MONROE FIRST UMC HAS SERVED MONROE FOR OVER 100 YEARS.
WE ARE A SMALL FRIENDLY CONGREGATION WITH A BIG HEART.
After Holy Humor Sunday, We are going to be beginning a new sermon series about Christian half- truths. They are simple phrases. They sound Christian—like something you might find in the Bible. We’ve all heard these words. Maybe we have even said them. Maybe we have had them said to us. They capture some element of truth, yet they often miss the point in some very important ways.
Using the book by Adam Hamilton with the same name, we are going to search for the whole truth by comparing these common Christian clichés to the message and ministry of Jesus, and what scripture has to say about them. The clichés we are going to look at are:
April 30
Everything Happens for a Reason?
-Deuteronomy 30:19-20a
May 7
God Helps Those Who Help Themselves?
-Psalm 10:14, 27-28
-Psalm 18:6,16
-Psalm 121:1-2
May 14- Mother’s Day
God Won’t Give You More Than You Can Handle?
-1 Corinthians 10:13
-Psalm 46:1-2
May 21
God Said It, I Believe It,That Settles It?
-Deuteronomy 23:12-14
May 28
Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin?
-Matthew 7:1-5
WE WELcome you!
We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, gay, filthy rich, dirt poor, si no hablas ni un palabra de Ingles. We extend a special welcome to those who are crying newborns, skinny as a rail or could afford to lose a few pounds.
We welcome you if you can sing like Andrea Bocelli or like our pastor who can’t carry a note in a bucket. You’re welcome here if you’re “just browsing,” just woke up or just got out of jail. We don’t care if you’re more Christian than Mother Teresa, or haven’t been in church since little Joey’s Baptism. We especially welcome you if little Joey is a “high spirited” kid or if you or your family member is differently abled.
We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome soccer moms, NASCAR dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, junk-food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you’re having problems or you’re down in the dumps or if you don’t like “organized religion,” we’ve been there too.
If you blew all your offering money at the casino, you’re welcome here. We offer a special welcome to those who think the earth is flat, love quantum physics, work too hard, don’t work, can’t spell, or are here because grandma is in town and wanted to go to church.
We welcome those who are inked, pierced or both. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down your throat as a kid or got lost in traffic and wound up here by mistake. We welcome tourists, seekers and doubters, bleeding hearts … and you!
We welcome you if you can sing like Andrea Bocelli or like our pastor who can’t carry a note in a bucket. You’re welcome here if you’re “just browsing,” just woke up or just got out of jail. We don’t care if you’re more Christian than Mother Teresa, or haven’t been in church since little Joey’s Baptism. We especially welcome you if little Joey is a “high spirited” kid or if you or your family member is differently abled.
We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome soccer moms, NASCAR dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, junk-food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you’re having problems or you’re down in the dumps or if you don’t like “organized religion,” we’ve been there too.
If you blew all your offering money at the casino, you’re welcome here. We offer a special welcome to those who think the earth is flat, love quantum physics, work too hard, don’t work, can’t spell, or are here because grandma is in town and wanted to go to church.
We welcome those who are inked, pierced or both. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down your throat as a kid or got lost in traffic and wound up here by mistake. We welcome tourists, seekers and doubters, bleeding hearts … and you!
