Mt Olivet United Methodist Church, Wartrace, TN

09/06/2026

09/01/2026

August 30, 2026 Mt Olivet UMC
Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost for Year A

Greetings

This Sunday we will look at the book of Romans the 13th chapter. In this we will see where Paul transitioned to the idea that Jesus-followers should pay all their debts. The only debt that will never be fully repaid is the obligation to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. When that command is obeyed, it fulfills the entire law, Paul writes. After all, love itself never harms anyone, making all the other relationship commands unnecessary (Romans 13:8–10)

Wrapping up this set of instructions, Paul urges Christians to be urgent about the time. He writes that the night is gone, and the day is almost here, suggesting that the day of the Lord, a reference to mankind's ultimate judgment, will arrive at that metaphorical daybreak. That moment draws nearer every day. That's why Christians must throw off any works of darkness we have been participating in. This includes lifestyles of drunken partying, sexual immorality, fighting, and jealousy. Instead, Christian must suit up in armor of light. That is, instead of joining in the darkness, we must take defensive positions against it. In fact, we must put on Christ Himself instead of arranging our lives to gratify our own desires (Romans 13:11–14). (BIBLE REF)
Yours in Christ
Bro Scotty

Events for the Month of September

• August 26th –September 5th Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration
• September 6th 15th Sunday After Pentecost
• September 7th Labor Day
• September 13th 16th Sunday After Pentecost
• September 13th Grandparents Day
• September 13th Laity Club at Shelbyville 1st at 6 pm
• September 20th 17th Sunday After Pentecost
• September 22nd First Day of Autumn
• September 27th 18th Sunday After Pentecost
• September 27th Offering to the Project Fund

September is our month for the Blessing Box

Nonperishable Blessing Box Items

Ready to eat meals
Canned meat
Pre-cooked bacon
Nuts
Mac n Cheese
Soup and sauces
Breakfast bars
Peanut butter and crackers
Almost any snack food
Peanut butter and Jelly (any alternative butter)
Baby cereal, baby food
Dried and canned beans
Rice
Cereal
Condiments
Syrup, honey
Bread
Can opener (Buy pop top cans when possible.)

Hygiene Items for Blessing Box

Shampoo/conditioner
Dish soap
Trash bags
Deodorant
Laundry detergent
Gloves, hats, scarves
Combs, brush, nail clippers
Soap
Razors
Feminine products
Diapers….any baby supply
Toilet paper
Paper towels
Wipes
Tooth brush
Tooth paste
Dish soap
Trash bags
Deodorant
Laundry detergent

I do want us to keep in mind that through it all God is still in control. Here we go again it seems as of right now we are back at our beautiful Mt Olivet Road campus on the outskirts of Wartrace. As of now we are able to see all the smiling faces and hearing the people talking with each other. For those not joining us in person please continue to take advantage of the chat feature in the Facebook stream to say “Hi” to me and to your friends. We will have worship in some form every week as long as I am able to serve. But for now, we are continuing in person worship.
Traditional Apostles creed will be used in our worship celebrations. During the service I will line out the Creed, as the early church did, with me reading a line and you repeating that line. I have included the Traditional Creed below:

I believe in God the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord:
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;*
the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic** church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body
and the life everlasting. Amen
*Traditional use of this creed includes these words: “He descended into hell.”
**universal

And if you are wondering we had 19 people in person last week and 126 online views. We are still serving God and are still living out our call to ministry. I invite you to share the link with your friends and family so we can continue to be a presence for God from our church in the world. I look forward to our times of worship this coming week. As we look forward to where God is leading us, as we are entering a time of continued celebration.

It was good to hear from some of you this week. As we continue to worship, I am posting the Scriptures for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost Year A. I hope to hear from each of you as you sign in to the message.

Scriptures for Sunday September 6, 2026

Psalter Psalm 149
Old Testament Lesson Exodus 12:1-14
Epistle Lesson Romans 13:8-14
Lesson Matthew 18:15-20

08/25/2026

August 30, 2026 Mt Olivet UMC
Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost for Year A

Greetings

Today we find ourselves looking at Matthew 16: 21-28. In this we see Jesus, who has limited His travels and ministry mostly to the region of Galilee in northern Israel, begins to show the disciples that He must go to Jerusalem. This is literally the headquarters—the home territory—of the enemies who hate Him the most. He predicts He will suffer many things from those elders, chief priests, and scribes. Ultimately, He will even be killed. Of course, Jesus also mentions that He will be raised on the third day (Matthew 16:21).

Peter seems to have gained too much confidence from Jesus' recent praise. He does not merely disagree with Jesus, he rebukes Him. Peter is scolding the same Man he recently identified as Messiah, because Jesus is not meeting Peter's expectations. In what must have been a devastating reply to Peter, Jesus shockingly refers to Peter as Satan. Peter's mind is set on human things, including human preferences and human traditions, and not the things of God (Matthew 16:22–23).

Jesus repeats an earlier message to those gathered nearby. Anyone who would come after Him must take up their cross of self-denial and follow Him. Crucifixion, in that era, evoked concepts like humiliation, dishonor, shame, agony, misery, and death. Christ is not speaking about tolerating minor inconvenience; He's speaking of willingness to sacrifice everything associated with the world. Those who live for themselves—clinging to worldly things and earthly ideals—will lose their eternal lives. Those who lose their earthly lives will find true eternal life. Jesus frames this in a common-sense rhetorical question: what good would it be to gain all the temporary things of the world, only to suffer an eternity of loss? Judgment will come, for all people, and those who reject Christ will be lost (Matthew 16:24–27).

The final comment made by Jesus in this chapter is a reference to "some" of these disciples seeing Him coming into His kingdom before they die (Matthew 16:28). This is a reference to the transfiguration: the very next thing described by Matthew (Matthew 17:1–2). In that event, Peter, James, and John will witness a glorified scene which foreshadows Jesus' rule on earth. (BIBL REF)

Yours in Christ
Bro Scotty

Events for the Month of August

• August 2nd 10th Sunday After Pentecost
• August 2nd International Friendship Day
• August 9th 11th Sunday After Pentecost
• August 9th Board Meeting
• August 9th Laity Club at Wartrace at 6pm
• August 13th International Left Handers Day
• August 16th 12th Sunday After Pentecost
• August 23rd 13th Sunday After Pentecost
• August 23rd Offering to Project Fund
• August 26th –September 5th Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration
• August 30th 14th Sunday After Pentecost

I do want us to keep in mind that through it all God is still in control. Here we go again it seems as of right now we are back at our beautiful Mt Olivet Road campus on the outskirts of Wartrace. As of now we are able to see all the smiling faces and hearing the people talking with each other. For those not joining us in person please continue to take advantage of the chat feature in the Facebook stream to say “Hi” to me and to your friends. We will have worship in some form every week as long as I am able to serve. But for now, we are continuing in person worship.
Traditional Apostles creed will be used in our worship celebrations. During the service I will line out the Creed, as the early church did, with me reading a line and you repeating that line. I have included the Traditional Creed below:

I believe in God the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord:
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;*
the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic** church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body
and the life everlasting. Amen
*Traditional use of this creed includes these words: “He descended into hell.”
**universal

And if you are wondering we had 20 people in person last week and 169online views. We are still serving God and are still living out our call to ministry. I invite you to share the link with your friends and family so we can continue to be a presence for God from our church in the world. I look forward to our times of worship this coming week. As we look forward to where God is leading us, as we are entering a time of continued celebration.

It was good to hear from some of you this week. As we continue to worship, I am posting the Scriptures for the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost Year A. I hope to hear from each of you as you sign in to the message.

Scriptures for Sunday August 30, 2026

Psalter Psalm 105
Old Testament Lesson Exodus 3:1-15
Epistle Lesson Romans 12:9-21
Lesson Matthew 16:21-28

08/19/2026

August 23, 2026 Mt Olivet UMC
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost for Year A

Greetings

Let us continue traveling with Christ as Jesus and the disciples travel north about 25 miles from the Sea of Galilee to Caesarea Philippi. There, Jesus asks them who the people say He is. By this, He means the general opinion of the public. The disciples report that some people think He is the return of a great prophet, others that He is somehow John the Baptist. Making an important contrast between "popular opinion" and "personal belief," Jesus asks who the disciples say He is. Peter answers for the group: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:13–16).

This results in an enthusiastic response, with Jesus saying God the Father has revealed the truth to Peter. Jesus then makes a wordplay out of Peter's name, using two different Greek words. One, referring to Peter, means "a stone or a rock." The other, referring to the substance on which the church will be built, refers to "rock" as a substance or a material. On Peter's statement—the belief he expressed—Jesus says He will build His earthly church. The gates of hell won't prevail against it. Jesus tells Peter he will be given the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever the disciples bind or loose on earth will be bound or loosed in heaven (Matthew 16:17–19).

Surprisingly, Jesus then tells this group of men not to tell others about His role as Messiah, just yet. Jesus is aware that the people are hungry for a victorious, earthly Messiah. They are likely to revolt against Rome, based on how they've responded to Jesus in the past (John 6:15). For that reason, widespread proclamation of His role needs to wait (Matthew 16:20) (BIBLE REF)
So who is Christ to You?
Yours in Christ
Bro Scotty

Events for the Month of August

• August 2nd 10th Sunday After Pentecost
• August 2nd International Friendship Day
• August 9th 11th Sunday After Pentecost
• August 9th Board Meeting
• August 9th Laity Club at Wartrace at 6pm
• August 13th International Left Handers Day
• August 16th 12th Sunday After Pentecost
• August 23rd 13th Sunday After Pentecost
• August 23rd Offering to Project Fund
• August 26th –September 5th Tennessee Walking Horse
National Celebration
• August 30th 14th Sunday After Pentecost

I do want us to keep in mind that through it all God is still in control. Here we go again it seems as of right now we are back at our beautiful Mt Olivet Road campus on the outskirts of Wartrace. As of now we are able to see all the smiling faces and hearing the people talking with each other. For those not joining us in person please continue to take advantage of the chat feature in the Facebook stream to say “Hi” to me and to your friends. We will have worship in some form every week as long as I am able to serve. But for now, we are continuing in person worship.
Traditional Apostles creed will be used in our worship celebrations. During the service I will line out the Creed, as the early church did, with me reading a line and you repeating that line. I have included the Traditional Creed below:

I believe in God the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord:
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;*
the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic** church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body
and the life everlasting. Amen
*Traditional use of this creed includes these words: “He descended into hell.”
**universal

And if you are wondering we had 20 people in person last week and 133 online views. We are still serving God and are still living out our call to ministry. I invite you to share the link with your friends and family so we can continue to be a presence for God from our church in the world. I look forward to our times of worship this coming week. As we look forward to where God is leading us, as we are entering a time of continued celebration.

It was good to hear from some of you this week. As we continue to worship, I am posting the Scriptures for the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost Year A. I hope to hear from each of you as you sign in to the message.

Scriptures for Sunday August 23, 2026

Psalter Psalm 124
Old Testament Lesson Exodus 1:8-2:10
Epistle Lesson Romans 12:1-8
Lesson Matthew 16:13-20

08/12/2026

August 16, 2026 Mt Olivet UMC
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost for Year A

Greetings

What is your faith like? When push comes to shove how much faith do you have? In today’s lesson we see of a Canaanite woman who finds Christ and has a discussion of faith with Him.

Christ withdraws from Israel with His disciples and heads into the pagan Gentile district of Tyre and Sidon. This is the same region Jesus once mentioned while shaming Israel for stubbornness (Matthew 11:20–24). A Canaanite woman finds Him somehow. She knows He is the Messiah and can heal her daughter from demon oppression. To draw out her faith, and give an example to the disciples, Jesus refuses at first. His mission is to Israel alone. His metaphor is that of a Master choosing not to take bread from His children to give to pet dogs. The woman persists—noting that for dogs to eat crumbs passed over by the children would be different. Jesus praises her great faith. He heals her daughter—setting up for the disciples the idea that Gentiles, as well, will share in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 15:21–28). (BIBLE REF)

Go and live out your faith as this Canaanite woman.

Yours in Christ
Bro Scotty

Events for the Month of August

• August 2nd 10th Sunday After Pentecost
• August 2nd International Friendship Day
• August 9th 11th Sunday After Pentecost
• August 9th Board Meeting
• August 9th Laity Club at Wartrace at 6pm
• August 13th International Left Handers Day
• August 16th 12th Sunday After Pentecost
• August 23rd 13th Sunday After Pentecost
• August 23rd Offering to Project Fund
• August 26th – September 5th Tennessee Walking Horse
National Celebration
• August 30th 14th Sunday After Pentecost

I do want us to keep in mind that through it all God is still in control. Here we go again it seems as of right now we are back at our beautiful Mt Olivet Road campus on the outskirts of Wartrace. As of now we are able to see all the smiling faces and hearing the people talking with each other. For those not joining us in person please continue to take advantage of the chat feature in the Facebook stream to say “Hi” to me and to your friends. We will have worship in some form every week as long as I am able to serve. But for now, we are continuing in person worship.
Traditional Apostles creed will be used in our worship celebrations. During the service I will line out the Creed, as the early church did, with me reading a line and you repeating that line. I have included the Traditional Creed below:

I believe in God the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord:
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;*
the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic** church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body
and the life everlasting. Amen
*Traditional use of this creed includes these words: “He descended into hell.”
**universal

And if you are wondering we had 10 people in person last week and 206 online views. We are still serving God and are still living out our call to ministry. I invite you to share the link with your friends and family so we can continue to be a presence for God from our church in the world. I look forward to our times of worship this coming week. As we look forward to where God is leading us, as we are entering a time of continued celebration.

It was good to hear from some of you this week. As we continue to worship, I am posting the Scriptures for the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost Year A. I hope to hear from each of you as you sign in to the message.

Scriptures for Sunday August 16, 2026

Psalter Psalm 133
Old Testament Genesis 45:1-15
Epistle Lesson Romans 11:1-2, 29-32
Lesson Mathew 15: (10-20)21-28