Jane Lew First United Methodist Church

06/02/2026

Morning devotion for Tuesday, June 2.

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:32. "Do not let anyone lose courage because of this Philistine!" David told Saul. "I, your servant, will go out and fight him!"

Reflection: We don't truly have courage until we face something that scares us. Courage is theoretical until we face a challenge great enough to produce fear and uncertainty in us. If we always play it safe, and we avoid risk at all costs, then we rob ourselves of the opportunity to grow in courage. When was the last time you tried something that truly frightened you? When was the last time you attempted something so audacious that, unless God showed up in a big way, you would almost certainly fail?
It is okay to be uncertain in your leadership, fearful about failure, and scared that what you are doing may not work. Courage is the quality of trusting God enough to try it anyway. And when you step out even when you are scared, some outcomes are certain. You will learn. You will change. You will grow. So, next time you face a huge challenge or encounter a risk that scares you, do not reflexively run for the hills. Fear is not necessarily a sign that you are moving in the wrong direction. it may in fact be a signal that you are following God.

Morning Prayer of Petition.
Empowering God, remind me today that You have given me a spirit of power, love, and self-control. Help me to see that I have all that I need today to:
*face the unexpected with confidence,
*persevere through hardship with resilience,
*deal with difficult people with grace,
*act even when I am afraid.
Give me courage for living today and help me to remember that You are with me. Amen.

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06/02/2026

Evening devotion for Monday, June 1.

This week's theme is Courage.

Scripture: Psalm 27:14. Hope in the Lord! Be strong! Let your heart take courage! Hope in the Lord!

Reflection: It takes courage to be present in our lives. it seems that the world is constantly trying to get us to hide, numb, or distract ourselves---to not face the very lives that God has given us.
It takes courage to sit with our emotions, to forgive our past mistakes, and to speak honestly about our relationships and vices with other people. Part of this is facing the unknown.
And being present with ourselves takes practice. The more we are able to open ourselves to the realities of life, the more fully we are able to participate in it.
As Brene' Brown says, "We cannot selectively numb emotions, when we numb the painful emotions, we also numb the positive emotions."
What are those areas that we are working hard to avoid? What might they teach us if we had the courage to face them? How might we be freed by addressing them?
Courage comes from the same place as fear. Whatever it is we are afraid of might very well be the same thing that teaches us what we need to know. Let us summon that courage. Trusting that God is with us before, during, and after.

Evening Prayer of Gratitude.
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, just as you have worked wonders for our ancestors in faith, so you are at work in my life. Slow my pace so that I can stop and recognize how you:
*surround me with help when I need it,
*provide moments of joy even in challenging situations,
*make a way forward when I see dead ends,
*encourage me through other people.
May I live unafraid, confident in your love and grave. Amen.

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06/01/2026

Morning devotion for Monday, June 1.

This week's theme is Courage.

Scripture: Isaiah 46:8-9. Remember this and take courage; take it to heart, you rebels. Remember the prior things---from long ago; I am God, and there is no other. I am God! There are none like Me.

Reflection: What is the relationship between memory and courage? Got tells us to remember prior things, and the act of remembering will give us courage for what we currently face. Throughout scripture, God urges God's people to not forget the past, to remember God's mighty deeds, to repeat stories of miracles and deliverance. As the people of Israel remember all that God has brought them through in the past, they are able to take heart that God will also get them through their present struggle.
The same is true for us. Memory gives us perspective. Look back on some of the hardest seasons of your life. While you may not have been able to see it at the time, often in retrospect we can see how God worked in and through those hard seasons. Remembering what God has brought you through and how God has shown up for you in the past can give you greater courage to face your present struggle. God's past faithfulness to us creates a track record of dependability and confidence that helps us face the future. So, remember what God has done, and face your present situation with the courage and confidence that God will show up again.

Morning Prayer of Petition.
Empowering God, remind me today that You have given me a spirit of power, love, and self-control. Help me to see that I have all that I need today to:
*face the unexpected with confidence,
*persevere through hardship with resilience,
*deal with difficult people with grace,
*act even when I am afraid.
Give me courage for living today and help me to remember that You are with me. Amen.

05/31/2026

Sermon for Sunday, May 31 (5th Sunday) at Bendale UMC.

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05/30/2026

Evening devotion for Saturday, May 31.

Scripture: Matthew 21:22. If you have faith, you will receive whatever you pray for.

Reflection: by Charles Wesley from "Give Me the Faith Which Can Remove."
Give me the faith which can remove
and sink the mountain to a plain;
give me the childlike praying love,
which longs to build thy house again;
Thy love, let it my hear to o'erpower,
and all my simple soul devour.

Evening Prayer of Gratitude.
Steadfast God, calm my spirit when I become anxious about what might happen in the future, and give me eyes to see what You are doing right now in my life. I thank You for:
*family and others who love me unconditionally,
*meaningful opportunities to use my gifts and skills,
*material resources that provide for me,
*new opportunities on the other side of disappointments,
*simple gifts that I take for granted.
May the reminder and recognition of the way You are faithful strengthen my own faith in You. Amen.

Morning and evening devotions are from the Methodist Book of Daily Prayer.

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05/30/2026

Sunday, May 31, is the fifth Sunday of the month. On 5th Sundays, the Jane Lew-Bendale charge of the United Methodist Church gathers at one location to eat, celebrate, and worship together.
This gathering will be at Bendale United Methodist Church, next to the bus garage near the high school.

10 AM: Sunday School with Don Linger.
11 AM: worship together centering on Matthew 28:16-20, known as The Great Commission.
Noon: Pot luck meal. bring a dish to share!

We shall celebrate, worship, and eat together, as the early Christians did. You are invited!
Shawn Weaver, Pastor.

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05/30/2026

Morning devotion for Saturday, May 30.

Scripture: Psalm 136:1. Give thanks to the Lord because He is good. God's faithful love lasts forever!

Reflection: We usually talk about faith as a human feature. We are called to have faith, and God is the recipient or focus of that faith. But throughout the Hebrew scriptures, faith is primarily an attribute of God. God is the One who demonstrates faith, and we are the recipients of that faith. Take a minute to consider this. God has faith in you. God is committed to you. God is stubbornly loyal to and believes deeply in you! This is powerful, especially during times of doubt. Not the times we doubt God, but when we doubt ourselves.
If you are in a season of questioning your capabilities, second-guessing your call, or finding it difficult to believe that you are capable of something new, draw on the faith God has in you. If God is for us, that what can be against us? If God's faithfulness toward you is unwavering, maybe it is time to have faith in what that same God can and will do in your life.

Morning Prayer of Petition.
God, You are more ready to give than we are to receive. Help me have the faith that You can:
*move in situations that seem to be stuck,
*provide clarity where the future is uncertain,
*heal where there is hurt and pain,
*reconcile relationships that are broken,
*bring justice where inequity exists.
May I live with the faith that You can and will move in my life and the world today. Amen.

05/29/2026

Evening devotion for Thursday, May 29.

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1. Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don't see.

Reflection: The book of Hebrews was written as a sermon to encourage Jewish Christians. In Hebrews 11, the writer tells us that "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Then the writer provides evidence of this statement by giving the history of faith from Genesis to the time of Jesus. The writer reminds us of how the Israelites were delivered from the oppressive rule of the Egyptians by crossing over the Red Sea. The author reminds us of how the walls of Jericho came tumbling down, after the army marched around them for seven days. We are reminded how a pr******te named Rahab will forever be remembered for welcoming and protecting the spies who came to the land that was promised. The writer continues to tell us how the Lord had given victory after victory to the hands of the Lord's warriors.
But the author also names the reality of those who faced trials, those who were flogged and thrown into jail, and those who lost their husbands and sons. And yet, God's promise to those Jewish Christians, who were experiencing a crisis of faith, is the same promise God has for us. God will provide something better for us.

Evening Prayer of Gratitude.
Steadfast God, calm my spirit when I become anxious about what might happen in the future, and give me eyes to see what You are doing right now in my life. I thank You for:
*family and others who love me unconditionally,
*meaningful opportunities to use my gifts and skills,
*material resources that provide for me,
*new opportunities on the other side of disappointments,
*simple gifts that I take for granted.
May the reminder and recognition of the way You are faithful strengthen my own faith in You. Amen.

Morning and evening devotions are from the Methodist Book of Daily Prayer.

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05/29/2026

Morning devotion for Friday, May 29.

Scripture: Galatians 3:26. You are all God's children through faith in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: Human beings seem to have trouble with the word "all," at least when it appears in scripture. We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, many even read it literally, but we still have trouble believing all means all. Certainly, God didn't mean everyone is a child of God? What about people who look different, act differently, love differently? What about sinners and tax collectors, and those who previously didn't listen to God and didn't really care to?
The community of Jesus is radical in precisely this way, the only entrance requirement is faith in Christ. A lot of us would like to believe in "Jesus plus." What does that mean? Jesus "plus" the right beliefs, doctrines, behavior, or identity. But no, Paul says it is just faith. It is not race, creed, identity, marital status, sexual orientation, political party, stance on the issues, moral conduct, justice work, or service hours. You are a child of God simply and solely through faith. That is the entrance requirement, and that is what binds us together. That is why you are welcome and that is why you belong. Don't let anyone tell you differently.

Morning Prayer of Petition.
God, You are more ready to give than we are to receive. Help me have the faith that You can:
*move in situations that seem to be stuck,
*provide clarity where the future is uncertain,
*heal where there is hurt and pain,
*reconcile relationships that are broken,
*bring justice where inequity exists.
May I live with the faith that You can and will move in my life and the world today. Amen.

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05/28/2026

Evening devotion for Thursday, May 28.

Scripture: Psalm 137:1. Alongside Babylon's streams, there we sat down, crying because we remembered Zion.

Reflection: by Shannon Craigo-Snell for The CEB Women's Bible.
In everyday conversations, hope indicates a feeling that things are likely to turn out well. In Christian theology, hope is choosing to live in the light of God's eternal love. Hope, along with faith and love, is one of the three theological virtues. As a virtue, it's both a blessing from God and something humans must decide to do. It's both a noun and a verb, a gift and a practice. Faith in God is the root of hope, and hope is lived out in love. Faith affirms that the world is held in the hands of a God who is greater than any trouble and can conquer even death. This means the future can be different from the past, and the present---however grim---still opens to a future created by God's power and love.

Evening Prayer of Gratitude.
Steadfast God, calm my spirit when I become anxious about what might happen in the future, and give me eyes to see what You are doing right now in my life. I thank You for:
*family and others who love me unconditionally,
*meaningful opportunities to use my gifts and skills,
*material resources that provide for me,
*new opportunities on the other side of disappointments,
*simple gifts that I take for granted.
May the reminder and recognition of the way You are faithful strengthen my own faith in You. Amen.

Morning and evening devotions are from the Methodist Book of Daily Prayer.