“A Community Shared Table” is the name of the new project First Methodist is planning. Stormy Armstrong is the Chair of the committee that held a planning session on Monday, 1-6. We will cook a meal and share it with the Dublin community every month at no charge. There will be more information coming in future columns.
A new Bible study on Psalms began on Wednesday, 1-8 at 10:00 am. Leta Sage is directing this study and we are looking forward to understanding more about the Bible.
Our congregation extends sympathy to the family and friends of Wilber Rasberry. His wife Winnie is in our prayers.
Neva Smith informed us that her sister-in-law, Juanita Erwin, had passed away. Our sympathy goes out to her family.
Neva suffered a fall last week but she has “bounced back.” She said thank goodness she had a hard head. This church is thankful also.
Stormy Armstrong shared with us that her brother, Chris Humphries, came to Texas for the Christmas holidays. Chris had a good visit with his mother, Pat Humphries, in College Station. Chris has left on his journey back to Afghanistan and our prayers go with him.
Juanita Duncan enjoyed a visit from her niece who attends Clemson University.
Jennifer Miller served as our Worship Leader last Sunday and did a great job. Jennifer is our newest member.
Lisa Leatherwood gave the children’s lesson. Lisa brought a rope to have a “tug of war” with. She tugged and Joe Salinas tugged on the other end. Joe won!
Then Lisa and her husband Pat tugged on one end and Joe tugged and Joe won again. Lisa told us when God is with you, you can do great things. She told Joe as he goes through life things will try to tug him in the wrong direction, but have faith God is with him and be strong.
“New Year: New Name” was the title of Rev. Ken Lunsfords sermon. It was taken from Ephesians 1:3-14.
The New Year is a time for reflection. It is also a time we face a new beginning. We have hopes that things will be different and better.
That may be why some of us come to church. We hope that the Holy Spirit may fall afresh on us and the future will be full of possibilities and positive change.
Ephesians 1 is very upbeat. It teaches us we are God’s chosen ones; His elect. God wants something better for us.
In Isaiah 43 God says through the prophet Isaiah, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing.”
A new name symbolizes new possibilities. God loves giving people new names. Abram became Abraham, the “Father of Multitudes,” and Sari He called Sarah. Jacob was renamed Israel, which means “Prince of God.” Simon Peter became Peter, “The Rock.”
God is calling us “Forgiven.” “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God has called us blessed, chosen, holy, blameless, adopted sons and daughters of God. Why do you call yourself a failure, a loser, not worthy? Some people talk about others and condemn them. They say “People never change. They are hopeless.” But God knows better. Never underestimate the power of God in your life or anyone else’s life.