by Rev. Martha Dye
[Matthew 16:13-19 NASB20] 13 Now when Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some [say] John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and [still] others, Jeremiah, or one of the [other] prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you yourselves say that I am?”
Afternoon, Church!
Hope you are all well on this summer evening! Feels like it at least! I have made my way home from Athens and Annual Conference a little early – Alan and Brandi will be there until the end and will bring us a report next Sunday. It was wonderful to see old friends. And to see the leadership in our young people who are already in the process of taking the mantle, like Elisha did from Elijah. These young clergy and lay people are so strong and dedicated – they are called by God and the church is in good and capable hands. There were about 2,000 of us there. It is always a joy to be a part of this tradition of the Methodists!
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By Rev. Martha Dye
[John 7:37-39 NASB20] 37 Now on the last day, the great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 “The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'” 39 But this He said in reference to the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet [given,] because Jesus was not yet glorified.
“Permissions.” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 13 March, 2023.
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Good Morning Church!
I love this time of year: graduations from pre school all the way to graduate school; a time for teachers to be able to say to parents, “Tag! You’re IT!!!!”; vacation plans coming together; a chance to catch our breath! It’s important to take a little time off. Jesus surely realized this as he found time to be alone and more deeply connected to his Father. May we do the same during these months of summer. Whether you find yourself at the beach, in the mountains, or just sitting in the backyard, take a minute to be quiet, to stop being in control, and hear the voice of God. Let yourself be renewed and strengthened.
By Rev. Martha Dye
[1 Peter 4:12-14 NASB20] 12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though [something] strange were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that at the revelation of His glory you may also rejoice and be overjoyed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, and of God, rests upon you.
Good Morning!
Where has the week gone? On Monday morning when I woke up, it seemed as if I had all the time in the world – the whole week was ahead of me. I had a “to do list”, and way back there on Monday morning, it seemed it would be simple to accomplish it all – But here it is Saturday morning – I am just now getting this email sent to you….. and I am saying, “Where in the world has the week gone?” That is not an unusual question for me. Seems to happen every week. All the things I THINK I need to do quite often get pushed aside for what God seems to think I should do. So I just scramble through, hoping I am pleasing God even in the midst of my scrambling!
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As I sit to write this blog, I am aware that there is a big bolt of bright red fabric on my desk. It is there be-cause Terry Flanders found it in the midst of her spring cleaning. She knew that Pentecost Sunday is coming……and RED is what you do at church on Pentecost Sunday! My mind is going in all different directions. I’m not sure exactly how, I do know that the Sanctuary will be transformed on May 28 to remind us of fire……. and of the very real presence of the Holy Spirit burning in our life together!
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By Rev. Martha Dye
[1 Peter 3:13-22 NASB20] 13 And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE IN DREAD, 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always [being] ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect; 16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who disparage your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. 17 For it is better, if God should will it [so,] that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.
Good Morning to Yu All!
One of my very favorite songs is John Prine’s “Angel From Montgomery.” It is a song from a woman’s voice as she talks about her life – her dreams – and how it all turns out. My favorite line is the very first – “I am an old woman……named after my mother. My old man is another child who’s grown old. If dreams were lightning and thunder were desire, this old house would have burnt down a long time ago.” What this song says to me is that we just don’t know what our life will bring. Sometimes the path takes us to places we never imagined. Sometimes we never arrive at the place we wanted to go. Yet life goes on. And we are named after our mother. And somehow, someway, we find the way. We find it because she found hers and is leading us on.
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By Rev. Martha Dye
[1 Peter 2:1-10 NASB20] 1 Therefore, rid [yourselves] of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 and like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. 4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by people, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For [this] is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD, I AM LAYING IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNERSTONE, AND THE ONE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.”
Good Morning!
The wind has been having its own way this week, hasn’t it? The new leaves that have burst out on the trees are dancing these days – our hair stays in a constant state of blown- trash cans are overturned and our dog is having a field day with all the smells that are being tossed about! I love the wind. I grew up in a lovely little picket of pine trees all around our house and nothing put me to sleep faster than the wind blowing through those branches. Nowadays, with Pentecost coming in a few Sundays, the wind reminds us of the Holy Spirit that dances with us through life on this earth. If you listen very carefully, you can hear his voice above it all: I am with you, brining you comfort, sharing your burden, loving you, protecting you. Let the wind blow!!!!!
By Rev. Martha Dye
[Psalm 23] The LORD is my shepherd • I shall not want • He makes me to lie down in green pastures • He leads me beside the still waters • He restores my soul • He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name sake • Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death • I will fear no evil • For thou art with me • Thy rod and thy staff • They comfort me • Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies • Thou anointest my head with oil • My cup overflows • Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever
Afternoon Church Family,
Hope you are all well and have been enjoying the rain. I can still remember my mother telling me when I would get frustrated with having to stay inside on a rainy spring day – April showers bring May flowers! That has turned out to be a good, geed lesson in life for many things!
Our little group who went to see DaVinci’s Last Supper exhibit (and those of you who went at other times) learned a lot about the man and the painting. For example, I’ve looked at that painting a hundred times…….but never realized there were dragons printed on the tablecloth! I never realized that the moment caught by DaVinci is the moment Jesus told his disciples gathered around the table that he was to be arrested and killed. I never realized that the faces of the 12 disciples were the faces of people the artist saw on the street or at the store or at a concert, and that he had a little sketch pad he kept on his waist so he could grab it and catch the expression. So much to learn about such a familiar painting!
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By Rev. Martha Dye
[1 Peter 1:1-9, 13-16 NASB20] 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as strangers, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to [obtain] an inheritance [which is] imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in [the] last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
Good Morning Church!
Hope you are well and loving this warm and sunny weather! I’ve been looking for little spots of sunshine on my front porch to sit in and just soak it up!!
But I don’t get to sit there for long. ‘Cause life is busy…….and that is good! Several events are coming up that I want to remind you of:
The Carroll County Community Choir will be performing their Celebration Concert: It’s a Grand Place for Singing! Tickets are still available through the Cultural Arts Center for Friday, April 21 at 7:30 PM and Saturday, April 22 at 4:00 PM. Our wonderful choir director Be Bynum will be singing! And I will make a short flute playing appearance with a group at the end!
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By Rev. Martha Dye
[John 20:19-31 NASB20] 19 Now when it was evening on that day, the first [day] of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were [together] due to fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them, “Peace [be] to you.” 20 And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace [be] to you; just as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 “If you forgive the sins of any, [their sins] have been forgiven them; if you retain the [sins] of any, they have been retained.” 24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, who was called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
By Rev. Martha Dye
[John 20:1-18 NASB20] 1 Now on the first [day] of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone [already] removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they have put Him.” 3 So Peter and the other disciple left, and they were going to the tomb. 4 The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead, faster than Peter, and came to the tomb first; 5 and he stooped to look [in,] and saw the linen wrappings lying [there;] however he did not go in. 6 So Simon Peter also came, following him, and he entered the tomb; and he looked at the linen wrappings lying [there,]
By Rev. Martha Dye
[ John 4:5-42 NASB20 ] 5 So He came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph; 6 and Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, tired from His journey, was just sitting by the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8 For His disciples had gone away to the city to buy food. 9 So the Samaritan woman said to Him, “How [is it that] You, [though] You are a Jew, are asking me for a drink, [though] I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus replied to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who is saying to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” 11 She said to Him, “Sir, You have no bucket and the well is deep; where then do You get [this] living water?
By Rev. Martha Dye
[ John 3:1-17 NASB20 ] 1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Jesus at night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God [as] a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus responded and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a person be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born of water and [the] Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Good Friday Evening to you all!
Jim and I had a wonderful trip to Richmond, Virginia to see our son Joey and his family. You know how some visits with your kids are just better than others? Well, this was at the top of the list! Glad to be home though and looking forward to seeing each and every one of you!
Sunday is the second Sunday in Lent and our scripture is about Jesus’ nighttime visitor Nicodemus. We have so much to learn from him! Don’t miss worship…… and don’t miss Sunday School either! Beth Destasio is a wonderful teacher, and she will be leading us in our Lenten study on “Luke: Jesus and the Outsiders, Outcasts, and Outlaws,” by Rev. Adam Hamilton. I know you will enjoy this class and that it will enhance your Lent and Easter in so many ways. The class starts at 9:45.
Here are a few things to be looking forward to: Sunday, March 19: Jim and Joy’s Amazing Breakfast (Time TBA). Jim and Joy want to cook us breakfast… I know it will be good, and I know the fellowship around the table will be even better! No reservations necessary.