First Methodist Church Winnsboro

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died this week after battling pancreatic cancer at age 87. The second woman and the first Jewish woman ever appointed to the high court, Ginsburg was a strong liberal voice for gender equality, separation of church and state, and the rights of workers, voters, immigrants, persons with disabilities, and minorities. Tributes to “RBG,” whom Chief Justice John Roberts called “a justice of historic stature, … a tireless and resolute champion of justice,” have been piling up on the steps of the Supreme Court and she is now the first woman to be given the honor to lie in state at the Capitol.

In more recent years, Ginsburg found herself more often in the minority on the court, but in the tradition of Jewish prophets, who she was named after, she embraced the value of dissent, using her prophetic voice to point out what she thought was incorrect about the majority opinions.

As in our current worship series on GOD, POLITICS, and the CHURCH, I won’t comment on the political battle over how and when her seat on the Supreme Court will be filled, but I have been thinking about the role of our justices, in their advocacy and dissent, as they function in the life of God’s people. We seem to have lost the ability to “agree to disagree” in a diplomatic way so you might ponder these questions with me:

– Is it possible to voice dissent without becoming disagreeable or discouraging? If so, how might dissenters present their positions in a constructive way that draws people to listen?

– Who has spoken words of dissent into your life? Who has been an advocate? How did they impact you?

–  How have you seen people of faith function effectively as dissenters? As advocates? How can voicing dissent further God’s work? How can advocacy build up the community of faith?

– How should Christians determine what issues are important enough to warrant dissent to popular opinions? Where can we find the courage to dissent when it seems as though everyone disagrees with us, and when dissent could cost us dearly?

The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, “Look, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king; let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.” But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, whatever my God says, that I will speak.” … [Then Micaiah said to King Ahab,] “So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets; the LORD has decreed disaster for you.” 2 Chronicles 18:12-13, 22

CHILDREN’S CHURCH IS BACK! We’re so excited that Paige Baber is back to engage the kids in learning more about the love of Jesus Christ! In order to make enough SAFE SPACE, they will be meeting in the Family Life Center from 10:50 am until the sanctuary service ends.  Parents, please drop your children off the FLC at about 10:40 am and then scurry over to pick them up when the sanctuary service is over. We’ve explained to the children that IF IT’S OK WITH THEIR PARENTS, they can take their masks off when they are seated APART from others, but if they’re standing or walking around, they should keep their masks on. Paige is doing her student teaching at Winnsboro Elementary School this semester so she’s tuned into safety protocols – thank you Paige!

I also want to say a HUGE, GIGANTIC thank you to our wonderful volunteers who make ministry SAFE for our kids! Thank you, SANDRA STRICKLAND, DON BEATY, and ED PAGE who assist Paige, in this important ministry. We are a Ministry Safe certified church so all our adult volunteers are Ministry Safe trained and work in teams of two. Teamwork is so important so please thank them ALL!

CARTER BLOOD CARE COMING TO WINNSBORO, Tuesday, September 29, 7 a.m. ~ 1 p.m. ~ This Tuesday morning there is a blood drive in Winnsboro at USA Harness on Coke Road. Our blood banks are exceptionally low and with surgeries starting up again Carter Blood Care really needs our help. You can go to https://www.carterbloodcare.org/donate-blood/

SUNDAY HAPPY MOMENTS ~ Please, please, please take out your cameras and capture the HAPPY MOMENTS where you see God working in your life or things that make you SMILE! I would love to share everyone’s pictures of their grandbabies (mine would be first, haha!) but let’s look beyond. I’d like to see pictures of the kids back in CHILDREN’S CHURCH, or our Sunday schools doing something special, or YOU doing something to serve someone else or a special accomplishment of your children! I’d like to show a few on Sunday but I can put LOTS of Facebook so please send me your pictures!

I look forward to continuing our political conversation this Sunday and I’ll be talking about Isaiah who warns the people NOT to put their trust in other countries because they have the most chariots and horses who could protect them … they should only put their trust in GOD!  (Isaiah 30:1-8)

In Christ Alone,

Pastor Debbie