CUMC Connect

Pardon our Pause

cumctechchair — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 13:30:34 +0000

Centreville UMC is excited for Pastors Marci Huntsman and Thomas James. Both pastors will be taking new appointments in the Virginia Conference beginning July 1.

Rev. Marci Huntsman will be moving to the Lynchburg area and will be the lead pastor at the West Campbell Charge: Lambs United Methodist Church and Evington United Methodist Church.

Rev. Thomas G. James will be staying in Northern Virginia, becoming the new lead pastor at Washington Street UMC in Old Town Alexandria.

Coming to Centreville UMC as the Minister of Congregational Care and leading the 11:02 Connections Service will be Rev. Kevin Havens. Rev. Haden will be coming to CUMC from across I-66, where he currently serves at Pender UMC.

CUMC is seeking to hire a new Director of Serve Ministries, and is taking applications through Sunday, June 21. Anyone wishing to apply can learn more about the position by downloading the JOB DESCRIPTION and should fill out a CUMC Employment Application.

With this transitional time upon the church, the CUMCConnect blog will be taking a hiatus. As July arrives and the pastoral moves have been made, it will be our goal to refocus our energy in updating CUMCConnect. Please keep CUMC, the West Campbell Charge, Washington Street UMC, and Pender UMC in your prayers as each church undergoes these pastoral transitions. May God’s grace, peace, and guidance lead each in this new season.

Bible Verse of the Day – Gospel Reading

cumctechchair — Thu, 28 May 2015 10:30:39 +0000

Join in the reading of the Holy Word each day, and offer up to God a word of prayer as you start off your day.

John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

15:26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf.

15:27 You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.

16:4b “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.

16:5 But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’

16:6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts.

16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

16:8 And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment:

16:9 about sin, because they do not believe in me;

16:10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer;

16:11 about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.

16:12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.

16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

16:14 He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

16:15 All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Ask, pray, seek and listen

John and Charles Wesley taught the early Methodist people, “God does nothing apart from prayer.”

God be in my head, and in my understanding; God be in my eyes, and in my looking; God be in my mouth, and in my speaking; God be in my heart, and in my thinking; God be at mine end, and at my departing. Amen.

Book of Hours (1514)

We Believe In The Holy Spirit – Sermon

cumctechchair — Wed, 27 May 2015 13:48:53 +0000

Take some time and read through this week’s sermon from Pastor Alan. How is God speaking to you through this week’s message? Respond by commenting at the bottom of the page.

Read Acts 3:1-10

In our study of the Apostles’ Creed, we jump ahead today, this Pentecost Sunday, from the first statement to the third, “I believe in the Holy Spirit.”

Last Sunday we talked about what it means to believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. We talked about God’s creative power and the fact that God desires a relationship with each of us. That relationship is made possible through his Son, Jesus Christ, and is sustained through the power of the Holy Spirit.

In his commentary on the traditional reading for Pentecost Sunday, Acts 2:1-21, Fred Craddock writes about what life would be like if we did not have this day as one of the high celebrations of the Christian faith.

“Without Pentecost,” he states, “Easter reminds the church that Jesus has now gone to be with God and his followers are left alone in the world. Without Pentecost, Easter offers us a risen Christ whose return to glory leaves the church to face the world armed with nothing but fond memories of how it once was when Jesus was here.”^{^[1]}

Without Pentecost – without the Holy Spirit, we would be left with nothing but memories of how things used to be and the knowledge that we are alone to face the trials of the world alone.

This explains the mood of the disciples as they were gathered in the Upper Room on the evening of Easter Sunday. They had witnessed the crucifixion of their Lord, discovered the empty tomb, and were not sure at all what they should expect next. John shares that “the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews.” (John 20:19)

They had locked the doors out of their fear of what might happen to them – remembering what had happened to Jesus that Friday.

They were alone, afraid, and left with nothing but memories of the good times they had shared with Christ over the past three years. Their future was uncertain. Just a week prior to this, their future was something they were excited about. They looked forward to more healings, more sharing by Christ, more excitement as they followed him. With Jesus, they never knew what to expect next, and now, all that was gone.

Fear filled their lives as they faced the future alone.

Have you ever felt alone? Have you ever felt that there was no one there for you? No place to turn, no one with whom you could seek comfort? Afraid of the future with noting to sustain you but memories of better times? This is the same feeling that loomed over the disciples like a dark cloud or dense fog.

But Pentecost did happen, and God did send the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus promised in John 14:16, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever.”

Evidence that God sent the Holy Spirit to the Disciples and all people on Pentecost is seen in the reading from Acts this morning. Something powerful happened to the disciples on that eventful day. From individuals who were afraid to go outside, assembled behind closed doors, they became powerful representatives of Jesus Christ in their community – boldly proclaiming the power of the resurrected Christ to a hurting world. This transition was made possible because of the presence of Christ through the Holy Spirit.

Our reading from Acts 3:1-10 tells us how two of the Disciples, Peter and John, after being empowered by the Holy Spirit that first Pentecost, went to the temple to pray. It was a custom for beggars to sit at the entrance to a temple because when people are on their way to worship God they were inclined to be more generous.

When he saw Peter and John, he shouted out at them asking for alms. They looked at him and said that they didn’t have any money to give, but they would give him what they had – and saying this, getting his attention, they said, “In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” They reached out to him and touching him, he jumped up and walked for the first time! He than he entered the temple in a spirit of excitement, jumping and leaping and praising God. All around them were amazed at what they saw!

The power of the Holy Spirit – the reality of the Holy Spirit was made evident: through the change in the demeanor of the Disciples as the man who had been lame from birth was given new life in Christ. As the disciples knew they could minister in Jesus’ name and were moved from a life of fear to one of confidence and power. As the church was born and believers were empowered to share the message of the love of Christ with a hurting world

I believe in the Holy Spirit.

In his book Holy Spirit Here and Now, Methodist Pastor Teacher Trevor Hudson explores many of the ways the Holy Spirit is alive to us today. He states, “The Holy Spirit brings us alive to God’s Presence in our lives. draws us into a deeper shared life, transforms us inwardly, guides us in our decision making, helps us to pray, empowers us to be witnesses to the love of God, and leads us in times of loneliness and suffering”^{^[2]}

I can say that I have experienced the reality of the Holy Spirit in my life in each of the ways Hudson mentions, and many more. It was the Holy Spirit who touched my life many years ago and led me to Jesus. It was the Holy Spirit who came into my life and called me into full time ministry. It was the Holy Spirit who comforted me in the loss of my parents and assured me that I would see them again. It is the Holy Spirit who guides me through difficult decisions in life. It is the Holy Spirit who helps me discern the will of God for my life and gives me direction each and every day. It is the Holy Spirit who empowers me to live for Christ and to be Christ to a world in need. It is the Holy Spirit who empowers us as a church to be in ministry beyond the walls of the church in the many ways we are in service and mission with others, and gives people the passion for new ways to be in mission with others. It is the Holy Spirit who speaks to us during worship, inspiring us through music and the sharing of God’s Word.

It is the Holy Spirit who assures us that we are never alone and that Christ is always present with us, even in the times when we have doubts, questions, and fears. It is through the Holy Spirit that Christ continues to minister to each of us and through each of us. It is the Holy Spirit who helps us face the future unafraid and empowers us to do what God is calling us to do.

I believe in the Holy Spirit.

On this Pentecost Sunday, may you experience the power of the presence of Christ in your life through the Holy Spirit.

May the Holy Spirit bring you into the presence of God, transform you inwardly, guide you in your decision making, help you to pray, empower you to be a witness to the power of Christ in your life and in the world, and assure you that you are never alone, even in times of distress and suffering.

^[1] Fred Craddock, Peaching Through the Christian Year, A, A Comprehensive Commentary on the Lectionary, Philadelphia: Trinity Press International, 1992, pages 298-299
^{^[2]} Trevor Hudson, Holy Spirit Here and Now, Nashville:Upper Room Books, 2013

Bible Verse of the Day – Second Reading

cumctechchair — Wed, 27 May 2015 10:30:00 +0000

Join in the reading of the Holy Word each day, and offer up to God a word of prayer as you start off your day.

Romans 8:22-27

8:22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now;

8:23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

8:24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen?

8:25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.

8:27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Ask, pray, seek and listen

John and Charles Wesley taught the early Methodist people, “God does nothing apart from prayer.”

Accept, O Father, the sacrifice of our thanksgiving: of praise, for your great mercies; of prayer, that we may grow in grace; of penitence, that our sins may be forgiven; and of love, that only gift which you seek in us or desire; and this we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.

John Donne (1572-1631)

Bible Verse of the Day – Psalm

cumctechchair — Tue, 26 May 2015 10:30:25 +0000

Join in the reading of the Holy Word each day, and offer up to God a word of prayer as you start off your day.

Psalm 104:24-34, 35b

104:24 O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

104:25 Yonder is the sea, great and wide, creeping things innumerable are there, living things both small and great.

104:26 There go the ships, and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it.

104:27 These all look to you to give them their food in due season;

104:28 when you give to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.

104:29 When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.

104:30 When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground.

104:31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works–

104:32 who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke.

104:33 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.

104:34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD.

104:35b Bless the LORD, O my soul. Praise the LORD!

Ask, pray, seek and listen

John and Charles Wesley taught the early Methodist people, “God does nothing apart from prayer.”

O God, whose glory the heavens are telling, the earth your power, the sea your might, and whose greatness all the hosts of heaven proclaim; to you belongs all glory, honour, majesty and praise; both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages.
Amen.

Liturgy of Saint James (fifth century)

Bible Verse of the Day – First Reading

cumctechchair — Mon, 25 May 2015 10:30:44 +0000

Join in the reading of the Holy Word each day, and offer up to God a word of prayer as you start off your day.

Acts 2:1-21

2:1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.

2:2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

2:3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.

2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

2:5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem.

2:6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.

2:7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?

2:8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?

2:9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

2:10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,

2:11 Cretans and Arabs–in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.”

2:12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

2:13 But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

2:14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.

2:15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning.

2:16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

2:17 ‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.

2:18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.

2:19 And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

2:20 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.

2:21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

Ask, pray, seek and listen.

John and Charles Wesley taught the early Methodist people, “God does nothing apart from prayer.” So pray this prayer today:

To you, O Lord, O Father of Lights, we lift up our hearts. Here alone with you, O God, far from the busy ways of the world teach us your way. Let us open your holy book and grant us therein both to know your will and to find the path to heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

John Wesley (1703-1791)

Bible Verse of the Day – Gospel Reading

cumctechchair — Thu, 21 May 2015 10:30:01 +0000

Join in the reading of the Holy Word each day, and offer up to God a word of prayer as you start off your day.

John 17:6-19

17:6 “I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.

17:7 Now they know that everything you have given me is from you;

17:8 for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

17:9 I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours.

17:10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them.

17:11 And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.

17:12 While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled.

17:13 But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves.

17:14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.

17:15 I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one.

17:16 They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.

17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

17:18 As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.

17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.

Ask, pray, seek and listen

John and Charles Wesley taught the early Methodist people, “God does nothing apart from prayer.”

Yesterday we were crucified with Christ; today we are glorified with him. Yesterday we were dead with Christ; today we are sharing in his resurrection. Yesterday we were buried with him; today we are waking with him from the sleep of death.

Gregory of Nazianzus (329-389)

Bible Verse of the Day – Second Reading

cumctechchair — Wed, 20 May 2015 10:30:21 +0000

Join in the reading of the Holy Word each day, and offer up to God a word of prayer as you start off your day.

1 John 5:9-13

5:9 If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son.

5:10 Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son.

5:11 And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

5:12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Ask, pray, seek and listen

John and Charles Wesley taught the early Methodist people, “God does nothing apart from prayer.”

O uncreated one, bless those whom you have made in your image. O untouchable one, draw near to us in the Word made flesh. O ineffable one, disclose yourself to us in the wisdom of the Cross. O immortal one, bring us through death to eternal life; through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Angela of Foligno (1248-1309)

Bible Verse of the Day – Psalm

cumctechchair — Tue, 19 May 2015 10:30:48 +0000

Join in the reading of the Holy Word each day, and offer up to God a word of prayer as you start off your day.

Psalm 1

1:1 Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers;

1:2 but their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate day and night.

1:3 They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.

1:4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

1:5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

1:6 for the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Ask, pray, seek and listen

John and Charles Wesley taught the early Methodist people, “God does nothing apart from prayer.”

Bind our souls to your own, O Christ, so that we may never be separated from you. Only in you are we fully alive. Only in your light can we truly see and only in your strength can we safely pursue our way. To you we come, O wisdom without end. In you we rest, O mercy without limit. Amen.

Mechtild of Magdeburg (1210-1280)

Bible Verse of the Day – First Reading

cumctechchair — Mon, 18 May 2015 10:30:00 +0000

Join in the reading of the Holy Word each day, and offer up to God a word of prayer as you start off your day.

Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

1:15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said,

1:16 “Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus —

1:17 for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.”

1:21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

1:22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us–one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.”

1:23 So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.

1:24 Then they prayed and said, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen

1:25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”

1:26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.

Ask, pray, seek and listen.

John and Charles Wesley taught the early Methodist people, “God does nothing apart from prayer.” So pray this prayer today:

Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me. Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

Attributed to St Patrick (372-466)

CUMC Connect

Pardon our Pause

Bible Verse of the Day – Gospel Reading

Ask, pray, seek and listen

We Believe In The Holy Spirit – Sermon

[1] Fred Craddock, Peaching Through the Christian Year, A, A Comprehensive Commentary on the Lectionary, Philadelphia: Trinity Press International, 1992, pages 298-299 [2] Trevor Hudson, Holy Spirit Here and Now, Nashville:Upper Room Books, 2013

Bible Verse of the Day – Second Reading

Bible Verse of the Day – Psalm

Ask, pray, seek and listen

Bible Verse of the Day – First Reading

Bible Verse of the Day – Gospel Reading

Ask, pray, seek and listen

Bible Verse of the Day – Second Reading

Bible Verse of the Day – Psalm

Ask, pray, seek and listen

Bible Verse of the Day – First Reading

^[1] Fred Craddock, Peaching Through the Christian Year, A, A Comprehensive Commentary on the Lectionary, Philadelphia: Trinity Press International, 1992, pages 298-299
^{^[2]} Trevor Hudson, Holy Spirit Here and Now, Nashville:Upper Room Books, 2013