Sunday, June 30 Briensburg UMC will participate in the “Sunday of Solidarity for Suffering Children” promoted by UMCOR and UM Global Ministries.

For more information, please see:

• Article of June 27
• Press Release of June 26

A Prayer for Suffering Children
God of All Children Everywhere,
Our hearts are bruised when we see children suffering alone.
Our hearts are torn when we are unable to help.
Our hearts are broken when we have some complicity in the matter.
For all the times we were too busy and shooed a curious child away,
forgive us, oh God.
For all the times we failed to get down on their level and look eye to eye with a child, forgive us, oh God.
For all the times we did not share when we saw a hungry child somewhere in the world, forgive us, oh God.
For all the times we thought about calling elected officials to demand change, but did not, forgive us, oh God.
For all the times we thought that caring for the children of this world was someone else’s responsibility, forgive us, oh God.
With Your grace, heal our hearts.
With Your grace, unite us in action.
With Your grace, repair our government.
With Your grace, help us to find a way to welcome all children everywhere,
That they may know that Jesus loves them,
Not just because “the Bible tells them so,”
But because they have known Your love in real and tangible ways,
And they know that nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate them from Your love.
Amen.

By his resurrection, Christ validated his teachings
about love as our way to Heaven.

Audio of Easter sermon on April 21, 2019 
about Luke 24:1-12.

Audio of sermon on April 14, 2019 on Luke 19:28-40.

When we judge, innocent people suffer.

“God bless the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory to God!”  (Luke 19:38 GNT)

Audio of sermon for April 7, 2019 on John 12:1-8

See the Bible through the eyes of others, especially from the healing perspective of Jesus. John 12:1-8

Audio of Sermon for March 31, 2019 on Luke 15:1-3, 11-32.

The prodigal’s extravagantly wasteful living was completely overshadowed by the parent’s extravagant forgiveness and love and acceptance.

— BREAKING — 1,000TH UM CHURCH/COMMUNITY COMMITS TO LGBTQ JUSTICE AND INCLUSION A MONTH AFTER DENOMINATIONAL ANTI-LGBTQ VOTE

Excerpt from press release:

Briensburg United Methodist Church in Benton, KY, became the 1,000th Reconciling Church on Friday, March 29, 2019. “Briensburg UMC hopes to amplify the message that even smaller rural churches like ours do not stand alone in our resolute affirmation that God loves everyone,” says Rev. Bill Lawson, who serves as Briensburg UMC’s pastor. “To the UMC, we point out that God continues to demonstrate the reconciling work of Jesus on the cross by manifesting the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the ministries and relationships of LGBTQ Christians. To all LGBTQ Christians, we absolutely welcome and need your full participation and leadership in our congregations.”

See the official announcement here.

See the entire press release here.

Audio of sermon on March 24, 2019

‘Leave it alone, sir, just one more year; I will dig around it and put in some fertilizer. Then if the tree bears figs next year, so much the better; if not, then you can have it cut down.’”   Luke 13:8 (GNT)

Audio of sermon from March 17, 2019

How many times I wanted to put my arms around all your people, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not let me!
Luke 13:34 (GNT)

Why put yourself in a position where you can’t love and be loved as Christ loves? Why judge others or accept their judgments of you?

Sermon on Luke 4:1-13 preached on March 10, 2019 by Pastor Bill Lawson at Briensburg UMC.

Audio of Sermon for March 10, 2019