Worship Preview

Worship This Sunday: 10:30am –  Ritual, Rights, Rites, and Mites : Amos 5:14-24, Matthew 7:12, and Luke 20:45 – 21:9. Rev. Christopher Eshelman preaching.

Last week Sheri Ellwood filled in for me and shared about the justice and advocacy work of Kansas InterFaith Action, her own background, and Jesus’ parables of the lost sheep and lost coin. Jesus’ economy is not necessarily “efficient” and it makes little sense – unless and until you are the one sheep that is lost… then it means everything! She drew from Amos 8 as part of her message, in verses 4-7 the prophet decries the people’s impatience with ritual and desire to “sell the sweepings of the wheat” rather than, for example, sharing abundance by “not gleaning the edges of their fields” a practice called for in the priestly code (Leviticus) and likely best known to us from the story of Ruth.

Sheri was here because I was away at a family wedding. My wife and I made a quick trip to New Mexico to celebrate the joining of two families full of longtime friends. It was wonderful. Prior to that last week, and again for 3 days this week, I have spent time in two very different retreat experiences. Before the wedding, I spent 3 vacation days at a contemplative Benedictine monastery in Oklahoma where the monks are generally silent unless chanting in Latin during the daily schedule of worship. As their guest, I observed ritual, listened deeply, enjoyed flickering candles and a driving thunderstorm in an otherwise silent sanctuary, and spent time in prayer, reading, and quiet reflection. Then this week, I’ve spent 3 very busy days on Zoom meetings with about 30 other clergy who are embarking on a 3-year process called “Creating a Culture of Renewal.” 3 very different environments of contemplation and celebration, each allowing me to unplug from the constant stream “normal life," celebrate possibilities and hope, and recenter myself. Knowing these different experiences were coming up, I had planned several weeks ahead in worship.

Looking at this week, I already had planned to build on what Sheri shared about lost sheep and lost coins, drawing from the “Widows Mite” and, importantly, the context of Jesus’ calling attention to her gift, and from an earlier chapter of Amos. What I didn’t know is that when I got back from my time away the news would be full of yet another failed prediction of “the rapture” and a rather prominent rejection of concepts of forgiveness and the Golden Rule. Amos talks of such predictions and even longings for God’s judgement on others and the context of the story of the widow giving her small yet extremely sacrificial offering – and Jesus’ sayings around it - challenges systems of greed, excess, and domination. Both concern how we live now and God’s judgment. One of the foundational pieces of “Creating a Culture of Renewal” is an idea called the “Platinum Rule.” The logic is that that sometimes the well-known Golden Rule found in Matthew 7:12 doesn’t go far enough or gets a bit twisted. It gets warped into being about us and our desires instead of serving and appreciating others. Different personalities want and need different things and sometimes, perhaps especially those of us with more dominant, action and task-oriented personalities, treating others as we want to be treated winds up treating them in ways they don’t appreciate. The "Platinum Rule" restates things to get more to the heart of Jesus’ way – that is treating others as they want and need so they feel heard and respected (even as we may disagree and challenge one another). It is a way to invite and equip everyone in the beloved community. Jesus meets people where they are. Jesus calls diverse people together! Deeply rooted in the prophetic tradition, he calls us to nuanced understandings that are not at all passive. Sunday we’ll talk about all of this as we look forward to where God is leading us in this time and place. We invite you to explore the hope and presence of Christ together with us at 10:30am each Sunday. 301 S. National here in Fort Scott. Blessings on your journey! 

Press Release for September 27th, 2025

First United Methodist

Community Office Hours – Monday, September 29^th. Pastor Christopher will again be available at Common Grounds from 2-4pm Monday if you’d like to chat, share a prayer request, or ask a question. Come grab a drink or snack and say hello!

Wednesday, October 1st, Feeding Families in His Name: A free, no obligation meal is served “to-go” style from underneath our portico from 5:30-6:30pm each Wednesday, prepared each week by our members as well as several area churches and community groups. If you would like to support this ministry, you can make donations online at: www.firstumcfortscott.org/feedingfamiliesdonation. Thank you.

Mark Your Calendars – Sunday, October 12^th at 3pm – Gospel Concert with Second Hand Strings! A freewill donation fundraiser for Feeding Families in His Name. Second Hand Strings is an acoustic group whose members enjoy sharing their love of music. The group of friends began playing together a few years ago to share their fondness of folk and classic country music. They will perform a selection of popular old-time gospel songs, adding their bluegrass touch.