MID-WEEK LETTER FROM THE PASTOR

Grace United Methodist Church

October 4, 2007

 

            The sermon last Sunday was on Jeremiah 32.  In that passage, Jeremiah does something that many people would consider stupid.  He buys a plot of land—just as the Babylonian army is about to wipe out his little country (of Judah).  And I wonder:  Why waste your hard earned money on something that is clearly ‘going down?’        

 

            When Jeremiah was a really young man, he had cause for optimism.  Josiah was the king back then—and a good one!  The air was filled with a spirit of reform and renewal.  It was the golden age of Judah. 

 

            But then tragedy struck.  Pinched between two superpowers, Josiah got himself killed in a battle.  His sons (who took his place) were idiots.  The kingdom started to fall apart, and the ensuing struggles brought out the worst in everybody.  It was a time for pessimism. 

 

            So Jeremiah knew optimism, and he knew pessimism.  But optimism and pessimism are in the eyes of the beholder:  they say more about the person who feels them than they do about what will really happen in the future. 

 

            Jeremiah wanted to base his thinking and actions on something other than what he was feeling at the moment.  So he opened his mind and heart to something beyond his own self:  the word of God.  And God’s word came to Jeremiah—giving him hope.  Hope is not the same as optimism.  Optimism comes from our own cheery personalities.  Hope comes from beyond—from God’s message to us.

           

            How do we know it is a message from God—and not just some ‘wishful thinking?’  That’s not a question that’s easy to answer.  But for starters, experience helps.  Jeremiah drew on the experiences of God’s people who went before him:  Moses, Abraham, David, etc.  Messages from God have a certain tenderness, grace, reasonableness, and largeness to them. 

 

            And once Jeremiah was reasonably certain that he had heard a word from God regarding his country’s future, he acted in faith:  he took the risk of investing in the hopeful message he heard. 

 

            In church life, in family life, in our world—I sometimes tire of being tossed about by optimism and pessimism.  And I have come to trust neither. 

 

            So Jeremiah’s way appeals to me.  And I pray and wait for God’s word:  about my family, about my church, about our world.  And when I am reasonably certain that I have heard God’s message, I pray that I will have the guts to invest everything I am and have in that future.

 

Mike

 

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FOOD PANTRY NEEDS:   fruit, rice, juices

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FINANCIAL UPDATE:  to date, we have had:

 

Income of $155,033                               Expenses of $165,163

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THE CALENDAR:  (Please note especially items marked with an asterisk.)

 

Sunday, Oct. 7:            * New Seekers Sunday school session begins today.  New members

                                       welcome.  Contact June Schwartz with any questions.

 

Grace Years worship service at Parkview at 2:00.

 

                                    Grace Years worship service at Florida House at 4:00.

 

 

Monday, Oct. 8:            Grace Years small group at Prairie Winds at 6:30.

 

                                    Finance Committee meeting at 7:00.

 

UMW continues their Fall Festival preparation at 7:00 in the fellowship   hall.  All are welcome; refreshments will be served.

 

                                    Reservations are due today for the XYZ outing on Thursday, Oct. 11.

                                       9:30 departure for a trip to Fair Oaks diary farm in Indiana.  Tour,

                                       lunch, and gift shop.  Contact the Ricketts.

 

 

Tuesday, Oct. 9:            Quilters will meet at 6:30.

 

                                    Angelus hand bells will hold rehearsal at 6:30 in the music room.

 

                                    Chancel choir will rehearse at 7:30 in the sanctuary.

 

 

Wednesday, Oct. 10:     Men’s Breakfast Group meets at 6:30 a.m. in the fellowship hall.

 

                                    Grace Years ministry team meeting at 9:30 in the pastor’s study.

 

                                    The Cherub choir will practice at 5:30 in the sanctuary.

 

                                    Life Song rehearsal will be at 6:30 at the Aters’ home.

 

The second of a three part seminar on healing.  Open to all interested    parties.  Meet in the Seekers Sunday school room at 7:00.

 

                                   * Donations for the Fall Festival may be dropped off today, 9:00-3:00;

                                    Thursday, Oct. 11, 9:00-8:00; or Friday, Oct. 12, 9:00-7:00.  Please

                                      pre-price your items.

 

 

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If you know of someone who is in need of pastoral care, please contact the church office (328-1414) or respond to the e-mail above.

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