podium. Scout Master, Joe Emmert, led us in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
Pastor Ken gave some history and information on Scouting and told of the long relationship the Dublin First United Methodist Church has with local Scouts.
The children’s lesson was given by Pastor Ken and he had large group come to the front. Pastor Ken showed the children a picture of a brass lamp. It looked like a “magic lamp.” He said you have heard the stories of rubbing the lamp and a genie will grant your
wishes. Then he told them the story of a young man who had a wish for his inheritance so he could leave home, see the world and do as he pleased. It was the story of The Prodigal Son! Pastor Ken told the whole story in his own “country way,” he said Jesus told the parable to teach us we all make bad choices like the son in the story. We sometimes wish for things that are not good for us and don’t want to listen to God and obey what the Bible tells us. But like the father in the story our God is always willing to forgive us and
take us back if we admit that we were wrong and return to Him.
Prayers were asked for Gracie Maikell who has been hospitalized, for Margaret Cote who has broken her leg, and for Ronnie Belew, Barbara Stevens and Jeff Weaver.
There will be an administrative council meeting on 3-20 at 6:30p.m., Pastor Ken will make a pot of coffee and bring cookies.
The sermon for Sunday’s service was taken from John 6:53-71. Rev Ken Lunsford titled it “Do You Wish To Go Away?” In this chapter of the Bible some of Jesus followers find what he has to say too hard to listen to and they no longer accompanied Him. Jesus asked the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered, “Lord, where would we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are God’s holy one.”
Pastor Ken talked about folks who leave a church because they say it is too large or too small. Some find that their church has a fixation about designer clothes and shoes. They want to leave because they feel their children are subjected to snobbery. Others
may drop out because the church is too involved in social issues. Still others think their church talks too much about money.
Some people simply can’t follow along with those hard claims on our life. Claims about denying ourselves, giving unto the least of these, taking up the cross, becoming humble, and living clean, and holy lives. And some fall for the crowd mentality. If they are surrounded by people that are against Christ and His Church, they find it hard to resist the crowd.
We answer the discipleship question at many stages throughout our Christian walk. We are faced with constant decisions. The redemptive response is “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
Happy St. Patrick’s Day and until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of His hand.