November 5th – Pastor’s Place

Greetings in the name of Christ, on November 5th (All Saints Sunday http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/all-saints-day-a-holy-day-john-wesley-loved),  we will remember the saints who have gone before us with the reading of names of those called home to glory.  If you have a name of a loved one who has died in the past year please notify the church office.

As we remember those we have lost we experience grief.  This is the sorrow and pain we feel as we think about those no longer in our lives.  A way to deal with this pain is to find our grief, find ourselves and find our new normal.

Find our Grief:  This means acknowledging our loss.  It is normal to experience grief when we lose someone we love.  Sometimes we repress or hide pain of grief, pretending that the loss does not bother us.  This is not healthy.  It is okay to feel that pain that comes with grief.  God has granted us the blessing of grief as a tool to cope with our loss.  We should use it.  Do not stay in our grief for long however.

Find Our Selves:  We find ourselves when we acknowledge our pain and summon the nerve to continue on.  In John 14, Jesus tells his disciples of his impending death.  He urges them to not let their hearts be troubled, but to believe.  Jesus is saying to not be paralyzed by this moment.  To not be stuck in our grief forever.  We find ourselves by putting our trust in God.

Find our New Normal: When a loved one passes away, we are left here to pick up the pieces.  This is our new normal.  Our lives will never be the same.  We may wish for things to get back to normal, but the reality is this is our new normal.  We must learn to live our lives in the reality of our loss.  I’m not convinced it gets easier with time.  In my experience with loss and grief it is a day by day exercise living in our new reality, our new normal.

Finding our way forward is possible through our faith.  As Christians we can rely on Christ, on Scripture and on the Church in this process of finding our grief.

Here are resources in dealing with grief:  

Scripture on grief: http://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-for-overcoming-grief/

The Stages of Grief: https://grief.com/the-five-stages-of-grief/

Pastor David

 

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Revised Common Lectionary Readings:

• • • Monday, November 6, 2017: Psalm 128; Joshua 4:1-24; 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20
      OR Psalm 5; Jeremiah 5:18-31; 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20
    • Tuesday, November 7, 2017: Psalm 128; Joshua 6:1-16, 20; Acts 13:1-12
      OR Psalm 5; Lamentations 2:13-17; Acts 13:1-12
    • Wednesday, November 8, 2017: Psalm 128; Joshua 10:12-14; Matthew 15:1-9
      OR Psalm 5; Proverbs 16:21-33; Matthew 15:1-9
    • Thursday, November 9, 2017: Psalm 78:1-7; Joshua 5:10-12; Revelation 8:6-9:12
      OR Psalm 70; Amos 1:1-2:5; Revelation 8:6-9:12
    • Friday, November 10, 2017: Psalm 78:1-7; Joshua 8:30-35; Revelation 9:13-21
      OR Psalm 70; Amos 3:1-12; Revelation 9:13-21
    • Saturday, November 11, 2017: Psalm 78:1-7; Joshua 20:1-9; Matthew 24:1-14
      OR Psalm 70; Amos 4:6-13; Matthew 24:1-14

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Sermon Notes

All Saints Sunday: http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/all-saints-day-a-holy-day-john-wesley-loved.  

Scripture on grief: http://www.biblestudytools.com/topi

cal-verses/bible-verses-for-overcoming-grief/

The Stages of Grief: https://grief.com/the-five-stages-of-grief/

Dealing with Grief:

1. Find our Grief
2. Find our Self
3. Find our New Normal

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Pastor David’s schedule:

Subject to change based on needs of the congregation and community:

Daily Workout: 7:00 am – 8:30 am at The Natatorium

Monday: IN – Pastor David in the office 10:00  am – 1:00 pm

Tuesday: Pastor’s Facetime – Starbucks – Portage Crossing (State Road) 10:30 am – Noon

IN – Pastor David office Noon – 1:00 pm

Charge Conference – 7:00 pm – Montrose Zion UMC

Wednesday:  Out – Pastor David out of office

Thursday: IN – Pastor David office 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

Friday: Family Day

Saturday: Sermon Practice

Sunday: Worship: 10:30 am

 

Call or Text Pastor David: 740-343-9550

Best time to Contact: Monday – Thursday 11:00 am – 8:00 pm

Emergencies anytime: Emergencies include death in the family, hospitalizations, crisis of faith, etc.

Follow Pastor David on Facebook: facebook.com/pastordhf