Eulogy and Obituary for Judge James H. Williams

February 27, 2023 PastorPartridge Eulogy Alliance, body of Christ, Broadway, Chris, Chris Martin, Christ, Christ Church, Christ United Methodist, Eulogy, James, John, judge, Martin, Obituary, Partridge

Eulogy for James H. Williams

February 18, 2023

By Rev. Chris Martin

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ: we gather in this sacred space to worship the all-powerful and compassionate Creator of the universe and his only begotten Son, our Lord, and Savior Jesus Christ, in loving memory of James H. Williams.

There is no other place on the face of the earth more appropriate for us to gather than in this House of Worship, where Jim and his beloved wife of 67 years Peg, first came to worship in 1961. A celebration of Peg’s life was held in this room on the twenty-sixth of August last year. Jim continued to be active in both the Sunday School and worship of this congregation through Sunday, February fifth – just two weeks ago tomorrow.

Jim served in every lay leadership capacity that this church had to offer, including over 40 years as an adult Sunday School teacher, a position he entrusted to me about twelve years ago. On several occasions since his retirement from teaching, I asked him back to teach when I had to be away. He never once said “no” and taught the class as recently as eight weeks ago. Jim Williams was, without exception, one of the godliest, righteous, friendly, intelligent, noble, dignified, strong (in a gentle way), serious (in a fun-loving way), faithful, and committed Christian gentleman I have ever met in 52 years in ministry and 75 years of living in this world. Jim was as “genuine” a person as God ever created. There was nothing timid about Jim’s faith or Christian witness. Jim knew clearly what he believed and modeled his faith daily in the life he lived.

Each of the scripture passages you have heard read today speak eloquently about Jim Williams and the profound faith in Jesus Christ he lived each day of his life. The depth of Jim’s faith was universal – it showed through every aspect of his life, not just those parts of his life related to the church. The list of his accomplishments related to his legal profession and the list of his many activities and leadership positions within the community of Alliance both before and after his formal retirement in the year 2000 indicate that Jim was a person willing to invest his time, energy, expertise, strength and leadership capabilities in a wide variety of activities and organizations that sought to make life better for large numbers of people.

There is another passage of scripture that eloquently describes a man of God like Jim Williams. In the first chapter of the book of Psalms it reads: “Happy indeed is the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked; nor lingers in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers, whose delight is in the law of the Lord and who ponders that law both day and night.” Not only did Jim fulfill the words of this passage of scripture in his professional life as a highly esteemed member of the legal profession, where his colleagues in the law respected his opinions and valued his wisdom; he lived his life following a code of ethics that reached far beyond the law of the land. Jim lived his life according to the rule of God, giving himself and his expertise to those in need.

In the one hundred and twenty-first chapter of Psalms, the psalmist writes: “I will lift my eyes to the hills: from where shall my help come? My help shall come from the Lord who made both heaven and earth. He will not allow me to stumble. He will guard me from all evil; he will protect my soul. The Lord will guard my going and coming both now and forever.” This psalm offers comfort to each of us for a variety of reasons. It was especially a comfort for Jim and Peg after Peg’s diagnosis of multiple myeloma. Jim and Peg took such sweet and loving care of each other when times of sickness came. When Jim underwent procedures with his heart and when Peg underwent chemotherapy – they leaned into one another and cared for one another, along with the ever-vigilant care of their children, Jim Jr., and his wife Lynda, and Sue, and her husband Steve, and the words of encouragement they received from their grandsons.

Let me stop right here to say: your parents and grandparents deeply loved each of you and took pride in every one of your accomplishments. They also knew and felt keenly the love and support of a compassionate and healing God, who would protect them, walk with them, and love them every step of the journey. They also felt deeply the support of their church and the always caring members of the Searcher’s Class. The folks in the class have been together for decades and genuinely feel the loss of their dear friends. Through the times of illness and the struggles that come with aging, Jim and Peg knew that God was always with them. When I was serving a recent three-month interim for a pastor on renewal leave, my wife taught the class. She reminded me that, in a discussion of the afterlife, Jim asked: “What kind of a job will God have for me in heaven?” Given all of Jim’s many talents and abilities, I am certain there will be a job for him in heaven. I am equally certain that if God doesn’t have an immediate job for Jim, I bet Peg will think of one.

In the apostle Paul’s second letter to his youthful friend Timothy, Paul writes: “Timothy, my son, I am nearly at the point of my departure from this life. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. There is awaiting me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me. Not only will that crown be mine; it is reserved for all who love God without measure.” Well, dear friends, I can tell you with complete certainty that Jim and Peg Williams have received those crowns of righteousness in the Kingdom of God because I know that both “fought bravely, and without complaint, the good fight; that they both finished the race with God’s grace and peace; and that they both kept the faith in genuine and concrete ways.”

Before we consider the lesson from John’s gospel, permit me a moment to lift up a brief passage of scripture that reflects the beauty and strength of the life we celebrate here today. In the Old Testament prophetic book that bears his name, Micah makes the following inquiry: “What does the Lord require of us?” Having asked the question, Micah provides the answer, saying: “To do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” I cannot think of anyone I have ever known that more honestly fulfills the requirements of the God of our Fathers than Judge James Williams. His personal and professional life demonstrated his intense concern for justice. The way he related to individuals on a day-to-day basis revealed his kindness to all people. Walking humbly with his God was how Jim lived his days on this earth.

Finally, what does Jesus have to say to us today from the gospel of John? He says this: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, you may be also.” I submit to you that Jim believed and lived those words throughout his life and the truth of the Lord’s Word sustained him, and those surrounding him, at the moment of his death and passage into eternal life.

In the final moments of his life, Jim was embraced by his loving daughter Sue, his son Jim Jr. and his daughter-in-law Lynda. What more needs to be said? Only this: the greatest memorial, the greatest tribute any one of us can give to the life of this wise and strong man will not be achieved by engraving his name on a bronze plaque, although that may well be done. The greatest memorial and tribute we can make to his life is to live our lives, to the very best of our abilities, the way Jim Williams lived his life: “Seeking justice, loving kindness, and doing everything in our power, to WALK HUMBLY WITH GOD.”

Judge James H. Williams – “Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into the Kingdom of your Father forever and forever” – where there is no suffering, no sickness, no pain – only unutterable JOY in the presence of a loving God and your beloved wife, Peg, who was waiting for you at the gates of Paradise. Amen!

Alleluia! Amen!

L. Chris Martin

Christ United Methodist Church

Alliance, Ohio

February 18, 2023

Remembrances of Jim Williams from Family and Friends

Jim Williams, Jr. (Son)

Dad’s Lesson

We heard through the years of Dad’s career as a judge that in his quiet and stern way he ran a very smooth and efficient Bankruptcy Court. It was well known, if you were a lawyer, and you appeared in front of Judge Williams unprepared, you only did it once!

I too was the recipient of these quiet lessons, but one story in particular defines Dad’s style:

As a teenager with a new driver’s license, I had a midnight curfew. Our folks usually retired early, but Dad had an ingenious way of getting me home on time. He had an alarm clock, set for midnight, on the night stand next to the bed. I was to return home on time and shut off that alarm clock before it woke him up. One Saturday night I was out with friends and got home in time to turn off the alarm. Feeling safe, as if I beat the system, I sneaked back out to join my friends again, and returned home a second time well after 2AM.

Tiptoeing quietly in the back door, I thought I’d pulled off my little caper, only to come face to face with Dad standing in the dark hallway, arms folded with that terrifying stare. He only said these words: “Sunrise service at church starts at 6:30 … you’re going.” He turned and walked away. I went to church. Lesson learned.

Stern but fair…dignified and persistent…loving, generous, faithful, and devoted: These are the qualities that shaped Dad’s life. He was my most impactful example of how to live – and love – and to be remembered as a good man. He is my hero.

Sue Zempke (Daughter)

“Our dad…faithful, honest, compassionate, generous, loving, always present. All these words describe who he was. He was a man who carved his name on the hearts of all who knew him.

And he was so funny…a new restaurant came to town and all the city dignitaries were going to the grand opening. I asked him if he was going, and he said he didn’t even get an invitation because he was pretty sure new businesses weren’t likely to invite the local bankruptcy judge!

And speaking of that, I admit I used his title to my advantage as a young girl whenever the need arose. If I was in a situation where someone wasn’t in agreement with a point I was trying to make I had no problem saying, “I’ll ask my dad. He’s a judge!” Funny how that remark settled many arguments for me!

I will sure miss his wit, his charm, his unwavering faith, and most importantly the fierce love he had for his family. I love you, Dad. You will live on in our hearts forever.”

David Williams (Grandson)

“Never has a man been more deserving of the title “honorable.” Granddad was the epitome of honor, integrity, and stability. He was a man of few words, but those words were always poignant, always considerate, and sometimes, downright hilarious. That sharp wit has permeated through the generations, and any time my dad, my brother or I make a smart remark, we all know where we got it. As the patriarch of the family, I could not think of a better example of work ethic, fairness, and of course, great comic timing. I love you, Granddad.”

Matthew Williams (Grandson)

Granddad was a man I admired. Not only because he was my granddad, but because he was a man worthy of admiration. His and Grandma’s life together was an inspirational love story. He was generous. He was a man of outstanding principles. A man full of love for his career, his community, and above all, his family.

As a kid I used to challenge Granddad to staring contests because “The Judge” was unbreakable. He was intimidating, if you didn’t know he was as nice and gentle as a man could be. As I grew older, I became astounded at his quick wit. He was hilarious, with a dry delivery that frequently offered a sarcasm that I’m told is hereditary.

Our time together was special. Our annual family vacations are something I will not only remember for the rest of my life, but something I would love to carry on in the future. Granddad showed us the things that truly matter, and he lived a life anyone would be proud of. A man to be admired.

Grandsons Andrew and Kevin Zempke

“Never in our lives have we met someone who is more steadfast and devoted as our grandfather. He was a very serious man but also very family-oriented and cherished the finer things in life. He made sure we all got together for a big family vacation every year and some of our fondest memories came from those trips. Regardless of where we were, he made sure everyone was having a good time. As long as we were having fun, he was having fun.

Seeing him speed off in his brand-new Porsche Boxster was a sight to behold. He was such a cool dude. It’s hard to not admire someone like that. I, Andrew, remember looking over at him sitting on a couch at my cousin Matthew’s wedding in a nice suit, drinking his drink, and thinking to myself, ‘I aspire to be that cool one day!’ I, Kevin, often look back on all the family vacations we would go on, none of which would have been possible without him. Whether we spent our vacations on the Outer Banks, or in the Rocky Mountains, the time spent with Granddad and the rest of the family are moments I will remember for the rest of my life.

We will miss you deeply.”

With love,

Andrew and Kevin

The Honorable Ann Womer Benjamin

Mayor of Aurora, Ohio

“I was a new lawyer at Black McCuskey in Canton in 1978. My expertise was probate law, and I had no bankruptcy experience, nor was I admitted to practice before the Federal Court. Nevertheless, as a young associate at the firm, I remember being sent to Judge Williams’ court at the last minute on a matter. I was quite terrified because I had to ask the court’s permission to appear, then had to present on behalf of my firm’s client before a room full of people. Judge Williams couldn’t have been more gracious and helped this amateur navigate the proceeding successfully. I will never forget Judge Williams’ patience and understanding during that challenging first experience for me in Federal Bankruptcy Court.”

Obituary for Judge James H. Williams

Judge James H. Williams, age 88, passed away on February 12, 2023 surrounded by his family.

He was born on February 20, 1934, in Salem, to Howard H. and Lucy Williams.

Jim was raised in Berlin Center, Ohio and graduated from Berlin Center High School in 1952. He earned his B.A. degree in pre-law studies at Kent State University followed by a Juris Doctor Degree from The Ohio State University Law School in 1957. Jim began working as a Staff Attorney with the Ohio Depart of Highways and as an Assistant US Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio in Columbus. In 1961 he joined what became the law firm of Blumenstiel, Williams and Blumenstiel in Alliance. He was appointed one of eight United States Bankruptcy Judges for the Northern District of Ohio in 1972. He remained in that position until his retirement in April 2000. Judge Williams served the Court as its Chief Judge from 1988-1997.

Active in his community, Judge Williams was a past President of the Alliance Jaycees, a past National Director of the US Jaycees, a JCI Senator, a member and past director of the Alliance Rotary Club, a Paul Harris Fellow, campaign chairman and past president of the Alliance Area United Way, chairman of the Republican Party in Alliance, member of the Stark County Board of Elections, past president of the Stark County Bar Association, and was a life member of the Ohio State Bar Association and Fellow of Ohio Bar Association.

Following his retirement, he served as board president of Copeland Oaks Retirement Community, to which he and his wife relocated in 2013, board member of the Alliance-Minerva Chapter of the American Red Cross, president of the Alliance Family YMCA and a founding trustee of the Greater Alliance Foundation. He was also formerly active on the District level of the Buckeye Council, Boy Scouts of America and was a former member of Fillibusters and the Alliance Country Club. Judge Williams became a member of First Methodist Church in Alliance, now Christ United Methodist, in 1961 and served in most of the lay leadership roles of the church. For more than 40 years he was an adult Sunday School teacher.

Those left to cherish his memory are his children, James H., Jr. (Lynda) of Franklin, PA and Susan M. Zempke (Steve) of Mt. Vernon, TX; and four grandsons, Matthew J. Williams (Kelsey) of North Hollywood, CA, David Edwin Williams (Racheal Kimeu) of Jersey City, NJ, Andrew S. Zempke (Kimberley) of Arlington, TX, and Kevin W. Zempke of Plano, TX.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Margaret Williams, whom he married August 27, 1955 and who passed on August 21, 2022.

A celebration of life will be held at Christ United Methodist Church on Saturday, February 18th at 11:30 a.m. with a visitation from 10:00-11:30 a.m. Pastors John Partridge and Chris Martin will officiate. A private family committal service and entombment will be held at Highland Memorial Park later that afternoon.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christ United Methodist Church, 470 E. Broadway, Alliance, Ohio 44601 or The Oaks Foundation, 715 S. Johnson Rd, Sebring, Ohio 44672.

Arrangements are entrusted to Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home 75 South Union Ave Alliance, Ohio 44601.

Eulogy for Judith A. (Judy) Kingan

February 16, 2023 PastorPartridge Eulogy Alliance, Broadway, Chris, Chris Martin, Christ, Christ Church, church, Eulogy, John, Judith, Judy, Judy Kingan, Kingan, Martin, Methodist, Obituary, Partridge, Street

Eulogy for Judith A. (Judy) Kingan

February 14, 2023

by Rev. John Partridge

In 1947, was only two years after the end of the hostilities known as World War Two and automobiles, for the first time since the war began, were once again rolling off the assembly line for the average consumer. At the same time, India and Pakistan proclaimed their independence from Great Britain, the United States launched the rebuilding of Europe with its Marshall Plan, Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier for the first time, the transistor was developed at Bell Labs, Jackie Robinson played his first major league baseball game, and “The Miracle on 34^th Street” was released to theaters. And in the midst of these auspicious events, Judy Kingan was born to David and Mildred Hostetler. She became a “Preacher’s Kid” with all of the expectations and baggage that go with that.

As a freshman in high school in 1962 or 1963, Judy asked Don to go with her to the “Gold Digger’s Dance” and having chosen wisely, they dated throughout the rest of their high school years. After graduation, Judy went to Goshen College in Indiana to get a four-year degree in home economics, while Don stayed closer to home pursuing an associate degree, and joining ROTC, at The University of Akron and Don tells me that a great deal of mail passed between the two of them. After finishing his two-year degree, Don joined the Air Force, they were married, and then Don shipped out for Thailand during the conflict in Vietnam.

Upon his return home, Don found a new job in Galion, Ohio, they moved, and eventually had three children. Somewhere around 1980 they moved to Canton, and Don’s new job at Mercy Hospital, and then to Alliance where they spent the last 30 years together. For her part, Judy worked at a pet store for a while, as a Mary Kay consultant, taught at the Alliance Christian Center School for 10 years, taught job training courses for adults for three or four years, and then took a job at the hospital in food service and, after several promotions, eventually retired. It’s also worth noting, in light of her time at the pet store, that Judy really liked dogs, but she loved cats.

Judy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007, fought it, and two years later was told that they “got it all.” And they did… for a while. Until it came back in 2015. And, when it came back, they said it was aggressive and it progressed rapidly. But even so, she fought like the warrior that she was for seven years and, according to her family, never once complained. No matter what Judy was going through, she always thought about everyone else.

And that was Judy’s trademark. Her family told me that Judy’s love was felt every day in everything that she did. Friends were always welcome, bread or cookies would be made at the drop of a hat, and the friends of her children often said that if they had a problem, they needed to “talk to Mrs. Kingan.” She was everyone’s “substitute Mom.” One of the hardest things that she did was being isolated by the pandemic. Being immune suppressed while fighting cancer, her doctors told her to stay in, stay home, avoid crowds indoors or outdoors, and even recommended that the grandchildren stay away. Judy dearly loved playing in the bell choir where she stood, and shared stories, next to Lynn Goldrick. But she had to quit because of her battle with cancer and even when she was feeling better, and though she might be able to go back for a while, she just didn’t have the strength to stand behind the bell tables long enough.

Anyone who knew her knew that Judy was a crafter. She loved sewing, calligraphy, scrap-booking, making greeting cards, gardening, animals, flowers, and almost any other craft. One winter the family was snowed in, school was cancelled, and she and Annie sewed in the basement for an entire week. They made school clothes, pajamas, stuffed animals, doll clothes, and anything else they could think of. At one point, Judy entered her doll clothes and some of her homemade bread into for judging at the Stark County Fair and came away with blue ribbons for both. What’s more, Judy’s grandchildren always looked forward to visiting because they said that grandma always had crafts and “fun stuff” to do together. Judy also loved making cloth banners, and many of the banners and other decorations that we enjoy each year at Christ Church were the fruit of her labor, passion, and skill.

Judy loved her family and everyone around her, she loved her church, she loved her Jesus, loved cats and crafts of all kinds, and she was a warrior who was not to be trifled with. She did battle with one of humanity’s greatest enemies and did so for ten years of her life while still doing the things that she loved, loving the people in her life, and living, and loving, as normally as possible and with all the fun and style that she could muster. We know where Judy has gone. If she has gotten her way, by now Jesus has a new pair of pajamas to go with the warm cookies that she made, and there are some new banners in the works for the God’s throne room or wherever she’s allowed to put them.

Those of us who have put our faith in Jesus know that when our day comes, Judy will be there to welcome us. And I am sure that she will and remind you all that she never stopped praying for you, bugging God on your behalf, and you know that she will never stop loving you. Because she loves you even more than cats.

From Jackson Tittle

(Don and Judy’s son-in-law/Annie’s husband)

To know Judy is to see Christ truly alive in a person. Judy understood what it is to be Christ to people. She understood what it is to love. Those who knew her know of her joy and of her love and compassion for others.

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7 ESV)

Judy got Christianity right, she knew how to receive the love of God and then share it with all, unreservedly. She kept no record and laid down expectations, she simply loved.

Those who know Judy, knew that she lived out the following:

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

(Ephesians 4:32 ESV)

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

(Philippians 2:3-4 ESV)

For believers, to live here should be to love but to also have a longing to be home with our savior…Judy is home! We know with all confidence that she received the greeting we believers all long to hear… “Well done, good and faithful servant…Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matt 25:23)

“So, we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. For we live by believing and not by seeing. Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:6-8 NLT)

From Annie Tittle

(Don & Judy’s daughter)

“Mama’s Hands” (written by Annie Tittle)

My Mama’s hands were beautiful,

I’ll always remember them well.

There was always something for them to do, And what a story they’d tell.

Mama’s hands were busy,

But never too busy for me.

No matter what project she had to do,

She could always stop for a cup of tea.

Mama’s hands were nice and strong,

To stitch, or write, or bake.

She could lift a person up to God,

With the thoughtful cards she’d make.

Mama’s hands were teachers,

And taught me things I needed to know.

Like how to be a mother,

To cook, be kind, and sew.

But most of all, I tell you true,

My Mama’s hands were from God.

Every touch, every hug, every card, every word, Told me how much I was loved.

I pray that God will take my hands,

And make them just as well,

A blessing like my Mama’s hands,

And give them a story to tell.

Judith A. Kingan

by Rev. L. Chris Martin

February 14, 2023

Dear Friends:

If someone were to describe you and your attributes in a few words, what would they say? Would they highlight your personality, your distinct features, or maybe your interests or family? Perhaps they would focus on your unique talents or abilities that make you stand out in a crowd. The scriptures are full of snapshots of characters that were important to the spread of the good news of the gospel. Sometimes we get more details than others. In other cases, we listen in on dialogs that give us glimpses into their lives. It is in these studies, as we lean in, look, and listen, that we find truths that can transform the way we live.

Such is the case with a woman named Lydia in the New Testament. Lydia was well known because of her work with precious fabrics, especially the much sought-after rich purple fabric. I introduce you to Lydia in the New Testament because many of the qualities and unique characteristics that she possessed were also acquired by Judy Kingan – at least the qualities and characteristics that I admired the most in Judy.

Growing up Judy was lovingly nurtured in the Christian faith by her parents the Reverend David and Mildred Hostetler, two of the most dedicated and spiritual people I have ever known. Judy learned early on what it means to be and become a committed follower of Jesus Christ. The light of Christ burned brightly in everything Judy did as she shared her faith and the talents bestowed upon her by the eternal God of the ages.

Judy was a very special person to each of us here this morning. Her infectious smile could light up a room. Like Lydia in the early church, Judy always focused on priorities that made life better for those who crossed her path each day. Again, like Lydia, Judy had a depth of creativity that she shared with everyone she met. In the church, Judy loved playing in one of the hand bell choirs, and designed and fashioned worship banners for the Chancel that are among the most creative and stunning banners this Pastor has ever seen. All of Judy’s banners are still in use at Christ United Methodist Church in the appropriate season for each. Judy also invested much time in creating unique greeting cards and in reviving the ancient art of calligraphy.

Far more important than all other attributes, Judy, like Lydia before her, shared the hospitality of her hearth and home with others. Judy profoundly believed that the lives we live in this world determine how others view our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And because of that belief, Judy did everything humanly possible to share her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ with everyone she met in life. As a woman of influence and reputation, Judy served as an encouraging example of how our lives can be a testimony to God and his love.

Thank you, Judy, for being such a delightful mirror of God’s unconditional love for each of us.

Indeed, thank you!

L. Chris Martin

Cassaday, Turkle, Christian Funeral Home

February 14, 2023

Obituary for Judy Kingan

Judith A. Kingan, age 75, passed away on February 9, 2023.

She was born on November 1, 1947, in Wooster, to David and Mildred (Warner) Hostetler.

Judith graduated from Goshen College in Indiana with a bachelor’s degree in home economics. She taught K-12 at Alliance Christian Center School for 10 years and then taught adult education in Alliance for several years. Judith was also the breakfast supervisor at Alliance Community Hospital for many years until her retirement in 2014. She was a member of Christ United Methodist Church where she was active in the bell choir and making banners. Judith was also active in the Alliance Calligraphers Club. She enjoyed making greeting cards and sewing.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Donald; her sons, Jason (Kathy) Kingan and Zachary (Shawna) Kingan; her daughter, Annie (Jackson) Tittle; thirteen grandchildren; and two sisters, Sue Hostetler, and Becky Christner.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

A visitation while be held at Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home on Monday, February 13th from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

A funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, February 14th at 11:00 a.m. The funeral service will be live-streamed and can be viewed at the bottom of her obituary on the funeral home’s website.

Arrangements are entrusted to Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home 75 South Union Ave Alliance, Ohio 44601.

Why Do You Belong?

October 12, 2022October 12, 2022 PastorPartridge Blogs attendance, belong, belonging, Christ Church, Christ United Methodist Church, church

Why Do You Belong?

by John Partridge

Written September 15, 2022 for the October Chimes Newsletter

NOTE: I wrote this last month for our church newsletter, got busy, and neglected to post it here until now. But, in a way, I’m glad I did because it reminded me to follow up. And I needed the reminder because although this was sent to everyone at Christ Church, I haven’t (yet) had a single reply. And I really do want to hear your answers. So go ahead and read what follows, but when you’re done, let me know WHY do you choose to attend church where you do?

I started thinking about my topic for this message and thought it would be a reminder to invite others to church, your neighbors, friends, co-workers, and other people that you might casually encounter during your day. But as I thought about what that reminder might sound like, my train of thought went from “Invite your friends” to “What should we say?” to “Why do we like it here?” And so, although my intent is still to encourage every person at Christ Church to be invitational, I realize that we don’t automatically know how to do that. We freeze up when we try to think of something sparklingly witty to say, or even just when we desperately try to find something to say that doesn’t sound stupid or silly.

Toward that end, I thought I should start my asking you all to think, not about how you would invite someone else, but to think about why you choose to come here. Some of you come here because you’ve been members for more years than I have been alive. Others of you come because your parents and grandparents and other extended family all come here. I get that. On the surface. But I also know that there is a deeper reason. There have been times when people left Christ Church. There were times that were hard, and that were sometimes… unpleasant.

And yet you persisted. Why? What is it about Christ Church that attracted you here? What is it that made you stay when others were leaving? What is it about Christ Church that makes you choose to worship here rather than in churches that are closer to your homes, or might otherwise be more convenient? Christ Church has a lot to offer, but I’m not going to share my ideas with you just yet. I want you to think about your deeper reasons for being here because those are the reasons that you will want to have prepared when you have an opportunity to invite someone to visit here.

For this month, that’s it. That’s my invitation to each one of you. Don’t answer for your children, or for your parents, or for anyone else. Just think about your answer. Why are you here? Why have you stayed here? Why do you like it here? What is it about Christ Church that gives you joy? Don’t answer right away. Think about for a day, or a week. Then I want you to write it down. I want you to write it down and put it somewhere that you can look at it from time to time, in the bathroom where you’ll see it while you brush your teeth or use it as a bookmark for the book you’re reading, but put it somewhere that you’ll see it, and by seeing it, you’ll begin to internalize it. That way when the opportunity presents itself for you to invite someone, you will know why you want to come here and why you like it here. That it. There’s no need to overthink it and make it difficult. When you invite people to church, the easiest thing to do is to tell them why you like it here.

And, after you’ve done that, if you feel like sharing, I’d love to fill this space in a month or two with a bunch of your answers.

Blessings,

Pastor John

That’s it. Please respond in the comments, or by email, snail mail, or hand me a note at church, but let me know what you think. Why do you go to church in the place you have chosen? Why are you here? Why have you stayed here? Why do you like it here? What is it about Christ Church (or wherever you go) that gives you joy?

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Is Covid Over?

April 28, 2022 PastorPartridge Blogs Alliance, blog, Broadway, Christ, Christ Church, church, Corona virus, covid-19, East, evangelism, God, grow, growth, John, John Partridge, masks, Partridge, recover, recovery, Street, vaccine

Is COVID Over?

Our Easter Sunday worship service this year had a better attendance than in 2019. This year’s official count was one hundred and three years ago it was ninety-three, and attendance at our Easter Vigil service was three more than the last time that we were able to have one. Does that mean that our worries about Covid -19 are over, and our church is “back to normal”?

Well, no.

At the very least, it’s too soon to tell.

Yes, we do seem to be past the worst of it. And yes, many of our members and friends do seem to be finding their way back to in-person worship. But I’m not ready to say that we’re completely out of the woods and our concerns about Covid-19 are behind us.

While the war in Ukraine has pushed Covid out of the daily headlines, the pandemic, and the virus that caused it, is still causing trouble around the world. Most recently, China has been dealing with multiple outbreaks in several places, locking down entire cities, shutting down businesses, closing ports, and creating more disruption to the supply chain which, in turn, causes problems for people, and businesses, around the world. And China isn’t the only country that has had problems. Several European countries have had surges in their case counts, health officials in the United States have seen spikes in several areas and are still warning that we might see additional problems in some places. So, it may be too soon to throw away our supply of masks, although we can all hope that we won’t need them.

The good, even extraordinary, news is that things are getting back to some sort of normal. Many, though not all, of our members and friends are returning, in-person, on Sunday mornings. And, more importantly, although attendance hasn’t quite returned to where it was, it is getting better. Moreover, using Easter attendance as a benchmark suggests that we’re doing pretty well. Some churches have suffered significant declines during the pandemic that look as if they may be permanent, but indications are that we seem to have weathered the storm… so far.

At this point, we have returned to doing most of the things that we were doing before. Our committees are all meeting, we’re holding most of our activities, and we’re almost back to “normal.” And the good news is that the necessities of the pandemic taught us some things, such as Zoom, that we continue to use to allow increased participation and save some of us from extra trips into Alliance. But we aren’t yet where we want to be.

“Almost” isn’t good enough.

While our Easter attendance is certainly encouraging, and our weekly attendance is getting better, we aren’t yet back to where we were. And, honestly, where we were still isn’t where we want to be. Some of our members still don’t feel safe going out in public, and that’s okay. After worrying for more than two weeks while Patti was in the hospital last fall, I completely understand why being in a large group, like in church, might concern some folks. And, knowing that the virus is still spiking in some places suggests that it could happen here, again, too.

So, what should we do?

First, have hope. With the arrival of effective vaccines, things are much better, and, over the course of the last two years, our doctors and hospitals have become much at treating this illness, survival and recovery rates have increased, and promising new Covid-specific antiviral medicines seem close to approval.

Second, stay safe. We understand that all of us are different. Each person, and each situation, is different. So, do what you need to do to stay safe, and to feel safe. We will continue to offer online options for those of you who are unable to get here in person and we will welcome you back when you are ready.

Third, don’t stop being who you are. Christ Church is an amazing and awesome place that is filled with amazing and awesome people. We are known in our community for our outreach and love for our neighbors and that is an incredible reputation so don’t stop doing the things that we’ve always done.

And fourth, don’t stop inviting people to Christ Church. What we have here is great, but people won’t, and can’t, know how wonderful it is unless someone like you points it out to them. Every time it comes up in conversation, and sometime when it doesn’t, invite your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, hairdressers, barbers, classmates, and anyone else you encounter to visit us. Carry invitation cards with you in your wallets and purses. Don’t keep our church a secret. Go out of your way to sing the praises of Christ Church everywhere you go. And, since we now have such a strong online presence, and our livestream compares very favorably to other churches, inviting those people to check us out online is a good option.

Because our goal isn’t to get back to “normal.”

Our goal is not to survive.

Our goal is to be better than ever.

And to grow the Kingdom of God.

Blessings,

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Remembering the Darkness

April 15, 2022 PastorPartridge Sermon Alliance, Broadway, Christ, Christ Church, Christ United Methodist Church, church, crucifixion, darkness, death, Easter, Easter week, followers of Jesus, Good Friday, Hebrews, Isaiah, Jesus Christ, John, John Partridge, Lent, Ohio, Partridge, story, Street

Remembering the Darkness

April 15, 2022*

(Good Friday)

By Pastor John Partridge

Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 John 18:1 – 19:42 Hebrews 10:16-25

The service of Good Friday is different than most. It isn’t a service that includes preaching in the traditional sense. Instead, it is a time of remembering the ancient promises of God and the stories of the darkness that preceded the joy of Easter. It is in remembering the darkness where we find the real joy of Easter’s dawn and the discovery of Jesus’ resurrection.

Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12

^52:13See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
¹⁴Just as there were many who were appalled at him his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness—so he will sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him.

For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.

^53:1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
²He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
³He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

⁴Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
⁵But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
⁶We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

⁷He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.By oppressionand judgment, he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people, he was punished.
⁹He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.

¹⁰Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
    and though the Lord makeshis life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
    and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
¹¹After he has suffered,
    he will see the light of lifeand be satisfied
by his knowledgemy righteous servant will justify many,
    and he will bear their iniquities.
¹²Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
    and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
    and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
    and made intercession for the transgressors.

Hebrews 10:16-25

¹⁶“This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds.”

¹⁷Then he adds:

“Their sins and lawless acts
I will remember no more.”

¹⁸And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.

¹⁹Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, ²¹and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²²let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. ²³Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

John 18:1 – 19:42

^18:1 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.

²Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. ³So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

⁴Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”

⁵“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.

“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) ⁶When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

⁷Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.

⁸Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” ⁹This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”

¹⁰Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

¹¹Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

¹²Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him ¹³and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. ¹⁴Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.

¹⁵Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, ¹⁶but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.

¹⁷“You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.

He replied, “I am not.”

¹⁸It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.

¹⁹Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

²⁰“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. ²¹Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

²²When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.

²³“If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” ²⁴Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

²⁵Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”

He denied it, saying, “I am not.”

²⁶One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” ²⁷Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

²⁸Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. ²⁹So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”

³⁰“If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”

³¹Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”

“But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. ³²This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.

³³Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

³⁴“Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

³⁵“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

³⁶Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

³⁷“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

³⁸“What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. ³⁹But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”

⁴⁰They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.

^19:1 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. ²The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe ³and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.

⁴Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” ⁵When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”

⁶As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”

But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”

⁷The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”

⁸When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, ⁹and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”

¹¹Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

¹²From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”

¹³When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). ¹⁴It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon.

“Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.

¹⁵But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”

“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked.

“We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.

¹⁶Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

So, the soldiers took charge of Jesus. ¹⁷Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). ¹⁸There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

¹⁹Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: jesus of nazareth, the king of the jews. ²⁰Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. ²¹The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”

²²Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

²³When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

²⁴“Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”

This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,

“They divided my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment.”

So, this is what the soldiers did.

²⁵Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” ²⁷and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

²⁸Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” ²⁹A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. ³⁰When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

³¹Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. ³²The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. ³³But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. ³⁴Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. ³⁵The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. ³⁶These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken, ³⁷and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”

³⁸Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. ³⁹He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. ⁴⁰Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. ⁴¹At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. ⁴²Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

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*You have been reading a message presented at Christ United Methodist Church on the date noted at the top of the first page. Rev. John Partridge is the pastor at Christ UMC in Alliance, Ohio. Duplication of this message is a part of our Media ministry, if you have received a blessing in this way, we would love to hear from you. Letters and donations in support of the Media ministry or any of our other projects may be sent to Christ United Methodist Church, 470 East Broadway Street, Alliance, Ohio 44601. These messages are available to any interested persons regardless of membership. You may subscribe to these messages, in print or electronic formats, by writing to the address noted, or by contacting us at secretary@CUMCAlliance.org. These messages can also be found online at https://pastorpartridge.com . All Scripture references are from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.

A Message for Easter Week

April 13, 2022 PastorPartridge Blogs Alliance, Broadway, Christ, Christ Church, Christ United Methodist Church, church, Easter, Easter week, John, John Partridge, letter, Street, United, United Methodist

A Message for Easter Week

For two years, I have begun this letter with the phrase, “This is an unusual time” and continued by encouraging everyone to endure, and to overcome the challenges that lay before us. And, while this year is still far from ordinary or usual, it is at least a bit more ordinary than the last two. This year we will be together in our sanctuary. This year we will have lilies that we can smell and friends that we can see, and touch.

If we have learned anything from two years of mask wearing, social distancing, overcrowded hospitals, case count watching, and involuntary separation from friends and family, it is the value of community. While we did what we could to cling to what bits of human connection that we had through phone calls, video, and social media, none of those things could ever take the place of handshakes, hugs, and face-to-face, unmasked conversation.

In an odd, and completely unintentional way, this experience also helps us to better understand how much we miss the contact with our loved ones who have gone on to live with Jesus, or how much better it will be to see them again, face-to-face, and to physically feel a hug from Jesus. Our experience with loss over the last two years can help us to see what we are missing and what joy we stand to gain when, and if, the day arrives for us to walk through the gates of heaven and be reunited with those whom we have lost.

But presently, let us prepare our hearts for this season of holy week and Easter and use that time to draw closer to God and to one another. And this year, after a two-year absence, I encourage everyone to make plans to join us in the sanctuary and share the joy of resurrection along with the joy of once again being together.

No, the pandemic isn’t completely over, and no, we’re not completely out of the woods just yet. But things are safer than they have been, and they are returning to normal.

I hope that you will make plans to be here as we celebrate Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil on Saturday, and our celebration Easter morning. I hope that we will once again see one another face-to-face, shake hands, and even get a few hugs (can you tell that I missed those)? And I hope that each of you will take this opportunity to invite your friends, your family, your neighbors, and everyone else, to be a part of that celebration with you.

Blessings,

Pastor John

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Giving up COVID for Lent?

March 1, 2022March 1, 2022 PastorPartridge Blogs Alliance, Broadway, Christ, Christ Church, Christ United Methodist Church, church, covid, covid-19, John, Lent, Methodist, Ohio, Partridge, sacrifice, Street, surrender, United, United Methodist

Giving up Covid for Lent?

This year, our season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, on March 2nd.

But what will that look like?

Lent is a time to remember and to reflect. Spring is coming. And with its arrival, we will celebrate Jesus’ resurrection at Easter. Ordinarily, we see Lent as a time to prepare. A time to give up a favorite treat, food, or activity to remind ourselves of Jesus’ sacrifice and to reflect on him whenever we think about our abstinence from the thing that we “gave up” for Lent. But over the past two years we’ve all given up so many things, my heart almost breaks when I think about giving up anything else.

Our hearts ache for the return of “normal.”

And isn’t that sort of the point?

And so, let’s think about Lent, and our preparation for Easter with that in mind. Last year, we couldn’t be together for Lent. We held Ash Wednesday online, but in dispensing own ashes, and marking our own foreheads, we missed out on pieces that felt crucial to our sense of belonging and normalcy. This year we are worshipping in person and this year we will hold Ash Wednesday in person (and since we noticed that our attendance at our virtual Ash Wednesday far exceeded our regular in-person service, we will also have a livestream).

As we walk through the scriptures of preparation during Lent, you will notice that then, like now, the disciples were passing through a season of radical change. Their routines were disrupted. They were separated from their families, from Jesus, and often from one another. By Easter morning they were heartbroken, frustrated, grieving, and longing for a return to normal. And while our circumstances are vastly different, our own experiences over the last two years certainly make us appreciate what they were going through.

And, assuming the progress of the pandemic continues the downward trend that we’ve been seeing, let’s plan to be together on Easter. Let us use this time to start breaking the habits of the pandemic. Rather than “giving up” for Lent, let’s start “adding back.” Let’s try to attend church on Sunday rather than on Monday or Tuesday (remember YouTube tells me when you’re watching), try to get back in the habit of watching “live” at 10:15 instead of watching in the afternoon and try to attend weekly instead of skipping weeks.

In short, let us use this season of lent hopefully, and prepare ourselves for a return to as “normal” and Easter as we can muster.

Let us commit to a season of preparation so that we will arrive on Easter morning renewed, refreshed, equipped, expectant, and joyful.

My hope is that we can journey together during this season of anticipation and arrive, together, joyfully on Easter morning.

Blessings,

Pastor John

Christ United Methodist Church

When Weakness is Power

July 4, 2021 PastorPartridge Sermon Alliance, Broadway, Christ, Christ Church, church, faith, God, John, John Partridge, Methodist, Partridge, power, Street, United, weakness

When Weakness is Power

July 04, 2021*

By Pastor John Partridge

2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 Mark 6:1-13 2 Corinthians 12:2-10

Everybody loves kittens. Okay, I know some people are allergic, but the internet is crazy about cats and kittens, and before the internet, you could be certain that stories about tiger cubs, lion cubs, stray cats, kittens, and other cute furry animals would be popular on shows like National Geographic and Wild Kingdom. So, imagine with me that you are watching a nature show on television. In this scene, we watch as a playful pair of lion cubs wrestle with one another, in the middle of large plain of grass. Suddenly, the two cubs are confronted by a pack of jackals. The cubs stand to their full height and make tiny meowing roars, but the jackals continue to close the gap between them. Then, as the kittens growl and roar, the jackals suddenly stop, retreat, and then quickly run away. The camera then widens its field of view to show us that while the jackals had been closing on the kittens, their parents, full-grown adult lions, had crested the hill behind them.

Everyone watching wondered who, or what, had made the jackals run away because it was obvious that the kittens were no threat. The kittens were too weak, too small, and too powerless to be a threat to an entire pack of jackals. And it is precisely because of their weakness that we all knew that someone, or something, else had been behind the fear that we saw in the pack of jackals.

Many of us have seen similar stories on television but I want you to keep them in mind as we read today’s scriptures that tell us more about weakness, power, faith, and grace. This morning we rejoin David as he is proclaimed king over Judah, and all of Israel, in 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10.

^5:1 All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. ²In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’”

³When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.

⁴David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. ⁵In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

⁹David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces inward. ¹⁰And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him.

After the death of King Saul, the people look to David. They have seen him. They recognize that for years, it was David that led Israel to victory against her enemies on the battlefield. They recognize that God had anointed him as Israel’s shepherd and king. And, for the first time, all twelve tribes, representing the nations of Judah and Israel, unite as one nation under a single king. And, we are told, that David, and the nation of Israel, grew in power and influence, not because David was intelligent, or wise, or strategically brilliant, but because God was with him.

Whenever Samuel, or anyone else, tells the story of the great King David, the credit for David’s greatness is always given to God. David is known as a man after God’s own heart, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and a person of great faith. And that is how we are told that a humble shepherd grew to become the greatest king in the history of the nation of Israel.

But we can find another, even more startling example of this same principle, in Mark 6:1-13 where we hear the story of Jesus’ return to his hometown of Nazareth.

^6:1 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. ²When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.

“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? ³Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

⁴Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” ⁵He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. ⁶He was amazed at their lack of faith.

Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. ⁷Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.

⁸These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. ⁹Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. ¹⁰Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. ¹¹And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”

¹²They went out and preached that people should repent. ¹³They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

This story takes a couple of surprising turns. First, Jesus, the man who fed crowds of thousands, healed lepers, the lame, the blind, and even raised the dead, is said not to be able to perform any great miracles in his hometown, because the people there had little faith. Jesus had faith, the disciples had faith, but the people who needed healing could only see Jesus as a tradesman and the son of people they knew.

The second surprising thing is that Jesus then sends his disciples out to do the same thing that he has been doing. Jesus sends the disciples out into the surrounding villages to preach a message of repentance, heal the sick, and cast out demons armed with nothing but a walking stick, and without food, money, or even a change of clothes. And, if you’re wondering why this is amazing, think about who these disciples were. We are often tempted to say that Jesus could perform miracles, and do all the things that he did, because he was the Messiah, the Son of God who was born of a virgin to seek and to save the lost children of Israel. But the disciples were uniformly and universally normal. They were born in the usual way to the usual sorts of parents and were normal folks who make their living as fisherman, tax collectors, farmers, and other regular jobs. Until they met Jesus, there was absolutely nothing amazing about them. But now, they go out into the countryside, and perform the same kind of miracles that Jesus did without Bibles, reference books, college educations, money, or even food. The only things that the disciples had, was faith… and God.

And, just in case you haven’t connected the dots of these two stories and extended that line down to us here in the twenty-first century, let’s read 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, where Paul draws that line for us.

²I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. ³And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— ⁴was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. ⁵I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. ⁶Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, ⁷or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul said that when he prayed to be healed, God said “no” because grace is enough. And grace is enough because God’s power is made perfect in weakness. We’ve been hinting at that for the last fifteen minutes so let me say that again. God’s power is made perfect in weakness. And just in case that wasn’t clear enough, Paul says it in the first person, “I delight in my weaknesses” because “when I am weak, then I am strong.” Paul says that he can happily brag about his weaknesses so that the power of Jesus Christ can rest on him.

What does that mean?

It means that we are kittens.

Whenever we are full of ourselves, and we think we have it all together, and we think that we can do it all ourselves, we are like those kittens growling in their little kitten voices at a pack of jackals. But when we know that we are kittens, when we are willing to have faith in the big God that stands behind us, then the entire world will see that it wasn’t us that did the amazing and miraculous work.

The prophets and writers of the Old Testament made every effort to be clear that David was a great king because of his faith in God and because of the power of God that worked through him. We can make excuses that Jesus was able to perform miracles and do all sorts of amazing things because he was the Son of God. But then we are faced with his inability to do miracles around people that had no faith, and we are additionally confronted with the ordinary disciples who went out into the countryside with nothing more than a walking stick and were able to perform the same sorts of miracles that Jesus did.

Like David, Paul understood that the power to change the world isn’t power that we ordinary humans have. The power to do miracles, save souls, change hearts, preach the gospel, and change the world is entirely in the hands of God. Kittens don’t scare jackals but grown lions do. You and I don’t scare demons, or have the power to heal the sick, clothe the naked, and seek and to save the lost, but God does. When kittens scare jackals, everyone knows that a lion stands behind them. And Paul knew that the same is true for us. We are strongest when we embrace our weakness and allow God, and his power, to work through us instead of trying to do things all on our own.

On the surface, it seems to be contradictory.

Weakness is power.

When kittens roar, the world sees the lion behind them.

When we, in our weakness, let go of ourselves and allow God to change the world through us, the world will see the lion behind us.

Let us admit, and embrace our frailty, ignorance, and weakness, and have the faith to let God work through us.

Let go… and let God.

I pray that through our faith, the world will see the lion behind us.

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*You have been reading a message presented at Christ United Methodist Church on the date noted at the top of the first page. Rev. John Partridge is the pastor at Christ UMC in Alliance, Ohio. Duplication of this message is a part of our Media ministry, if you have received a blessing in this way, we would love to hear from you. Letters and donations in support of the Media ministry or any of our other projects may be sent to Christ United Methodist Church, 470 East Broadway Street, Alliance, Ohio 44601. These messages are available to any interested persons regardless of membership. You may subscribe to these messages, in print or electronic formats, by writing to the address noted, or by contacting us at secretary@CUMCAlliance.org. If you have questions, you can ask them in our discussion forum on Facebook (search for Pastor John Online). These messages can also be found online at https://pastorpartridge.wordpress.com/. All Scripture references are from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.

Not Normal (Yet)

June 29, 2021 PastorPartridge Blogs abnormal, Alliance, Broadway, change, Christ Church, Christ United Methodist Church, church, covid-19, East, indoor, John, John Partridge, normal, Ohio, pandemic, Partridge, return, Street

Not Normal (Yet)

Yogi Berra famously said, “It ain’t over ‘till it’s over.” And that kind of sums up where we are in our struggle to return to normal from this global pandemic. Some things are returning to normal but, as it has been for the last fifteen months, “normal” remains a moving target. Even so, things are getting better and as they do, our church is returning to more familiar routines. But even as we move toward the familiar, our routines will be different than they used to be.

What does that mean?

Well, let’s talk about a few of our routines and how they might be different.

We’re moving back to indoor church. Hooray! But being indoors isn’t going to be exactly like it used to be (yet). We are returning indoors, but we’re still concerned about the spread of COVID, so some things will remain different for a while. Sunday school classes and church committees are returning to in-person meetings, but not all of them. Not everyone feels comfortable meeting in groups and some committee meetings are sometimes more convenient online, so some of those groups will remain online.

We are going to worship indoors, but worship still isn’t going to be the same as it used to be. We are going to take the offering differently, we will be space ourselves out more than we used to, we plan to wear masks when we sing, and some people will likely choose to wear masks all the time.

The building isn’t how I remember it. We’ve made some changes. Some of them are pandemic related, and some aren’t. Our trustees have not been hibernating for the last year. I’ve mentioned before that there were new lights installed above the stairs by the handicap entrance and in the lounge, but most of you will soon be seeing those changes for the first time so it will look a little different. The trustees have other projects in progress that haven’t happened yet, so you can expect more changes. In part because of COVID and in-part because of security concerns, we just aren’t going to unlock as many doors as we used to. Many of you won’t even notice, but we will put up signs and let you know what’s going on so that we can all get used to entering through the doors that are open.

Money. Honestly, this one is entirely up to you. To everyone’s credit, last year, our giving remained steady even though we stayed home and made the transition to online worship. But 2021 has not been kind to us. I’m not sure that there is any single reason that can explain it. We got out of the habit of coming to church. We got out of the habit of putting our offering in the plate. We got worried about our personal finances and cut back. It could be any of those, or all of those, or a hundred other things. But our offerings changed. Dramatically. I won’t belabor the point here, because our members will soon be receiving a letter that will go into more details. For now, let’s just say that our budget, our staff, and all sorts of things will be facing substantial changes if 2021 doesn’t start to look more like 2019.

Dress. I don’t really know. But I suspect that over the last year, many of you have grown accustomed to attending church in your bunny slippers. I’m sure you don’t want to show up half-dressed, but if a year of worshiping online makes you feel like you want to dress more comfortably, I’m pretty sure no one will mind. I’m sure I’ll go back to wearing a suit at some point, but I admit that I rather liked being able to preach wearing denim pants and hiking boots. The important thing is that we all get back in the habit of going to church and being together.

People. While we were online, we’ve had a few new people begin to worship with us. Even though they have been “in church” with us for months, they will be unfamiliar to most of you. I hope that you will make them feel welcome. If you are one of those folks that joined us online, I hope that will join us in-person even though almost all of us will be unfamiliar to you. At the same time, I’m sure that there are a few folks who just got out of the habit of coming to church and won’t be returning. I hope it isn’t many. And I hope it isn’t you. We are the church. We are the body of Christ. All of us. Together.

I’m sure that’s not all. I’m sure that there are changes I forgot to mention, and others that I haven’t learned about, or that haven’t happened yet. But life is all about change. As we return to in-person, indoor worship, things are going to seem more like normal. But, at the same time, not… quite… normal. Whenever you feel comfortable, I hope that you will return to worship in-person. And, until you do, we are working hard to continue some sort of online worship. Although that may face some changes too.

Whatever happens…

“It ain’t over ‘till it’s over.”

Blessings,

Pastor John

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Real Freedom (and Pandemic Paul)

May 24, 2021 PastorPartridge Blogs Alliance, Broadway, Christ Church, Christ United Methodist Church, Christian, church, citizen, citizenship, covid-19, followers of Jesus, freedom, Gospel, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John, John Partridge, mask, masks, Ohio, pandemic, Partridge, Paul, right, rights, Street, surrender

We would never dream of putting up a sign that said, “Unvaccinated? Keep OUT.”

But that’s exactly what we’re doing.

It’s become a cliché to ask, “What Would Jesus Do?” But this week, I’ve been thinking church should be asking itself what Paul would do. Of course, anyone who has spent any time in church or Vacation Bible School has heard about Paul the Apostle. Paul was born in Tarsus which was a part of what is now the nation of Turkey. But despite being born far from Rome, Paul was born to parents who were both Jews and Roman citizens.

There were privileges that came with being a Roman citizen. It was as if the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights only applied to citizens, and you carried those rights wherever you went, anywhere in the Roman world. Non-citizens didn’t have the same rights and slaves certainly did not have them. Romans could not be beaten or treated harshly, and while they could be arrested, they couldn’t be tried in any court outside of Rome but had to be returned to Rome, or to a Roman court, for trial. In modern language, citizens were privileged.

But Paul didn’t always use that privilege. Paul found that sometimes his privilege, his rights, his citizenship, and even his freedom, was a disadvantage when sharing the message of Jesus with the people around him. In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, Paul said:

¹⁹Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. ²⁰To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. ²¹To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. ²²To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. ²³I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Even though Paul was not a slave, he sometimes gave up the rights that he had so that he could be heard by the slaves and share the message of Jesus with them. Even though Paul knew that following Jesus released him from some of the dietary restrictions and rules of the Jewish faith, he would follow those customs when he was with the Jews so that they would be able to hear his words when he shared the gospel. But when Paul was living among the Greeks and other people who were not Jewish, he would follow their customs for the same reason.

Wherever Paul went, he did whatever he could to allow people to hear his message. And that often meant giving up something important. Paul found that his rights, his privileges, and even his freedom, got in the way of people hearing the good news of Jesus Christ. Slaves wouldn’t hear a message that was preached by someone who used their citizenship and their freedom to act better than them. Jews wouldn’t listen to someone who was an outsider and violated their religious laws. And people everywhere feel more comfortable around a person who respects their customs.

But what does that mean to us? What would Paul do if he lived among us today?

As we near what we hope is the end of this pandemic crisis in the United States, we are hearing a lot about rights and privileges. We have a right to move about freely. We are free to choose whether we will wear a mask. And those persons who are vaccinated are being granted special rights and additional freedoms.

But is exercising those freedoms the right thing to do?

I’ve seen churches advertising that they are “Open and Mask-less.” Vendors are selling signs saying that vaccinated persons are welcome in their church. And I’ve seen churches that say things like, “All are welcome. Unvaccinated persons must wear masks.” I understand that these are the rights that are given to us under the United States Constitution, and the privileges of having access to the Covid-19 vaccine. But will exercising these rights prevent us from sharing the message of the gospel?

It was once common for churches to ask visitors to stand up and introduce themselves. That custom made me so uncomfortable that I vowed never to return to any church that made me do it. And so, I worry that requiring unvaccinated persons to wear masks will make them feel unwelcome. We would never dream of putting up a sign that said, “Unvaccinated? Keep OUT.” But that’s exactly what these signs are saying. Anything that draws a line between “us” and “them” is exactly what Paul spent his life trying to avoid.

If Paul were writing today, I wonder if his words wouldn’t be, “Though I am vaccinated, and am free to do as I wish, I have made myself to be unvaccinated, to win as many as possible. To the unvaccinated, I have become unvaccinated to win the unvaccinated. With the mask wearers, I have worn masks, to win those that wear masks.” I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. ²³I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

We have rights. But what if using them turns people away? In the twenty-first century, like Paul, we must be careful that our rights, privileges, and freedoms do not get in the way of people hearing the good news of Jesus Christ.

Blessings,

Pastor John

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