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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
December 26, 2016 - Sunday was Christmas morning. Our Gospel lessons came from the two Gospel that have a miracle birth story. Over the centuries we have combined Matthew’s and Luke’s narratives to come up with the Christmas story that most are familiar with. But the accounts are different in many ways. The Matthew Gospel was probably written around 80 CE, in or around the Jewish homeland. It is the most “Jewish” of the four canonical Gospels because the audience was Jewish. The Luke Gospel was written later and probably by a Gentile convert. Both stories point to the wondrous and the divine; we should embrace them both despite their variations. The anonymous writers of the four Gospels never intended them to be read literally—they were proclamations of good news. Only later did the Gentile converts begin to believe that these writings might be literal and historical.
We had a nice crowd at Paxton on Christmas morning. We didn’t have Sunday school, so we all started gathering a little before 10:00. Laura and Joe joined us this morning. We hope Susan is feeling better real soon. My kids, Megan and Jacob, also attended. We missed Joy, Gene, Carolyn, Joe, and the others that are traveling at Christmas.
Sue read the Gospel Lessons that came from both Matthew and Luke. Christmas is a celebration of love and family: Mary and Joseph, we are told, were such devoted parents. Fanny Crosby is well known for her songs, but most people don’t know her Christmas carol called “Glad Tidings.” I read that missionaries introduced that song to the Hawaiian Islands, and it remains one of the most popular Christmas songs in Hawaii. The only YouTube version I found was accompanied by a ukulele! Another unusual hymn I used in my sermon was a country western one called “Would They Love Him Down in Shreveport Today?” containing the lyrics “Would the rich men think it funny if he said give up your money?/ Would they love him up on Wall Street today?”
For most of our married life, Sue, the kids, and I went to one of our parents at Thanksgiving and then the other set at Christmas. In the last many years we always went to Dallas and spent Thanksgiving and Christmas with my mother, brother, and sister-in-law. After my children graduated, they both ended up in Dallas. Sue’s mom never put much store in specific dates and was happy when we came, regardless. My mother died this year, so we stayed put and Megan and Jacob came to Joaquin for Christmas. It was really nice. Our nephew and his family came from Nacogdoches on Christmas, and we had a real Christmas at home.
Megan brought her wonderful dog, Stella. The Granddog stayed with us for almost a year while Megan had her older home completely remodeled. Our dogs were happy to see their playmate as will her grandparents—Sue and I! I received a letter from my aunt and uncle from Maine—I don’t think they could imagine 70 degree weather on Christmas day. On Christmas Eve I walked the dogs in blue jeans and a T-shirt, although just a few days ago it was in the low twenties. The weather in East Texas is unpredictable except for the sweltering summers that never forget to show their face.
It is hard to believe that another New Year is almost here. We get to say goodbye to 2016 which was a strange year, to say the least. I guess every year has it share of the neat and the weird. Paxton Methodist and other volunteers still plan to make the rounds to the various nursing homes in 2017. Ms. Hilda does such a wonderful job bringing people together for visits, fellowship, and song. Our first visit will be to Green Acres January 2 at 2:00. Then on Tuesday, January 17th we will head to Holiday. On Thursday, January 26th we will go to Lakeside. During the month of January we will collect cans of tuna for the food bank at Community Christian Services.
“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, Open Minds.” Sunday School starts at 9:30 and 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 me your email address to the Paxton email address and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed!
December 24, 2016 - The Shelbyville United Methodist Church invites all to join them on Christmas Eve for our candlelight service beginning at 5:00 pm.
Our Christmas Day Worship Service begins at 11:00 am.
December 24, 2016 - St. John's Episcopal Church will have a Christmas Eve service at 4pm on Saturday, Dec 24th. Everyone is invited to attend. Located at 1063 Southview Circle (96 south) in Center.
December 21, 2016 - The race was long and it was a hot day. Meghan Vogel a high school track athlete was having a difficult time finishing the 3200 meter run. She had competed in and won the 1600 meter race just a little while earlier, but had to quickly recover and start the 3200 meter race.
As her strength started to fade, she fell further back in the pack. With only one lap to go she was no longer trying to win but just finish the race.
There was one girl ahead of her from a rival school. About 20 meters from the finish line the young lady in front of her, Arden McMath collapsed to the ground. Everyone watching knew that this was Meghans chance to move ahead in the race. What happened next took everyone by surprise.
As Meghan approached Arden, she did what the crowd would have never suspected. She stopped, bent down, picked Arden up, and helped her across the finish line.
The crowd began cheering as the two young ladies crossed the finish line together. She gave up a chance to win the "foot" race, but succeeded in winning the "human" race. When asked why she did it, Meghan's response was she didn't even think about it. "It was what anybody would do."
We know some times in life its hard to show that kind of sacrificial love for someone that we don't even know. But as Christians we are called to love in that way.
For us to live lives filled with joy, peace, and love we need to look to the bible on how Jesus told us to love, and lived out that love. First, He told us to love unconditionally. That means we are to love others as they are. We may not agree with them or what they are doing, but we are to love them and pray for them that God will do a work in them and through them. To pray that He will make them what He wants them to be not what we want. Jesus demonstrated that kind of love for us in that "while we were yet sinners Christ died for us." (Rom. 5:8)
Second we are to love sacrificially. We should not only tell others of Gods love but show them by our actions toward them. Giving of yourself to others for their good is the greatest demonstration of love. What Meghan showed that day on the track was disregard for personal gain to help another who was struggling and had fallen. "God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." (John 3: 17-18) Rather than taking advantage of others when they are down we should show that we are willing to reach out to them in their time of need and help them up.
Third we are to love others personally. The only Jesus some people will ever see is the Jesus that lives in you. There are a lot of "Christians" out there who are just plain mean. John speaks to that issue in 1 John 4:20-21. "If someone says, "I love God", and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he he love God who he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also." We can't be hate filled people and still claim to be children of a loving, caring God. We are called to love them without regard for their past mistakes and shortcomings. We love them the way we want to be loved.
You are very special to God. He loves you and wants you to reflect that love to all you come in contact with. We must show love for each other if we are to to be all that God has called us to be. No matter your position in this life you can always extend a hand of love to someone who has fallen down. Let Gods love shine through you and you will see your life as well as those around you change. Remember, love is the most precious gift you can give this season. Give unconditionally, sacrificially, and personally and you will be blessed.
I'm Just sayin,
Mike Belgard
Video on ABC News of Race: High School Runner Carries Opponent Across Finish Line
December 6, 2016 Center, Texas – The First United Methodist Church of Center, 211 N. Porter Street, announces their second annual Blue Christmas Service on Wednesday, December 21 at 7:00 p.m.
What is a Longest Night or Blue Christmas Service? This is a service where you will hear no triumphant organ fanfares, no joyous Christmas carols, only quiet readings and prayers in a sanctuary lit with candles amid the dusk of early evening. Its purpose is to reach those who feel little comfort and joy amid the celebratory season. It's a chance to say, “My life is not totally fabulous,” and to hear that God is here in the midst of our loneliness and grief.
Some congregations call it a Blue Christmas service, reflecting the sadness of the song popularized by Elvis Presley. Others call it the Longest Night because it occurs on or near the winter solstice, with the year's least amount of daylight.
Some people may be grieving for a loved one with whom they shared Christmases past. For others, who may have experienced divorce, abuse or other family trauma, the last thing they want to hear about is coming home for the holidays. Still others simply may be stressed because of holiday expectations. The service is particularly sober amid fresh grief.
Blue Christmas services have become more and more common in the past two decades. Participants light four candles on the Advent wreath in honor of grief, pain, fear and struggle, a contrast to their usual representation of love, joy, peace and hope.
Such services help revive the historic meanings of the season of Advent. The current cultural message that "everything is shiny and happy for Christmas" has overwhelmed the season's original meaning and overwhelms many people.
Some may need the service in a given year while others come annually with some ongoing pain. It's a comfort to a lot of people. For many, a very upbeat, celebratory Christmas is like salt in the wounds. The Blue Christmas Service helps by simply being closer to God. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it, no matter how much it seems like the darkness is winning.
Please come and join with us in hearing prayers, scripture and music, acknowledging that God’s presence is for those who mourn, for those who struggle – and that God’s Word comes to shine light into our darkness. Everyone is welcome. Coffee will be served after the service. Additional information regarding the Blue Christmas Service can be obtained by contacting Rev. Karen Jones at FUMC (936) 598-2707.
December 19, 2016 - Sunday was the Fourth Sunday of Advent, bringing our Advent journey to an end. The four words of Advent are hope, peace, joy, and love. I agree with Paul when he says the greatest is love, and that is today’s theme. Christmas comes on a Sunday this year. At Paxton, we will have Christmas Morning Worship Service at 10:00. There will be no Sunday school. Only two of the four Gospels speak of Christmas morning. Christmas was not celebrated in the Christian Church until the 4th Century CE. Even after the universal church made Christmas an end-of-year celebration, many Christian sects refused to participate. In the Puritan colonies it was a crime to observe Christmas. Workers were ordered to the fields and expected to give a full day’s labor.
The Gospel for the 4th Sunday of Advent is Matthew 1:18-25. If Luke is Mary’s story, then Matthew is Joseph’s story. And it is a story of love and devotion. The angel spoke to the handyman Yosef and said, “Mary will bear a son, and you are to name him Yeshua.” There is no greater example of someone discounting his own pride and feelings to do something out of love than Joseph, a model of humility and love.
Our Sunday School lesson came from Luke 1:8-20, which tells about the promise of a child to Zechariah and Elizabeth. We are familiar with this story and reminded that we must trust God even when it challenges us. Our writer had one whole section called “Silencing the Skeptic”: We have to admit that we are often skeptical just like Zechariah. I remember reading about a scientist and Christian who said sometimes she has to “will” herself to believe. We all have to do that sometimes.
Last Tuesday many of us went to Lakeside Village for song and stories. Joyce, Lori, and Wyatt sang and played piano and guitar, delighting everyone with their special talents. Fannie shared a poem that she wrote for Christmas 2016 and had copies of a wonderful Christmas story set at the end of WWII; she gave both to all the residents and guests. Gene Casto sang a song about that special little boy, Jesus. Nora shared her version of “Mary, Did You Know?” a haunting Christmas song. All of our nursing home ministries are made possible because of the work and planning Hilda does. Our Holiday Nursing Center ministry has been cancelled for this month, but we’ll pick up next year!
In Methodist tradition, pastors will meet with their District Superintendent (Presiding Elder) in January, and around the world Methodist churches will submit their yearly reports on January 9th. With all the new technology, these reports are done online. That saves an extra trip to Lufkin.
Everyone at Paxton Methodist wishes all our friends and neighbors a Happy Christmas. Each New Year comes with challenges, and 2017 will be no different. But our wish is that many joys will be found in this New Year.
“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, Open Minds.” Sunday School starts at 9:30 and 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 me your email address to the Paxton email address and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed!
December 14, 2016 - Center Christian Fellowship will be sharing The Christmas Story and Christmas Carols tonight, Wednesday, December 14th at 6:30pm. A special version of The Christmas Story will be read by Jana Keele. Everyone is invited to attend. Christmas refreshements will be served.
December 14, 2016 - The Beatles recorded a song back a few years ago titled "Let It Be". The gist of the song had to do with the wisdom that was in the words that the young Mary spoke when confronted by the angel Gabriel when he informed her that she had been chosen by God to carry His son. You see Mary didn't understand how all this was going to happen asking, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" The angel explained it to her in detail. Then realizing that this was going to be an event that was far beyond her understanding, she uttered those words of wisdom that the Beatles sang about: "Let it be to me according to your word." (Luke 1:38)
What is so wise about those words you may ask? Well its the attitude of the one saying them that makes them so wise. She is telling God and everyone else, that she has surrendered to the will of God. That even though she doesn't understand what God is doing with her or how all this is going to turn out, that she is going to trust God through whatever happens. We need to understand that if we have that same attitude in our relationship with God, that He can, and will be able to use us to change the world. What we have to do is quit trying to figure everything out and just "let it be" and let God work out His plan for our lives.
Mary had found that following Gods plan was always better than following her own. Proverbs 3: 5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." When we let God direct us into His will, we will always come out on the right side of trials, adversities, and life in general. Gods plan for you is way grander than anything you could plan for yourself.
As we reflect on this Christmas season let us never forget that the greatest gift that has ever been given, is the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Jesus was given through a young lady who was full of grace, who had surrendered her will to that of loving Father when she said "Let it be." Let me encourage you to just let go of the things that are burdening you and turn it over to God. Trust Him and "let it be" for your life what is His true and perfect will for you. You will never regret it. Accept the gift of Jesus this Christmas season.
I'm Just Sayin,
Mike Belgard
December 12, 2016 - Mt. Zion C.M.E. Church will be hosting their Annual Christmas Program, "Sounds of the Season," on Sunday, December 18, 2016 at 3:30p.m.
Come celebrate the birth of the Messiah with the song, the dance, and the instrument!
Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, and Mighty God
Veronica Berry ~ Choir President
Rev. Elgena Weaver - Pastor
Bishop Lawrence L. Reddick, III - Presiding Prelate
Rev. Trever Barnett - Presiding Elder
December 12, 2016 - Sunday was the Third Sunday of Advent. Traditionally this Sunday has been known as Gaudete Sunday and the command is that we rejoice. This Sunday we used the Magnificat or Canticle of Mary as our Gathering Words. Mary, a young peasant girl around 13 or 14, speaks of her spirit rejoicing; her joyous words tell of good news where the powerful will be brought low and those that struggle will be exalted.
The Epistle Lesson for Sunday was James 5:7-10. This small group of verses set inside this small epistle reminds the faithful to be patient, just like the farmer who waits for spring or rain. We humans do not do a very good job of being patient. I remember my father saying that he wanted patience and he wanted it right now! James is dealing with a growing problem in the Jewish Jesus communities. The faithful are waiting for Jesus to return and set things right. They remember that he said that this generation will not taste death as the Kingdom was coming very soon. And yet more and more of “this generation” were dying off, and anxiety was setting in. Patience, says James!
Ms. Hilda and the faithful headed off to Green Acres last Monday. Pastor Matt was home from seminary and led the singing. On Monday Sue had to take me to the doctor in Shreveport to have my eyes checked out. I got a good report, always a nice feeling. This coming Thursday we will go to Lakeside Village Assisted Living. Ms. Hilda said Joyce Hughes plans to be there, which means we will have some wonderful music and singing. Then a week from this coming Tuesday (December 20th) our monthly ministry is at Holiday Nursing Center .
Last Tuesday 33 folks met at Paxton Methodist for our annual Paxton Community Christmas Party. We had plenty of good music and stories and, of course, food. We love seeing our neighbors and folks who have long ties to Paxton. Christmas Morning Services will be at 10:00 AM, and there will be no Sunday School that day.
Our new District Superintendent is the Reverend Tony Vinson; I will meet with him for a yearly meeting in January. In fine, organized Methodist fashion, churches are preparing the “End of Year” Reports for the District and Conference. All United Methodist Churches, large or small, must fill out pages of numbers. I have really good help from the Paxton folks. Gene is our treasurer and keeps close tabs on the monies. Gene has gotten me answers to all the finance questions, so last night I started entering data into the End-of-Year Reports. In years past all Methodist ministers would head to the District office to have their records audited. But with the Internet our reports are sent through Ezra Reporting System to our District and Conference. John Wesley was always a forward-looking person, but he would be amazed by all the advancements since his day. He would also be saddened to see that war is more common than peace and that the powerful and well-heeled are even more in charge than in his day.
Community Christian Services is in full swing this holiday season. Food and clothing giveaways at the former Haslam Baptist parsonage are monthly now; that part of CCS is so well organized—and making plans to expand further. First Baptist has been gathering, organizing, and wrapping children’s Christmas gifts of clothes and toys: Their pick-up day is set for Friday, December 16. The East Texas motorcycle guys had a rally at Joaquin Methodist this past weekend, with all proceeds going to the part of CCS run by that church. Everyone seemed to be having a great time at the rally, and their big hearts make life easier for needy families here.
“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, Open Minds.” Sunday School starts at 9:30 and 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 me your email address to the Paxton email address and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed!
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