Worship Preview 6.28.26 “Prayerfully Meeting the Moment”

WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY: 10:30am. “Prayerfully Meeting the Moment”  Rev. Christopher Eshelman preaching. Scriptures: Psalm 107:1-43, Romans 8:14-28

For several weeks, I’ve been sharing a sermon series on prayer entitled “The Heart of the Matter.” I think it has been fruitful. Just today, I had a member share a particular frustration she has been working on and she commented: “I realized I hadn’t prayed about it.” She shared how yesterday she had then done so, and how new possibilities were presented the next morning. People stepped up, she saw options, things changed – and her next steps became clearer. The problems and frustrations are still there – but there are options where before she saw only obstacles. Recently we celebrated serving our 200,000^th meal at Feeding Families in His Name. That ministry has seen plenty of obstacles and people, including our most core volunteers, thinking we can’t make it work. But that ministry has also been saturated in prayer, and each time the next step has seemed daunting, a way has come. Another donation, another grant, another set of volunteers. New energy, hope, and enthusiasm. 

Last week, we celebrated Father’s Day and I mentioned Abram and Sarai and how they arranged the birth of Ishmael, thinking they were fulfilling God’s Will. I mentioned how - after she has been expelled from their home due to Sarai’s jealousy, even though her bearing Ishmael had been Sarai’s idea - the slave girl, Hagar, is the first person in the Bible to name God, saying God is “El Roi.” “The God who sees me.” Ishmael and his mother weren’t God’s plan – yet God does not abandon them. The story presents the heroes – Abram and Sarai – in a difficult light. It shows their shortcomings. The Bible is full of stories where the people we’d expect to best understand, believe, and do God’s will fall woefully short.

I talked a bit about my relationship with my dad and how that has, at times, been strained over choices he (and I) have made. But how I now wouldn’t undo them either, because relationships those choices brought into my life. The example I gave was how my step-mother’s father and step-father were both huge influences and encouragements for me in my late teen years. Two men I’d likely never have met, except for my parent’s divorce and Dad’s remarriage. Life is complex. People make choices. Good is interwoven with bad. God makes a way. God takes all our choices and works for good. I mentioned a family story akin to “We don’t talk about Bruno” and how it is only by sharing the hard stories that we can overcome our past. Learning some of those stories has been transformative for me, helping me better understand, release hurt and anger about, and intentionally change family patterns – including some of my own choices.

Prayer is about participating yet not controlling. My plan was to conclude that series on prayer this week with a look at the doxology “For thine is the kingdom, power, and glory” – but in my reading and prayer during preparation, I keep learning more that I want to cover and can’t do justice to in one service... and I’ve felt a tug on my heart to say some other things about the moment we find ourselves in. A few hours ago, the way presented itself.

We normally only like to tell the positive stories. I’ve preached many times about John Wesley’s life – his work to renew the church and include those his society and denomination excluded and his work against slavery. I am a Wesleyan theologian and pastor. I love our United Methodist church and draw great inspiration from the founder of the movement that led to it. And yet, Wesley was far from perfect and took stances I disagree with. One we don’t tend to talk about much is his response to the Declaration of Independence. He was furious. 250 years ago, he wrote and sent a tract entitled “A Calm Address to Our American Colonies.” To quote Ashley Broggan, General Secretary of the UMC’s Commission on Archives and History, it is: “one of the most controversial political writings in Methodist history. Written on the eve of the American Revolution, it was Wesley’s attempt to persuade the colonists not to rebel against Great Britain. In other words, Wesley told a restless people: you need to calm down.” 

This Sunday I’m going to postpone my plans and instead share some words Dr. Broggan and Rev. Andy Oliver posted this week – looking at Wesley’s “Calm Address” and what we think he got wrong 250 years ago, and how both where he fell short and what he got right might help guide us in these times. They conclude their piece with these words: “Two hundred and fifty years from now, may those who come after us say that when fear demanded our obedience, we chose courage; when hatred demanded our silence, we chose love; when oppression demanded our calm, we chose faithfulness. For the world is still our parish, our neighbors still need good news, and Christ is not finished with the people called Methodist. The call of this moment is not to be calm in the face of cruelty, but to be Methodist in the face of it.”

If the world has you down. If you can’t make sense of what is happening. If you need a shot of hope – and if you’d like to see a different way emerge, we’d love to have you join in worship. We don’t have all the answers. We aren’t perfect and we won’t dictate your choices. But together we keep finding that God makes a way – and that all our stories matter. So, come just as you are – with your doubts and questions, with your laments and fears, and with your deepest hopes and joys. Whether you are a longtime member, have never been to church at all, or find yourself needing a change - together we will find our paths and share our journeys. Thanks be to God!

UPCOMING EVENTS: 

FEEDING FAMILIES IN HIS NAME: Wednesday, July 1 - A free, no obligation meal is served “to-go” style from underneath our portico from 5:15pm to 6:15pm each Wednesday, prepared each week by our members as well as several area churches and community groups. We aim to provide 400 meals per week. 

GOSPEL CONCERT – ERNIE COUCH & REVIVAL – Saturday, July 11^th at 6pm. EC&R is returning to Fort Scott to share their faith and music. You won’t want to miss this dynamic trio. Freewill offering will be collected for the band. Bring a friend or neighbor and enjoy a wonderful evening of Gospel music and Good News in our beautiful, historic Sanctuary.

AGING FORWARD JULY 17 - 1-4pm - Aging Forward is a speakers series aimed at retired adults (but open to anyone interested) to promote lifelong learning and fellowship.  On July 17, we will hear from Patty Smilie’s son Ethan will share his research into the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder of Little House on the Prairie fame! After that, staff from Presbyterian Manors of America will share information on “right sizing.” It’s sure to be an informative and enjoyable afternoon. Bring a friend at join us at 1pm in Fellowship Hall!