John 1:35-38 “What Are You Looking For” Link to YouTube Video Cairo is so busy and crowded. 4-2023 Pastor Will sharing photo from trip to Egypt: Pastor Regina and/or Dr. Smiddy holds Bible Study, Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. Sunday is my true time of Sabbath, and I am grateful to be scattering gospel seeds along my path. One of the vital services performed by Shades is the purchase of birth…Keep Reading

12 Days of Christmas – Matthew 2:1-12 MEANING OF THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS Link to YouTube Video 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS and Meaning: 1. A Partridge in a Pear Tree The partridge in a pear tree represents Jesus, the Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on the first day of Christmas. Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge, the only bird that will die to protect its young….Keep Reading

Luke 2:19 – PONDERING TESTIMONIES AND PONDERING Link to YouTube Video From Pastor Will Shewey: Our Saturday morning worship service focused on ‘pondering’, or REFLECTION. We continued the story of Christmas and talked about Mary as she treasured these ponderings in her heart. Steve, Jimmy, Terry and Mikie each shared from their pondering as we move quickly toward a new year. Oscar sang and played guitar. Landon sang, and you…Keep Reading

Psalm 23 The Joy of His Presence – The Candle of Joy Link to YouTube Video From Pastor Will Shewey: Thoughts about homelessness: There are more complicated layers involving homelessness than I’m qualified to discuss. I do realize the need for kindness and less judgement. Things aren’t always as they seem. On Friday a young lady was obviously experiencing a state of altered reality. I’m not sure to what extent…Keep Reading

“And in his name unbelievers will hope.” Matthew 12:21 The Blessed Hope – The Candle of Hope Like the prophets in the Old Testament, we hope for a Messiah to save us from the sin in the world (Isaiah 9:6-7). We anticipate our Savior’s arrival. Link to YouTube Video From Pastor Will Shewey: Shades of Grace: A United Methodist Congregation reminds me much about how the church is defined in…Keep Reading

Rev. Nate and Julie Ware Deserving God’s Love “Ephesians 2:4-9” Our son-in-law took this photo off his back patio. Are we as wise as an owl? It depends . . . However, we can count on the Lord because he is “All Knowing” and we as humans cannot be. We are not perfect; yet He loves us. Many of us have difficulty recognizing His knowledge and receiving the enormous Blessings…Keep Reading

JOY of FAITH “When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” “Luke 2:15” This time of the year presents the church with a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the joy of our faith. When I was a pastor, I never could wait until December…Keep Reading

LORD HEAR MY VOICE “In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” “Psalm 5:3” Bright and Morning Star, please shine on us. I do not ask this so that our day will be favorable and easy, but that we might reflect the brightness of your love. We all have some thorn in our flesh, but whether it is…Keep Reading

Luke 16 Link to YouTube Video – Psalm 100, Luke 16 From Pastor Will Shewey: Shades of Grace: A United Methodist Congregation reminds me much about how the church is defined in the book of Acts. I am thankful for the privilege of serving all God’s children. Meals are served five days weekly, along with many other needs. Saturdays are set aside for worship and Sundays are our day “off”….Keep Reading

Rev. Nate and Julie Ware Bioluminescence of the Soul – What Is This Photo? “It is Bioluminescence of Wood.” It is the production and emission of light by living organisms. It is a form of chemiluminescence. In this photo, it is fungi on older wood lying in the forest. One has to venture out into the night to see it. In the case of fireflies, the enzyme catalyzes the oxidation,…Keep Reading

Black Friday vs Good Friday “…I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.” “Philippians 4:11” Today is “Black Friday.” Does that mean that Thanksgiving is over? If contentment had a color, what would it be? I think I would choose green. “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.” What a miraculous feast they had yesterday! Jesus had fed a multitude…Keep Reading

Rev. Nate and Julie Ware The Promise! Hebrews 6:13-20 The Certainty of God’s Promise 13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”[a] 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. 16 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the…Keep Reading