Rev. Andrew's Adventures

Community UMC, Quincy “Listen to Him”  February 23, 2020 Rev. Andrew Davis 2 Peter 1: 16-21 Matthew 17: 1-9 This morning, we stand at the threshold of another liturgical season.  Since January 5 th , we have been in the season of Epiphany, or Ordinary Time as Jesus grows up and is revealed to the people and revealed to us as the Son of God, the true light.  Epiphany began with the Magi finding the toddler Jesus by following the light of a star, then we fast-forward to Jesus’s baptism in God’s voice comes out of the cloud saying, “This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I’m well-pleased.” This year, we have taken a little more unconventional approach, focusing on the Epistle lessons and Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians which has shed light on who Jesus is to the Church in Corinth and to us today, whether we approaching God for the first time, or whether we’ve heard these stories all throughout our lives.   As we stand at this threshold between seasons, we once again

Community UMC, Quincy “God Gives the Growth” Rev. Andrew Davis February 16, 2020 1 Corinthians 3: 1-9 I don’t get sick very often, although when I do, it hits me like a ton of bricks and this last week has been one of those weeks.  On Monday, while taking a sick day and being bored out of my mind, I was laying on the couch and came across a movie from 1941 on Turner Classic Movies called  One Foot in Heaven,  which is about a Methodist minister.  Obviously, I was captivated!!  While I missed the first half-hour of the movie, I was able to see most of the movie and it really hit home.  The minister, Dr. William Spence and his family go on a journey through ministry as they serve several different appointments in different cities and face different situations along the way, including the various personalities and dynamics of each congregation.  Especially in an appointment in Denver, where Dr. Spence pushes to build a new church building much to the dismay of some of the pat

Community UMC, Quincy “Consider Your Call with a Demonstration” Rev. Andrew Davis February 9, 2020 1 Corinthians 1: 18-2:16          Although the County Fair was quite a while ago and preparations are already underway for this year’s Plumas-Sierra County Fair, one of the things I enjoy seeing are people showing what they made, what they grew, their animals, and demonstrating what they know.  These last couple of weeks while being away at the Gathering of the Orders in Livermore, then at Residents Practicing Ministry Winter Academy in Sutter Creek, it was an honor to share and learn among my clergy colleagues and friends, along with learning some new administrative and leadership skills, even if it’s something I wish I had four years ago.            This morning, we return to our exploration of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians and I realize that we are merrily scratching the surface, as we are only looking through the first few chapters.  It seems like eternity sinc

Community UMC, Quincy “Same Mind, Same Purpose” Rev. Andrew Davis January 26, 2020 1 Corinthians 1: 10-18              This has been one of those weeks where the week has gotten away from me.  I don’t know if it’s because of the MLK Jr. Birthday holiday/day of service on Monday, or from meeting with my clergy mentor in Reno on Wednesday and being away, or immersing myself into the work of PCIRC as my mission immersion project for ordination on Thursday and Friday, although this has been a week I wasn’t always sure what day it was.  And we’ve all been there at one time or another too.  I know that as I get ready to go on the road for the next two weeks, it might be the same case as I attend the CNUMC Gathering of the Orders in Livermore this week, then my last Residents Practicing Ministry winter academy in Sutter Creek the week after.  Nevertheless, as intensive as this last week was and these next two weeks will be, there is so much valuable learning that happens each ste

Community UMC, Quincy “You Are Not Lacking” Rev. Andrew Davis January 19, 2020 1 Corinthians 1: 1-9 John 1: 29-42          This weekend definitely has the feel of a holiday weekend, especially after the snowfall we had on Thursday and with the first Longboards race happening in Johnsville this afternoon, which I’m sure will be awesome after all the snow we received.  After getting back to normal around here after the holidays, I think it’s safe to say things are back to normal, whatever normal is.  And thanks to the efforts of our trustees and several others, we can have coffee hour today, as the heat is working again in the Fellowship Hall.  Yay!!            After Epiphany and Baptism of the Lord, we now enter into an ordinary time before we begin the season of Lent later next month, as we live in the light of Christ.  Usually during this ordinary time in January and February, we tend to focus on the Gospels where Jesus is beginning his earthly ministry along the shor

Community UMC, Quincy “Well Pleased” Rev. Andrew Davis January 12, 2020 Matthew 3: 13-17 Acts 10: 34-43          As much as I love the services around the season of Advent and Christmas, Epiphany and Baptism of the Lord are among a couple of my favorite services.  This might be one of those impossible to answer questions, but how many of you remember your baptism?  I wish I could recall mine, although I was an infant, so it’s okay if you don’t remember it.  Whether baptized as an infant, youth, or adult, Baptism is one of the most sacred moments in the church and both a solemn and joyous occasion.  Solemn in that we come to the water to renounce our sins and to live into a new life in Christ, yet joyous because we are coming into a new life in Christ through the waters of Baptism.  Back in the early church, the season of Lent, or forty days before Easter was a time of preparation for Baptism, which included intense preparation and instruction.  During seminary in intro