Who Do You Say I Am?
Mark 8:29 says, “And he asked them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Peter answered him, 'You are the Christ!'"
This dialogue with the disciples helps us get to the core of the matter. The question on Jesus’ mind was not who the people around the disciples thought he was. The real question Jesus was after was who the disciples thought he was. It is really the only question for us too. Who do you say that Jesus is?
As you consider that, let me share this quote from C.S. Lewis in his book, Mere Christianity: "I am trying there to prevent anyone from saying the really foolish thing that people often say about him: 'I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either Jesus was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill him as a demon, or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
It seems that in our day people want to take this part of Jesus, and that part of Jesus, but leave out the parts that they don’t like. It is almost as if Jesus is diced up and put on a buffet line. We pass through the buffet taking the parts we like and leaving the unpopular parts behind. We build our own particular Jesus to our taste and liking.
I think that is why Jesus kept reminding everyone to “Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.” A faithful life is not one or the other. We don’t get to choose. Loving God will naturally lead to loving others. We don’t need to resist the work of God in our lives, we need to embrace it.
If we will seek first the kingdom of God, we might find that what matters is not what we want, but what God wants in us.
Blessings,
|
|
|
First Sunday Chapel Communion
Join us this Sunday, September 4, in the Chapel at 8:30 a.m. for a 30-minute service that includes the sacrament of Holy Communion, a short meditation, music, and a time of prayer.
|
|
|
|
Second Fridays On The Commons
Second Fridays on The Commons featuring RUMC’s Pet Ministry is on Friday, September 9 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Bring your pets for a Blessing of the Animals, Doggie Chill Zone with pools and frozen treats, canine agility and nose scent demonstrations, crafts, and a pet food drive. (Bring unopened bags or cans of pet food.) Food will be available for purchase. Information: Toni Fagan, or 770.261.1767
|
|
|
|
Meals To-Go and
Wednesday Night Supper
The RUMC Hospitality Team is back with Hot Meals To-Go! Drive through each Tuesday and Thursday from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. outside of the Fellowship Hall, Chapel building. Supper will be served in the Fellowship Hall each Wednesday evening from 5-7 p.m. Information/menu: visit our website.
|
|
|
|
MUST Neighborhood Pantry
MUST Neighborhood Pantry: The next MUST Neighborhood Pantry on Mimosa will be Tuesday, September 6, due to the holiday weekend. My Neighbor’s Pantry is now partnering with MUST Ministries to offer food donations to our community each month. This change is great, but we still need your help! If you’re interested in shopping for, packaging, or loading food, contact Scotty Brewington.
|
|
|
|
RUMC Kids Music
Registration is now open for current 1st-5th graders! Beginning on Wednesday, September 7, RUMC Kids Music is offered every Wednesday night from 6-7 p.m. on the lower level of the Sanctuary building. For more information or to register, visit our website.
|
|
|
|
RUMCK Consignment Sale
RUMCK Children’s Consignment Sale is on Friday, September 9, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., and Saturday, September 10, 8 a.m.-noon. Come shop, consign, and volunteer at the only fundraising event for the school! Donations accepted. Information: Dawn Trygg, 770.261.1718
|
|
|
|
The Commons Project will provide an inviting outdoor setting to welcome community, encourage outreach, and expand capacity for worship and more. From a revamped outdoor space to a new building in phase two, this project will help meet the growing needs of Roswell UMC and the surrounding community. Visit our website for more information or to make a donation to the project.
|
|
|
RUMC Library
Please take a few minutes to locate any past due books/DVDs and drop them off at the book return carts located next to the computer desk in the Parlor, Chapel building. While you’re there, explore what’s new!
|
|
|
|
Chessie Pelfry Circle
The Chessie Pelfrey United Methodist Women Circle will meet on Monday, September 12, at 11 a.m. in the Parlor, Chapel building. All women are invited. Lunch reservations ($6) are required; contact Mary Hagerman, 770.993.9496
|
|
|
|
Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministry is a program that trains congregation members to provide Christ-centered care to those experiencing loss—divorce, job loss, health issues, faith issues, and more. If you can spare an hour per week, after receiving 50 hours of training, you can make a difference in someone’s life. Information: Toni Fagan, 770.261.1767
|
|
|
|
Family Promise
From September 18-25, Roswell UMC has the privilege of hosting families experiencing homelessness through Family Promise. From cooking meals to doing laundry and more, we need your help to make it a success. Volunteers interacting directly with guests must attend training in advance; training is on Wednesday, September 7, at 6:30 p.m. in the Trinity Café, Chapel building. To volunteer sign up here or for volunteer training sign up here.
|
|
|
|
Third Grade Bibles
Please email Bailey Farmer if you would like for your third grader to receive a Bible during the services on Sunday, September 11. They will gather that afternoon to have some fun and learn how to use their new Bibles.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
