Central America

Dear Saints Of Andrew:

This Sunday, July 9, I have a sermon called, “DOGS.” The genesis was an interesting encounter with a canine last month in Holcomb, Kansas. Among other scripture, I'll be talking about Jesus' encounter with a Canaanite woman, as told in Matthew 15:21-28. The Ladies Ensemble will be featured in all three services. Gene W. is bringing her therapy dog, BOOMER, to the 9:15 & 10:45 Children’s Moments. I'm looking forward to it.

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Several of our members are headed off for Central America in the next week or so. LARRY A. will be going to Nicaragua with the Rainbow Network, a ministry some of you have heard me talk about. DENNY H. and STEVE B. will be in Panama. Denny sent the following that I want to pass along to you:

Steve B. and I are really excited about the July project to the Chiriqui Province. It is great that the Methodist Church is taking the lead to improve education in this depressed, rural area of Panama. Our project will provide the classrooms for continuing and adult education. The teachers are provided by the Methodist school in Panama City (one of the biggest and oldest in Panama). Our personal ties with Rev. Secundino Morales, the NE Central District Superintendent and former Methodist Bishop of , Panama are invaluable in this mission endeavor. Secundino grew up in the Chiriqui Province (his parent are still living there). He has led every group from NE since 1999. This will be my fifth mission trip to and Steve’s second. “That in all things God may be glorified.” Thanks for all the support!

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For those wondering how a trip like this works, all of the above are paying their own way. St. Andrew’s is making a budgeted financial contribution to construction costs in Panama.

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PASTOR CHARLOTTE asks: Prayers for Esther, recovering from foot surgery (Carol O.’s mother; Curtis O.’s grandmother).

Charlotte also passes along the following: “THANKS A BUNCH! To the church, from Anna S.: Thank you for all your prayers.”

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Mark 6:1-6

Jesus left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, "Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. Then Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house." And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.

COMMENTARY: It is said that familiarity breeds contempt. People in Jesus’ hometown saw him, not as the messiah/healer, but as the local carpenter’s boy, with the result that he could not do much good in their midst. Do you ever worry (I do) that having known Jesus, or at least known OF Jesus all these years, some of us may have grown almost TOO familiar with him? We think of ourselves as Jesus’ kin, of his own house, but in Mark’s telling, it was among these that he could do the least! I look at the way the United Methodist Church is growing in places like Africa and South Korea, where the message of Jesus is new, and people are clamoring to meet him, and contrast it with all the inactive names on church rolls in America. What’s wrong with this picture? What’s wrong with us? If the Son of God walked through your front door today, would it be any big whoop? Or would you say, “Hey there, Jesus. Let’s talk after I finish Judge Judy, or my internet chat or whatever we’re doing that is more interesting to us than the Word through whom all things were made. Would Jesus be as amazed at our unbelief as he was at those in Nazareth?

Hope to see you Sunday, BRD