John Wesley United Methodist Church - Greenville SC

06/24/2026

June 21, 2026 - Fourth Sunday After Pentecost
Following a rousing rendition of “Jesus is Real”, performed by the Gospel Choir, Pastor Hembree delivered the morning message. The message title was, “Patience in the Midst of Suffering”. The focal passage was James 5:7-10 NRSV.

7 Be patient, therefore, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9 Brothers and sisters, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Pastor Hembree shared that the scriptures remind us to be patient. We should practice the kind of patience that strengthens us and moves us to keep working for what is right. We should strengthen our hearts by turning to God, the source of our being.

It is important to remember the teachings of the prophets. The Church must be a place where we love one another and honor our individual stories. We were charged to continue to work for the glory of God. We must be patient in the midst of suffering.

06/24/2026

06/24/2026

June 14, 2026 – Third Sunday After Pentecost
A special musical selection, “Fairest Lord Jesus,” was provided by eighth grade trumpet soloist, Zach Burgess. Following his outstanding performance, Pastor Hembree proclaimed the word of the Lord. His message, titled “Walking in the Power of God,” was inspired by Micah 6:8 NRSV.

He has told you, O mortal, what is good,
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice and to love kindness
and to walk humbly with your God?

Pastor Hembree reminded us that to walk in the power of God is to focus on the direction of our lives. Walking in God’s power fills our hearts with humility; every blessing is from God. Live your life with integrity and purpose. God’s power is not separated from God’s character. The Church belongs to Jesus Christ. Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

06/21/2026

Patience in the Midst of Suffering
Scripture: James 5:7-10 NRSV

06/08/2026

June 7, 2026 – Second Sunday After Pentecost
Following a musical selection from the John Wesley Singers, Dr. L. Dennis delivered our morning message. Focusing on the topic, "Blessed to be a Blessing,” the scripture passage was taken from Genesis 12:1-9 KJV.

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3 And I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
4 So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
7 And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him.
8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord.
9 And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.

Dr. Dennis shared that God’s blessings begin with a promise. We should trust the Lord to lead us through and surround ourselves by the things and the people who matter. When God is faithful to us, we should be faithful to God. We should commit to using our gifts to the glory of God. When we are blessed, we should be a blessing to others.

05/31/2026

May 31, 2026 – Trinity Sunday
Trinity Sunday is celebrated exactly one week after Pentecost, this principal feast day in the Christian liturgical calendar honors the doctrine of the Most Holy Trinity: the belief in one God existing as three distinct divine persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Our worship service today was led by Bro. J. Breazeale. Bro. Breazeale’s message was titled “CHURCH”. The focal passage was 1 Peter 2:2-5 NRSV:
2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
4 Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and
5 like living stones let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Bro. Breazeale reminded us that the Church of God is not a physical building. It is the living, breathing body of Christ, made up of believers of Christ. We are dependent on each other. We are representatives of God’s kingdom here on Earth. Let your light shine so that people can see God in you.

05/29/2026

May 24, 2026 – Pentecost Sunday
Pentecost Sunday is a major Christian holiday celebrated on the 50th day after Easter. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus in Jerusalem, empowering them to spread the Gospel. Because it marks the establishment of the Church, it is widely considered the "birthday of the Church".

Following a moving rendition of “Until I Found the Lord”, performed by the Men’s Choir, Pastor Hembree delivered today’s Pentecost message. The sermon was titled, Riding the Winds of Change.” The focal passage was taken from Acts 2:1-12 NRSV.

The Coming of the Holy Spirit
2 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

5 Now there were devout Jews from every people under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

Pastor Hembree shared that the Spirit moves through our lives, providing change and renewal. The Spirit comes as wind and fire. The wind moves things; fire transforms things. God makes all things new, breathing life into every heart. You are not walking this journey alone. God is always with you.

05/20/2026

May 17, 2026 – Seventh Sunday of Easter
Our musical selection prior to the proclamation of the word was titled “I Love the Lord,” Sis. C. Jones, soloist. Rev. Hembree’s message was taken from Psalm 46:1-11 NRSV. The sermon was titled, “A Safe Place in Troubled Times.”
Psalm 46 - God’s Defense of His City and People
1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.
6 The nations are in an uproar; the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice; the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord;
see what desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations;
I am exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Rev. Hembree reminded us that God is a refuge for his people, a place of safety and peace. When faced with trouble, God is there. Be still and know that God is God. He is supreme and is in the presence of our battles. Believe that God is a safe place in troubled times.