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Contributing Writers: David Mathis | Tim Perkins
Past Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard
Faith
June 3, 2021 - The annual New Hope Cemetery homecoming is Sunday, June 6, at 12 noon. Please bring your lawn chairs and favorite dishes and come enjoy a time of fellowship.
If you are unable to attend please send your donations for the upkeep of the cemetery to: New Hope Cemetery, 1597 FM 2974, Center, TX 75935.
June 3, 2021 - A Life Saving Community Blood Drive sponsored by First Baptist Church of Center is Thursday, June 3, at 10am until 2:30pm in the Fellowship Hall of FBC, 117 Cora Street, Center, TX.
To sign up, contact Teresa Crawford at (936) 598-5605 with sponsor code 7765. To sign up online please visit https://tinyurl.com/4fw2fx6t.
Free COVID-19 anti-body testing for all successful donations! For questions about Covid-19 antibody testing please visit https://tinyurl.com/2b97fv6k
Donors will Receive a FREE T-SHIRT!!
June 2, 2021 - Open Door Baptist Worship Center is hosting its 21st Pastor and Wife Anniversary at 11am on Sunday, June 13, 2021.
Guests are Pastor Winston Kibbles and The St. John Baptist Church.
Open Door Baptist Worship Center is located at 900 Cotton Ford Road, Center, Texas and lead by Pastor Alvin Davis.
June 1, 2021 - Destination Dig! Vacation Bible School at First Baptist Center is Monday, June 14 through Friday, June 18, from 9am until 12 noon for 3yrs up to completed 6th grade. Free!
Registration online and more info at www.fbccenter.org or by calling 936-598-5605.
June 1, 2021 - Join Vacation Bible School at Hillcrest Baptist Church June 7 - 11, 6pm - 7:30pm.
Ages kindergarten and up. For more information call 936-332-0811.
June 1, 2021 - Friendship Baptist Church in Joaquin, Texas is hosting Big Fish Bay Vacation Bible School on June 14 through June 18 from 6 pm until 8pm nightly.
Crafts, snacks, lessons, games, songs, and more! VBS is for ages 4 years through 8th grade.
Check out the Facebook event "Big Fish Bay VBS at Friendship Baptist Church" for easy registration and more information.
June 1, 2021 - Pack your bags and grab your gear, VBS 2021 is headed to present-day Israel where an epic adventure of discovery awaits. Discover amazing finds and exciting evidence that proves biblical events were not just stories. They really happened!!! At Destination Dig, kids will unearth more than just dirt. They’ll discover real-life archaeological finds that have helped to uncover the truth about Jesus.
Place: First Baptist Haslam (beside Brookshires in Joaquin)
When: Monday-Thursday, June 21-24
Time: 6:00-8:30pm
*Dinner and snacks will be provided each night.
May 31, 2021 - Grace and peace from our friend and brother Jesus. It is Memorial Day morning, and I am running late with my newspaper article and weekly church newsletter. Sam, Gunter, and I finally made it to the park for our morning walk in the beautiful weather. I finished some of my early chores and decided to sit down to write the News from Paxton Methodist. Saturday we had a phone call from one of our favorite people—Ms. Hilda! She sounded really good! At church Joy said she called Hilda during the week, and they had the nicest talk. We still haven’t heard from Carolyn, but I imagine they have her pretty busy up there in Pennsylvania. (I wonder if it’s spring up there yet.)
Since we resumed in-person worship, our music has been on CD. And we are reminded yet again how much we miss Hilda being here. But this week we sang the Gloria Patri and the Doxology along with “America, the Beautiful.” We relied on CD instrumental versions for these songs since we don’t have a piano player. We did OK but it was questionable whether it was a joyful noise—or just noise. Our final hymn was Christy Lane singing “The Star-Spangled Banner,” for which we all rose. In our prayers and in the sermon, we remembered all those folks who served their country with pride and distinction.
The scripture for our Sunday School lesson was the Epistle lesson (1 John 4: 7-21) a few Sundays ago. The author said we are to embrace and celebrate God’s all-encompassing love. To me, John’s words are key to understanding Jesus and the Peaceable Kingdom of God. Growing up Lutheran, I heard a lot about punishment and doom and not so much about love. But after all, God is love.
The Gospel lesson for Trinity Sunday was probably the most well-known of all Christian scriptures. The Gospel lesson included John 3:16. Even though the Trinity is not discussed in the New Testament, by the fourth century CE it was certainly part of the church doctrine. We read this morning as our affirmation The Nicene Creed, which the emperor and the church hoped would clarify the relationship of the Trinity’s three parts. It didn’t work: People still don’t understand it (I don’t for sure) and still argue over what they don’t understand.
In June we will collect paper towels and toilet paper for Community Christian Services. I will drop of f the bounty of canned fruit that the church collected in May, as well as some checks from the church folks.
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.
May 28, 2021 - Gospel singing will be held Saturday, June 12, 2021 at 6:00 P.M. Musicians set up at 5:30. A meal will be provided.
Some of the Musicians will be Danny and Rebecca Wall and the Wall Brothers, Mike Belgard and Harold Walker. If you would like to take part, just come.
Directions to church: FM 699 4.9 miles, turn right on CR 3129 go 0.3 mile and turn right on first road to right past large culvert.
All welcome.
May 27, 2021 - I read that the great defense attorney Clarence Darrow once said, “Everyone is a potential murderer. I have not killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction out of obituary notices.”
We find humor in that because it comes so close to the truth of our own lives. Of all the things that Jesus commanded, the command to “Love our enemies” in Luke chapter 6 and verse 27 is perhaps the most difficult.
I may not love God like I should, but I’m determined to get a handle on it. I may not love my wife the way I should, but I intend to work at it. I may not love my neighbor as I should, but I have nothing against trying.
But, love my enemies? That is something we struggle with. They have hurt us. They have spoken out against us. They have threatened our self worth, our standing in the community and subjected us to mental cruelty.
Truthfully, I don’t want to love these people, but Jesus said I must. When someone wrongs us, our first instinct is to get even. We want to make them hurt as much as they have hurt us. Jesus tells us that is not the way He wants us to live.
He also tells us we must do good to those who hate us. We must bless those who curse us. We must pray for those who mistreat us. It may not be what we want to do, but loving our enemies shows others we belong to Christ.
It’s something to think about… tbp
Center Church of Christ, 110 Hurst Street, Center, Texas or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com
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