Hymns in Lent - Day 4

"I was as a beast before thee." - Psalm 58:22

"Why will ye die?" - Exekiel 33:11

Let the beasts their breath reign,

Strangers to the life divine;

WHo their God can never know,

Let their spirits downward go:

Ye for higher ends were born:

Ye may all to God return;

Why will ye for ever die?

Ye, on whom he avours showers,

Ye, posses'd of nobler powers,

Ye, of reason's powers possest,

Ye, with will and memory blest!

Creatures capable of God;

Noblest of his creatures, why,

Why will ye for ever die?

Ye, who own his record true,

Ye, his chosen people too,

Ye, who call the Saviour Lord,

Ye, who read his written word:

Ye, who see the Gospel light,

Claim a crown in Jesus' right;

Why will ye, ye Christians, why

Will the house of Israel die?

  The Methodist Pocket Hymn-Book. New York: J. Soule and T. Mason Publishing Co., 1818.

DIBS in action

Betty L., Loraine, Shirley, and Barb enjoy the discussion

Doris, Belinda, & Ginny listen in

Eight were on hand this morning at Doris T.'s home for the weekly Drop-in Bible Study (Dibs). This morning's lesson was based on Galatians 3:26-4:7.

Dibs meets each week on Friday morning's at 10:00 am (usually at Doris'). Next week's lesson comes from Galatians 4:8-20.

Our Faith Journey

What’s the bedrock of life for Christians? Is it Bible reading? Church participation? Prayer? Is it a belief that Jesus is God’s Son?

The foundation of Christian living is faith in Christ. Faith is the central loyalty that gives purpose and direction to our lives. Christian faith is grounding our lives in the living God as revealed especially in Jesus the Christ.

This faith does not happen overnight. It’s a journey. From birth to death we’re growing in faith. There are ups and downs — and sometimes long flat stretches where we seem to be stalled in our journey. But little by little, most of us deepen our relationship with God.

In part, this growth in faith is a gift. Through our participation in the community of faith, through our openness to God’s love, we receive this marvelous treasure. But faith is also a choice we make, an often difficult decision to put God and God’s reign first in our lives, no matter what the cost.

We cannot say that some people are “ahead” in the journey of faith and others “behind.” Faith is not something we possess by degrees. The journey is complex, different for each traveler and involving at least four intertwined pathways:

Trusting

First and foremost, faith is trusting. To be a person of faith is to rely on God, to know that “the Lord is my shepherd” (Psalm 23). It’s to rest confidently in the power and care of the living, loving Lord who’s revealed in the Bible and in our own experience. Faith is to give ourselves to the movement of God’s Spirit in our lives and in our times, not knowing where it will lead. ...

Believing

Faith is also believing in someone. In the Apostle’s Creed, for example, we say, “I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.” This is not the same as saying, “I believe that God the Father Almighty exists.” Rather, we’re confessing our confidence in God, our devoted loyalty, and our allegiance. Such belief may involve going beyond what we’re sure of and taking a “leap of faith.”

Following

There’s more to faith than trusting and believing. Faith is more active, a matter of doing as well as being. So Jesus said to his first disciples, “Follow me.” To be faithful is to follow Jesus the Christ. It is to be one of his disciples, seeking to understand his will and his way — and to do it. Such discipleship is not an easy matter. Jesus said, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:24-25)....

Hoping

Christian faith is also a matter of hoping, of leaning into the future that God has promised. It’s living with the assurance that God is bringing in the time of shalom, God’s reign here on earth. As Easter people, we have a hope born of the Resurrection: God has already conquered sin and death, and the kingdom of love, righteousness, peace and justice is even now breaking in. To abide in hope is to watch and pray for God’s future and to join in the ministries through which it will be realized.

Surrounded by the love and encouragement of the community of believers, we persevere on the journey of faith, ever trusting, believing, following and hoping.

Excerpted from The United Methodist Member’s Handbook, Revised and Expanded by George E. Koehler, pp. 62-63.

Happy Groundhog Day

Though the groundhog and crocus creep into their holes
It’s Spring, and the almanac shows it;
Though a polar wave over the continent rolls
It’s Spring! And we don’t care who knows it!
 

– Robert J. Burdette, “March,” c. 1888

Chilly Wednesday Night @ SUMC

Thirteen turned out tonight on a very chilly night for Worship on Wednesday!

Dean Diers and Lisa Menery provided the delicious soup supper.  

Dusty Schrock read to us from I Corinthians 12:12-27 and then led the group in a fun activity, building catapults! The point of the activity was to emphasize that we work together, that everyone has something to contribute, and that sometimes the church just needs to have fun!

History of Hymns: “We’ll Understand It Better By and By”

The United Methodist Hymnal, #525
by Charles A. Tindley

We are tossed and driven
on the restless sea of time;
somber skies and howling tempests
oft succeed a bright sunshine;
in that land of perfect day,
when the mists have rolled away,
we will understand it better by and by. 

Charles Albert Tindley (1851-1933) was one of the eminent preachers of Methodism at the turn of the twentieth century. Hymnologist James Abbington has called Tindley a "pastor, orator, poet, writer, theologian, social activist, 'father of African American Hymnody,' 'progenitor of African American gospel music' and 'prince of preachers.'"

Read more at this link.

Black History Month 2017 Theme

African Americans have played important roles in the development of the United States; the recognition of their roles in growth and development from a historical perspective is an important step in celebrating the contributions of individuals and the collective changes the African American community has brought about.

"Our Social Principles state that we believe the family to be the basic human community through which persons are nurtured and sustained in mutual love, responsibility, respect and fidelity (¶161B). 

2016 Book of Resolutions, #3061, page 168: Families of all types in the United States are vulnerable to social and economic change. Black families today face myriad challenges within their geographical communities. We called upon local churches to develop programs of mentoring, counseling, conflict resolution or strategies to strengthen Black family life germane to the community in which it resides."  

Resolutions regarding Black Americans:

3061. African American Family Life
3062. A History of Blacks
3063. African American Methodist Heritage Center (AAMHC)
3064. Resourcing Black Churches in Urban Communities
3065. Black Leadership
3066. Observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
3067. Support Reparations for African Americans