Kane Community Methodist Church

06/17/2026

Pastor James Lazarre delivering his Sunday message titled "More Than We Ask" from our 6/14/26 service!

Pastor James Lazarre delivering his Sunday message titled "More Tha...

06/17/2026

The Place We Are Called to Be

Pastor Calvin Cook
June 17, 2026

Scripture: "The Lord had said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.'" — Genesis 12:1

Earlier this week I reflected on Genesis 12 and God's call to Abram. As I return to this passage, I find myself asking an important question: Are we in the place God is calling us to be? Not just physically, but spiritually and emotionally as well.

I grew up outside Dawson, Pennsylvania, in a simple rural community. Life revolved around family, hard work, church, neighbors, and helping others. I loved where I lived and never imagined leaving. I had no dreams of traveling far away or pursuing some grand adventure.

Yet God had other plans.

Looking back, I can see that God was shaping my life long before I recognized it. Through business ventures, marriage, church involvement, and countless unexpected opportunities, He was preparing me for places I never intended to go. Gail and I were deeply influenced by faithful believers who discipled and mentored us during our early years of marriage. Their investment in our lives helped set us on a path of ministry.

Over the years, God called us into service in churches across Pennsylvania. What began with filling pulpits and serving as a Certified Lay Minister eventually led to pastoral ministry and ordination. Today, I can look back on the many communities we have served and clearly see God's hand guiding each step, even when the path seemed uncertain.

Genesis 12 reminds us that God's call often requires trust before we can see the destination. Abram left what was familiar and followed God's leading. In many ways, every believer faces that same challenge.

As I reflect on this journey, three truths stand out:

First, never forget who you are and how God brought you to where you are today. Every season teaches us something about God's faithfulness.

Second, never believe that God has abandoned you. Life may take unexpected turns, but He remains present through every step.

Third, if you want to receive what God desires to give you, you must be willing to receive it without demanding your own preferences. God's plans are often better than the ones we create for ourselves.

The story of Abraham, spanning Genesis 12–25, reveals a powerful truth: through famine, uncertainty, danger, and disappointment, Abraham remained faithful to God—and God remained faithful to Abraham.

May we do the same, trusting God to lead us into the place He is calling us to be.

06/16/2026

The Same Jesus

Following Jesus From the Edges

Pastor Calvin Cook

June 16, 2026

"By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong." — Acts 3:16

Imagine the scene.

Just moments before, a man who had been lame from birth was sitting at the temple gate begging for help. For years, people had walked past him. They knew his face. They knew his condition. They knew his story.

Then Peter and John arrived.

"Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." (Acts 3:6)

Immediately the man stood, walked, jumped, and praised God. The crowd gathered in amazement. Skeptics showed up. Critics showed up. Doubters showed up. Those who wanted to dismiss what had happened showed up.

And Peter stood before them and boldly declared:

"You handed Him over to be killed... You killed the author of life, but God raised Him from the dead." (Acts 3:13-15)

In other words, Peter said, "This is the same Jesus you crucified."

The same Jesus. Not a different message. Not a different Savior. Not a different Gospel.

The same Jesus who died on the cross now stood victorious through the power of His resurrection. And that same Jesus stands before us today. He is still the One who heals broken hearts. He is still the One who transforms lives trapped by sin. He is still the One who redeems what seems lost. He is still the One who forgives, restores, and saves.

The world around us may have changed, but Jesus has not. The same Jesus who called fishermen beside the Sea of Galilee still calls ordinary people today. The same Jesus who forgave Peter after his failure still offers grace to those who have fallen. The same Jesus who welcomed children, touched lepers, and restored outcasts still reaches those whom society overlooks. The same Jesus who conquered death still offers eternal life.

Many people today are searching for answers in politics, money, possessions, success, entertainment, and personal achievement. Yet none of those things can heal the deepest needs of the human heart. Jesus reminded us: "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)

When we seek His kingdom first, we discover what truly matters. When we seek His kingdom first, we find peace in the middle of uncertainty. When we seek His kingdom first, we discover purpose greater than ourselves. When we seek His kingdom first, we experience the transforming power of the same Jesus Peter proclaimed in Acts 3.

The question for us is simple: What are we seeking today? Are we seeking temporary solutions or the eternal Savior? Are we looking for what Jesus can give us, or are we seeking Jesus Himself?

Peter stood before the crowd and pointed them beyond a miracle to the Miracle Worker. May we do the same. The lame man was healed, but the greater miracle was that people were invited to meet Jesus.

The same Jesus.

The One who heals.

The One who transforms.

The One who redeems.

The One who saves.

And He is still calling people to Himself today.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You that You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Help us to seek first Your kingdom above all else. Heal what is broken within us, transform our hearts, redeem our lives, and draw us closer to You. May we boldly proclaim the same Jesus that Peter proclaimed so long ago. Amen.

06/15/2026

DON’T MISS GOD’S PLAN FOR YOU

Pastor Calvin Cook

June 15, 2026

“The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1-3

This morning I was drawn to Genesis 12 in my personal devotional time. As I read through the story of Abram’s call and direction from God, I admit, I was questioning why this message this morning? Why was I drawn to reading this very famous and often referred to scripture. Was it because of the coming 250th anniversary of this country? Was it because of new ideas and ministries I am personally being called into? Was it because I see people almost daily who are receiving calling and direction from God and missing it because they are allowing distraction and circumstances to keep them from what God is desiring to do? It is because we as the church often get confused with sharing the message of the Gospel with others replacing it with the comfortability of religion?

After considering these thoughts and praying about them, desiring to hear the Holy Spirit speak, I read the commentary in the study Bible I was reading from. Somewhere along the way, I would imagine it was Gail, highlighted the last sentence of the explanation of verse 2 from Genesis 12. This is how the sentence reads:

“Don’t let the comfort and security of your present position make you miss God’s plan for you.”

Wow! I don’t know when or who wrote that sentence, I don’t know when it was highlighted. But this morning it jumped from the page like the largest billboard with flashing neon lights that had ever been created. It was like for the first time I had ever read or heard those words, and it paused me! It was a Holy Spirit filled moment that this was exactly why I was drawn to this chapter in Genesis, this exact Bible, at this exact moment in the reasoning of the why’s that I mentioned earlier.

Here is what I feel the Holy Spirit is saying to me and asking me to share with you.

Don’t miss God. Don’t miss God’s omni presence. Don’t miss listening to God through all your excuses and busyness. Don’t miss the opportunity to live in to what God is not only doing in you and wanting to do through you. Don’t become distracted by those things that are distracting you today. Don’t miss stepping into the good and perfect will of God for all the blessings that God has in store for you. Don’t try to water down or make the message of the Jesus life, death, and resurrection just another feel good story.

And most of all! Be true, authentic and genuine in sharing in all that God wants to do in your life. Look for the highlighted truths that have been there all the time and maybe you just never took the opportunity to notice or tried to reason them away as coincidence.

Know and believe what the Apostle Paul said to the church of Ephesus in Ephesians 3:19-20 : “ to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,”

May the grace, peace, and hope of Jesus guided by the Holy Spirit fill you and be with you this day.

06/14/2026

Worship with us!

06/12/2026

Congratulations to Pastor James Lazarre on his appointment as supply pastor to the ARCC!

06/12/2026

Congratulations to Pastor Calvin Cook for his appointment as Presiding Elder of the Warren Circuit effective July 1, 2026.

Effective July 1, the Allegheny West Conference welcomes four new Presiding Elders: Doug Beggs, Calvin Cook, Kevin Haley, and Mark […]

06/12/2026

8:30 AM service bulletin and announcements for the week of June 14 2026

06/12/2026

For worship this weekend, our Bible passages will include Acts 3:1-9 and Ephesians 3:20-21. Our God is great and can accomplish more than we can ever imagine!

Here are the songs chosen for our 8:30 worship if you’d like to preview them. See you Saturday or Sunday!

(Song 3 of 3)

🎶 More worship songs with lyrics - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAY_kpiw4--zib6Fg4_VQ4DltF9DfqQFQLYRICS:Verse 1Come set Your rule and reignIn our hear...