by Max Brennan, United Methodist Pastor of
St. Matthew and Eastern Hills United Methodist Churches
St. Matthew -- Sunday 11:00 A.M. -- Thursday 6:00 P.M.
off Meadowbrook - 1 short block east of Sandy, turn right to 2414 Hitson
Eastern Hills -- Sunday 9:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M.
off Meadowbrook - Jenson to Wilson - 1509 Wilson Road
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"I never go to church," boasted an inactive member to the new preacher. "Perhaps you've noticed that."
"Yes, I have," said the preacher. "Why is that?" "Well I don't want to go to church with all those hypocrites." "Oh, please," he replied, "don't let that stop you. We've always got room for one more."
Two men fishing on Sunday morning were feeling pretty guilty - especially since the fish weren't biting. "I guess I should have stayed home and gone to church," said one. To which the other replied, "I couldn't have gone to church anyway. My wife is sick in bed."
"Ah ha!" said the preacher when he saw a member who had missed church that morning. "I hear you went to the ball game instead of coming to church." "That's a lie!," said the gentleman forcefully, "and I've got the fish to prove it."
Jokes are plentiful about people not going to church, and they can hit close to home for some people - but perhaps not for most. They are all based on the understanding that church is a place where we go out of duty rather than doing things we like to do better. For a lot of us, that's just not the case. I love church. I love worship. I had to miss a Sunday recently due to illness - first time in 15 years - and I didn't like it at all.
At St. Matthew and at Eastern Hills we work with the assumption that worship is a joyful, uplifting experience, and most people go to church for the love and joy of it. We need the recreation of fishing and games, but good worship packs a power no ball game could touch. At our two churches we schedule much of our program at times when people from other churches can also attend - and they do! - for the joy of it. Consider the concert on Sunday, Oct. 4, sponsored by both churches, to be held at St. Matthew. That's Sunday evening, October 4, at 6:00 p.m. I am giving you fair warning here. I really would like for you to come. I have a message in word and music that I believe will make a Gospel difference in your life. Are you writing this down somewhere? Don't try to depend on that memory. October 4 - 6:00 p.m. Come - for the joy of it. And be in worship somewhere this Sunday. |
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This file last modified October 8, 2000
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