Shelby County Today

February 28, 2022 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, February 28.

Don’t look now, but February is about to be in the rear-view mirror. Is it just me, or is 2022 flying by like a freight train? March is on the doorstep and the first day of Spring is less than three weeks away. We’ll do a series in March about our Creator, and about His beautiful creation.

But let's pause for a moment, and remember February. It’s the year’s shortest month, and often its snowiest, too. It’s the month of Valentine’s Day and President’s Day. And it’s the month that many focus on Black history. Today we remember an historic Black Gospel song - “We Are Climbing Jacob’s Ladder”.

“Jacob’s Ladder” was probably written around 1800. Like most spirituals, its origin story is largely just guesswork. It's based on the passage in Genesis 28 where Jacob dreams of a ladder leading up to heaven. This song became one of the first black spirituals that was sung in white churches.

Today it reminds us to keep moving forward, to press on, to strive, to dream. We are climbing Jacob’s ladder, you and I. And we are soldiers of the Lord!

Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@gbccenter.org

February 24, 2022 - I read a story the other day that came out of an era when Passenger Trains were the primary mode of transportation. It seems a little lame boy was carrying a basket of candy and fruit as he hurried to the passenger gate at the train station as fast as his crutches would permit. As the passengers were rushing through the gate, a fast-moving young business executive accidentally hit the boy’s basket, knocking its contents in every direction. He paused only long enough to severely scold the crippled boy for being in his way. Another young business man, rushing through the depot, saw the young boy’s distress and immediately began picking up the scattered items. After returning all the contents to the basket, he put a dollar bill in the boy’s hand. He smiled at his young friend, patted him on the shoulder and said, “Better luck next time!” Then he was on his way.

He was stopped by the question the boy asked him: “Hey mister, are Jesus?” Turning the man smiled and said “No, I’m only one of his followers.”

Peter wrote, “Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps”. (I Peter 2:21) How different this old world would be if we all would speak and act so that others could see Jesus living in us.

It’s something to think about… tbp

Join Us for Worship this coming Lord’s Day at Center Church of Christ or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com.

February 21, 2022 - Save the date for an evening of family fun, food, and a friendly cooking competition! First United Methodist Church (UMC) Missions and Outreach Committee will host their annual Soup, Chili, and Gumbo Cook-off competition on Sunday, February 27, 2022, beginning at 4:00 p.m. at the church Fellowship Hall located at 211 Porter Street.

The cooking competition is open to all ages, all local organizations, and amateur cooks only. A non-refundable entry fee of $10.00 per team secures table space. Advance registration is due by Monday, February 21, 2022. Teams can set up their cooking space beginning at 3:00 p.m. Food and space judging begins at 4:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. Teams will have the opportunity to compete in one of the food categories as well as the Best Decorated Table Space category by decorating their table with a theme of the team’s choice.

Admission tickets are $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for youth ages four to 12 years, and free children 3 years and under; event tickets will be available at the door. The event begins at 4:00 p.m. for competition food sampling, which includes soup, chili and gumbo samples, crackers, and drinks. Adult ticket holders will receive five tickets to vote for their favorite Soup, Chili, or Gumbo and youth will receive three voting tickets. Additional voting tickets will be available at the event for $1.00 each. Winners will be announced at 6:00 p.m. for First Place People’s Choice awards in all cooking categories and best-decorated tablespace.

In addition, a silent auction will take place during the cook-off competition. All proceeds from the cook-off fundraiser will benefit the First United Methodist Church Missions and Outreach.

For complete event rules and team entry registration, click here or please visit the First UMC website at http://fumccentertx.org. For additional information, please contact Becky Parfait, Center First UMC Missions Soup, Chili, and Gumbo Cook-off Coordinator at (936) 332-3456, beckyparfait@yahoo.com, or Pastor Malcolm Monroe at (936) 598-2707.

February 20, 2022 - Grace and peace from our brother, Jesus. Amen. We Paxton Methodists had a nice Sunday: We always like to visit before we get down to the serious business, and we did so joyfully today. We hope our dear friend Joe is doing well. We are looking forward to seeing Carolyn one day soon. Our daughter and her best four-legged friend Stella came for a weekend visit; we had a good time catching up—and eating out, of course. Our three dogs—Sam, Gunter, and Stella—romped and played in the yard, the park, and our neighborhood roads. Next week Sue’s Uncle Eddie will be visiting us from Monroe. He’s especially looking forward to seeing his sister, my mother-in-law Dixie.

Our Sunday School lesson came from James 1: 19-27. The author wanted us to see that connection between what we say we believe and our daily living, teaching that faith or belief without action is just an empty gesture. If we are not doers of the word, we are being dishonest with ourselves.

February is almost gone. Paxton Methodist has been collecting soap and shampoo to take to Community Christian Services. In March we will collect cans of chili. Delta Gamma met at our church last Monday, and Fannie said they had a nice crowd. Madeline complimented the clean church and festive decorations. And, of course, when you have Jason and Glenn doing the cooking, you know it’s going to be some good-tasting food! We took our daughter out to dinner on Saturday night and saw Madeline, Glenn, Jason, and Larry there. I think we all left full!

Our Gathering Words were based on Psalm 37, urging us to always trust in God’s goodness. We have been using a belief statement called the 21st Century Affirmation, which carries on the long tradition of defining what the followers of Jesus maintain as true and hopeful. Today’s first song, “Onward, Christian Soldiers,” is a hymn I remember from when I was younger. It certainly speaks with determination, and Sue said we could march in place while singing. Our second song, the more modern “Hymn of Promise,” is one of the most beautiful in our hymnal. Our bulletin quote was from poet Amanda Gorman, fitting all today’s lessons together: “If we merge mercy with might, and might with right/ Then love becomes our legacy/ And change, our children’s birthright.”

The Gospel was a continuation of Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain, where he is telling his disciples that they must love their enemies. I glanced through my files, finding I have preached on those verses at least seven times in my 21-year ministerial career. It is such a difficult thing Jesus is asking of us that I decided to use the Old Testament lesson for today. This lesson came from Genesis 45, toward the end of the story of Joseph, when the brothers who had betrayed him come to Egypt for aid. Several writers called this wonderful story of forgiveness and reconciliation a novella, or short novel. This story of jealousy and despair could easily have ended in revenge, but it didn’t. And though I tried to avoid Jesus’ hard words all week, I was constantly confronted with the idea that we must forgive those who have wronged us: As Christians we must be part of the reconciling world.

Whoever you are, in whatever faith you were born, whatever creed you profess; if you come to this house to find God you are welcome here. Paxton United Methodist Church is an inviting church that takes to heart the idea of “Open Doors, Open Hearts, and Open Minds.” Worship begins at 10:00. Our email address is paxtonumc@yahoo.com. If you would like the weekly email newsletter about Paxton Methodist, you can send your email address to the Paxton email address, and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed.