Stephen B. Grantham, Sr. Pastor
Moultrie First United Methodist Church
Parking Lot Worship This Sunday, May 31 at 9:30 AM
This is an experiment and a departure from the ordinary. We will
have parking lot worship this Sunday in the parking lot by the social
hall. Three tents will be set up under which you may sit or you may
choose to enjoy the sunshine. Starting time is 9:30 AM. Wear outdoor
clothing which will be appropriate for 75 to 80 degrees. Bring bug spray
for any stray gnats that show up. They have been known to come. We
should not have rain. Face masks and hand sanitizing will be called for
as will social distancing. Bring your lawn chair in which to sit and be
comfortable. Families will be able to sit together.
Please park in the parking lot by the church offices or in front of
the chapel. If you choose to remain at home, our service will continue to
be broadcast over Facebook Live or you may watch it posted to the
church website at a later time.
Moultrie First United Methodist Church
Parking Lot Worship This Sunday, May 31 at 9:30 AM
This is an experiment and a departure from the ordinary. We will
have parking lot worship this Sunday in the parking lot by the social
hall. Three tents will be set up under which you may sit or you may
choose to enjoy the sunshine. Starting time is 9:30 AM. Wear outdoor
clothing which will be appropriate for 75 to 80 degrees. Bring bug spray
for any stray gnats that show up. They have been known to come. We
should not have rain. Face masks and hand sanitizing will be called for
as will social distancing. Bring your lawn chair in which to sit and be
comfortable. Families will be able to sit together.
Please park in the parking lot by the church offices or in front of
the chapel. If you choose to remain at home, our service will continue to
be broadcast over Facebook Live or you may watch it posted to the
church website at a later time.
May 31, 2020: Scripture Lesson: Acts 2:42-47, Sermon: "God Added to their Numbers"
The Church in the Power of The Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He is understood in many different ways by Christians. The Greek word in the New Testament for the Holy Spirit is pneuma and is often called comforter, encourager, giver of power for service, one who stands by us to remind us of the teachings of Christ. It is equated with the presence of God at creation in the book of Genesis, that was like a wind moving over the face of the earth.
In Acts, the Holy Spirit is the presence of God, with God's people, after Jesus has ascended to heaven. It brings unity, healing and the excitement needed to push the church into the world and to share the gospel with others through words, deeds and signs. This Holy Spirit has been compared to high voltage electricity, which energizes the early church, giving these Christians the power needed to witness to the world about who Jesus is. Jesus works are done by ordinary people as they allow the Holy Spirit to dwell in them.
Our lives do well as we surrender to the Holy Spirit. When we give ourselves to God in sacrificial ways, surrendering to His presence, marvelous things begin to happen. It is not about us, but about Him
The Church in the Power of The Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He is understood in many different ways by Christians. The Greek word in the New Testament for the Holy Spirit is pneuma and is often called comforter, encourager, giver of power for service, one who stands by us to remind us of the teachings of Christ. It is equated with the presence of God at creation in the book of Genesis, that was like a wind moving over the face of the earth.
In Acts, the Holy Spirit is the presence of God, with God's people, after Jesus has ascended to heaven. It brings unity, healing and the excitement needed to push the church into the world and to share the gospel with others through words, deeds and signs. This Holy Spirit has been compared to high voltage electricity, which energizes the early church, giving these Christians the power needed to witness to the world about who Jesus is. Jesus works are done by ordinary people as they allow the Holy Spirit to dwell in them.
Our lives do well as we surrender to the Holy Spirit. When we give ourselves to God in sacrificial ways, surrendering to His presence, marvelous things begin to happen. It is not about us, but about Him
(The emphasis of this sermon is on prayer. This is also Memorial Day Weekend. I will attempt to pay tribute to those who have given their lives for this nation. My sermon will focus mostly on the importance of prayer.)
May 24, 2020 Memorial Day Weekend
*Gospel Lesson: John 17:1-11
The Sermon: “When Jesus Prays for Us”
Memorial Day is A Reminder of the Few
Niko came to me and said, “I would like us to honor the dead who have served our nation in the military. I will set it up if you ok this.”
I said let’s do it.
Niko was a young man with white blond hair and a can do spirit. He was a First Sargent with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (The Night Stalkers) of the United States Army. He had a number of MH 47 Chinook aircraft for which he was responsible to make sure all were air worth. His aircraft were responsible for the most dangerous and clandestine of missions.
That day as he brought the wreath down to the altar and placed it with great military precision, TAPS were played and he saluted in good form. As I watched, tears began to run down his face. I got a lump in my throat and wondered what it was that made him weep. After the service, I spoke to him and inquired. He shared with me that one of his friends, a Green Beret, had been dropped into the waters off the Philippines by his aircraft and never heard from again.
I understood his need to grieve and to honor those who had fallen in this nations many wars and clandestine military actions. I understood our collective need to give honor and respect to those who give so much and ask for so little. To borrow a line from a movie, “A Few Good Men,” let us be mindful that there are those who stand on the wall and keep watch so the rest of us can live in peace. A simple thank you is usually all they ask.
May 24, 2020 Memorial Day Weekend
*Gospel Lesson: John 17:1-11
The Sermon: “When Jesus Prays for Us”
Memorial Day is A Reminder of the Few
Niko came to me and said, “I would like us to honor the dead who have served our nation in the military. I will set it up if you ok this.”
I said let’s do it.
Niko was a young man with white blond hair and a can do spirit. He was a First Sargent with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (The Night Stalkers) of the United States Army. He had a number of MH 47 Chinook aircraft for which he was responsible to make sure all were air worth. His aircraft were responsible for the most dangerous and clandestine of missions.
That day as he brought the wreath down to the altar and placed it with great military precision, TAPS were played and he saluted in good form. As I watched, tears began to run down his face. I got a lump in my throat and wondered what it was that made him weep. After the service, I spoke to him and inquired. He shared with me that one of his friends, a Green Beret, had been dropped into the waters off the Philippines by his aircraft and never heard from again.
I understood his need to grieve and to honor those who had fallen in this nations many wars and clandestine military actions. I understood our collective need to give honor and respect to those who give so much and ask for so little. To borrow a line from a movie, “A Few Good Men,” let us be mindful that there are those who stand on the wall and keep watch so the rest of us can live in peace. A simple thank you is usually all they ask.
Graduate Recognition Sunday
May 17, 2020
Scripture Lesson: Acts 7:55-60
Sermon: “Like Master; Like Servant; the Legacy”
Legacy; What is Yours?
The legacy we leave behind is the dominant impression we leave on this world. In whatever community we find ourselves, because of our presence there, we leave a legacy. Pastor’s leave a legacy behind in the churches they have led. Politicians leave behind a political legacy. Community leaders leave behind a legacy in their community. The sum total of all we do is our legacy.
The same holds true for students. As we graduate from high school and or college, we will leave behind a legacy. It is a reflection of who we are and how we do things, how we perform and how we behave. In this legacy we reflect what we give of ourselves when we are in high school or college. It will be that part of us we decide to leave behind as we move forward.
Some legacies will be quiet ones. Others will reflect a heart filled with compassion. Some will be most memorable because they will have been filled with energy and loud pronunciations of our lives. Some of us will be known because we built something physical and others can see this representation of our life and its work. Other legacies will be less than stellar and at some point we will look back with regret at what we left behind.
I simply ask this of our graduates; What kind of legacy do you leave behind and what kind will you leave behind in the future? Much of this is up to us. Be intentional about your legacy.
May 17, 2020
Scripture Lesson: Acts 7:55-60
Sermon: “Like Master; Like Servant; the Legacy”
Legacy; What is Yours?
The legacy we leave behind is the dominant impression we leave on this world. In whatever community we find ourselves, because of our presence there, we leave a legacy. Pastor’s leave a legacy behind in the churches they have led. Politicians leave behind a political legacy. Community leaders leave behind a legacy in their community. The sum total of all we do is our legacy.
The same holds true for students. As we graduate from high school and or college, we will leave behind a legacy. It is a reflection of who we are and how we do things, how we perform and how we behave. In this legacy we reflect what we give of ourselves when we are in high school or college. It will be that part of us we decide to leave behind as we move forward.
Some legacies will be quiet ones. Others will reflect a heart filled with compassion. Some will be most memorable because they will have been filled with energy and loud pronunciations of our lives. Some of us will be known because we built something physical and others can see this representation of our life and its work. Other legacies will be less than stellar and at some point we will look back with regret at what we left behind.
I simply ask this of our graduates; What kind of legacy do you leave behind and what kind will you leave behind in the future? Much of this is up to us. Be intentional about your legacy.
May 3, 2020, 9:30 AM Service Notes:
Scripture Lesson: Acts 2:42-47
Sermon: “God Added to Their Number”
In Consideration of Sharing the Gospel
As the best of consultants look at the United Methodist Church in the future, they advise us that we will be closing 1/3rd of our churches in the next 25 years. Why? We are not growing like we once did. In the 1950’s we were the 2nd largest protestant denomination in the U.S. We had in the neighborhood of 13 million members nationally. Now we only have about 9 million church members in the U.S.
What has happened? We have forgotten how to do the work of Evangelism. We started relying on biological growth in the 20th century and when that stopped working for us in the 1960’s we went into decline. We had also built up a huge, institutional church and as the culture changed and people began to disparage institutions of any kind, this made it more difficult to grow. For 55 years we have been losing ground.
Is there hope? Yes! But it will come at a cost. We have to change the way we do things. We need to go back to our Wesleyan and roots and to our New Testament roots. We need to become a movement (not an institution) all over again. We need to reaffirm the need to do the work of evangelism; sharing the good news that Jesus Christ came to save all people and that this is good news. Our methodology needs to be through word, deed and signs. Speaking and teaching the word of God, doing works of charity and justice in our community and allowing the Holy Spirit to be present in us in ways that are so exciting that others will see them as a miracle. These works will point back to God and not to us. When this happens, God will add to our number. We will be blessed.
Scripture Lesson: Acts 2:42-47
Sermon: “God Added to Their Number”
In Consideration of Sharing the Gospel
As the best of consultants look at the United Methodist Church in the future, they advise us that we will be closing 1/3rd of our churches in the next 25 years. Why? We are not growing like we once did. In the 1950’s we were the 2nd largest protestant denomination in the U.S. We had in the neighborhood of 13 million members nationally. Now we only have about 9 million church members in the U.S.
What has happened? We have forgotten how to do the work of Evangelism. We started relying on biological growth in the 20th century and when that stopped working for us in the 1960’s we went into decline. We had also built up a huge, institutional church and as the culture changed and people began to disparage institutions of any kind, this made it more difficult to grow. For 55 years we have been losing ground.
Is there hope? Yes! But it will come at a cost. We have to change the way we do things. We need to go back to our Wesleyan and roots and to our New Testament roots. We need to become a movement (not an institution) all over again. We need to reaffirm the need to do the work of evangelism; sharing the good news that Jesus Christ came to save all people and that this is good news. Our methodology needs to be through word, deed and signs. Speaking and teaching the word of God, doing works of charity and justice in our community and allowing the Holy Spirit to be present in us in ways that are so exciting that others will see them as a miracle. These works will point back to God and not to us. When this happens, God will add to our number. We will be blessed.
Coping With Shelter in Place
Friday, April 3, 2020
Rev. Stephen B. Grantham, Sr. Pastor
Moultrie First United Methodist Church
Yes, these are different days. There is a threat to our physical health. We understand the need to “Shelter In Place.” Our Bishop has asked all the pastors in the South Georgia Annual Conference to abide by the recommendations of the CDC, Federal, State and Local Governments. We do not want to be guilty of transmitting this disease to anyone else and we do not want to catch it ourselves. I do have confidence science will provide better treatments and a viral vaccine in the near future.
In the meantime, how do we cope? This is something many are asking and some are struggling with this.
1. Be aware of your feelings. Many of us are feeling frustrated, anxious, angry, sad, fearful, guilty and lonely. These are all normal given the circumstances. Talk to yourself or a friend on the phone about how you feel. If you need to call me you are welcome to do so. My cell number is 478-960-6438. You may also choose to write down your feelings. Journaling is helpful to many people. If you are musically inclined, write a song about this time in your life.
2. Call a friend to keep from feeling isolated. Call more than one. Ask them how they are. Find ways to give of yourself as you shelter in place. Send a note to someone. Nancy Riley shared with me that some of our youth are mailing letters to one another. Writing is one way to get your feelings out there and to let another know you care about them.
3. Find something to do with your extra time. Use your creativity to find projects that need to be done. Fix a broken piece of furniture. Paint a bedroom. Prepare a special meal. Prepare meals in advance and freeze them. Read a book you have had on the shelf for a while. Watch a movie you have not watched in a while. Clean up a room that you have neglected. Work in the yard.
4. Know that this time will not last forever. The late Dr. Robert Shuler, who was at one time pastor of the Crystal Cathedral in Southern California, had a saying, “Tough times never last but tough people do.” Toughness is not about physically being tough as much as it is about knowing where our strength comes from and relying on the source. Our source of strength is God and He is not allowing us to be alone in this time of social distancing.
Blessings,
Stephen
Rev. Stephen B. Grantham, Sr. Pastor
Moultrie First United Methodist Church
Yes, these are different days. There is a threat to our physical health. We understand the need to “Shelter In Place.” Our Bishop has asked all the pastors in the South Georgia Annual Conference to abide by the recommendations of the CDC, Federal, State and Local Governments. We do not want to be guilty of transmitting this disease to anyone else and we do not want to catch it ourselves. I do have confidence science will provide better treatments and a viral vaccine in the near future.
In the meantime, how do we cope? This is something many are asking and some are struggling with this.
1. Be aware of your feelings. Many of us are feeling frustrated, anxious, angry, sad, fearful, guilty and lonely. These are all normal given the circumstances. Talk to yourself or a friend on the phone about how you feel. If you need to call me you are welcome to do so. My cell number is 478-960-6438. You may also choose to write down your feelings. Journaling is helpful to many people. If you are musically inclined, write a song about this time in your life.
2. Call a friend to keep from feeling isolated. Call more than one. Ask them how they are. Find ways to give of yourself as you shelter in place. Send a note to someone. Nancy Riley shared with me that some of our youth are mailing letters to one another. Writing is one way to get your feelings out there and to let another know you care about them.
3. Find something to do with your extra time. Use your creativity to find projects that need to be done. Fix a broken piece of furniture. Paint a bedroom. Prepare a special meal. Prepare meals in advance and freeze them. Read a book you have had on the shelf for a while. Watch a movie you have not watched in a while. Clean up a room that you have neglected. Work in the yard.
4. Know that this time will not last forever. The late Dr. Robert Shuler, who was at one time pastor of the Crystal Cathedral in Southern California, had a saying, “Tough times never last but tough people do.” Toughness is not about physically being tough as much as it is about knowing where our strength comes from and relying on the source. Our source of strength is God and He is not allowing us to be alone in this time of social distancing.
Blessings,
Stephen
The Importance of Prayer
These times are giving us many reasons to pray. I am at a loss in some ways to know how to do the work I have always done. God has put it on my heart to continue to work from my office. I am visiting by phone, email and text message. We are leading worship by Live Streaming. We hope to do this in a way that is better than this past Sunday. We are looking at the purchase or lease of equipment what will allow us to communicate every Sunday by Live Streaming. Please be in prayer for our efforts. Also be in prayer for those who are sick or may be getting sick.
This Sunday I will be preaching on John 11:1-45, the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Believe it or not, this text has much to say to us in our present circumstances. Hope is hope because it exists where there should not be hope. Hope is a virtue that exists where there is bleak prospect of good being present. The reason, our hope is grounded in the God we worship and in the Son he sent to die for us. In this hope we are energized in the midst of our most dire of circumstances. Our prayer life connects us with this hope and sustains us in this hope.
Below is a portion of a communication from our Annual Conference leadership that invites us to pray every day at 12:19 PM. Please read and let us pray together as a congregation and as a community.
“The coronavirus is also known as COVID-19. This has led to discussion among churches and pastors about inviting us to pray together at 12:19 p.m. each day. Let us join together in praying for: the researchers who are working for a cure, the medical personnel who are on the front lines of this fight, those whose jobs are in jeopardy, those in particularly vulnerable groups, the business owners who are living with financial uncertainty, and our churches as we seek to bring hope through Jesus Christ. Wherever you are at 12:19 p.m. each day, Bishop Bryan and the Cabinet ask you to join us in this prayer movement.”
Peace and Grace in Christ,
Stephen
This Sunday I will be preaching on John 11:1-45, the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Believe it or not, this text has much to say to us in our present circumstances. Hope is hope because it exists where there should not be hope. Hope is a virtue that exists where there is bleak prospect of good being present. The reason, our hope is grounded in the God we worship and in the Son he sent to die for us. In this hope we are energized in the midst of our most dire of circumstances. Our prayer life connects us with this hope and sustains us in this hope.
Below is a portion of a communication from our Annual Conference leadership that invites us to pray every day at 12:19 PM. Please read and let us pray together as a congregation and as a community.
“The coronavirus is also known as COVID-19. This has led to discussion among churches and pastors about inviting us to pray together at 12:19 p.m. each day. Let us join together in praying for: the researchers who are working for a cure, the medical personnel who are on the front lines of this fight, those whose jobs are in jeopardy, those in particularly vulnerable groups, the business owners who are living with financial uncertainty, and our churches as we seek to bring hope through Jesus Christ. Wherever you are at 12:19 p.m. each day, Bishop Bryan and the Cabinet ask you to join us in this prayer movement.”
Peace and Grace in Christ,
Stephen
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