Jamey's Newsletter: Sunday, April 30, 2023
Just before Jesus is arrested, he encourages his disciples by saying, “I have said this to you so that you may have peace in me. In the world, you face persecution, but take courage: I have conquered the world” (John 16:38).
I believe the peace the bible speaks of comes to those who learn to live in the present. But, unfortunately, we all know people who live with the regrets of yesterday and the worry of tomorrow.
When your life is grounded in Jesus, you will discover that you can live in the present because, in Jesus, we learn the past, and the future is taken care of.
We affirm with Paul, who says, “I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8: 38 - 39).
Nothing, not even death, can separate us from the love of God. Therefore, since not even death can separate us from the love of God, we affirm that the regrets of the past and the worries of the future do not have to keep us from living out of the present.
What steps do you need to take to start living in the present?
Jamey
Let’s Talk About Jesus Feeding the 5,000
Weekly Prayer
God, you are the source of every blessing. However, we act like the blessing was our doing. Lord, forgive us for our arrogance.
We need help to share. But, unfortunately, living with a scarcity mentality keeps us hoarding all the blessings for ourselves. May the hungry, lonely, and hurting receive what they need. And give me the faith to believe that you could take the meager gifts I offer and multiply them for the greater good. Amen.
Four-Part Series: Why Stay Christian?
I will answer these four questions: 1. What do you feel is compelling about the Christian faith? 2. What do you find challenging about the Christian faith? 3. What encouragement would you share if someone struggles to stay in the faith? 4. What currently gives you hope about how the church lives out the faith?
4. What currently gives you hope about how the church lives out the faith?
I find hope in how the church lives out the faith with authenticity and humility. The people I have the opportunity to live out the Christian faith with are doing so with love for others. I see a renewed interest in the church among young families and adults. They want a faith community where their questions are heard, they can find community, and they can be part of something greater than themselves.
Meme of the Week
Dad Jokes
What do you call a well-dressed lion? A dandy lion!
Why did the bird wear a mask to the bank? It was a rob-in!
Book I am reading this week
A Commentary on Jeremiah: Exile and Homecoming by Walter Brueggemann
(No articles, videos, etc. this week - I was in full pilgrimage mode last week all around Israel)
Photo Taken by Me
Church of Annunciation, Nazareth
The Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth commemorates where the angel Gabriel visited Mary and delivered the invitation for her to bear God’s Son.
The Church was constructed over the course of a decade in the 1950s and 60s. The architectural style is called “Italian brutalist” and uses exposed, unfinished concrete to highlight naked natural elements.
Interesting Fact: An older church from 1730 was cleared for this new building. Archeologists found a grotto there surrounded by a fourth-century church. Inside the grotto, they found a foundation of stone from earlier with the words of Gabriels’ greeting, “Hail Mary,” inscribed on it. Because of the significance of the historical connection to the place, they built the new church around this grotto, leaving it exposed at the bottom level.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
August 5-12 / Guiamaca, Honduras
Gainesville First United Methodist will take a team to Guiamaca, Honduras, from Saturday, August 5 - Saturday, August 12. The cost of this trip is around $700 a person plus airfare. The trip will offer two options once we are in Honduras. One group will spend the week at Orphanage Emmanuel, ministering to the children and tackling various projects around the campus. Another group will spend the week in the surrounding community of Guiamaca, working on building a feeding center and single-family homes within that community. We will begin purchasing tickets at the end of March.
If you would like to join us for this incredible opportunity to build bridges to Jesus, please contact Rev. Joshua Hudson at jhudson@gfumc.com.
Happening at Gainesville First United Methodist Church (Gainesville, Georgia)
VBS / June 5-9
Ages: Rising Pre-K - Completed 5th grade
(Child must be 4 years old by September 1, 2023)
Launch into a cosmic quest where we will have a blast shining Jesus’ light to the world. Stellar rockets us on an out-of-this-world adventure that’s light years of faith-building fun.
We can’t wait to see you in outer space!
Weekly Blessing and/or Quotes
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you; may he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm; may he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders he has shown you.
Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals
If you find encouragement in this newsletter, I would love for you to take the opportunity to share it with others. Thank you for reading.