Pastoral Message

​Over the past few months, I have highlighted the new things that are happening in our congregation and our ministries.  It is not too late to ask about or to sign up for “Finding Your Path”!  Eagle eyed readers may notice something new for June: normally, the focal text for the week’s worship service is bolded from the lectionary.  After June 4 (Trinity Sunday) I am preaching a small series away from the lectionary.  There has been a bit of discussion lately about Methodism and a
couple of times I have been asked about United Methodism.  So, I have decided for the remainder of June to preach on a few of John Wesley's sermons.

June 11 - “Christian Perfection” Philippians 3:12-16 June 18 - “Image of God” Genesis 1:24-27
June 25 - “Almost Christian” Acts 26:24-29
The series will conclude with the July 2 Community Worship at the Alplaus Fire House at 10:30 with “On the Omnipresence of God” - Jeremiah 23:23-24.0

John Wesley was one of the founders of the movement called “Methodist''.  He wrote and preached a lot.  His sermons were gathered, published, and spread widely among communities that were seeking to live into the holiness movement.  I do not claim to be an expert on Wesley or theology, but I did spend a lot of time studying these topics.  I went to seminary thinking that, although I was born and raised in the United Methodist Church, I would probably leave the denomination to join a different one as a pastor. I attended a United Church of Christ congregation in rural Ohio for a year.  I then spent another year in that same congregation as their youth pastor.  I even spent a couple of weeks at their summer camp.  My close friends in seminary were serving in UM churches and Disciples of Christ churches and United Church of Christ churches.  We all shared thoughts and challenges and questions in class, in the dining hall, and at Denny’s.  Through my education and experience, I found that the practices of the Christian people called Methodist were ones that I wanted to maintain. This small series is an opportunity to look a little deeper into what makes a church “Methodist.” I hope that, like me, you will find that these beliefs and traditions are worth preserving and sharing.

Blessings!
Pastor Krist