April 2024
Dear Friends,
The Lenten Season was tremendous! I totally enjoyed talking about the 7 churches in Revelation mid-week during Lent. The Palm Sunday children’s program was just great and having my St. Bernard, Moses, play the donkey that Jesus rode was a highlight for Moses and many others. Maundy Thursday at Altoona UMC was very meaningful especially to have an actual Footwashing and Holy Communion. Good Friday at Chapel Heights UMC was very meaningful as well. Sunrise at Chapel Heights UMC with the bon fire in the grass area and then lighting candles and processing in made the service more meaningful. Easter main service at both churches was tremendous especially with the beautiful flowers and candle light service heralding the celebration of Easter, once again. We are now in the Easter Season and will celebrate Easter until May 19th, which is Pentecost Sunday, the birthday of the Church. A special “Thank You” to everyone who helped in anyway make the Lenten Season a beautiful display of the body of Christ’s faith in the Risen Lord!
For those reading this letter but haven’t been attending church, know that you are greatly missed and in the near future, I will be calling on you! Mark your calendar for April 17th and/or April 18th as I will be giving my India presentation. There will be special Indian food for your enjoyment along with a 35-40 minute slide show of my trip to India last January, 2024. Have a blessed and lovely day in the Lord!!
Sincerely, Pastor Jean
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
CALL TO WORSHIP FOR MOTHER’S DAY, May 12th
L: Adapted from Psalm 139:1-6,13-18
C: You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.
L: You know when I sit and when I rise;
C: you perceive my thoughts from afar.
L: You discern my going out and my lying down;
C: you are familiar with all my ways.
L: Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
C: You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
L: Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
C: For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
L: I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
C: My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
L: Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
C: How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
L: Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand--
ALL: when I awake, I am still with you.
OPENING PRAYER:
In you, O God, every family on earth receives its name. Illumine our homes with the light of your love. We thank you for gifts of love we have received from our mothers and those who have served as mothers in many ways, nourishing us and guiding us as we grow to be who we are. As we have been loved by them, so we are loved by you, O God. Join with us in this day of celebration as we rejoice in being loved. As you grant us peace in Christ Jesus our Lord, so we come to worship in His holy name. Amen.
Dear Friends,
The Lenten Season was tremendous! I totally enjoyed talking about the 7 churches in Revelation mid-week during Lent. The Palm Sunday children’s program was just great and having my St. Bernard, Moses, play the donkey that Jesus rode was a highlight for Moses and many others. Maundy Thursday at Altoona UMC was very meaningful especially to have an actual Footwashing and Holy Communion. Good Friday at Chapel Heights UMC was very meaningful as well. Sunrise at Chapel Heights UMC with the bon fire in the grass area and then lighting candles and processing in made the service more meaningful. Easter main service at both churches was tremendous especially with the beautiful flowers and candle light service heralding the celebration of Easter, once again. We are now in the Easter Season and will celebrate Easter until May 19th, which is Pentecost Sunday, the birthday of the Church. A special “Thank You” to everyone who helped in anyway make the Lenten Season a beautiful display of the body of Christ’s faith in the Risen Lord!
For those reading this letter but haven’t been attending church, know that you are greatly missed and in the near future, I will be calling on you! Mark your calendar for April 17th and/or April 18th as I will be giving my India presentation. There will be special Indian food for your enjoyment along with a 35-40 minute slide show of my trip to India last January, 2024. Have a blessed and lovely day in the Lord!!
Sincerely, Pastor Jean
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
CALL TO WORSHIP FOR MOTHER’S DAY, May 12th
L: Adapted from Psalm 139:1-6,13-18
C: You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.
L: You know when I sit and when I rise;
C: you perceive my thoughts from afar.
L: You discern my going out and my lying down;
C: you are familiar with all my ways.
L: Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
C: You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
L: Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
C: For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
L: I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
C: My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
L: Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
C: How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
L: Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand--
ALL: when I awake, I am still with you.
OPENING PRAYER:
In you, O God, every family on earth receives its name. Illumine our homes with the light of your love. We thank you for gifts of love we have received from our mothers and those who have served as mothers in many ways, nourishing us and guiding us as we grow to be who we are. As we have been loved by them, so we are loved by you, O God. Join with us in this day of celebration as we rejoice in being loved. As you grant us peace in Christ Jesus our Lord, so we come to worship in His holy name. Amen.
MOTHER’ DAY MAY 12TH Susanna Wesley (1669-1742)
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, had a mother and her name was Susanna. They lived in Epworth, England. She was born on January 20, 1669. Susanna was the mother of Methodism in a religious and moral sense; for her courage, her submissiveness to authority, the high tone of her mind, its independence and its self-control, the warmth of her devotional feelings, and the practical direction given to them. Few mothers in history have possessed the spiritual sensitivity, the stamina, and the wisdom of Susanna Wesley.
Susanna practiced what she preached to her sons. Though she gave birth to 19 children between 1690 and 1709, she set aside 2 hours a day for private devotion. In her biography, Susanna Wesley, The Mother of Methodism Mabel Brailsford comments on this: When we ask ourselves how 24 hours could hold all normal activities, which she, a frail young woman of 30, was able to crowd into them, the answer may be found in these 2 hours of daily retirement, when she drew from God, in the quietness of her own room, peace and patience and courage.
Susanna had many trials and griefs in her lifetime. Only 9 of her 19 children lived to be adults. Other difficulties included mounting debts where the family’s credit was exhausted and three tragic house fires. From a purely material point of view, Susanna’s life can be seen as one of uncommon misery, hardship and failure. From a spiritual point of view, her life was one of true riches, glory and victory, for she never lost her high ideals nor her faith.
Susanna “Homeschooled” her children 6 hours a day for 20 years. When her son John became a noted man, he begged her to write down some details of the education of her children, to which she reluctantly consented. She confessed: “No one can, without renouncing the world in the most literal sense, observe my method. There are few, if any, who would devote about 20 years of the prime of life in hopes to save the souls of their children.”
The spiritual welfare of her children mattered most to Susanna. She gave them an appreciation of the things of God, and this teaching she carried on into their more mature years. Even when she was an old woman, her son John still came to his devout mother for counsel. She brought not only to Methodism but to everyone that knew her a new freedom of faith, a new spark of vital religion and a new intimacy with God. It is no wonder that this mother who so often prayed, “Grant me grace, O Lord, to be holy a Christian,” should produce a great Christian like John Wesley. “Help me, Lord,” she prayed, “to remember that religion is not to be confined to the church or closet, nor exercised only in prayer and meditation, but that everywhere I am in Thy presence.”
Susanna married Samuel Wesley in 1689, the son of a Nonconformist minister, Rev. John Wesley, for whom her famous son was named. Her husband served 3 appointments: London, South Ormsby, and Epworth, a parish in the Eastern part of England, about 150 miles north of London. When her husband was called away on clergy business; Susanna would hold Bible Studies in their home; these became the forerunner to the Class Meetings. Here they spent the next 40 years of their life; until Samuel died.
Susanna wrote 3 religious textbooks for her children: A Manuel of Natural Theory, An Exposition of the Leading Truths of the Gospel, and finally a practical exposition of the 10 Commandments. In addition, she wrote a 60 page manuscript entitled, “Religious Conference between Mother and Emilia.” (Emilia was one of her daughters.) Shortly after her husband’s death, she went to live with her daughter Emilia.
In October of 1735, at the invitation of General James Oglethorpe, founder of the Georgia colony in America, John and his brother Charles Wesley went to Georgia as missionaries to the Indians and settlers. The mission they established later became a refuge of English debtors and other unfortunate individuals. John Wesley’s little group met every Wednesday evening in Savannah, Georgia.
Years later, in 1781, he wrote: “I cannot but observe that these were the first rudiments of the Methodist societies.” When John and Charles returned to England, the first Methodist meeting was held in London, on May 13th, 1738. (Today is the 269th anniversary of the first Methodist meeting.)
Susanna’s influence on John and Charles was powerful. John became a great preacher. He rode more than 250,000 miles on horseback and preached over 40,000 sermons. Although Charles could preach, he is best known for writing over 6,000 hymns. Jesus, Lover of My Soul and Love, Divine, all Love Excelling were sung at the first Methodist meetings and today, are very famous.
At the time when the Methodists had achieved real strength, Susanna’s life drew near an end. While preaching in Bristol one Sunday, in July, 1742, John Wesley learned that his mother was ill and returned in haste. On that following Friday, Susanna woke abruptly and cried, “My dear Savior, art thou come to help me at my last extremity?” Later that day, while her children stood by her bed, she said: “Children, as soon as I am released, sing a psalm of praise to God.”
Susanna died on the premises of the foundry, where the first Methodist chapel was opened. She was buried in Bunhill Fields cemetery. 35 years later, John built his famous “Chapel in the City” across the street from Bunhill. A simple stone first marked her grave. Another stone was added in 1828, and in 1870 an obelisk of Sicilian marble was erected to
her memory. On this Mother’s Day Sunday, May 12th, may we give thanks to God for mothers like Susanna Wesley and for our own mothers; both living and deceased. As a tribute to our mothers here today, I would like to present you with one of Susanna’s prayers that has kept its meaning down through the ages: I praise Thee, O God, for illuminating my mind and for enabling me to prove demonstratively that Thy wisdom is as infinite as Thy power. Help me to use these discoveries to praise and love and obey, and may I be exceedingly careful that my affections keep pace with my knowledge. As I am more rationally persuaded that Thou art infinitely wise, so may I learn by this knowledge to practice a more hearty and universal subjection to Thee, more cheerfully to bow before the order of Thy providence, to submit my reason so far to my faith as not to doubt those points of faith which are mysterious to me through the weakness of my understanding.
May I adore the mystery I cannot comprehend. Help me to be not too curious in prying into those secret things that are known only to Thee, O God, nor too rash in censuring what I do not understand. May I not perplex myself about those methods of providence that seem to me involved and intricate, but resolve them into Thine infinite wisdom, who knowest the spirits of all flesh and dost best understand how to govern those souls Thou hast created. We are of yesterday and know nothing. Buy Thy boundless mind comprehends, at one view, all things, past present, and future, and as Thou dost see all things, Thou dost best understand what is good and proper for each individual and for me, with relation to both worlds. So deal with me, O my God. Amen
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, had a mother and her name was Susanna. They lived in Epworth, England. She was born on January 20, 1669. Susanna was the mother of Methodism in a religious and moral sense; for her courage, her submissiveness to authority, the high tone of her mind, its independence and its self-control, the warmth of her devotional feelings, and the practical direction given to them. Few mothers in history have possessed the spiritual sensitivity, the stamina, and the wisdom of Susanna Wesley.
Susanna practiced what she preached to her sons. Though she gave birth to 19 children between 1690 and 1709, she set aside 2 hours a day for private devotion. In her biography, Susanna Wesley, The Mother of Methodism Mabel Brailsford comments on this: When we ask ourselves how 24 hours could hold all normal activities, which she, a frail young woman of 30, was able to crowd into them, the answer may be found in these 2 hours of daily retirement, when she drew from God, in the quietness of her own room, peace and patience and courage.
Susanna had many trials and griefs in her lifetime. Only 9 of her 19 children lived to be adults. Other difficulties included mounting debts where the family’s credit was exhausted and three tragic house fires. From a purely material point of view, Susanna’s life can be seen as one of uncommon misery, hardship and failure. From a spiritual point of view, her life was one of true riches, glory and victory, for she never lost her high ideals nor her faith.
Susanna “Homeschooled” her children 6 hours a day for 20 years. When her son John became a noted man, he begged her to write down some details of the education of her children, to which she reluctantly consented. She confessed: “No one can, without renouncing the world in the most literal sense, observe my method. There are few, if any, who would devote about 20 years of the prime of life in hopes to save the souls of their children.”
The spiritual welfare of her children mattered most to Susanna. She gave them an appreciation of the things of God, and this teaching she carried on into their more mature years. Even when she was an old woman, her son John still came to his devout mother for counsel. She brought not only to Methodism but to everyone that knew her a new freedom of faith, a new spark of vital religion and a new intimacy with God. It is no wonder that this mother who so often prayed, “Grant me grace, O Lord, to be holy a Christian,” should produce a great Christian like John Wesley. “Help me, Lord,” she prayed, “to remember that religion is not to be confined to the church or closet, nor exercised only in prayer and meditation, but that everywhere I am in Thy presence.”
Susanna married Samuel Wesley in 1689, the son of a Nonconformist minister, Rev. John Wesley, for whom her famous son was named. Her husband served 3 appointments: London, South Ormsby, and Epworth, a parish in the Eastern part of England, about 150 miles north of London. When her husband was called away on clergy business; Susanna would hold Bible Studies in their home; these became the forerunner to the Class Meetings. Here they spent the next 40 years of their life; until Samuel died.
Susanna wrote 3 religious textbooks for her children: A Manuel of Natural Theory, An Exposition of the Leading Truths of the Gospel, and finally a practical exposition of the 10 Commandments. In addition, she wrote a 60 page manuscript entitled, “Religious Conference between Mother and Emilia.” (Emilia was one of her daughters.) Shortly after her husband’s death, she went to live with her daughter Emilia.
In October of 1735, at the invitation of General James Oglethorpe, founder of the Georgia colony in America, John and his brother Charles Wesley went to Georgia as missionaries to the Indians and settlers. The mission they established later became a refuge of English debtors and other unfortunate individuals. John Wesley’s little group met every Wednesday evening in Savannah, Georgia.
Years later, in 1781, he wrote: “I cannot but observe that these were the first rudiments of the Methodist societies.” When John and Charles returned to England, the first Methodist meeting was held in London, on May 13th, 1738. (Today is the 269th anniversary of the first Methodist meeting.)
Susanna’s influence on John and Charles was powerful. John became a great preacher. He rode more than 250,000 miles on horseback and preached over 40,000 sermons. Although Charles could preach, he is best known for writing over 6,000 hymns. Jesus, Lover of My Soul and Love, Divine, all Love Excelling were sung at the first Methodist meetings and today, are very famous.
At the time when the Methodists had achieved real strength, Susanna’s life drew near an end. While preaching in Bristol one Sunday, in July, 1742, John Wesley learned that his mother was ill and returned in haste. On that following Friday, Susanna woke abruptly and cried, “My dear Savior, art thou come to help me at my last extremity?” Later that day, while her children stood by her bed, she said: “Children, as soon as I am released, sing a psalm of praise to God.”
Susanna died on the premises of the foundry, where the first Methodist chapel was opened. She was buried in Bunhill Fields cemetery. 35 years later, John built his famous “Chapel in the City” across the street from Bunhill. A simple stone first marked her grave. Another stone was added in 1828, and in 1870 an obelisk of Sicilian marble was erected to
her memory. On this Mother’s Day Sunday, May 12th, may we give thanks to God for mothers like Susanna Wesley and for our own mothers; both living and deceased. As a tribute to our mothers here today, I would like to present you with one of Susanna’s prayers that has kept its meaning down through the ages: I praise Thee, O God, for illuminating my mind and for enabling me to prove demonstratively that Thy wisdom is as infinite as Thy power. Help me to use these discoveries to praise and love and obey, and may I be exceedingly careful that my affections keep pace with my knowledge. As I am more rationally persuaded that Thou art infinitely wise, so may I learn by this knowledge to practice a more hearty and universal subjection to Thee, more cheerfully to bow before the order of Thy providence, to submit my reason so far to my faith as not to doubt those points of faith which are mysterious to me through the weakness of my understanding.
May I adore the mystery I cannot comprehend. Help me to be not too curious in prying into those secret things that are known only to Thee, O God, nor too rash in censuring what I do not understand. May I not perplex myself about those methods of providence that seem to me involved and intricate, but resolve them into Thine infinite wisdom, who knowest the spirits of all flesh and dost best understand how to govern those souls Thou hast created. We are of yesterday and know nothing. Buy Thy boundless mind comprehends, at one view, all things, past present, and future, and as Thou dost see all things, Thou dost best understand what is good and proper for each individual and for me, with relation to both worlds. So deal with me, O my God. Amen