A Time to Remember (11/2/14)
On Sunday November 2, we marked our church’s anniversary. Pastor Jim’s sermon tapped into the anniversary and All Saints Day themes. The scripture reading was from Numbers 10:8-10 and Hebrews 12:1-2. Click the “Play” button below to start the recording, then scroll down and follow along… Scripture Reading Numbers 10:8-10 8 The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and these shall be to you as an ordinance forever throughout your...
Read MoreThe Power of Forgiveness (10/26/14)
Pastor Jim’s sermon on 10/26/14 was on the story about the women caught in adultery who was brought to Jesus by the religious leaders who wanted to stone her. How does grace and forgiveness fit into holiness and The Law?Click the “Play” button to listen to the recording and then scroll down to follow along… The message was from John 8:1-11. Pastor Jim read from the New King James Version. Click the box to open the passage… John 8:1-11 1 But Jesus...
Read MoreCount Your Blessings: Meaningless Cliche or Powerful Truth?
The signboard message posted on October 25, 2014 said the following: WANT TO FEEL RICH? COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS! Probably most grown ups (and maybe even many kids), grown when they hear the phrase “Count Your Blessings!” The Sunday School song “Count your blessings name them one by one…” probably pops into mind. We’ve heard it all before. And probably when someone tries to cheer us up by suggesting blessings they start rattling off things like family,...
Read MoreThe Fellowship of Believers (10/19/14)
October 19 was 2014’s Laity Sunday. The suggested theme for this year’s Laity Sunday was “Engaging Small Groups.” Testimonies were given by members of two small groups, and then the scripture and sermon followed. In the audio below, Bryce Hogan read the scripture and the sermon was given by Larry Bakely. The title of the message was “The Fellowship of Believers,” and it was based on Acts 2:37-47. Click the “Play” button to begin the...
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Help is Only a Prayer Away
The following devotional was submitted by Pastor Jim… Greetings Friends: PLEASE READ: Luke 11:1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray….,” Some of you may have seen the Walt Disney movie “Snow Dogs.” It tells the story of a dentist whose name is Ted Brooks, who inherits a cabin and a dogsled team in Alaska. His efforts to master dog sledding are recorded in the film as...
Read MoreJesus is the Answer to the Pop Quiz (10/5/14)
Pastor Jim’s sermon on October 5 continued our at Jesus as our Messiah, Glorious King, and Provider. This morning, we looked at Jesus as our Shepherd who protects us through all of life’s storms. A recording of the sermon from the 11AM service is below. Click the “Play” button, scroll down, and follow along as you listen. This morning’s Scripture was from John 6:15-21. Open the following drop down to follow along… John 6:16-21...
Read MoreStand in Awe of the One Who Gave His All!
The signboard message posted on October 7, 2014 said: STAND IN AWE! GOD GAVE HIS ALL. When you think of the greatness of God, you can’t help but stand in Awe. Marvel. Be humbled. Realize that He is God, this is His world, He’s in charge and you are not. Righteousness… One of the most awesome things about God is how righteous He is. We compromise. We tell “white lies.” We cut corners and look out for ourselves first. We fall short of God’s mark (in...
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: God Knows You by Name!
Have you ever felt that you’re just a number? Customer, student, employee, patient, client… but not known as a person? Pastor Jim published the following devotional on Oct. 3, 2014… Greetings Friends: PLEASE READ: John 10:25-30 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal...
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Nowhere to Hide, Nothing to Fear
Greetings Friends:I just realized as I am writing this that 3 months from today is Christmas!!! I pray that all will blessed by this humble offering.PLEASE READ: John 20:19-21 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be...
Read MoreWhat do Jesus and Sprite Have in Common? (9/28/14)
Pastor Jim’s sermon on Sunday Sept. 28, 2014 was on the “Woman at the Well”, in John 4:4-26. Click the “Play” button below to listen to the sermon, then scroll down to follow along… Open the following box to follow along in the reading of the scripture passage… John 4:4-22 John 4:4-26 4 He had to go through Samaria on the way. 5 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6...
Read MoreFace it: God Really Does Love You!
The following devotional was provided by Pastor Jim… PLEASE READ: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” John 3:16 was the very first Bible verse I memorized as a child. I was only 5 years old and it was during a 2-week Vacation Bible School. I earned a red book mark which had all of the books of the Bible written on it. I remember being so proud and how proud my...
Read MoreOur Glorious Messiah! (9/21/14)
In his sermons, Pastor Jim has been focusing on the attributes of God: His touch, awesomeness, goodness, holiness, His word. In the next few weeks the focus moves to Jesus: Our Savior and Messiah.This Sunday (September 21, 2014) we looked at the glory of the risen Lord, as described in the opening chapter of Revelation. Click below to play the recording of the sermon (from the 11AM service), then scroll down to follow along… The sermon was based on Revelation 1:9-19. ...
Read MoreHomework: Soak in Our Glorious Messiah by Reading from Revelation
In his sermon on Sunday September 21 (“Our Glorious Messiah”), Pastor Jim challenged us to re-read Sunday’s scripture every day this week (Revelation 1:9-19). Ponder the the glory and power of our RISEN Lord. Consider that He is always “in our midst” throughout our day to day lives. During this week we will use the “Hot News” ticker tape on the front page of our website to give daily reminders and links to the scripture passage. Each day will link...
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Just Another Day…
The following message was provided by Pastor Jim… Greetings Friends: PLEASE READ: Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” As we go through a typical day, it is easy to become frustrated, disappointed, or downright angry when things don’t happen the way we think they should. Yet the Bible teaches us that God is sovereign We would agree...
Read MorePastors Ponderings: Make a Joyful Noise
Note: With the resumption of the choir season and the first rehearsals later this week (Thursday 9/18/14), this devotional from Pastor Jim seemed especially appropriate… PLEASE READ: Psalm 98:4 ” Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.” In 17th century Italy, in the town of Cremona, lived a young boy named Antonio. Antonio was often sad because he lived in a town that was famous for its music, but he could neither...
Read MoreIs God Your First Priority? Or, is God Your Last Resort?
Jesus and the Disciples were on a boat in the middle of the Sea of Galilee. As happens frequently in that area, a strong storm suddenly arose and began to knock the small fishing boat around like a twig in the rapids of the Colorado River. The waves splashed over the sides of the boat and the disciples were sure that they were goners. But Jesus was asleep. As a last minute resort, when all other hope had faded, they cried out to Jesus. Jesus calmed the waters and the disciples probably...
Read MoreThese Feet are Made for Walking (9/14/14)
Pastor Jim’s sermon on September 14, 2014 challenged us to move out into the “world” and proclaim the Gospel. The sermon was based on Romans 10:11-17 and the sermon was entitled “These Feet are Made for Walking” (apologies to Nancy Sinatra and her hit “These Boots Are Made for Walking”)… Click the “Play” button below to start the recording, open the scripture (click the “down” arrow in the Scripture Box below), then...
Read MoreE.T. Meets Michelangelo (9/7/14)
Pastor Jim’s sermon on September 7, 2014 had the strange title of “ET Meets Michelangelo.” It was based on Exodus 33:7-11a. Click the “Play” button below to start listening to the recording, scroll down and follow along. Click the “down” button below to open up the scripture… Scripture Exodus 33:7-11 7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone...
Read MoreSouth Seaville UMC Opens New Doors! (9/7/14)
Back in 2004, our church building was destroyed by fire. For 3 years we worshiped in a school, theater, and converted hardware store. In 2007- after much anticipation and work- we moved into our new (current) building. About 3 years ago, another local United Methodist Church began a similar journey when their church building burned down. (Read More). But today (9/7/14) the South Seaville United Methodist Church opened the doors of its new building and celebrated their first service of...
Read MoreCelebrating the Life & Music of Fanny Crosby (8/31/14)
Pastor Jim’s sermon on August 31 took on a bit of a different format. This week, we looked not only at God’s Word as text in the Bible, but also as the expression of God’s word in the music and lyrics of Fanny Crosby. Click on the “Play” button below to listen to the sermon (this is from the 9:30 AM service). Scroll down, open the scripture readings, and follow along. Click on the “down arrow” to open up the Scripture...
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