Good morning,
Praise the Lord for this new day. We will gather for our mid-week fellowship, Bible study and Choir practice today starting at 6 PM. As we get ready for Palm Sunday celebrations and he Holy Week services, may the Lord stir our hearts to love Him, to serve Him, and to worship Him. In John He declared that He leaves His peace with His own. He is the Way , the Truth and the Life. Those who have known the Truth in the Person of Jesus Christ are free indeed. They are fearless, brave, and courageous beyond belief.
I can still vividly remember the Mother Teresa's speech before the National Prayer Breakfast in 1994. She stood before national leaders, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, the most powerful couple in the world at the time, who were well-known advocates of abortion. You may recall that Clinton vetoed the ban on partial-birth abortions. Mother Teresa, with her small twisted body that was less than five feet tall, spoke to the large gathering of elegantly dressed dignitaries and said, “I feel that the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child — a direct killing of the innocent child — murder by the mother herself. And if we accept that a mother can kill her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another?” Many of those present could not handle the truth.
A similar story happened in July of last year. The papers reported, “A New York town clerk announced her resignation in a letter saying that she would be compromising her ‘moral conscience’ if she signed marriage licenses between same-sex couples. Laura Fotusky said her decision was based strongly on her religious convictions and obeying the law of God over the law of men. 'The Bible clearly teaches that God created marriage between male and female as a divine gift that preserves families and cultures,' Fotusky wrote. 'Since I love and follow Him, I cannot put my signature on something that is against God.’” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo responded to Fotusky’s resignation, saying: “The law is the law, and when you enforce the laws of the state, you don’t get to pick and choose.” Actually you do, Mr. Cuomo, for as Fotusky simply said, “I had to obey God rather than men.” Many have rejected Chrst, leading to great confusion. A culture without Christ is confused, chaotic, and self destructive.
Here is the great truth in Scripture that is at the center of our faith, as well as the center of the universe itself: “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:13-17).
We live in a culture where it is considered more wrong to judge evil than to do evil. Tolerance is the great virtue of the day, and judgmentalism is the great sin. The Word of God says, “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:18-20).
As Jesus stood before Pilate, He said to him, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me” (John 18:37). Pilate’s languid response was, “What is truth?” That is the question the world is still asking today, and it still believes there is no real answer. The problem is that truth was standing directly in front of Pilate and he could not see it, just as the truth is standing before many today who cannot see it. Paul said, “Let God be true, and every man a liar” (Romans 3:4). This is why it is so important, as the Bible says, to: “put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place” (Ephesians 6:13-14). May that be your armor today and always.
A similar story happened in July of last year. The papers reported, “A New York town clerk announced her resignation in a letter saying that she would be compromising her ‘moral conscience’ if she signed marriage licenses between same-sex couples. Laura Fotusky said her decision was based strongly on her religious convictions and obeying the law of God over the law of men. 'The Bible clearly teaches that God created marriage between male and female as a divine gift that preserves families and cultures,' Fotusky wrote. 'Since I love and follow Him, I cannot put my signature on something that is against God.’” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo responded to Fotusky’s resignation, saying: “The law is the law, and when you enforce the laws of the state, you don’t get to pick and choose.” Actually you do, Mr. Cuomo, for as Fotusky simply said, “I had to obey God rather than men.” Many have rejected Chrst, leading to great confusion. A culture without Christ is confused, chaotic, and self destructive.
Here is the great truth in Scripture that is at the center of our faith, as well as the center of the universe itself: “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:13-17).
We live in a culture where it is considered more wrong to judge evil than to do evil. Tolerance is the great virtue of the day, and judgmentalism is the great sin. The Word of God says, “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:18-20).
As Jesus stood before Pilate, He said to him, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me” (John 18:37). Pilate’s languid response was, “What is truth?” That is the question the world is still asking today, and it still believes there is no real answer. The problem is that truth was standing directly in front of Pilate and he could not see it, just as the truth is standing before many today who cannot see it. Paul said, “Let God be true, and every man a liar” (Romans 3:4). This is why it is so important, as the Bible says, to: “put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place” (Ephesians 6:13-14). May that be your armor today and always.
As we approach Palm Sunday and Holy Week we praise the Lord for bringing us to participate in celebrating this Holy Season.
We will gather this Wednesday evening for a special meal at 6 PM, for Bible study and prayer starting at 6:30 PM, and for Choir practice beginning at 7:30 PM.
Join us for our weekly television outreach on Friday evening, Time Warner Cable Channel 4, at 7 PM.
In Christ,
Brown
Saturday Evening Worship Service:
Location: First United Methodist Church
53 McKinley Avenue
Endicott, NY
Sponsored by: Union Center United Methodist Church
Time: 6:00 PM gathering for Coffee Fellowship
6:30 PM Worship Service
Date: Saturday, March 31, 2012
The Binghamton House of Prayer team will lead in music and Word.
"The Binhamton House of Prayer" is an Interdenominational and inernational ministry of prayer that is engaged in prayer for our region. This group meets weekly for prayer ministry.
There will be a very special time for prayer for healing and blessing.
Special Music by Laureen Naik
This coming Sunday will be our Palm Sunday celebration. Come and join us. Invite your friends and family to join us in worship, praise, and celebration. Following the second service there will be an Easter egg hunt for the children, coordinated by Shannan Meilunas and Tegan Kraus. There will also be an Easter banquet for one and all, prepared with much love by Rodney Haines and Kathy Dence.
APRIL 5 at 6:30 PM there will be a Maundy Thursday foot washing and communion service. We will gather in the Fellowship Hall for this special service.
APRIL 6 at 6:30 PM there will be a Good Friday Service at Union Center UMC –
"Simon Peter" will be presented by our brother Jim Geer and the team. Join us for this very special presentation on the life and witness of Simon Peter.
APRIL 7 at 6:30 PM will be a very special Easter Eve celebration. This will be held at the First United Methodist Church, Endicott. The service of worship and praise will include Hymns and songs both classic and contemporary. We are blessed to have Aric Phinney at the Grand Piano, and Yancey Moore at the Pipe Organ, Dave Berry as the song leader and soloist, along with special musicians Winnie Allen and Emma Brunson. Come, Share, and Rejoice.
APRIL 8 at 6:30 AM A Sunrise service will be held at the pavilion at Union Center
Christian Church, 950 Boswell Hill Road. Rev. Marshall Sorber will be preaching. We will have special music. Mr. Katchudurian will be presenting special Easter Music on his trumpet.
APRIL 6 at 6:30 PM there will be a Good Friday Service at Union Center UMC –
"Simon Peter" will be presented by our brother Jim Geer and the team. Join us for this very special presentation on the life and witness of Simon Peter.
APRIL 7 at 6:30 PM will be a very special Easter Eve celebration. This will be held at the First United Methodist Church, Endicott. The service of worship and praise will include Hymns and songs both classic and contemporary. We are blessed to have Aric Phinney at the Grand Piano, and Yancey Moore at the Pipe Organ, Dave Berry as the song leader and soloist, along with special musicians Winnie Allen and Emma Brunson. Come, Share, and Rejoice.
APRIL 8 at 6:30 AM A Sunrise service will be held at the pavilion at Union Center
Christian Church, 950 Boswell Hill Road. Rev. Marshall Sorber will be preaching. We will have special music. Mr. Katchudurian will be presenting special Easter Music on his trumpet.
You are all welcome back to the Union Center Church Fellowship Hall for a special Easter Morning breakfast prepared and served by Jim Holmes and the team.
We will gather for Special Easter Celebration and worship at 8:30 and 11:00 AM
at the Union Center UMC. The Youth and children will be presenting a very special song for Easter morning at both services. The Adult Choir will also be singing at both services. Sunday School will meet at 9:50 AM. We will gather for Easter Morning Worship At Wesley at 9:30 AM. We have so much to celebrate. We have so much to sing about. We have so much to rejoice in. It is all About Jesus, who came, who saw, and who conquered. He is upon the Throne.
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