First United Methodist Church News
September,15 2019
 
     It was great to see Michael and Mary Haley in church last Sunday.  They have been on a wonderful vacation to Germany and France.  They visited old friends and areas where they once lived.     
     Neva Smith was happy to have her son, Mike Hancock, bring her to church.  We enjoyed visiting with Mike also. 
     September birthdays are David Cleveland and Kaitlyn Gordon and we want to say Happy Anniversary to James and Leta Sage.
      The Food Pantry needs dry spaghetti, canned tomato sauce, instant potatoes, canned fruit, canned vegetables, all types of canned beans, dried pinto beans, rice, canned chicken and tuna, peanut butter and jelly.  For a complete list please call our church office at 254-445-2157.
      Juanita Duncan is making good progress with her pacemaker and her physician has cleared her to drive! 
      Prayers and thoughts go to Jeanne Wendt for her upcoming medical tests.
      David Cleveland is once again assisting the Dublin Boy Scouts in collecting scrape metal, if you have an old water heater or washing machine, contact a scout or our office.
     It will be Community Table again on 9-25.  We need cookies and desserts.  I’m thinking of making Pumpkin Pie Crunch and a big ole pound cake. 
     D J Klutts served as our Worship Leader and read the scripture lesson from Luke 15:1-10.   
     Rev. Ken Lunsford titled his sermon, “Seeking the Lost!”
     Jesus told this parable: “Suppose someone among you had 100 sheep and lost one of them.  Wouldn’t he leave the other 99 in the pasture and search for the lost one until he finds it? And when he finds it, he is thrilled and places it on his shoulders.  In the same way, I tell you, joy breaks out in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who changes both heart and life”
     The Pharisees and scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow; welcomes sinners and eats with them.”  Tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus.  The Pharisees saw a danger of getting too close with the wrong crowd.  But Jesus reaches out and loves everyone, especially the most unloved.
    God does not want us to be ignored, neglected, or lost. God wants to bless us, all of us, He seek out everyone, even the most unlikely person. God rejoices when one of us is found.  Jesus wants us to understand that.
 
 


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First United Methodist Church News
September 8, 2019
 
     The number of people being fed by the Community Table have increased from the previous month.  Anyone wishing to volunteer is most welcome because there are plenty of chores to do at the fellowship hall.  Also, someone could bring friends or neighbors who are receiving a delivery and take that duty off of our drivers. 
       Pastor Ken and I thoroughly enjoyed the recent Dublin Kitchen Sink Music Festival. Julia Broussard did a great job getting it organized. Many members of our congregation attended and some participated.  Several members of Hico First United Methodist came to watch and participate. This may be because their pastor came to sing and play the guitar.
     We are thankful things are better for Wayne and Jean Pittman.  They have been on our prayer list and we received some positive news.
     Neva Smith is having trouble seeing and we hope and pray her new glasses help her vision.
     The former residents of Golden Age Home are most certainly in our prayers.  It is extremely stressful to make major changes in an elderly person’s life. 
     Elizabeth Young has moved to the Hico nursing home and Debra Hammonds is at Senior Care in Stephenville.
     I served as Worship Leader and Cole More was our acolyte.
     Our sanctuary now has eight hearing devices that are tuned to our sound system.  Some people quit going to church because they are unable to hear what the message is, and we believe these devices will solve that. We have had 4 for some time now and the ones that use them say they are the best of all that they have ever used.   
     The scripture was Luke 14:25-36. In this lesson Jesus tells a large crowd that is traveling with Him that they must be completely committed to Him to be His disciple.  He says they must give up all of their possessions to become His disciple.
     Rev. Ken Lunsford’s sermon was about the cost of discipleship.  Jesus spoke of the necessity of total commitment, even to the point of death.  He said, “You must take up your cross and follow me.”
     Why was He so harsh? He knew what lay ahead for them: Andrew died on a cross, Simon was crucified, Bartholomew was flayed to death, James the son of Zebedee was beheaded, Thomas was run through with a lance, Matthias was stoned, then beheaded, Matthew was killed by a sword, Peter was crucified upside down, the other James (son of Alphaeus) was beaten to death, Thaddeus was shot with arrows, and Philip was hanged. Only John lived to old age and that was in exile on an island.
     We may have good intentions but the priorities we know are vital to a good and happy life never get carried out in our day to day living.
     Nothing can stand in the way to our commitment to the Kingdom of God!  We must establish our priorities and then count the cost.  Do we have the stamina to go the distance?
     What if every member of the church attended church, gave to the church, loved the church, shared the church, worked and served the church?  What kind of church would there be?    
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First United Methodist Church News
August 25, 2019
 
     I better get our August birthdays while we have a day or left in the month.  They were Patty Hirst, Neva Smith, Ola Mae La Baume, Paul Beaty, Joann Herrin, and Joe Salinas. 
     Couples celebrating an anniversary were, Jim and Laura Leatherwood, Bob and Irene Sohm, and Ray and Ola Mae La Baume. Congratulations to all.
     We are so happy to see retuning guests with us on Sunday.  We enjoyed two first time guests worshiping with us also.
     James Sage brought his son and daughter-in-law, Keith and Kelsey Sage, and their sweet baby girl, Dakota.  It will be too quiet at James and Leta’s home without little Dakota there.
     Pastor Ken asked any teachers and students to come forward.  He honored them with a reading from the Holy Bible and a responsive reading, next he prayed for their safety.
     Nancy Wooldridge served as our Worship Leader and Cole Moore was acolyte.   Nancy asked that we pray for her sister-in-law, Mary Jane Stine, who is extremely ill.  Our hearts go out to the family.
     It is time to refill the Food Pantry!  The pantry can use any food that does not require refrigeration.
We need boxes to pack the food in also.  The boxes should be about the size of a case of Dublin Bottling Works soda.  Our church office is open four days a week, Monday through Thursday, from 9:00 a.m. till 1:00 p.m. for the delivery of non-perishable food and boxes.
Pastor Ken read the letter from the Council Of Bishops President Bishop Ken Carter to the People of the United Methodist Church concerning the mass shootings and the violence we are experiencing from white supremacy and a fear of immigrants (xenophobia).  The use of presidential role granted for the purpose of serving an entire people for white privilege does great harm to us and are rooted in a cynical desire to divide us along racial lines. According to counterterrorism experts, the president’s racial rhetoric is fueling an incipient and violent white nationalist movement in our nation.  According to 2 Corinthians 5; Christ died for all; and in this he loved us and gave himself up for us (Ephesians 5).
     The scripture lesson was from Luke 13:10-17.  This lesson tells about Jesus healing a woman who had been bent over for 18 years.  He did this in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath and the leader of the synagogue was incensed. 
     The Lord replied, “Hypocrites! Don’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from its stall and lead it to drink? Then isn’t it necessary that this woman, a daughter of Abraham, bound by Satan for eighteen long years, be set free from her bondage on the Sabbath day?” 
     The synagogue ruler was insensitive to the woman’s plight; and he had the law on his side.  But Jesus had a greater principle to follow, that of compassion.
     This was not an emergency case; the woman had been bent for 18 years.  Jesus was making a point, that people are more important than rules.  The ruler had dehumanized the woman and once you dehumanize someone, you can easily dismiss them.  You become legalistic and ruled by the rules.  We do need to have rules, but we must remember Jesus said: The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
     Check out Chuck Knows Church at http://fumcdublintx.com
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First United Methodist Church News
August 18, 2019
    
Pastor Ken and I took his second vacation week off and went to Denver, Colorado.  We enjoyed visiting our daughter Jacque’ Sack and her family. The “kids” are so good to us and feed us well.  Our granddaughter, Kendall, drove us to see the movie “Lion King,” which we enjoyed very much.
 It is nice to be back home and get back into a familiar schedule.
Community Table is Wednesday, so get ready to volunteer for cooking, deliveries, and cleaning up! 
I brought a beautiful sofa throw to show our congregation.  It is red, white, and blue with the pledge of allegiance to our flag printed around the edge.  We bought it at Mt. Vernon on our trip to Maryland to see our son.  I will put it in the live auction during the “Lord’s Acre” planned for the fall.
Juanita Duncan continues to recuperate at home and her many friends continue to pray for her. Let’s find out what we can do to make Juanita’s life easier.
Irene Sohm is spending more time off her feet and resting.  She and Robert came to church last Sunday and told us about their son, Chris, who was care-flighted from Stephenville to Plano Saturday.  We are very concerned about Chris and keep him in our prayers.
Neve Smith’s daughter is feeling better with her pacemaker.
Our congregation extends sympathy to the family and friends of Louetta Taylor Rovetto.
Pastor Ken performed the funeral service for Louetta who was a school mate from Carlton.
Laura Leatherwood served as Worship Leader and read our scripture lesson from Luke 12:49-53.
We see many warning signs each day such as Caution! Wet Floor!; Slippery when wet!; Caution! School Zone!; Railroad Crossing, etc.  The words from Luke today are dramatic and a warning! Jesus says, “I came to cast fire upon the earth. I wish that it was already ablaze! “  
Jesus came to bring the fire of the Holy Spirit, we will either be baptized by this fire or be consumed by it. Jesus has a warning for His followers, that is if we choose Him as our Savior and Lord, then we may very well face criticism and rejection, even with our family.    
We suffer from many divisions today: politics, values, culture, and ethnicity. We want our churches to be the voice of unity and peace.  But, upsetting the status quo is the reason Jesus was crucified.  It is why His followers are tortured and imprisoned.  Many churches across the world must meet in secret.  How do we deal with that?
It requires commitment and sacrifice and passion. It is putting God above everything.  Above our families, even our own lives. Either you are for Jesus or against Him. You must pick a side.
We believe God’s infinite love is available to all, call us at 254-445-2157 or email at fumcdublintxsecretary@gmail.com , our website is http://fumcdublintx.com .

First United Methodist Church News
August 4, 2019
     
D.J Klutts announced the head count for last week’s Community Table was about 300.  It is hard to get a clear count because some people eat twice and get another plate.  D.J. does know that we fed 88 folks “in house.”  That is one of our best attended meals!  A total of 320 meals were served.
     Gee whiz, if we can throw a party that quick, I think it is time we had a “Lord’s Acre” fund raiser.
We just need to settle on a date for it, and menu.  
      I have a story to tell!  Juanita Duncan’s oldest son, Terry, told Pastor Ken Lunsford that his younger brother Tommy saved Juanita’s life. Terry said if Tommy had not insisted and taken Juanita to the emergency room at Stephenville, she would not have survived!    Juanita now has a pacemaker and she is much better. God bless and keep Juanita and for sure, God bless Tommy.
     We have a much-improved parking lot.  It has been repaired and re-striped.  Many thanks to Gene and D.J. Klutts for their generous gift to our congregation.
     We are thrilled to see three guests back with us Sunday.
     The chairs donated by Robert and Irene Sohm are very comfortable. Come and try one out, you will be like Goldie Locks, and find just the right one.
     Pastor Ken’s good friend, Kevin Caraway, will bring the message this Sunday and Kevin’s lovely daughter-in-law, Sarah Caraway, will sing for our congregation.  Please be here to hear it.
     Lisa Leatherwood served as Worship Leader and read the scripture from Luke 12:13-21.
     Rev. Ken Lunsford’s lesson was titled. “Be Rich Toward God!”
     In Luke, Jesus warns against all kinds of greed.  Jesus told a man to guard himself because one’s life isn’t determined by one’s possessions, not even for the very wealthy.  Then Jesus told a parable about a man whose land produced a bountiful crop.  He thought he would tear down his old barns and build bigger ones to hold all his grain.  But God said to the man, “Fool, tonight you will die. Now who will get the things you have prepared.”  Jesus warned, “This is the way it will be for those who hoard things for themselves and are not rich toward God.
     Money is important. But it is only a means by which we reach higher goals. It is all right to make investments if we understand that the best investment that we can make is in the Kingdom of God. 
     All that we have is on loan from the Lord God. When we share and freely give, we acknowledge that. Let us store our money in the stomachs of the hungry, the bodies of the sick, and the spread of the Gospel.  Then we shall be rich toward God!
   “Right Now, Media” provides streaming Christian content to over 16,000 churches world-wide. Dublin First Methodist makes this available via the internet to our members, our friends, and neighbors for free.  Go to our web site http://fumcdublintx.com – click on More, scroll down to Links and Resources, then click on the Right Now Media link.  Register and explore the site.
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​First United Methodist Church News
July 28, 2019
    
       Pastor Ken and I attended the Pecan Valley Emmaus meeting on 7-25 at Comanche First United Methodist Church.  We enjoyed a covered dish supper and a lot of fellowship.  That was followed by a service in the sanctuary with congregational singing led by the “Son-Risers” praise band.  We had a fine sermon by the brand-new Comanche Methodist minister, Rick Mang.  The evening ended with holy communion.
       If you would like to know more about the “Walk to Emmaus” experience, please call our church office at 254-445-2157 or email us at fumcdublintxsecretary@gmail.com. 
     We had three guests with us Sunday and we were grateful to see them and hope they come back.
     D.J. Klutts served as Worship Leader and did an outstanding job. She read the scripture lesson from Luke 11:1-13. D.J. gave the welcome, the announcements, and the opening and closing prayers.  
     Juanita Duncan has had some health issues and she is on our prayer list.  Juanita missed church Sunday, so you know she was feeling bad.
     Laura Leatherwood asked for prayers for Rocky Ford, Rocky is a friend of Jimmy Leatherwood.  Patty Hirst ask that we include Brad Gray in our prayers.  Then Larry Stanford asked that we pray for his mother who is now doing radiation treatments.
     Ray La Baume is feeling better and stronger.  We hope that continues.
     I spoke with Debra Swanson, who attends Graham Street Church of Christ, Debra asked for prayers for their “Basic Needs” ministries.  The untimely death of Sandy Steele has led to difficulties for that program.  Keep them in your prayers.
     Our congregation extends sympathy to the family and friends of Lewis Smith.  Lewis was a neighbor to Neva Smith, and we know she will miss him.       
     Bob and Irene Sohm have donated some lovely chairs to go with the conference table on the south side of our foyer. They have donated a table to be used for desserts to go in fellowship hall. Much thanks and sincere blessings go to Bob and Irene.
       Coming soon!  Work will start right away on repairing our parking lot.  But we can’t use it for a while so everyone will be parking on the grass.  It should be available for parking on Sunday.
      “Lord Teach Us to Pray,” was the title of Rev. Ken Lunsford’s sermon.
     Some people get discouraged give up on their faith because they feel a sense of failure in their prayer life.
     Many, question how do you pray, when do you pray, or why pray at all?  Even the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, teach us to pray.”
     Now don’t expect me to answer why some prayers are answered and others are not!   That is above my paygrade!  But I can tell you to trust God and that God loves you and is working to make all things work to your good.  Pray, knowing that God loves you, and leave the results to God.
     Learn to find comfort and wisdom in accepting whatever answer God sends you.  That is a wise philosophy of life.
     Jesus told His followers to say, “Our Father.”  Never had they referred to God in such a familiar form.  It was like saying, “Our Daddy.”  We say “your kingdom come” because we know our heavenly Daddy’s kingdom is something wonderful to anticipate.  Thanks for reading, we subscribe to Open Hearts, Open minds and Open Doors!

​First United Methodist Church News
July 21, 2019
 
     The West District of the Central Texas Conference have two exciting mission trip opportunities coming up. Graham First United Methodist is going to Costa Rica to participate in a fresh water well drilling program.  They plan to work in an eye clinic or help with VBS.  The dates are 10-26 to 11-02.  The cost of lodging and food is $800, and the airfare is $500.
      There is a Kenya trip coming on 01-9 to 01-22-2020. There will be opportunities to participate in medical, construction, and worship programs.  This trip to Africa will cost $2820 to $2960.
      See what connected churches can accomplish.  All the “old time” denominations have built hospitals, universities, children’s homes and sent missionaries all over the earth.
       This past Sunday I served as Worship Leader and Jorden Cardoza was our acolyte.  Jorden’s dad, Steven, operated the power point for us.  We appreciate everyone who “steps up” to help out at church.  Many of the routine helpers were out on vacation or wrangling grandchildren so their kids could get a break.
      Pastor Ken and I fed the cattle last week for our grown kids.  It was more fun than a chore, but we could get back in our air-conditioned truck and go home.
      Betty Lusk shared a wonderful celebration with us, her nephew, Colonel Craig Le Flore, was the Commander in Chief of the US Marine Base at San Diego, Cal. Col. Le Flore recently retired after 26 of service to his country.  Through his service Col. Le Flore was able to travel extensively around the world.
     Neva Smith told us her neighbor is in the hospital and not doing well. This gentleman is on our prayer list.
     We continue to pray for Ray La Baume and Ola Mae also.
     Julia Broussard blessed us with a powerful solo presentation of “Amazing Grace.”  Leta Sage accompanied Julia on the piano.  Oh, how thankful we were to hear this special.  I will add this, attending church is not a chore or a duty, but a wonderful privilege, when we worship the Lord as we did this past Sunday! 
     Our Scripture reading was Colossians 1:15-28.
     Rev. Ken Lunsford took his lesson from the words of Paul in Colossians.
     Paul tells us that Jesus is the firstborn of all creation; for in Him all things in heaven and on earth were created.  Paul says, He Himself is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
     Jesus has rescued us, and many of us were headed down the wrong road - with bad habits, bad attitudes, or maybe a bad marriage.  Christ came into our lives and transformed us. He saved us from the darkness!  He took us into the Kingdom of God where we have redemption.
     Is there a more blessed word than “Forgiven?”  You can hurt the people you love, but out of their love for you they forgive you.  You hurt God, but there is a cross on Calvary that says you are forgiven.  Are you still walking in darkness?  Christ says, “turn around,” come into the light.  Come into Christ’s Kingdom, begin living like Jesus.  Seek redemption and salvation.
     Our atrium garden is a quite a place to pray.  The street-side gate is unlocked. Come, be welcome.
OPEN HEARTS, OPEN DOORS, OPEN MINDS

​July 15, 2019
    
  This past Sunday the congregation sang “Happy Birthday” to our members with a July birthday.  Then they sang a “Happy Anniversary” to Pat and Lisa Leatherwood and to Mike and Mary Haley.  Best wishes to everyone!
      Laura Leatherwood served as our Worship Leader, she gave the opening prayer and read the scripture lesson from Luke 10: 25-37.
      We learned that our friend, Kathy Logan of Midland, fell and broke her arm.  Kathy received first aid in a hurry since the fire station is just a few houses down from her home. She was taken to the hospital for a while, but she is home now and going to therapy for her arm.  We are praying for Kathy and hope she is healing like new.
      Ray LaBaume continues to slowly get better at home.  I believe he and Ola Mae would like a nice casserole or dessert brought by their house.
      We welcome Ike Wade and Patty Hirst-Wade to our congregation.  They joined with us this past Sunday.  They have already been helping us with our projects. 
      Our congregation extends sincere sympathy to the friends and family of Dan Leatherwood. 
    The Pastor’s confirmation class continues on Tuesday’s except the 3rd Tuesday, through July.
      “Can God Depend on You,” was the title of Rev. Ken Lunsford’s sermon.  He gleaned it from the wonderful, timeless parable of the “Good Samaritan.” Jesus started His story with this, “You must love the Lord you God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.”
      Then a legal expert asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”  Jesus then told the story of the man who went down to Jericho who was attacked by thieves and left to die by the side of the road. A priest passed by the injured man, a Levite saw the man, but did not stop to render aid. Then a Samaritan came by and had compassion for the bleeding man.  The Samaritans were not a race the Jews associated with. They were looked down on.  But it was the Samaritan who rescued the wounded fellow.  So, who was a neighbor to the beaten man?  The legal expert said, “the one who showed mercy to him.”  Jesus told him to go and do likewise.
     This story has become one of the World’s best- known acts of kindness.  And the question still haunts us, who is our neighbor.  Anyone who needs our help?  But that is a lot of people!  The hitchhiker by the road, the homeless derelict on the city street.  It is too dangerous to stop, we tell ourselves.  Deep in our hearts we wonder what would Jesus do?  We were a stranger lying in a ditch knowing that we were dying.  But a good man saved us, He gave us a second chance, that man was Jesus Christ, He paid the price for our life.

​First United Methodist Church News
July 7, 2019
 
     Pastor Ken Lunsford and I have been on vacation.  As usual, we go to visit our children and this time we drove to Maryland to visit our son.  We saw all the rivers running full and the countryside is lush and green.
     We considered ourselves fortunate to be able to visit Mt. Vernon, the home of George and Martha Washington.  We were blessed to get there and back home safely.
     The Sunday that Pastor Ken was away, Cliff Sims was a guest pastor, Cliff spoke about the Christian Women’s Job Corp and brought a sermon.  
      On 6-30 the Gideon Four, from Stephenville First Baptist Church, came to sing some great gospel music for our congregation.  Mac McKinnon talked about the ministry of the Gideons International fellowship.  He gave a firsthand witness to the changes Christ can make in people’s lives.
      Ray LaBaume has been in the hospital in Stephenville.  He had laparoscopic surgery and so far, everything is healing nicely.  Keep Ray and Ola Mae in your prayers.
      Our congregation extends sympathy to the family and friends of Ed Larner.   We also are shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Sandy Steele of Hico.  Our congregation extends sympathy to her husband, Al Steele, and her family and many friends.      
      There are several July birthdays to celebrate.  DJ Klutts, Conner Moore, Jack Parks, Judy Beckham. Crystal Whitefield, Eddie Raley, and Deborah Hammons. 
      Pat and Lisa Leatherwood celebrated their 39th anniversary on 7-5.  Others with July weddings are Jon and Roxey Volkmer and Mike and Mary Haley.  Congratulations and best wishes.   
     Lisa Leatherwood served as Worship Leader and read scripture from Luke 10: 1-20.  
     Rev. Ken Lunsford asked us, “What Superpower would we like to Have?”
     In our scripture lesson we learn that Jesus had more than twelve helpers.  He commissioned seventy-two others and sent them in pairs to go ahead to every city and place Jesus was about to visit.
      Jesus told those seventy-two that he was sending them out as lambs among wolves.   However, they returned joyously, saying, “Lord, even the demons submit themselves to us in your name.” Then Jesus said, “Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
     The church received a wonderful letter from an adult sponsor working with the teenagers who came to Dublin last week to make repairs or build wheelchair ramps on homes.  They were thankful for the warm welcome they received and the opportunity to bring a mission trip to Dublin.  They accomplished so much in so little time it was like they had “superpower!”
      Jesus sends us out today like He sent the Seventy-two.  We are to plant the kingdom of God in hearts and lives.  There is no power that can compare to the power of knowing God through Jesus Christ.

​First United Methodist Church News
June 16, 2019
 
      Wow, we had lively guests with us Sunday!  The youth group from Christ United Methodist Church in Plano came to worship with us.  They took up several rows of pews across the front of the sanctuary. Adult sponsors were in the crowd, but all the rest were “just graduated” seniors of high school. This group is in Dublin to help repair homes and build wheelchair ramps.      
     Leta Sage, our organist, took to the piano for an impromptu, rousing version of “Do Lord” and those teenagers let loose right along with her.
      Alford Havens came up to dais to give the congregation information on the Central Texas Conference gathering in Arlington on 6-10,11, and 12.  Alford was a voting delegate representing Dublin First United Methodist Church.  Pastor Ken Lunsford attended also, and he and Alford roomed together and split expenses.  Alford said he will always remember that B.I.B.L.E. means “Basic instructions before leaving earth,” and W.I.G. stands for “Wild, important goal.” 
     Alford announced that Rev. Ken Lunsford has been assigned to Dublin First United Methodist and to Laurel St. United Methodist Church for another year. 
      Pastor Ken gave a notebook and pen to all the fathers present Sunday and wished them “Happy Father’s Day.”
      Larry Standford asked for prayers for his mother, Betty Standford, who was to have extensive surgery in Abilene this week.
      Pat Leatherwood was thankful that Dublin I.S.D. is a Blue-Ribbon school in Texas. And Patty Hirst is thankful the Summer Reading Program at our library began with 100 children in attendance!
      Betty Lusk announced that the church yard sale brought in $1,400.  That is wonderful and the barn was cleaned out, so yippee!
      Community Table will be serving “Taco Salad” on Wednesday, 6-26.  Also, we are out of cookies: that is zero, zip, none, the freezer is bare of cookies!  Please bake more cookies and bring them by the church office before 1:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
      I served as Worship Leader and read the scriptures from Romans 5:1-11
      Rev. Ken Lunsford preached about wayward children on Father’s Day.
      Romans says, But God shows His love for us, because while we were still sinners Christ died for us.  So now that we have been made righteous by His blood, we can be even more certain that we will be saved from God’s wrath through Him.
      The picture that the New Testament gives us of God is as a loving parent.  The picture it gives of humanity is of a wayward child.  And the result of that waywardness and that love is the cross of Jesus Christ.
       It is tremendous heartbreak to have a wayward child.  You wait and you worry because that young person is the most important person in your life, more important than your own life.
      The God Jesus revealed to us is a God who waits for His wayward children to come back home.  God will patiently wait and forgive.  He does not disown us as some earthly fathers have.
      There is always hope in a home where forgiveness is present.  There is no love without forgiveness and no forgiveness without love.  They are the two sides of the same coin.
      Do your children know about amazing grace because they have experienced it in your family?
      To contact our church, email the office at fumcdublintxsecretary@gmail.com ,   or call 445-2157.  We would like to hear from you.