Help Support Our Youth on their Mission Trips February 26, 2011
Posted by tmumc in : Daily Readings, Questions for God, Sermon Series , add a commentTime is running out for the senior and junior high youth to collect for their Spring Break Mission Trips in Arizona and South Dallas. They still need to raise $55,000 of the $75,000 needed. As our youth go out and be the hands and feet of Christ, please help support them with donations and most especially with prayer. Contact Denise Robinson at deniser@tmumc.org to learn more.
Don’t Miss the Magills in Concert this Sunday February 26, 2011
Posted by tmumc in : Daily Readings, Questions for God, Sermon Series , add a commentI’m excited to welcome very special guests, Megan and Matt Magill, in worship on Sunday. The Magills will perform in all three worship services and a free concert at 6 p.m. Sunday night.
Hope to see you there!
Question – Why do we offer Holy Communion only once a month at Trietsch? September 3, 2010
Posted by tmumc in : Questions for God , add a commentResponse provided by Rev. Joe Shafer
The United Methodist understanding of Holy Communion is that it is a ritual act of the Church in which we act out and dramatize the extending of God’s grace to us. That grace can be described as God’s love, mercy and forgiveness. Holy Communion involves an expressing of our thankfulness to God for our life and salvation. It is a ritual act of the Christian Church that takes place in community. It is never an individual act. Through the re-presentation of God’s past acts of grace, the Christian community remembers the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The ritual acknowledges the presence of the Holy Spirit in making the elements of bread and wine to be the body and blood of Christ. Holy Communion involves, not only those receiving it at any particular place and time, but connects us with believers everywhere, including those who have gone before us and those who will come after us. Christ is not only remembered in Holy Communion, but is actually present in a ‘holy mysterious’ way. Holy Communion is the central act of worship by the Church.
Now, to the question: “Why Trietsch and many other United Methodist Churches typically celebrate Holy Communion only once a month?” It perhaps has its roots in early Methodism in this country when Methodist circuit-riding ministers came to any particular church only once a month. Even though it’s been a long time since the circuit riders, once a month communion has become a tradition in Methodism. Should that tradition be re-examined? Likely so. Trietsch, as all churches, will always do well to have a valid rationale for all we do and communicate it to the members of the congregation. That having been said, it is good to note that Trietsch has a brief service of Holy Communion every Sunday following our 8:00 a.m. worship service that is open to everyone.
Questions on Baptism August 31, 2010
Posted by tmumc in : Questions for God , add a commentResponse provided by Rev. Lyle Benson
Common questions asked about Baptism:
Q: Do I have to be baptized in order to be saved?
A: Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, it is not any of your own doing but a gift from God.” Other scriptures affirm salvation by faith and by faith alone. At the crucifixion of Jesus, there were two common criminals crucified on His right and left. We know nothing of these men except the affirmation of one who offers himself to the mercy of God through Christ. Jesus response was, “This day you will be with me in paradise.” So Christ affirms the same to us when we respond in faith to Him.
Q: What do United Methodists fundamentally believe about baptism?
A: Baptism is a sacrament. In a sacrament, God uses common elements — in this case, water — as a means or vehicle of divine grace. Baptism is administered by the church as the Body of Christ. Baptism is the act of God through the grace of Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Q: Why do we baptize children?
A: In the book of Acts, there are descriptions of “whole households” (Acts 16:15) being baptized. In that culture, the use of the phrase, “whole household” would include children. Further, baptism is a sacred moment where we affirm the power of God working in our lives even when we are not aware of this power. We baptize children because of what God is doing to bring that child into a relation with Christ. The vow of faith by the parents is critical in that they are not just affirming their faith, but promising to do all in their power to bring the child up in a family of faith where the promise of baptism will be affirmed in the child’s profession of faith in Christ as they become aware of the Christ’s claim on their life. The church also takes a vow at each baptism to share in the task of witnessing the saving grace of Jesus Christ to all children under our care.
Q: Is sprinkling the only way that United Methodists baptize?
A: Our church has always offered to people being baptized the choice of sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. Although the Greek word baptismo (translated baptism) literally means to be “covered in water”, the word is also used to describe “washing with a cloth”, “getting wet in the rain”, as well as other uses. The Bible is clear about the use of water, but not clear about how much. For example, the baptism of Jesus took place in the wilderness, dessert area of the river Jordan. In this area the river typically runs no more than a knee deep except for a few weeks out of the year. Therefore, our tradition offers the choice of all forms of water baptism.
Q: May I be baptized again if I feel the need?
A: Baptism is an act of God, and God does it right the first time. Our side of the covenant relationship with God will need recommitment and reaffirmation, but God always remains faithful to the divine side. Instead of being re-baptized we offer a service called reaffirmation of the baptism vows and a recommitment to our faith in Christ.
Q: May a person who has not been baptized participate in Holy Communion?
A: Yes, our church does not seek to close God’s Table, although the historic and normal Christian order of the sacraments is baptism first — as birth into the family — and Communion following, as continuing nurture at the family table. Pastors and congregations reach out and encourage those who partake at the Table to share fully in the life of God’s people.
Q: How do we express our own decisions to be Christian disciples if we have already been baptized as infants?
A: In services of profession of faith and confirmation before the congregation, we respond to God’s grace by repenting of our sins, declaring our faith in Jesus Christ, and becoming professing members of the church.
Presented by Rev. Lyle Benson
Source: Scripture and By Water and the Spirit: A United Methodist Understanding of Baptism
Question for God – “God, I know that you are never partisan, but do you care about politics?” August 29, 2010
Posted by tmumc in : Questions for God , add a commentResponse provided by Rev. Diane Presley
God, I know that you are never partisan, but do you care about politics?
Some Christians have a hard time imagining God involved in the messy world of political wrangling. For them, politics is a four-letter-word. They prefer to keep God and their religious lives separate and unsullied from what goes on in the rest of the world.
But I do not believe that God is above the fray. I believe that the presence of God permeates all of life and that God is always at work influencing people and impacting events – moving them from darkness into the light.
Politics is the art of persuading people to change. Thus, something political is happening every time two or more are gathered together. When you influence someone to form an opinion or take some kind of action, you are acting politically. I believe the nature of God is intrinsically political because God is always prompting people to change and grow. God’s prompting is not coercive. But, I believe, God is the Master Persuader. Indeed, God is the Master Politician.
God cares deeply about political issues that impact the well-being of people and of all creation. Throughout the Bible, and especially through the prophets and Jesus, we see that God cares about the “common good.” God cares about justice for all people, fair dealing in business, and honesty in all spheres of life. God cares that poverty distorts the lives of people. God cares about the land, immigrants, prisons, and peace. The list of human and environmental ills goes on and on.
These are moral concerns that transcend the claim of any organized political party. God can not be contained, and must not be co-opted, by any political party or social movement. However, I believe God calls all Christians to invest their lives in improving the common good. That means that we are called to work through political systems to help make our world a safer, healthier place for all people. The caution for us is to allow God, and not the political agenda, determine our values and goals.
Question for God: Because the Jews have rejected Jesus as the Messiah, has God rejected the Jews? August 10, 2010
Posted by Rev. Diane Presley in : Questions for God, Sermon Series , 2commentsResponse provided by Rev. Diane Presley
This question raises an important concern because it probes the reliability of God. Does God keep God’s promises? For how long? Can anything cause God to go back on God’s word? If you listen closely you can hear echoes of the underlying fear: If God has rejected God’s chosen people, is there something I might do that would cause God to reject me?
A little historical grounding is necessary. We read in chapters 12 and 15 of Genesis that more than 4,000 years ago God initiated a covenant with Abram (later to be known as Abraham) promising that his descendants would be more numerous than the stars in the sky and that all the peoples of the earth would be blessed through him. A covenant is a most solemn oath. It is stronger than making a promise or even a contract. A covenant is unconditional, unalterable, and everlasting. It was as though God said to Abram, “I will keep my word with you to claim your descendants as my people – no matter what – forever.”
Two thousand years later, after the resurrection of Jesus when the early Christians were forming the first churches, people began wondering about God’s relationship with Jews who did not believe Jesus was the Messiah. Had God’s relationship with the Jewish people changed? Had God rejected the unbelieving Jews as the chosen people? Were Christians now the ones to inherit all the promises and blessings of God?
In his Letter to the Romans Paul addressed this concern directly. The primary theme of the entire letter is the righteousness and faithfulness of God as seen through the faithful obedience of Jesus. Paul ends chapter 8 with the resounding declaration that “nothing can separate us from the love of God.” Then in chapters 9 – 11 he struggles to understand how God’s divine plan works regarding the “mystery” of the unbelief of the Jews. If nothing can separate us from the love of God, and if God’s promises are irrevocable, then how can God be righteous (by treating the unbelieving Jews with justice) and faithful to God’s word (by treating them with everlasting love?)
A blog entry is not the venue to dissect Paul’s complicated, but not convoluted, argument in these three chapters. Perhaps we can arrange for an extended study of the Letter to the Romans at Trietsch. Let me know if you are interested. But for now, here are Paul’s conclusions:
1. God keeps God’s promises.
2. God has not rejected God’s people.
3. God acts in sovereign freedom to be gracious and show mercy to all people, whether they deserve it or not.
4. God has made use of the disobedience of both the Jews and the Gentiles to accomplish God’s eternal purposes of showing mercy ultimately to all people.
The Letter to the Romans is dense but rich reading. The issues raised are pivotal, and Paul’s arguments are intricate. I have borrowed directly from the work of A. Katherine Grieb in The Story of Romans in summarizing what Paul is saying in these three chapters. I welcome hearing your comments and continuing the conversation.
Question for God: Will those who commit suicide be allowed into heaven? August 6, 2010
Posted by Rev. Lyle Benson in : Daily Readings, Questions for God, Sermon Series , 1 comment so farResponse provided by Rev. Lyle Benson
This is a great question. The Christian perspective on suicide begins with an affirmation of faith that nothing, not even suicide, can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39). Suicide is often the result of untreated depression or untreated pain and suffering. Often times the person committing suicide is excellent at covering up their depression and pain. It is then a surprise to the family and loved ones that they were hurting so much. I know this personally as my youngest son, Eric committed suicide as a young man in his 20’s. I have known no grief deeper then the death of Eric and have known no comfort from God greater than at this time.
Here are the scriptures that gave me comfort during this difficult time: Luke 7:11-17 The compassion of Christ for those grieving. Matthew 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn for they will be comforted. John 5:39 The scriptures testify that Christ is the center of the scriptures. John 1:1-5 Christ is the center of life and His light overcomes darkness. Ephesians 2:4-7 God’s desire to save us is greater than his desire to create us. Ephesians 3;17-19 The depth of Christ love for us surpasses our knowledge. Luke 15:1-7 Parable of the lost sheep Luke 15:8-10 Parable of the lost coin Luke 15:11-32 Parable of the prodigal son 1 Peter 3:21-22 Saved from death by Christ’s resurrection Romans 8:38-39 Nothing can separate us from the love of God. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 A thorn in the flesh, God’s grace is sufficient. Psalm 130: From the depths of my grief I call to you, O Lord. Psalm 27:1, 4, 5, 13 & 14 The Lord is my light and my salvation. Psalm 23: I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. God’s love for us is much greater than we can imagine. May the peace of Christ be with you now and forever more. Pastor Lyle
Question for God: Does God value women as much as men? August 4, 2010
Posted by Rev. Diane Presley in : Questions for God, Sermon Series , add a commentIn the letter of Paul to the Galatians we find the baptismal ritual used in the churches of the first century: “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28 These first Christians were creating something new — communities where those in Christ entered into a new creation where former social distinctions were replaced by unity and equality of value. Today, after 2000 years of being the church, we are still learning how to live out what they professed.
Part of what makes this transformation so challenging is that the lives of the people we read about in the Bible are steeped in the culture of patriarchy. In Jewish law a woman was considered property rather than a person. She either belonged to her father or husband. One Jewish morning prayer said by free Jewish men was to thank God that they had not been born a Gentile, a slave, or a woman. The Greeks and Romans also had a very low view of women.
But Jesus invested his life breaking down the barriers that ranked and separated people. By seeing how Jesus treated people we get a glimpse into the very heart of God. Jesus was very radical in the way he treated women and involved women in his ministry. He went out of his way to include women in the conversation. His first miracle occurred at the request of a woman. John 2:1-11 The first person to whom he revealed that he was the Messiah was not only a woman but a foreign woman. John 4:1-42 He commended Mary for listening to his teaching when Martha complained that she wasn’t helping with the housework.. Luke 10:38-42 In the home of Simon the Leper at Bethany, speaking to a group of inattentive men, Jesus praised the faith and spiritual insight of the woman who, with her gift of expensive perfume, anointed his body beforehand for burial. Mark 14:3-9
In the early church, following the lead of Jesus, women were actively involved in all aspects of church life. Women helped establish churches and were teachers, missionaries, and emissaries for Paul and other apostles. In chapter 16 of his Letter to the Romans Paul mentions several women co-workers. The first is Phoebe who served as a deacon in Cenchreae (vs. 1-2). Priscilla is called his fellow worker (vs. 3-4). Mary is mentioned as diligent worker in the church at Rome (v. 6). Junia, a woman, is a called an apostle (v. 7). Three women—Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis—are mentioned as hard workers for the Lord (v. 12).
So, what happened? After such an inclusive beginning what caused churches to readopt the values of the culture and relegate women to subservient status throughout the next 2000 years? Why do we still today have to advocate for the value of women in the church and in the heart of God? There are no short answers to those questions. But an even better question we need to ask ourselves every day is: “What can I do today to focus on Jesus and allow his life to fill me to overflowing so that I can love all people in the same way that God loves?”