What holds you back in your faith? We have talked these past weeks about our hospitality: how we welcome others who visit and those who return. We’ve talked of how we make commitments in faith to our Lord. I know some of us are naturally more outgoing than others when it comes to meeting new folks and helping them to feel at home. Yet all of us are in a position to share God’s gracious welcome. It wasn’t too long ago that the membership vows in the United Methodist Church changed. We asked all of you who joined the church, “Will you support our congregation by your prayers, your presence, your gifts and your service.” Now we have added one additional commitment: our witness. Our witness of faith can be as simple as making a positive remark to someone about our church and invite them to attend a concert with you, or participate in our Change the World Day, or join our grief support class. Our witness could be as simple as saying to someone who’s new to PVUMC, “Here’s what brought me back to this church….What brought you here?” and then listen to what they are looking for. We can all make excuses for not talking to new people. Sometimes we are hesitant, reluctant or shy. We don’t want to offend others. We err on the side of caution. Remember that the person near you in church may be longing for some caring words. They may be struggling with a crisis at home. They may be wondering how God can help them. Your words may be just the reminder to them of how near and loving God is. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would always help us to know what to say in such moments. Sunday, we worship God who invites us to hold nothing back in our faith and commitment.
Senior Pastor Dave Summers
Paradise Valley United Methodist Church
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Dear Pastor Dave,
Re: Comment on Message of the week:
I look for opportunities to talk with people I do know every Sunday.. and I look for opportunities to visit with people I do not know as well, including PVUMC events. Occasionally I even brag outside of Church and mention my own Church.. PVUMC> My family and children grew into adulthood here at PVUMC family.
Once in a while, I am also the recipient of kind, welcoming or caring words by long time PVUMC friends, Clergy, old and new… and even people I don’t yet know who share a welcoming word; ask a question or maybe just a nod of their head passing on the north bridge. When I see them again, I try to remind them of a Bible Study or some new Event I’m attending. I’m terrable at remembering names so I find it easier just to talk as if I have known them for years. Sometimes they come. I sense many old timers and newbies have done the same thing over the 50 plus years the church as served the community..witness our growth and expanding reach over the years in a city that seems to change with the wind.
Nonetheless, it’s good that we are reminded now and then especially when change is on the horizon or fear is in the air. It can cloud our thinking and show our humanness. I understand circumstances today involving membership growth, finances and church policy changes being considered like the LGBTQ – Reconciling Ministries issues may seem ill timed, however better late than never, I say. So thanks for the reminder about such things the church faces every day.
I’m also reminded and wonder how Jesus dealt with these same issues in His lifetime. I believe the congregation might like to hear how Jesus talked about these same issues in his time. Maybe you have a Sermon on file or could prepare one in the near future. I think people might be looking for that sort of thing right now as our church is faced with what seems like one crisis after another.
My feeling is that Jesus was probably so confident, so hopeful and yes, so special in his day that his words and messages spoke for those things people were fearful about or considered out of reach or out of character. It was his absolute authority and dominion over all adversity… things people could never have imagined by themselves until Jesus came along and pointed the way….. I suspect He gave people a reason and a hopeful mystery path we call Faith & Grace.. and they were drawn closer and closer to Him. Jesus gives people what he knows we need when we need it, but don’t always see with out own eyes. That’s why the Bible always seems to have every answer to any problem.
Jesus words certainly did not say “To Hot to Handle”, or couched in fear, doubt or misunderstanding. Although our loving God did show his wrath when man persisted in interpreting Gods word from Man’s point of view instead of judging Man from God’s point of view…. well that’s still a problem today. Just look at Christendom today in 2016. It’s bursting at the seems all over the world, and Jesus words only have to be spoken over and over again until our lives catch up with His Promises.
PVUMC will grow again. Visitors will keep coming back when our services focus on Jesus ways…. and not our ways. Look how His ministry grew into today after only a few short years on the road before his crusafiction….. Amen
The power, understanding, comfort and hopefullness of His Word and His Teachings are why we come to Church regularly.. to be refreshed and inspired to follow Him when our own advise doesn’t work anymore. For many, Church is the only time we can be still in the Word yet among others, free from the controversies and busy world outside our doors. Church can sometimes be hard to get to, but once we are there God’s Word always bless us, forgive us and show us the way for another week when we need refueling. He is the role model.. not us.. and that is what we should be teaching our children. I believe if we could see with God’s Eyes… we will all know what to do. It will be easier with God’s wind to our back.
So, we like to brag about PVUMC now and then, as our home church for families, Singles and Childen… young and old.. and especially our Children. Children are our future and today when they are children they are also our Hope for our future and theirs. I think Jesus wanted us to think of our future and how our children learn their values from us. So what is it that we want our children to learn from us in these trying times?
I know Jesus knew His Spirit and Modeling would open Eyes, Hearts and Minds when he was alive, His followers would show others after His death, and our world would become worthy of God’s making.. and each day would become a new beginning, generation after generation. God made the world to live forever. He also gave us a promice path both on earth and after death.
And so it was. And so it is today, August 21, 2016.
Thanks for the reminder.
In Faith
Gary Palmer
Dear Dave and Gary…thank you for the reminder of how Jesus would absolve the challenges that all churches are facing today regardless of denomination, gender, color or creed. We must remember to do His work here as long as we can and as often as we can to open our hearts and mind to the forever promise to ” love one another as I have loved you”. (John 13: 34.) and to receive His message in faith and grace.
In love and faith.
Marge Dennis