​First United Methodist Church News
December 25 & 29, 2019
  
     Our Christmas Eve service was wonderful, and the congregation wants to thank everyone who worked to make it a success.
     The lighting of the Advent Wreath and Christ candle was done by the Salinas family, Raymond, Adrienne, Joe and Jaxon.    
     The Christmas story from Luke was read by Tyler Harrell, Ally Leatherwood, Jaden Harrell, Noah Harrell, Joe Salinas, and Silas Leatherwood read from the Book of John.
     Leta Sage sang “Heaven Rejoices” and Julia Broussard sang “O Holy Night.”
     Rev. Ken Lunsford preached a short sermon titled “Joy!” Then we departed the sanctuary with a lighted candle while singing “Silent Night, Holy Night.”
      The refreshment table contained the largest “spread” we have ever served.  The refreshment ladies did their usual great job, but other members brought extra food.   Attendees stayed and visited and remarked how nice everything was.
      The left-over cookies were packed for January Community Table and while Patty Hirst was straitening up the kitchen, she found a big box full of cookies already in plastic bags.  It was a blessing
that made us laugh.  Patty and I stored many cookies in the deep freeze.
      Last Sunday, Jeanne Wendt served as our Worship Leader, she read the scripture lesson from Matthew 2:13-23. 
     Pat Beaty was well enough to play the piano for us.  Pat was too ill to sing for us on Christmas Eve.
     It seemed everyone at church, including Pastor Ken, had a cough or stuffy nose.  There was much coughing and clearing of the head before each hymn was sung.  Pastor Ken said we had a chorus going!
     Our congregation extends sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Wanda Weible and Joe Hallmark.
     “Back to the Real World” was the title of Rev. Ken Lunsford’s sermon.
     Pastor Jon Walton said, “Nothing is as over as Christmas when it’s over.”  Life has come back to normal, whatever that is.  Whenever all the pretty lights and decorations are packed away, what is left?  Still war and unrest in Iraq and Afghanistan, problems with homeless people, influenza, and terrible weather in parts of our nation.
     There is an inevitable letdown. But Mary and Joseph and the baby weren’t allowed to reside permanently in Bethlehem, and neither can we.  It’s back to the real world for us. But our world does not compare to the world the Holy Family lived in. They dealt with a time where a cruel tyrant could order all infants and toddlers to be put to death.  There were no jets to take them to Egypt, the back of a donkey or possibly on foot, would have to do.  Joseph did as the Lord told him to do, he trusted God.
Why did Jesus come down to us?   For one reason and one reason only!  We read in John 3:16, that God so Loved the World!!  Love came down at Christmas!
     The manger was just the beginning of God’s plan, there is much to be done. The baby must become a man, He must teach us His ways, then we must teach the world.  We must trust God.  We must Love the Lord our God with all our Heart, Mind, Strength and Soul and Love our neighbor as our self!  We need to take care of those we love, and we should love our neighbor, All our neighbors!  Let us remember the world to whom Christ came and for which He died. 
Thanks for reading!
 

​First United Methodist Church News
December 22, 2019
    
     Brookshire Brothers supermarket, here in Dublin donated a large amount of food and some toys to the Food Pantry.  Our members, along with all the good folks who keep the Food Pantry active want to say a deep appreciation to Brookshire Brothers. 
     December’s Community Table was a big success.  DJ Klutts, Mary Haley, Neva Smith and the kitchen ladies had a large group of volunteers show up. Volunteers started getting the takeout boxes ready the day before so on Table night, things went smoothly.  There was a big crowd that came to eat in fellowship hall.  It is always like a party and everyone is having a nice time.
     Anyone wishing to make a charitable donation before 2019 is over, please think about Dublin First United Methodist Church.  We must keep the building up to provide a place for all these activities which help our community. 
     Our congregation received a wonderful letter from the President of the Council of Bishops, Ken Carter.  He writes, in these days many of us realize, even as we walk this road, we have not arrived at our destination.  Every year we light the candles of hope and peace, joy, love and light.  And yet every year we confess our desire for a greater sense of hope and not despair, light and not darkness.
     As we journey through Advent on to Christmas, we hear the prophet Isaiah’s invitation: “Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.”  For many of us this culminates as we stand in a dark sanctuary on Christmas Eve, holding a candle, sharing the light of Christ. “The light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John1:5
     Our congregation extends sympathy to the family and friends of Gwen Brown and also the family and friends of Jimmy Whitehead, Bret Greenway and Bill Gilbreath.      
     I served as Worship Leader and read scripture from Matthew 1:18-25.
     Gene and DJ Klutts did the lighting of the Advent candle on the fourth Sunday of Advent.  DJ read a message that told us it is better to not go alone on our Advent journey.  We need companions to support us, strengthen us, and encourage us.  We learn to trust that someone has our back on this journey of faith.
     “God with Us,” was the title of Rev. Ken Lunsford’s sermon.  He preached on the first chapter of Matthew, he said it brings us home, home to the real meaning of Christmas.  Namely this, “GOD is with us!”  When we accept Christ into our lives, nothing, not even death, can separate us from God and His love.
     Matthew quotes from the Old Testament when the prophet foretold: Look! A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel.” (God with us.)
     All of us get scared sometime.  Jesus knew we felt fearful, anxious, or troubled.  In His lessons Jesus often said, “Fear not,” “Don’t be anxious,” “Let not your hearts be troubled.”
     With Christmas comes the great promise that calms our fears and lets us celebrate life, it is Emmanuel “God is with us.”  That’s the Good News of our Christian faith. Love came down at Christmas. Merry Christmas!
 

​First United Methodist Church News
December 15, 2019
     Christmas Eve Services at First United Methodist Church will be at 7:00 p.m. on December 24, 2019 in our sanctuary.  All are invited and welcomed!
There will be the reading of the Christmas story by our children, carol singing by the congregation, specials will be sung, and a short sermon. It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas at 630 Highland Ave in Dublin.
     Area Methodist churches made cookies for the troops, they were tagged, boxed and almost four hundred boxes of two dozen each were taken to Dyess Air Base in Abilene.
     Lee and Betty Lusk gave the Advent reading and the lighting of the candles on the Advent wreath.
      DJ Klutts was our Worship Leader and read the scripture lesson from Matthew 11:2-19.
    We were happy to see Donna Starkey’s smiling face with us Sunday.  She may be a guest, but it doesn’t seem like it.   
     Conner Moore was named the “Outstanding Bio-Medical Student” during his graduation this month from Tarleton University.  Now Conner moves forward on in his quest to become a physician.  God speed Conner.
     Juanita Duncan’s granddaughter, Kellie, graduated last Saturday From Texas Woman’s University Nursing School in Denton. Janita, along with other family members attended, and witnessed the “Pinning” ceremony.
     Lee and Betty Lusk’s granddaughter, Macy, has moved to San Antonio to continue her studies at University of Texas at San Antonio.  Macy is classified as a junior.
    Mine and Pastor Ken’s granddaughter, Amy McCarley, has graduated from Brewer High School this December. Amy is five months ahead of most of her classmates because she took extra courses and some college classes.  She starts in January to Tarrant County College.
    We are praying for Mary Yantis; she has had some setbacks and is in the hospital in Fort Worth.  We all need to see what we can do to help Mary.
     Our congregation extends sincere sympathy to Jack Parks and the Parks family on the death of Jack’s brother, Harold Wayne Parks.
   Rev. Ken Lunsford titled his sermon “Are You the One Who Is to Come?” 
     Today’s scripture lesson tells us that when John the Baptist was in prison, he sent word to Jesus, asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”  Jesus told them “to report what they have seen: the blind now see; the deaf now hear; the people with skin diseases are cleansed; the dead are raised up; and the poor have good news proclaimed to them.  Happy are those who don’t stumble and fall because of me.”  When they had gone, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John.  He asked them about what they went out into the wilderness to see and hear.   Jesus says, yes, John is a prophet and more than that.  He is the one of whom it is written: Look, I’m sending my messenger before you, who will prepare your way before you.
     Centuries before John and Jesus, there was a prophet named Isaiah.  He prophesied about what would take place when the Messiah arrived.  Isaiah said, “The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped: the lame shall leap like a deer.”  Those weren’t the kind of signs John was expecting.  He was looking for a grander, more dramatic, appearance.  That is not God’s way. God chooses to work in the little places of life. Like a manger, a carpenter’s shop, and a cross. Amen.
     Christmas is coming, it is nearly here.  You can grumble and fuss and refuse to participate, but you won’t impress Christmas. I suggest you laugh, sing, and put up as many lights as you can afford, no matter what terrible tragedy you experienced at this time of year.  You see- I promised, someone I loved, long ago that I would not let their passing ruin Christmas.  And I don’t, you can see me coming clear up the block, I’m the one wearing red and gaudy earrings, I’ll be laughing and waving to everyone!  Merry Christmas, Judy
 

​First United Methodist Church News
December 8, 2019
     Community table is this Wednesday. Lasagna, tossed salad, bread and dessert will be served.
     If I were you, I would be here to volunteer so I could be close to the kitchen. 
     Christmas Eve Services are coming together nicely.  It will be a beautiful, meaningful evening.
     We need the cookies for the military by this coming Sunday.  Let’s not disappoint these folks who sacrifice so much.
     Our faithful member, Julia Broussard, sang with the community choir that performed the “Messiah” at Tarleton last Saturday. They were accompanied by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.   
     Laura Leatherwood served as Worship Leader.  She read the scripture lesson from Matthew 3:1-12.
     Our congregation extends sympathy to the family and friends of Vic Jones.
     We added Janie and Lon Laquay to our prayer list.  Janie has a broken arm that did not behave itself and needed to be re-broken and set again. This is a bad time of the year to not have use of both hands.
     Juanita Duncan gave the Advent reading and Neva Smith did the lighting of the candles on the Advent wreath.
     Pastor Ken gave a short program for the lighting of the Chrismon tree at the altar rail of our church.  He said as we prepare for the coming of Jesus, the Light of the World, let us remember whenever you see a lighted Christmas tree, The One who brings light to our darkness, healing to our brokenness, and peace to all who receive Him. Amen.
    Rev. Ken Lunsford titled his sermon “Repent! Get the Garbage Out.”
     John the Baptist preached “Change your hearts and lives!   Here comes the kingdom of heaven!”
People from Jerusalem, all throughout Judea and the Jordan River came to John.  They confessed their sin and were baptized in the Jordan. When many Pharisees and Sadducees came to be baptized, John called them children of snakes!   He told them to produce fruit that shows you have changed your heart and lives.  John also told them one is coming after me and I am not worthy to carry His sandals.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
     God had chosen John to be the prophet who announces the arrival of the Messiah.  The world needed to know God’s plan for the salvation of the world was kicking into high gear.  John preached “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”  Christ is coming, Get the garbage out and repent!
     You almost never hear the word repent, in our modern society anymore. But repent was the first word of John the Baptist’s gospel, the first word of Jesus’ gospel, first word in the preaching ministry of the twelve disciples, and it is the first word in the preaching instructions Jesus gave to His disciples after His resurrection.  You need to change your mind and understanding to reflect God’s purposes. You need to get right with the Lord.  It is the first step.  Sin comes from turning away from the love of and reverence for God. But the fruit of repentance is joy and peace.
     Don’t just go through the motions this Christmas season. Get the garbage out and bear the fruit that comes from knowing you are restored to God. Amen.
 

 

December 1, 2019
    
    It is time to get those nut-free and peanut butter free cookies baked for the troops and put one dozen cookies in a zip lock bag. The church will box for transport.  Sunday, December 15 is the cutoff date for the cookies. Don’t forget our military as we rush to get things done.
     Community Table is moved up to December 18!  Please come, but, show up on the 18th. 
    We are decorated and ready to shine with plenty of green swags and red bows.
     Our Worship team met after church this past Sunday to plan the Christmas Eve services.  Special solos and Bible reading along with Christmas carols will be enjoyed.  The time was set for the Christmas Eve Service is 7:00 p.m.   
    Lisa Leatherwood served as Worship Leader and read the scripture lesson from Isaiah 2:1-15.
    The Advent reading and lighting of the first candle on the Advent wreath was done by Dr. Harlan and Eddie Raley.
   A prayer rail offering was taken for the Methodist Children’s Home in Waco.  This program serves more than 1,400 children and youth daily through residential programs at the Waco campus, the Boys Ranch, foster homes, transition services and a variety of additional services throughout Texas and New Mexico.
     The Dublin Goodfellows and Transformation Pathways (formerly Christian Women’s Job Core) could sure use your donations this Christmas.  And the local library and Transformation Pathways have “angel trees’ with families names and information who could use a helping hand this season. 
    Paul and Pat Beaty have an anniversary on the 23rd then Gene and DJ Klutts celebrate on the 26th.   Ben Pate has a birthday on the 26th.   Congratulations to all.
     Rev. Ken Lunsford’s message was titled “A Vision of Hope.”
     The Prophet Isaiah is called by God to pronounce God’s coming judgment on the people of Jerusalem and Judah.  Isaiah also is given a vision of hope, of God’s plan to restore God’s chosen people someday.  Isaiah can see a day when God’s Messiah rules the nations of the world with peace and justice.  Isaiah has a vivid picture of what life will be like someday, in the last days, when God’s people finally turn back to their Lord.  Isiah had this vision 700 years before Christ’s birth.
      This is a good Bible passage to start off the Advent season, when we prepare for Jesus’ coming. For Emmanuel means; God with us.  Jesus is our second chance to undo the damage of our sin and restore us.  Jesus is our view from the mountaintop.  Don’t miss this opportunity.
 
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