First United Methodist Church News
October 21, 2018
    
     We need volunteers for Community Table on Halloween night.  What better place to work than a place with steaming spaghetti, hot garlic toast, and a room full of cake, pies, and candy.  Don’t crowd the kitchen door trying to get in.
     Leta Sage sang us into the sanctuary last Sunday as she played and sang “Make Me a Servant.”  Lisa Leatherwood, who was our Worship Leader, said, “What a way to start the service!”
     We were glad to see Irene Sohm back in church. She is feeling better.
     I must let you know that Laurel St. United Methodist is growing!  And they have young families coming to church.  Having the children come up and give the Pastor a hug after the service is surely a high point of the day.  Laurel St. UMC is located at 504 Laurel St., Dublin and times of service are: 9:30AM Worship, and 10:30AM Sunday School or Small Group Study.
     Pat Leatherwood is sounding better after having a super bad cold or sinus problem. Pat goes to all the high school football games and does a lot of cheering.
     We gave thanks for the plentiful rains Dublin has enjoyed and also that the Dublin Lions have won seven games in a row.
     Prayers were said for the family whose mother was struck and killed on the highway.
     It is time for Christmas shoe boxes for the Samaritan’s Purse ministry. This operation is 25 years old. I hear it started in 1993 with boxes to Kosovo.  There are pamphlets in the foyer of our church that give instructions on what to give or you can visit online at samaritanspurse.org/occ.
     Rev. Ken Lunsford titled his sermon “Serve, Not Be Served!” he took his lesson from Mark 10:35-45.
     James and John, two of Jesus’ disciples, asked to sit on the left and right of Jesus when He came into His glory.  Jesus told them they did not know what they were asking.  They did not understand that Jesus would be crucified, buried, and resurrected before He entered His glory.
     Jesus tells James and John and us also that whoever wants to be great among you will be your servant and whoever wants to be first among you will be the slave of all. Jesus said, “For the Human One didn’t come to be served but rather to serve and to give His life to liberate many people.”
     True greatness is about serving God, serving the community, working for your church, and identifying with Christ.
     Jesus Christ wants to make something magnificent out of your life, if you will let Him.
                The Churches e-mail address is:  fumcdublintxsecretary@gmail.com  and the phone number is 254-445-2157
          The Pastor’s e-mail is:  fumcdublin630@gmail.com 
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First United Methodist Church News
October 14, 2018
    
     A spaghetti with meat sauce meal is planned for Community Table on Halloween night   We will have trick or treat candy for children and it should be a lot of fun! Come and eat with us and let the kids show off their costumes.  I’ve got several choices for a costume, it is a matter of what the temperature is that day. Adults are welcome to come and play board game or dominos.  If that is not your pleasure, then just help us eat pie or cake.
     Pastor Ken was privileged to perform a wedding on Monday at Laurel St. United Methodist Church. 
     Nancy Wooldridge was our Worship Leader and Cole Moore served as acolyte.    
 Nancy read the scripture lesson from Mark 10:17-31.
     In the lesson a man asks Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to obtain eternal life?” Jesus replied, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except the one God.” Jesus answers the wealthy man by telling him to sell all he owns and to give it to the poor.  But the man went away saddened by the answer.  Then Jesus tells His disciples, “Children, it is easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.”  Jesus also tells them, “But many who are first will be last. And many who are last will be first.”
     The rich young man is usually regarded as a moral coward.  But he did run to Jesus and knelt before Him, and the man certainly asked the right questions.  The Bible says that Jesus looked upon the young fellow and loved him.  That is not scathing criticism.  And Jesus was revered at that time as a new prophet, not as the Son of God.
     Far too often in the church we are not humble. Much more often our motivation is not sincerity but recognition and advancement of our agenda.  But the rich young man knelt in the road in broad daylight, he was humble.  Now let’s look where he went negative. He was looking for a rule to keep to please God.  He asked, “What must I do?” He was conforming outwardly instead of obeying inwardly.  That may be what we are doing – living by law rather than by grace.
How about you, how about me?
     Let us examine ourselves to see if material wealth is so important that it affects our relationship with others.  Does it create a distance between ourselves and God?
     To contact the church, email the office at fumcdublintxsecretary@gmail.com ,
  or call 445-2157.  We would like to hear from you. 
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​First United Methodist Church News
October 7, 2018
    
     I was supposed to be the Worship Leader last Sunday.  But I had a fall in the laundry room and was feeling a little “stove up,” so I did not go to church.
I did call in however. So, Leta Sage stood in at the lectern and ask for any volunteers or she would perform the duties. Lisa Leatherwood took over as Worship Leader and read the scriptures from Mark 10:2-16.  Lisa also assisted with Holy Communion.
     What a commotion I caused by not showing up!
     Our members reported having a great time at the Dublin Airport celebration last Saturday.  They also liked the music and entertainment at All Things Celtic.
     Since Methodists consider other believers their brothers and sisters in Christ, we do get out and about and support many projects.
     The congregation will sing “Happy Birthday” to Roxy Volkmer, Pat Beaty, and Elise Hall.  And they will sing and wish “Happy Anniversary” to Harlan and Eddie Raley next Sunday (Oct. 14th).
     Because Community Table falls on Halloween this year, we are planning on a Halloween party also!  I am getting my costume ready and stuffing scarecrows.
Get the word out and dig out that old jack-o-lantern.
     Irene Sohm is at home healing from her surgery.  She won’t be down for very long.
     Rev. Ken Lunsford titled his sermon, “Do Children Like You?”
     Jesus said, “Let the children come unto me.” 
     What is the test for human success? How do you measure good personality?  Who is the one drawing others to himself?
     Children show precision when checking out the people around them who really care for them.  Such people draw children to them like magnets.  And Jesus, as the divine Son of God, had a heart for children.  He was the beautiful Savior to whom children felt drawn.  Children want to know that they belong, they want to be cared about, and they want to be affirmed as a person.
     Jesus took time to see the children despite the heavy concerns that weighed on Him at the moment (the trial and the cross was in His future).
     Jesus valued loving relationships above human tasks and achievement. We believe God’s infinite love is available to all, call us at 254-445-2157 or email at fumcdublintxsecretary@gmail.com
                Thanks for reading and God’s Blessings be upon you!  If you are looking for a church home, we believe in Open Minds, Open Hearts and Open Doors!
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First United Methodist Church News
September 30, 2018
    
     The final head count for Community Table for both delivered and in-house meals was 289!  The take-out meals usually get cookies for dessert. The in-house folks got apple cobbler, pear cobbler, key-lime pie, brownies, caramel cake, and other sweets.  The in-house count is growing as people realize we really do want to see you and say hello.
    The Administrative Council meets Wednesday, 10-17 at 6 p.m.
      It is hard to believe that our church is “winding up” the business decisions for 2018. What happened, where did it the time go? 
     Pastor Ken Lunsford Baptized Suona Justice’s granddaughter, Autumn, this past Sunday at Laurel St. United Methodist Church.  God bless Autumn and her family.
     DJ Klutts served as Worship Leader and read the scripture lesson from Mark 9:38-50.  The Salinas brothers, Jaxson and Joe, did a fine job as acolytes.
     The congregation enjoyed a another wonderful special from Julia Broussard. She sang “His Eye is on The Sparrow.” Leta Sage accompanied Julia on the piano.
     Our congregation extends our sympathy to the friends and family of James Salyer.
     On Fifth Sunday we call out our favorite hymns and sing a lot, we do not have a sermon.  However, Rev. Ken Lunsford did bring a message at Laurel St. United Methodist Church.  He delivered a timely sermon titled “Be at Peace With One Another.”
     Jesus said, “Have salt in yourselves, be at peace with each other.” So why are we so often at odds with one another?  Usually it is because of turf wars. We fight for our turf and that of others.  Jesus says be like salt: Preserve what is best.  If others are working for the Kingdom, don’t stop them. 
     Jesus warns us do not cause one of these little ones to stumble.  And He tells us to get rid of those things which bring sin into our own life.  Let me tell you how to have victory: “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.”  Shut it down! Turn it off! Say goodbye! Cut it off!  Sin is very serious, and we should address it and remove it seriously.
     Love without truth is flighty and sometimes blind.  But truth without love can be offensive, it can turn people away from the gospel.  Let us seek the lost and least and bring them to Christ for their sake and ours.
     Proclaim peace between God and mankind and peace between you and me.
     Shalom.
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