Welcome to our
August 7
online worship service!
Athens First UMC
2 S. College St., Athens, OH 45701
[Live-Stream Begins @ 10:25 AM]
(Nee'-kos) Biblical Greek Word for "Victory"
Sunday, August 7, 2022
Wednesday, August 3, 2022
Monday, August 1, 2022
Sermon (July 31) by Rev. Robert McDowell
For the past three weeks, we have been celebrating Thanksgiving a little early this year. And the reason for this is because of our appointed New Testament readings from Colossians which emphasize the importance of being thankful.
In this letter which only includes four chapters, there are six references about the importance of being thankful. Today we get the last three of those thanksgiving references.
In chapter 3, verse 15, the Apostle Paul writes, “Be thankful.” In verse 17, Paul writes, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” And then in chapter 4, verse 2, our scripture reading ends with, “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.”
“Be thankful,” “Give thanks,” “Pray with thanksgiving.”
The Apostle Paul wants this new community of believers in Colossae to know that being thankful is at the heart of what it means to be a growing, loving, and faithful church. We are to be thankful in July as well as in November and all of the months in between.
In this letter, the Apostle Paul offers us WHY we are to be thankful. In chapter one, Paul is thankful in his prayers for the church in Colossae because he has heard of their faith, their hope, and their fruitful ministry.
Last Sunday, our focus was on chapter two of his letter where he encourages them to continue to “abound in thanksgiving” because of what Jesus has done for us by dying on the cross and rising to new life. This was Jesus’ victory parade over sin and death.
And today as we look at the last two chapters of this letter, Paul invites us to celebrate a thanksgiving party where we are to sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to God.
Listen to Paul’s words from our reading: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spirituals songs, (and here you go again) WITH THANKFULNESS in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, GIVING THANKS to God the Father through him.”
Thanksgiving is so much more than eating mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, and pumpkin pie. It’s also about candied yams, turkey and pecan pie. Actually, and according to Colossians, it’s about praising God for all that God has done for us and continues to do for us.
Think of our Sunday worship as our weekly Thanksgiving party where we gather together and sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. We express our thanksgiving through worship and praise.
Rick Seiter who is our Director of Congregational Care says that Methodists really have three Sacraments instead of just two and these include Holy Communion, Baptism, and Potlucks. Maybe we should add Potlucks because it’s a way for us to celebrate God’s abundant love made known to us through Jesus Christ.
A couple of years ago, we joined Rick’s churches in having a potluck at Chesterhill UMC. The food was unbelievable. And the pies. Wow! The pies!
By the way, what did the pumpkin say after the Thanksgiving meal was over? “Good pie, everyone!”
But our party wasn’t over after the meal because we concluded our time together by going to the sanctuary. We formed a circle up by their altar and we each offered the Sacrament of Holy Communion to the person standing next to us.
And we also invited each person to share a word of praise or thanksgiving around that circle. It was such a holy moment as we shared our thanksgivings together. What a wonderful evening in sharing in a potluck meal and then offering our thanks and praise by receiving Holy Communion.
Another name that we use for Holy Communion is the word, “Eucharist” which is derived from a Greek word that means, “Thanksgiving.” Every time that we receive the bread and the cup, we are offering our thanks to God who has won the victory for us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
So, even after we conclude this sermon series on “Thanksgiving in July,” we will continue to to be God’s thanksgiving people whenever we share in Holy Communion together. We don’t just celebrate Thanksgiving in November, we celebrate it every time we receive the bread and the cup. And every time that we gather for worship, we are thanking God through our hymns and our songs of praise.
What a great combination! Hymns of thanksgiving and potlucks! As they say, “whenever Methodists meet, they eat!”
The Apostle Paul tells us to be thankful and to abound in thanksgiving. Over the past couple of months, I have been asking people in our church to let me know what makes you feel so thankful and I’d like to share some of the responses I have received with you today.
If Paul’s letter to the Colossians is telling us that thanksgiving is at the heart of what it means to be a vital and growing church, then this list might take a while for me to share.
Sharing of Thanksgivings
I asked some of our members to share what they are thankful for about their faith and being part of our church family. Here are some of their responses. I’ll pause after each person’s response so you know that I’ll be reading the next person’s thanksgiving. I have a lot of these to share so sit back and enjoy as we get this Thanksgiving party started. Here we go:
“I’m thankful for the friends we have and that my daughter enjoys coming to church and learning. Everyone is so nice!”
“I’m thankful for my friends I have lunch with after church every Sunday and for our church’s music.”
“I am grateful for the members of the church who will pray for me when I need it. I am grateful for the hope I have because of my faith.”
“I’m literally grateful for my life. I'm not sure how or if I would have survived all that I've been through without my faith, belief in God and my church family. I am so so grateful for our prayer ministry and those individuals who will faithfully pray for me and my family and friends over and over again. My small groups. I've been in two and they were both great groups. It's a nice way to connect with others, get to know people better, have members pray for you and teach you. I've learned about other's beliefs and have grown in my own faith as a result.”
Here are some responses from our newer members:
“One of the best things about family is the feeling that you fit, simply as you are. You can relax with them. It's easy and authentic. I feel that with my church family at First UMC and am thankful.”
“I am most thankful for the welcoming and accepting atmosphere and doctrine. So many people, including my younger self feel like the church and/or God doesn’t accept them. They are taught at a young age that certain characteristics or behaviors are an abomination and it’s devastating. I miss a lot of things (and people) from my original church, but feel like a fraud and a liar when I go back. (I rarely do, but I wish I could). I’m so thankful that I found not one, but TWO Methodist church families who have welcomed me with open arms and also preach about love and inclusion.”
“My thanksgiving is in the timing of when I found Athens First. My Dad and Step-mom were devout Catholics. My biological mom had me baptized in the Methodist church, but it was my grandma who took me to church every week. I was confirmed in both churches... I had drifted away from institutionalized religion over the past fifteen years as I became disillusioned with rigid theological interpretations that more often than not excluded individuals. I joined an Athens First zoom bible study during the pandemic on living an inclusive faith and later decided to join the church. I felt and still feel a deep readiness to explore my faith in a community that offers the space to love inclusively and mercifully.”
“I am thankful for how my faith brings me closer to God and gives me strength. I am thankful to our Church family for the fellowship I and my girls share.”
I asked some of our Leadership Board to share what they are thankful for and here are some of their thoughts:
“I am so very thankful that God hears our prayers. And I am also thankful and grateful for all of the prayer opportunities in our church. I am thankful that we have a pastor who connects with our congregation in so many ways, and genuinely care about us. I am thankful for a church family who is so supportive and caring and doesn't whisper about one another. I am thankful for a God who loves each one of us unconditionally. I am thankful for the joy I feel when I walk into the sanctuary on a Sunday and see my church family.”
“I have experienced the power of prayer, and am thankful for a congregation and prayer ministry group that prays regularly and fervently. I am thankful for a church family that reaches out to others in their time of need- both within the family & outreach to the community.”
“When I went through a very challenging season in my life, my faith and the support of my church family was the one constant that never changed. In a season, where everything was changing and stressful and uncertain (relationships, friendships. finances, etc), I knew I could count on God's love to be steadfast for both me and my children. When I worried about things, I genuinely believe God put church members in my path, who would say exactly the words to me that my heart needed to hear. When faced with life circumstances where you have so little control over the outcome, I learned to trust God more than I ever had before. It enhanced my faith and taught me to breathe and let go, because God has got it. The sermons each week had elements that brought me comfort and seemed tailored to my life in ways that seemed so much more than coincidental. I do not think I would have weathered this season of life had it not been for God's love and the unchanging and non-judgmental support of our church family. I am endlessly thankful.”
I asked our children and youth to share their thanksgivings. Here are some of their thanksgivings:
“I am thankful there can be peace in a world of chaos.”
“I am thankful for all of the people at my church, how welcoming and supportive they are.”
“I am thankful knowing that I’m not alone.”
“I am thankful to go to such a loving, caring, and supportive church and also thankful for the members who help others know how much they are loved.”
“I am thankful for Jesus, everybody in my church, and being able to help people.”
“I am thankful that we can learn about awesome things in Sunday School and that my mom gets to teach us.”
I asked some of our staff and here is what they shared:
“It just feels like a soft place to land. Meaning, I look forward to coming to work each day and I look forward to seeing what God has planned for this church and it's ministries. I feel like I am a part of something unique and am happy that I can help facilitate making those ministries happen in my position. I am thankful to be a part of this church and thankful for being a child of God.”
“My journey would not had taken me to where it is today if it weren't for God and Athens First. You all supported me as your Youth Director, WSC Interim Director, now as a Pastor of three Churches and being on Staff here for 8 years, currently as your Director of Congregational Care. Thank you all.”
“I am thankful for Open inclusivity, Showing Love by example, Friendly faces, Selfless giving, Community focus, Compassionate hearts”
The Korean congregation who worship here on Sunday afternoons sent me this thanksgiving that they would like to share with us today:
During Covid 19 pandemic, our beloved pastor Lee passed away in January 2021. Thank God for his faithfulness in service to Athens Korean church over the 30 years, and I asked God to help us continue to learn from his example (as well as his teaching and preaching). Like the stages of grief, we go through the brokenness of life and fears, tears, and sorrows, but with FUMC members and other prayers to pray for us, and when we express our feelings to God in faith, he renews our commitment and trust in God. As a result of Covid and losing our beloved pastor, we desperately seek what only God can provide to us. In Psalm 13:5-6, the psalmist says, "But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me" (Psalm 13:5-6)."
Wow! All of these thanksgivings! I think this is one of my favorite things that I have ever done in asking our church family how you are thankful for your faith and our church family. I know that we’re going to enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving meal together in a little bit, but hearing about all of these thanksgivings is really what makes today a Thanksgiving Party. We are celebrating the many thanksgivings that make up our church family. I want to be part of a church that abounds in thanksgiving!
One of the things I always do when I arrive at a new church is to read about the history of how they got started. Sometimes, you just get dates and names, but sometimes, you get fun stories like this one.
In one of the churches I served, the church was founded in the 1800s and early in the church’s history is the story of one of the members who attended church one Sunday morning. On that Sunday in worship, this man felt so happy and thankful for God’s love and being part of a loving church family that at the end of that service, he stood up and invited the entire congregation to come to his house for lunch that day.
As the story goes, his wife would have appreciated being notified first!
I love that fun story that this church included in their church’s history. It’s a story of a thankful church where people love to celebrate their many thanksgivings and blessings.
In the church, every Sunday is a Thanksgiving Party where as the Apostle Paul says, we abound in thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving in July Party
Sermon Discussion Questions
Colossians 3:1-17; 4:1
July 31, 2022
Today is the conclusion of our 3-part sermon series on “Thanksgiving in July” based on the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Colossians. Thanksgiving is a theme of this letter since a variation of the word appears six times in this one letter. For the first Sunday, we focused on Paul’s prayer of thanksgiving for the Colossians Church. Last Sunday, our focus was on Paul’s mention of a thanksgiving parade that celebrates Jesus’ victory over sin and death through his life, death, and resurrection.
How has this worship series on being thankful helped you to be more thankful for God’s blessings in your life?
Our focus today is on a Thanksgiving Party. The Apostle Paul writes in Colossians, chapter 3 to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankful in your hearts toward God. In our scripture reading, Paul makes reference to being thankful three times! Paul wants us to be so filled with thanksgiving that whenever we gather, it’s like a big party! One of the words that is used for the Sacrament of Holy Communion is “Eucharist” which is derived from a Greek words that means thanksgiving.
In what ways is our weekly worship like one great big thanksgiving party?
During Sunday’s worship, several members from our congregation including our Korean congregation shared their thanksgivings for their faith and the church. We could have shared a lot more if we had more time! It was a wonderful time in celebrate our many thanksgiving with each other.
Share some of your thanksgivings that you have about your faith and what the church means to you.
One of the thanksgivings that was offered numerous times by people was in how they are thankful for a church that is open and inclusive of all people.
In what ways can we continue to strive to be an open and inclusive church that welcomes all?
Conclude your time by offering this prayer that was shared during our Sunday worship service:
God of goodness and love, help us to be just as thankful in July as we are during harvest time in November. You have given us everything we need to be your people; compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and love. Forgive us for whenever we neglect to sing your praises and to be the people you call us to be. Remind us in the middle of the summer to celebrate your goodness and be your thankful people! Amen and Amen!
Sunday, July 31, 2022
Online Worship Service (July 31) Athens First UMC
Welcome to our
July 31
online worship service!
Athens First UMC
2 S. College St., Athens, OH 45701
[Live-Stream Begins @ 10:25 AM]
Wednesday, July 27, 2022
Monday, July 25, 2022
Sermon (July 24) by Rev. Robert McDowell
Our appointed New Testament scripture readings for these July Sundays are from the Letter of Colossians. And in this short book of the Bible, there are six references to the importance of being thankful.
Last Sunday’s focus was on the importance of offering prayers of thanksgiving. The Apostle Paul who wrote this letter wanted the Colossians Church to know that he has been offering prayers of thanksgiving for all they have already been able to accomplish as a new church. Paul thanks God for how they are bearing fruit through their ministry.
In preparing for this Thanksgiving in July series, it has led me to become even more thankful in my prayers for all of you and for the many ways that we are living out our faith here in our community and beyond. As we prayed in our opening prayer this morning, “God of goodness and love, help us to be just as thankful in July as we are during harvest time in November.”
This is really the spirit of this “Thanksgiving in July” sermon series; for us to be God’s thankful people throughout the year and to continue to bear fruit in our ministries even in the middle of these long summer months. And I love how the Apostle Paul says in the first chapter of this letter for us to joyfully give thanks to God. I love how Paul phrases that. We are to “joyfully” give thanks to God.
For this Sunday’s scripture reading from Colossians, the Apostle Paul wants us to participate in a Thanksgiving Parade. No, this is not the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade that many of us watch on Thanksgiving morning. This thanksgiving parade is about celebrating Jesus’ victory over the evil forces of this world through his life, death, and resurrection.
In chapter two of Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he makes reference to this parade when he writes, “He, meaning Jesus, disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it.”
In the ancient world, instead of floats with large helium balloons, marching bands and candy being thrown to the crowds, parades were centered around military victories. Their parade lineup as the conquering empire would consist of carrying the military emblem of their recently defeated enemy and behind that emblem, they carried the spoils of war, the treasures of that country.
Behind the treasure that was being carried for the great crowd of people to see and celebrate, next came the prisoners of war from that country who were forced to walk in shame and humiliation.
And then at the end of this parade was not Santa Claus riding on a large float. It would be the king of that defeated nation which had been defeated. At the end of this parade they would have the execution of that defeated king.
The Romans did something similar to Jesus when they forced him to carry his own cross through a crowd of people to the place where they would crucify him. They were making a public example of him. And when they placed the sign or emblem above the cross that read, “King of the Jews,” this was to show what enemy they had just defeated.
But notice that this parade of humiliation that led Jesus to be crucified on a cross ended up being a parade of victory through his rising from the dead on Easter Sunday. By dying on the cross and then rising from the dead, the Apostle Paul says that Jesus ended up making a public example of the rulers and authorities who put him to death.
God was able to take a humiliating defeat and turn it into a victory through the death and resurrection of Jesus. As Charles Wesley writes in that great hymn of faith, “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing,”
“He breaks the power of canceled sin. He sets the prisoner free. His blood can make the foulest clean. His blood availed for me!”
Only God can take a humiliating death of his own Son and turn it into a triumphant victory. Only God can take an instrument of death and turn it into an instrument of salvation. Only God can take a parade of shame and turn it into a parade of victory.
This is why the Apostle Paul writes just a few verses earlier in our Colossians scripture reading for today, “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”
“Abounding in thanksgiving.” This parade of victory that God has won for us is what leads us to “abound in thanksgiving.”
Paul also uses baptismal language to emphasize this victorious parade when he writes, “When you were buried with Christ in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.”
The reason we are abounding in thanksgiving is not because of anything we have done, it’s because of what God has done for us through his victory over sin and death on the cross. God took what was shameful and turned it into a victory.
The Apostle Paul refers to this victory parade again in II Corinthians, chapter 2 where he writes, “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession.”
This is the Thanksgiving parade that we are celebrating today.
When I served as a Youth Pastor, I created a weekly newsletter for the youth of the church to help remind them of this victory that Jesus won for us through the cross and his resurrection.
The name I gave that newsletter was “Nikos,” which is the Greek word for “victory.” This later became the name for my personal blog that I continue to use today. And so whenever you see the word, “victory” in the New Testament, it is this Greek word, “Nikos.”
One of my favorite verses in the Bible uses this word, I Corinthians 15:57, where Paul writes, “But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” “But thanks be to God who gives us the Nikos through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
I wanted the youth of my church to know that whenever they were going through a challenging time or they were doubting their worthiness or if they were feeling down or defeated because of how difficult and confusing life can be, to know that they are always on the winning team. Jesus has won the victory! There is always hope! God has turned the parade of shame and humiliation into a parade of victory and salvation!
This past April, my brother who is the Music Director of our home church in South Central Pennsylvania did something pretty remarkable. He organized and directed the musical, “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
Many of you are familiar with this Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical from the early 1970s. My brother and I had the album soundtrack from this musical when we were growing up together and we would listen to it. The music and the singing are phenomenal. This musical highlights the days leading up to Jesus’ betrayal, arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection.
A new version of this musical was aired on NBC back in 2018. After my brother watched that 2018 performance, he felt called by God to look into directing that same musical in the rural area of south central, Pennsylvania where his church is located.
After he received copy-write permission to perform the musical, he presented the idea to his church’s board and he told them the large cost that would be associated with something of that magnitude. He also told them that he believed that God was calling them to use this musical to primarily reach a non-church audience beyond the church walls.
They ended up performing this musical at a popular winery that provided space for over 2,000 people to watch it. They held three performances during Holy Week this past April.
A personal highlight of this for me was that I was able to surprise my brother by attending the Maundy Thursday performance. I bought my ticket back in January and he had no idea that I had been planning to come. Here’s a picture of my brother and me during that night of the performance.
And talk about the importance of being thankful, I want to thank all of you for allowing me to be away for Maundy Thursday this past April, so that I could see that performance and surprise my brother. In all my years of pastoral ministry, I have never been away from my church during Holy Week. A special word of gratitude to Rev. David Maze and Rick Seiter who filled in for me here that week.
The performance was incredible. The musicians were phenomenal. The crucifixion scene was so gripping. You felt like you were right there as Jesus breathed his last. You could feel the sadness of the realization that Jesus had been defeated and all hope was lost. It was another Roman parade of celebrating the conquering of their enemy. Power and evil won again. Sin and death won again.
But no. At the end of the musical, the pastor of the church announced to everyone that this was not the end of Jesus’ story. He then invited the people to join them for worship on Easter Sunday.
Easter Sunday is when we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection! Jesus didn’t conquer the Romans. His death and resurrection defeated something much bigger. Jesus conquered and defeated sin and death once and for all.
As Paul describes it in our Colossians reading today, “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it.”
Following that amazing musical performance of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” the cast mingled with the crowd where they were able to get their thoughts about what Jesus’ death and resurrection means to them. It was a faith sharing opportunity.
The Apostle Paul wants us to continue to celebrate the victory of Easter over sin and death, and abound in thanksgiving by following Jesus in this Thanksgiving parade. It’s a parade of how Jesus broke the power of canceled sin and sets the prisoner free. It’s a parade of Nikos, a parade of victory.
Next Sunday, we will conclude our Thanksgiving in July sermon series on Colossians with a Thanksgiving party in which we are going to continue to praise God and enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving feast together.
Thanksgiving in July Parade
Sermon Discussion Questions
Colossians 2:6-15
July 24, 2022
This week is the 2nd part of a 3-week sermon series on the theme, “Thanksgiving in July.” This theme is based on our appointed New Testament readings from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Colossians Church. There are only four chapters in this letter but Paul includes six references to being thankful. Last week, we focused on Colossians, chapter one where Paul includes two of those references. He writes that he “thanks” God for their church and encourages them to joyfully “give thanks” to God.
Share some things for which you are thankful from this past week. Why do you think it is important to share our thanksgivings with each other?
If last week’s focus was on Paul’s prayers of thanksgiving for the Colossians Church, this week’s focus is on being thankful for a victory parade. In Colossians 2:15, Paul writes, “He (Jesus) disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it.” Paul’s words are alluding to military parades from the ancient world in which a conquering empire would force the king of the defeated nation to walk in shame in a parade along with the spoils of war. In a similar way, the Romans had Jesus walk in their military parade by forcing him to carry a cross to the place where they would crucify him. They sought to humiliate Jesus’ by having him die in this very cruel way. Paul wants us to know that this parade of humiliation was really a parade of victory because it was through Jesus’ death and resurrection, that God was able to defeat sin and death forever.
How does Jesus’ victory over “the rulers and authorities” (sin & death) lead you to “abound in thanksgiving?”
Paul also uses baptismal language in describing how we too can participate in this Thanksgiving Parade. In Colossians 2:12-13, Paul writes that by placing our faith in Christ, our sins can be buried with Christ and we too, can be made alive with him through his resurrection. God was able to turn a parade of humiliation into a parade of victory!
What helps you to remember this meaning of baptism where our sins have been buried and we have been raised to new life with Christ?
The word, “victory” is the ancient Greek word, “Nikos” (pronounced “kneecose.)” Whenever the Apostle Paul refers to Jesus’ victory over sin and death, he uses this word. Pastor Robert shared that this is why he named his blog after this Greek word. It’s a reminder that Christ has won the victory over sin and death.
What are some ways that we can remind each other of Jesus’ nikos and his victory over sin and death? Who is God calling us to encourage with these words of victory?
Sunday, July 24, 2022
Online Worship Service (July 24) Athens First UMC
Welcome to our
July 24
online worship service!
Athens First UMC
2 S. College St., Athens, OH 45701
[Live-Stream Begins @ 10:25 AM]
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