​First United Methodist Church News
March 29, 2020
      
                                                                                                          John 16:33
         “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
      Last week I told my readers to look at First UMC Dublin TX for First United Methodist Church on Facebook, but Pastor Ken sent the service to his own Facebook page.  Our congregation and friends had to search for the program and most all found it!
      The special Sheran Weibel sang for us was great.  She accompanies herself, sings, and smiles all at the same time.  I greatly admire that.
      Pat Beaty was our pianist and she led us in our songs.  Pat does a wonderful job and we are thankful for her. 
       I don’t know about you, but I am just happy to be alive this morning. And I’m living in Dublin, Texas, right where I want to be.
       The scripture lesson I read was Ezekiel 37:1-14. It is about Ezekiel being led by God out into a valley full of dry bones.
        He asked me, “Human one, can these bones live again?” I said, “Lord God, only you know.”  He said to me, “prophesy over these bones, say to them, dry bones, hear the Lord’s word!  The Lord God proclaims to these bones; “I am about to put breath in you, and you will live again.”
       Pastor Ken asked, “Do you think God chose Ezekiel to be His prophet to the nation of Israel because he was innovative and had a creative flair?  I doubt it.”
       God seems to choose His servants based on their obedience, not their skill set.  The job of prophet is probably the loneliest job on earth. They have one job: to speak for God.  Sometimes God has some uncomfortable things to say to us. 
      Prophets are symbols of hope. If God had given up on His people, He wouldn’t send a prophet. He wouldn’t send anybody.
      The small nation of Israel had been conquered by Babylonia.  Jerusalem was in ruins, the Temple was destroyed, and the survivors were forced into exile in the city of Babylon.  These people had lost everything, their place of worship, their family and friends, and they were living in poverty.  The worst of it was they had lost their identity as God’s chosen people.
       Ezekiel tells the Hebrews “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel.”
       We find our hope in this: God always keeps His promises.  And we, as God’s people, can base our lives and our hope on the promises of God.
      Our web site is http://fumcdublintx.com and Facebook is First UMC Dublin TX,  the  email is fumcdublintxsecretary@gmail.com
       See you on your computers or I phone this Palm Sunday.  God loves you and Pastor Ken and I love you too!
 

​First United Methodist Church News
March 22, 2020
As of right now and I don't anticipate any change, the Shelter in Place order will not expire before Easter, so there will be No In Person gathering for EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE THIS YEAR!!  
At least on Easter Morning, set your alarm clock before 7am and step outside and watch the Sun come up, and Thank and Praise God for another Beautiful and Glorious Day! 
      
      Pastor Ken found a way to do a live stream on the internet to Facebook, so this past Sunday Dublin United Methodist and Laurel St United Methodist Church did have a service.
      I was already scheduled to be Worship Leader and I had studied what I was to read and announce.  I found that the I phone, that was setting on a tripod, to be less threatening than the whole congregation sitting in the audience.  Pat Beaty was the pianist and led the singing.
      Rev. Lunsford’s voice sounded good on the recording that he played back for me. I, however sounded like a cross between Ma Kettle and Lady Bird Johnson. But I can’t help that!
      Pastor Ken will stream to Facebook again this Sunday.  The site is First UMC Dublin TX please note there is a space after each word.  I do not know who will serve as Worship Leader, hopefully someone with a smooth voice.
      The hymns will be shorter per requests from our audience. Also, we will have a special sung, the scheduled musicians are Pat Beaty and Sheran Weible, so I expect beautiful music.
      There were many that were prayed for, a whole world in difficulty. Closer to home we need to pray for Bob and Irene Sohm.  Irene had been in the hospital in Duncanville and Bob was spending time there at the hospital. The hallways there were polished, and Bob fell and hit his head, he required several staples to close the gash.  
      I read the scripture lesson from John 9:1-41 from the Common English Bible.  These 40 verses tell of Jesus’ healing a man who was blind from birth.  We have heard sermons and songs based on this miracle.  The healed man says to the Pharisees, “Here’s what I do know; I once was blind and now I see.”
      “You Have a Story to Tell’ was the titled of Rev. Ken Lunsford’s sermon.
     As Jesus walked along, He saw a man who was blind from birth. Jesus’ disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned that he was born blind, this man or his parents?”  Jesus answered, “Neither he nor his parents. This happened so that God’s mighty works might be displayed in him.”
     This issue of earning our privileges and deserve our blessings has been around a long time. But Jesus did not place the blame of blindness on the man or his parents.
      If the blind man didn’t deserve his disability, then we don’t deserve our abilities.  So, every blessing and every hardship, every joy and every sorrow in our lives is an opportunity for God to work out His plan through us.
     Keep calm and wash your hands often. 
    Our web site is http://fumcdublintx.com – email is fumcdublintxsecretary@gmail.com  and Facebook is First UMC Dublin TX

First United Methodist Church News
March 15, 2020
      
       It appears unlikely that Dublin First United Methodist Church will have Community Table next Wednesday or host the Dublin Ministerial Alliance Easter Sunrise Service in April.  I don’t have final decision at press time.  The decision will be made next week by the Pastors involved.
     We did have services last Sunday along with Laurel St. United Methodist Church.  The congregation sat a good distance away from each other except for the couples and families.  Pastor Ken has stopped hugging folks and shaking hands.
     Our church has disinfectant wipes and cleans off the door handles.  That is about all we can do, so far, everyone is still well.
     D J Klutts was our Worship Leader and Patty Hirst served as pianist, we appreciate Patty playing for us.   I operated the power point. 
Pastor Ken is working on live streaming our service/sermon each week, if he can get the logistics worked out.
     We had four guests join us for services, five if you count the dog that came with one guest.  The dog is quieter than some of our two-legged folks.
     Pastor Ken prayed for all the doctors, nurses, and technicians treating Covid19 patients all over the world.  He prayed for all the sick also.
     Neva Smith is recovering from cataract surgery at home with her family.  Give her a call and wish her well.
     The scripture lesson was Romans 5:1-11.  These verses tell us to even take pride in our problems, because we know that trouble produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope. And but God shows His love for us, because while we were still sinners Christ died for us.  We are told that through our Lord Jesus Christ, we now have a restored relationship with God.
      Rev Ken Lunsford preached, “If we are separated from God, then we are separated from life, love, peace, hope, joy, truth, and goodness.  Because that is what God is!  Imagine a world devoid of these qualities, it would be hell, wouldn’t it?  And that would be the end for us, the end of our story.  Except God had a different ending in mind for each of us.
      But through our faith in Jesus Christ, we have been set free from our sins.  Jesus wipes the slate clean, the past is deleted, and He restores our rights as citizens of God’s kingdom.”
      Keep calm and wash your hands often.

​First United Methodist Church News
March 1, 2020
  
     Whoops, I miss-spoke in my previous article.  Brookshire Bros. brought 15 sacks of groceries not 11 to the Food Pantry.  We thank them very much.
      Last Sunday was the first Sunday in Lent, the 46 days from Ash Wednesday to silent Saturday, the day before Easter.  The color of the vestments on the altar and pulpit were purple.  I enjoy seeing the colors of the church universal change through the church year just as I like to see the seasons change. They are like old friends that have come to visit.   
      We had two guests last Sunday, they were the Reids, and they were moving to Bluff Dale.     
     Neva Smith asked for prayers for her son, Mike Hancock, who was scheduled to fly to California.
     We were saddened to learn of the passing of Leslie Ethetton on February 28.  Our congregation extends sympathy to the family and many friends of Leslie.
     Lisa Leatherwood served as Worship Leader and read the scripture lesson from Genesis 2:15-17 & 3:1-7.  Joe and Jaxson Salinas were our acolytes.
     Rev. Ken Lunsford titled his message, “Trusting in the Goodness of God.”
     The story Lisa read to us is about Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  The man and his wife had things very good in the Garden.  They had plenty to eat, a beautiful place to live, and immortality.  God only ask them to keep one rule, one law, but they didn’t follow God’s instructions and ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge. 
      Lenten season is the time Christians examine our hearts, repent of our sins, and give up a pleasure to identify with Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf.  This is an uncomfortable time in the church, and it is supposed to be that way.  For 46 days, we think about how much our sin separates us from God and how far God would go to heal this separation.
      Adam and Eve lost sight of the goodness and holiness of God, and we do the same sometimes.  We say we believe in God, but do we really trust God?  There is a difference.  Trust Him enough to give your life to Him!
      To contact the church, email the office at fumcdublintxsecretary@gmail.com ,   or call 445-2157.  We would like to hear from you.