Brown's Daily Word 10-2-13

   Praise the Lord for this  First Wednesday of October.  It has been like summer, both warm and brilliant.  I drove up to Syracuse yesterday to pick a friend who traveled in from Indianapolis, Indiana to spend a couple days with us.  The drive to Syracuse on Interstate 81 was stunning.  The fall colors were brilliant... so colorful... so magnificent.  Only our Lord, the Lord of beauty, can exhibit beauty of that magnitude and depth.  While Sunita and her family were here last weekend from Washington, DC she commented at the sight  the bursting Fall colors, "It's like eating candy!"  As we gaze at the colors and sights all around us, we can exclaim, "How Great is our God"!  Indeed, "A thing of beauty is a joy for ever".

    We will gather for the Wednesday Gathering this evening at 6 PM.  Praise the Lord that the Lord takes us in to the   top of the mountain experiences.  There also are times He allows us to go through the valleys of life.  One of the famous verses is found in  (Ecclesiastes 3:4), where it says, "there is a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance . . . "

    Frederick Buechner, a minister and author who loves God, has lived in a valley of sorts for years.  Suddenly he found himself in a valley, according to his story Telling Secrets, when he was a child and his father committed suicide.

    The Psalms speak to the condition of the human soul.  Of the 150 sacred songs of David and others, there are several genres to be identified: Psalms of Ascent, Psalms of Praise, Petition, Liturgical Psalms, and Psalms of lament.  Psalms 42 and 43 are of that variety and go together.

    Paul says that we are in the middle of spiritual battles in Ephesians 6:12: "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rules of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."  Our Lord Jesus was the Man of Sorrows acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3) who identifies with us so well in these times: "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses . . . (Hebrews 4:15)."  We have the Good News.  The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.  The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.  Many of the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all."

  In Christ,

     Brown

http://youtu.be/AHe_qmo3gX4 

Saturday, October 5 at 6:30 PM  -  ILLUSIONIST  -  will be in our sanctuary.  The Young at Heart Committee is sponsoring a family program with an Illusionist, Jeremy Biesecker.  This is a great opportunity to invite your neighbors.  

  Prayer Conference :  Sponsored By the Union Center United Methodidt Church and the Binghamton House of Prayer.

    October 18-20 ,2013 

“Stir Up Our Hunger”
Prayer Conference with Rev. Nigel Mumford from By His Wounds
Worship by Binghamton House of Prayer
    October 18-19, 2013 at First UMC in Endicott
        Friday Oct 18th: 6 PM - Registration opens
        7 PM - Worship and Teaching

    Saturday Oct 19th: 9 am - Doors Open
        9:30 AM- Worship and Teaching
        1 PM - Healing Service
        7 PM - Worship night with Binghamton House of Prayer

    Sunday October 20th
        Rev. Mumford will be sharing at the 8:30 and 11:00 AM services at UCUMC

** Please note that Friday and Saturday sessions will be held at First UMC in Endicott to allow for more space for prayer ministry.
To register, please go to www.binghamtonawakening.eventbrite.com

 

    Friday, October 25, 2013 at 7:30 PM - Old Time Hymn Sing at Wesley UMC, Cosponsored by the Wesley UMC and the Reformed Presbyterian Church. 

    NYC trip to Radio City Music Hall for the Christmas Extravaganza, Thursday, December 5, 2013. $80 for bus and ticket to the show. Depart at 6:00 AM, with one stop on the way in, free time in city, and the show at 5:00 PM.  The return bus leaves at 7:15 PM, getting home by 10:30 PM (no stop).  

    The deadline is Oct. 15 for reservations and $40 deposit on the trip. 
Remaining $40 due Nov. 10.  Make the check payable to the church, memo line: NYC trip.  Again, the cost of the trip is just $80.00, including Bus Fare and the ticket to the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall.  You don't have to be a member of the Confirmation Class to join us in this adventure.  All are welcome, but when the bus is full, it's full, so get your reservation in right away.  We would love to have you join us.  Call the church office 607-748-6329 or email us at umcgospel@aol.com