Dear Members and Friends of the Dalton First United Methodist Church -
 
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

 

I give thanks to my God always as I remember you in my prayers.  I especially remember your faith and the practice of your faith through works of service.  I give thanks to God for your faith and service. 

 

Karl Barth (1886-1968) wrote, "People naturally do not shout it out, least of all into the ears of us ministers; but let us not be deceived by their silence. Blood and tears, deepest despair and highest hope, a passionate longing to lay hold of ... Him who overcomes the world because He is its Creator and Redeemer, its beginning and ending and Lord -- a passionate longing to have the word spoken, the word which promises grace in judgment, life in death, and the beyond in the here and now, God's word -- this it is that animates our church-goers."

 

As I have prepared my sermons over the years, I have often been troubled with the knowledge that people with real hurts and struggles are walking through the sanctuary doors looking for answers - and I know those answers must not come from me but from God.  Yet, God has blessed me with an opportunity to share God's Word in sermon.  A sermon is a statement of biblical interpretation where, hopefully, I step to the side and point them to the throne of grace, the cross of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  And I am aware, as Bart writes, that even though the congregation is silent during part of the service, their hearts are crying out to the Lord God.  O Lord, may I point to our Lord always, in everything I do and say in worship.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Kathy and I had a great time worshiping at Royal Oaks Sunday night.  Tommy Stocks led the singing, and the welcome was as warm there as we have received from you.  Special thanks to Tommy for his dedication in this ministry.  
 
On Monday my Mom will have a  bone scan and a cat scan.  Please keep her and Dad in your prayers. 

Kathy and I have continued our strolling around Dalton; on Labor Day we passed through the McCarty Subdivision and saw the historical marker there.  We encountered such beautiful homes and lawns.  Dalton is a beautiful place to live and work. 

 
I was overwhelmed by the number of people who came to the Sunday School Master Teacher Series this past Sunday to hear me talk - especially since they were going to hear or had already heard a sermon from me.  I had a great time and hope you learned a little more about my approach to Christ's ministry. 

I might as well tell you - I will be preaching on giving this Sunday.  I'm going to ask you to trust me on this one.  I know that many can't stand hearing someone preach on giving (usually called preaching on money).  Because of that I have entitled the sermon, "I Despise Stewardship Sermons, Don't You?"  The sermon will be live in the sanctuary at 8:30am and 11:00am plus it will be shown electronically to the remiX service at 11:00am.  I humbly ask that you set aside your struggle with sermons on giving and give me a chance (pun intended).  This sermon is the preparation for Consecration Service on September 20th with Dr. Malone Dodson. 

God bless.


See you Sunday!

In Christ,
Dr. Robin L Lindsey
Dalton First United Methodist Church
706-278-8494 (Office)