Archives for March 2011

Good morning!

How am I answering God’s call to feed more sheep? Before I go any further with the question, let me tell a little about this God that I have learned to lean on and trust in. Church, this God is real. Yes! And worthy of our praise. It is because of God’s grace and mercy that we have come thus far on our journey, and traveling this journey I have learned that GOD LOVES US!

God, the Creator of heavens and Earth and all that is within – Yes, the creator of you and me – this God has given each of us some kind of talent. Some more than others. Why? Now, hold it, Jim; that is God’s business.

What I do know is that I am held responsible for what God has given me. Luke 21:1-4 tells us about the widow who gave only two small copper coins, which were worth very little, to the temple treasury, while the others were putting in large amounts. Jesus, seeing this, said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth; this poor widow has put in more than all the others.” Little things mean a lot.

So, when you see me smile, embrace God’s grace and mercy, feeding more sheep.

When I give you a hug, embrace God’s grace and mercy, feeding more sheep.

When you hear me sing or play my horn, embrace God’s grace and mercy, feeding more sheep.

Church, we serve a good God! PRAISE BE TO GOD!

March 13, 2026

In the late fall of 1992, I was talking with Byron Leasure, pastor of this church, about how nice it would be if we had some type of daily devotional booklet for Advent. Thus was born the first of a long line of booklets for Advent and Lent. The first ones were collections of favorite readings, poetry, and original writings submitted by the congregation. Eventually, the contributions dwindled out, and something told me that each booklet should have a central theme, and in 1998 the Lenten booklet was entitled “Follow Me” and talked of the various ways Jesus calls us.

I hope that, over the years, these booklets have been helping to feed more sheep. I know that they have traveled as far away as Texas and Arizona and that one Lenten booklet was used in Pennsylvania in a discussion group for prisoners convicted of violent crimes. I know that at least one member of this congregation has told me that she has kept every one of them and rereads them.

This year, right after Christmas, I mentally asked the usual question: “Okay, what are we going to do for Lent?” The phrase I heard in my head was: “Spiritual gifts.” Hmmm. Forty-seven entries on spiritual gifts? That sounded hard. Knowing that Easter was late this year, I decided to revisit the topic at a later date. Then, at our January Council meeting, we adopted the goal of 52 voices in these Mission Moments… people telling how they are using their “spiritual gifts” to feed more sheep. I knew then why I had been given that topic. So, here is this year’s booklet: “Many Gifts, One Spirit.” Through Lent, we will look at how we recognize our gifts, how we are using them now, how we might use them differently, and how we can recognize and acknowledge the gifts in others.

The booklets are free. If you are able to donate $1 to defray the copying costs, that’s fine. But please take one as our gift to you to help you feed more sheep.

March 6, 2026