The Connection

                                   A prayer in the wake of gun violence

Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar and members of the Appointive and Extended Cabinet share this prayer written by Cabinet Dean Jill Colley Robinson, Vermont District Superintendent

Holy God, You came to us in a promise —
as Prince of Peace — breathing upon us the gift of your peace that passes all understanding.

We long for your peace this day as we receive again the news of gun violence bringing about devastating injury and loss of life.

We pray mightily for family and friends who knew and loved the people killed in El Paso and Dayton.

We pray mightily for family and friends of those who were injured physically and emotionally who even now sit by the hurting in hospital rooms and homes.

We pray mightily for the victims of gun violence we see and hear about, and the many, many others we do not who live in places we will never visit, and who live in our own cities, towns, and neighborhoods.

We recall your ancient words of blessing for us —
blessed are the peacemakers — and we humbly, boldly cry out for you to show us how to be this blessing today.

We humbly, boldly pray for wisdom and courage for those in our government who dare to lead at such a time as this — that they would fulfill the calling you have placed upon their lives.

Empower us all to be about your life-giving work for your kin-dom even and especially as we wrestle with that which inspires, permits, and elevates violence and as we mourn all that steals life from us.

You came to us in a promise — as Prince of Peace. Come to us now again in our hour of need in ways that we can easily discern and set us free. Amen.

                                                                                              By Rev. Jill Colley Robinson
                                                                                             August 2019
 

                           A statement from Bishop Ken Carter

"A Call to Discipleship: Living as Disciples of a Non-Violent Lord in a Time of Violence"

To the People of The United Methodist Church: As president of the Council of Bishops, but more fundamentally as one who professes faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, I write with a call to discipleship.

What is God’s dream for us? How can we become the answer to the words we say in worship, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done"? (Matthew 6). In Wesley’s words, we are being called "to reform the nation, particularly the church, and to spread scriptural holiness over the land."

The United States has witnessed a steady occurrence of mass shootings across our nation, this past weekend in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio.The carnage following these acts of violence reminds us of Sandy Hook and Orlando, Sutherland Springs and Charlotte, Las Vegas and Parkland, Charleston and Pittsburgh, and on it goes.

Underneath the violence is a culture of white supremacy and a fear of immigrants (xenophobia). These are expressions of our sinful nature, and deny the image of God (Genesis 1) that is in every person. Christ died for all (2 Corinthians 5), and in this he loved us and gave himself up for us (Ephesians 5).

The majority of our membership in the U.S. is Anglo. If you are a white person reading this and you find it troubling—in my own self-examination and confession, I do, as I am under the same judgment—I urge you not to write me, but to contact a friend who is African-American or Latino/a and ask them, "What did you hear in these statements?" and "What do you perceive in these mass shootings?"

I write less to reinforce our very real political partisanship and more to say that we can have a better civil dialogue, and perhaps United Methodists who are Democrats and Republicans in the United States can contribute to this. We are in desperate need of leadership that does not pit us against each other. And we are in need of a dialogue that is deeply rooted in our discipleship in the way of our non-violent Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Go to this link to read the statement: http://neumc-email.brtapp.com/files/imagelibrary/e+news+photos/2019+aug+-+dec/bishopcarterletteraug6final.pdf

                                  Sunday Worship Service

Pastor will focus on pushing (pray until something happens) yourself to be ready for God’s work, Luke 12:35-40 with two parables; 1) Waiting Servants, 2) House Holder and Thief. Come and be filled with the Holy Spirit! Everyone is WELCOME!
 

                                      Upcoming Events

Churchwide Picnic at Richmond Pond: after worship service on Sunday, August 18, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Church Supper with our new cookbook: Saturday, September 7, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. All meals will be made from recipes in the cookbook.

Apple Squeeze 2019: Saturday and Sunday, September 21 and 22, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fall Tag Sale: October 17, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., October 18, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and October 19, 9 a.m. to noon.

The Holiday Craft Fair at UMCL: Saturday, November 23, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.