January 9 - Baptism of the Lord Sunday

"But Jesus answered him, 'Let it be so for now. For in this way we shall do all that God requires.' So John agreed." - Matthew 3:15 (Good News)

You can certainly understand John the Baptist's concern when Jesus approached him to be baptized. Certainly it was Jesus that should be doing the baptizing! It makes you wonder why Jesus needed to be baptized at all. Our baptism has many meanings: (1) It means we become part of the family of God, (2) It means we begin a new Christian life, (3) It offers a time of repentance and forgiveness, (4) It sets us apart a new person in Christ. Even if we don't remember our baptism, it marked a beginning in our journey of faith. Our baptism is important.

Jesus' baptism was even more important. Jesus baptism was the beginning of his ministry. His baptism began his journey to teach us all that was required to be in relationship with God. Come, and join us in worship as music, scripture and prayer all focus on the importance of baptism. During our morning worship services, we will renew our baptismal vows, as well as take Holy Communion together.

The scripture readings for this Sunday are:

• Isaiah 42:1-9
• Acts 10:34-43
• Matthew 3:13-17

Evening Worship

For those looking to attend this Sunday's worship service at our new starting time of 6:00PM, you will have to wait one more week. The NFL schedulers decided to put the Green Bay Packers playoff game right during our worship service. I have a feeling attendance will be low, and even your pastor is excited for Packers post-season play. Services will resume on the 16th...unless the schedulers decide to create a conflict again ;-)...

Service Schedule for December 19th

Barring another winter blizzard this coming weekend, I am hopeful that we might be able to gather together in worship this Sunday. I hope and pray that everyone was able to stay safe during the snow storm. I also hope word got around that our worship services and programs for that day were cancelled. The Tabor Choir Christmas Program will be rescheduled for worship on December 26th.

Morning Worship Services

For the Fourth Sunday of Advent, we will be lighting the candle of Christ, the Prince of Peace. Our hymns, prayers and Bible reading will also point to the peace that we find in Jesus Christ...Emmanuel ("God is with us"). Our Gospel lesson this morning recounts the story of Jesus' birth, with a focus on Joseph. Joseph is faced with difficult decisions. He has to think about adherence to the Law, yet also decide what to do when God tells him to do something that would seem to violate the Law. Jesus in his ministry often told folks that even though they remember laws and traditions being one way, Jesus was telling them that it would be different. Jesus tells us to love God and love one another. Jesus says he is the fulfillment of the Law. What does than mean for us today? How does this relate to Jesus and the Prince of Peace?

At our Oakfield service, the children of the Sunday School program will be performing "Little Drummer Boy."

Scripture Readings for Sunday:

• Isaiah 7:10-16
• Romans 1:1-7
• Matthew 1:18-25

Evening Worship Services

In our final evening service of 2010, we will be spending time looking at Jesus, the Prince of Peace. We, too, will focus on the reading from Matthew 1:18-25. We will also share Communion together.

Christmas Eve Service Review

As we anticipate the celebration of the birth of Jesus, I wanted to remind everyone of our service schedule for Christmas Eve:

• 6:00PM @ Oakfield UMC: Worship Service with Communion
• 7:30PM @ Tabor UMC: Worship Service with the Children's Christmas Pagaent
• 10:00PM @ Oakfield UMC: A Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols - Members of both congregations are encouraged to attend this service. The entire service will be done by candle light, and we will listen to the story of Jesus while singing our favorite Christmas carols. I hope you can join us for this new venture. Please spread the word in the community!

December 12th - Third Sunday in Advent

"And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be on their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." - Isaiah 35:10

Morning Worship Services

Our theme for Sunday's worship service will be joy. At both Tabor and Oakfield, the Tabor Vocal Choir will be performing their Christmas Program during the worship service. This performance will include two choir hymns, vocal solos, congregational singing and narration between the various numbers. Outside of the program, we will also sing several familiar Christmas and Advent hymns. It is my hope that during our worship service this morning we can remember the joy that we have in and with Jesus Christ.

Evening Worship Service

Our Sunday evening worship service at Oakfield at 7:00PM we will also focus on the joy that we have in Jesus Christ. We will have our regular scripture study and our time of Holy Communion. We will also take some time during the service to recognize Worldwide Candle Lighting, a service of remembrance through the organization Compassionate friends. We will participate in the lighting of candles during our service to recognize children who have died in the last year. This service is open to anyone from either church community.

Christmas Eve Service Reminder

As we anticipate the celebration of the birth of Jesus, I wanted to remind everyone of our service schedule for Christmas Eve:

• 6:00PM @ Oakfield UMC: Worship Service with Communion
• 7:30PM @ Tabor UMC: Worship Service with the Children's Christmas Pagaent
• 10:00PM @ Oakfield UMC: A Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols - Members of both congregations are encouraged to attend this service. The entire service will be done by candle light, and we will listen to the story of Jesus while singing our favorite Christmas carols. I hope you can join us for this new venture. Please spread the word in the community!

*** Note to readers! After this week, the frequency of posts on this blog will greatly decrease. In the past, I have made an attempt to post 3-4 times a week. I will probably only be posting the service previews on here each Thursday with a few posts here and there. I will be putting more focus on keeping our website up to date. ***

December 5th - Second Sunday in Advent

"A voice cries out: 'In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.'" - Isaiah 40:3

"John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins."- Mark 1:4

This Sunday is the second Sunday of Advent. This is the Sunday that we think about "Christ, our Way" or "Christ, the Way." Our reading from Mark tells the story of John the Baptist, whose story is also shared in our other three Gospels. John was preparing people for the coming of Christ. How was he preparing them?

In our reading from Romans for this Sunday, Paul sends a message about how Christ's message and Christ's ministry are a gift for everyone. He asks the people to live in harmony with one another. What does that mean for us today as we think about spreading "the way" to others?

I will be exploring these questions during our morning services at Oakfield and Tabor. I hope that you might be able to join us as we continue our spiritual preparations for Christmas. We will also be celebrating Holy Communion during our worship services as well.

Our scripture readings for this Sunday, if you would like to look them over in advance of our service, are:

• Isaiah 11:1-10
• Romans 15:4-13
• Matthew 3:1-12

Evening Worship Service

At 7:00PM this Sunday, we will have our first of three December worship services in preparation for Christmas. Our December 5th service will focus on Christ, our Hope. We will look at Isaiah 2:1-5 and Romans 13:11-14. We will also share Communion with one another.

November 28 - First Sunday of Advent

‎"He shall judge between nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." - Isaiah 2:4

This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent! In less than four weeks from this Sunday, it will be Christmas!!

Over the next four Sunday, we celebrate the Sundays of Advent. It is during this Advent season that we prepare for the celebration, and commemoration, of Christ's birth. We remember that importance of the Jewish people waiting for a savior, a savior that we now know as Jesus Christ. We prepare ourselves for a time in the future, a new creation, in which Christ will again live among the people.

It is a time to be excited about our past, our present and our future in Christ. This week, our focus will be on hope. Our scripture readings provide insight into the hope that we have in Christ. Our hymns, readings, reflections and prayers will all focus on hope.

The scripture readings for this Sunday are:

• Isaiah 2:1-5
• Romans 13:11-14
• Matthew 24:36-44

I hope that you will be able to make it to worship this Sunday!

Thanksgiving Eve Service

For those in the area that might be interested in attending worship for Thanksgiving, we will be having a combined (Oakfield & Tabor) Thanksgiving Eve service:

Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service

November 24, 2010

7:30PM

Oakfield United Methodist Church

(220 South Main St.; Oakfield, WI 53065)

Included in the service:

1. An opportunity to give God prayers of thanksgiving for everything that he has given us.
2. An opportunity to donate food items to the Oakfield Food Pantry.
3. An opportunity to donate money to the Good Samaritan Fund, supported by both the Oakfield and Tabor churches, that helps those who are struggling in our communities.
4. We will be sharing Holy Communion as a part of this service. You need not be a member of Oakfield UMC or the United Methodist Church to participate in Communion.

I hope you might be able to make it out for this service!

Service Preview for November 14th and 21st

Greetings Brothers and Sisters of the Oakfield/Tabor Church Communities,

November 14, 2010 Morning Worship

Pastor Jack Stubbs from Salem UMC will be preaching at Oakfield and Tabor as part of a Clergy Exchange happening between the United Methodist Churches of Circuit 24, which incorporates the churches in the Fond du Lac area. I will be preaching at Trinity UMC in Lomira.

Jack will be preaching on a reading from 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 and his sermon is, "Does God Love Deadbeats?" I hope you will be able to make it for this event.

November 21, 2010 Morning Worship
I will be on vacation next week and I have invited a guest pastor to preach on the 21st. Rev. Tom White will be leading worship in Oakfield and Tabor. Tom White is a member of Community UMC in North Fond du Lac and is a retired elder. It is Christ the King Sunday and the title of his sermon for that Sunday is, "Having Christ As Our King." The scripture readings are:

• Jeremiah 23:1-6
• Colossians 1:11-20
• Luke 23:33-43

I look forward to re-joining you in worship on November 28 when we begin the Season of Advent!

Oakfield Evening Worship

Over the next two weeks, we will continue to explore the role of prayer in our lives as we address the following questions:

• November 14 - How do we pray?
• November 21 - For what or for whom do we pray?

I hope you will be able to join us at 7:00PM on Sunday evenings at Oakfield UMC for contemporary worship and scripture study.

Service Schedule for November 7th

Morning Worship Service

"Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive." - Luke 20:38

At our worship services on Sunday morning, we will be addressing issues related life after death. We will be looking at a time in which we will experience a resurrection. These are difficult concepts to wrestle with, but in our reading from Luke we have the confidence that God will be with us always. We have confidence that in our own resurrection, we will live in a perfect relationship with God and with one another. Come learn more!

It is also All Saints Sunday. We will take time during worship to recognize those in our churches and our communities that have died since our last All Saints Sunday, in addition to those that we continue to remember that are no longer a part of our lives. If you have someone to recognize that is not found in the bulletin for the service, you are encouraged to lift up that name during our time of recognition.

The scripture readings for this Sunday morning are:

• Haggai 1:15b-2:9
• 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17
• Luke 20:27-38

Evening Worship Service

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28

At 7:00PM at Oakfield United Methodist Church, we will join together in worship for the first of four services that focus on questions about Prayer. This Sunday, we will address the question: Why do we pray? We hope you can make it for a contemporary service of singing, prayer, discussion and Communion.

Service Schedule for October 31st - "Reformation Sunday"

Sunday Morning Worship

“Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right with them, but the righteous live by their faith.”

- Habakkuk 2:4

How familiar are you with the Book of Habakkuk? I will confess that I was not too familiar with this prophet either. But, there is an important lesson that we can gain from his conversation with God. That's right! Habakkuk asks God a question, several questions in fact. He asks the same questions that we do: Why does evil prosper? Why doesn't God listen to me? Why is justice not done?

God has an answer for us; he has answer for these difficult questions. I hope you will be able to join us in our morning worship services as we explore whether or not we are ready to accept his answer!

The scripture lessons for this Sunday morning are:

• Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4
• 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12
• Luke 19:1-10

Sunday Evening Worship at Oakfield

At 7:00PM, you are welcome to join us for an evening worship that addresses the question: How do we prepare for worship? Let us discuss together how we can prepare before a worship service, how we can get the most out of worship and how we can put into practice that which we experience in worship. Also join us for Holy Communion during the service.

Our November evening worship services will look at four different questions relating to prayer:

• Why do we pray?
• How do we pray?
• For whom or for what do we pray?
• When do we pray?

October 24 Service Schedule - Laity Sunday

This Sunday is Laity Sunday at Tabor & Oakfield. It is one Sunday in the year in which the United Methodist Church wants to recognize how important each member of the congregation is as we gather in worship. As such, the laity will be taking a primary role in our worship services. It is not a chance for the pastor to have a break; it is an opportunity for the pastor to step aside and join in a recognition of how we all work together through our prayers, presence, gifts and service to make our church what it is. Each church will be providing a unique worship experience!

At the Tabor church, almost the entire service will be led by members of the congregation. Instead of a sermon this Sunday, we will be treated to the faith stories of two members of our congregation. We will also be welcoming a new member into the congregation during worship as well. Overall, this service will be a wonderful recognition of the talents and abilities we have at Tabor UMC.

At the Oakfield church, several members of Oakfield, and one member of Tabor :-), will be helping with the worship service. Instead of a sermon, a drama called "Gifts" will be performed, followed by some questions pertaining to the gifts that we all bring to our church. We will then have a brief hymn response. This service will again recognize the talents and abilities that we have at Oakfield UMC.

It should be noted that we will not be having evening worship at Oakfield this Sunday. That service has been re-scheduled to October 31.

I hope you will be able to make to worship this Sunday as we celebrate Laity Sunday together as a congregation of believers.

October 17 Service Schedule

Morning Worship

The Dunnemans will be providing a musical worship experience at our morning services. They have provided worship and concerts before at both Oakfield and Tabor. Sunday School will still take place and the Mission Moment & Children's Sermon will be incorporated into the service. In addition to our regular Sunday offering, a freewill offering will be taking at the end of the worship service to thank the The Dunnemans for sharing their talents with us.

Here is a little information from their website:

"History is filled with tales of traveling musicians. In the Middle Ages the minstrel was a primary means of distribution of news from far lands. Well The Dunnemans are not medieval minstrels, but they bring a message from a land that is as far as the end of the earth, or as near as your heart. Through their songs the bring the message of hope in Jesus Christ.

Reg has always been singing for the Lord, starting with “Christian Cowboy” sung when he was four. In his teens he organized The Victors Trio, and in his twenties, he organized The Tabernacle Trio, both of which ministered in Ontario, Canada. U.S. and Canadian fans of Canada’s Galileans trio/quartet then enjoyed his voice and piano for twenty years.

Gretchen has always been singing for the Lord, starting with Caesar Franc’s “Panis Anglicus“ when she was nine years old. She was active in school, church, college and community choirs, and then sang with The Friendship Trio in Montrose, PA for fifteen years.

Since their marriage in 1992, Reg and Gretchen have, together, given their hearts, talents, and repertoires to the Lord and He has blessed their efforts. The ministry became full time in 2002 and was recognized as a non-profit ministry in 2006."

Evening Worship

At 7:00PM at Tabor UMC, we will have an evening worship service focused on Preparation for Worship. Our Bible readings and discussion will look at making the most out of your worship experience. We will look at what you can do on Saturdays, what you can do in the pew before the service starts, what you can do to be ready to focus in worship, as well as what to do to maximize putting into practice what you learn and experience in worship.

Even if you were at the morning service, there is still something new to be gained by attending this service. We will also be taking Holy Communion as a part of worship. If you miss it on the 17th, we will have a similar service at Oakfield UMC on the 31st.

October 10 Service Schedule

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" - Jeremiah 29:11

The prophet Jeremiah writes a letter to some troubled people. The people of Judah were taken from their homeland and forced to live in Babylon under the rule of King Nebuchadnezzar. Everything they had known was gone...homes, farms, culture, resources...they were in a foreign land. Certainly they were a people in despair. In Psalm 137 they lament, "How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?" (verse 4)

God wanted to let the people know that although they were in exile, although they were being punished for their generations to neglecting God's law and decrees and putting their faith in idols and other gods, God assures them that they are not forgotten! They will be restored. God remains with them.

Come to our morning worship centers around a message of God's continuous presence in our lives. In centers around a realization that no matter our circumstances, God will always be with us. No matter how we might feel in life, God has a plan for us!

The Bible readings for this Sunday are:

• Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
• 2 Timothy 2:8-15
• Luke 17:11-19

Evening Worship Service

We will be having our evening worship service at 7:00PM at Oakfield United Methodist Church. The Scripture readings and message of the service will look at the Sabbath and we will discuss the importance of Sabbath even in our modern busy lives. Communion will also be incorporated in the worship service. Whether you are a part of the Tabor or Oakfield community, you are welcome to join us for this service. Even if you came to church in the morning, you can join us at night!

Other News

• The Oakfield Visioning Team had its first meeting this past Monday. They begin a spiritual journey and discussion that will hopefully end with a new vision for the future of Oakfield UMC. Please pray for this group as they continue with six future meetings and look toward a promising future!
• We had 13 folks join us for Wednesday evening's Bible study at Tabor in which we looked at our readings from Jeremiah and Luke. Please check your October calendar and join us for an upcoming Bible study. We meet at both Oakfield and Tabor.

World Communion Sunday - October 3rd

"The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread." - 1 Corinthians 10:16-17

This Sunday we celebrate World Communion Sunday. This is one of six Sundays throughout the year in which we take a special offering to support the ministries of the United Methodist Church. Envelopes will be provided at the worship service to make a donation. Any money donated will support:

• World Communion scholarships, administered by the General Board of Global Ministries with at least one-half of the annual amount for ministries beyond the United States.
• ethnic scholarship and ethnic in-service training programs related to the General Board of High Education and Ministry.

World Communion Sunday is not just celebrated by the United Methodist Church. The first Sunday of October is celebrated as World Communion Sunday by many different Christian denominations. We are a diverse group, but this is one day when we come together to show that we are one body. We are united as the body of Christ. When we gather this Sunday for the bread and wine, let us remember what Christ did for each one of us and let us remember that we are all one in Christ.

I hope that you will be able to join us this Sunday. Our worship service will have a different format than usual, with various members of the congregations participating in the worship service. The scripture readings for this Sunday are:

• Mark 14:22-25
• Hebrews 10:12-18
• Matthew 13:33
• 1 Corinthians 10:14-17
• 1 Corinthians 11:23-32

Evening Worship Service

At 7:00PM this Sunday, we will also have a worship service at Tabor UMC. The service will have more contemporary music and will have a more informal feeling to it. The focus of our scripture readings and the message will be around the idea of Sabbath and how we might be able to practice Sabbath in our hectic lives.

Preview of Sunday, September 26

"For the love of money is a source of all kinds of evil. Some have been so eager to have it that they have wandered away from the faith and have broken their hearts with many sorrows." - 1 Timothy 6:10

The popular saying goes, "Money is the root of all evil." If you took at the opening verse to this E-mail, Paul doesn't tell Timothy that money is the root of all evil. Love of money is a source of evil. To be rich is not sinful. But to love and hoard your wealth, to allow money to become the focus of your life...then you have strayed away from the faith. Paul ends his letter to Timothy by talking about how to lead a good life, a life filled with good works.

Jesus shares a parable in our Gospel lesson for Sunday. It is a similar call to decide what you will do with the riches and wealth that you are given. Listen to a message helping to explain the parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus. What can we do to not overlook the people in need around us?

The Scripture lessons for this Sunday are:

• Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15
• Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16
• Luke 16:19-31
• 1 Timothy 6:6-19

Sunday Evening Worship

We will be having an evening worship service at 7:00PM at Oakfield UMC. If your work schedule, or you sleep schedule, make it difficult to come to our morning worship services, I hope you might be able to join us for our evening service. We celebrate Communion at every service and we swing more contemporary music. We will also take some time to examine the parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus.

Worship Services for September 19, 2010

Tabor & Oakfield Church Community Members,

I would like to share what is in store for our worship service schedule this Sunday:

Tabor UMC at 8:45AM

This Sunday we celebrate United Methodist Women (UMW) Sunday. Our worship service will be led by several members of the UMW chapter at the Tabor church. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the talents our chapter of UMW. They have a heart-felt and musical service planned for us so that we can worship and praise God! The entire order of worship was put together by Irene Schrubbe.

Oakfield UMC at 10:45AM

"No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." - Luke 16:13

This Sunday's service will address finances and stewardship. Usually an uncomfortable conversation in most churches, Jesus presents a strange message in our Gospel reading from Luke 16:1-13 as it pertains to the role of money in our life. I hope you can make it to our worship service as we give thanks to God and learn about the connections of financial stewardship and evangelism.

Tabor UMC at 7:00PM

We will have our first evening worship service at Tabor UMC. I want to make clear that although the evening worship service is at Tabor, members and friends of either church community are welcome to join us in worship. Join us as we worship God through joyful singing, community prayer, scripture study and Communion!

New Beginnings

Members of the Tabor UMC & Oakfield UMC Family,

"Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." - Luke 15:10

Jesus tells two parables, both of which focus on seeking out something lost. He focuses on the joy and excitement that takes place when what was lost was found. Jesus is seeking a relationship with everyone. He wants to build a relationship with folks inside and outside of our churches.

This Sunday marks a time of new beginnings. Bible studies, new worship services, Confirmation, mission projects...among many other events and activities!!! Everything that we do is to help people form and build a strong relationship with Christ. It is my hope that we will all learn more about what it means to seek the lost in our world during our worship service.

This Sunday, we celebrate Rally Day at both churches. This means that Sunday School is starting.

At Tabor UMC, we will be presenting Bibles to all 6th-8th graders; we will have a brief ceremony to celebrate this occasion. We will be introduced to the first children's mission project. We will also prayer for all of the children and teachers that participate in Sunday School.

At Oakfield UMC, we are excited for some changes in our Sunday School program. Our Sunday School rooms have been redecorated for this year. We have a new curriculum for this year! We also will be having a prayer for the teachers and children that participate in our Sunday School program. We will also be taking the Noisy Can collection to help support church ministry projects.

The Scripture lessons for this Sunday are:

• Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
• Psalm 14:1-7
• 1 Timothy 1:12-17
• Luke 15:1-10

I hope you will be able to join us in worship of God and in celebration of the beginning of our Sunday school programs. God bless!

The Cost of Discipleship!

"Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." - Luke 14:27

Can one be a follower just by following? Those that were following Jesus were taught a tough lesson: to be Disciple, one must be ready to turn his or her back on family. To be a disciple, one had to ready to bear the cross, to face crucifixion.

Jesus wanted those seeking to be his disciples to have time to prepare. Were they willing to make the necessary sacrifice? It wasn't going to be easy.

What does being a Disciple of Christ mean today? Are we Disciples? Do we think we are Disciples? Come to worship as we learn more about what it takes to be a Christ follower and a Disciple of Christ.

The Scripture lessons for this Sunday are:

• Jeremiah 18:1-11
• Psalm 139:1-6,13-18
• Philemon 1-21
• Luke 14:25-33

There are some exciting opportunities coming up in September that I wanted to remind you of:

• September 8 at 7:00PM - We will be having a Bible study taking place at Tabor UMC. We will be looking at Luke 15:1-10 & 1 Timothy 1:12-17. Members of both churches are welcome to these weekly studies, no matter the location!
• Next Sunday, September 12 at 7:00PM - We will be having an evening worship service. This service will not be the same as the morning worship services. These services will be topical and will focus on issues and concerns that you would like to tackle. It will definitely have a more contemporary feel in comparison to morning worship. This service will be Oakfield but is open to anyone from either congregation.

I look forward to seeing you in church!

Take Me to Your Leader

“Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.” – Hebrews 13:7

Our reading from Hebrews provides a wonderful blueprint for right living. We should live in a community of love. We should show hospitality to the stranger. We should minister to prisoners. We should honor marriage. We should not allow money to control us. A pastor could come up with a whole bunch of sermons about these topics.

But, my focus on Sunday will be on verse 7. The writer of Hebrews says that if we want to live this way, we need to look to our religious leaders, the ones who taught us about faith. When need to look to them, see what they've done and imitate them.

This could be pastors, Sunday School teachers, Confirmation mentors, fellow church members. We know those who have influenced us. Now we need to think about how we are influencing future Christians. Everyone has a role to play...everyone can be in a leadership role when it comes to those around us growing in the faith.

What are we doing to be Christians worth imitating?

This Sunday we will be taking a special offering for United Methodist Student Sunday. It is an opportunity to support scholarship opportunities for United Methodist students worldwide.

The scripture readings for this Sunday are:

• Jeremiah 2:4-13
• Psalm 81:1, 10-16
• Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
• Luke 14:1, 7-14

I look forward to seeing you in church!

August 22nd - Celebration of Baptism!

"Do not be afraid of them, for I will be with you to protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!" - Jeremiah 1:8

This Sunday will be celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Baptism at both churches. At the Tabor Church, we will be welcoming Jackson Alvin Straub into the Christian family. At the Oakfield Church, we will be bringing Morgan Budler-Ronzoni and Amaya Budler-Ronzoni into the fold. This is a time to celebrate!

In our reading from Jeremiah, he questions his abilities and doesn't think he is ready to do that which God calls him to do. God reassures him that God has known him from before he was formed in the womb. God knew what he was capable of; he knew his abilities. God would continue to be with him, no matter what befell him.

Our Baptism is our being welcomed into the brotherhood and sisterhood of Christians. Our parents, sponsors and church community continue to watch over us as we continue to grow in faith. God continues to watch over us, confident in us, even if we are not confident in ourselves.

The Scripture lessons for this Sunday are:

Jeremiah 1:4-10

Psalm 71:1-6

Luke 13:10-17

Hebrews 12:18-29

I certainly hope that you will be able to join us in worship as we renew our vows to watch over one another in love in the joy of Holy Baptism. Praise God!

Christian Complacency?

"Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!" - Luke 12:51

It was Jesus that said these words. They are unsettling. He later speaks of families being divided. There will be division over the mission and message of Jesus Christ. Not everyone will except what Jesus has to say.

Being a Christian leader for the first three hundred years after Christ's ascension often involved being in hiding, meeting in secret, and may have resulted in death. Yet, the Jesus' message of love, forgiveness and relationship with God carried on. They met with success; they met with failure.

Do we speak and spread the word with the same intensity? Are we willing to risk our lives for the sake of the Gospel? How willing are we to spread the word in the community? Let us ponder these questions as we gather on Sunday to give thanks to God for all that he has given us.

The Scripture readings for this Sunday are:

• Isaiah 5:1-7
• Hebrews 11:29-12:2
• Psalm 80:1-3,8-19
• Luke 12:49-56

See you in church!