Sunday's scripture lesson

"The Apostle Paul" by Rembrandt

Romans 7:15-25a

"Does anyone not feel the depth of moral conflict Paul described in this passage? He didn't put it in modern pyscho-babble such as we might use; but he made it perfectly plain how intense the conscious struggle of the will becomes when we face temptation, or unconsciously when we just want our own way. He made equally plain the only true resource for freedom from the guilt of our failure to resist temptation - the grace of forgiveness through Jesus Christ." - David Sherman, from Midrash

Happy belated birthday, John Wesley!

John Wesley was born on June 17, 1703 (the same year as Jonathan Edwards) in Epworth, Lincolnshire (England).

Here is a birthday blog entry from a Baptist pastor in Minnesota that speaks volumes about this man whose teachings we follow in the name of Jesus.

July e-newsletter is available

The July e-newsletter is now available on the website at this link.

Joys and Concerns from June 26

Joys: The RAIN we had last week; the delicious breakfast potluck we had; laughter in church; confirmation that Bradley W. is home in Hawaii after being in Iraq for the past year; Burton L. and Lois Ann M. are feeling much better!

Concerns: We still need rain; the firefighters dealing with the on-going wildfires; Prayers for the families of Russell Morris and Al Alexander. Prayer for the healing of Edd C., Lawrence S., Maxine H., Sheila H., Kathy P., and Colton (Ronnie W.'s grandson).

Breakfast potluck!

Our monthly (fourth Sunday) breakfast potluck took place this morning and it was a most satisfying time to be sure! We are blessed each month to share food and fellowship. Our next fellowship breakfast will be July 24th.

Pastor Charles began the season after Pentecost during our worship service with the first in a series of sermon based on three of Paul's epistles: Romans, Philippians, and I Thessalonians. This promises to be a rich time of wading in the stream of God's Word!

Prayer for Sunday, June 26

Collect of the Day

Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Breakfast tomorrow!

Remember to come for the monthly breakfast potluck tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. This is a great time to share with friends and neighbors the fellowship that makes First UMC - Iraan so much fun!

Today at the Convalescent Center

Pastor Charles joined other community volunteers at the McCamey Convalescent Center this morning for the weekly fellowship time. Each Thursday morning at 10:00 a.m. the residents are joined by visitors in sharing coffee, donuts, and the weekly newspaper.

Both the McCamey and Iraan UMC's are connected to this activity through the volunteers, Pastor Charles and the Convalescent Center residents who once lived in those communities.

Church Blog Has 7,500 Hits Now!

Wow: 7,500 Hits on this Church Blog!

Thanks be to God!!!

This week's sermon passage

On Sunday, June 26th, we'll begin a series of sermons using the epistle lessons from the Revised Common Lectionary. These lessons come to us from the letter of Paul to the Romans. The first of these passage is Romans 6:12-23.

"Having settled the question how faith in the grace of Jesus Christ overcomes our sin, Paul now turns to the moral implications of that victory. he thinks of sin no longer "exercising dominion" over us. So the issue really become, "Who is our Lord and Master over our lives and what does that mean for the way we live?" Paul drew an analogy with slavery, an institution very common in the 1st century and most probably within the Christian community in Rome itself."

(Rev. John Sherman on the Midrash discussion group)

What do you think?

Joys & Concerns Expressed in June 19th Worship Service

Joys

*Prayers for healing for: Helen R., Sheila H., and Burton L.

*Cheryl is visiting her folks, Lee & Dottie; they report she's a great cook!

*A great response from last week's VBS (in co-operation with First Baptist Church)

*Jess G. made some really great muffins for yesterday's fellowship time.

*Fellowship breakfast next week.

*Bradley W. is back in Hawaii after being in Iraq.

*Humingbirds at the parsonage (and many other birds)

Concerns:

*Prayers for the families of Kade Kothman, Al Alexander, D. McAnally. Also for the *Rodriguez family, several family members were killed in a traffic accident.

*Healing prayers for Tommy B. and Lois Ann M.

Church Today!

What a beautiful day to be in God's house today! The fellowship time was great, and it included homemade banana muffins made by Jess G.! The "G. Boys," Ayden and Logan enjoyed the fun frisbees from the church's annual conference. And thanks to Brian G. and Pastor Charles, we all learned more about the triune God! Praise be to God for a lovely day in church!

Trinity Sunday/Father's Day

Today is Trinity Sunday, the day set apart to celebrate the belief in God revealed to us. When we call upon the name of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, we are seeking the unity of our awesome God! We remember this uniquely Christian belife in the Athanasian Creed.

A prayer for Trinity Sunday

Father, You sent Your Word to bring us truth and You Spirit to make us holy. Through them we come to know the mystery of Your life. Help us to worship You, one God in three persons, You reveal Yourself in the depths of our being, by proclaiming and liveing our faith in You. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

Here is a prayer for Father's Day

(The picture is of the dome of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Salzburg, Austria. Painted by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, begun in 1694).

VBS in Iraan

Vacation Bible School (VBS) is running this week in Iraan at the First UMC and First Baptist Church.

This year's theme, "Big Apple Adventure: Connecting faith and life" is a lot of fun! The worship takes place @ the Manhatten skyline; the Bible study @ Battery Park; Crafts @ the Metropolitan Museum of Art; Recreation @ Madison Square Gardens; Snacks @ Coney Island (the UMC fellowship hall); Music @ Carnegie Hall.

The children are grouped by grades: Pre-K "The Manhatten Munchkins" - Kindergarten "The Brooklyn Bunch" - Grades 1 & 2 "The Time Square Travellers" - Grades 3 & 4 "The Broadway Stars" - Grades 5-6 "The Staten Island Sightseers."

Joys & Concerns from June 12

Joys:

*Had some RAIN last week!
*Next week's VBS in Iraan is a joint effort by the First Baptist Church and the First UMC.
*Aiden G.'s service as usher.
*Bradley W. is due to return from Iraq in five days!
*Edd & Wanda Carpenter's oldest son visited last week.
*Good annual conference session in Corpus Christi last week.
*Pastor Charles' reappointment to the FUMC in Iraan (and McCamey).

Concerns:

*More rain is needed.
*Prayers for the family & friends of Al Alexander.
*Healing prayers for Edd & Wanda's son who is having surgery soon; Lois Ann M., Billie Lou (Lois Ann's aunt), Doug S. (dealing with serious health issues).
*In the next ten years, 25% - 30% of active elders will retire in the SWTX Conference.

Having a great Sunday in west Texas!

We returned to our typically busy Sunday routine after the trip to Corpus Christi. Belinda had made cakes for each church to help celebrate the birthday of the church - they were yummy!

Happy birthday, Church!

We were blessed on Pentecost Sunday in Iraan with children, fellowship with treats made by Wanda Carpenter, a birthday cake for the church (made by Belinda), and much more!

A Prayer to the Holy Spirit

(Pentecost window, Canterbry Cathedral)

O God of the Holy Ghost Who art light unto Thine elect, Evermore enlighten us.
Thou Who art fire of love, Evermore enkindle us.
Thou Who art Lord and Giver of Life, Evermore live in us.
Thou Who bestowest sevenfold grace, Evermore replenish us.
As the wind is Thy symbol, so forward our goings.
As the dove, so launch us heavenwards.
As water, so purify our spirits.
As a cloud, so abate our temptations.
As dew, so revive our languor.
As fire, so purge our dross.

Christina Rossetti (1830 - 1894)

Annual Conference, Day 4

The Annual Conference session concluded this afternoon with the "fixing of appointments" for clergy. Pastor Charles has been re-appointed to First UMC in Iraan and McCamey for another year.

A treat this morning was meeting Tricia Schneider, daughter-in-law of Pat & Lawrence Schneider. Tricia is the lay member to annual conference from her home church.

Annual Conference, Day 3

From the beginning of today's activities to the end, there was something happening! Belinda began the day by attending a brunch for the spouses of clergy. The main business of the day was the conclusion of the election of delegates to General and Jurisdictional Conference.

The day ended with the best part of every Annual Conference, the Ordination Service. Pastor Charles & Belinda took part as ushers along with others from the San Angelo District.

Annual Conference, Day 2

Day two of the 2011 Annual Conference session took place today in Corpus Christi. The main order of business was the election of clergy and lay delegates to next year's General Conference in Tampa, Florida. We also heard lots of reports, approved the budget for next year and heard from clergy who are retiring this year.