ADVENT 2017
Starting with Christ the King Sunday on November 26, East Canton UMC will be celebrating the waiting and the excitement of arrival as we move toward the Christmas Day celebrations. The season of Christmas has already begun in the stores but it must also begin in our hearts to prepare us to be part of the Celebration of the Birth of True Love into the world.
Each week during Advent, our worship time centers around a theme to reconnect us with the meaning of the holiday season for Christians around the globe.
October and November 2017
The sermon series focus has been on looking at what Jesus is instructing us to do during his time in Jerusalem in the last week of his life. During the worship time, we considered how people were APPOINTED BY JESUS, RESCUED BY JESUS, CONFUSED BY JESUS , and CHALLENGED BY JESUS.
Matthew 22 and 25 were the focus scriptures for the four week series.
Our Bulletin Quote from Hebrews 10:35-36 NIV:
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what is promised.
September 19, 2017
The sermon series has been on "Love in Context" as we follow the Revised Common Lection readings through Matthew and Romans.
As we move into the fall, we find things getting back in "full swing" in so many ways. The musicians for the Christmas Conglomeration will begin rehearsing in about a week. The night air is cooler. Soon we will be setting our clocks back. It is easy to forget what "full swing" for Christians should be in these busy times.
The sermon series has looked at who really is our neighbor and concluded that EVERYBODY is our neighbor. It acknowledged that we might disagree with our neighbor sometimes but that we still should treat them with love. That means more than just respect. That means truly continuing to hold them in prayer.
Love is a part of the context of every interaction we should have in every day. Will there be disagreements, certainly! But we are called to remember the great depth of the forgiveness God has given us. We are called to share that forgiveness outward in a "pay it forward" fashion of sharing the blessing to someone new!