Today in Iraan

We are blessed to have such a welcoming place to gather each week for fellowship, for learning, and for worship. As the congregation gathers in the sanctuary each there is a genuine feeling of being part of a community of faith. We are growing in the faith each week and visitors are expected every time we come together!

Scripture Lesson for Sunday, January 31

(fresco of the Prophet Jeremiah, circa 1120)

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Jeremiah 1:4-10 (KJV)

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: “ Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” Then said I: “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” But the LORD said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,” says the LORD. Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant.”

Passing of Dorothy Young

Dorothy Young, 88, a long-time member of the First UMC in Iraan, passed away this morning at the McCamey Convalescent Center with family at her side. The funeral service will be Wednesday, February 3rd at 2:00 pm at the First UMC in Iraan.

Pastor Charles Organizing!

What a busy day Pastor Charles had at the Iraan United Methodist Church yesterday! He put his organizing skills to work and cleared out the children's education center.

Monday in Iraan

The Iraan Senior Center was the place to be for lunch today. Dottie and Lee Mann took Pastor Charles and Belinda to the center for the midday meal, which was a real treat. We enjoyed seeing several other First UMC members and being introduced to some of the other Iraan residents.

Thanks also goes to Ronnie for spending time at the church this afternoon, taking care of the leaves that had collected around the church.

We are blessed to have such hard-working folk at the church!

Sunday in Iraan

It is a blessing to be in the house of God each week. Today was another example of the joy that comes when God's people come together! Our worship focused on the reading from Luke 4:14-30. We returned to the community energized to rethink church. Instead of church being a noun, it is time to think of it as a verb!

Prayer for Sunday, January 24

O Lord:
In a world where many are lonely, we thank You for our friendships.
In a world where many are captive, we thank You for our freedom.
In a world where many are hungry, we thank You for Your provision.
We pray that You will: enlarge our sympathy, deepen our compassion, and give us grateful hearts.

In Christ’s Name.

The Rev. Terry Waite, Prayers Encircling the World, SPCK, London, 1998, p.87