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The latest at Irvington United Methodist Church

Stay up to date with the happenings of Irvington United Methodist Church by visiting our blog. You'll find information such as announcements, sermon notes and thoughts from our pastor to encourage and challenge your walk with the Lord.

Ponderings

by: Denise Robinson

08/09/2022

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This morning I offer a meditation. Begin with a couple of deep breaths and then say this prayer: "God, show me your light and grace."

Be calm & focus on God’s presence.Settle your heart, mind and body. Close yourself off from any distractions. Focus on God’s proximity to you. How is God close to you right now? Do you sense God's presence? If not, it's okay - by the end of the Scripture reading that may change. As you sit in silence, focus on God’s deep and abiding love for ...
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Ponderings

by: Denise Robinson

08/08/2022

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"From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!"  (2 Cor. 5:16-17)

There's a story I've read several times on the internet (so it must be true!). It goes like this: Ben was born out of wedlock in a small 1800s East Tennessee town. His mother wo...
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Ponderings

by: Denise Robinson

08/05/2022

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Well, this morning was exciting in the Robinson household. Nolle and Tori had their annual vet appointments at 7 am for wellness checks, toenail trimmings, shots, and a year's worth of heartworm medication for two. Sigh ... dollars flew from me to the vet. But mostly it was the drama. I won't go into the details, but now we're home and both are laid out on the floor recovering from the trauma. I think I'm ready to take a nap myself. 

I wonder if God sometimes doesn't feel t...
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Ponderings

by: Denise Robinson

08/04/2022

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"O for a thousand tongues to singmy great Redeemer's praise,the glories of my God and King,the triumphs of his grace!"

Though John Wesley is called the father of Methodism, his brother Charles Wesley is the father of Methodist congregational singing. In the Anglican Church of Wesley's time, the only worship songs were adaptations of the psalms. Charies gave Methodism and modern hymnody original hymn texts, some of which we still sing today. O For a Thousand Tongues is one o...
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Ponderings

by: Denise Robinson

08/03/2022

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"From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way." - 2 Cor. 5:16

Philosopher Martin Buber wrote that most people live in “I-It” relationships. If I live in an “I-It” relationship with you, I don't (ever or often) see the real you; instead, I see “categories,” such as age, sex, skin color, class, and political party. I might also see you in stereotypical roles s...
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Ponderings

by: Denise Robinson

08/02/2022

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I loved waking up yesterday to the sound of rain, but I just came inside this morning after sitting in the backyard with a cup of coffee watching the dogs running around. Even though the heat is building back up, I love spending some time outside at the start of each day, because that's where I do my best "pondering." Before I end my devotional time, I ask myself a few questions. Is there something in my life causing me anxiety? Were there thoughts or concerns that kept me...
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Ponderings

by: Denise Robinson

08/01/2022

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This is My Father’s World:1 This is my Father’s world, and to my list’ning ears all nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.This is my Father’s world, I rest me in the thought of rocks and trees, of skies and seas; his hand the wonders wrought.2 This is my Father’s world; the birds their carols raise; the morning light, the lily white, declare their maker’s praise.This is my Father’s world; he shines in all that’s fair.In the rustling grass I hear him pas...
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Ponderings

by: Denise Robinson

07/29/2022

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"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. Those who say, “I love God,” and hate a brother or sister are liars, for those who do not love a brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also."  (1 John...
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Ponderings

by: Denise Robinson

07/28/2022

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Proverbs 27:1 - “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”Philippians 4:6-7 - “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

We like to have plans and schedules so that we know what the day will bring. And yet, we also like a touch of unc...
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Ponderings

by: Denise Robinson

07/27/2022

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Finally, much needed rain! I woke up to the sound of it in the middle of the night (and to a dog that needed a little comforting when the thunder and lightning started). My devotional time this time took a slightly different turn. I've been reading Colossians because that's been the course for last couple of sermons, and one more is "coming soon to a church near you!" But last night I was in a "funk." At least that's the best way to describe it. So, this morning I needed a...
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Ponderings

by: Denise Robinson

07/26/2022

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“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patien...
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Ponderings

by: Denise Robinson

07/25/2022

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“The mystery has been kept hidden for ages and generations but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:26-27

For the past two weeks, we've been looking at Paul's letter to the Colossians. The first part of the letter lets us in on a mystery, a great secret, one that has been hidden for generations. What is that great secret? For the "...
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Ponderings

by: Denise Robinson

07/21/2022

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Good morning! I am back from a few days away and have been thinking about friendships, The Bible contains several comments about friends: A friend loves at all times. The sweetness of a friend comes from his (or her) earnest counsel. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. Carry each other's burdens. Bear with each other and forgive one another. And, of course, love one another. 

In the Book of Job, we read about three friends who travelled some distance to...
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Ponderings

by: Denise Robinson

07/15/2022

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I'm sharing these words from my devotional time this morning. Every now and then I turn to a favorite psalm. It does my soul good! 

For God alone my soul waits in silence;    from him comes my salvation.2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,    my fortress; I shall never be shaken.5 For God alone my soul waits in silence,    for my hope is from him.6 He alone is my rock and my salvation,    my fortress; I shall not be shaken.7 On God rests my deliverance and my honor;    m...
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Ponderings

by: Denise Robinson

07/14/2022

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A prayer for the day:

Today, O Lord, I yield myself to you.May your will be my delight today.May your way have perfect sway in me.May your love be the pattern of my living.I surrender to you my hopes, my dreams, my ambitions.Do with them what you will, when you will, as you will.I place into your loving care my family, my friends, my future.Care for them with a care that I can never give.I release into your hands my need to control, my craving for status, my fear of obscuri...
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