The scripture Lesson for this Sunday Is from I Corinthians 1:18-31

¹⁸ For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written,

‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’

²⁰ Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. ²² For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, ²³ but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

²⁶ Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; ²⁸ God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, ²⁹ so that no one might boast in the presence of God. ³⁰ He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, ³¹ in order that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’

Service for Polly Holland

The service for Polly Holland, scheduled for Saturday, was postponed. We will let you know when the new arrangements are finalized. Please continue to keep Gerry and family in your prayers.

worship this Week

Our in-person worship activities and service this Sunday are canceled due to the snow. We have an online service that will be posted so that we may continue to join together in worship as a church. Our prayer is for all of you to be safe and warm.

Online Giving

Your gifts help us serve our neighbors, support our ministries, and share Christ’s love. If you’d like to give online, you can do so safely and easily using this link https://secure.myvanco.com/L-Z5HF/home

Confirmation Class of 2026

Do you remember your Confirmation Class? If you were raised in a Methodist, or for many of us, a United Methodist home, then Confirmation may have been an important part of your life. It was during Confirmation that we moved from being children in the church (truly a wonderful thing to be) to adults in the congregation with all the rights and responsibilities that brings. It was a time to make significant life decisions. Our Confirmation Classes helped provide the information we needed to make these important spiritual decisions.

My own Confirmation experience happened when I was a seventh grader attending Irving Park UMC in Greensboro. Confirmation was led by our pastor, Rev. Lawrence McCleskey, who led us on a journey to understand what it means to be a Christian, what it means to be a United Methodist, and how we can live out our faith each and every day. I didn’t know then that I would one day be called into Ordained Ministry. Rev. McCleskey didn’t know that he would one day become the Bishop of our Conference. He helped everyone in our class understand our faith in Jesus Christ as a powerful and holy presence giving direction and encouragement to each of us.

I am excited that, starting later on in February, we will begin a Confirmation Journey with our young people. We intend to offer this during our weekly 5:00 p.m. Sunday Youth meetings. Many of our Youth have already completed Confirmation in recent years, but their presence will add to our weekly conversations because of their own experiences as young leaders in our church. Along with these youth and the sixth graders who will be joining them, I want to open our class to anyone who wants to participate. Perhaps you took Confirmation fifty or more years ago, as I did, but would like a refresher course. Perhaps you transferred to the United Methodist Church from another denomination that didn’t offer Confirmation. Perhaps you have been visiting with us for a few weeks or a few years, and you want to know more about what membership means. Or, maybe you are simply curious. Please know that you are invited to participate with our 2026 Confirmation Class each Sunday that we meet.

Now, I do have one request for the adults that join in with these young people: let’s allow the young people to drive the conversation! After all, they are our primary reason for offering the class and they deserve every opportunity to learn. But, along with this, I think we may learn a great deal from them as well. I think our young people have much to teach us about how to follow Jesus and how to be a good church member. So, adults should know they are invited, and we want you to join the conversation after the young folks have their turn, but our motto in Confirmation will be “young people first.”

Sixth graders and above who have not already completed Confirmation, we REALLY want you to be a part of this important class. Other youth who have already been confirmed, please be on hand each week to offer your wisdom and to help us all learn something new. And, adults of all ages, come join the fun. The word confirmation is built upon the idea of being formed together, together with each other, and together with Christ, we become the church.

The Lord be with you!

Rev. Bill Roberts