08/22/2023
Thankfulness is the Mother of Nearly All Good Things
Of all places, I came across a quote from the Roman Senator, Cicero, on the business website, Forbes.com. He said, back in Julius Caesar’s time, “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” That was the gist of what Bishop Trimble said to us from the pulpit. ‘Thank you’ is not only a beautiful prayer, it is the well spring from which love, grace, and Christian living flow. When it becomes clear that God has accepted me for who I am, forgiven my dumb and hurt decisions, loved me in spite of my unloveliness I am so filled with gratitude and joy that I want to pay it forward. I am motivated to accept, forgive, and love others for Christ’s sake.
I hope you joined us in worship on Sunday. What a day of celebration. We had Bishop Trimble, our Conference Superintendent, Saneta Maiko; the President of United Theological Seminary, Dr. Kent Millard; former pastor Patti Napier, and a variety of other distinguished guests. We all had special pride in the graduation ceremony we held for Pastor Daisy, as she prepares to return to Sierra Leone. And our Bishop’s preaching was outstanding. (And don’t forget my role…standing up there looking as dignified as I could muster at various points.) I thought my wife Sue, who coordinates worship for us, was going to collapse Sunday afternoon. So many pieces in play, especially when you realize that Pastor Jessica both preached and served communion at a significantly different 10:30 service.
Kick Off Sunday was such a thrill under the big top out in the parking lot, and Daisy’s graduation and hosting the Bishop was such an honor and pleasure, I’m afraid that you all are going to get bored with plain old Tim for the next several weeks.
Pastor Daisy will go on to do great things for God and you should find satisfaction that you made her education and credentialing possible through your generosity to our church budget as well as its missions ministries. The number of volunteers who played important roles in transporting Daisy, helping her adjust to life in the U.S., and being there for her when she needed a helping hand—they are just too many to list. As we say goodbye to Daisy, she will leave a hole in our staff and in our hearts, but at the same time it fills me with great gratitude to be the pastor of Carmel UMC.
Archived Posts
A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
There are several powerful and evocative artworks that depict the scene from Mark 9:14–29, where Jesus heals a boy possessed by an unclean spirit... Some of the following have internet links, the others are worth googling. Enjoy!
The Gift of Ourselves As A Gift of Love
The more the giving of myself costs me something, the greater the power of the gift. You know I love quotes, so after a little research, let me share a few of my favorites on this very subject:
The Loss of a Great Christian Leader
The death today of Pope Francis was particularly poignant, falling as it did on the day after Easter. As Protestant Christians we have a once removed interest in the leader of the Roman Catholic church. Yet the pope is the authoritative leader of 1.4 billion women and men around the world. It is worth our time to pause and consider what kind of man and what kind of legacy Pope Francis left behind.
Everything You Wanted To Know About Judas Iscariot
(Drawn from online sources)
Jesus Hears A Who
Few people know that Horton Hears A Who comes from the 25th Chapter of Matthew.
Matthew 24: One More Thing...
I sometimes stumble on old documents I’ve created but have completely forgotten about. I cannot remember why I created them or what purpose they were originally supposed to serve....
Keeping the Church Doors Unencumbered
Sunday, we considered Jesus’ disruptive actions in the Temple in light of his frustration with keeping gentiles from worshipping in their designated courtyard. We then reflected on how we still tend to throw up roadblocks to those who don’t normally attend church. I found the following, but didn’t have space for it in the sermon. It’s provocative and worth chewing on for a while.