Youth Sunday
May 2nd
The youth of the church are very important. They are bright lights and committed to reaching out to make their faith something that is acted out as well as professed.
They will be in charge of the worship services in the chapel at 8 and in the sanctuary at 9:15 and 10:45.
Their theme is "This I Believe"
They will have three speakers in the service and their messages will center around aspects of their faith.
1. One of them will speak on "heroes of faith"
2. One of them will address the subject "Why commit to faith"
3. One of them will introduce "The struggles of faith"
It is important to hear the youth of our church and we really could benefit from hearing them more frequently. Youth Sunday has always been a high point in the church year.
I was in attendance at the Youth Leadership Council when they selected their themes. There was no hesitation and no prodding from Joel or any of the other adults. These young people have definite ideas and they have the passion to share their thoughts.
We are very fortunate to have the kind of young men and women in our congregation. They are a tribute to their parents and they will make us proud.
If you would like to send a message of encouragement to the youth you can send it to my email address. Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you would like to send a message to the youth that everyone of us can read click on the box below.
I and the youth look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Monday's Thoughts
David Dalke is preaching Sunday, April 25th. This is what he has to say about his sermon:
"This Sunday the message is entitled "Cold Case# 1005: Billy Joe MacAllister
The scripture passages will be from Acts 1:1-9, 12-14, and 21-28
Within the scope of the human drama there are many unsolved cases regarding one's struggle to live meaningfully and die gracefully. Sometimes we must go back to the time and place of a certain event, and reconstruct the circumstances and interview the people who played an important role in the outcome.
Such is the case of Billy Joe MacAllister, who jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge in Carroll County, Mississippi. It's called a cold case. This could also be said of Jesus, who 2,010 years ago, defied death.
Have you ever felt there was some unfinished business in your life from a past event or conversation? Of course, we can dwell on the lingering thoughts and feelings, or deal with them 'head on', or simply accept what has happened and move forward. What's important is to make a decision, accept your choice, and 'close the case'.
I look forward to seeing you in church this coming Sunday. We will sing the hymns, pray the prayers, hear Arianne Jenkins give us the story of Billy Joe MacAllister in song, and have come time for contemplation.
I'll do my best to tied it all together, so we can all experience a time of celebration as God's people."
Response to the sermon can be made directly to David Dalke at ddalke37@cs.com.
If you are willing to have others read your comments click on the box below.
"This Sunday the message is entitled "Cold Case# 1005: Billy Joe MacAllister
The scripture passages will be from Acts 1:1-9, 12-14, and 21-28
Within the scope of the human drama there are many unsolved cases regarding one's struggle to live meaningfully and die gracefully. Sometimes we must go back to the time and place of a certain event, and reconstruct the circumstances and interview the people who played an important role in the outcome.
Such is the case of Billy Joe MacAllister, who jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge in Carroll County, Mississippi. It's called a cold case. This could also be said of Jesus, who 2,010 years ago, defied death.
Have you ever felt there was some unfinished business in your life from a past event or conversation? Of course, we can dwell on the lingering thoughts and feelings, or deal with them 'head on', or simply accept what has happened and move forward. What's important is to make a decision, accept your choice, and 'close the case'.
I look forward to seeing you in church this coming Sunday. We will sing the hymns, pray the prayers, hear Arianne Jenkins give us the story of Billy Joe MacAllister in song, and have come time for contemplation.
I'll do my best to tied it all together, so we can all experience a time of celebration as God's people."
Response to the sermon can be made directly to David Dalke at ddalke37@cs.com.
If you are willing to have others read your comments click on the box below.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Friday's thoughts on the sermon for April 18th
The biggest difficulty in generating concern for the environment is our inability to look at things over a long period of time. For example, we have always known the furnace at the church was particularly inefficient. We have been aware our gas bills would be much less if we were to purchase a more efficient heating system.
December of 2008 the furnace broke down altogether. We were concerned about how we would get through Advent and how we would be able to get through Christmas Eve without a furnace in the sanctuary. We set up fans to blow heat into the sanctuary from other parts of the building and we proceeded to purchase a new furnace. Actually, we now have two furnaces that replace the one. They occupy about half the space. One of the two furnaces kicks on when heat is needed and the second furnace then comes on only when called for. The savings is significant but we wouldn't have arbitrarily discarded the old furnace until we had a crisis.
When we think about what we can do to save our planet some of the suggestions seem foolish if we are thinking of the short term. Once we extend out thinking beyond the short term to the distant we begin to see the financial wisdom in conservation not to mention the additional benefit that comes when we are looking at doing some things to preserve the planet for the children and the future.
The book of Revelation points us to this kind of long term thinking when we discover that God is "the alpha and the omega; the first and the last". To be faithful to God is to be aware of our relationship with God here and now; but it also calls for us to be aware that our relationship with God outlives us. We have a responsibility to the people who will come after us and to the God who was in the beginning and to the God who will be in the eternal forever.
The sermon Sunday has three sections:
1. Original Sin -- We are not Gods; be careful how we use our resources
2. Collateral Sin -- We are made in the image of God; Care for God's world
3. God is the alpha and the omega -- God was before we were and God will be after we're gone. The span of our responsibility transcends the years of our existence.
Do you have some thoughts about this? Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have other people read your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
December of 2008 the furnace broke down altogether. We were concerned about how we would get through Advent and how we would be able to get through Christmas Eve without a furnace in the sanctuary. We set up fans to blow heat into the sanctuary from other parts of the building and we proceeded to purchase a new furnace. Actually, we now have two furnaces that replace the one. They occupy about half the space. One of the two furnaces kicks on when heat is needed and the second furnace then comes on only when called for. The savings is significant but we wouldn't have arbitrarily discarded the old furnace until we had a crisis.
When we think about what we can do to save our planet some of the suggestions seem foolish if we are thinking of the short term. Once we extend out thinking beyond the short term to the distant we begin to see the financial wisdom in conservation not to mention the additional benefit that comes when we are looking at doing some things to preserve the planet for the children and the future.
The book of Revelation points us to this kind of long term thinking when we discover that God is "the alpha and the omega; the first and the last". To be faithful to God is to be aware of our relationship with God here and now; but it also calls for us to be aware that our relationship with God outlives us. We have a responsibility to the people who will come after us and to the God who was in the beginning and to the God who will be in the eternal forever.
The sermon Sunday has three sections:
1. Original Sin -- We are not Gods; be careful how we use our resources
2. Collateral Sin -- We are made in the image of God; Care for God's world
3. God is the alpha and the omega -- God was before we were and God will be after we're gone. The span of our responsibility transcends the years of our existence.
Do you have some thoughts about this? Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have other people read your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Wednesday's thoughts about the sermon
There are two competing thoughts we will want to consider when we think about the earth and our responsibility for it.
In the account of creation found in the 3rd Chapter of Genesis we find the Adam and Eve story and the idea of "original sin" in which Adam and Eve were told, "do not eat the apple" because "you are not gods". It was a presentation of the idea that we have to let God be God and we are not to assume we have control over the earth. We have to treat the earth with responsibility.
The other idea comes from the 1st Chapter of Genesis where we find the injunction to be the we are made in the image of God. We are to "subdue the earth" and we are "to be fruitful and multiply". I think we could call this the "collateral sin" of not taking responsibility for the earth as we have been given it to do.
We are caught between not being gods, and being made in the image of God and we are in that tension between "do not violate the earth" and "do take charge of the earth".
What is our task these days?
How are we to live?
How do you resolve this?
If you have thoughts write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
In the account of creation found in the 3rd Chapter of Genesis we find the Adam and Eve story and the idea of "original sin" in which Adam and Eve were told, "do not eat the apple" because "you are not gods". It was a presentation of the idea that we have to let God be God and we are not to assume we have control over the earth. We have to treat the earth with responsibility.
The other idea comes from the 1st Chapter of Genesis where we find the injunction to be the we are made in the image of God. We are to "subdue the earth" and we are "to be fruitful and multiply". I think we could call this the "collateral sin" of not taking responsibility for the earth as we have been given it to do.
We are caught between not being gods, and being made in the image of God and we are in that tension between "do not violate the earth" and "do take charge of the earth".
What is our task these days?
How are we to live?
How do you resolve this?
If you have thoughts write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Monday's thoughts on the sermon for April 18th
There is so much interest these days in preserving the environment and being good stewards of the earth and yet some of it remains controversial. Some of the tactics have been drawn from hysteria and directing us to act out of a sense of guilt. There is suspicion and division on the subject.
What are our obligations regarding care of the earth? What does it mean to live responsibly in a world like this? Much of the steps we are urged to take cost more than the methods we are using. For example, if we use coffee cups that are biodegradable the cost for a cup of coffee is 16% higher than the Styrofoam cups. But if we can begin to make some changes the cost, in the long run, will have been worth it. If we upgrade our church furnace it will cost significant money but, in the long run, it will save us on our fuel bill and we will not have used as much energy in the long run.
Thomas Friedman in his book, Hot, Flat, and Crowded, is convinced the challenge for our country is as great as it was when we struggle for our independence. He is also convinced we are the kind of people who can meet that challenge.
What are your thoughts regarding this? Should we be more concerned about the environment or is global warming a myth perpetuated by hysterical people who really have the wrong facts and have come to the wrong conclusions.
If you have some thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to allow others to read your ideas click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
What are our obligations regarding care of the earth? What does it mean to live responsibly in a world like this? Much of the steps we are urged to take cost more than the methods we are using. For example, if we use coffee cups that are biodegradable the cost for a cup of coffee is 16% higher than the Styrofoam cups. But if we can begin to make some changes the cost, in the long run, will have been worth it. If we upgrade our church furnace it will cost significant money but, in the long run, it will save us on our fuel bill and we will not have used as much energy in the long run.
Thomas Friedman in his book, Hot, Flat, and Crowded, is convinced the challenge for our country is as great as it was when we struggle for our independence. He is also convinced we are the kind of people who can meet that challenge.
What are your thoughts regarding this? Should we be more concerned about the environment or is global warming a myth perpetuated by hysterical people who really have the wrong facts and have come to the wrong conclusions.
If you have some thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to allow others to read your ideas click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
Friday, April 9, 2010
Friday's thoughts
Sunday, April 11th is the Sunday 15 young people will join the church. Reverend Kershaw has been working with them since October. They have studied the law and theology of the church. They visited other religious organizations in the area including the Jewish Synagogue. They have thought about what they believe. They have had to write their own sermons and have attended our worship services and offered their thoughts and critique.
Each young person will make a decision. It isn't something their parents can decide. Each one has to determine if they are ready to join the church. We will welcome the new members into or 9:15 worship service. Joel will be preaching and leading us through this ritual and we will have communion.
It is an important Sunday.
Charles
If you have thoughts or questions about the church, about theology, about anything else, write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net
I look forward to hearing from you.
Each young person will make a decision. It isn't something their parents can decide. Each one has to determine if they are ready to join the church. We will welcome the new members into or 9:15 worship service. Joel will be preaching and leading us through this ritual and we will have communion.
It is an important Sunday.
Charles
If you have thoughts or questions about the church, about theology, about anything else, write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net
I look forward to hearing from you.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Friday's Thoughts
The sermon is moving in three directions and, I think, in a progression of ideas.
It seems to me that the most remarkable aspect of Easter in terms of its influence on our lives and our thinking is it puts into the back of our minds something we can never forget. Resurrection reminds us that the irreversible is reversed. That's something we understand when we are told the Easter story for the first time and that is the subliminal message that stays with us. It's in the back of our minds.
What we get to observe as we live our lives and as we pay attention to what is happening to the people we know is the impossible becomes possible. We observe that right before our eyes. People who are defeated by death or any of the various forces that come after us are able to overcome. We can see that right before our very eyes.
Easter, however, becomes real to us when we experience resurrection in the depths of our heart. Easter becomes real when it actually happens. Jesus said, in the last chapter of Matthew, " I will be with you to the end of time." Easter is a reminder that the Risen Christ is with us; that the truth Jesus brought is in our lives in a very real way. Christianity is not a set of beliefs and it isn't a moral theory. Christianity is a way of looking and an experience that becomes a lifestyle.
I trust Easter will become a part of your life and you will experience it in the depths of your heart.
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
It seems to me that the most remarkable aspect of Easter in terms of its influence on our lives and our thinking is it puts into the back of our minds something we can never forget. Resurrection reminds us that the irreversible is reversed. That's something we understand when we are told the Easter story for the first time and that is the subliminal message that stays with us. It's in the back of our minds.
What we get to observe as we live our lives and as we pay attention to what is happening to the people we know is the impossible becomes possible. We observe that right before our eyes. People who are defeated by death or any of the various forces that come after us are able to overcome. We can see that right before our very eyes.
Easter, however, becomes real to us when we experience resurrection in the depths of our heart. Easter becomes real when it actually happens. Jesus said, in the last chapter of Matthew, " I will be with you to the end of time." Easter is a reminder that the Risen Christ is with us; that the truth Jesus brought is in our lives in a very real way. Christianity is not a set of beliefs and it isn't a moral theory. Christianity is a way of looking and an experience that becomes a lifestyle.
I trust Easter will become a part of your life and you will experience it in the depths of your heart.
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
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