Everything about the Resurrection story in Matthew is earth-shattering. There’s a violent earthquake shaking creation, as if announcing the Kin-dom has come. There is a divine messenger proclaiming the impossible, that Jesus has risen from the dead. There are guards, sent by Pilate to secure the tomb, who are terrified
Trusting each other seems to be almost impossible anymore. We have become convinced we can’t trust our leaders, our government, our neighbors-we’ve come to believe that there’s really no one we can trust. And without trust in the present, we feel there’s no hope for the future. In short, we’re all left feeling hopeless.
We thought we were prepared to handle twins on our own. Then our twins were born two months early. It was overwhelming, but then an army of people assembled to help us. I needed to go to the hospital everyday, and someone would show up to drop me off
My study Bible calls this section of Isaiah from chapters 40-66, “The Book of Comfort.” You can feel that coming through these words that God is speaking to God’s people. The exiles of Israel in Babylonian captivity needed encouragement, they needed hope. They longed for the
restoration of God’s kingdom
Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent and a time of reflection as we once again follow Jesus to the cross and the tomb, towards the resurrection and Easter. It’s a solemn time of prayer, fasting, studying scripture together and serving others. It’s also a time for us to draw near to God
Have you ever gotten lost? I have. Even with using GPS to navigate to a place in another state, I’ve ended up in a parking lot looking through a chain link fence at my destination on the opposite side of the road, separated by a six lane highway, with no idea
The snow was coming down fast, and all the trees and houses, the entire landscape looked so magical. What had been the ordinary day, was now transformed into a thing of frozen beauty. My heart has been feeling so heavy for all that is happening in the world, yet here, gazing out my window
As I write this I’m sitting in the emergency room with my mom. It seems the whole human drama is playing out around us. So many are sick and in pain, some are confused, some are unconscious, some are calling out for help. And then there’s the waiting. Waiting to be seen,
Can you see it in your mind’s eye? Can you imagine those lowly shepherds, watching over their flock in darkness one minute, the next minute, suddenly blinded by the light of God’s Kin-dom crashing in through time and space. Awe struck by God’s glory the shepherds fall to the ground
Life is really challenging right now. I find myself thinking, or saying things I usually wouldn’t think or say-at least out loud. Each day following Jesus seems to get tougher. At the end of the day I look over what I need to work on and I pray for forgiveness
Can you name something that lasts forever? I can’t think of anything. Everything we know of has an ending. Even our planet has finite water and oxygen and the Sun, the star we depend on for light, has a five billion year expiration date. So when we read today’s Psalm to the very last twenty-sixth verse,
What could be worse than sitting down at the table and eating with the enemy? Jesus is accused of eating with tax collectors and sinners. Tax collectors were despised collaborators of the Romans who enforced the collection of the very taxes that Rome used to oppress the people of Judea.
Together we can turn the nation’s largest weekend of football into the largest weekend of giving. Youth group members will be collecting monetary donations at each service this Sunday and will then send the donation to the Turning Point United Methodist Food Pantry in Trenton. Your generosity will be very much appreciated. The link below will take you to our PushPay system. You can select “Give One Time” then use the Fund Selector to choose “Souper Bowl of Caring.”
PEDAL for PROMISE – SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2019: Medford United Methodist is fielding a team for the Urban Promise fundraiser “Pedal for Promise.” This year the ride begins and ends at Valenzano Winery in Shamong. You can register to ride, make a donation to the team or register as a spectator to enjoy the party and cheer on our team.
Go to urbanpromiseusa.org/pedal for more information about the event, to donate, or to register as an individual. OR you can go directly to the TEAM MEDFORD UMC page at www.crowdrise.com/team-medford-umc.
Questions or need help? Speak with Pastor Kathleen, Wayne Richards, or Heidi and Mike Polhemus
