Advent is not only the perfect time to read the sto… Read More
Advent is not only the perfect time to read the story of the birth of Jesus; it’s also a great time to dive deeper into the biblical texts that surround the event. Author, professor, and biblical scholar Amy-Jill Levine shows how the Gospel narratives connect to the Old Testament; highlights the role of women in first-century Jewish culture; and emphasizes the importance of Mary’s visitation, the census, the stable, the star of Bethlehem, and the flight to Egypt. It is a rich and challenging learning experience for the individual reader. The study will be held each week for 4 weeks beginning Saturday, November 30, 2024, from 9:00 AM until 11:30 AM and conclude on Saturday, December 20, 2024. The onsite class will meet, here at Mason Memorial Community Church. Remote study will be available for those unable to attend in person.
Join us for an exciting journey into the prophetic book of Isaiah. Learn and un… Read More
Join us for an exciting journey into the prophetic book of Isaiah. Learn and understand the word of God from one of God's chosen sent to proclaim the word of God to God's people — the one who said "Here I am Lord. Send me." Isaiah is heralded as one of the most significant prophets of all time. Join us as we study what "thus sayeth the Lord" to the Prophet Isaiah.
It is a disappointing experience in a relationship with someone when we have to continually prov… Read More
11 The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him. 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, "Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation." 13 And he left them, and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side.
It is a disappointing experience in a relationship with someone when we have to continually prove to someone that we love them. If there is never any security, if there is never any trust, if there is never any belief in the other person, then that relationship will always be filled with doubt and skepticism. And at some point, the person who always has to provide the proof has to draw the line. At some point the person in need of the proof has to begin trusting in the faithfulness of the other person. There is a point in our relationship with God when we must rely on God’s past faithfulness as an indication that God is faithful. Perhaps, it’s when we learn to fully trust in God is when the miracles begin, and the allusion and illusion that something magical has happened ceases in our hearts, mind, and Spirits.
Today’s Prayer —
Gracious God, enable me to perform a miracle and grow in my faith to rely on Your past reputation of as evidence that Your faithfulness is without question.
As humans, we are a peculiar group of people. It seems that we can be grouped into three p… Read More
19 For it is written,
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."
20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23 but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
As humans, we are a peculiar group of people. It seems that we can be grouped into three primary categories. One category speaks of those who want signs. They want tangible proof, and yet one proof is never sufficient for all of their needs. Then, there are those who depend on wisdom. And yet, as we learn more and more, and gain more and more knowledge, wisdom changes and so does the position of those who depend on knowledge to guide their footsteps. But then, there are those of us who walk by faith — who actually take stock in God’s word which says:
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own insight.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be a healing for your flesh
and a refreshment for your body.
For us, the constancy of God’s wisdom and our trust in God’s word makes our trust in God’s predicted outcomes more miraculous than magical.
Today’s Prayer —
Holy God, keep me ever mindful that my faith in You rises above both the need for proof of a sign or relying on my own wisdom as evidence of Your faithfulness to those who believe.
It would be dangerous to believe that God is above providing signs as proof that God exists…. Read More
1 But Moses spoke up and said, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me, but say, "The Lord did not appear to you.' "
6 The Lord said to him further, "Put your hand into your bosom." He put his hand into his bosom; and when he took it out, his hand was encrusted with snowy scales. 7 Then God said, "Put your hand back into your bosom" — so he put his hand back into his bosom, and when he took it out of his bosom, there it was again like the rest of his body. — 8 "And if they do not believe you or pay heed to the first sign, they will believe the second. 9 If they will not believe even these two signs or heed you, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground; and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground."
It would be dangerous to believe that God is above providing signs as proof that God exists. If we are honest, God gave signs to Moses, Noah, Jacob, Abraham, and others so that they would find security in what God was doing, or in what God had done, thereby learning to place their unwavering trust in the Lord. So, a sign is not outside of God’s activity in our world. And yet, if we are honest with ourselves, God’s offer of a sign is typically offered as an opportunity to increase our faith, not as an opportunity to prove that God is God. It is, in fact, the presence of Jesus that is God’s greatest sign to the entire world. Ahaz didn’t ask for it. God offered it. Moses didn’t ask for it as proof that God was with him. God offered it as a sign that Moses could be and would be assured that God was faithful. There was nothing magical about them. If anything, they spoke more of the miraculous nature of God. It was just the promise of God unfolding in time.
Today’s Prayer —
Almighty God, increase my faith to trust in the sign that you have provided as evidence that Your visible activity in our world speaks of the miraculous and there is nothing magical in what you do.
The Adult Ministries group at Mason Memorial Community Church is a spiritual group who’s goal is to help others grow to a mature faith in God while providing comradery and fellowship with the congregation. To be a focus point in our community, we select projects which will help the needs of others.
Some of the Adult Ministry’s projects/activities are as follows:
1. Sack lunches at the Willa Gill Center
2. Thanksgiving and/or Christmas Baskets
3. Angel tree gifts for children at Christmas
4. Parents Night Out which gives adults in the community and church time to fellowship along with Bible study and dinner. We also distribute Gospel/Bible tracts for discussion.
5. Sponsor an Annual Gospel Musical
6. Purchase gift cards for groceries & pharmaceuticals to help people in need in our congregation & community
7. Christmas caroling at nursing homes where our members reside The Adult Ministry group is always open to new ideas/suggestions and members. We embrace Matthew 9:37 “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few”.
The United Methodist Men’s ministry of our local church is a core group of men, partnering with their pastor, to invite and initiate spiritual growth opportunities for all men of the church. Everyone has different gifts, graces, and areas of interest. Therefore, opportunities for participation include diverse ministries of the church, such as
We encourage leading and participating on committees, teaching Sunday school classes, youth ministries, scouting, mentoring, and assisting in leading worship service. The focus is both inward and outward. Inward — concentrating on those who attend and participate in the ministries within the church, and outward — to all men, assisting them to engage in the process of spiritual growth.
Our mission is to support spiritual growth among men, helping men to mature as disciples as they encourage spiritual formation in others.
Our goal is to empower the ministry of Jesus Christ through men within our congregation as we seek to capture the vision of God for our church —
“to become a living example of Jesus Christ active in service to our community.”
Churches United for Justice is a diverse and growing coalition of 17 churches throughout Wyandotte County. Members of these local parishes in Wyandotte county have come together based on the biblical imperative to “… do justice, ff.” (Micah 6:8), as well as Jesus’ reminder that while giving to the church is good, people of faith should pay more attention to the weightier matters of faith, justice, mercy, and faithfulness. (Matthew 23:23). In each of these reflections, justice is seen as primary for the health of the community and personal relationships. Justice in a biblical sense is the quality of being fair and reasonable. This often requires systemic change within communities.
The faiths participating in Churches United for Justice include United Methodist, Baptist, Philadelphia Bible, Peace and Fellowship, Church of Christ and Episcopal. These faith communities have come together believing that justice is a primary issue of faith and is the foundation of healthy relationships that build community.
Our church’s faith community participation is and will be in conjunction with the organization’s effort to focus on the need for affordable housing and curbing violence in our community.
Lead Organizer: Amber Adams
Associate Organizer: Brett Eisenhauer
Team Leader: Karen Shepherd