Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.
1 John 3:2 (NRSV)
Sometimes, there is a weight.
This weight settles onto our shoulders, slouching us downward, sapping our energy as we trudge through a long day.
This weight rests on our heads, filling our minds with unwelcome thoughts when it should be falling asleep.
This weight can fill our stomachs with dread when we have to do something tough we don’t want to do.
Where are you carrying extra weight today?
I like to remember the scripture above when I feel particularly weighed down. I wish I had more and better answers to all the problems I see each day, yet on God’s timeline I’m still a child figuring things out. We don’t punish children for their inability to solve problems larger than themselves. Why should we be any different?
That said, we do have the ability, even imperfectly, to shed those things that weigh us down. Our Easter faith is encouragement to dare, try, fail, and try again.
We have been through a series of storms together these past couple of years. We had to pause or cease to do things we have always done or which give our lives hope and meaning. While the pandemic is unfortunately not over just yet, the vaccine rollout is a ray of hope that we may be able to fully resume activities safely this Summer or Fall.
In the meantime, there is still need, and we are still able to help. Before the pandemic, we assisted Family Promise in feeding and housing temporarily homeless families in Hunterdon County. Family Promise’s mission has changed a bit. They are currently housing families in hotels instead of churches, yet churches are still needed to provide food. Sharing what you have is a powerful way of shifting some of that unwelcome weight around by making a positive difference in our world.
God stitches us back together each day, sure, just as God stitched us together at the beginning of our lives. We are able to stitch our church back together, repairing and reinforcing where helpful so that we continue to grow and flourish in the years to come.
Keep the Faith,
Pastor Ben
Announcements
Family Promise Food Donations Needed
Last week, Family Promise put out a notice that they needed food ASAP. Clinton UMC and Flemington Presbyterian both filled the need at that time. Our turn could be this week or soon thereafter too. Are you able to provide food items from a list Family Promise shares? If so, please let Walter or Pastor Ben know.
NORWESCAP Update
Did you know that Flemington UMC has worked to welcome a preschool in the lower level of the building? There has been extensive work to prepare the space for all the necessary inspections and approvals required to have the space licensed for children to attend. Beginning two years ago with the Trustees and continuing this year in the combined Leadership Council, there have been issues to address from stubborn moisture, heating/cooling, leaks, and more. This week, one of the most stubborn issues involving plumbing, took a promising turn when blockages like flushable (or non-flushable) wipes were discovered in the waste pipe.
Serving on the Leadership Council of FUMC gives you a front-seat view of all the different ways we as a church seek to share the light of Christ with our community. If you would like to learn more or find out how you can share your gifts too, please respond to this message.
Continuing Coffee Hour Over Zoom
Laura Newton will host a weekly time of conversation and connection at 11:30 am after our worship service each week. Login is available at 11:15 am or conclusion of worship, whichever is later.
Here is a link to that time –
https://zoom.us/j/97755587686?pwd=NVdETlJhTmZncmpCdi85UUJOanJLUT09
If you have questions or need help, you can ask Pastor Ben or Laura. Don’t be shy, you are missed and a part of this church family, too!
New Upper Rooms are Available in the Church Office
The new Upper Room Daily Devotionals are also available now. If you’d like to pick yours up, Gretchen is in the church office from 9 am-noon Tuesday – Friday each week. Please call ahead so she can set whatever you are picking up out for you.
Staying Connected
You will find every newsletter, worship service, devotional, and additional material posted on our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/FlemingtonUnitedMethodist/
Even if you don’t use Facebook, you can access everything we have there. If you do have a Facebook account, “like” to follow our page and be notified when new things are posted or when videos are about to go live so you don’t miss anything.
Coffee Hour is a time of sharing after Sunday morning worship hosted by Laura Newton at approximately 11:30 am. All are welcome!
If you have any difficulties accessing any of those links, please reply to this message or call the church office at (908)782-1070 and we will get you connected right away.
It Gets Better (and Better)