The scripture Lesson for this Sunday is from Luke 10:25-37

²⁵   Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ ²⁶ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’ ²⁷ He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’ ²⁸ And he said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’

²⁹ But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’ ³⁰ Jesus replied, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. ³² So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan while travelling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.” ³⁶ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ ³⁷ He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’

The Wisdom of the Sheriff

I heard an old story about a local Sheriff watching over an old western town back during the frontier days. Every day he would greet the stagecoach as it came into town, and every day the stage was filled with newcomers. Without fail, these new folks would see the tin star pinned to the Sheriff’s vest and ask him what kind of folks lived in that town. “Well,” the Sheriff would ask, “what kind of folks lived in the place you just left?”

More often than not, they would tell of the wonderful loving folks they left behind, of how they supported one another, how they cared for one another, and how they would never have left that place if it hadn’t been necessary. And each time, the Sheriff replied, “You’ve come to the right place! We’ve got the same kind of folks right here!”

But every once in a while, when the Sheriff asked about the folks in their old hometown, the newcomer would reply, “Oh, they were horrible. They bickered and fought all the time. They couldn’t get along no matter what. We’re glad to be done with them!”

Then the Sheriff replied, “You might as well keep traveling. We’ve got the same kind of folks here, too.”

I heard that story many years ago, and in my twenty-seven years of ministry, I have had plenty of chances to find out that the Sheriff in the story was a wise man. So, as I arrive here at First United Methodist Church of Forest City, I thought I would tell you a little about the folks I knew at First UMC in Valdese, Epworth UMC in Concord, First UMC in Norwood, Fairview UMC in Pinnacle, Triplett UMC in Mooresville, Prospect UMC in Monroe, First UMC in Hickory, and at Mizpah UMC and Fair Grove UMC in Reidsville. In all these places, I ministered among wonderful, loving people, and I learned much about the love of Jesus Christ from them all.

To be sure, they were not perfect people. Neither was I! But their desire was always to do their best. Being human, sometimes feelings got hurt, sometimes misunderstandings got in the way, and sometimes we all fell a little short of the goal. But, even in those times I learned a lot about forgiveness, about speaking the truth in love, and about the blessing of going back to square one and starting over with a slate wiped clean by the love of Jesus Christ. I learned about the beauty of grace … God’s grace … from all these people in all these churches. Because of all this, experience has taught me that the old Sheriff was right. I feel certain that I will see that God’s wonderful grace is alive among all of you, too.

I thank you for the wonderful welcome that you have already given to Lisa and myself upon our arrival in Forest City and even before we have arrived. Many of you have already gone the extra mile to make Lisa and I feel right at home among you. I am excited and eager for all that we will experience together. By your grace, I’ve already felt the presence of the Lord among you here in our new hometown.

Yes, you will hear many sermons and Bible Studies from me. You will probably also hear me say I’m sorry, along the way, and with God’s help I will be prepared to say I forgive you, should the need arise. I will always try to lead by example wherever I can, and I will prayerfully strive to lead where the Lord would have us go. But I hope you will remember that just as you are learning from me, I will also be learning from you. Together we will daily discover anew the joy of what it means to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ.

The Lord be with you!

– Bill Roberts

Sweet Treats and Greets

We are delighted to invite you to a special day of worship and fellowship at First United Methodist Church of Forest City this Sunday, July 13, 2025.

This meaningful occasion marks the beginning of a new chapter for our congregation as we welcome our new Senior Pastor, Rev. Bill Roberts, and his wife, Lisa.

Rev. Roberts will lead his first worship service with us at 10:30 a.m., bringing his experience and dedication to our church community. That afternoon at 3:00 p.m., we will gather in the Fellowship Hall for a reception to warmly welcome Bill and Lisa. Join us for sweet treats and a time of fellowship as we come together to celebrate this new beginning.

We look forward to your presence as we embark on this exciting journey together.

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