Nortonville United Methodist Church

06/07/2026

"Jesus sent the apostles out two by two!"

The Second Sunday after Pentecost falls on June 7 in the church calendar. It marks the beginning of Ordinary Time (or Trinitytide), a liturgical season focused on spiritual growth, and follows the feasts of Pentecost and Trinity Sunday.

Matthew 9:35–10:23 details Jesus commissioning and sending out His twelve apostles to preach the kingdom of heaven and heal the sick among the house of Israel. Moved by compassion for the helpless crowds, Jesus gives His chosen disciples spiritual authority, strict travel instructions, and a sobering warning about the severe persecutions they will face.

The Mission and Authority Compassionate Motivation: Jesus sees the crowd as helpless sheep needing a shepherd.

The Harvest: He commands prayer for more workers to handle the plentiful spiritual harvest.

Empowered Apostles: Jesus names twelve specific disciples and gives them authority to heal and cast out demons.

Target Audience: He instructs them to bypass Gentiles and Samaritans, focusing solely on Israel.

The Message: Their core proclamation must be that the kingdom of heaven is near.

Free Ministry: They must heal, raise the dead, and cast out demons without charging money.

06/02/2026

05/24/2026

Pentecost Sunday

One of the principal days of the Christian year, celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter. The Greek word pentecoste means "fiftieth day." Pentecost is the day on which the Christian church commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and others assembled in Jerusalem. It marks the beginning of the Christian church and the proclamation of its message throughout the world and is often referred to as the birthday of the church. The liturgical color for Pentecost is red. Traditionally, Pentecost has been a day for baptisms. Because it was the custom in the early church for persons being baptized to wear white robes or clothing, the day also became known as Whitsunday, a contraction of white Sunday.

05/16/2026

This Sunday, May 17, 2026 is the Seventh Sunday of the 50 days of Easter. Earlier this week on Thursday, Methodist, Catholics and other Protestants observed the Ascension of the Lord. As is customary, Ascension is observed on the 40th day after Easter. It always falls on a Thursday, a weekday. Therefore, we usually honor Ascension the following Sunday which this year is May 17, 2026.
This historic Christian feast marks the completion of Christ's saving work and His entry into heaven with glorified human nature. Beyond these traditional meanings, Ascension also centers heavily on the theme of benediction. Jesus does not depart empty-handed; He leaves us with promises, blessings, and preparation for the future.
While people usually view blessing as a gift from God to humans, Luke 24:44-53 shows a reciprocal relationship: Jesus blesses the disciples, and they bless God in return.
Let us acknowledge God's gracious gifts and praise Him. Let us celebrate God's covenant with creation to build trust, while asking for guidance to share His blessings with neighbors.

05/13/2026

The Ascension of the Lord is celebrated on Thursday, May 14, 2026, marking 40 days after Easter Sunday. This Christian feast commemorates Jesus Christ’s physical ascension into heaven. It marks the end of Jesus' earthly ministry and his return to the Father, preparing for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

Why Ascension Day matters to United Methodists:
For many, Ascension Day will go relatively unnoticed. Forty days after Easter is just another day with many of us in our ordinary routines.
The event it celebrates, however, is an important episode in the life of Jesus that the church has regarded highly through the years.
Luke tells the story of Jesus' ascension both at the end of his gospel (Luke 24:50-53) and the beginning of his writing about the early church (Acts 1:9-11).
Our creeds affirm the Ascension as a central doctrine of the Christian faith. The Apostles' Creed reads, "he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty." The Nicene Creed similarly states, "he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father."
Centuries later, our United Methodist forebear, John Wesley, also retained language about the Ascension as part of the Articles of Religion of the Methodist Church, which he edited from the Church of England. Echoing the creeds, Article III states, "he ascended into Heaven, and there sitteth until he return to judge all men at the last day."
Charles Wesley, John's brother and hymn writer of the early Methodist movement, published a pamphlet of seven Hymns for Ascension Day in 1746 and several more hymns on the Ascension that appear in other volumes of his work.
Today, many United Methodist congregations recognize Jesus' ascension during regular worship services on Ascension Sunday, the Sunday immediately following Ascension Day.

05/10/2026

Happy Mother's Day to All from Nortonville United Methodist Church! We hope you have a Glorious Day! ❤️

05/02/2026

On May 3, 2026, the Fifth Sunday of Eastertide in the United Methodist tradition focuses on themes of abiding in Christ, love, and the "living stones" of the Church. Liturgically, it often uses readings from the Revised Common Lectionary, such as John 13:31-35 (new commandment of love) or John 15:1-8 (the true vine)
• Abiding in Love: Many services focus on John 13:31-35, where Jesus gives a new commandment to "love one another".
• Living Stones: Lessons often explore 1 Peter 2:5, reflecting on how believers are built into a spiritual temple.
• The Roles: Jesus as the "true vine" serves as the source of spiritual life, contrasting with, and fulfilling, the Old Testament imagery of Israel as God's vine. God the Father is the vinedresser who tends to the vine.

04/19/2026

The Third Sunday of Easter (observed April 19, 2026) marks the third Sunday of the 50-day Easter season, occurring two weeks after Easter Sunday. It focuses on the risen Jesus revealing himself through scripture and the breaking of bread, commonly highlighting the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24).