JONATHAN
Today is Halloween, and there will be children dressed in many outfits collecting candy this evening. It’s so much fun to pretend to be something else, sometimes. But, October 31st is a special day in the life of the Church. Over four-hundred years ago, Martin Luther, nailed a document on the door of Castle Church in Wittenburg, Germany. He was fed up with the Church’s actions. In a way, the Church had grown corrupt, collecting money from the poor, promoting selfish desires, and in a way, just pretending to be something that it wasn’t.
When he nailed these statements to the church’s door, it sparked a revolution and a call to reform the church he loved. It’s easy to hide behind a costume or a mask and pretend like there’s no one else around, but we’re not called to do that, are we? Today, I encourage you to remove the masks of your life, and be real. Here at Central, we believe that life is better connected to God and to each other, and when we connect with God and each other, we begin to slowly remove the masks; we reform our lives around the God that is with and for us. So, we invite you to journey along with us.
Monday, October 31, 2016
Friday, October 28, 2016
Friday, October 28, 2016
BOB
Good Morning! This is Bob Peden of Central a United Methodist Community here in Meridian. If you go to the grocery store on an empty stomach, you're a sitting duck! You buy everything you don't need. Doesn't matter if it's good for you, you just want to fill your tummy.
When you're lonely, you do the same C pulling stuff off the shelf, not because you need it, but because you're hungry for love. For fear of not fitting in, we take drugs. For fear of appearing small, we go into debt and buy the house. For fear of going unnoticed, we dress to impress. But all that changes when we discover God's perfect love.
The perfect love that the Apostle John says "casts out fear." You see fear: of loneliness, of not being popular, of insignificance, that drives us away from God and into the world. Cast out all fear in your life and turn instead to trust the God who is faithful, true, and loving. In God there is no fear.
Good Morning! This is Bob Peden of Central a United Methodist Community here in Meridian. If you go to the grocery store on an empty stomach, you're a sitting duck! You buy everything you don't need. Doesn't matter if it's good for you, you just want to fill your tummy.
When you're lonely, you do the same C pulling stuff off the shelf, not because you need it, but because you're hungry for love. For fear of not fitting in, we take drugs. For fear of appearing small, we go into debt and buy the house. For fear of going unnoticed, we dress to impress. But all that changes when we discover God's perfect love.
The perfect love that the Apostle John says "casts out fear." You see fear: of loneliness, of not being popular, of insignificance, that drives us away from God and into the world. Cast out all fear in your life and turn instead to trust the God who is faithful, true, and loving. In God there is no fear.
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Thursday, October 27, 2016
JOHN
Good Morning! I’m John Branning, Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church. What if you received word that you only have a few weeks to live? In that moment, what would become the most important thing in your life? I bet it will not be the bottom line on you balance sheet, or the size of your portfolio, your title, or the number of people that report to you.
What will be most important is relationships. A successful marriage depends upon the relationship between husband and wife. A peaceful home depends upon the relationship between parents and children. A prosperous business depends on the relationship between the employees and the customers. Ultimate peace in your life depends on your relationship with Jesus. Most people who are turned off by organized religion have been told or taught it is all about rules and regulations. However, Jesus is all about relationships and not regulations.
I want to invite you into a relationship with Jesus and our community of faith at Central. You will find that when you have a relationship with God and others, life is truly better.
Good Morning! I’m John Branning, Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church. What if you received word that you only have a few weeks to live? In that moment, what would become the most important thing in your life? I bet it will not be the bottom line on you balance sheet, or the size of your portfolio, your title, or the number of people that report to you.
What will be most important is relationships. A successful marriage depends upon the relationship between husband and wife. A peaceful home depends upon the relationship between parents and children. A prosperous business depends on the relationship between the employees and the customers. Ultimate peace in your life depends on your relationship with Jesus. Most people who are turned off by organized religion have been told or taught it is all about rules and regulations. However, Jesus is all about relationships and not regulations.
I want to invite you into a relationship with Jesus and our community of faith at Central. You will find that when you have a relationship with God and others, life is truly better.
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
SABRINA
This Sunday evening from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m., Central will once again host a much loved fellowship time within our community of faith. Our seventh annual Trunk or Treat will take place on 10th Street between 22nd and 23rd Avenue in downtown Meridian. Our church family and friends decorate their cars and trunks, offering games and candy at each venue. Family friendly costumes, face painting, music, hamburgers, hotdogs, cotton candy, laser tag, jumpies – all the makings of a small town street carnival will fill the air in downtown Meridian.
We do this as a time of both fellowship and as an extension of God’s love within our community.
At Central we value family - whether you are a family of one or ten, we extend an invitation to you for both Trunk or Treat or to worship with us on any given Sunday. For more information about Central, or about this Sunday’s event, you can visit our website at www.cumcmdn.org! We hope to see you Sunday!
This Sunday evening from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m., Central will once again host a much loved fellowship time within our community of faith. Our seventh annual Trunk or Treat will take place on 10th Street between 22nd and 23rd Avenue in downtown Meridian. Our church family and friends decorate their cars and trunks, offering games and candy at each venue. Family friendly costumes, face painting, music, hamburgers, hotdogs, cotton candy, laser tag, jumpies – all the makings of a small town street carnival will fill the air in downtown Meridian.
We do this as a time of both fellowship and as an extension of God’s love within our community.
At Central we value family - whether you are a family of one or ten, we extend an invitation to you for both Trunk or Treat or to worship with us on any given Sunday. For more information about Central, or about this Sunday’s event, you can visit our website at www.cumcmdn.org! We hope to see you Sunday!
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
DENNIS
Good morning everyone. I am Dennis Gossett with Central United Methodist Church. Have you ever wondered how someone learns the difference between right and wrong? Children should learn the difference from their parents. But, what about the parents? Better yet, what about society?
Some say the greater culture of a given society determines what is acceptable behavior. But, I believe God has placed a set of moral principles inside of every person. We somehow naturally know the difference between right and wrong. We know if we are hurting someone or not by our action. For the Christian, Jesus warned that if our righteousness did not exceed that of the Pharisees then we would not see the Kingdom of God (Mt. 5:20). The Lord was not talking about the kind of righteousness found in laws. Rather, it is found in the natural order of the human conscious.
The New Testament defines righteousness as doing what is good, fair, and honorable. When we combined this with a love for God and for neighbor, we are not far away from the Kingdom of Heaven.
So today, do those things that are good, fair and honorable. God Bless.
Good morning everyone. I am Dennis Gossett with Central United Methodist Church. Have you ever wondered how someone learns the difference between right and wrong? Children should learn the difference from their parents. But, what about the parents? Better yet, what about society?
Some say the greater culture of a given society determines what is acceptable behavior. But, I believe God has placed a set of moral principles inside of every person. We somehow naturally know the difference between right and wrong. We know if we are hurting someone or not by our action. For the Christian, Jesus warned that if our righteousness did not exceed that of the Pharisees then we would not see the Kingdom of God (Mt. 5:20). The Lord was not talking about the kind of righteousness found in laws. Rather, it is found in the natural order of the human conscious.
The New Testament defines righteousness as doing what is good, fair, and honorable. When we combined this with a love for God and for neighbor, we are not far away from the Kingdom of Heaven.
So today, do those things that are good, fair and honorable. God Bless.
Monday, October 24, 2016
Monday, October 24, 2016
TIM
Good morning. I’m Tim Wise, Sanctuary Choir Director at Central.
In Paul’s letter to the Christians in Ephesus, he communicates the power behind unity. He encourages us to live as people worthy of the call we have received from God.
He tells us to conduct ourselves with humility, gentleness, and patience. He says to accept each other with love and make an effort to preserve unity of the Spirit with the peace that ties us together.
He gave us these instructions so that we might serve together and build up the body of Christ.
Let us not be tied to our titles of separation. Stop looking at each other as Baptist, Episcopalian, Methodist, and Catholic. Let us unite in our faith!
“There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God and Father of all, who is over all, through all and in all.” Go forth and build the body of Christ on this sure foundation and message of unity.
Good morning. I’m Tim Wise, Sanctuary Choir Director at Central.
In Paul’s letter to the Christians in Ephesus, he communicates the power behind unity. He encourages us to live as people worthy of the call we have received from God.
He tells us to conduct ourselves with humility, gentleness, and patience. He says to accept each other with love and make an effort to preserve unity of the Spirit with the peace that ties us together.
He gave us these instructions so that we might serve together and build up the body of Christ.
Let us not be tied to our titles of separation. Stop looking at each other as Baptist, Episcopalian, Methodist, and Catholic. Let us unite in our faith!
“There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God and Father of all, who is over all, through all and in all.” Go forth and build the body of Christ on this sure foundation and message of unity.
Friday, October 21, 2016
Friday, October 21, 2016
DENNIS
Good morning everyone. I am Dennis Gossett with Central United Methodist Church. Every time I drive through the mountains, I notice the signs warning vehicles of the dangerous decline ahead. The signs are a yellowish/orange color with a picture of a box-truck going down a steep decline. Also, I notice that ever so often there are run-a-way ramps for cars and big trucks to use in case their brakes fail.
Often, I wondered if the ramps had ever failed to stop someone. But, can you imagine a person ignoring the warnings and continues to head down the mountain knowing their brakes would fail and the run-a-way ramps wouldn’t stop them? In our own lives, how often do we ignore the warning signs? Warning signs are those hints that say if you continue down this road nothing good is going to come from it, or there is for certain disaster at the end. All too often, people want to travel down a wide and fast path with no regard to how damaging it will be to their souls. Jesus said that the safest route is the road that is narrow and less traveled. If you want to learn more about a safer road to travel, then come to Central where we are constantly seeking the narrow way.
Good morning everyone. I am Dennis Gossett with Central United Methodist Church. Every time I drive through the mountains, I notice the signs warning vehicles of the dangerous decline ahead. The signs are a yellowish/orange color with a picture of a box-truck going down a steep decline. Also, I notice that ever so often there are run-a-way ramps for cars and big trucks to use in case their brakes fail.
Often, I wondered if the ramps had ever failed to stop someone. But, can you imagine a person ignoring the warnings and continues to head down the mountain knowing their brakes would fail and the run-a-way ramps wouldn’t stop them? In our own lives, how often do we ignore the warning signs? Warning signs are those hints that say if you continue down this road nothing good is going to come from it, or there is for certain disaster at the end. All too often, people want to travel down a wide and fast path with no regard to how damaging it will be to their souls. Jesus said that the safest route is the road that is narrow and less traveled. If you want to learn more about a safer road to travel, then come to Central where we are constantly seeking the narrow way.
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