Good morning,
Praise the Lord for this last Friday of October. Please join us those of you live in the area for our Friday Evening TV outreach at 7 PM on Time Warner Cable Channel 4. Plan to be in the Lord's House this coming Sunday whereever you might be. It is a great blessing to come before the Lord in praise and prayer. "Better is one day in His House than a thousand elsewhere."
We will gather for our Saturday Evening Worship at the First United Methodist Church in Endicott this Saturday at 6 PM for coffee and Fellowship and for Worship at 6.30PM Jeff Vansyckle will be preaching. Jeff is a professor at Broome Community College. His wife Elizabeth is the Dean of Students at the Binghamton University. They both love Jesus. Our daughter Laureen will be leading the music. Sunday we will gather for worship at 8:30 and 11:00 at the Union Center UMC and at 9:30 at Wesley UMC.
Here in Union Center we love to eat lots meals together. We greet each other saying, "God be with you till we eat again". Our Lord Jesus talked about banquets. He ate common meals and special meals with His friends. Jesus told a story of a banquet in Luke 14, in which the attendance was refused. Large dinners were important social networking events of the day, and it was an honor to be invited. Like the enthusiastic guest of verse 15, we can hardly imagine anyone refusing to attend, yet some did. The invitations went out, and the host anticipated a positive response. In the parable the host represents God and the invitation is for the glories of Heaven. It was customary in Bible times to send out two invitations: an initial request, then a final summons when everything was made ready and it was time to gather. In that way the guests had plenty of notice and ample time to make arrangements.
The invitees offered feeble excuses to defend their abrupt change of plans. They had initially agreed and were expected to come…but then they backed down. This was a serious breach of etiquette. Had they been honest, they would have admitted they really had no intention to come. There’s nothing wrong with fields, oxen, or getting married, but there are no grounds for missing God’s banquet. Let’s briefly take the excuses, one at a time…
One invitee has purchased a field, which was a long and complicated process. The man would have had several opportunities to examine the property. No one would buy property without first carefully inspecting it. He did not need to “see” it at this time because he had already examined it. His field wasn’t going anywhere, so this was a lame excuse.
Buying livestock was far from an urgent matter; people bought animals all the time, and no one would have ever purchased a team of oxen without first “testing” them carefully to be sure they pulled together.
As for the man who was recently wed, getting married did not exempt people from social obligations. He did not even ask to be excused. Instead, he rudely told the host not to expect him. Some invitations nowadays read “regrets only.” This man did not even have the courtesy to “regretfully” decline.
People offer many excuses for rejecting what God has to offer, and God sees through them every one of them. People are too occupied with their lives to have God be part of their plans. They don’t see their need for God; they are not willing to commit to faith; they find the invitation inconvenient; perhaps they think the party won’t be fun. Yet, no excuse is valid when God calls us.
There’s more to it than the question of rejecting hospitality. This parable is also about the honor of God. We dishonor Him by choosing to refuse His mercy. God offers Heaven itself and people refuse it; for them Heaven would be Hell (or so they think). They make a free decision to remain alienated from God.
C.S. Lewis described the doors of Hell as locked on the inside. We make Hell for ourselves when we refuse Heaven and God and joy (Peter Kreeft).
The host was outraged over the lame rejections of the expected guests, but he turned his anger to grace. He refused to let the food go to waste, so he chose an unexpected option, telling his servant to invite the outcasts -- not the “beautiful people” but the so-called “unwashed masses” who offer no excuses (the kind of people Jesus was known to eat with). Matters such as real estate and livestock didn’t impede them, and many couldn’t afford to be married. They were told, “come on in; the food’s on the table!” They were welcomed to the Host’s hospitality.
This meal is not for the full, but the hungry. If we are full of the world, we will have no appetite for Heaven.
These outcasts regarded themselves as unworthy; they had to be reassured to attend the banquet. The host said, “Compel them to come in”. In the same way, we share the Gospel message with a great sense of urgency, eager to have people come join the party! We are servants of the Host and our mandate is to go and invite people to come to His table, and to let them know that they are most welcome. “The greatest favor we can do for any human being is to introduce them to Jesus Christ” (Paul Little).
What became of the original guest list? Those who snubbed the host would not get even a taste of the meal. The door was shut and the invitation withdrawn for those who refused to come. One commentator gets to the point of the host’s withdrawal, “They don’t know what they’re missing but it serves them right that they’re missing it!” None are excluded except those who exclude themselves. Who will miss out? Those who reject the invitation. We should let nothing stand in the way of accepting Christ’s invitation.
Jesus suggested to his fellow dinner-guest that they enjoying this fine meal because of the simple acceptance of the gracious host’s invitation. We need to accept God’s all-inclusive invitation to His table. Scripture warns, “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Psalm 95:7-8). There’s a peril in rejecting God. If we think we can live without God, we are indeed on our own, but without excuse. The offer has been given…dinner is served.
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kX8xlW04jQ
Come Away With Me (A Time of Refreshing, Renewal & Meeting with Jesus)
When was the last time you were STILL enough to actually encounter Jesus?
No matter where you are on your Journey (Curious about Jesus or Been Walking w/Him for Yrs), This Weekend – He wants to Encounter YOU!
Once You Encounter Jesus – You Will Never Be The SAME!!
In Zechariah 4:6 it is written, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." As we approach the end of the year, the Lord has placed before us many open doors - for worship, for ministry, and for service. We have been blessed to have many prayer warriors in the life of the church, who are faithfully and joyfully engaged in lives of fervent prayer.
Sunita and Andy's church in Washington, DC goes on retreat together twice a year. Sunita always returns from these events blessed, refreshed, and inspired. We attempted to have our church's prayer retreat at Sky Lake, but scheduling conflicts prohibited it, so we are planning to have our upcoming prayer retreat at our own church here in Union Center. We invite all of you to come and be a part of this event. Keep praying for the Lord to refresh our hearts and renew our minds.
Praise the Lord for each one who has offered his or her time, talents, and treasures to make the upcoming prayer weekend possible. The schedule follows:
Friday, November 5 - 6 PM Supper, with Indian and Italian dishes. A love offering will be received.
6:30 PM The Prayer Conference convenes.
Saturday, November 6, 8:30 AM breakfast, prepared by Kathy Dence and team. A love offering will be received.
9:00 AM - 13 noon The Prayer Conference continues.
5 PM Thanksgiving Banquet, held at First United Methodist Church on McKinley Avenue. The menu includes homemade pies, rolls, turkey, and the trimmings. Lou Pasquale is the head chef, together with Rodney Haines as his sous chef. Sign-up sheets for the banquet are located in the Narthex, or reservations can be confirmed by calling the church office at 748-6329.
6:30 PM Worship service in the sanctuary at First UMC, Endicott. Music will be provided by Aric Phinney and the team. The speaker will be Kelly Johnson.
Sunday morning worship services will be at UCUMC at 8:30 and 11:00 AM, with Sunday School at 9:50 AM. Kelly Johnson will be speaking to a combined Adult Sunday School at that time. Worship service will be held at Wesley UMC at 9:30 AM.
12:30 PM There will be a meal immediately following the 11:00 AM service. Chefs for the meal are Jeremy and Matt Smith. The menu includes Carribean pork, braised chicken, candied sweet potatoes, salad, green beans, and rolls.
Saturday Evening Worship Service:October 30, 2010
Music by Laureen Naik and team
Preacher: Jeff Vansyckle
November 6, 2010 - ( Saturday) There will be a Thanksgiving banquet. At 5 PM a traditional Thanksgiving menu will be served, including home made rolls and pies. Chef: Lou Pasquale and team. (Reservations: Call the Church office (607)-748-6329 or email at umcgospel@aol.com
The banquet will be followed by 6:30 PM Worship
Music: Aric Phinney and the team
Speaker: Kelly Johnson from Nashville, TN.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Brown's Daily Word 10-28-10
Good morning,
Praise the Lord. It has been warm and bright. The Lord blessed us last night during our mid-week gathering for Fellowship and Bible Study. Praise the Lord for His realness and for His nearness. It is going to be another brilliant day in the Lord in His Kingdom.
Paul, who was redeemed, restored, and healed, was a man of gratitude. As he wrote to various churches he thanked the Lord for them. “I thank my God for all of you.” (Romans 1:8) To the church in Corinth, “I always thank God for you (1 Corinthians 1:4). To the church in Ephesus he wrote, “I have not stopped giving thanks for you; remembering you in my prayers.” (Ephesians 1:16). To the church in Philippi, “I thank my God every time I remember you.” (Philippians 1:3). To the church in Colossi, “I always thank God when I pray for you.” (Colossians 1:3).
Harriet Martineau was an atheist. One morning she & a Christian friend stepped out into the glories of a beautiful fall morning. As Harriet saw the brilliant sun peaking through the haze, the frost on the meadow, and the brightly colored leaves making their way lazily to the ground, she was filled with the beauty, and she burst forth with "I am so thankful. I’m just so grateful for it all." Her believing friend then asked, "Grateful to whom, my dear?"
There is something inside of each of us that needs to give thanks to God. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” It is God’s plan, his will, for us to give thanks to him. He made us for that.
Dr. Dale Robbins has written, “I used to think people complained because they had a lot of problems. But I have come to realize that they have problems because they complain. Complaining doesn’t change anything or make situations better. It amplifies frustration, spreads discontent and discord, and can invoke an invitation for the devil to cause havoc with our lives.” Complaining makes us miserable. Psalm 77:3 says, “I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed.”
Complaining is the archenemy of thanksgiving. The two cannot co-exist in the same heart. The challenge is to try to quit complaining for a whole month. When we feel tempted to complain, instead of filing our complaint, it is far better to file a praise. It is life-changing. Philippians 2:13 says, “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.”
The words of Ephesians 5:19 say, “Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything.” Always is the key word. Gratitude is not reserved just for Thanksgiving. We are to live with an attitude of gratitude every day.
In Daniel 6 we read that Daniel got down on his knees three times every day and prayed and gave thanks to his God. “When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, when you are discouraged thinking all is lost. Count your many blessing, name them one by one. And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” Thanksgiving is a daily discipline.
I read recently that if you own one Bible, you are abundantly blessed, because a third of the people in the world do not have access to a Bible. If you awoke this morning with more health than illness you are more blessed than 1 million people who will not survive the week. If you have never experienced the danger of war, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation you are more fortunate than 500 million people on earth. If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, twenty dollars in your pocket and a place to sleep you are richer than 75 percent of the world. O, God forgive me when I whine.
I found a list of questions you can ask to test whether you are a grateful person or not?
#1 Which do you tend to talk about more – your blessings, or your disappointments?
#2 Are you a complainer, always grumbling, always finding fault with your circumstances?
#3 Are you content with what you have, or always dissatisfied and wanting more?
#4 Do you find it easier to count your blessings, or is it easier to count your afflictions?
#5 Do you express thanks to others when they help you, or do you just take it as your due?
#6 Would others say that you are a thankful person?
Lois Stahling is one of the most thankful person I know about. Lois goes to church. When Lois was in the prime of her life she had a stroke and has been confined to a wheel chair since that time. She is still mentally alert but she cannot walk or do a lot of other normal activities. She lives in a convalescent home and the only time she really gets out is once a week to go to church. The highlight of her week is Sunday morning when someone comes from church to pick her up. Lois Stahling counts her blessings every day.
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBpv-ZzcQD8
Come Away With Me (A Time of Refreshing, Renewal & Meeting with Jesus)
When was the last time you were STILL enough to actually encounter Jesus?
No matter where you are on your Journey (Curious about Jesus or Been Walking w/Him for Yrs), This Weekend – He wants to Encounter YOU!
Once You Encounter Jesus – You Will Never Be The SAME!!
In Zechariah 4:6 it is written, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." As we approach the end of the year, the Lord has placed before us many open doors - for worship, for ministry, and for service. We have been blessed to have many prayer warriors in the life of the church, who are faithfully and joyfully engaged in lives of fervent prayer.
Sunita and Andy's church in Washington, DC goes on retreat together twice a year. Sunita always returns from these events blessed, refreshed, and inspired. We attempted to have our church's prayer retreat at Sky Lake, but scheduling conflicts prohibited it, so we are planning to have our upcoming prayer retreat at our own church here in Union Center. We invite all of you to come and be a part of this event. Keep praying for the Lord to refresh our hearts and renew our minds.
Praise the Lord for each one who has offered his or her time, talents, and treasures to make the upcoming prayer weekend possible. The schedule follows:
Friday, November 5 - 6 PM Supper, with Indian and Italian dishes. A love offering will be received.
6:30 PM The Prayer Conference convenes.
Saturday, November 6, 8:30 AM breakfast, prepared by Kathy Dence and team. A love offering will be received.
9:00 AM - 13 noon The Prayer Conference continues.
5 PM Thanksgiving Banquet, held at First United Methodist Church on McKinley Avenue. The menu includes homemade pies, rolls, turkey, and the trimmings. Lou Pasquale is the head chef, together with Rodney Haines as his sous chef. Sign-up sheets for the banquet are located in the Narthex, or reservations can be confirmed by calling the church office at 748-6329.
6:30 PM Worship service in the sanctuary at First UMC, Endicott. Music will be provided by Aric Phinney and the team. The speaker will be Kelly Johnson.
Sunday morning worship services will be at UCUMC at 8:30 and 11:00 AM, with Sunday School at 9:50 AM. Kelly Johnson will be speaking to a combined Adult Sunday School at that time. Worship service will be held at Wesley UMC at 9:30 AM.
12:30 PM There will be a meal immediately following the 11:00 AM service. Chefs for the meal are Jeremy and Matt Smith. The menu includes Carribean pork, braised chicken, candied sweet potatoes, salad, green beans, and rolls.
Saturday Evening Worship Service:October 30, 2010
Music by Laureen Naik and team
Preacher: Jeff Vansyckle
November 6, 2010 - ( Saturday) There will be a Thanksgiving banquet. At 5 PM a traditional Thanksgiving menu will be served, including home made rolls and pies. Chef: Lou Pasquale and team. (Reservations: Call the Church office (607)-748-6329 or email at umcgospel@aol.com
The banquet will be followed by 6:30 PM Worship
Music: Aric Phinney and the team
Speaker: Kelly Johnson from Nashville, TN.
Praise the Lord. It has been warm and bright. The Lord blessed us last night during our mid-week gathering for Fellowship and Bible Study. Praise the Lord for His realness and for His nearness. It is going to be another brilliant day in the Lord in His Kingdom.
Paul, who was redeemed, restored, and healed, was a man of gratitude. As he wrote to various churches he thanked the Lord for them. “I thank my God for all of you.” (Romans 1:8) To the church in Corinth, “I always thank God for you (1 Corinthians 1:4). To the church in Ephesus he wrote, “I have not stopped giving thanks for you; remembering you in my prayers.” (Ephesians 1:16). To the church in Philippi, “I thank my God every time I remember you.” (Philippians 1:3). To the church in Colossi, “I always thank God when I pray for you.” (Colossians 1:3).
Harriet Martineau was an atheist. One morning she & a Christian friend stepped out into the glories of a beautiful fall morning. As Harriet saw the brilliant sun peaking through the haze, the frost on the meadow, and the brightly colored leaves making their way lazily to the ground, she was filled with the beauty, and she burst forth with "I am so thankful. I’m just so grateful for it all." Her believing friend then asked, "Grateful to whom, my dear?"
There is something inside of each of us that needs to give thanks to God. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” It is God’s plan, his will, for us to give thanks to him. He made us for that.
Dr. Dale Robbins has written, “I used to think people complained because they had a lot of problems. But I have come to realize that they have problems because they complain. Complaining doesn’t change anything or make situations better. It amplifies frustration, spreads discontent and discord, and can invoke an invitation for the devil to cause havoc with our lives.” Complaining makes us miserable. Psalm 77:3 says, “I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed.”
Complaining is the archenemy of thanksgiving. The two cannot co-exist in the same heart. The challenge is to try to quit complaining for a whole month. When we feel tempted to complain, instead of filing our complaint, it is far better to file a praise. It is life-changing. Philippians 2:13 says, “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.”
The words of Ephesians 5:19 say, “Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything.” Always is the key word. Gratitude is not reserved just for Thanksgiving. We are to live with an attitude of gratitude every day.
In Daniel 6 we read that Daniel got down on his knees three times every day and prayed and gave thanks to his God. “When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, when you are discouraged thinking all is lost. Count your many blessing, name them one by one. And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” Thanksgiving is a daily discipline.
I read recently that if you own one Bible, you are abundantly blessed, because a third of the people in the world do not have access to a Bible. If you awoke this morning with more health than illness you are more blessed than 1 million people who will not survive the week. If you have never experienced the danger of war, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation you are more fortunate than 500 million people on earth. If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, twenty dollars in your pocket and a place to sleep you are richer than 75 percent of the world. O, God forgive me when I whine.
I found a list of questions you can ask to test whether you are a grateful person or not?
#1 Which do you tend to talk about more – your blessings, or your disappointments?
#2 Are you a complainer, always grumbling, always finding fault with your circumstances?
#3 Are you content with what you have, or always dissatisfied and wanting more?
#4 Do you find it easier to count your blessings, or is it easier to count your afflictions?
#5 Do you express thanks to others when they help you, or do you just take it as your due?
#6 Would others say that you are a thankful person?
Lois Stahling is one of the most thankful person I know about. Lois goes to church. When Lois was in the prime of her life she had a stroke and has been confined to a wheel chair since that time. She is still mentally alert but she cannot walk or do a lot of other normal activities. She lives in a convalescent home and the only time she really gets out is once a week to go to church. The highlight of her week is Sunday morning when someone comes from church to pick her up. Lois Stahling counts her blessings every day.
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBpv-ZzcQD8
Come Away With Me (A Time of Refreshing, Renewal & Meeting with Jesus)
When was the last time you were STILL enough to actually encounter Jesus?
No matter where you are on your Journey (Curious about Jesus or Been Walking w/Him for Yrs), This Weekend – He wants to Encounter YOU!
Once You Encounter Jesus – You Will Never Be The SAME!!
In Zechariah 4:6 it is written, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." As we approach the end of the year, the Lord has placed before us many open doors - for worship, for ministry, and for service. We have been blessed to have many prayer warriors in the life of the church, who are faithfully and joyfully engaged in lives of fervent prayer.
Sunita and Andy's church in Washington, DC goes on retreat together twice a year. Sunita always returns from these events blessed, refreshed, and inspired. We attempted to have our church's prayer retreat at Sky Lake, but scheduling conflicts prohibited it, so we are planning to have our upcoming prayer retreat at our own church here in Union Center. We invite all of you to come and be a part of this event. Keep praying for the Lord to refresh our hearts and renew our minds.
Praise the Lord for each one who has offered his or her time, talents, and treasures to make the upcoming prayer weekend possible. The schedule follows:
Friday, November 5 - 6 PM Supper, with Indian and Italian dishes. A love offering will be received.
6:30 PM The Prayer Conference convenes.
Saturday, November 6, 8:30 AM breakfast, prepared by Kathy Dence and team. A love offering will be received.
9:00 AM - 13 noon The Prayer Conference continues.
5 PM Thanksgiving Banquet, held at First United Methodist Church on McKinley Avenue. The menu includes homemade pies, rolls, turkey, and the trimmings. Lou Pasquale is the head chef, together with Rodney Haines as his sous chef. Sign-up sheets for the banquet are located in the Narthex, or reservations can be confirmed by calling the church office at 748-6329.
6:30 PM Worship service in the sanctuary at First UMC, Endicott. Music will be provided by Aric Phinney and the team. The speaker will be Kelly Johnson.
Sunday morning worship services will be at UCUMC at 8:30 and 11:00 AM, with Sunday School at 9:50 AM. Kelly Johnson will be speaking to a combined Adult Sunday School at that time. Worship service will be held at Wesley UMC at 9:30 AM.
12:30 PM There will be a meal immediately following the 11:00 AM service. Chefs for the meal are Jeremy and Matt Smith. The menu includes Carribean pork, braised chicken, candied sweet potatoes, salad, green beans, and rolls.
Saturday Evening Worship Service:October 30, 2010
Music by Laureen Naik and team
Preacher: Jeff Vansyckle
November 6, 2010 - ( Saturday) There will be a Thanksgiving banquet. At 5 PM a traditional Thanksgiving menu will be served, including home made rolls and pies. Chef: Lou Pasquale and team. (Reservations: Call the Church office (607)-748-6329 or email at umcgospel@aol.com
The banquet will be followed by 6:30 PM Worship
Music: Aric Phinney and the team
Speaker: Kelly Johnson from Nashville, TN.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Brown's Daily Word 10-27-10
Good morning,
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. We will gather this evening for our mid-week fellowship, Bible Study, and Choir practice. I am looking at Psalm 117 this morning.
"Good things come in small packages," according to the old adage, and often this is true. It is most certainly the case with Psalm 117. By far it is the shortest poem in the Book of Psalms - the original Hebrew has all of sixteen words - The first two and last two Hebrew words of Psalm 117 constitute that familiar phrase that is sprinkled throughout the Book of Psalms: hallelu yah. We transliterate this phrase into the English word "hallelujah," now known the world-over because of Mr. Handel's famous chorus. In secular circles, and maybe in also the way we ourselves use the word, "hallelujah" is a way to express joy. In Hebrew this is actually in the imperative mood. Hallelu is a command meaning "Praise!" The two Hebrew words used in verse 2 are among the richest and loveliest in the Old Testament: they are often yoked together: chesed and emet. The translation here of "love" is pretty weak. Because chesed may well be the Old Testament's equivalent of what in the New Testament will be called "grace." God's chesed is very nearly the number one reason the psalmists list again and again for praising God.
Chesed is God's lovingkindness, his abiding love, his core tendency to stick with his people even when they don't stick with him; to forgive sin even when such a divine pardon is by no means warranted. Chesed is what sent Jesus our Lord to this world, and once the Son of God arrived here in our own flesh and blood, chesed is the grace and goodness that radiated so brilliantly from Jesus' every pore that it attracted sinners, prostitutes, lepers, and tax collectors the way a bright porch light draws in moths on a summer night. The grace of Jesus let people know there was forgiveness available no matter how greasy they'd lived up until the moment they met the Savior. If ever there were a one-word answer to the question of why God sent his only begotten Son to die on a cross, that answer would be chesed.
"The Word was made flesh and dwelled among us." . . full of grace and truth." That line is almost a throwback to Psalm 117 because the other word in verse 2, translated as "faithfulness," is the word emet, and though it can mean "faithfulness," it is also translated as "truth" and is the source of our English word "amen." The "grace and truth" of the incarnate Son of God as John proclaims him is very nearly identical with the chesed wai emet that Psalm 117 chalks up as reasons #1 and #2 for making the praise of God our proper human task and vocation every moment of every day.
We are fixed in the loving stare of a God who has something more than just our best interests at heart. We draw our every breath and live out our every day under the gaze and care of a God whose grace and truth, whose abiding desire to save us and stick with us forever, ensures that we have a very bright future. Psalm 117 summons us to worship God and to invite others to join the glory song, but our words and our lives need to be consistent with the God of all grace who is the target of all true praise.
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usfiAsWR4qU
Come Away With Me (A Time of Refreshing, Renewal & Meeting with Jesus)
When was the last time you were STILL enough to actually encounter Jesus?
No matter where you are on your Journey (Curious about Jesus or Been Walking w/Him for Yrs), This Weekend – He wants to Encounter YOU!
Once You Encounter Jesus – You Will Never Be The SAME!!
In Zechariah 4:6 it is written, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." As we approach the end of the year, the Lord has placed before us many open doors - for worship, for ministry, and for service. We have been blessed to have many prayer warriors in the life of the church, who are faithfully and joyfully engaged in lives of fervent prayer.
Sunita and Andy's church in Washington, DC goes on retreat together twice a year. Sunita always returns from these events blessed, refreshed, and inspired. We attempted to have our church's prayer retreat at Sky Lake, but scheduling conflicts prohibited it, so we are planning to have our upcoming prayer retreat at our own church here in Union Center. We invite all of you to come and be a part of this event. Keep praying for the Lord to refresh our hearts and renew our minds.
Praise the Lord for each one who has offered his or her time, talents, and treasures to make the upcoming prayer weekend possible. The schedule follows:
Friday, November 5 - 6 PM Supper, with Indian and Italian dishes. A love offering will be received.
6:30 PM The Prayer Conference convenes.
Saturday, November 6, 8:30 AM breakfast, prepared by Kathy Dence and team. A love offering will be received.
9:00 AM - 13 noon The Prayer Conference continues.
5 PM Thanksgiving Banquet, held at First United Methodist Church on McKinley Avenue. The menu includes homemade pies, rolls, turkey, and the trimmings. Lou Pasquale is the head chef, together with Rodney Haines as his sous chef. Sign-up sheets for the banquet are located in the Narthex, or reservations can be confirmed by calling the church office at 748-6329.
6:30 PM Worship service in the sanctuary at First UMC, Endicott. Music will be provided by Aric Phinney and the team. The speaker will be Kelly Johnson.
Sunday morning worship services will be at UCUMC at 8:30 and 11:00 AM, with Sunday School at 9:50 AM. Kelly Johnson will be speaking to a combined Adult Sunday School at that time. Worship service will be held at Wesley UMC at 9:30 AM.
12:30 PM There will be a meal immediately following the 11:00 AM service. Chefs for the meal are Jeremy and Matt Smith. The menu includes Carribean pork, braised chicken, candied sweet potatoes, salad, green beans, and rolls.
Saturday Evening Worship Service:October 30, 2010
Music by Laureen Naik and team
Preacher: Jeff Vansyckle
November 6, 2010 - ( Saturday) There will be a Thanksgiving banquet. At 5 PM a traditional Thanksgiving menu will be served, including home made rolls and pies. Chef: Lou Pasquale and team. (Reservations: Call the Church office (607)-748-6329 or email at umcgospel@aol.com
The banquet will be followed by 6:30 PM Worship
Music: Aric Phinney and the team
Speaker: Kelly Johnson from Nashville, TN.
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. We will gather this evening for our mid-week fellowship, Bible Study, and Choir practice. I am looking at Psalm 117 this morning.
"Good things come in small packages," according to the old adage, and often this is true. It is most certainly the case with Psalm 117. By far it is the shortest poem in the Book of Psalms - the original Hebrew has all of sixteen words - The first two and last two Hebrew words of Psalm 117 constitute that familiar phrase that is sprinkled throughout the Book of Psalms: hallelu yah. We transliterate this phrase into the English word "hallelujah," now known the world-over because of Mr. Handel's famous chorus. In secular circles, and maybe in also the way we ourselves use the word, "hallelujah" is a way to express joy. In Hebrew this is actually in the imperative mood. Hallelu is a command meaning "Praise!" The two Hebrew words used in verse 2 are among the richest and loveliest in the Old Testament: they are often yoked together: chesed and emet. The translation here of "love" is pretty weak. Because chesed may well be the Old Testament's equivalent of what in the New Testament will be called "grace." God's chesed is very nearly the number one reason the psalmists list again and again for praising God.
Chesed is God's lovingkindness, his abiding love, his core tendency to stick with his people even when they don't stick with him; to forgive sin even when such a divine pardon is by no means warranted. Chesed is what sent Jesus our Lord to this world, and once the Son of God arrived here in our own flesh and blood, chesed is the grace and goodness that radiated so brilliantly from Jesus' every pore that it attracted sinners, prostitutes, lepers, and tax collectors the way a bright porch light draws in moths on a summer night. The grace of Jesus let people know there was forgiveness available no matter how greasy they'd lived up until the moment they met the Savior. If ever there were a one-word answer to the question of why God sent his only begotten Son to die on a cross, that answer would be chesed.
"The Word was made flesh and dwelled among us." . . full of grace and truth." That line is almost a throwback to Psalm 117 because the other word in verse 2, translated as "faithfulness," is the word emet, and though it can mean "faithfulness," it is also translated as "truth" and is the source of our English word "amen." The "grace and truth" of the incarnate Son of God as John proclaims him is very nearly identical with the chesed wai emet that Psalm 117 chalks up as reasons #1 and #2 for making the praise of God our proper human task and vocation every moment of every day.
We are fixed in the loving stare of a God who has something more than just our best interests at heart. We draw our every breath and live out our every day under the gaze and care of a God whose grace and truth, whose abiding desire to save us and stick with us forever, ensures that we have a very bright future. Psalm 117 summons us to worship God and to invite others to join the glory song, but our words and our lives need to be consistent with the God of all grace who is the target of all true praise.
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usfiAsWR4qU
Come Away With Me (A Time of Refreshing, Renewal & Meeting with Jesus)
When was the last time you were STILL enough to actually encounter Jesus?
No matter where you are on your Journey (Curious about Jesus or Been Walking w/Him for Yrs), This Weekend – He wants to Encounter YOU!
Once You Encounter Jesus – You Will Never Be The SAME!!
In Zechariah 4:6 it is written, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." As we approach the end of the year, the Lord has placed before us many open doors - for worship, for ministry, and for service. We have been blessed to have many prayer warriors in the life of the church, who are faithfully and joyfully engaged in lives of fervent prayer.
Sunita and Andy's church in Washington, DC goes on retreat together twice a year. Sunita always returns from these events blessed, refreshed, and inspired. We attempted to have our church's prayer retreat at Sky Lake, but scheduling conflicts prohibited it, so we are planning to have our upcoming prayer retreat at our own church here in Union Center. We invite all of you to come and be a part of this event. Keep praying for the Lord to refresh our hearts and renew our minds.
Praise the Lord for each one who has offered his or her time, talents, and treasures to make the upcoming prayer weekend possible. The schedule follows:
Friday, November 5 - 6 PM Supper, with Indian and Italian dishes. A love offering will be received.
6:30 PM The Prayer Conference convenes.
Saturday, November 6, 8:30 AM breakfast, prepared by Kathy Dence and team. A love offering will be received.
9:00 AM - 13 noon The Prayer Conference continues.
5 PM Thanksgiving Banquet, held at First United Methodist Church on McKinley Avenue. The menu includes homemade pies, rolls, turkey, and the trimmings. Lou Pasquale is the head chef, together with Rodney Haines as his sous chef. Sign-up sheets for the banquet are located in the Narthex, or reservations can be confirmed by calling the church office at 748-6329.
6:30 PM Worship service in the sanctuary at First UMC, Endicott. Music will be provided by Aric Phinney and the team. The speaker will be Kelly Johnson.
Sunday morning worship services will be at UCUMC at 8:30 and 11:00 AM, with Sunday School at 9:50 AM. Kelly Johnson will be speaking to a combined Adult Sunday School at that time. Worship service will be held at Wesley UMC at 9:30 AM.
12:30 PM There will be a meal immediately following the 11:00 AM service. Chefs for the meal are Jeremy and Matt Smith. The menu includes Carribean pork, braised chicken, candied sweet potatoes, salad, green beans, and rolls.
Saturday Evening Worship Service:October 30, 2010
Music by Laureen Naik and team
Preacher: Jeff Vansyckle
November 6, 2010 - ( Saturday) There will be a Thanksgiving banquet. At 5 PM a traditional Thanksgiving menu will be served, including home made rolls and pies. Chef: Lou Pasquale and team. (Reservations: Call the Church office (607)-748-6329 or email at umcgospel@aol.com
The banquet will be followed by 6:30 PM Worship
Music: Aric Phinney and the team
Speaker: Kelly Johnson from Nashville, TN.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Brown's Daily Word 10-26-10
Good morning,
Praise the Lord for this new day. He is alive and well. He is upon the His throne. All is well. He makes all things well in His time.
Victor Frankl was a Jewish Medical Doctor during 1930’s. Frankl was a pioneer of modern day psychotherapy, and he developed much of his theory for Psychotherapy while he was a prisoner in a WWII concentration camp, arrested along with other Jews and imprisoned. As a Medical Doctor, he was put to work treating other prisoners.
While serving in that capacity, Frankl had an opportunity to observe people under the most trying of circumstances. He saw people as they lived… and he saw them as they died. He had expected that people who were weak would die and those who were strong would survive. However, that wasn’t always true and it caused Frankl to wander if there wasn’t something else involved. What he observed became the source of his “Logo Therapy.” He noticed that those who lived had one thing in common: they had chosen to live rather than die.
He found that when everything else had been taken, friends, food, dignity, health… the one thing their captors could not take away was – choice, the choice to live.
According to Frankl, the last of man’s inalienable rights was the right of individual to choose how they would respond in any given situation. Victor Frankl said: “You cannot always control your circumstances, but you have the power to control your response to your circumstances.”
It reminds me of the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. When commanded by the Babylonian King to bow down to his golden idol they replied:
"O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." (Daniel 3:16b-18)
Even if God doesn’t rescue us…
we WILL NOT bow down.
we WILL NOT fall down
we WILL NOT stumble down before your idol.
We know that we have the peace of God when we are able to stand tall and look dead into the fiery furnace in our life and say: "Even if He doesn’t rescue me …. I will not stumble"
Isaiah 26:1-3 is an amazing passage, “In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; God makes salvation its walls and ramparts. Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith. You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.”
In vs. 1 we are told we have a strong city; God makes salvation its walls and ramparts. The imagery God is using is that of safety and peace INSIDE the walls of a city. In other words, if we are to find God’s peace & security then we must be inside the walls. We must be where He wants us to be. Therein lies all salvation, peace, and security.
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8_EfDqF7YI
October 30, 2010
Music by Laureen Naik and team
Preacher: Jeff Vansyckle
November 6, 2010 - ( Saturday) There will be a Thanksgiving banquet. At 5 PM a traditional Thanksgiving menu will be served, including home made rolls and pies. Chef: Lou Pasquale and team. (Reservations: Call the Church office (607)-748-6329 or email at umcgospel@aol.com
The banquet will be followed by 6:30 PM Worship
Music: Aric Phinney and the team
Speaker: Kelly Johnson from Nashville, TN.
Praise the Lord for this new day. He is alive and well. He is upon the His throne. All is well. He makes all things well in His time.
Victor Frankl was a Jewish Medical Doctor during 1930’s. Frankl was a pioneer of modern day psychotherapy, and he developed much of his theory for Psychotherapy while he was a prisoner in a WWII concentration camp, arrested along with other Jews and imprisoned. As a Medical Doctor, he was put to work treating other prisoners.
While serving in that capacity, Frankl had an opportunity to observe people under the most trying of circumstances. He saw people as they lived… and he saw them as they died. He had expected that people who were weak would die and those who were strong would survive. However, that wasn’t always true and it caused Frankl to wander if there wasn’t something else involved. What he observed became the source of his “Logo Therapy.” He noticed that those who lived had one thing in common: they had chosen to live rather than die.
He found that when everything else had been taken, friends, food, dignity, health… the one thing their captors could not take away was – choice, the choice to live.
According to Frankl, the last of man’s inalienable rights was the right of individual to choose how they would respond in any given situation. Victor Frankl said: “You cannot always control your circumstances, but you have the power to control your response to your circumstances.”
It reminds me of the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. When commanded by the Babylonian King to bow down to his golden idol they replied:
"O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." (Daniel 3:16b-18)
Even if God doesn’t rescue us…
we WILL NOT bow down.
we WILL NOT fall down
we WILL NOT stumble down before your idol.
We know that we have the peace of God when we are able to stand tall and look dead into the fiery furnace in our life and say: "Even if He doesn’t rescue me …. I will not stumble"
Isaiah 26:1-3 is an amazing passage, “In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; God makes salvation its walls and ramparts. Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith. You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.”
In vs. 1 we are told we have a strong city; God makes salvation its walls and ramparts. The imagery God is using is that of safety and peace INSIDE the walls of a city. In other words, if we are to find God’s peace & security then we must be inside the walls. We must be where He wants us to be. Therein lies all salvation, peace, and security.
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8_EfDqF7YI
October 30, 2010
Music by Laureen Naik and team
Preacher: Jeff Vansyckle
November 6, 2010 - ( Saturday) There will be a Thanksgiving banquet. At 5 PM a traditional Thanksgiving menu will be served, including home made rolls and pies. Chef: Lou Pasquale and team. (Reservations: Call the Church office (607)-748-6329 or email at umcgospel@aol.com
The banquet will be followed by 6:30 PM Worship
Music: Aric Phinney and the team
Speaker: Kelly Johnson from Nashville, TN.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Brown's Daily Word & World update 10-25-10
Good morning,
Here we are just two months away from Christmas, as my wife reminded me yesterday. Thank you Jesus. My wife is mentally getting ready for the Christmas music and the decorations. We are getting ready for our Prayer Conference weekend that begins on Friday, November 5, with gathering for food and fellowship at 6 PM. Our friend, Kelly Johnson, from Memphis, Tennessee will be with us for the entire weekend. The added blessing will be to have Sunita and Andy with us for the entire weekend also. It now appears that we will have our grandchildren, Micah and Simeon, with us for that weekend by ourselves.
The Lord blessed us with a beautiful weekend of worship, fellowship, and celebration. There are many who are praying for us for Saturday Evening worship services. The Lord is blessing us wonderfully. He is faithful and very gracious. This past Saturday we had present in the evening gathering a woman who is 90 years old. She attended the worship with her daughter and gave testimony to the wonder working of Jesus in her life. She and her husband are celebrating their 68th wedding anniversary. She thanked the Lord for His grace and mercy through all these years of worshipping and serving the Lord. The youngest in attendance was a baby who is 5 months old. Another woman testified that she learned ply piano as a little girl. The Lord got hold of her life and now she plays the songs of the Redeemer. What a blessing it has been serving the Savior with her gifts and talents! One of people who testified that the Lord is faithful and trustworthy is a man who is a contractor. He had a slow season in his business, but remained obedient to the Lord, giving his time and talent to the Lord. One evening he received an e-mail that his bid was selected for a large contract for his business. He praising the Lord for His unfailing love and faithfulness.
Every person’s life is like a power tool with an electrical plug. When we’re plugged into the Risen Lord and his resources, those resources flow into our lives to empower us to do that which we could not do on our own. The love we need in order to care about people, the patience we need when we’re frustrated, the courage we need in the face of fear…all these things come from being plugged into God’s grace. Lives that don’t plug into God’s grace won’t have the resources to leave a very significant mark.
Lives that refuse to plug into God’s grace are self-sufficient lives that rely on self and ego. It takes humility to admit that we have sinned against God and to trust in Christ for our salvation, but until we do that we cannot plug into God’s grace. Instead, we find that we are like a power saw trying to cut wood without a power supply.
Only lives empowered with God’s resources will leave a mark that lasts. I think of the names of Christians who have made a difference in the past, such as Augustine, John Wesley, Mother Teresa, John Wycliffe, and Galileo.
I want to live a life that is meant to last for ever. If we want to live that kind of life we must find our strength in God’s resources and multiply our influence through other people. We must be willing to pay the price, centering our lives around the good news of Jesus, and not give up no matter what.
In the 1800s a man named Alfred Nobel woke up on morning and opened the newspaper, only to see his own obituary printed. Imagine the shock of seeing your own obituary printed in the paper. You see, Alfred’s brother had died, and the newspaper mistakenly printed Alfred’s obituary instead of his brother’s. Alfred was a very wealthy person who had made his fortune by inventing dynamite. As he read his own obituary, he wondered if he really wanted to be remembered as Alfred Nobel, creator of a weapon of mass destruction.
Alfred decided he wanted his life to count for more than that. He decided he wanted to live a life that was built to last. He wanted to leave a legacy, so he started making changes. When Alfred died, he left most of his immense wealth gained from his invention of dynamite to a foundation designed to honor people who made a positive difference in the world. Thus was born the Nobel foundation, with prizes each year in five areas, including peace. Winners of this prize would include Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Albert Schweitzer.
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E_kTQssB0I
October 30, 2010
Music by Laureen Naik and team
Preacher: Jeff Vansyckle
November 6, 2010 - ( Saturday) There will be a Thanksgiving banquet. At 5 PM a traditional Thanksgiving menu will be served, including home made rolls and pies. Chef: Lou Pasquale and team. (Reservations: Call the Church office (607)-748-6329 or email at umcgospel@aol.com
The banquet will be followed by 6:30 PM Worship
Music: Aric Phinney and the team
Speaker: Kelly Johnson from Nashville, TN.
Here we are just two months away from Christmas, as my wife reminded me yesterday. Thank you Jesus. My wife is mentally getting ready for the Christmas music and the decorations. We are getting ready for our Prayer Conference weekend that begins on Friday, November 5, with gathering for food and fellowship at 6 PM. Our friend, Kelly Johnson, from Memphis, Tennessee will be with us for the entire weekend. The added blessing will be to have Sunita and Andy with us for the entire weekend also. It now appears that we will have our grandchildren, Micah and Simeon, with us for that weekend by ourselves.
The Lord blessed us with a beautiful weekend of worship, fellowship, and celebration. There are many who are praying for us for Saturday Evening worship services. The Lord is blessing us wonderfully. He is faithful and very gracious. This past Saturday we had present in the evening gathering a woman who is 90 years old. She attended the worship with her daughter and gave testimony to the wonder working of Jesus in her life. She and her husband are celebrating their 68th wedding anniversary. She thanked the Lord for His grace and mercy through all these years of worshipping and serving the Lord. The youngest in attendance was a baby who is 5 months old. Another woman testified that she learned ply piano as a little girl. The Lord got hold of her life and now she plays the songs of the Redeemer. What a blessing it has been serving the Savior with her gifts and talents! One of people who testified that the Lord is faithful and trustworthy is a man who is a contractor. He had a slow season in his business, but remained obedient to the Lord, giving his time and talent to the Lord. One evening he received an e-mail that his bid was selected for a large contract for his business. He praising the Lord for His unfailing love and faithfulness.
Every person’s life is like a power tool with an electrical plug. When we’re plugged into the Risen Lord and his resources, those resources flow into our lives to empower us to do that which we could not do on our own. The love we need in order to care about people, the patience we need when we’re frustrated, the courage we need in the face of fear…all these things come from being plugged into God’s grace. Lives that don’t plug into God’s grace won’t have the resources to leave a very significant mark.
Lives that refuse to plug into God’s grace are self-sufficient lives that rely on self and ego. It takes humility to admit that we have sinned against God and to trust in Christ for our salvation, but until we do that we cannot plug into God’s grace. Instead, we find that we are like a power saw trying to cut wood without a power supply.
Only lives empowered with God’s resources will leave a mark that lasts. I think of the names of Christians who have made a difference in the past, such as Augustine, John Wesley, Mother Teresa, John Wycliffe, and Galileo.
I want to live a life that is meant to last for ever. If we want to live that kind of life we must find our strength in God’s resources and multiply our influence through other people. We must be willing to pay the price, centering our lives around the good news of Jesus, and not give up no matter what.
In the 1800s a man named Alfred Nobel woke up on morning and opened the newspaper, only to see his own obituary printed. Imagine the shock of seeing your own obituary printed in the paper. You see, Alfred’s brother had died, and the newspaper mistakenly printed Alfred’s obituary instead of his brother’s. Alfred was a very wealthy person who had made his fortune by inventing dynamite. As he read his own obituary, he wondered if he really wanted to be remembered as Alfred Nobel, creator of a weapon of mass destruction.
Alfred decided he wanted his life to count for more than that. He decided he wanted to live a life that was built to last. He wanted to leave a legacy, so he started making changes. When Alfred died, he left most of his immense wealth gained from his invention of dynamite to a foundation designed to honor people who made a positive difference in the world. Thus was born the Nobel foundation, with prizes each year in five areas, including peace. Winners of this prize would include Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Albert Schweitzer.
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E_kTQssB0I
October 30, 2010
Music by Laureen Naik and team
Preacher: Jeff Vansyckle
November 6, 2010 - ( Saturday) There will be a Thanksgiving banquet. At 5 PM a traditional Thanksgiving menu will be served, including home made rolls and pies. Chef: Lou Pasquale and team. (Reservations: Call the Church office (607)-748-6329 or email at umcgospel@aol.com
The banquet will be followed by 6:30 PM Worship
Music: Aric Phinney and the team
Speaker: Kelly Johnson from Nashville, TN.
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