First United Methodist Church

Happy New Year! I hope you experienced a wonderful Christmas with a season full of hope, love, joy, and peace. I have heard numerous responses to our Advent Christmas worship series and how many of you are adjusting your life to experience more Christmas, more Christ, and less chaos in your every day living. As we go forward, let’s remember that these adjustments are not about creating new or bigger burdens for ourselves. Rather, it’s the act of letting go of the craziness we tend to surround ourselves with, being present in the moment, and sharing our experiences of Christ that transcends the way our culture puts its consumeristic spin on everything.

Speaking of cultural spins, there is a rise in atheism or agnosticism. These forms of belief are making a comeback in what is known as an un-Christian movement. It’s not anti-Christian, rather it’s a rise in people who are giving up their faith or no longer practicing the faith.

A few years ago, author David Kinnaman worked with the Barna Group and published a book by the name, “UnChristian.” It detailed how the church has an image problem as insincere, insensitive, judgmental, and not willing to deal with real cultural issues in an intelligent way. Yet, there was a way for Christians and the church to make a positive impact on society.

This is us. We as a church will continue making a positive impact on society. We will walk with you when you are downtrodden, lift you up when you’ve fallen, and disciple you so that in your walk with Jesus you can bring someone else along. Essentially, we will continue to live into our mission statement of: Making life better and YOU better at life through Jesus Christ.

We are not church who majors in callous judgmentalism and minors on the grace of God. We’re not a church that avoids the issues plaguing our community. We are a church that lives by faith, emphasizes grace, and walks the hard and narrow road of following Christ by loving God and loving neighbor.

In 1 Corinthians 1:18-24, Paul said that faith was foolish to some and scandalous to others. The message of a crucified savior who rose from the dead is still foolish, scandalous, even crazy to many. God chose this message and here we are. If we can embrace the outrageousness of a crucified savior who offers grace and good news of great joy for all people, then we can also offer grace to a world that has doubts about our message.

For example, one of the challenges our culture faces is doubt. Somewhere along the line people were told that doubt was wrong, doubt was bad, doubt was against Christ. Yet, the reality is that most people struggle with doubts – even Christians! We need to learn to be honest about our doubts, face them, and wrestle with them. In the end, we will grow stronger in our faith through this process.

Then, we need to allow others to have their doubts. Moreover, our honest transparency will allow those who do have questions and doubts find a place to ask their hard questions without fear of insensitive judgment. As we love them in the midst of their doubt, we will open doors for people to experience Jesus, find faith, be washed in grace, and receive a renewed life in God.

It’s not easy. In fact, it’s easier to point out the faults and weaknesses of others than to go through our own process of refinement and growth. Yet, we can do this. Once again, we will rise to the occasion. Afterall, the church is not a museum or country club for saints. Instead, the church is a hospital for sinners, hypocrites, and broken people who are willing to wrestle with their doubts, fears, and hard questions about life, faith, and God. I am proud to be your pastor and look forward to this journey with you.

Our new series starting January 8th is called Wrestling with Doubt, Finding Faith. We will deal with the most common questions that people struggle with, major questions of doubt in an intelligent and faithful way. I encourage you to invite your friends and neighbors to worship with us.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Daniel

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had wonderful Christmas and New Year's holidays! As you and your family ring in the new year, consider these ideas for getting your year off to a great start:

Look Back to Look Forward
Help your kids reflect on the past year so they can choose one goal that is important for them in the coming year. Anything that is a positive change counts. As you talk, remember to keep your goals simple and specific. If a goal is too difficult or too vague, it’s unlikely the child will succeed. Then, as a family, make a large poster together. Write the new year in large numbers and then list one goal for each person, such as, “I will make one new friend this year at school.” Decorate your poster with your favorite colors, scriptures and other personal touches. Afterward, hang it in your home as a reminder and encouragement to stick to your goals.

A Memory Jar
Often times, as the year comes to a close we want to celebrate the great things that happened to us in that year year as well as contemplate the struggles we faced. The problem? Sometimes it's difficult to remember those things. Here's a solution: A Memory Jar. You can start this year with a family Memory Jar. Take an empty mason jar (decorate it if you want) provide slips of paper to write down events (both happy and hard) throughout the year. A report card with excellent grades, the loss of a family pet, starting a new school, moving to a new house. Write down all of these things and put them in the jar. The following New Year’s Eve, you can open the jar as a family and take turns pulling out a slip and reading the memory on it. This can be an excellent way to remember the ways God has been with us through it all.

Light Up the New year
At the end of the year, gather your family in the living room to recall blessings from the previous 12 months. Turn on exactly 12 lights around the house, and place 12 unlit tea lights across the mantel or table. Then, reflect on each month: January, something new you tried; February, a special valentine you gave or received; March, your favorite thing about spring; and so on. It’s interesting and fun to hear each member of the family share memories. Some memories make us cry, and some make us laugh. After each month’s reflections, turn off an electric light and light a candle. The kids will love that part. By the end, the room is lit only by tiny candles. Pray and give thanks for a great year together, and look forward to a new year.

First Kidz Wednesdays
Remember that First Kidz activities will start back on Wednesday, January 11th. If you haven't been staying for the fellowship meal when you pick up your kids on Wednesdays, you should consider doing so. It's a wonderful time to fellowship with your church family! And, you don't have to cook dinner that night! That's always a plus for me.

Do you love helping children learn about Jesus? I am hoping to start a rotation for Children's Sunday School teachers this year. If you are looking for a way to serve and you love being with children, this is a simple way to do both. Please let me know if you are interested in taking one Sunday a month. You can even team up if you like. The Sunday School Curiculum is called Simply Loved and it is an easy and fun curriculum.

God bless & have a warm and wonderful January!

Laura Law

Happy New Year to you all!

As we ring in the new year, often we are asked the question "What is your resolution?" Usually our response is that we want to change ourselves somehow and oftentimes the means of change we use is that of change through subtraction of something. We may want to quit something such as drinking, smoking, or overeating. Maybe we want to stop eating dessert after every meal or snacking on chocolate. All of these things are great and if God is convicting you to do one of them by all means do it. I know that in today's society we often find ourselves so over burdened that getting rid of things and simplifying seems to make the most sense. However, sometimes adding things to your life can be a good thing. Such as adding quiet time for prayer to your life each day. Adding a morning devotional so you can put on the armor of God each day is hugely beneficial. Getting that leather bound Bible off the bookshelf, dusting it off and reading it daily could be huge for us in so many ways.

I know for me the coming of a new year symbolizes the coming of a new beginning for myself. I want to take this time to reflect on how last year turned out based on decisions I made, the way I prioritized things and if that was God’s will for me. Then realign myself with any place I may be falling short. As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord and always remember that not only is Jesus our savior but he is Lord over all. I pray that each and everyone of you all grow closer to Him in 2023 as well!

Youth Events:
Restarting after school activities: January 11
Veritas registration date: January 15th
Chili cook off and dessert auction January 29th
(NEW) Weekly Bible Study: Mondays 3:15-4:30; 5:30-7pm

Tom Merry