April 12, 2020
Pastor Ken wanted to do a sunrise service in the Atrium Prayer Garden on Easter, but the weather did not cooperate. He said it was raining and cold, so he moved the service indoors. It was just him and the Holy Spirit, but that is enough.
The 11 o’clock service was fun, and I enjoyed it. There was Pat Beaty on the piano, Leta Sage on the keyboard sounding like an organ, Sheran Weible on her keyboard singing a special, Pastor Ken Lunsford gave a wonderful message, I was the Worship leader, and Pat Leatherwood worked the camera and logistics. Everybody stayed six feet apart except Pastor Ken and me.
I must say the music was outstanding. Sheran Weibel is always a polished singer and Pat Beaty and Leta Sage can still harmonize even though they had not practiced or sung together in months.
I received a phone call from Betty Lusk, she and Lee are well and being taken care of by their son Dwight. He sees after the livestock and grocery shops for them.
Betty said a granddaughter, Heather Navasoda, of Oklahoma, watched our 11:00 a.m. Easter service. Kenneth’s sister, Arlene Brown, saw the service. Our children in Fort Worth watched also.
The second half of our April birthdays are, Betty Lusk, 4/20, Laura Leatherwood, and Lawrence Outlaw both on 4/22, Ray LaBaume, 4/24, Annett Cleveland, 4/25, Irene Sohm, 4/26, and Lisa Leatherwood, 4/28. Happy birthday and best wishes.
On behalf of our congregation I extend sympathy to the family and friends of Patsy Fine Harrell.
The Dublin community can not properly show their mourning for Patsy during this time of pandemic, but we feel it, we assure you.
Rev. Ken Lunsford’s sermon was titled “Breath of God!”
The scripture reading was from John 20:1-18 from the Common English Bible. John begins in the first verse of chapter 20 with Mary Magdalene going to the tomb of the crucified Jesus very early on Sunday morning. She sees the stone that sealed the entrance was rolled away.
Easter should be more than just another holiday on the calendar. To a Christian it is the Sunday to recognize the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Easter is not the Easter bunny, bright colored eggs, and dressing up in our best outfit and going to church.
This year, Easter falls during the Covid-19 pandemic. WE wrap our faces in cloth and rarely leave our homes. We are hiding from an invisible beast. All around us we see signs of hope, signs of spring, signs of resurrection! But for now, we wait.
I wonder what it must have felt like for Jesus those days in the tomb, knowing resurrection was coming, yet waiting for dawn to come. Waiting on that magnificent morning when the stone was rolled away, the sun streamed through, when an angel removed the funeral cloth from Jesus’ face. And the Holy Spirit breathed into His stricken body and made it rise to a new restored, resurrected life.
We all are waiting also to live again; we are shut away from each other. As followers of Christ we know that God’s resurrecting breath will raise us up. A new day will dawn. Change is coming.
May we be wiser, more appreciative, more joyful about life. Celebrate the Lord who gives life.
Watch First United Methodist Church service live on Facebook at First UMC Dublin TX and it is recorded there also. If you will click on comment and let us know how many are watching, we can count you being present. Thank you.
Our web site is http://fumcdublintx.com and Facebook is First UMC Dublin TX, the email is fumcdublintxsecretary@gmail.com
We believe the Holy Spirt is God’s presence with us. Call us at 254-445-2157