top of page
Search
Writer's picturePastor Linda Settles

Recovering What Was Lost


Losing things. It’s aggravating isn’t it? One time my husband had his glasses on when he waded into the ocean for a cool dip. Before he knew it, a big wave came up and down he went! When he came up, he had no glasses on. The wave had taken them. Losing stuff is aggravating, isn’t it? But in his case, they were prescription glasses and without them he couldn’t see well. They were lost, and for the most part, so was he.


The book of Kings (1 and 2) gives an account of the history of the kings who ruled Israel after King David, beginning with the rise of his son Solomon. Solomon was the king who asked God for wisdom and God granted it to him. Yet with all of his wisdom, Solomon was drawn away from God. Maybe he was distracted by all of those wives and concubines in his ear! His unfaithfulness eventually divided the kingdom into two, Israel and Judah.


What we learn from the book of Kings is that the blessing of the people was connected to the righteousness of their king. If the king was obedient to the commands of Yahweh, the nation prospered. If the king was disobedient and did evil in the sight of God, then the nation suffered. So, not only were the people to obey, but their king was expected to lead them in being obedient to the commands of God.


We live in a time when it seems that not many are even wondering if there is a command to follow. I don’t hear much talk on news shows about seeking the Lord for an answer, or gathering the prophets to see if there is a word from the Lord. I don’t hear much about turning from our evil ways and “getting right” with God. In fact, more people than ever are questioning the very existence of God, considering the state of the world as we see it.


We seem to have lost our direction, lost our purpose. We are more divided than united, and it shows in every single part of our society, and it’s stressing us out! We actually have apps to help calm us down. Books to help us meditate. And teas that relieve stress. We seem to have lost something that we don’t even realize we’ve lost.


Such was the case with the people of Israel. They had drifted away from God. Then an eight-year-old came to the throne. Josiah, the one who did right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in the line of his ancestor, King David. Eighteen years later, when Josiah was twenty-six, the Book of the Law was found.


“Go, inquire of the Lord for me, for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found, for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our ancestors did not obey the words of this book to do according to all that is written concerning us.”

2 Kings 22:13


When Josiah heard the words from the Book of the Law, when he heard the words of God that had been lost, he mourned over how far from God they all had strayed. Then he got busy and ended up leading one of the greatest reform movements in history.


Maybe you’ve had a sense of being lost at sea, just drifting through life. Perhaps you’re wondering what to make of this world, and asking the age old question, “God, where are You?” I invite you to join us this Sunday for worship as we talk about Recovering What Was Lost. And we will celebrate Holy Communion, one of the grace-filled ways in which we remember that God has a plan for us. See you there!


Church Camp was a huge success! Thank you to ALL who helped in any way. Some volunteers took vacation from their jobs in order to be here for the week! And a special shout out to Martha Hicks for heading it up this year. You can see pictures on our Facebook page.


Trivia Night & Silent Auction This year we will celebrate 55 years of ministry at the UMC of Green Trails! The celebration begins with Trivia Nite on Friday, Sept. 15. The donation is $25/person or $200 for a table of 8. Put a team together with family and friends (including your kiddos) and let’s have some friendly competition!


***SILENT AUCTION DONATIONS NEEDED***

The Family Trivia Night Task Team is looking for donations for the silent auction fundraiser that will occur Friday, September 15, 2023 during Trivia Night. Donations can be brought to Amanda Hughes or Jei Evans at the church. Here are some ideas of donations: Tickets or gift cards to restaurants, spas, sporting events, gyms, hotels, destination vacations, airline tickets, concerts, movies, theater events, pet daycare, etc.


New donation items might include jewelry, original pieces of art, congregation talents and services (babysitting, pet sitting/walking, cleaning, baking, tutoring, photography, event planning), games, puzzles, pop culture items, new release books, etc.


The Trivia Night Task Team will have a sign-up sheet in the Narthex lobby for attendance and for donated items this Sunday, August 6. Email Amanda: amanda.hughes@att.net, or call: 314-920-5724 with questions.


55 for 55 Our anniversary fundraising goal is $55,000 in honor of 55 years of faithful service and generosity. I invite you to consider how you will participate in giving. Whether it’s $5, $500, or some multiple of 5, no gift is too small (or too large!). We will culminate our 55th Church Anniversary celebration on Sunday, November 5, with worship and dinner. Let’s celebrate 55 for 55!


Dondo Update Rev. Wayne Lavender will be with us on Sunday, August 13, to bring the message and to update Green Trails on the new model of ministry that will replace the Dondo Home. Then we, as a church, will talk about what we want to do going forward.


Need Prayer? Our Prayer Team has you covered! Prayer will be offered on the last Sunday of each month, starting August 27, from 9:00-9:45am, in the Prayer Room (across from the Sanctuary). In times like these, we need prayer more than ever, and the Prayer Team is here for you! Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. 14 Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.James 5:13-14.


Stay in the Know! Don’t forget to pick up this month’s Memory Verse Card and other information at the Welcome Center or the Coffee Station. Just our way of helping you to stay in the know!


Worship With Us ~ Sundays at 10:00am

In-house:

14237 Ladue Rd.

Chesterfield, MO 63017

or

Online:


Sunday School for all ages at 9:00am!


Blessings,

Pastor Linda

29 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page