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Showing posts from January, 2017

"The Great Invitation: Follow Me" - Sermon, January 22, 2017

Community United Methodist Church, Quincy “The Great Invitation: Follow Me” Pastor Andrew Davis January 22, 2017 Matthew 4: 12-23         Just imagine that you ’re out fishing at Geritol Cove on Lake Almanor, the Haskins Creek arm at Bucks Lake, Mallard Cove at Lake Davis, or with the many others at Turkey Point at Frenchman Lake when someone just comes up to you at random and tells you to leave your gear behind and follow him.  --- Now at first, I would think that this is a scam to get me to leave my nice fishing gear behind, only for someone to take it.  But if this person says that he will make you fish for people, I’d probably raise my eyebrows a little further than usual.  Now if that person came up to me and passed out a business card telling me he’s a local minister nearby, that would make a little more sense, since after all that’s part of our job, to make disciples.  Or to take it a little further, in The United Methodist Church, it is our primary task and mission

"The Great Invitation: Come and See" - Sermon, January 15, 2017

Community United Methodist Church, Quincy “The Great Invitation: Come and See” Pastor Andrew Davis January 15, 2017 John 1: 29-42         What are you looking for?  What are you after?  It was a question that my mom or grandma often asked me when I was younger whenever I started rummaging around the kitchen, usually looking for a snack since I seemed to be hungry all the time.  But it’s also one of those questions we get asked when rummaging around our office, our house, garage or shop, or around the church when someone sees us trying to find something we misplaced, or something we need right at that moment (which can sometime result in a stress-laden tirade filled with colorful language). Sometimes that search can be quite frustrating and feel like it’s going in circles, and sometimes in a rare instance, I won’t be able to find something leading to more frustration and a little more colorful language.  In fact, when I got back to the office a couple weeks ago, I kept lo

"The Heavens are Opened" - Sermon, January 8, 2017

Community United Methodist Church, Quincy “The Great Invitation: The Heavens Are Opened” Pastor Andrew Davis January 8, 2016 Isaiah 42: 1-9 Matthew 3: 13-17         It feels like it’s been an eternity since I last preached up here, but it is sure good to be back in the pulpit today after what seems like an eternity since I’ve last preached a sermon.  While Christmas just formally wrapped up on Epiphany this past Friday, or the 12 th Day of Christmas, it feels like Christmas ended much longer ago even though It’s only been two weeks.  I suppose it’s because the day after Christmas Day, we start seeing all the Christmas stuff come off the shelves at Safeway, The Dollar Store, or Rite-Aid to be switched out for Valentine’s Day so quickly.  But in the church, Christmas lasts until January 6 th , Epiphany.  However, we still have the season after Epiphany which believe it or not, is one of my favorite seasons in the church year!  I don’t know if it’s because we talk a lot ab

Adventures - January 2017 from "The Quincy Quill"

I don't know about tomorrow I just live from day to day I don't borrow from its sunshine For its skies may turn to gray I don't worry o'er the future For I know what Jesus said And today I'll walk beside Him For He knows what is ahead Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand But I know who holds tomorrow And I know who holds my hand (Words: Ira Stanphill, 1950) Happy New Year!!  Each time a new year rolls around, I keep asking myself how the previous year went by so fast and once again find myself asking how 2016 went by so fast.  Seems like it gets faster and faster each year we get older, right?  Ira Stanhill’s poem/song above captures the moment each time we begin a new year and his words ring even more true as we begin 2017.  2016 is now complete and once again, we have before us a fresh canvas, clean slate, unworked soil, before us or whatever name or analogy you have for new beginnings.  A new year really is a new beginnin