China Methodist Church, China, Texas
Forest Park Methodist Church, Beaumont, Texas
It was a privilege to be appointed as pastor of Forest Park Methodist Church and China Methodist Church at the beginning of October, 2023.
I hope to be developing this website as a place for resources for ministry for both congregations.
Let me also invite you to worship with us some Sunday morning soon. Services are:
9:30 a.m. at China Methodist Church, 205 W. Washington Ave., China (map)
11 a.m. at Forest Park Methodist Church, 225 S. Major Dr., Beaumont. Parking lots open to the side street, Drennan Drive, next to Amelia Elementary School (map)
- ‘Love in truth and action’ (Sermon for April 21)
One of the great balancing acts of the Christian faith is remembering that we are not saved by our actions (rather, we are saved by God’s action), but that our actions reveal the truth of our salvation. - ‘Raised to forgive’ (Sermon for April 14)Two things that stand out in today’s reading are food and forgiveness: food, because its a common factor in several of Jesus’s post-resurrection appearances, and forgiveness, because it’s at the heart of what Luke says is the church’s preaching mission.
- ‘Persistence’ (Sermon for April 7)This week’s sermon will look at the familiar passage we usually call the story of Doubting Thomas. His doubts, though, aren’t the most significant thing.
- ‘I have seen the Lord’ (Sermon for Easter Sunday, March 31)In John’s account of Easter Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene is the first to bear witness to the great truth that is still at the heart of the Christian witness: “I have seen the Lord.”
- Christ is risen! (Sermon for Easter Sunrise Service, March 31)
The China community will gather at 6:30 a.m. Easter Sunday to celebrate the resurrection in a traditional sunrise worship service. Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church will host the service and Rev. Fleming will preach. - ‘Table’ (Sermon for Maundy Thursday, March 28)
Maundy Thursday recalls the Last Supper, when Jesus gathered his disciples around the table and told them to remember him through their love for one another. - ‘Leaves in the wind’ (Sermon for March 24)
Palm Sunday represents a shift in mood from Lent. After about five weeks of somber preparation for remembering the crucifixion of Jesus, and leading into the darkest week of the Christian year, it is a day of festivity and celebration (though somewhat hollow in retrospect). - ‘Heart-writing’ (Sermon for March 17)
As we continue the journey toward Good Friday (and the promise of Easter beyond), we will look at another of the times that Jesus speaks with his disciples about his upcoming death and resurrection, and what that will mean for them and the world. The main sermon text this week is the Gospel reading, John 12:20-33 (read it here). Unlike… Read more: ‘Heart-writing’ (Sermon for March 17) - ‘Saved through faith’ (Sermon for March 10)This week’s reading, John 3:14-21, contains what is undoubtedly the best known scripture reference, John 3:16. Often seen at sporting events and other public gatherings, it highlights a verse at the heart of the passage, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Stripped of its… Read more: ‘Saved through faith’ (Sermon for March 10)