Welcome to Fennville and Pearl
United Methodist Church

 

From the Heart of the Pastor

Rev. Robert Lynch

Lent: God’s Favorite Invitation

When God wants to say something, something is said. When God wants to invite someone, someone is invited. When God extends a hand to a group of people, or even a nation, or even the world, God extends that hand and is pleased when the providential and salvific hand is grasped in the grip of faith.

God often uses different methods to send an invitation: For Lent there is the prophet Isaiah. In verses 1-3, the prophet utters a dozen imperative verbs, a full one-third of which are the command to “come.” Come to the waters; come, buy and eat; come, buy; come to me, he cries. And then in verse 9, he adds, “Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; … return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on [you] and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (vv. 6-7).

Sounds like an invitation. And if it sounded familiar to the ears of Isaiah’s readers, that’s only because it was. In those days, a recently crowned king would celebrate his ascension to the throne by announcing that his royal subjects were released from all debts. They were given a fresh start. This was only the beginning. To celebrate the king’s new rule, he often called for a banquet. In towns, villages and hamlets, food was copious, and wine flowed freely. It was all designed to signal the dawning of a new day under the beneficent reign of a new king.

Enter Isaiah, acting as a herald for the new king: “Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters!” (v. 1).

So Lent is an invitation! What will our RSVP or response card say? If we respond to the Lord as we might to a traditional party invitation, we might answer the invite in one of three ways, to wit:

  • Joyfully Accepts
  • Regretfully Declines
  • Not Sure

Lent is a time to wrestle with who you are, why you believe what you profess to believe about your life, and what you do to provide meaning and structure to your daily activities and relationships.”

  • Many people struggle to define what’s important in life. They’re not sure. This is what’s so great about Lent. It’s a time to find out! When you RSVP “joyfully accepts,” God will not forget!

SERMON THEMES

Upon reflection on the entire season after Epiphany this year, we find a comprehensive way to make connections with our communities: discover our spiritual gifts, understand our need for one another and the love of God, and know that wherever Jesus goes, a crowd is sure to follow.

Sunday, March 2, 2025 | Luke 9:28-36 (37-43)  “Listening to Jesus”  Hearing Jesus in the moment is important, but it’s what we do afterwards that makes a difference and proves we really listened.

March 5,  2025  Ash Wednesday “Return to Me” Joel 2:1-2, 12-17: Remember that you are fearfully and wonderfully made! Turn around; come closer; come home,” says our God!

Sunday, March 9, 2025 | Deuteronomy 26:1-11 “Giving, Not Giving Up” We all had fun on Shrove Tuesday, but maybe there’s more to Lent than fasting, sacrifice and penitence.

6pm Wednesday, March 12: Simple meal followed by devotion: “The Kingdom of God has Come near”

Sunday, March 16, 2025 | Philippians 3:17-4:1 “Intuitive Christianity” Paul has some insight that helps us configure our faith settings for a 21st century church.

6pm Wednesday, March 19th    Simple meal followed by devotion: The World’s Most Important Sermon

Sunday, March 23, 2025 | Isaiah 55:1-9 “The Real American Idol” The job of savior is already filled, and it’s not by the faces on the bills in your wallet.

6pm Wednesday, March 26th   Simple meal followed by devotion: Jesus Spoke to them in Parables

Sunday, March 30, 2025 | Joshua 5:9-12 “The Whole Truth”  As followers of Jesus, we can tell our stories by living with justice, mercy and faith.

6pm Wednesday, April 2nd   Simple meal followed by devotion: Who do You Say That I am?

Sunday, April 6, 2025 | Philippians 3:4b-14 “Are there gaps in your spiritual résumé?” God has a plan to fill them

6pm Wednesday, April 9th  Simple meal followed by devotion: Final Words

Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025 | Luke 19:28-40  “From Palms to Passion” It’s an emotional roller coaster, just like the first Holy Week in Jerusalem.

6pm Thursday, April 17th   Maundy Thursday; Simple meal followed by devotion& Communion: The resurrection and the Life

Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025 | John 20:1-18 “A Grave Situation” What do we do when a body goes missing?

 

Why do Church?
In a very real sense, the church year begins anew after summer break. Vacations are over! School is back in session and church programming resumes! It seems appropriate; therefore, that this is a perfect time for us to pray together why is it so important that we gather together as a church! “Why do we do church, anyway?”

 

If you are looking for a small country church, please join us for worship on Sundays @ 9:30  at Pearl United Methodist Church in historic Pearl.  Or if you are looking for a church that provides educational opportunities, please join us for Sunday worship @11:00 At Fennville UMC. If you have young children, we have a nursery available for your use during the service.  Preschool through 1st grade children will experience a Children's Sermon during the service and then be excused to Sunday school.  We have a Youth Ministry for middle school and high school age students.  

When you come through the doors you will find very friendly, smiling, caring and loving people that will welcome you and help you find your way.  If you have any questions or just want to talk, I am available any time.  Just give me a call through the church office.  

In Christ,

Rev. Bob Lynch

 

So as we look for a way to move from our own cultural pagan ways to experience the true presence of God and to invite others to “Do Church together” this fall can become an exciting way to all of us to experience the presence of God and understand “Why We Do Church!” Below are more reasons why we should do church!

 

It Is What Jesus Did

Luke 14:6 says, "Jesus went back to Nazareth, where he'd been brought up and as usual he went to the meeting place on the Sabbath."

It Is a Good Habit

Hebrews 10:25 says, "Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship. But we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord's coming is getting closer."

It Is a Positive Example

Going to church is a positive example. When you go each Sunday, you're setting an example. You are setting an example that other people notice

It Is Important for Fellowship

Look again at what the Bible says, "Some have gotten out of the habit. We should not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other." The church is an encouraging place. We all need encouragement. Life is hard. Life is difficult.

It Is Essential for Growth

It is absolutely essential for spiritual growth to regularly attend church. I have this phrase, "The service you miss is the service you need."