AUGUST 2022 EDITION
THE WOODLANDS METHODIST CHURCH
THESENIORPOINT THE WOODLANDS METHODIST CHURCH
SUMMER READING
by Rev. Susan Kent Pastor of Worship and Community Growth I’m not sure why summertime has always been connected with picking up new books to read or dusting off old favorites, but I’ve always loved to seek out new reads when summer hits. I’m sure part of my love of reading comes from my former career as an owner of a bookstore. Creating a lifelong love of learning and stepping into a world created by an author is one of my favorite things to do. How about you? Are you looking for something new to read this summer, or do you want to share a favorite with the rest of us? I thought I’d share a few of the ones I’ve found recently (they may not be new, but they are new to me) and also a few of my favorites in case you missed them over the years. I’d also love to hear about the ones you’d recommend! Summer reading recommendations of books that are new or new to me: • Beholding and Becoming: The Art of Everyday Worship by Ruth Chou Simons • The Deeply Formed Life by Rich Villodas • The Jesus Creed by Scot McKnight • Five Presidents by Clint Hill
GO AND SIN NO MORE by Rev. Chris McLain Pastor of Caring and Senior Adult Ministry The Gospel of John shares how Jesus says this twice: “Sin no more.” It seems like an awfully tall order considering our human proclivity for sin. What if we hold true to our Welseyan understanding of holiness, though? What if we actually believe that by engaging God in prayer, worship, scripture reading and receiving communion, as well as serving the poor and caring for the widow and orphan, we can be made perfect in this life? In the ordination service of the UMC, the bishop asks questions of those who will be ordained. Three of these questions are: 1. Are you going on to perfection? 2. Do you expect to be made perfect in love in this life? 3. Are you earnestly striving after it?
Old favorites: • I’ll Push You: A Journey of 500 Miles, Two Best Friends, and One Wheelchair by Patrick Gray and Justin Skeesuck • In My Hands: Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer by Irene Gut Opdyke • 24 Hours by Greg Iles • Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier What are some of your favorite summer reads? Share a title with us!
One of the most amazing things about God is that He doesn’t leave us in our brokenness, but instead searches after us time and time again. He invites us into a sanctifying relationship that calls us from sinfulness into holiness. This process of sanctification acknowledges that sin is sin and may include both growth and setbacks. John Wesley would say the interaction between Jesus the crucified and risen Savior and humanity is when Methodists are “working out our own salvation.” You and I have a beautiful part to play in our holiness. God the Father makes it possible, the Holy Spirit reminds us of it each day, and Jesus encourages us to go and sin no more.