Religion

Sermon set for July 15
“God Called a Party” will be the title of Pastor Jeff Roberts’ sermon at the 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. services. “Parable of the Sower” will be the title of Assistant Pastor Gary Albertson’s sermon at 11 a.m. in Murrow Hall on Sunday, July 15, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 209 E. Nash St. in Southport.
Based on scripture from Luke 15:1-32, 2 Samuel 12:1-6 and Luke 8: 1-18, this is the first of a six-part sermon series on Kingdom Parables.

For many people, retirement is volunteerism. Days and evenings are parceled into allotted timetables for civic or religious organizations, hobby groups of all sorts. Time, talents, energy, and finances are universally shared. Workshops are attended to attain more information to be distributed among all the organizations that have staked their claim on us. We feel both stretched and fulfilled, but also and often somewhat frazzled. One can almost hear the sighed statement: “It is better to give than to receive.”

It’s that time of year again. Flag Day and Memorial Day have come and gone. Banks are closed. Grills are fired up. Parades are planned. Fireworks will light up the night sky. A federal holiday is coming, allowing leisure to take precedence and allowing all the opportunity to celebrate and contemplate the reality that this land is our land. It’s nearly the Fourth of July.
We have much to consider as citizens of this great nation. We have much to ponder when it comes to understanding independence as freedom, justice, mercy and compassion for all.

Perhaps some view movies that are not documentaries as interesting, but far from true. I do not. I see them as I see any art form, purveyors of truth clothed in fiction. I believe they hold verities that would make us cringe if they were presented as nonfiction. This is the case with the film, “A Better Life.”