Worship
January 12th-February 23rd “When Christians Get it Wrong”
“Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37-39
What happens when the church fails to love God and neighbor? Based on the book by Adam Hamilton, “When Christians Get it Wrong” names the behaviors and attitudes that push people away from the church. People outside the church generally have a negative impression of the people inside. From the outside, Christians are often judging others, condemning people of other faiths, rejecting science, and discriminating against our LGBTQ+ siblings. There appears to be a disconnect between the teachings of Jesus and the actions of the church. Join us as we tackle these difficult topics and learn how to “get it right.”
Want to go deeper? Buy the book to read along with the worship Series:
https://www.amazon.com/When-Christians-Get-Wrong-Revised
January 26, 2020 “Politics vs Faith” Guest Preacher: Jim Simpson Focus Scripture: Ephesians 4:25-32
29 Don’t let any foul words come out of your mouth. Only say what is helpful when it is needed for building up the community so that it benefits those who hear what you say.
February 2, 2020 "Christians vs Other Faiths" Focus Scripture: 1 Peter 3:8-17
15 Instead, regard Christ the Lord as holy in your hearts. Whenever anyone asks you to speak of your hope, be ready to defend it. 16 Yet do this with respectful humility, maintaining a good conscience. Act in this way so that those who malign your good lifestyle in Christ may be ashamed when they slander you.
February 9, 2020 "Good vs. Evil" Focus Scripture: Job 2
11 When Job’s three friends heard about all this disaster that had happened to him, they came, each one from his home—Eliphaz from Teman, Bildad from Shuah, and Zophar from Naamah. They agreed to come so they could console and comfort him. 12 When they looked up from a distance and didn’t recognize him, they wept loudly. Each one tore his garment and scattered dust above his head toward the sky. 13 They sat with Job on the ground seven days and seven nights, not speaking a word to him, for they saw that he was in excruciating pain.
February 16, 2020 "Love vs Hate" Focus Scripture: Acts 10
13 A voice told him, “Get up, Peter! Kill and eat!” 14 Peter exclaimed, “Absolutely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15 The voice spoke a second time, “Never consider unclean what God has made pure.”
February 23, 2020 "When Christians Get it Right" Focus Scripture: 1 John 4:7-21
God is love, and those who remain in love remain in God and God remains in them.
“Patterns of the Soul”
Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. (Joel 2:12)
Lent is a season when we intentionally return to God with all our heart. Perhaps you gave something up for Lent in previous years. This is a common form of fasting during the Lenten season. The idea is to give up something to make more room for God. It is meant to be a habit, a ritual, a pattern that turns our hearts to God. But what if instead of giving up something we added something? During this Lenten season, we will explore patterns of prayer. Practices that turn us back to God. Patterns that shape our soul, our very being, in the image of God. Patterns of rest, study, presence, grace, listening, healing and life. You are invited to practice these patterns at home, in worship, and at prayer stations in the back of the sanctuary. Come, return to God with new patterns of prayer to feed your soul.
Worship at Hawley UMC
8:00am Informal Traditional Service with Holy Communion
Worship at 8am is usually accompanied by piano. The service is shorter than the
10am service with less music. In addition, the service is not designed for
children, but they are always welcome.
10:00am Creative Family Worship with Holy Communion
Worship at 10am is usually accompanied by organ and/or piano. The Chancel
Choir and Joyful Ringers Bell Choir regularly share music at 10am. In general,
this service includes more music and is designed as an inclusive service for
children and families. Part of the service specifically engages children as worship participants.
A Word About Children
Children are always welcome in worship at Hawley UMC! We love to worship as an intergenerational congregation, and we encourage children to participate in the worship service. Lap desks with crayons, notebook, pencil, and markers are always available at the back of the sanctuary. In addition, children at the 10am service are usually given a hands on, quiet activity related to the sermon.
Please return lap desks and supplies to the baskets by the door as you leave so we can prepare them for the next week. Sometimes, young children need to make noise or move beyond the pews. When this happens, we encourage you to take children into the memorial walkway until they are ready to come back to worship.
Children under 5 are also welcome to play during the service in our staffed nursery. Nursery children usually return to their parents in the sanctuary for communion.
Altar Flowers
If you would like to donate alter flowers in honor or remembrance of someone special in your life, please contact the church office at 570-226-3875 or email .