"Where In Hell Are We"
The sermon for Sunday, June 6th is on the subject of "hell". We will look at the idea of hell, where it came from, what it can mean for us today, and how we apply it theologically.
A member of the church, seeing the subject listed in the bulletin, loaned me a book written by Mary Baxter A Divine Revelation of Hell.
Mary writes, "Let me warn you -- don't go to that place. It is a horrid place of torments, excruciating pain and eternal sorrow. Your soul will always be alive. The soul lives forever. It is the real you, and your soul will go either to heaven or hell. To those of you who think that hell is here on earth -- well, you are right; it is! Hell is in the center of the earth, and there are souls in torment there night and day. There are no parties in hell. No love. No compassion. No rest. Only a place of sorrow beyond your belief."
What is hell?
Some say it is paved with good intentions. Some say hell is other people. Some suggest hell is 'no exit'.
Do you believe in hell? Do you believe there is a place of eternal punishment that comes after death? Is hell the state we get ourselves into when we forget the things that are important?
Do you know anyone who is in a living hell?
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
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Friday's thoughts on Sunday's Sermon
"Call From the Columbarium"
Sermon: Sunday, May 30th
What are the "Saints of the Church" telling us? The traditional understanding of saint is different that I mean to suggest it. The early church referred to saint as a member of the community of faith. The consequence of that suggests that all of us who are in the church are saints. I think most of us wouldn't think of ourselves that way.
The saints of the church are the people who have been a part of the church who have died. We will celebrate the people who have died this past year, but that remembrance goes back much further. There are the people who were instrumental in the establishment of Methodism in Fort Collins. They are the saints of the church. There are the members of the church who helped us build our present facility. They are the saints of the church. There are people who have died in recent years who have helped us become the great church this has come to be. They are the saints of the church.
We hear their wisdom and they speak to us.
We hear their encouragement as we work to move the church forward. We hear their wisdom as they remind us that all problems are simply challenges and all mistakes are learning experiences. They remind us not to get down on ourselves or discouraged about temporary setbacks.
There are saints of the church whose voices we hear yet today. Some of them are in the church and there is a whole line of witnesses who have been example for us of how life is to be and how we can be faithful to our values. They have done what we wish to be able to do.
The sermon will take some time to invite us to listen to the voices of the past and to celebrate the lives of those who have gone before us. It is Memorial Weekend. We will take the time to remember.
Do you have people who have had that kind of influence on your life? If so, write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the "comments" box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
By the way you find two comments from Wednesday's "Build a Sermon" that didn't respond to the material provided but used this space to promote their business. What they have done is inappropriate.
Sermon: Sunday, May 30th
What are the "Saints of the Church" telling us? The traditional understanding of saint is different that I mean to suggest it. The early church referred to saint as a member of the community of faith. The consequence of that suggests that all of us who are in the church are saints. I think most of us wouldn't think of ourselves that way.
The saints of the church are the people who have been a part of the church who have died. We will celebrate the people who have died this past year, but that remembrance goes back much further. There are the people who were instrumental in the establishment of Methodism in Fort Collins. They are the saints of the church. There are the members of the church who helped us build our present facility. They are the saints of the church. There are people who have died in recent years who have helped us become the great church this has come to be. They are the saints of the church.
We hear their wisdom and they speak to us.
We hear their encouragement as we work to move the church forward. We hear their wisdom as they remind us that all problems are simply challenges and all mistakes are learning experiences. They remind us not to get down on ourselves or discouraged about temporary setbacks.
There are saints of the church whose voices we hear yet today. Some of them are in the church and there is a whole line of witnesses who have been example for us of how life is to be and how we can be faithful to our values. They have done what we wish to be able to do.
The sermon will take some time to invite us to listen to the voices of the past and to celebrate the lives of those who have gone before us. It is Memorial Weekend. We will take the time to remember.
Do you have people who have had that kind of influence on your life? If so, write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the "comments" box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
By the way you find two comments from Wednesday's "Build a Sermon" that didn't respond to the material provided but used this space to promote their business. What they have done is inappropriate.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Wednesday's thoughts on Sunday's Sermon
"The Call From the Columbarium"
Sunday, May 30th
From my office window I am aware of the garden area where the interred ashes of several of our members are placed in the Columbarium. The message that comes through to us as we work in our offices from those heroic saints of our church is as important as any we receive. They are telling us and begging us not to forget them. They have been an important part of our church's history and we must never take for granted what they have done. They represent the others who have given their lives in service through the church to live out their ministry and our collective ministry as we have labored together. We must not forget them. We must not lose sight of what they have done for us and what we are being asked to do to carry on with the future of the faith in the years that come.
If we equate sin as forgetting the past and trying to live as if it wasn't important and if we compound that my refusing to acknowledge the contributions of those who have gone before us how do we correct it?
We are fortunate at our church to have the constant reminder in the columbarium. The presence of those whose have been memorialized in the columbarium represent the vast and long line of people who have gone given so much to our health and happiness. There are doctors who treated us when we were not well, there are teachers who believed in us when we wondered if we could ever learn. There are church leaders who were involved in the building of the church at a time when it was thought this was too far out of town to place a church.
This church has been fortunate to have the kind of leadership it has had over the years. Sunday morning we are going to express our gratitude for what has been done for us. This Sunday we are going to remember them.
Worship:
8, 9:15, and 10:45
12 noon in the Columbarium
Followed by a light lunch.
Who are the people who have influenced you and helped shape who you have become? 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 "comments box" below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Sunday, May 30th
From my office window I am aware of the garden area where the interred ashes of several of our members are placed in the Columbarium. The message that comes through to us as we work in our offices from those heroic saints of our church is as important as any we receive. They are telling us and begging us not to forget them. They have been an important part of our church's history and we must never take for granted what they have done. They represent the others who have given their lives in service through the church to live out their ministry and our collective ministry as we have labored together. We must not forget them. We must not lose sight of what they have done for us and what we are being asked to do to carry on with the future of the faith in the years that come.
If we equate sin as forgetting the past and trying to live as if it wasn't important and if we compound that my refusing to acknowledge the contributions of those who have gone before us how do we correct it?
We are fortunate at our church to have the constant reminder in the columbarium. The presence of those whose have been memorialized in the columbarium represent the vast and long line of people who have gone given so much to our health and happiness. There are doctors who treated us when we were not well, there are teachers who believed in us when we wondered if we could ever learn. There are church leaders who were involved in the building of the church at a time when it was thought this was too far out of town to place a church.
This church has been fortunate to have the kind of leadership it has had over the years. Sunday morning we are going to express our gratitude for what has been done for us. This Sunday we are going to remember them.
Worship:
8, 9:15, and 10:45
12 noon in the Columbarium
Followed by a light lunch.
Who are the people who have influenced you and helped shape who you have become? 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 "comments box" below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Monday's Thoughts On Sunday's Sermon
"What We Must Never Forget"
Sunday, May 30th
I have wanted to do a sermon series on some of the basic concepts of our faith and one of them is sin.
Sin is thought to be "missing the mark". It is a basic premise in our faith that we do not have it all together. We fail to do the things we should and we often end up doing what we know to be wrong. It is best to face it and deal with it rather than to deny it.
In this case I want to have us look at the importance of remembrance. It seems that one of our most profound sins is the inability to hold on to those things, in remembrance, we must retain. People come into our lives and they go out from us and it's almost as if they never were part of us. It takes effort and intentionality but we have to work to hold on. If we fail to do that then we come to the conclusion that it's all about us. It began when we were and it will end when we are no longer. That is a sin; a major missing the mark.
Sunday, Memorial Weekend, we will have a celebration of remembrance in the Columbarium after the 10:45 service. We will have a brief dedication and a time to reflect upon the people we've known and loved who have died this past 12 months. Then we will have a small lunch.
This is the first of these memorial events. All are invited.
Who are the people in your life you will be remembering; who have given so much to you?
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 "comment box " below. I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Sunday, May 30th
I have wanted to do a sermon series on some of the basic concepts of our faith and one of them is sin.
Sin is thought to be "missing the mark". It is a basic premise in our faith that we do not have it all together. We fail to do the things we should and we often end up doing what we know to be wrong. It is best to face it and deal with it rather than to deny it.
In this case I want to have us look at the importance of remembrance. It seems that one of our most profound sins is the inability to hold on to those things, in remembrance, we must retain. People come into our lives and they go out from us and it's almost as if they never were part of us. It takes effort and intentionality but we have to work to hold on. If we fail to do that then we come to the conclusion that it's all about us. It began when we were and it will end when we are no longer. That is a sin; a major missing the mark.
Sunday, Memorial Weekend, we will have a celebration of remembrance in the Columbarium after the 10:45 service. We will have a brief dedication and a time to reflect upon the people we've known and loved who have died this past 12 months. Then we will have a small lunch.
This is the first of these memorial events. All are invited.
Who are the people in your life you will be remembering; who have given so much to you?
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 "comment box " below. I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Friday, May 21, 2010
Friday's thoughts about Sunday's sermon
"The Damned Church"
Sermon for Sunday, May 23rd
Pentecost is thought to be the birth of the church and the story is found in the 2nd Chapter of Acts. It is a story about the disciples after Jesus' death on the cross and after he had appeared to them they came to celebrate a Jewish Festival of Thanksgiving (or Pentecost--50 days after Passover).
Two things happened.
The disciples and the people around them began speaking in foreign tongues and yet everyone understood. They were so filled with passion that some people who were observing thought there was something wrong with them.
The Holy Spirit descended upon them and they were filled with passion for God. The Pentecost even led the disciples to live lives dedicated to carry on the Gospel and it was the precipitating event that formed the church.
The church in its history has starts and stops and it jerks its way along. Sometime we wonder if there is something wrong with the church and the way it acts. We become concerned and critical of its indecisiveness and its leadership (of lack of leadership).
At time, however, the church works. It gets itself together and it functions in ways that exceed its own expectations.
What strikes me about the Pentecost story and the church that jerks and the church that works is the fact that it all began with a group of believers got together in an attitude of thanksgiving.
Good things happen when we approach the darkest times of our lives with gratitude for the good times. That was the attitude of the disciples and that is the attitude that will make the church something that lives up to our expectations.
What is your experience with the church? What has the church done for you that is positive and what has been negative? If you have some thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thought click on the "comments" box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Sermon for Sunday, May 23rd
Pentecost is thought to be the birth of the church and the story is found in the 2nd Chapter of Acts. It is a story about the disciples after Jesus' death on the cross and after he had appeared to them they came to celebrate a Jewish Festival of Thanksgiving (or Pentecost--50 days after Passover).
Two things happened.
The disciples and the people around them began speaking in foreign tongues and yet everyone understood. They were so filled with passion that some people who were observing thought there was something wrong with them.
The Holy Spirit descended upon them and they were filled with passion for God. The Pentecost even led the disciples to live lives dedicated to carry on the Gospel and it was the precipitating event that formed the church.
The church in its history has starts and stops and it jerks its way along. Sometime we wonder if there is something wrong with the church and the way it acts. We become concerned and critical of its indecisiveness and its leadership (of lack of leadership).
At time, however, the church works. It gets itself together and it functions in ways that exceed its own expectations.
What strikes me about the Pentecost story and the church that jerks and the church that works is the fact that it all began with a group of believers got together in an attitude of thanksgiving.
Good things happen when we approach the darkest times of our lives with gratitude for the good times. That was the attitude of the disciples and that is the attitude that will make the church something that lives up to our expectations.
What is your experience with the church? What has the church done for you that is positive and what has been negative? If you have some thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thought click on the "comments" box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Wednesday's thoughts about the sermon for May 23rd
Leonard Sweet wrong about a very dark time in his life. He is a professor, and administrator of Drew Theological Seminary. He was on a speaking tour and was about to make a major presentation when he was pulled aside by a church leader who said to him, "I have to ask you a question. I have to have an answer to my question and I have to have it now. There are people who are saying you are having an affair."
Sweet was absolutely shocked by the question. He was speechless. He sat down with the person who asked the question and then he said that he and his wife were living apart because their work required it. He said their marriage had never been stronger and the rumor was absolutely false."
That was all the inquisitor needed to hear and he walked away with regret that he had had to ask. Meanwhile, Dr. Sweet was being called to the stage to give his speech. He sat in the back behind the curtain for a short time and then he walked out in front of the packed auditorium. He had a piece of paper in his wallet which he took out and placed on the lecture. The paper had two words on it. It read, "Please, God". He took a pencil and scratched out the comma. Now it read, "Please God".
Leonard Sweet focused on those words in his speech and from that point on.
We as people and we in the church will have moments when we are questioned about what we are doing and why. If we need some focus there is none better than those two words with the comma removed. If too live our lives to "please God" drives our passion and our thinking we need not worry about our critics.
How do we live to "please God"? How will that make a difference for us when the times are hard?
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts and respond click on the 'comment' box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Sweet was absolutely shocked by the question. He was speechless. He sat down with the person who asked the question and then he said that he and his wife were living apart because their work required it. He said their marriage had never been stronger and the rumor was absolutely false."
That was all the inquisitor needed to hear and he walked away with regret that he had had to ask. Meanwhile, Dr. Sweet was being called to the stage to give his speech. He sat in the back behind the curtain for a short time and then he walked out in front of the packed auditorium. He had a piece of paper in his wallet which he took out and placed on the lecture. The paper had two words on it. It read, "Please, God". He took a pencil and scratched out the comma. Now it read, "Please God".
Leonard Sweet focused on those words in his speech and from that point on.
We as people and we in the church will have moments when we are questioned about what we are doing and why. If we need some focus there is none better than those two words with the comma removed. If too live our lives to "please God" drives our passion and our thinking we need not worry about our critics.
How do we live to "please God"? How will that make a difference for us when the times are hard?
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts and respond click on the 'comment' box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Monday's Thoughts on Sunday's Sermon
Sunday May 23rd is Pentecost Sunday
"The Damned Church"
Pentecost is thought to be the day the church was born. It is remembered as a day when the disciples got together to celebrate a Jewish festival of Thanksgiving. Luke, who wrote Acts as well, describes this in Acts 2. He tells us the disciples experienced the Holy Spirit and people began speaking in their own language and yet everyone understood each other. It was reported to be a celebration of ecstatic proportions. Some suspected the people who were in ecstasy had had too much to drink, but that was not the case.
Most scholars believe the Pentecost story was not historical. That may be true but there was a time when the disciples and the early followers of Jesus, after Jesus' death on the cross, determined that the church should be born. It probably began as a movement and grew in number. It probably has a less than auspicious start and its development was a surprise.
Today we are recipients of the courage of many who stood firm in the idea that the Gospel message had to be preserved and perpetuated to the children and to subsequent generations.
The church of today is quite unlike the church at is early origin. It has become an institution and at times lacks the vibrancy and immediacy of the original movement.
We experience positive and negative aspects of our church life. Sometimes we find ourselves lifted up by what the church does. Sometimes we feel let down.
What has your experience been? When have you felt that the church had lived up to the ideal we have hoped for it? When have you been disappointed or disillusioned by what you have seen?
What do you think the church ought to be and become today?
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with others click on the box below. I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
"The Damned Church"
Pentecost is thought to be the day the church was born. It is remembered as a day when the disciples got together to celebrate a Jewish festival of Thanksgiving. Luke, who wrote Acts as well, describes this in Acts 2. He tells us the disciples experienced the Holy Spirit and people began speaking in their own language and yet everyone understood each other. It was reported to be a celebration of ecstatic proportions. Some suspected the people who were in ecstasy had had too much to drink, but that was not the case.
Most scholars believe the Pentecost story was not historical. That may be true but there was a time when the disciples and the early followers of Jesus, after Jesus' death on the cross, determined that the church should be born. It probably began as a movement and grew in number. It probably has a less than auspicious start and its development was a surprise.
Today we are recipients of the courage of many who stood firm in the idea that the Gospel message had to be preserved and perpetuated to the children and to subsequent generations.
The church of today is quite unlike the church at is early origin. It has become an institution and at times lacks the vibrancy and immediacy of the original movement.
We experience positive and negative aspects of our church life. Sometimes we find ourselves lifted up by what the church does. Sometimes we feel let down.
What has your experience been? When have you felt that the church had lived up to the ideal we have hoped for it? When have you been disappointed or disillusioned by what you have seen?
What do you think the church ought to be and become today?
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with others click on the box below. I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Tuesday's thoughts about the sermon for Sunday
For the past several years our church has been involved in working with the people in Wellington, Colorado. We have had the good fortune of enlisting two experts in church starts, The Reverend Jim Cowell and The Reverend Warren McConnell. Jim was the founding pastor for Sunrise United Methodist Church in Colorado Springs and is author of many publications on new churches. Warren was chair of the Church Expansion and New Church Development Committee in the Rocky Mountain Conference. That committee helped start the church in Steamboat Springs, Hope United Methodist in south east Denver, and St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Highland's Ranch.
Warren and Jim began working on the new church in Wellington after Kent Mallard came to our church and encouraged us to build on people's passions for ministry.
Susan Warren has been the pastor of the Wellington Church since this past August. She has helped the church gather a sense of identity and the members recently purchased a building and are getting ready to renovate it and turn it into a church building.
Susan will preach this coming Sunday. She will share with us an update as to where we are with the Wellington church and how we can help.
Susan is a graduate of The Iliff School of Theology and has been director of the Hospice of Boulder.
We will send our college student off as they go on a mission project to San Francisco and we will learn about the Nuba Water Project in Sudan Africa. We will be taking up an offering to help provide clean water.
Charles Schuster
Warren and Jim began working on the new church in Wellington after Kent Mallard came to our church and encouraged us to build on people's passions for ministry.
Susan Warren has been the pastor of the Wellington Church since this past August. She has helped the church gather a sense of identity and the members recently purchased a building and are getting ready to renovate it and turn it into a church building.
Susan will preach this coming Sunday. She will share with us an update as to where we are with the Wellington church and how we can help.
Susan is a graduate of The Iliff School of Theology and has been director of the Hospice of Boulder.
We will send our college student off as they go on a mission project to San Francisco and we will learn about the Nuba Water Project in Sudan Africa. We will be taking up an offering to help provide clean water.
Charles Schuster
Friday, May 7, 2010
Friday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon
What will we remember on Mother's Day?
1. We will remember a place and the people in it.
2. We will remember a person and the character of her.
3. We will remember a promise and how we please her.
I think the most questionable part of the sermon comes from the quote of the scripture Matthew 12:46-50. "While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers came and stood outside because they wanted to talk to him. Someone told Jesus, 'Your mother and brothers are standing outside and want to talk with you.'
Jesus answered, 'Who is my mother and who are my brothers?' Then he pointed to his disciples and said, 'These are my mother and my brothers! Anyone who obeys my Father in heaven is my brother or sister or mother.'"
This may be one of the most important passages in the bible. Matthew gives us an interesting exchange between Jesus and his family. His mother is important to him and this statement is not a rejection of his mother. It is a coming of age of a man who grew up with a mother who knew that he had a greater destiny than working with his own people and finding support from his close-knit family.
I think this passage reflects Jesus fulfillment of his destiny and if his mother heard what he said, I think she would have been proud.
Our mother's seek to have us become self-sufficient, independent adults who have something to give the world.
How do we make our mother proud? We grow up; that's how.
How, in this way, have you made your mother proud?
If you have thoughts about this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thought click on the box below. I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
1. We will remember a place and the people in it.
2. We will remember a person and the character of her.
3. We will remember a promise and how we please her.
I think the most questionable part of the sermon comes from the quote of the scripture Matthew 12:46-50. "While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers came and stood outside because they wanted to talk to him. Someone told Jesus, 'Your mother and brothers are standing outside and want to talk with you.'
Jesus answered, 'Who is my mother and who are my brothers?' Then he pointed to his disciples and said, 'These are my mother and my brothers! Anyone who obeys my Father in heaven is my brother or sister or mother.'"
This may be one of the most important passages in the bible. Matthew gives us an interesting exchange between Jesus and his family. His mother is important to him and this statement is not a rejection of his mother. It is a coming of age of a man who grew up with a mother who knew that he had a greater destiny than working with his own people and finding support from his close-knit family.
I think this passage reflects Jesus fulfillment of his destiny and if his mother heard what he said, I think she would have been proud.
Our mother's seek to have us become self-sufficient, independent adults who have something to give the world.
How do we make our mother proud? We grow up; that's how.
How, in this way, have you made your mother proud?
If you have thoughts about this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thought click on the box below. I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Wednesday's Reflections on Mother's Day Sermon
One of the aspects of the story of Mother's Day is the background reason for the establishing of the day.
Anna Reeves Jarvis and her daughter Ann Jarvis worked to have Mother's Day be a national event. The first official Mother's Day service was held on May 10th, 1908 at Andrews Methodist Church. 500 white carnations were delivered to the church and given out to the mothers who attended. Two flowers were given to each. The white carnation flower was Anna Reeves Jarvis favorite flower.
The effort to celebrate Mother's Day was not to focus on Anna Reeves Jarvis. It may appear to be that way but it wasn't. The celebration of mothers was designed to help bring our nation together; to help resolve the differences that lingered in a state that was divided by the Civil War. West Virginia was a state that had Northern and Southern sympathies. Those feelings didn't subside after the war and lingered long years later. Having grown up in West Virginia I can verify the fact that issue of "state's rights" vs "union" continue to be debated.
The Jarvis women hoped that the celebration of "mother's love" would help heal the divisions.
One of the realizations we have as we strive to honor our mothers is to discover a way to make our mother proud. That is true no matter our age or stage in life.
As a young person we wish to make her proud of us by the grade we receive in school or the accomplishments we are recognized as achieving. At an advanced age we continue to think about how we live and what we can do to make our mother proud of us. Anna and Anne Jarvis have given us a day to think about that.
The best way to celebrate Mother's Day is to think about and act upon what it means to make our mother proud.
How will we do that?
Is that something you think about?
If you have thoughts about this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Anna Reeves Jarvis and her daughter Ann Jarvis worked to have Mother's Day be a national event. The first official Mother's Day service was held on May 10th, 1908 at Andrews Methodist Church. 500 white carnations were delivered to the church and given out to the mothers who attended. Two flowers were given to each. The white carnation flower was Anna Reeves Jarvis favorite flower.
The effort to celebrate Mother's Day was not to focus on Anna Reeves Jarvis. It may appear to be that way but it wasn't. The celebration of mothers was designed to help bring our nation together; to help resolve the differences that lingered in a state that was divided by the Civil War. West Virginia was a state that had Northern and Southern sympathies. Those feelings didn't subside after the war and lingered long years later. Having grown up in West Virginia I can verify the fact that issue of "state's rights" vs "union" continue to be debated.
The Jarvis women hoped that the celebration of "mother's love" would help heal the divisions.
One of the realizations we have as we strive to honor our mothers is to discover a way to make our mother proud. That is true no matter our age or stage in life.
As a young person we wish to make her proud of us by the grade we receive in school or the accomplishments we are recognized as achieving. At an advanced age we continue to think about how we live and what we can do to make our mother proud of us. Anna and Anne Jarvis have given us a day to think about that.
The best way to celebrate Mother's Day is to think about and act upon what it means to make our mother proud.
How will we do that?
Is that something you think about?
If you have thoughts about this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Monday's Thoughts On Sunday's Sermon
Sunday May 9th
Mother's Day
What do you think of when you think about Mother's Day?
I think of Grafton, West Virginia. Grafton was a main juncture for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. When we would come to West Virginia to visit grandparents we would travel by train from Miamisburg, Ohio to Grafton, West Virginia. My grandparents would pick us up in Grafton and take us on to Morgantown. I remember how big the trains were and how large the station was. I was in Grafton several years ago and they have torn down the station and pulled up the tracks.
We moved to West Virginia when I was nine years old. I think of Grafton as the place where our high school basketball team played Grafton in a hotly contested game. The Morgantown High School teams and the Grafton High School teams had a serious rivalry and especially in football and basketball. I was a basketball player. In the game something happened that caused a fight. Both benches emptied the punches were thrown. I remember facing off against a kid from Grafton and the two of us decided we would not get into the fight and we walked off the floor and he took me into his team's locker room and we visited until order was restored. I remember how it took the police to get us out of Grafton. I think we won the game and I think there was some question about how we won it.
When I think of Mother's Day I think of Grafton, West Virginia because that is the town that began the celebration of Mother's Day. After the Civil War and in a state that was divided in its loyalties between the North and South there were, literally, brothers who fought against brothers.
Anna Jarvis worked through a measles epidemic to help wounded and sick soldiers. After the war Anna and her daughter thought it would be helpful for the healing of the nation to find a Sunday to celebrate "Mother's Love". The first church where that happened was Andrews Methodist Church. When I think of Grafton, West Virginia I think of Mother's Day.
What are your memories and thoughts related to Mother's Day? There is some sadness related to this for me. My mother died the October before we came to Fort Collins. This is the only congregation I have served she had not met and this is the only church I served she had not seen. She would have loved to meet the people here.
What are your memories and thoughts? Are they sad thoughts? Hard memories?
If you are willing to pass on to me your ideas write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with other who read the blog click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Mother's Day
What do you think of when you think about Mother's Day?
I think of Grafton, West Virginia. Grafton was a main juncture for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. When we would come to West Virginia to visit grandparents we would travel by train from Miamisburg, Ohio to Grafton, West Virginia. My grandparents would pick us up in Grafton and take us on to Morgantown. I remember how big the trains were and how large the station was. I was in Grafton several years ago and they have torn down the station and pulled up the tracks.
We moved to West Virginia when I was nine years old. I think of Grafton as the place where our high school basketball team played Grafton in a hotly contested game. The Morgantown High School teams and the Grafton High School teams had a serious rivalry and especially in football and basketball. I was a basketball player. In the game something happened that caused a fight. Both benches emptied the punches were thrown. I remember facing off against a kid from Grafton and the two of us decided we would not get into the fight and we walked off the floor and he took me into his team's locker room and we visited until order was restored. I remember how it took the police to get us out of Grafton. I think we won the game and I think there was some question about how we won it.
When I think of Mother's Day I think of Grafton, West Virginia because that is the town that began the celebration of Mother's Day. After the Civil War and in a state that was divided in its loyalties between the North and South there were, literally, brothers who fought against brothers.
Anna Jarvis worked through a measles epidemic to help wounded and sick soldiers. After the war Anna and her daughter thought it would be helpful for the healing of the nation to find a Sunday to celebrate "Mother's Love". The first church where that happened was Andrews Methodist Church. When I think of Grafton, West Virginia I think of Mother's Day.
What are your memories and thoughts related to Mother's Day? There is some sadness related to this for me. My mother died the October before we came to Fort Collins. This is the only congregation I have served she had not met and this is the only church I served she had not seen. She would have loved to meet the people here.
What are your memories and thoughts? Are they sad thoughts? Hard memories?
If you are willing to pass on to me your ideas write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with other who read the blog click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
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