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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
August 9, 2016 - McMahan Chapel 3rd Annual Antique/Classic Car Show, Saturday September 17th. Registration beings at 8:00am, showtime at 10:00am. $25 entry fee day of show, $20 pre-registration. Judging begins at 10:30am. Hamburgers or hotdogs, potato salad, baked beans, cookies and tea or coffee for $6 a plate. Homemade ice cream will be available as well. All proceeds go to McMahan Chapel UMC.
To pre-register mail fee and info about your car to Sharron Mills, Rt 2 Box 424, San Augustine, Tx 75972. Please include phone number. The available classes are Pre-49, 1st and 2nd place car. 1st and 2nd place truck. 1st and 2nd place open car. Class Post-48 will host the same trophies as Pre. Custom or Radically Modified, 1st place Car and Truck. Motorcycles, open class, 1st and 2nd place. Trophies for all that place! To gather more information, please contact 936.275.5542 or 936.275.2640
GPS location of the church is 2240 McMahan Chapel Road Bronson, Texas.
September 8, 2016 - First United Methodist Church will celebrate it's 150th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, October 29th from 10 am to 5 pm. Sunday, October 30th Men’s Breakfast will be at 9am, followed by a Combined Worship Service at 10:15 am. The church was established in 1866 the same year the courthouse was moved from Shelbyville to Center.
Activities are planned for Saturday, October 29th including a covered dish lunch. Dr. Jerry Neff will preach Sunday, October 30th. Community members, past members and anyone who would like to join us in the historic 150th anniversary celebration is invited to attend our weekend celebration. More details about the planned events will be sent out in September.
September 8, 2016 - The First United Methodist Church of Center was organized early in 1866, in a two story building shared by the Masonic Lodge using the second floor and on property deeded to the church by Judge E.G. Wheeler. Both Methodist and Baptist worshipped in this building.
In 1888, a building program for a new church was begun and culminated in 1892 in a new frame building located on the site of our present church. This building was remodeled in 1910.
The present church building was erected in 1927 during the pastorate of Rev. John Franklin Kidd, and the old parsonage which now serves as the youth director parsonage was built in 1939 while Rev. A.D. Lemons was pastor. The Northern Methodist and the Southern Methodist merged in 1939.
Runnels Chapel was added to the church building in 1950 and the entire church was remodeled and redecorated. Rev. Chester Phillip was the pastor at this time. Central heat and air conditioning were added in 1954. The same year, the J. E. Armstrong residence and property adjacent to the church was purchased and converted into a youth center and church school space.
The History of United Methodist Church Cemetery:
The First United Methodist Church Cemetery is one of the old cemeteries in Shelby County located in the Nancy Smith survey on land deeded by Judge M.W. Wheeler and Sam Samford “who deeded the land to his beloved church and burying ground for generations to come.” The First Methodist Episcopal Church South was organized during the early part of the year 1866 soon after the town of Center was established. The first church and Sam Samford Masonic Lodge #149 building was located on the North side of the cemetery. The top floor was used by the lodge and the ground floor was a meeting place for the church and Sunday School.
There are many historically significant Center and Shelby County citizens buried in the First United Methodist Church Cemetery, including Elkanah Samford, first Worshipful Master of the Sam Samford Masonic Lodge #149 and his wife, Davila Adaline Samford; Rev. James R. Burke, early Methodist minister; Shelby County Civil War veterans and wives; and R. L. Parker, considered the Father of Center, responsible for relocating the county seat from Shelbyville to Center. There are approximately 107 graves dating from 1861 to 1939. The earliest marked burial on this site is Jarrell Chandler in 1861 before the property was designated as a cemetery. The last burial was Pollie Brodgen Amason in 1939. http://www.shelbycountytexashistory.net/Shelby/cem_methodistme.htm
In the late 1980s, the Runnels Chapel Sunday School class received a sizeable donation designated only to be used for cemetery grounds improvements. At that time, Nell Polley and her committee diligently worked on the project. At the beginning, cemetery grounds improvements included installing a black chain link fence surrounding the cemetery, planting azaleas, crepe myrtles, roses and other shrubs, outlining flower beds with border bricks and flagstone connecting walkways within the interior of the cemetery, installing a sprinkler system and placing several benches and tables. For many year, the cemetery project work was completed under the guidance of Nell Polley and currently Suzanne Ihlo continues the care of the cemetery. In the fall of 2015, the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Shelby Beautiful Clean Committee presented a Community Beautification Award to the First United Methodist Church for their constant care and efforts for beautification to the community and being mindful to the preservation of the historical value of the cemetery. In July 2015, an application was submitted to the Texas Historical State Cemetery for a historical marker. Presently, the church is currently waiting for a reply.
The cemetery is owned by the First United Methodist Church and church Trustees to maintain the historical site.
September 6, 2016 - Sunday was the 16th Sunday after Pentecost. This was the first Sunday of a new month and the Paxton Church celebrated Holy Communion. This month, our church will be collecting macaroni and cheese for Community Christian Services. The Gospel Lesson for this Sunday is the last part of Luke 14. In last week’s Gospel, Jesus had been invited to dine at a leading Pharisee’s home. Our lesson today takes up as Jesus leaves the house and a large crowd had come to hear this rabbi. Jesus in no uncertain terms explains the high cost of being one of his disciples. To be a disciple one has to hate his family, give up all his possessions, and take up the cross. All three of these propositions are not easy things to do. As Bonheoffer said there is no such thing as cheap grace. This “hard saying” of Jesus is not difficult to understand; it is hard to be willing to do! Bishop Willomon said that many find it easier to recreate the Gospel and the Savior than it is to become a true disciple. People have been recreating for centuries!
The Charge Conference for this area will be held at FUMC in Center on September 22nd at 6:00. Next Sunday between Sunday school and church Paxton will have a short Church Conference. We will approve the various reports, the paying of next year’s apportionments, the budget, and continued support of the pastor. After that I will make copies and deliver them to Center. Later that week I will officiate at the wedding of Valarie and Mark and am looking forward to that.
Monday is Labor Day. It is also the Monday that we go to Green Acres for our monthly ministry. Our program will begin at 2:00. Later in the month we will also go to Holiday and Lakeside.
We had somewhat of a crowd at Green Acres. Included in the group were two of Mrs. Fannie’s former students and a former Joaquin student. We sang lots of old-time church songs (some better known than others). Nora led us in “God Bless America,” Fannie told about playing in the rain, Sue read a picture book called “We Can’t Sleep,” and Matt talked about the Gospel. Mrs. Hilda was lively on the piano, and I emceed. Neither Matt nor I have been at the church programs in awhile—he’s been on vacation and then back at school, and I’ve been nursing my broken foot. It was good to reacquaint.
“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!
September 6, 2016 - Smith Chapel Baptist Church will be celebrating their Musician's appreciation Saturday, September 10th at 7:00 PM. All are invited.
September 6, 2016 - Christians have been watching for Jesus to return to earth since His ascension to the Father for He promised that He would indeed return for his own.
He gave us this advice before he left; "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But you know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore, you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." (Matthew 24:42-44)
We do not know when, for the Lord wants us to live in a state of expectancy and watchfulness. Believers know He could come at any hour, and must beware of those who claim to know the hour for they are false prophets.
Like the master of the house, if we knew the hour many would not live as they should until the final minutes before His return. Our souls might be prepared, we might be saved, but our bodies, minds and hearts might not. Our "house" might not be in good order if we knew the time.
In verses 6-8, Jesus warns us of hard times to come; of the distress of nations, of wars, rumors of wars, of catastrophes of gigantic proportions. Look around, today almost all nations suffer unrest, distress and distrust and many are even gripped by rebellion just as God's Word predicts. Jesus tells us that this is still not the end, that these are only the "beginnings of sorrows", that we will still suffer tribulation and that many will even die.
But he gives us a promise; that all who endure to the end, will be saved. Praise God and His grace and mercy and for this promise, amen...
Paul told us in Romans 12, that we are not to be conformed to this world; we must live in it but we cannot be a part of it, we must remain apart from it.
Jesus tells us to look for false religions to abound in the last days all through the 24th chapter of Matthew. We can see these all around us today, all types of heretical teachings even to Satan worship being pawned off as religion.
Many people subscribe to these false teachings and feel they have religion, but these "religions" have no power other than the deceptions they hold their people with.
In the book of Revelation Jesus gives us this promise; "Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life." (Rev. 2:10)
As His children, what should we be doing as we wait for His return?
We should first be faithful until death or until He returns.
We should spend much time each day in prayer and in the study of His Word.
We should be actively engaged in service to Him every day.
We should hold all persons blameless in our hearts, for Jesus has told us that if we cannot forgive one another that we will not be forgiven by the Father.
What should we be doing?
We should be about our Father's business... AMEN...
May God bless and keep you each day...
September 1, 2016 - The East Hamilton Missionary Baptist Church is giving their pastor, Rev. Alvin Brinson, a helping hands program Saturday, September 17, 2016 at 7pm at the East Hamilton MBC.
Rev. Brinson injured his eye which will require several surgeries and he is unable to work at this time.
Please come and bring your choirs, soloist, praise dancers, or whatever talents to help East Hamilton lift up the name of Jesus and bless Pastor Brinson.
Any financial help will be greatly appreciated. If you are unable to attend, but would like to help send all donations to: Dorothy Hill, 872 CR 2013, Shelbyville, TX 75973.
August 31, 2016 - It was a beautiful morning as the young sailor walked up the gang plank onto the deck of the ship. He couldn't believe the day had finally arrived. It was the day that he, an Ensign on a large military ship was going to get the chance to be in control at the helm as the ship leaves port. He had gone through the deportation process over and over in his head. He knew it by heart. As he climbed into the captain’s chair he could feel the power of the ships massive engines vibrating the whole ship. He sat for a moment to gather his thoughts and then began giving orders to the seamen. "Cast off lines," "engines slow forward," "Helmsman turns starboard."
They had gotten underway without a hitch. About the time the ship leaves the pier, the Captains phone rang and the young Ensign answered, "Yes sir." It was the ship’s Captain calling to congratulate the young sailor on a job well done. As the Captain praised the young man on how well he had gotten the ship underway, He said, "There was just one thing that you forgot." The young man quickly went through the procedure in his head before replying, "What was that sir?" The captain replied with a snicker, “You forgot to make sure the Captain was on board before you left port."
When you head off to sea without your captain, you may be able to get by for a while. You may even say this is not that hard of a job. However when the storms hit, the engines quit, and the sailor’s mutiny, you quickly realize you need the help of the only person who has the wisdom, experience, and knowledge to handle the situation. With the Captain on board these big problems are quickly solved.
Life is no different. We can get by for a while steering our own ship but when the storms of life start beating us down we realize that we need a Captain. When our car breaks down and we have no money to repair it, when our friends and family turn against us, we need a Captain for our life. Hebrews 2:10 tells us we have a Captain in Jesus. "For it was fitting for Him for whom all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory to make the captain of their salvation perfect through suffering." When we leave the port of our homes every morning to set sail on our day we need to make sure the captain is on board with us.
We do this by praying and meditating on the word before we head out the door, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and lead us around or even through those storms of life. Remember Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all things acknowledging him, and He will make your paths straight." Jesus wants you to trust him and let him see you through your day. He wants to be the Captain of your ship. If you would just surrender to Him and let Him take over the "helm" of your life it may not always be smooth sailing but you will always arrive safely at the right port.
I'm Just Sayin’,
Mike Belgard
August 30, 2016 - The Apostle Paul calls upon all Christians to give of themselves in service to the Lord. He asks us; "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your "reasonable service". And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1-2)
Paul beseeches (to make an urgent appeal) us to give ourselves, he begs us in the most powerful way he can, "by the mercies of God", the ultimate appeal for service. And he calls this living sacrifice or total giving of ourselves; "your reasonable service".
We, His children, are the only things God will redeem from this world when we reach the end of this age. We have nothing else to give Him and we should give cheerfully, without reservation.
All saved people have been bought and paid for by the blood of Christ Jesus, while they have not yet been glorified, or made perfect, they still belong to God and by giving of ourselves, we are only giving, to God, what is already His.
No matter how hard we may try, we cannot get totally away from sin because any earthly body is simply an avenue of sin, it is the venue by which all people do sin. So, why not give it gladly to God. Giving over our bodies is the token that proves we are indeed willing to serve God, it is our offering completed.
When we do give willingly of ourselves in service to God's will we become useful vessels for our Lord. By standing in the gap for the gospel we become priests in His kingdom here on earth. Paul said, we are not to be conformed to this world, Paul saw all of this world; nature, society, the intellectual world and the commercial world as being controlled by Satan, the prince of the air, and in being antagonistic to God's cause.
While we must live in it, we cannot be a part of it, we cannot conform to it for we must serve God and not man. Jesus tells us this; "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciple." (John 15:7-8)
When a person is saved and his transformation from the physical world to the spiritual world takes place, he no longer will use his body as an instrument of sin. The change causes him to produce the fruit of the spirit in his life. Only then does the believer become able to prove what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.
In Paul's eyes, this is simply our reasonable service to God. May God bless and keep you each day...
August 29, 2016 - Sunday was the 15th Sunday after Pentecost. It was a rainy evening Saturday: At the Smith house we collected about an inch and a half. This is one of the wettest Augusts that I can remember. I used as my scripture verses from Jeremiah 2 and Luke 14. Jeremiah and God are talking; God feels abandoned by his special people. He wonders to his prophet if he wronged them—have the chosen forgotten all God had done for the ancestors. In these passages are wonderful images of the Sacred as Jeremiah speaks of living water—flowing water. This he compares to the broken wells built by people that cannot even hold water. God is not happy about his chosen people whom he believes must have forgotten all about him.
The Gospel for the 15th Sunday after Pentecost comes from Luke 14, telling the story of when Jesus went to dinner at a leading Pharisee’s home. One writer says that the author of the Luke Gospel is preoccupied with eating. But I would think that a traveling rabbi who depended on the goodness of strangers would seldom turn down a free meal. In these two scriptures come two important theological ideas—springs of living water and the table. Living water and the bread of life given at the table are the cornerstones of the two sacraments of Protestant Christians—baptism and communion.
We had a nice crowd at Paxton this morning. My son Jacob is in for a visit and came with Sue for church. I talk about my two kids quite often, but many of the folks have never met them. In answer to the plea from our bishop, several folks are giving to United Methodist Relief to assist the flood victims in Louisiana. The church also voted to send $500 from Paxton Methodist.
Last week was our ministry to Lakeside Assisted Living. I was at yet another doctor’s appointment (the bane of getting older), but I heard reports of a lively program. Clarissa, Hannah, and Josiah Menefee performed on piano, violin, psaltery, and mandolin—toe-tapping music ranging from religious to bluegrass. Other music included Nora “singing a book,” Joyce Hughes doing a piano solo, and her granddaughter Tori Windham presenting several specials and leading congregational singing. Ollie shared a letter she’d received recounting “angels among us,” Fannie offered some of her thought-provoking points, and Sue read “Amigos Forever,” a picture book Hilda bought for that purpose. So nice also to have Sylvia with us, feeling better, and in lovely voice.
“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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