​First United Methodist Church News
April 21, 2019
 
     Now through May 11 the Wesley Foundation at Tarleton is doing a shoe drive.  They will accept all sizes of new or gently used shoes.  You can leave your donated shoes in our foyer Monday to Thursday from 9:00 a.m. till 1:00 p.m.  Thanks to everyone who has been leaving footwear!
     Our Good Friday Service was very moving.  The youngsters who did scripture readings did a superb job!  They were, Ty, Jaden, and Noah Harrell, Joshua and Jorden Cardoza.
     Julia Broussard sang “The Old Rugged Cross,” as a special during the Friday service.
     The Community Sunrise Service was a success. All the Ministers did a fine job with their parts and the music was up-lifting! We had no specials, but we all joined in the singing, and Pat Beaty play the keyboard out in the garden.
     The pancake and ham breakfast was well attended. The kitchen corps once again rose to the occasion and cooked a splendid meal!
     Pastor Ken enjoyed his pancakes, then he was off to preach at Laurel St. United Methodist Church.
     At the 11 o’clock service Laura Leatherwood served as Worship Leader and read scripture from Luke 24:1-12.  Silas Leatherwood and Cole Moore were the acolytes. 
     Rev. Ken Lunsford preached on the message from Luke 24:1-12.
     Try to see this Bible passage through the eyes of the women who first visited the tomb of Jesus.  Imagine their surprise when they discover that Jesus is gone!
The women entered the tomb and suddenly two men in glowing white clothes stood beside them.  The women fell to the ground and covered their faces.  The men said to them. “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!  The women ran to tell the eleven disciples and the other followers the wonderful news.
     The resurrection marks the moment when life overcame death.  It also marks the time when hope overcame grief. And resurrection marks the moment when we have to decide, will we burst with joy and tell everyone we know about eternal life offered through Jesus?  Or will we be like Peter, who saw the tomb and grave clothes and walk away confused and unconvinced?
     The resurrection is real, it’s true, and it is the most important truth known to humanity. Go and tell everyone you know, “Jesus is alive!”
The Christian religion is the only sect that has a risen Savior; all other religions have had a leader/teacher but when they died they were buried in a grave and they remain there.
Thanks for reading, God’s Blessings of Peace, Love and Grace be on you!

​First United Methodist Church News
April 14, 2019
 
     Community Table is this Wednesday and the menu is ham, macaroni and cheese and green beans.  Those dinning at the church will also get a drink and dessert.  We always welcome volunteers to help in any way. 
     Our Sanctuary will be open for prayer and reflection from 5 till 7 p.m. Thursday April 18, Maundy Thursday.
     Tomorrow, April 19, the Good Friday Communion Service will be using Luke 24:1-12 for the sermon titled “Surprise One Got Out”, start time is 7 p.m.
     The Ministerial Alliance Community Sunrise Service will begin Easter Sunday at 7 a.m. in the Atrium garden at First United Methodist Church, 630 Highland Ave.  The Dublin Ministerial Alliance Pastors welcomes all of you.  With breakfast following the service.
     David Cleveland could use some assistants in the kitchen for cooking the pancake and ham breakfast.  David will begin preparing the meal at 6 a.m. 
     Pat Leatherwood was back in church and said he was feeling much better now that a few kidney stone have been removed. Pat and Lisa’s grandson, Liam Cisneros, has received a great medical report and will not require any more surgery till he is much older.  We all have so much to be thankful for.
     James and Leta Sage have a new granddaughter!  She was born on Sunday and her name is Dakota Mae, her parents are Keith and Kelsey Sage of Seguin.
     I requested prayers for my friend and neighbor, Beverly Gilbreath, who has been in the hospital with serious health issues.  Beverly will go to the Senior Care nursing home from the hospital.  Prayers also for Beverly’s sister, Wanona Stevens, who has responsibility of her care.
     Our friend Susie King needs our prayers, she has problems and her husband Royce has mobility issues.  Susie has been active in the Dublin community in several areas, volunteering and cooking meals.  Now it is time to assist her.
     Jeanne Wendt served as Worship Leader and read the scripture lesson from Luke 19:28-40. Cole Moore performed as acolyte.
     Laura Leatherwood gave the children’s lesson and talked about Jesus riding a young donkey into Jerusalem. Laura asked some sitting in the pews to wave their palm leaves and shout “Hosanna!” The children were given some bagged cookies from Laura and coloring pages/puzzles from Pastor Ken.
     “His Triumphal Entry” was the titled of Rev. Ken Lunsford’s sermon.
     Seven days changed the world. These seven days have been the topic of countless books, movies, and plays. They inspired the greatest painters, skilled architects, and gifted musicians. The cultural impact is immense.  And countless men, women, and children have been transformed by these seven days as they played out in Jerusalem.  When this occurred, it didn’t matter much to the world, just to a few of the people involved.
     On Sunday, the first of the seven days, Jesus rode into Jerusalem to shouts of Hosanna and blessings on the king who comes in the name of the Lord. On Monday He walked into the Temple overturning tables where money exchange occurred. On Tuesday Jesus taught in parables and predicted the destruction of the Temple.  On Wednesday, nothing is recorded. On Thursday Jesus celebrated Passover with His disciples. He gave them broken bread and wine. On Friday, following false trials and beatings, Jesus carried His cross to the hill where He was crucified. On Saturday He lay dead in a borrowed tomb. On Sunday morning Jesus was resurrected.  He is ALIVE! And many people have seen Him.  There is triumph of love over hate and life over death!  Again, the greatest triumph is LOVE OVER Hate!!
Thanks for reading, God Blessings be upon you!

​First United Methodist Church News
April 7, 2019
 
     Pastor Ken has ordered the palm fronds to wave on Palm Sunday.  The children enjoy marching and waving their palm fronds.  To tell the truth, I like it also.
     No service is scheduled for Maundy Thursday.  But a Good Friday service will begin at 7 p.m.
     Set your alarm clocks to rise and shine early on Easter morning.  You will be lifted by the Dublin Ministerial Alliance Sunrise service at 7 a.m. in the First Methodist atrium garden. You are protected from the north and west winds in the garden.  As we have for several years, we will serve a pancake breakfast in fellowship hall after the Sunrise Service.  
     We will get folks their pancakes in time to attend their denomination’s Sunday School and church! 
     Lisa Leatherwood was our Worship Leader and she read the scriptures from John 12:1-8.
     We extend sympathy to the family and friends of Shirley LaBaume.  Shirley is a cousin of Ray LaBaume.
     Our congregation extends sympathy to the family and friends of John Underwood.  Keep his wife Hilda in your prayers.
     Neva Smith’s son-in-law has had his surgery and so far, so good.  Lee Lusk’s sister, who is in her nineties, has had surgery and is recovering:  Miracles are happening all around us.
     Irene Sohm is feeling feisty enough for spring cleaning, and that is good!
     Our pastor and congregation were happy to welcome three adults and three children as guests this past Sunday.
     Laura Leatherwood presented the children’s lesson and asked the children about their most important possessions.  Some said their pets or their family.  Then Laura asked them “would you give something important away to someone you cared for?”  Then Laura told them about Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, who anointed Jesus’ head and feet with an expensive perfume oil and dried His feet with her hair. Laura said that the oil was Mary’s greatest gift and she used it for Jesus. 
     Rev. Ken Lunsford preached about the times it is alright to be extravagant.  That is what the story in the Book of John is about.
     Jesus will go to Jerusalem for Passover. It is just a few days away. Judas is ready to betray Him. The crucifixion is less than a week away and Jesus knows it.
Jesus and His disciples visit in the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in Bethany.  Only a few days before, Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead.
     They are all enjoying a dinner when Mary brings an alabaster jar of nard and breaks it open. Mary pours the oil on Jesus.  Was she thanking Him for raising her brother?  Or was it an act of preparing His body for the death to come?  All agree it was an act of love and kindness. 
     It is all right to be extravagant in our generosity. It is ok to extravagant in our gratitude and graciousness.

​First United Methodist Church News
March 31, 2019
 
     Palm Sunday (April14) is coming up fast!  We are preparing for Holy Week here at our church.  Holy Week, is the most important celebration of the Christian faith.
    Maundy Thursday, April 18th, there will be NO service but you may come and go for prayer 5pm until 7pm.   We will have a Good Friday Service with Communion on Friday April 19 at 7:00 p.m. Then a glorious Ministerial Alliance hosted Community Sunrise Service in the Atrium. Dublin Ministerial Alliance has put together a meaningful program for you to attend at 7:00a.m. Following the early service is a pancake breakfast, at no cost to you, in the fellowship hall. Our regular service on Easter with Communion starts at 11 a.m.  So, there is plenty of opportunity to worship and rejoice.
     Congratulations to our friend, Tesha Shafer, her daughter Corryn has a baby girl named Aria.  We are thankful for a safe out-come for the mother and baby.
     Jim and Laura Leatherwood’s granddaughter, Aly, has been named to the National Honor Society by her school.  So happy for Aly!
     There was a great article in last week’s Citizen about Pat Beaty’s daughter, Cari Springfield.  If you missed it, you better dig out that paper!
     We were informed of a tragedy in Pastor Kens’ family.  His cousins that we are fond of and visit in New Mexico have lost a grandchild to murder.  She was Michelle Steinman, age 24.  She was killed last week in Parker County by her boyfriend who immediately called 911 and surrendered.  Please keep the Steinman family in your prayers.
     Nancy Wooldridge was our Worship Leader and she read the scriptures from 2 Corinthians 5:16-21.  The letter to the Corinthians was written by St. Paul. 
     “Be Reconciled to God” was the title of Rev. Ken Lunsford’s sermon.
      Paul says if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of a new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived!  All of these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and who gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
       Jesus prayed from the cross, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  The impact of His death would never be forgotten by His disciples, nor by his followers today.
Jesus hung on the cross for six hours.  A centurion who watches Him die exclaims, “Truly, this man was the son of God,”
        Jesus rose on the third day as He said He would and began making appearances to His disciples.  He is alive.  And because He is alive, we can live too. God resurrected Jesus to live forever in the hearts and lives of those who know Him.  We (the church) implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
Come and worship with us, we would be honored with your presence.