Willsboro United Methodist Church

06/04/2026

A Heartfelt Thank You!

The United Methodist Church would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who volunteered, purchased a dinner, and supported our Chicken Cordon Bleu Takeout Dinner. Your generosity, hard work, and continued support mean so much to us.❤️
These dinners are only possible because of our wonderful volunteers and loyal community members. We are truly grateful for each and every one of you.❤️

06/03/2026

Mid-Week Devotion and Prayer-June 3, 2026

Speak Softly

Scripture-Proverbs 15:1-“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

We know that our world, in so many ways, has become a place of anger and fighting. Scroll through any social media platform for even a minute and you will likely find posts that demean or speak negatively about “them.” Exactly who “them” is varies, sometimes greatly. However, so much is posted that draws divisions between some supposedly good and right “us” and some misguided or bad “them.” Whether you are referring to the world of politics, religion, or any other focus of current society, it does not take long to find issues which generate more division than inclusion.

So, how should we respond to all the divisiveness? Proverbs instructs us to answer with gentleness, “a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” In other words, do not allow the divisive rhetoric and “us” versus “them” language of the world we live in cause you to respond in ways that are harsh and only serve to exacerbate the hostility and division.

This can often be a hard ask and might seem like it asks us to not respond in defense of those who might be the “them’ in many cases. However, as my husband is fond of reminding me, “it is not necessarily what you say as how you say it” that increases tensions. So, what are your ‘trigger’ issues? How might you prepare to respond in gentleness while still seeking justice, loving mercy, and walking humble with God?

These are questions we should ask ourselves as we seek to live as the people of God. The old scouting motto of “be prepared” is an excellent reminder as we strife to live as more and more of a reflection of Jesus, who only is recorded as losing his temper on very, very rare occasions, primarily in the temple among those who were turning the temple courts into a place of unethical consumerism. Yet, even there his words were about what the temple was intended to be and not spoken to divide but to reorient the purpose of that space.

As I think about my own struggles with speaking harshly, and often rashly, being prepared to speak with gentleness is very appealing. Whether that speech is by mouth, in writing, or in a post response or social media posting, following Jesus is a call to speak to the issue not against the people. Following Jesus is a call to lift others up in love, and allow our actions of love speak louder than our words of condemnation.

Hear this verse from Proverbs again, “a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” How might you prepare to answer with gentleness and where might you need to guard against harsh words? Are there words that you have spoken recently that were harsh and have caused anger? How might you return to that situation and speak words of gentleness that offer healing?

How we speak is a reflection of the God about whom we testify with our words and our lives. Teddy Roosevelt is credited with the phrase “Speak softly but carry a big stick.” As followers of Jesus, maybe we need to alter that to “speak softly and live gently.” Gentleness diffuses tension, harshness only agitates it. Go forth to speak softly and gently as you live as the love of God to all the world.

Holy God, slow our words and still our tongues that we might speak with gentleness rather than in harsh words which cause anger. Make our speaking and our living acceptable to you as we go forth to be your people of love and gentleness in the world. Use our words to build bridges, tear down walls, and create connections of caring in the name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Chris Tomlin's moving and inspiring rendition of an old hymn "Take ...

05/31/2026

Podcast of Sunday Service May 31, 2026

Sunday services recorded for shut ins, those out of town and anyone who wishes to share our worship of God.

05/29/2026

Today, we read from John 15:18-27.

05/27/2026

Mid-Week Devotion and Prayer-May 27, 2026

Jesus, Our Friend

Scripture-Mark 11:24-“Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

Prayer is something that we do even though we often struggle to explain what it is, how we do it, and how it works. For me, one of the easiest ways for me to answer some of the questions around prayer is that it is “talking to our best friend.” The comforting thing about that definition of prayer is that it reduces the stress over issues regarding wording, format, and formality in prayer. More importantly, it opens a sense of availability of prayer for all people.

As a young person, raised in church, praying in front of others was a natural part of my involvement in church activities. At a relatively young age, I was comfortable leading prayers because I had grown up with an understanding that praying was talking to Jesus and that Jesus was the very best friend anyone could have. It wasn’t until much later in my life that I began to realize that others often struggled with how to pray, especially leading public prayer.

When we learn to think of prayer as something like a conversation with someone who cares about our well-being, a friend, a parent, a companion, it also makes it easier to embrace the promise found in this verse from Mark 11. It is not that God will give us everything we ask merely because we ask, but if we believe that God cares about our best good, when we pray in sincerity for our needs and heart’s desires, God will surely give us what is best for our fulfillment in faithfulness to God’s will.

You see, prayer is never a mere wish list, and God is not some cosmic genie granting our wishes and fulfilling our desires. Sometimes, we treat prayer, even in our worship, as a shopping list to be filled. However, because God cares for us as our parent or as our friend, God desires to give us what is good.

So, if you struggle with how to pray or what to pray, remember the words of the old hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” and ask Jesus to intercede. When we carry all our struggles and cares to Jesus and lay them at his feet, he will hear our prayers and intercede on our behalf. That is part of the role of being our friend, as well as our Redeemer and Savior.

Dear Friend, you care about us and listen to all our desires, wishes, and needs. Help us to come to you in our struggles and with our thanksgiving. Guide us to wait for you and to trust that you want our best good. Hear our prayers and give us peace. Make our lives a living praise, that you alone might be glorified. Amen.

Official music video for "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" from CeCe WinansStream or download the song here: https://fts.lnk.to/TheHymnsConnect with CeCe Wina...

05/26/2026

05/24/2026

Podcast of Sunday Service, May 24, 2026

Sunday services recorded for shut ins, those out of town and anyone who wishes to share our worship of God.