creates spaces where people can have authentic encounters with Christ, discover their Spiritual gifts. and use them for God’s glory
Thursday, June 26, 2025
Come Join Pastor Andy!
Saturday, June 28, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Westside Missionary Baptist Church
4675 Page Boulevard, St. Louis, 63113
The newly formed Spirit of St. Louis Task force is again asking for volunteers to help canvas neighborhoods impacted by the May 16th tornado with information about where to receive supplies, services, and support. Pastor Andy will be part of the canvassing team this Saturday, June 28, and he would LOVE to have a good Maplelwood UMC contingency present as well. If you would like to serve in this way, please be at Westside Missionary Baptist Church at 9:00 am this Saturday.
Quilting Group News.
There will be no meeting of the quilting group next Tues, July1st. The meeting for the group will change to 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Last Chance.....
If you want your family information and picture in the church directory please contact Brittany Link (brittany.l@maplewoodumc.org) or Jerry Blackwell (jbrx10@yahoo.com). We will be printing the directory next month and also will be sharing how to access the directory online.
Special Summer Music
If you would like to help provide some special music during worship while the choir is on summer break contact Amy Cordeal (amychordeal@gmail.com)
The Second Time Around Shop will be closed Thursday, July 3rd
Before Feedsom School Scholars go to classes in the morning a special guest comes to read a book to them. On Tuesday, Mike Plonka read.
Join us Sunday as Pastor Andy shares the 3rd sermon in his series about the Book of Amos.
Note from Pastor Andy
Let me be clear. The United States of America attacking nuclear facilities in the nation of Iran is not a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy.
Preachers in America are taking to their pulpits and their social media pages these days, referencing Ezekiel and Daniel, and proclaiming that what we are witnessing in the Middle East is literally predicted in Scripture. It is a theology of the “end times” that is being (and has been) used to motivate or at least excuse the military invasion of a sovereign nation. It is very intimately connected to White Christian Nationalism, a branch of Christianity whose popularity has been regrettably on the rise lately.
Most mainline preachers do not take a lot of time to refute such claims, thinking that since they are so transparently un-Christlike, there’s just no need to challenge them. Honestly, I am reticent to take a lot of time to refute them myself. The lens through I read Scripture is just so vastly different from those who read it seeking prophecy fulfillment. It feels at times as though we are reading two entirely different texts!
The lens through which I read Scripture is the love of God embodied in Jesus Christ and present among us via the Holy Spirit. Reading the Bible through that lens, I find no justification therein, theological or otherwise, to wage war. Yes, there are stories of wars in the Bible. There is militaristic imagery. But there is not a theological motivation for war anywhere in the book. Period. Not when your lens is love.
In fact, Jesus was far less concerned with the logistics of the end times, and far more concerned with what his followers should do in the meantime. (For further reflection on this point, read Matthew 24 and 25.) Namely, feeding those who are hungry, clothing those who are naked, caring for those who are sick, and visiting those who are in prison. In other words, Jesus’s priority is not dropping bombs on people, but caring for them.
Speaking of the horrors of war as if they are theological abstractions, disconnected from the suffering they cause, is antithetical to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And it breaks my heart that it is happening in church pulpits all across the country. War is not an abstract concept. And neither, of course, is love.
There is always a choice. Let us choose love.
Pastor Andy
Join Pastor Andy every Thursday at 9:30 a.m. for the "Thought for Thursday" on the church's Facebook page. If you can't join live you can always pick it up later.
...Brittany and Joe Link, Jeremy and Aubrey, in the passing of Brittany’s Grandma on June 22nd.
...Karen Raborn as she has hip surgery June 27th.
...Jer Chulick, healing after hospitalization for lung congestion and for Peg, strength in caretaking.
...the Harsh, McDonough and Stotler families on the passing of Bob Harsh
...Our sympathy is extended to Spencer Wilson in the passing of his grandfather, Leslie Martin Moss, who passed on May 23rd, two months following the loss of his wife, Sandra Jo Tenenbaum on March 19th. We remember Spencer’s care and devotion to both grandparents and pray for his comfort and peace
... Nancy Clark for strengthening and for best hospital discharge decision for her and Wayne.
...Jamie Moore, for strengthening and healing and also for niece whose husband died suddenly.
... Michelle Norris for health issues
...Kathy Schmid gratitude for sister-in law Marsha’s strengthening and for her caring Barnes team.
... Linda Vawter: Comfort and healing for niece Rhonda. Continued healing for brother - in - law, Jerry also for Allen
...Sharon and Bill Housewright: Healing and strength for Paul and Jan Nolting, Pat and Butch Reid.
... Peg Chulick: Continued healing for nephew Randy following lung transplant,healing for relatives Tim and Jane
...Continuing prayers for Skip and Donna Reynolds son, Mike who has completed chemo and radiation treatments.
...Skip Reynolds Skip continues in hospice care at Laclede Groves Lutheran Senior Services.
If you have prayer concerns you wish to share with the congregation, let Kathy Schmid know: kschmid2005@sbcglobal.net
1
Mike Plonka
6
Jason Watkins
Jerry Blackwell
10
Beth Abeln
11
Jack Abeln
12
Rita Hanley
20
Luke Watkins
21
Ben Stotler
24
Thurston McBurnett
25
Juanita O'Laughlin
27
Coleen Watkins
MUMC Kids
This past Sunday all of the kids had a blast tie dying MUMC shirts and practicing a song to sing during worship.
DEADLINE for the church newsletter is MIDNIGHT EVERY TUESDAY: send articles via email only to jbrx10@yahoo.com.
The Sunday morning worship bulletin will be sent via email at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday
