Ocala First Connection

Rwth and I continue to be so humbled by the warm and gracious welcome we have received from Ocala First! You all have truly made us feel at home and we are especially grateful for how the whole congregation has reached out and embraced Michael. Starting 6 th grade in a new school, new city, new house, and new church would be overwhelming to anyone, but he loves his new life! That means the world to us!! In my sermon on Sunday, I wanted to be faithful to the scripture texts – both Hebrews 13 and Luke 14 – broaden our vision for hospitality and perhaps push us a little bit on the mission of the church and what it means to be member of Ocala First. I really do believe William Temple is correct when he says the church exists for those who are not its members.  But I like to add the word “yet” to his quote, as in “not members yet.” I believe we are always called to join with Jesus is seeking and searching for the least, the last and the lost, for those who need healing, wholeness ...

Since my sermon was so short last week, Rwth said I could try again this week. We like to keep you guessing about who is preaching any given week anyway. We use Thursday to finish our sermons at home, so whoever is preaching the coming week will usually be hard to find on "Sermon Writing Day" (or as I like to call it, "eating cereal straight from the box while I stare out the window with writer's block day.") Here is what I have cooking for Sunday: William Temple, the renowned British scholar, teacher, and theologian (and Archbishop of Canterbury from 1942-1944) is often quoted as saying something to this effect:  “The Church is the only institution that exists primarily for the benefit  of those who are not its members,” Similarly, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in Letters and Papers from Prison: “The Church is the Church only when it exists for others...not dominating, but helping and serving. It must tell men (and women) of every calling...

Luke 13:10-13 (CEB) 10 Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.  11 A woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and couldn’t stand up straight.  12 When he saw her, Jesus called her to him and said, “Woman, you are set free from your sickness.”  13 He placed his hands on her and she straightened up at once and praised God. We do not know exactly what made this woman disabled for eighteen years. What we do know is that in being bent over she has been unable to experience the fullness of life. We might assume she endured much suffering physically, emotionally, and socially.  I think it is good that we do not know exactly what is wrong, because it helps us better imagine all the countless ways we are bent over and burdened in our lives . . . all the ways we are unable to stand up straight and experience the fullness of life that God desires for us. There are those bent over by illnes...

Dana, our hospitality person, recently shared a few experiences from a morning at church: There was a man who shared with me that his two sons were killed in a car accident just last week....a woman told me that her doctor diagnosed her with anemia, giving her closure on a long road of health uncertainties....One woman needed assistance cleaning up a coffee spill.... a man asked for prayer because both of his children were having extremely difficult days....There was a gentleman all dressed up in his best jacket and tie, anxiously waiting to join our church.... a man who had fallen away from church, returned for the second time this month with a smile from ear to ear....   Those are just a few of the stories that happened between 8:35 and 9:00.  I encourage all of you to come to church as early as you are able.  I promise you, God will use you and your gift of hospitality, your eyes will be opened and you will leave changed. If worship is an encounter with Christ and...

What is it? General Conference  is the official body of The United Methodist Church which meets once every four years with delegates from around the world. The conference can set policy, revise church law, as well as adopt resolutions on current moral, social, and economic issues. They also approve budgets and set the tone for church-wide mission.  This year, they meet in Portland Oregon, over  May 10-20, 2016 .     Delegates from our Florida Conference. (the nine on the left are laity. nine on the right are clergy) So how can we pray? ·   The theme of the 2016 General Conference is “Therefore Go.”  ...so we pray for the mission, vision and passion of The United Methodist Church especially for the next four years. You might also pray for your own grace and guidance to “go and make disciples” in your own country and local context? ·   Pray for safety as participants travel ·   Pray for genuine worship and prayer ·   ...

What would it look like for us to deeply live as Easter people? " You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people,   in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of Christ who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light .  Once you were not a people,    but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy,    but now you have received mercy."                                                                             ~1 Peter 2:9-10

"Easter Us"   a prayer for Easter fullness  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-clashi...