From the Pastor’s desk: Everything in life seems to challenge and conspire to keep you and me from being passionate about God. So many things pulling us in different directions designed to move us away from our relationship with God. Sunday night, my wife and I watched an episode of a very popular musical from the past that I guess the producers felt needed updating into a current day context. I don’t remember in the original version the dancing being that physical–it had become a contact sport in this particular version! Within a few minutes we became increasingly uncomfortable and turned the show off–we both had a growing sense that the show was somehow “desensitizing our sensibilities.” I immediately thought about the all too familiar expression many of us have come to quote as scripture: We are called to be “in” the world, but not “off” the world. It seems that Jesus understood the tension we would experience as Christians living in an often times challenging environment. The writers of the New Testament also encouraged us to continue our relationships with the world around us, but to be careful to live in a way that pleases God, not the culture.
Join us this week as Pastor Fred continues a sermon series entitled “Reigniting Our Passion for God” as we look to the Gospel of John for guidance. As we work through God’s word we’re going to look at seven passion killers, things that rob the joy out of your life and tempt us to move away from an intimate, God-honoring relationship with our creator. Please join Pastor Fred Mast for a Lenten Bible study called “24 Hours That Changed the World.” This will be a seven-week study that begins Wednesday, February 10th, at 10:30am in our fellowship hall. All are invited to attend. Opportunities abound for adult Bible studies–Monday evenings beginning at 6:30pm, Men’s Bible study on Wednesday mornings at 9am, or our Women’s Study on Thursday mornings at 10 am. Call for information.
Sedona UMC will begin our Lenten season with our Annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on Tuesday February 9th from 4:30 to 6:00PM. Who doesn’t love breakfast for dinner! We will enjoy pancakes, ham slices, and fruit salad. (Diabetic and Gluten Free Choices will be available. Tickets available at the church or at the door for $5 adults $2 Students Children under age 5 are free. See our website at www.sedonaumc.org for additional details and a history of what Shrove Tuesday is. All are welcome and invited to join our Ash Wednesday service at 7:00PM on February 10th in our sanctuary. We will offer a time of contemplation and devotion and we will have an offering of the ashes at the conclusion of our service. Come and join us as we enter in to a time of “Holy Lent.”
Our chancel choir and our new bell choir are always looking for new members. Sedona UMC is located at 110 Indian Cliffs Road, off the Back O’Beyond rotary on Route 179, in Sedona and worship starts at 9:30 each Sunday in the sanctuary. Childcare available. Visit www.sedonaumc.org or call 928-282-1780 for more information on worship, getting a ride to church or any event, Family Movie Night, to hear past services, for missions, Bible studies, Sunday School, youth events, and any of the many activities of our church.
