Friday, February 24, 2023

Today's reading comes from the Book of the Old Testament prophet Ecclesiastes...

             "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might."
                                             (Ecclesiastes 9:10)

Richard Foster wrote: "I had come to Kotzebue on the adventure of helping to 'build the first high school above the Arctic Circle,' but the work itself was far from an adventure. It was hard, backbreaking labor.
   
"One day I was trying to dig a trench for a sewer line -- no small task in a world of frozen tundra. An Eskimo man, whose face and hands displayed the leathery toughness of many winters, came by and watched me for a while. Finally he said simply and profoundly, 'You are digging a ditch to the glory of God.'
   
"He said it to encourage me, I know. And I have never forgotten his words. Beyond my Eskimo friend, no human being ever knew or cared whether I dug that ditch well or poorly. In time it was to be covered up and forgotten. But because of my friend's words, I dug with all my might, for every shovelful of dirt was a prayer to God."
   
God has given each of us certain gifts and talents. God knows that using those gifts and talents to the fullest is the very thing that will bring us satisfaction and fulfillment. Are you using the gifts God has entrusted to you in the fullest? That is the road to true happiness!  

            Whatever your lot in life, build something on it!  --- GOD

+++ This Sunday is the first Sunday of Lent. We worship at 8:30am and 10:00am and we will meet the prophet Isaiah of Babylon. On Ash Wednesday we met King David and we learned how God's Amazing Grace guided him through his sinful life and led him to greatness in serving God. Isaiah will tell us about how despairing can turn into true healing... also with God's Amazing Grace. We will be live-streaming the 10:00am worship service on the church's Facebook page and then uploading the recorded worship to our YouTube channel when it is completed. However you can, plan to join us and meet Isaiah in worship!

+++ Our Lenten study group started this week as we are looking at "Finding Jesus through the Psalms". There is still time to join the group! See me for a book on Sunday and sign up outside the Fireside Room. We have not gotten the needed 6 people for an evening ZOOM session on Wednesday nights yet.... So if you are interested in that option, sign up on Sunday! 

+++ Our Lenten Self-Denial coin boxes are going like hotcakes! But never fear... we have lots more for your use! This year's gifts will go to support the amazing work of UMCOR in earthquake relief in Turkey and Syria. Currently the death toll stands at over 47,000 people and the situation is dire. So our gifts will be put to good use in bringing relief to many! Don't forget to grab your coin box on Sunday, please!  

+++ Last Sunday we announced that Shelly Peters is collecting items for a single mom with children who is starting over and is in need of items for her apartment. If you would like to help out, please contact Shelly at [email protected]t or by texting her at 315-380-0728. Items can be dropped off at her office at Winkworth Professional Office Building, 2700 Bellevue Ave, Lower Level, Syracuse, NY 13219. Shelly is also willing to make arrangements for pick up. Thank you for sharing God's love.

+++ Next Wednesday, March 1st, you are invited to attend a "Meet the Bishop" event at the Auburn United Methodist Church from 7:00pm -8:30pm. During this time you will get to meet Bishop Hector Burgos and hear about his vision for the Upper New York Annual Conference and our United Methodist Church. The Bishop is looking forward to greeting you next week!    

+++ Mark your calendars for our new Service of Healing and Prayer on Sunday, March 12th at 12:00noon in the Fireside Room. This informal worship service is for folks who are seeking healing for physical, emotional, or relational situations. We will gather on the 2nd Sunday of each month for this time of worship, prayer, and anointing.   

Make this day a great day and always use your God-given gifts to the fullest!   
​Pastor Jack ​