A note From the Pastor

Fall is almost here, and the summer is almost gone. Things are starting to get busy again. School is starting and church meetings are starting to pick up again after the summer. Some things are not changing though; we are still under the cloud of Covid-19 and its variants. There are some places that are starting to require masks again. As far as these churches (First and Phelps Chapel) It is and will always be up to you and your doctor if you need to wear a mask in church. We will always request that if you feel sick, that you not come and share it with us. If you wear a mask or don’t wear a mask, it will not affect how welcome you are in worship or church events.

Having taken care of that topic, let’s look at what should be our focus for the upcoming fall and winter. Both churches have a problem that needs to be delt with, Children. I do not mean children are the problem, I mean we have them. We have not had to think about children in the numbers that we have them now in a while. And you thought all problems were bad. We need to have nurseries in both churches (what a wonderful problem to have). We need to have age- appropriate Sunday School classes for the children. (again a wonderful problem).

We need to think about the future, the next 5- 10 years. Where would you like to see this church in the next 5-10 years. Those of you who are thinking I might not be around in 10 years, you have put most of your life and a lot of effort into your church, so I do want to know what you think. Where do we want to be in 5-10 years and how do we get there from here? We are going in the right direction, we are growing and in this time that is a very unusual thing. How do we keep growing, do we want to grow? What does God have for us to be doing. We need to start looking seriously at these question.

We are God’s people, in the place where God has put us. What does God want us to do? Let’s talk about it, and then let’s do something about it

In Christ’s Service

Pastor Larry   

It has been a year for the history books. We will all remember where we were and what was going on in our lives this past year. Many of the things that we will remember about this last year, we will not look back on with positive feelings. The thing that I want us to remember about this past year is found in

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

So what good things have come out of this past year for you and your family? Focus on what God has shown you and taught you.

Here in the Churches of the Tiadaghton Charge, First and Phelps Chapel, we have many things to remember and rejoice in. We have three new babies in the last year, two to members of the churches and one to a new couple that has been coming. We have new families coming to both churches. And we have new members who have joined the church. These are all things that we would rejoice in, in a normal year, but in light of the last year these are things worth being excited about. We have begun an online presence that is reaching over 100 people per week for our worship services. We have begun a blog ministry that will be another way for us to reach people. We have learned ways to be more connected to one another, or at least been more intentional about being connected.

I do have to say though that I am ready to do many of the things that we have missed in the last year. Church dinners, picnics, festivals, and get togethers. Reaching out to the community in person and caring for them.

Now that I think about it, it has been a pretty good year for us here in the Tiadaghton Charge, because God has been in it and He has been with us, and He has called us according to His purpose. Let us go forward knowing that God has brought us through this, and He is leading. Let’s see where God is leading us. I’m excited. If God can bring us through a year like this last one, and we can look back and say it was good, then we know that good things in God lay ahead.

In Christ’s Service

Pastor Larry 

A Note from the Pastor

Spring is here. Spring is a time when we think about renewal and new growth. Easter is also coming very soon, and Easter is a time when we think about renewal and new growth. This last year has been a time when we have felt that we have stagnated and it was hard to have new growth. It just seemed to be a year of hardships. Spring reminds us that everything will grow again, and we will see the beauty of God’s creation once again. Easter also reminds us that the reign of sin over the earth is over.

Jesus died on the cross that we may forever be freed from the control of sin in our lives. Death should hold no fear for us as Christians, for death is not an end, but a new beginning. When Jesus was raised from the dead that first Easter morning, we too received the promise of resurrection.

The Corona virus seems to be slowing down and things are starting to get back to a more normal state, but things will never quite be the same in each of our churches. In a year that seemed so depressing and difficult God has given us joys. We have new children in both of the churches, and they are a blessing not only to their families but to the church families as well.

One of the greatest sounds in a church building is not the sound of the music or the singing, though they are wonderful. It is not the words of the sermon of the prayers no matter how good they may be. It is not the sound of the people as they fellowship with one another, though that is also wonderful. The greatest sound is the sounds of our children. The noises of the babies, and the moving around of the toddlers and the older children, this is the greatest sound in church. It is in these sounds that we are reminded that God is not through with us yet.

In Christ’s Service

Pastor Larry

A Note from the Pastor

We are coming to the beginning of the Lenten season. Lent throughout history has been a time of study and preparation. In the early church Lent was a time in which those who were wishing to join the church would go through a time of study and preparation. At the end of this time of preparation, on Easter Sunday, they would join the church. Lent was also a time when those who had fallen away from the church, and desired to come back into fellowship, were tested and prepared to come back into fellowship. Lent is a time of recommitting ourselves to our faith, a time of refocusing ourselves.

This year during the season of lent, I would like to focus on the gifts which God offers to us, through the Holy Spirit. It has been a year of much frustration and difficulty. We all know people who have struggled through the effects of the virus and the shutdown. I think know is the time to remind ourselves that, even in the midst of our struggles, we can know the hope and joy and comfort that God offers to us.

We will begin the season of Lent on Ash Wednesday Feb 17, at 7:00 PM at First Church. We will celebrate Holy Thursday with Communion on Thursday April 1 at Phelps Chapel at 7:00 PM, and Good Friday at First Church on April 2, at 7:00 PM.

This year for our Lenten Soup and Scripture, we will be looking at the Fruits of the Spirit. These can be found in Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 

We will begin our Soup and Scripture on Thursday Feb 25 at 6:30 PM at First Church in Wesley Hall. We will meet at Phelps Chapel for Soup and Scripture on March 4, and March 18. We will meet at First Church on March 11 and March 25.

May the season of Lent be a time of hope and renewal as we prepare for the coming of Easter.

In Christ’s Service

Pastor Larry