Ocala First Connection

The task of having to write “my story” has perplexed me.  What do I write?  My life story?  My religious background?  I took a couple weeks to think about it and I have decided to share my story of what brought me back to Ocala First United Methodist Church in 2014.  Here goes…. Although I officially became a member of First Church many years ago, when my daughter was little, I attended sporadically.  Then, one Sunday in the fall of 2014, I awoke with a strong urge to attend that morning’s contemporary service.  I knew I would be attending alone, sitting alone, and would likely not know anyone since I had been gone from the church for a few year.  But I went. Reading the Bulletin while I waited for the service to begin, I saw a notice for the Psalms Bible Study.  Interest peaked!  It started that very morning.  I knew I had to attend.  Follow your instincts, right?!  I texted a message to the number on the notice.  “M...

“ To worship is to experience Reality, to touch Life. It is to know, to feel, to experience the resurrected Christ in the midst of the gathered community. It is a breaking into the Shekinah (the glory and radiance of the God who is immediately present) or better yet worship is being invaded by holiness of God.”   ~Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline     Self-Assessment for Corporate Worship ...because God's presence calls us to worship and worship brings us before the throne of God [1] These questions are designed to help you identify the way you think about corporate worship (i.e. what happens and where is God in worship?)       Do I usually think of worship as a noun or a verb (i.e. is worship something we ‘go to’ or something we do )?   Do I consider myself a spectator or a participant in worship (do I watch others ‘lead’ worship, or am I actively part of it)?     Do I prepare for worship throughout the we...

Easter us You God who terrified the waters, who crashed your thunder, who shook the earth, and scared the wits out of chaos. You God who with strong arm saved your people by miracle and wonder and majestic act. You are the same God to whom we turn, we turn in our days of trouble, and in our weary nights; we look for steadfast love and are dismayed, we wait for your promises, but wait in fatigue, we ponder your forgetfulness and lack of compassion, and we grow silent. Our lives, addressed to you, have this bitter-sweet taste of loud-clashing miracles and weak-kneed doubt. So we come in our bewilderment and wonderment, deeply trusting, almost afraid to trust much, passionately insisting, too timid to insist much, fervently hoping, exhausted for hoping too much. Look upon us in our deep need, mark the wounds of our brothers and sisters just here, notice the turmoil in our lives, and the lives of our families, credit the incongruity ...

Today is Holy Saturday. The last day of lent ...when Jesus was in the grave Jesus was crucified, dead, and buried. Today, we especially pray for People and places still waiting for resurrection...

Today is Friday of Holy Week. Good Friday ...the day of Jesus' crucifixion, death, and burial. Psalm 22:27-28 John 19:1-24 Today we especially pray for: Christians who are persecuted for their faith "Were You There?"   Stations of the Cross are open today from 9am to 9pm (experience and pray Jesus'  last Seven Words from the cross) Start in the chapel at First UMC Ocala --Prayers for Holy Week--   Morning Prayer God of resurrection mornings, This is the day that you have made. Let me rejoice in it.  And this is the week to remember that you made the ultimate sacrifice. Let me live into it. Shape me, today, by the story of the cross. Keep me humble and mindful and servant-hearted,  bearing all things , y et rejoicing still. In You, I live. Amen. Mealtime 'bread' Prayer ( adapted from Prayers Plainly Spoken by Stanley Hauerwas )   God, you create...