Our Sunday Service - Fifth Sunday of the Epiphany

February 9 at 10:00am

Pastor Kevan's Time With Our Children (during the service)

Sunday School

(following Time With Our Children)

Special Music

Coffee Hour Fellowship

Worship brings us into the presence of God.  - John Wesley.

A winter storm warning is in effect for our area on Saturday night into Sunday morning. Forecasts indicate a significant snowfall is possible. 

Please check your email or the church's Facebook page before heading out to church on Sunday morning for any change in the Sunday morning worship schedule.

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Love does not focus on myself, but on others. Each of these qualities of love is based upon an affectionate, compassionate, and forgiving attitude that regards others as being valuable and not just placing value on myself and my desires. No wonder the old saying goes "The middle of sIn is a big I!" When "I" become more important than others and what "I" want and that "I" win is more significant than what someone else truly needs, then "I" have lost my way and do not display the love of Christ.

My Prayer...

Holy God and Sacrificial Father, teach me to notice others and value them just as you do. I know you loved me when I was not lovable, and redeemed me when I was not worthy. Help me to take my eyes off myself and see others as you see them. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

We'll Understand it Better By and By

Come Down, O Love Divine

Prayer through the Ages

We commend to you, O Lord, our souls and our bodies; our prayers and our hopes; our health and our work; our life and our death; our families and our friends; our neighbors and our fellow men and women, this day and always. Amen. - Lancelot Andrewes (1555-1626)

Wesley Article 13: Part Two – Wesley’s Fight Against Slavery

As noted in the last article, John and Charles learned first-hand about the evils of slavery in their missionary trip to Georgia in the New World. We saw how Charles kept a diary where he notes the atrocities done to black slaves in Georgia by their white slave owners.

Once John returned to England from Georgia, his antislavery activities greatly increased. Later on towards the end of his ministry in the 1770’s and 1780’s, Wesley became friends with Anthony Benezet and Granville Sharp. Benezet was a Quaker who wrote extensively against slavery. Wesley became an ardent abolitionist as a result of reading Benezet. Granville Sharp was a lawyer who went to court to fight for the freedom of slaves in the 1760’s. Sharp was also responsible for the passage of a bill in Parliament that ended slavery in England itself.

The year 1774 was a busy year for Wesley’s antislavery activities Wesley wrote his famous and most definitive antislavery tract entitled “Thoughts Upon Slavery”. In October Wesley wrote about the atrocities of slavery in a British monthly magazine. A reader wrote back, doubting Wesley’s description of slavery. In November, Wesley responded to the reader’s doubts with more evidence for the atrocities of slavery.

In 1775, Wesley preached a sermon entitled “A Calm Address to our American Colonies”. In that Sermon, Wesley exposed the hypocrisy of Americans who wanted freedom from Great Britain on the one hand and kept hundreds of thousands of human beings enslaved on the other. In 1777, the Liverpool slave trade closed because of the American Revolution. In July 1786, Wesley appointed William Warrender to Antigua to preach to the slaves there. In May 1787, the Society for the Abolition of the slave was formed. Wesley published “On the Slave Trade” by Thomas Walker in January 1788. Later on in that same year, Wesley published “A Summary View of the Slave Trade”. In addition, Wesley also published anti-slavery poems by Hannah Moore.

In the next article, we will clearly see how Wesley stood out compared to his contemporaries when it came to speaking out against both the slave trade and slavery itself

If you have any questions or comments about this article contact Kyle.

My relationship with Jesus has always been the center of my life. I had a bus driver named Doug who encouraged me to have a relationship with Jesus when I was 10 ten years old. I grew up in Valhalla UMC. I always enjoyed Sunday School. Mrs. Cornell, Mrs. Rouse and Mr. Daus were my favorite teachers. I have cerebral palsy, but this has not stopped the Lord from working in my life. I started out in special ed classes, but it soon became obvious that I could be main streamed into regular classes. I graduated from Westlake High School in June 1986. That fall I went to the King's College in Briarcliff, Manor. I graduated from King's College in 1991. A few years later, I attended Westchester Community College where I obtained my paramedic certificate. I used my certificate in disability advocacy work. I started seminary in the early 2000's, and it hasn't stopped. I enjoy being able to share with the body of Christ what I have learned about the strong foundation we have for our faith. Wherever you are in life, just know that God can use you just as much as He has used me for his glory and honor. LET'S SHARE JESUS TOGETHER!

KYLE

Today we pray...

Heavenly Father, develop in me the godly fruit of love, and may I live in love and seek to love as Christ loved. Keep me from jealousy and boastfulness and may the love of Jesus be seen in and through me, by the power of Your Holy Spirit, in Jesus name as I pray...

For Valhalla United Methodist Church. Help us as we welcome some new families to our church family, work at our ministries, and continue the conversation with our Bishop about retaining Pastor Kevan for another year.

Help all those federal employees who have had their lives disrupted by the changes being made in an abrupt and impersonal manner.

For our leaders in Washington who are dealing with the changes being made. Help them to listen to those who have a different voice or offer a different perspective and work to keep the lines of communication open. Guide them to work together for the good of all Americans, putting aside their personal agendas.

For Eleanor Carney, who celebrated her birthday on January 30;

For Rita, the sister of Bill Carter who suffered a stroke while hiking a few weeks ago;

For Kristi Badi’s cousin, Courtney, who learned that her aggressive cancer has returned and is facing surgery and treatment;

For Jennifer Wolfthal, one of our Nursery School teachers who is recovering from surgery;

For Stacy Atkins, the stepdaughter of Pastor Kevan’s brother, Jon, whose cancer has metastasized;

For Marilyn VanTine, who is under palliative care on Martha’s Vineyard;

For the victims of the Los Angeles wildfires who lost their homes and loved ones;

For all those experiencing food insecurity, for all those who are suffering from depression, dealing with anxiety, fighting addiction,

For those who are lonely and alone, and all those who have no one to pray for them.

That as we observe Black History Month we will remember the important people and events in the history of the African diaspora.

For all those who are being affected by the new administration's decisions regarding federal employees and immigrants. Help them to cope with the impact the actions of the new administration is having on their lives.

For Bishop Bickerton, District Superintendent Law and the Cabinet as they begin the process of evaluating the pastor assignments to the churches throughout the NYAC and specifically their response to our letter requesting we keep Pastor Kevan for the foreseeable future.

Heavenly Father, teach me I pray to walk in love and keep me from any unbecoming actions or ungodly motives. Identify in me any areas of my life that discredit my witness for You and I pray that I may walk in the way of righteousness. This I ask in the name of Christ the healer.

Jesus name, Amen.

God of the Universe, thank you that every good and perfect gift comes from you, the Father of lights. Your word says that those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Please bless your church financially that your work may continue in this world. Inspire your people to give generously to support the ministry of VUMC.

Thank You!