There will be Maundy Thursday services on April 2 at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Good Friday is April 3 and the First United Methodist Church will be open for “come and go” prayer and meditation from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Easter Sunday is April 5 and the Dublin Ministerial Alliance Sunrise Service will be in our Prayer Garden at 7:15 a.m. and Pastor Gerald Freeman of the Congregational Methodist Church will bring the message.
Last Sunday afternoon Pastor Ken, Judy Lunsford, Pat Leatherwood, and Barbara Stevens traveled to Comanche First United Methodist Church to attend the West District Church Leadership Training. They got to see many old friends and partake of some great cookies and coffee. Next they broke into study groups and went to the session of their choice.
“The God of Second Chances” was the titles of Rev. Ken Lunsford’s sermon. He based it on Jeremiah 31: 31-34.
God had called Jeremiah to “tell it like it is” to a people who had disregarded God’s law. They rejected his Teachings and they suffered for it. Jeremiah suffered as well because of their rejection, so it is refreshing to read todays scripture. There is no scolding of the people of Israel, Jeremiah’s tone is changed.
This section of the Bible tells us “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “When I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.” “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people. For I will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more.”
The hard truth of the Gospel is that God’s love in Jesus Christ is not just for those worthy of love. It is not just for good people. The cross is for those we consider to be unloved and unlovely. Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute you. I want to say, “Lord, do you know what these people are like? Do you really mean that you died for them? But I know that a person’s life can be changed by the power of Christ.
Take the opportunity to make a new start today. Just say “Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. Please come into my heart and change me; fill me with your loving Sprit and guide me in your ways!” Christ has the ability to wash away our sin and make us new persons.