Reformation lessons for United Methodists

Carl August Noack depicts the Colloquy of Marburg,

By Heather Hahn
March 1, 2017 | UMNS

If you think United Methodist disagreements today are intense, try the debate that Reformation leaders had about Holy Communion.
In 1529, a group of early Protestants leaders — foremost among them, Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingli — met in Marburg, Germany to discuss theology. The goal was to form not just a religious alliance but also a political one in the face of mounting military challenges from Catholic authorities.

The Protestants agreed on 14 points of doctrine. However, things broke down over the Lord’s Supper.

Much of the clash hinged on different readings of the Bible. Even before the meeting, reformers had engaged in a war of words via rival pamphlets — the blogs of their day.

Read more at this link.

“The invitation is to all:” A Wesley hymn devotion for Lent

A UMC.org Feature by Joe Iovino
March 1, 2017, Ash Wednesday

This is the first of four hymn devotions for Lent. Read more musical devotions.

United Methodists are likely to sing Charles Wesley’s “Come, Sinners, to the Gospel Feast” sometime during Lent, the weeks leading up to Easter. The hymn invites everyone to receive new life in Jesus Christ.

Some people have a spiritual gift for making others feel welcome. Gifted parents make their sons and daughters’ fiancées feel part of the family on their first Easter together. Generous students and welcoming coworkers eat lunch with those who are new. Kind church members alleviate the anxiety of parents of squirming kids by offering a warm smile from across the row.

Jesus demonstrated the ability to turn a stranger into a friend. He ate with those whom others kept at arm’s length; chose a tax collector as part of his inner circle; and made Samaritans heroes in his stories. Jesus invited all to follow him, regardless of their personal history or social standing.

Read more at this link.

Lent is underway...

Belinda brings the heat in the kitchen!

No Lenten fast tonight!

"The Lord Will Be My Shepherd"

The Lenten sermon series opening

It was an intimate gathering tonight at Stevi UMC with thirty on hand for an amazing soup supper followed by worship.

The choir shared "The Lord Will Be My Shepherd," a gentle reminder of the one who goes with us on our Lenten pilgrimage. Pastor Charles began the Lenten sermon series, from John Wesley's sermons, with "The Circumcision of the Heart" (1733), taken from Romans 2:29.

Thanks to: Dean Diers, Lois Hansen, Lisa Menery, and Belinda Alkula, soups; Sara Malo, altar guild support; Lois Hansen, liturgist, Dave Maclay-Schulte, video, Julie Ludington, piano, and Brenda Bolton & the choir.

Commission on a Way Forward convenes in Atlanta

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2017

Atlanta, GA: The second meeting of the Commission on a Way Forward got underway in Atlanta February 27, as commission members spent time in reflection, discussion and work team meetings.

Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball led the Commission in discussions of accountability and their covenant, the complexity of the work ahead, and building relationships of trust by going deeper in conversation and understanding. These three values—accountability, complexity, trust—are considered essential to taking the steps toward decision-making.

On Tuesday, the Rev. Jorge Acevedo led a Bible study on Galatians 1, a letter that stirred the fires of the Protestant Reformation and was important to both John and Charles Wesley. “Paul gets to the heart of the matter. He’s concerned; very concerned for the church,” said Acevedo.

Read more at this link.

Why ashes on Ash Wednesday

A UMNS photo by Kathleen Barry

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline.
Ash Wednesday emphasizes two themes: our sinfulness before God and our human mortality. The service focuses on both themes, helping us to realize that both have been triumphed through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

During some Ash Wednesday services, the minister will lightly rub the sign of the cross with ashes onto the foreheads of worshipers. The use of ashes as a sign of mortality and repentance has a long history in Jewish and Christian worship. Historically, ashes signified purification and sorrow for sins.

It is traditional to save the palm branches from the previous Palm Sunday service to burn to produce ashes for this service. Sometimes a small card or piece of paper is distributed on which each person writes a sin or hurtful or unjust characteristic. The cards are then brought to the altar to be burned with the palm branches. The ash cross on the forehead is an outward sign of our sorrow and repentance for sins.

— Adapted from The United Methodist Book of Worship

Hymns for Lent - Ash Wednesday

Each day during the season of Lent (March 1 - April 15) a daily different hymn will be posted from The Methodist Pocket Hymn-Book (1818) as a tool for your daily devotions.
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"You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord, so live your life as children of light." - Ephesians 5:8 

Buried in the shadows of the night

We lie till Christ restores the light,

Wisdom descends to heal the blind,

And chase the darkness of the mind.

Our guilty souls are drown'd in tears,

Till the atoning blood appears,

Thou we awake from deep distress,

And sing the Lord our righteousness.

Jesus beholds where Satan reigns,

Binding his slaves in heavy chain;

He sets the pris'ner free, and breaks

The iron bondage from our necks.

Poor helpless worms in Thee possess

Grace, wisdom, power, and righteousness;

Thou art our mighty All, and we

Give our whole selves, O Lord, to Thee. 
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 The Methodist Pocket Hymn-Book. New York: J. Soule and T. Mason Publishing Co., 1818.

Prayer for Ash Wednesday

O my all-merciful God and Lord, Jesus Christ, full of pity: Through Your great love You came down and became incarnate in order to save everyone.

O Savior, I ask You to save me by Your grace! If You save anyone because of their works, that would not be grace but only reward of duty, but You are compassionate and full of mercy!

You said, O my Christ, "Whoever believes in Me shall live and never die." If then, faith in You saves the lost, then save me, O my God and Creator, for I believe.

Let faith and not my unworthy works be counted to me, O my God, for You will find no works which could account me righteous.

O Lord, from now on let me love You as intensely as I have loved sin, and work for You as hard as I once worked for the evil one.

I promise that I will work to do Your will,my Lord and God, Jesus Christ, all the days of my life and forever more.

Prayer of St. John Chrysostom
(c. 349 – 407, Archbishop of Constantinople)