This Friday my reading takes me to Paul's letter to the Romans where I read these words... "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." (Romans 12:3 NIV) Days turn into weeks -- weeks into months -- and months into years. We hardly notice the change that takes place in ourselves as time passes by. Are we growing? Are we being transformed into the person God designed us to be? How do our lifestyles and habits measure up? Have we stepped back and taken stock of how far we have come on our spiritual journey? Perspective is the process of not only recognizing where we are in relation to where we are going, but also how we measure up to Christ, the hope of glory in us. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul urges us to be circumspect. That means being self-aware, to see ourselves objectively, to judge ourselves. Many of us are too busy to stop and consider ourselves deeply. Take an opportunity for that deep rest and reflection. Remember to take time to reflect and be mindful. So when your priorities feel out of place or weeks go by without any rest, or when you're feeling disconnected stop and think and then pray, Make me aware of Your perspective, O Lord. Amen. +++ This Sunday is the 5th Sunday of Lent and as we continue being Guided to the Cross, I will be speaking about being Guided to Perseverance. We'll be looking at John's Gospel account as we see Jesus' perseverance. And I'm thinking about what true perseverance really requires. We will worship at both 8:30am and 10:00am and our Facebook "live-stream" begins on the church's Facebook page at 10:00am! And, of course, we will then "upload" the completed worship to our YouTube channel when completed. We've got some great special music planned this week and at 10:00am we will celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. Join us as little Jack and his family are welcomed and celebrated here in God's family! +++ We continue taking Easter flower orders to decorate the Sanctuary on Resurrection Day! See Julie or Lois at the table in the Narthex to place your orders. +++ This coming week we will gather with our friends at Camillus Ridge Terrace for worship on Wednesday 3/20 at 11:00am and then at Summerfield Village on Thursday 3/21 at 1:00pm. You're invited to worship with us at either of these stops! +++ Our Lenten Study on being Guided to the Cross continues on Wednesday at 1:00pm in the Fireside Room. Join us if you can for this wonderful time of study and learning! +++ We continue to gather personal care items (toothbrushes, toothpaste, bar soap, lotions, shampoo, etc.) for our friends at University United Methodist Church in Syracuse. Just put your donations on the table in the Narthex, please. And keep filling your Lenten Self Denial coin box to help us feed hungry people at our sister congregation! +++ Our Holy Week schedule is:
+++ Mark your calendars...
Make this day a great day and always remember to pray, Make me aware of Your perspective, O Lord. Pastor Jack This morning I read, once again, these great words from Paul to the church in Corinth...
"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having sufficiency in all things, may abound in every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8 KJV) We've always been told that preparation is the ultimate key to success. We know that champions are those who are better prepared than their opponents. Victories are won through training and preparation. And there is no better way to take advantage of opportunities that come your way than to be prepared for them. Paul tells Timothy, "Who separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupting influences will ... be fit and ready for any good work" (2 Timothy 2:21 AMP). Preparation requires self-discipline. As a soldier preparing for war, or an athlete for competition, we must set ourselves apart and press forward. (See Philippians 3:14.) How do we do that you ask? Through studying the Word of truth that transforms us. There is no better preparation than being fully grounded on the foundation of the Truth. So when you're waiting for a breakthrough, or making plans for the future or seeking your calling and purpose try joining me in praying, Prepare me for every good work, O Lord. +++ Assuming that you remember to turn your clocks ahead one hour on Saturday night, we will see you for worship at 8:30am and 10:00am on Sunday morning! This week we arrive at the 4th Sunday of Lent and my message is "Guided to Trust". How does Jesus teach us to trust from the cross of his crucifixion? And how can we learn to be more trusting individuals? Join us on Sunday morning as I try to figure this out! Our worship is "live streamed" on the church's Facebook page at 10:00am and then "uploaded" to our YouTube channel when completed. This week I'll be asking those worshipping from home to tell us when it is that you are participating in worship and where you are located as you worship. Let's see what kind of responses we get to those questions! +++ On Sunday we also celebrate UMCOR Sunday with a special church-wide offering to support the important work of our United Methodist Committee On Relief. UMCOR is always one of the first critical responders at the scene of disasters throughout the world and this is our chance to help in that life-changing work. Look for the special offering envelopes as you enter the Sanctuary on Sunday and thanks for your generosity. +++ Following the 10:00am worship on Sunday, we will enjoy another terrific Second Sunday Luncheon offered by our Fellowship Team. We will enjoy a great meal and fellowship in the Fellowship Hall! +++ Our SPRC and Finance Teams will meet on Tuesday night at 6:00pm and then our Administrative Council will meet at 6:45pm. Members please make sure you're with us for these important meetings. +++ Fundraising continues for our new, electronic church sign! We are about 50% of the way to meeting our needs and the sign should be installed in the next month or so. If you haven't yet had the chance... this would be a great time to help us reach our goal! Just place your contributions in the small wooden church on the table in the Narthex. And wait until you see the additional ministry we will do with this new ministry tool! Thanks! +++ We have one of the large salt flower pots that needs adoption for the coming summer! If you'd like to take on this ministry, as an individual or family, please speak to Sandy Van Epps! The first person who talks to her will be the winner to serve in this way! +++ We continue to support the feeding ministry at University United Methodist Church in Syracuse with our Lenten mission emphasis. All the proceeds of our Lenten Self Denial coin boxes will be used by our sister church to help feed hungry people in Syracuse. We are also collecting personal care items (tooth brushes, tooth paste, bar soap, lotions, shampoo, etc.) on the table in the Narthex for their use. Thanks for your generosity! Make this day a great day and always remember to pray, Prepare me for every good work, O Lord. Pastor Jack Happy March! As another new month begins, I read these words from Paul's second letter to Timothy...
"If we are not faithful, he remains faithful, because he cannot be false to himself." (2 Timothy 2:13 TEV) Our hearts are often heavy with the burdens and cares of this world. Yes...when we go to the Lord with our needs, a little voice prattles on in the background about how we have reaped what we've sown, taken God's goodness for granted, fallen short in what we've been called to do, or failed to pull our weight in the Kingdom. We can think of a dozen reasons why we don't deserve God's blessing. Giving what is not deserved, loving unreservedly, and being unconditionally, is the very nature of God's grace. God offers salvation to the sinner, strength to the weak, sight to the blind -- yet none of us deserve it! Though we can never earn God's blessing, we know God's grace and mercy are always greater than our shortcomings. God is always faithful! So when you're not sure if God is really hearing your prayers and your life seems to be falling apart, or you just don't feel worthy.....remind yourself to pray... You are always faithful, Father. +++ We gather for worship on Sunday at both 8:30am and 10:00am. On this Third Sunday of Lent, we will talk about being "Guided to Peace". What does real peace look and feel like? And how can we learn real peace from Jesus on the cross? Join me on Sunday as we talk about these important questions. Our worship will be "live-streamed" on the church's Facebook page at 10:00am and then "uploaded" to our YouTube channel when the worship is completed. We are continuing to work on our audio levels as we break in new equipment.... So thanks for your patience and grace as we make these adjustments. +++ Don't forget to pick up your Lenten Self Denial coin boxes that will be used to support the feeding ministry at University UMC in Syracuse. As this sister church reaches out to feed hundreds of people each week, we have the blessing to be part of that exciting ministry. Coin boxes should be returned on Resurrection Sunday, March 31st! NEW THIS WEEK... the ministry at University UMC could always use personal care items (toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, bar soap, lotions, etc.). If you are shopping this week, then look for the box on the table in the Narthex to deposit these items! +++ Our church Trustees will be meeting on Wednesday, March 6th at 4:00pm in the Fireside Room. Trustees... Please mark your calendars for this important meeting! +++ Next Sunday we celebrate another Second Sunday Luncheon! Please sign up this week so we know how many to expect for this wonderful time of food and fellowship! +++ Also next Sunday we celebrate the work of our UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief). We will receive one of our 6 special Sunday offerings to help UMCOR do the amazing work they do throughout the world! Look for the special offering envelopes next Sunday! Make this day a great day and always remember to pray, You are always faithful, Father! Pastor Jack As we approach another weekend of ministry and worship I read these words from Matthew's Gospel account...
"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." (Matthew 5:9 KJV) Tension. Hostility. Envy. Strife. The climate is heavy and oppressive. Negative feelings expand like clouds to fill the atmosphere. You feel a sense of hopeless frustration as communication breaks down and solutions seem nowhere in sight. No, it's not a gathering of your family.... but you still want to smooth things over but don't know how. Your heart longs for peace. You pray for just the right words to bring light to this dark situation. Nothing seems worth losing God's peace over -- certainly not "every evil thing" that strife will usher in (James 3:16 NASB). You propose to make peace. You find that peace in the desire of your heart - and those desires are God-given. God will fulfill that desire by making you a minister of God's grace. Speak words of peace, and you will see the strongholds of contention come crashing down. When the kids are fighting, or you have friends that can't get along or when there are rivalries at work or arguments between players in your recreational league.... join me in praying.... Make me Your peacemaker, O Lord. Amen. +++ Worship on Sunday is at 8:30am and 10:00am and we celebrate the Second Sunday of Lent this week. As we are Guided to the Cross my message is "Guided to Love". I am thinking this week about how we are called to show the type of love that Jesus did... but that's a tall order for sure! Our "live stream" of the worship service will be on the church's Facebook page at 10:00am and then we will "upload" the completed worship to our YouTube channel when it is completed. If you are joining us on Facebook live you can enter your prayer requests in the comments section of the page and we will make sure to add them to our prayer list during worship. We hope to be able to "see" all of you at worship this week! +++ The March/April edition of the Upper Room magazine is on the back table in the Narthex for your use! +++ Please sign up for the Second Sunday Lunch, coming up on March 10th, following the 10:00am worship service. We are blessed to enjoy a wonderful meal and great fellowship each month during this luncheon time! +++ Worship at Summerfield Village will be on Thursday afternoon, at 1:00pm! You are invited to join us for worship! +++ As we engage in our Lenten mission project to support the feeding program at University United Methodist Church in Syracuse, we have received a list of items needed that the church cannot purchase through the Food Bank of CNY. We've broken the list down so this week, if you are heading out for a shopping trip, maybe you would consider purchasing some extra quantities of canned tuna or canned salmon? We will highlight a couple of more items each week and donations can be left on the table in the Narthex all during Lent. Thanks for engaging in ministry and mission in this important program that feeds hundreds of people each week at one of our sister congregations! Make this day a great day and remember always to pray... Make me your peacemaker, O Lord. Pastor Jack Good Friday to you, friends!
This week I read some wonderful words from the prophet Hosea..... "But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always." (Hosea 12:6 NIV) Consistency. Some of us stay the course most of the time, but most of us only some of the time. Some days we get it right, and some days we stumble a lot. Some days we might take time to pray but neglect an opportunity to give. And it's the little inconsistencies that really bring us down and wear us out. Maybe we'd grow less weary in our well-doing... if we were more consistent in doing well! The Lord is consistent. The Bible tells us that the Lord is with us continually, that He guides us continually. God asks us to be steadfast, continuing daily in the faith. We are to set His commandments continually before us, not just sometimes. (See Proverbs 6:21) This is also our hope because in doing so we will have continual success. We can continually hope in Him even as David did when he proclaimed, "I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved" (Psalm 16:8 AMP). So join me in praying Help me be more consistent, when you're tempted to slip back into bad habits or self-discipline is a challenge. When people are relying on you to set an example or you don't always know what to do, pray Help me be more consistent. Amen. +++ We worship on Sunday at 8:30am and 10:00am and we have begun our Lenten emphasis, Guided to the Cross. On Wednesday night we looked at being Guided to Forgiveness and on Sunday we will check out being Guided to Hope. What does it mean to be guided by Hope and how could we ever find it at the cross of Jesus? Join us on Sunday and help me think this through. We will be "live streaming" on Facebook live at 10:00am and then we will "upload" the completed worship service to the church's YouTube page when it is completed. However you worship this week, we look forward to "seeing you" on Sunday! +++ On Sunday you can pick up your Lenten Devotional materials including coin boxes for your use as we seek to support the feeding programs at University United Methodist Church in Syracuse. Each week hundreds of people are fed at this amazing ministry and our support is critically needed as resources are stretched while the need increases. Thanks for being a part of this dynamic ministry at our sister church! +++ The church office will be closed on Monday in observance of President's Day and will reopen on Tuesday morning at 9:15am. +++ Tuesday is also the deadline for articles for our March/April edition of the church newsletter. Please have your articles into the office on Tuesday so we can meet our publishing deadline. +++ Our Lenten Bible Study, based on being Guided to the Cross, meets again on Wednesday at 1:00pm in the Fireside Room. We have room for more friends to join us and you can get a book from me on Sunday! +++ Check out the new pictures of our latest Second Sunday Lunch on this website. I think we have a great website presence and we are doing lots of evangelism through this gift of technology! Make this day a great day and remember to pray, Help me be more consistent. Pastor Jack |
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March 2024
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