Worship Preview 7.20.25 "Image of the Invisible"

This Sunday: 10:30am –  5^th Sunday after Pentecost – “Image of the Invisible”  Rev. Christopher Eshelman preaching. Scriptures: Deuteronomy 30:11-20, Philippians 2:5-8, Colossians 1:15-28

As United Methodists, singing is in our DNA. That Charles Wesley and other early Methodists were just dedicated hymn writers is no accident. When we sing together, we align our breath and our focus toward the same goal, which, in the case of worship, is praising God and declaring what we believe to and with one another. In other words, it's not just what we sing, but that we sing in worship that forms us. 

Last week, I shared some of the reasons scholars think authorship of the Bible is more complicated than tradition suggests, but as I said then, that should not distract us from the texts and the whole of Scripture, which is inspired and, thus, should inspire us. To be “inspired” is to be “God-breathed.” We’ll begin with a speech by Moses – an assurance – that responding to God, to following God, to living inspired lives is not beyond our ability because God equips us. Which brings me back to congregational singing - to sing is to “align our breath.” With God and with each other. This week we will continue our deep dive into the letter known as Colossians and look at a hymn that is prominent in this first Chapter. Regardless of who wrote the letter or the hymn (and for simplicity from here out I’ll just say Paul), the magnificent passage that begins “he is the image of the invisible God” is a hymn, not unlike “Amazing Grace” or “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow” or the “new to us” hymn we sang last week “When We Are Living.” Philippians 2 is also a hymn. Together, these hymns give us insight into the gospel Paul and other early Christian leaders proclaimed and invite us into the mystery of Christ, humble servant, the Word become flesh, the fullness of God made visible.

When faced with plumbing the depths of the Incarnation, Paul turned to song. And through that song, Paul demonstrates what the image of the invisible means for us as the church, the body of Christ. In the extraordinary and the mundane, Christ came, and so, in the extraordinary and the mundane, we are called to embody Christ to the world with one another. It makes your head spin to try to comprehend it. Maybe that is part of the purpose: to make our heads spin. A little head spinning is good for us, not for confusion’s sake, but to open us to the wonder of Christ, to the power of God. What an incredible, certainly not ordinary, thing God chose to do—to put on flesh and walk among us, to enter into our reality, our brokenness, so that we would know God understands; so that we e would know God feels our pain and knows our weakness. We would know that God is not some distant force, but an intimate presence right here. It ends with the words that this whole thing, this whole wonderful, amazing, head-spinning thing, was so that you and I could find our way home to the arms of God. “Through him, God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things.” All things, you and me. To himself, to God, himself. We are brought back into relationship. And this is the best part: He was pleased to do it.

And maybe that’s why we turn to hymns to express such things. Through song we can share emotions and experiences that are more than mere speech. We turn to the magic and wonder of music and singing and the way our voices, blended together become something more than the sum of our parts, and we experience and proclaim just a bit of that pleasure that God has in creation, in incarnation, in reconciliation. As we will sing throughout this series, “In our living… in our dying… we belong to God. We belong to God.”

Last week we suggested a writing prompt: “”Where do you encounter hope in this church community?” This week we will focus on our singing together, with the prompt: “How have you experienced God’s love and presence when you sing and pray together in this church community?”

If any of the above intrigues you, 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!

PS - I couldn't reference it in the Tribune, which is where this article is published each week - but in addition to hymns, we will focus this week on a wonderful work of art entitled “Colossians 1:15-19” by the art ministry "Full of Eyes" which is given for free use by churches. I invite you to read those verses then prayerfully study the image they created. I find a certain bit of visual music and mystery in it.

Upcoming Events: 

Wednesday, July 23rd, 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 by our members as well as area churches and community groups who each take a week. If you would like to support this ministry, you can make donations online at: http://www.firstumcfortscott.org/onlinegiving. Thank you.

Friday, July 25^th – Aging Forward This month will focus on an entertaining presentation from Trent Freeman of The Artificers! If you haven’t visited, the Artificers is a working studio and gallery hosting all sorts of art exhibits and classes. He’ll share about what caused he and Kate to move the studio from KC to Fort Scott, how they renovated the building and exciting new plans like “The Queen’s Muse” underway. We’ll also have information from FSCC Foundation’s upcoming “Senior-Versity” events. No cost to attend. Light Refreshments will be served. It should be a fun afternoon! Invite a friend!