Theme for 2023: Faith Forward – The Year of Extraordinary Faith!
03/2/23
Have you ever tried to rescue someone who didn’t want to be rescued? Or they put up a good fight when you were trying to help them? I’ve heard folks tell of trying to save someone from drowning, and almost drowning themselves!
If you’re the one in need of rescuing sometimes panic can set in and you imagine the worst. Your problems have gone from a puddle to a wide and vast ocean, and you find yourself flailing around in desperation. No help seems to be in sight. Then you hear a voice…
“…In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 NIV
Your heart stops racing and you listen some more…
“…the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.”
John 10:3-4
As you stop fighting, and surrender to this voice, things start to shift. The raging sea becomes still waters…
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23:1-4
We have a Rescuer – the Good Shepherd, Jesus, who not only sees what we go through, but acts on it! In fact, the very reason Jesus came to earth in the form of a man, was because He was on a mission to rescue humanity. And the ultimate act of rescue was on the cross when Jesus defeated the power that sin had over us. We are rescued! By the Shepherd who has good plans for us. Now that’s Good News!
Join us for worship this 2nd Sunday of Lent, as we continue our Lenten sermon series: You Are…I AM. We’ll talk about who we are (and who we are NOT) all because Jesus is! The sermon title: You Are Rescued…I AM the Good Shepherd. You can worship in-person or you can also join us online at 10:00am. For online worship go to www.umcgt.org.
Unity Luncheon was excellent! We had about 70 folks to celebrate the culmination of Black History Month festivities, and the African Schoolhouse Number 4. We are so thankful to the St. Louis County Parks Foundation and the staff at Faust Park for worshiping with us and sharing their amazing journey to restore the schoolhouse! And Dr. Tim McCarthy, principal of Parkway Central High School joined us as well!
Board Update: This Sunday after worship, we will have a brief update on what the leadership board is working on, including financials for the month of January.
Soltau Concert Series continues with the Homestead Pickers, fresh from Branson, MO! Their style is bluegrass and their music is fantastic! The program starts at 3:00pm.
Faith Forward Fast: One of the spiritual disciplines of Lent is fasting. This year I’m adding the Wesley Fast to our Faith Forward Challenge. Or you can do a fast of your choosing. So now it’s First 15, First Day, First Fruits, and Fasting! For more info on the Wesley Fast go to: https://methodistprayer.org/wesleyfast. For more info on the Faith Forward Challenge go to our website: www.umcgt.org.
Blessings,
Pastor Linda
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