Church guide

John 10:25-27 (NRSV) 25 Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; 26 but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. The Jews, likely the Pharisees, are again asking Jesus if He is the Messiah. It is likely they are more interested in finding something for which to blame Him, that it is they want to worship Him. He answers with a simple statement, “The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me.” Jesus points not to what he says but to what He does as a means of knowing and understanding who He is. Jesus could have easily said, “Yes I am”, and gone on to explain why they should accept his testimony through belief in the writings of the Old Testament and other prophecies but he does not. I wonder how we would accept His answer today. We live in a world where right doctrine and right belief, enlightenment concepts, determine whether we believe someone to be a follower of Christ. Our world have become one in which the cerebral knowledge, that knowledge that can be found in a book. We make statements of belief to confirm our allegiance to a group; we take pledges, and oaths to confirm that we are a part of the group based on a commonly held set of ideas. I find it interesting that Jesus focuses not on the cerebral knowledge that is found in books but in the actions of those, he encounters. He judges not on what they believe but on how they live, on the good or the evil in the person’s heart and mind. We find an example of this in Mark 9. Jesus disciples find someone casting out demons in Jesus name but He is not one of them; they tell Jesus “he was not following us” Mark 9:38 NRSV. Pointing out He is not a member of the group, he has not, in their opinion, sworn allegiance to the group. Jesus tells them to leave the man alone and that as long as he is working in Jesus name he is a part of the group. Likewise, when he speaks to the Samaritan woman, he points her to living water even though her belief system is not exactly as His. He offers her a complete life not a broken system of religious disagreement. We need to regain this Jesus. I wonder what our world would be like today if the people in all the churches laid down their disagreements over doctrine and beliefs, I did not say give them up just make space of others beliefs, and started serving side by side. I wonder how long it would take us to change the world. I am sure it would change the world because we would begin to give and serve without asking is this person worthy, we would offer our best without wondering if the person is taking advantage of us. Can you imagine the way the love of God would spread if instead of offering meager handouts we spent time helping people get well and whole? How can we begin to change the world in our community? How can we give of ourselves to change souls not just bandage bodies? We have a great start with the many outreaches we already do. We have the ability to make a difference in our world as we live out the life of Christ by healing the blind, the lame, the deaf, the lepers, and setting the oppressed free. I love this church and I am continually amazed at the love you share with each other and for our community.

Fear is a powerful motivator; it causes us to change the way we see the world and our neighbor. In Revelation 6:9, the fifth seal is broken and the martyrs of the world are revealed. They, like us, are still so human and cry out to God for revenge. I know that when I live in fear I too want revenge for the wrongs that I perceive I have suffered. God's response is to give them white robes and tell them to rest until all who would be martyred have joined them. My human nature says this is the voice of a parent just making promises to a child just to quiet them; but the Spirit reminds me that God is faithful and his word is sure. We want to make sure we are revenged. God says wait. God says rest. I am often amazed at life and how out of balance it seems; people are massacred, children massacred at their schools, older persons massacred in a Bible study and yet God says wait, rest. We truly do not get it. This vision of the martyrs in heaven, under the throne, shows us those who have served and died in their service of God. They receive honor at the foot of His throne with the white robe and rest. They have died so that the Gospel would go forward. We are afraid we will die and yet God calls us to come and die every day to our ego and our clinging to this life. We hear in Luke, we are to give our life away in order to save it. We live in a world full of fear and anger a world that is seeking to use these emotions to take us away from God. They keep us from serving because of what might happen to us, making us ineffective in the spreading of the gospel. God tells us to rest our cares in His grace and to serve in this world without fear for our lives. We are to be bold in this life each day living without fear because of the promise we have received. Let us be bold in service and speech, offering grace to the broken and downtrodden, setting the captives free and declaring the year of the Lord’s favor. (Isaiah 61) The evil one will threaten us and may even destroy us but we are secure in our salvation through the work of Christ in the world. #fear #grace #love

Support the growing list of local restaurants helping to feed the hungry. https://www.facebook.com/Imagine.NoOneHungry/

Planting Seeds of Hope

How often do we live in fear someone will find out what we have done or who we really are and punish us? Jesus says, "Peace be with you."

Didn't See it Coming: Burnout

At 11:00 am on April 19th, 1869 the first Episcopal service was held in Titusville at the LaGrange Church. The LaGrange Church, built in the wilderness, was created for interdenominational worship, used by missionaries and settlers from many faith traditions. It’s fitting that on the 150th anniversary of that first service, we should also honor Titusville’s other 19th century churches on this significant date. Seven of the original Titusville churches will be represented by their senior pastors at the "Seven Last Words from the Cross.” This Good Friday Service begins at 2:00pm at LaGrange Church & Cemetery 1560 Old Dixie Highway Titusville, Florida 32796 There will be portable restroom facilities and cold water available. The church was built in 1872, so there is no air conditioning; hand fans will be available.

Whispers Behind the Praise

Didn't see it coming: Pride

Shared by Glenda Waring 😃

Celebrating 150 years, the UMW continues to thrive, grow, and minister.

❤️

Join us on Good Friday, April 19th for a reflection on the Stations of the Cross in a musical setting provided by Broadstreet with dramatic readings. There will be a meatless dinner served at 5:30pm in our fellowship hall. The Good Friday service will be held in the sanctuary at 7:00pm.

Hear Bishop Ken Carter's letter to the Florida Conferences and Pastor Wayne's own message regarding the 2019 General Conference. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChscOcLDe-wGkXHftvzGX9Q?view_as=subscriber

The Church: Jesus' Idea

Gearing up for the show!

A welcome message from Pastor Wayne Cook.

Annual Palm-Passion Sunday Musical Service, March 25, 2018 @ 10 am

Sunday 10 AM Worship Service from 1st United Methodist Church, Titusville, Fl. October 8, 2017 - Children's Sunday

Worship live! From First United Methodist Church of Titusville, Florida. 10 am, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017.

Worship live from First United Methodist Church of Titusville, Sunday, September 17, 2017 at 10 am

After the hurricane devotional message from Pastor Fred of First United Methodist Church of Titusville