Roy’s Ramblings…

When anyone joins the United Methodist Church we take a short class, stand in front of the congregation and recite a liturgy promising to stand against wickedness and evil powers, as well as repenting of our sins. We confess our faith in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit and pledge to support the Universal Church with a vow to faithfully participate in the life and ministries of our local congregation through our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. WOW!! That is huge!! I mean any part of that is big … but all together … that is pretty major.

So with that being said: a question … What have you/we given to God lately? Yeah, I know, it is stewardship time and I am going to be preaching on time, talents, material gifts, etc.; (and handing out pledge cards for 2026) but with all of that aside … what specifically have you/we given to God? Our Scripture this week is from Acts 3 and verse 6 says: Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Peter said this to a beggar, who was lame from birth, who was then given the ability to walk.

The beggar was expecting money, food, something to sustain him for a day maybe two … Peter gives him a new life. So many times we think to help someone we are to alleviate short term pain and suffering … and don’t get me wrong, that is helpful. But we have the power to do so much more (remember that whole stand against wickedness and evil powers? Or, maybe the five vows of Prayers, Presence, Gifts, Service and Witness?) There is a lot that we can do as individuals but there is even more power when we bond together as a congregation and there is unmeasurable power when we do what we do in the name of the Christ.

So I ask the third time in this short ramblings: What have you/we given to God? What does God need? What does God want? What would be the most helpful offering that we have that we could give to the least, the lost, the helpless, the hopeless, the forgotten, the fringe, the grieving, the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the imprisoned, the … other? I really don’t enjoy when my ramblings hit me as hard as they hit others … because I too fall way short in the “Do your best for God” category. But, I do know that we are called to do the best we can and then rely of the grace of God help us do more. I know that God knows that we will not be perfect. And I know that the others will see the glory of God in everything we do in God’s name however small or mighty.

So let us be the hands and feet, let us be the rubber hits the road, let us be the Disciples that we are called and pledged to be and let us make a difference everywhere we go.

Blessings My Friends – Pastor Roy