​First United Methodist Church News
January 26, 2020
  
      Pastor Ken spent most of Saturday in Eastland at the First Baptist Church getting organized for a Walk to Emmaus. This will be Men’s Walk number 449 and held from April 30 through May 3, it will be at Solid Rock Camp in Eastland. The Spiritual Director is Rev. Howard Martin from First United Methodist Church in Stephenville. Pastor Ken will serve as Assistant Director.
      The congregation was glad to see Robert and Irene Sohm able to be in church last Sunday.  We have missed their smiling faces. We had two guests with us, they were a mother and son.    
     As soon as some people get well, someone else feels ill.  Dr. Harlan Raley is in the hospital in Fort Worth and I seem to be relapsing with upper respiratory troubles.
     Laura Leatherwood was our Worship Leader and Joe Salinas was the acolyte.
     The scripture lesson was given by Laura.  She read from Matthew 4: 12-23
     We learn from this part of Matthew when and how Jesus began to call His disciples to follow Him.
It starts after John the Baptist is arrested and Jesus goes to Galilee.  From that time on Jesus began to announce, “Change your hearts and lives! Here comes the kingdom of heaven!”  As Jesus walked along the water’s edge of the Galilee Sea, He saw two brothers, Peter and Andrew. They were fishing with their net.  Jesus called out to them, “Come follow me and I’ll show you how to fish for people.”  Right away they left their nets.  As they walked on Jesus saw two more brothers, James and John who were sons of Zebedee.  Jesus called to them and they also followed. Jesus traveled throughout Galilee teaching and healing the people of disease.
      “Truly Seeing God” was the title of Rev. Ken Lunsford’s sermon.
      When Jesus set out to build His team of a few good disciples where did He look?  In the synagogue to find the most learned scholars in Capernaum.  No, He finds fishermen by the Sea of Galilee.  Fishermen who left what they were doing and went to Jesus right away. Now that is enthusiasm and loyalty.
       Our preaching series is titled: “Seeing God More Clearly in 2020 and this sermon was titled “Seeing God More Clearly!”   One thing today’s lesson teaches is, in order to see God more clearly, you’ve got to get up and go where God calls you.  Because inaction means you value something else more than serving the God who created you.
     All throughout the Bible God uses the people who get up and go where He leads.  Even if it leads to unknown territory.
     If you want to see God more clearly, you’ve got to focus on the opportunity to serve God right now, than focusing on what you leave behind. That is not easy.
     To see God more clearly, you will find Him in serving others.
     What’s standing in your way?  What is between where you are and where God wants you to be, that can be called idolatry.
You must know that God uses small gifts just as surely as He does large ones. Ask Him, ask God to give you a new vision in 2020.    To contact the church, email the office at fumcdublintxsecretary@gmail.com,or call 445-2157.  We would like to hear from you. 
 

First United Methodist Church News
January 19, 2020
  
     Many thanks were offered for the much-needed rain.  How did we get so fortunate here in the Dublin area, we have not had a flood, or devastating fires, we aren’t digging out from two feet of snow, and no earthquakes?  Praise the Lord, praise His holy name!
     Last Sunday was “Human Relations Day’ in the United Methodist Church.  This day honors the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
     The Rev. Dr. King said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.  Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”    
     Several of our members are dealing with a cough and chest congestion. They are in our thoughts and prayers.
     Two newcomers to our community visited with us Sunday.  We were pleased to meet them and hope they come back soon.  Neva Smith’s son, Mike Hancock, visited with us again.
      DJ Klutts says that “Hopping John” with cornbread will be served at the Community Table next week.   For those who aren’t current on great southern food, Hopping John is black-eyed peas with chunks of ham, usually served over rice.  I eat my serving with a splash of pepper sauce.
     Volunteers are always needed for Community Table and we need pies, cobblers, and cakes to serve to the “in house” crowd. 
     Speaking of volunteers, several members of our congregation are also members of the Rotarian Club which grilled five-hundred hamburger patties last Saturday. The patties were for the students in town attending the Power Lifting event at Dublin High School.  I admire these volunteers for the good they do.    
     The Worship Leader was Nancy Wooldridge and Joe and Jaxson Salinas were acolytes.
     Nancy read the scripture lesson from John 1:29-42.
     Sammy Moore requested prayers for his stepmother.
     Rev. Ken Lunsford titled his sermon “Aha, I See It Now!”
    John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look!  The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  John testified, “I saw the Spirit coming down from Heaven like a dove, and it rested on Him.”
     When was the last time you had an “Aha! Moment? A revelation? An epiphany? WE have all had a moment of truth, a sudden insight that changed our life.
     What is God trying to say to you and me about our lives?  What could God be doing in this world through you and me?  There are three stages to this great moment. 
     First the realization, the awakening.  The second stage is when we are honest with ourselves and take responsibility.  In the third stage we decide to take action and fully live out the truth God is trying to show us.
     Are we going to make our objective the obedience to God’s will?  There is a world outside these church doors that is separated from God and they are dying in sin.  You, and I can point them to the source of new life and salvation.  Let’s take action!
     Our website is http://fumcdublintx.com .
​

​First United Methodist Church News
January 12, 2020
  
     We hope everyone had a Happy and safe new year.  And I hope everyone is finally getting well from the flu, stomach virus, and respiratory problems.  I’ve had all three and I am ready for sunshine and to start walking all over town.
      There are January and February Upper Room booklets on the table in the narthex.  This publication is uplifting to read for anyone.  Take one to a shut-in for their enjoyment.  
     David and Annette Cleveland enjoyed another Happy Anniversary on the second of this month.
     Those celebrating birthdays this month are, Cole Moore, Virginia Stephen, Raymond Salinas, Brady Moore, Sammy Moore, Robert Sohm, and Ike Wade.
     Cole Moore and Jaden Harrell are in our prayers, let’s hope these youngsters are back to being “fit as a fiddle “ very soon.
     Robert Sohm has been ill, and Irene is on the mend.
     Our congregation extends sincere sympathy to the family, friends and the people of Dublin in the passing of Mary Yantis.
      DJ Klutts served as Worship Leader last Sunday, Raymond Salinas was acolyte, and I ran the Power Point.
     DJ gave the scripture reading, it was from Matthew 3:13-17.
     Rev. Ken Lunsford titled his sermon “An Invitation That Went Astray.”
     In our Bible lesson, John the Baptist is giving an invitation to the people of Jerusalem and Judea to repent, confess their sins and be baptized because the kingdom of heaven is at hand.  John directed his most demanding preaching at the Pharisees and Sadducees, the religious elites.  He was telling them, “Don’t think you’re too good for this!  You better get over here now and get baptized and begin living a life that shows you have repented and turned back to God!”  Now that may not be exactly what John said, but it’s the gist of his message.
     It’s different when Jesus comes to be baptized by John. He tries to deter Him. John says, “I need to be baptized by you.”  Was this invitation for everyone but Jesus?  Was this a case of an invitation gone astray?  But Jesus answers with the words. “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”  Jesus needed to give us an example of a life that is aligned with God’s will.  He also identified Himself with those He came to save, namely you and I.  This is an important time in Jesus’ life, up until now He was a nice fellow who did carpentry.  After His baptism the glory of God shown down on Him, His old life was left behind, and His ministry began. 
     When we are baptized, we are leaving our old life behind, because now we belong to God. New life in Jesus is not an add-on, like an app. It is an exchange; you give up your old life for a new one in Jesus.  Is your life as a follower of Jesus, any different than those friends or relatives that do not know Christ?