Rock First United Methodist Church Tarrant, Alabama

Rock First United Methodist Church Tarrant, Alabama Newly appointed Andy Rickles is now the Pastor for Rock Methodist Church, Tarrant, Alabama. Please pray for him and our Church family during this transition.

Andy is a Birmingham area native and has a wife (April) and 3 grown children. Rock Church was founded in the early 1920's on its current site but was on the corner of the property. Our 1st Pastor was Bro. George Elliot. Rock Church's construction was originally made with rocks and thus its name. The original Rock Church burned in the early 1950's and was rebuilt as it now exists in a short period on time. At its peak Rock UMC had approximately 500+ members on its rolls.

01/24/2025

Carol Ann is having eye surgery at the Callahan Eye Hospital. Please remember her and those who are handling her surgery in your prayers. Thanks Alvin

09/03/2024

Bill Kelley a lifetime member of Tarrant Rock Methodist Church went to his heavenly father today 9/2/24. Arrangements are not known at this time. Pray for Bill's family and that they will have God's peace. Bill is doing great now because we are taught by the scriptures at death "when our spirit is absent from the body it, will be present with the Lord" so Bill is now in the presence of our God. Alvin Samples

07/17/2024

We have no immediate plans to continue a Facebook transmission but more thoughts will be considered. We welcome your donations and prayer support. Alvin Samples

06/28/2024

06/28/24

Pastor’s Corner

Read: 1 Samuel 16:4-13

“It is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict, God’s job to judge and my job to love.”
Billy Graham [1]

We are living in a time of upheaval and unrest. It seems that bubbling just under the surface of our society is a firestorm that is ready to consume us. There are many things that seem to contribute to this continuous distrust and hatred that is constantly bubbling to the surface every time we turn around. In the last few years we as a society have dealt with COVID, corporate greed, seeds of mistrust being sown through false statements being reported as truth, scandals at the highest levels of government and ethics violations that have caused distrust in our legal system.

In addition, we as a people are being called to task a lot more frequently over racism and police brutality [and rightfully so]. What we can easily forget is that all humans have value. As Christians we believe that everyone is made in the image of God; but as our society’s boundaries are rattled by racism, hatred, sexism, child po*******hy, valuing money over human lives and so much more, the evidence makes clear we have failed to hear with clarity Jesus’ words about love thy neighbor as thy self.

If we choose to form opinions about one another based only upon someone’s outward appearance, we may miss opportunities to experience the beauty of a quiet and gentle spirit. In our suggested reading from First Samuel, the prophet almost missed the gentle spirit of David by being ready to choose one of his brother’s as the new king. God’s Spirit led Samuel to make the right choice. God revealed to Samuel that he looks at the heart not one’s outward appearance. When we choose to see only a person’s skin color or listen only to a person’s accent, we are opening ourselves to prejudice and hatred, not the way of love Christ teaches.

As Christians, we should see others differently than the world sees them. Jesus, who had no prejudices that led to hatred, is our example. Instead of hatred, he extended love and grace to all. In order for us to move past the racism and hatred that seems to permeate our society, we must learn to look beyond our differences and seek God’s image within each person. It won’t immediately solve the lack of compassion, understanding, the “isms” and hatred that currently ravages so many of our people, but it is a starting point.

If we who carry the title Christian begin to act toward one another with the love of Christ, it is a starting point. When we seek to value one another as God values each of us then we are walking on a path that is pleasing to God. In doing these things we are displaying the image of Christ to the world.

Prayer for us all:

Eternal God, we give you thanks for not treating us as we deserve but instead giving us grace. Help us Lord to look past any prejudices that we might harbor and see you in each person we encounter. Transform us by the power of your Holy Spirit so we can truly see and value others as you do. Grant that the light of Christ may burn within us so that love conquers our fears and prejudices and your Son is reflected in all we say and do. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

God bless and keep you in his care.

Peace,
Bro. Sam

1. Internet; quote fancy/judging

06/21/2024

06/21/24

Pastor’s Corner

Read: Acts 17:22-34

“We [Christians] are always in the presence of God. There is never a non-sacred moment. His presence never diminishes. Our awareness of his presence may falter, but the reality of his presence never changes.” Max Lucado [1]

The air we breathe is something we often take for granted. We very rarely think of it but if for some reason it would be taken from us then we would become acutely aware of it. As it is, air is all around us; we can’t see it but we can feel it when a gentle breeze blows across our face or on a windy day when it is difficult to walk into.

Just like the air is all around us, so is God. There is nowhere God is not. In our suggested reading from Acts, Paul is addressing the Athenians on Mars Hill outside of Athens. In his address he notes that the God of all creation is not ever far from us for it is in him that “we live and move and exist” [2]. Catholic monk and priest Thomas Keating said it this way, “the presence of God penetrates us, is all around us, is always embracing us.” [3]

God’s presence with us can seem illusive at times. When we are going through green pastures, it is easy to feel his presence, although we often don’t give it much thought. However when we are going through dry deserts like a health crisis or martial difficulties or the unexpected death of a loved one or financial difficulties, we sometimes find ourselves asking where is God in all this. The truth is just as he was in the midst of the fire with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego [4]; he is present with us as well. As Lucado says in the above referenced quote, our awareness may falter but that doesn’t change the reality of his presence with us.

The world is filled with the presence of God. Our eyes are blinded sometimes by the world’s glitter but when we truly seek him with our heart and mind then he will open our eyes to his presence. That presence may manifest itself in the smile or touch of a little child; the neighbor who is there when things seem dark; the quietness of a morning sunrise or an evening sunset; or running water of a fast moving stream.

If we open our eyes and allow the Holy Spirit to sharpen our vision, we will see God’s presence in the folks we pass on the street or interact with at work or in the marketplace. As author C.S. Lewis once said, the world is crowded with God; he walks everywhere incognito [5]. He longs to reveal himself to us and the more we practice being in his presence through prayer, daily Bible reading, worship and fellowship with other Christians, the more he emerges in and beside us.

Prayer for us all:

Loving God of all creation, the maker of us all, we praise you now and forever. We know you are ever present with us, protecting and guiding us through good times and bad. Yet, we acknowledge that at times we fail to feel your presence with us. In those times when the seeds of doubt want to take root within us, renew our hope and strengthen our faith. The world we live in sometimes clutters our heart and mind to the point that we fail to detect your presence with and among us. In those times when you seem silent to us, open our ears that we may clearly hear your gentle whisper that invites us to rest in you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

God bless and keep you in his care.

Peace,
Bro. Sam

1. A-Z Quotes/Presence of God; Internet
2. Acts 17:28 [NLT]
3. Fr. Thomas Keating [1923-2018], One of the principal developers of Centering Prayer; A-Z Quotes/Presence of God; Internet
4. Daniel 3:19-29
5. A-Z Quotes/Presence of God; Internet

06/14/2024

06/14/24

Pastor’s Corner

Read: Acts 12:1-19

“Prayer is the medium of miracles, in whatever way works for you, pray right now.”
Marianne Williamson [1]

Do you believe in miracles? My answer to that question is yes. Miracles happen every day, yet so often we fail to recognize them. Perhaps it is doubt that blocks our vision or simply a failure to believe they exist. Miracles come in all shapes and sizes; they come sometimes in unexpected moments so we need to be ready by keeping our heart, mind and soul open to them. So many people’s perception of miracles is shaped by what Jesus did; but miracles go beyond the acts of Jesus. As American singer and songwriter Jon Bon Jovi notes if we can change our perception of what a miracle is then we will see them all around us. [2]

Webster defines a miracle as an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs [3]. Miracles require a measure of faith and as the above quote by Marianne Williamson suggests prayer is also part of the process. Miracles are those things or events that are unusual; have no natural explanation; and appear to be the result of God’s intervention.

In our suggested reading from Acts, Luke records what can only be described as a miracle. Peter was imprisoned, chained to guards, waiting what appeared to be ex*****on. The church was praying for him in earnest and in the middle of the night an angel came and loosened the chains and led him out of the prison to safety. When Peter realized that he wasn’t dreaming, he went and knocked on the door of the place where a prayer meeting was taking place. The person who answered the door reported to the group that Peter was at the door but they acted in disbelief. When the group saw him they were amazed.

The group took Peter to the Lord in prayer but it is easy to see from their reaction to his appearing that they never expected such an outpouring response from God. When they recognized that a miracle had come from their prayers, Luke tells us they were amazed. Their reaction was much like that of the disciples when they witnessed the miracles Jesus performed during his ministry.

Miracles should amaze and wow us but because we tend to think of miracles as big in nature, we miss the little things that surround us every day. Big miracles still happen – healing from diseases that are terminal; lives changed and redeemed when an outpouring of the Holy Spirit settles upon us – and we praise God for them. It is those miracles we experience every single day that we fail to recognize because we tend to take them for granted – birth of a child; life itself; the miracle of the universe; a beautiful flower that grows and blooms from a tiny seed planted in the earth.

How often have we prayed for God’s intervention to take place and fail to see it when it happens? Sometimes our failure to see is because the answer comes in a way that we don’t expect. When our prayers attempt to restrict God to one course of action we tend to think he isn’t listening when the answer isn’t what we asked for. When the answer comes, and it always will, how do we respond? Is our faith and belief that God provides strengthened? His provisions are always what we need, not always what we want and that should always wow and amaze us.

Prayer for us all:

Loving and eternal God, when we stop and consider the world your hands made, we stand amazed. Help us to never take for granted those daily miracles that take place all around us. Let our response always be joy and praise. We thank you for providing for our needs and not always for our wants. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

God bless and keep you in his care.

Peace,
Bro. Sam

1. Internet; Brainy Quotes/Miracles
2. Id.
3. Merriam-Webster.com/dictionary

06/07/2024

06/07/24

Pastor’s Corner

Read: Luke 8:26-39

“At that time, we didn’t know it was D-Day. We just knew we had a job to do.”
Sgt. Tom Jensen [1]

This week we celebrated the 80th anniversary of what has been called in the annals of history the “Longest Day”– D-Day, June 6, 1944. It was the day some 170,000 allied troops marched into the fires of hell to begin the push to victory of good over evil. Because of the sacrifice those men and women made we are free today. Victory of good over evil always comes with a high price. It did on D-Day in 1944 and it did 2000 years ago when the Savior of the world shed his own blood to reconcile God and man.

The war between good and evil still exists in our world today. If you doubt that statement, I invite you to read any newspaper or watch any news broadcast and you will see its reality played out in the headlines. It seems like sometimes evil is winning the battles far too often; but those of us who know Jesus Christ as Lord, know the final victory belongs to him. Man’s greatest enemy is death and Jesus took on death and defeated it once and for all. When we place our belief in him, we become heirs of that victory.

Each of us fights battles every day. Some of them are fierce and leave us feeling hopeless and in despair. In those times, we need a Jesus encounter. He loves to meet us where we are and provide us strength for whatever battle we may be facing. The Psalmist said it this way, “I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.” [2]

In our suggested reading from Luke, a demon-possessed man had an encounter with Jesus in a graveyard. The man could find no peace from the battle that raged inside of him. But Jesus changed all of that, just as he can and will do for anyone who comes to him for peace and calm in the storm. Sometimes the storm is calmed and other times we receive the needed buffer to carry us through to the other side; in either case, Jesus provides the victory.

While Jesus meets us where we are, he never leaves us there. He has work for all of us to do in his kingdom. That work is always centered in love. Paul highlighted that fact in his first letter to the church at Corinth – “Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love.” [3]

The healed man in our suggested reading wanted to go with Jesus when he was leaving but Jesus instead sent him back to his home and family to tell the story of what God had done for him. There is a wonderful and inspiring statement made by General Theodore Roosevelt Jr when he found himself and his troops in a different place than where they were supposed to be on D-Day. He said, “We’ll start the war from right here” [4]. That was in essence what Jesus said to the healed man and it is what he says to us. We are called to go and tell the good news, living the story of Jesus, and that battle starts right where we are.

Prayer for us all:

Loving and eternal God, help us to be still before you and give our cares and worries over to you, trusting fully in you for our victory. We praise you for your faithfulness to always be with us no matter in what circumstances we may find ourselves. Thank you for loving and caring for us, despite our rebellious nature at times. You have given us a job to do as we journey through life; help us to live into your calling on our life beginning where we are. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

God bless and keep you in his care.

Peace,
Bro. Sam

1. Parade.com, 55 D-Day Quotes, 6/24
2. Psalm 62:1-2 [NLT]
3. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 [NLT]
4. Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Jr., at age 56 was the oldest and highest ranking soldier in the D-Day invasion; INC./7 –word-quote-from-D-Day; Internet

05/31/2024

05/31/24

Pastor’s Corner

Read: Isaiah 59:19-21

When you look at the cross, what do you see? You see God’s awesome faithfulness. Nothing – not even the instinct to spare his own Son – will turn him back from keeping His word.”
Sinclair Ferguson [1]

What are we able to point to in life and say that will last forever? The answer to that question is nothing. The things of this world are fleeting at best. The wind blows them in and even as they arrive they are being blown away. The pleasures and glories of this world are only temporary. They are broken promises over time.

If you have ever experienced an earthquake, whether it last for only a few seconds or a few minutes, you find within you a strong desire to grab hold of something that is solid and unmovable. When the ground shakes we quickly appreciate having something that is eternal to hold on to. The same holds true when we are going through life shaking events. When we walk through dark valleys or the raging waters of life’s chaotic moments – death, disease, unemployment, family crisis and many other terrifying experiences – we long to know that there is an eternal life line to grab onto.

In our suggested reading one of the promises made by God to all his people, is that his Spirit will ever be with us and that his words will last forever. There is something we all need to understand about God, when he makes a promise, you can take it to the bank. From the opening pages of scripture to the closing pages of his holy word, you find his promise of redemption made and fulfilled.

So many folks in this world think of God as some fire escape or get out of jail free card. When they turn to God and don’t get what they want or expect, their faith is damaged. Here is something awfully important for us to let sink in about God – he always keeps his promises. Having said that, know that among his promises in scripture you won’t find a promise that the skies will always be blue, that life will be a bed of roses or the sun will always shine.

There is no promise of sun without rain or joy without sorrow. God did promise however to never allow us to walk through any trials or adversities alone. He promises us strength for each day, rest for our labors, grace for our trials and light to show us the way we should go. We have the promise of his Spirit to always be with us to guide us into the truth, provide help in times of need and a reminder of his undying love for us all.

When our world starts to shake from life’s uncertainties there is one solid rock that never moves and is always present – God’s eternal words. They are his promises to never leave us alone. All we need to do is grab onto those promises in faith and we will experience his presence that always brings peace in the most chaotic of times.

Prayer for us all:

Loving and eternal God, we thank you for your faithfulness that never fails. Help us even in times of doubt to grab onto your promises which are eternal and let them sink into the very depths of our heart and soul that we may know your peace. Fill us with your presence and wrap us in your grace that when life’s storms are raging around us, we will know the calm in the eye of the storm. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

God bless and keep you in his care.

Peace,
Bro. Sam

1. Sinclair Ferguson, A Heart for God, [Banner of Truth, Carlisle, PA, 1987], pg. 46; Internet, Grace Quotes/God-Promises

05/26/2024

Service for 5/26/24 has been canceled due to Bro Sam being away and our Pianist Jan Simmons dealing with some health issues. Please worship at or with the church of your choice for this day. Send offerings and tithes via US Mail or via the Regions Zelle app. Long, time RMC member, Lynn Williamson recently went to his heavenly reward where he will join his Wife Carla and his other family members who have gone before him. It will be a happy reunion. Read the obit listed in Jefferson Memorial for details.

Please remember this family and Rock Methodist Church in your prayers.

Chairman of the Board
Alvin Samples

05/17/2024

05/17/24

Pastor’s Corner

Read: Matthew 28:16-20

“Jesus teaches us another way. Go out. Go out and share your testimony, go out and interact with your brothers, go out and share, go out and ask. Become the Word in body as well as spirit.” Pope Francis [1]

In the movie Field of Dreams, Kevin Costner plays a baseball fan who hears a voice in his cornfield that says “If you build it he will come.” On the basis of what he heard, he built a baseball diamond and each evening baseball players from past years would come out of the cornfield and play a game. Costner fought to keep his “Field of Dreams” alive, and today that field where the movie was made is a major tourist attraction. [2]

The story line “If you build it they will come” is a testimony to faith but the rest of the story involved “going and making.” Jesus told his disciples in what we have come to know as the “Great Commission” in Matthew 28 to “go and make” disciples [3]. As Christians today we receive the same command from Jesus and nowhere in his commission do you find the command to wait. Jesus said go and make, not wait and expect. Following Jesus’ instructions to go and make involves a strong leap of faith. Being a follower of Jesus Christ means to go and tell the story of what he has done for us.

There are many ways to “go.” You can enter the ministry, go on a mission trip or simply go next door. Wherever we are in life, it is the command of Jesus to go. There is a story in the Bible about Jesus healing a demon-possessed man who came out of a graveyard to meet him. After the man was freed from the demons, he begged Jesus to allow him to go with him and the disciples. Jesus sent him back to his family with instructions to go and tell what God has done for you [4].

The fear of rejection or being disliked often gets in the way of so many Christians following the commission given to us by Jesus. In our suggested reading from Isaiah God makes it clear that once his words go out they will not return empty but instead will accomplish their intended purpose. When we go and make instead of wait and see or expect, we are allowing God’s words to flow in every direction. The results will often surprise us, but remember God’s thoughts and ways are not confined to our minute thoughts and limited ways.

When we speak for Christ, we can do it with actual words or by the way we live. In making disciples, it is our job to make the introduction; God does the saving. Jesus said, “Go and make” and when we are obedient to that call, we are trusting God to bring forth fruit from our efforts. Obeying Jesus’ instructions to “go and make” helps us to grow in our faith and truly become the living Word in both body and spirit.

Prayer for us all:

Loving and eternal God, we thank you for the opportunities you provide for us to tell of your goodness and grace. Help us to not be complacent but to go and tell, trusting in your grace, love and abiding fellowship. Take away any fear we may have and help us to be a living testimony to your saving grace and everlasting love for us all. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

God bless and keep you in his care.

Peace,
Bro. Sam

1. Brainy Quotes/Testimony; Internet
2. Field of Dreams, Universal City Studios, Inc., 1989; Dubuque, Iowa
3. Matthew 28:19
4. Luke 8:26-39

Address

1601 East Lake Boulevard
Birmingham, AL
35217

Opening Hours

9:45am - 12pm

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