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