them as they move forward with their life and find where it is that God is calling them.
Peace, Jay
PS. Don't forget to bring your canned goods for the food pantry. Especially needed are canned meats, boxed dinners, canisters of Quaker Oatmeal, syrup, and peanut butter and jelly.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Sunday of Solace
Solace – Today we begin a series called Sundays of Solace, Six Weeks with our Risen Lord. "Sunday" we understand, it is the first day of the week. It is not the Sabbath of old that those of the Jewish faith follow, it is the day of the Resurrection of our Lord. It is the day that we gather together to worship our Risen Savior.
"Six weeks with our Risen Lord", we can even get that too. There are Six Sundays between Easter and Ascension Sunday. But Solace. Why Solace?
When you Google the word Solace, you get a couple of options, information about the James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace, or definitions. Well, since I'm not near the fan of 007 since Sean Connery retired, I chose to check the definitions.
The top definition for Solace is: 1) comfort in sorrow, misfortune, or trouble; alleviation of distress or discomfort. 2) something that gives comfort, consolation, or relief:
Solace is a comfort. Solace is a peace.
So, solace is what we seek in our risen Lord. Over the next six weeks we will slowly work our way through Luke 24 and Acts 1 as we walk with our risen savior the his last weeks before the ascension. It is in this time with our resurrected Lord that we find Peace and Comfort in this life. It is in seeing Jesus offer solace to his Disciples, be they the two Disciples on the way to Emmaus or the Disciples who wouldn't believe until they saw the wounds. My prayer is that over the next six weeks you will find this sanctuary to be a place of solace, but more importantly you would find that Christ is the only one that can truly offer you solace.
"Six weeks with our Risen Lord", we can even get that too. There are Six Sundays between Easter and Ascension Sunday. But Solace. Why Solace?
When you Google the word Solace, you get a couple of options, information about the James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace, or definitions. Well, since I'm not near the fan of 007 since Sean Connery retired, I chose to check the definitions.
The top definition for Solace is: 1) comfort in sorrow, misfortune, or trouble; alleviation of distress or discomfort. 2) something that gives comfort, consolation, or relief:
Solace is a comfort. Solace is a peace.
So, solace is what we seek in our risen Lord. Over the next six weeks we will slowly work our way through Luke 24 and Acts 1 as we walk with our risen savior the his last weeks before the ascension. It is in this time with our resurrected Lord that we find Peace and Comfort in this life. It is in seeing Jesus offer solace to his Disciples, be they the two Disciples on the way to Emmaus or the Disciples who wouldn't believe until they saw the wounds. My prayer is that over the next six weeks you will find this sanctuary to be a place of solace, but more importantly you would find that Christ is the only one that can truly offer you solace.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Wednesday Meal a Reality?
In our recent Leadership Retreat we discussed several areas of possible outreach and improvement at the church. Some of these include a community clean-up day where we go door-to-door and street-to-street offering to clean street curbs and/or rake leaves, Re-Starting our monthly Children's Time, initiating a community volleyball tournament, developing and starting a new youth program, activating our Emmaus Community, becoming more visible with newsletters and mailings, going door-to-door with door hangers and "12 Second Evangelism", adding a Wednesday Community Meal to the schedule of Wednesday activities, as well as many other great ideas.
The Wednesday Community Meal has been discussed before and looks like something that will actually happen. Several times we have had snacks or a meal at the 6:00 Bible Study but that was for limited number. The idea of the Wednesday meal is that the parent's of the Scouts, members of the Bible Study, and Worthamites in general can have the opportunity to have a hot meal prepared for them at little or no cost (donation only) where they can sit down, visit with the family or others, and not worry about the cooking, set-up and clean-up of the meal.
We am proud to announce that we will have a test run of this community meal starting in April and being served bi-monthly, April 7th and 21st. On April 7th we will have King Ranch Chicken, Salad, and Mexican Cheesecake for our first meal. The meal will be served from 5:15 - 5:45 with the Bible Study following at 6:00.
We look forward to the great ministry that can and will grow from this community meal. I hope you will all join us as we gather in fellowship for the meal.
The Wednesday Community Meal has been discussed before and looks like something that will actually happen. Several times we have had snacks or a meal at the 6:00 Bible Study but that was for limited number. The idea of the Wednesday meal is that the parent's of the Scouts, members of the Bible Study, and Worthamites in general can have the opportunity to have a hot meal prepared for them at little or no cost (donation only) where they can sit down, visit with the family or others, and not worry about the cooking, set-up and clean-up of the meal.
We am proud to announce that we will have a test run of this community meal starting in April and being served bi-monthly, April 7th and 21st. On April 7th we will have King Ranch Chicken, Salad, and Mexican Cheesecake for our first meal. The meal will be served from 5:15 - 5:45 with the Bible Study following at 6:00.
We look forward to the great ministry that can and will grow from this community meal. I hope you will all join us as we gather in fellowship for the meal.
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