Ashes and Crosses: Lent as An Annual Season, a Daily Invitation

February 7, 2018November 28, 2021 / Rev. Alan Van Hooser / Leave a comment

ash wednesday graphic
Lent is a 40-day season of preparation that reflects Jesus Christ’s 40 days temptation by Satan in the desert. It begins with acts of fasting and self-denial on Ash Wednesday. The season is actually 46 days before Easter Sunday – the six Sundays in between are not counted, as they are “miniature -Easters” and feast days. People follow Jesus’ example and give up something important to grow closer to God as Easter approaches.

The dates for Lent and Easter follow the Lunar Date of Passover. We know from scripture that Jesus was crucified on the Friday of Passover. Passover begins on the first full moon on or after March 21. (The Spring Equinox) That gives us the date of the Sunday for Easter. You then count back six Sundays for season of Lent and the Wednesday before the first Sunday of Lent is Ash Wednesday. Before the glorious celebration of resurrection, we look at our sorrow and mortality, represented in the ashes, which makes the cross necessary.

The ashes are an ancient symbol of death and an expression of sorrow. One of the earliest uses of them in worship is found in the book of Job. The ashes used in worship are traditionally made from the palm leaves from the previous year’s Palm Sunday. Mixed with a little oil, they become a rich and meaningful means of grace.

The observance of Ash Wednesday requires fasting and “giving up” something for Lent that fosters spiritual growth.

The Ashes of Wednesday are placed on the worshiper’s forehead in the sign of the cross with Ashes and collin the words, “remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return,” The cross is worn until the next morning as a witness to the Work of Jesus

My prayer for you is that the season of Lent is more than just giving up Diet Coke or chocolate but provides a time to meditate on the deeper things of God. Find that one thing that pushes your soul along that internal journey of salvation. Rather than food fast, try a technology fast, give up a grudge or even a bad habit. Consider giving up a block of time each day to devote yourself to searching the scriptures. It is between you and God what this sacrifice should be.

Where would Lent take you if it became a constant mindset and not a brief season on the calendar? May God speak to you through the skills you Lent daily. Let your living room and car become mini-monasteries . God will meet you there.

Success, Elusive Success…

December 30, 2017January 1, 2018 / Rev. Alan Van Hooser / Leave a comment

What is success? The common answers are usually and emblem of success such as money or power. OK, but what is the essence of success and how does the Christian life inform it. Success will be our exploration for the January 2018 sermons at Cheatham Memorial UMC.

It is also a personal reflection from a personal struggle and would apply to anyone struggling to find success in their life.

I am turning 60 this year. For the first time, people are offering to give me the senior discount at restaurants! I feel fruitful as a Christian, passionate as a pastor, loving as a husband and grandparent, and a real part of my community. However, looking back, I really struggle seeing my life as a success. Do you ever feel that way? I would like to know what God’s definition of success is through scripture, witness and a season of prayer.

Please share the journey with me. Write a comment below with an answer to these questions: What is a picture, emblem or symbol of true success? Who is the most success person in your life and why? Finally, “what is success in your life and what does that look like”?

The four sermons for January will explore Christian success in four characteristics, through the witness of four Biblical Figures, These messages are:

January 7, in Communion Sunday and will explore, ” Success requires Focus: Peter’s success” from Mark 8:27-Peter grows from a bumbling disciple who is always tripping on his own tongue into the ͞rock͟ upon which the church is built. His influence is still felt today and his success transcends monetary success.
January 14 brings, “Success Requires Love: Ruth’s Success” from Ruth1:1–22. Relationships and family ties have more to do with success than money does. In Christ are the seeds to strong families and and influential faith.
On January 21 , “Success Requires Direction: Paul’s Compass to Success”” from Galatians 5: 13-25. Following the dollar is not enough. The spiritual compass is not always the easiest to follow and the life in Christ is hard to account for. We need to know how to read our scoreboard.
Finally on January 28, ” Success Overflows: The Wealth of the Christ. ” looking to Matthew 25:14-30. True success brings in the Kingdom of God-That means everyone’s lives improve. Success was never meant to be held but to overflow in ways that bring salvation .

I continue to look at these questions very personally. My answer? Success happens when my surroundings, family, church and community, are better because I am there. Faith in Christ is central to my definition of success but Jesus must be more than an excuse to explain any short comings. Journey with me as we find our way together. Success simply must be more than just driving a nicer car.

(Photo credit: Amanda and Jason Patzke)

Fire, Shipwrecks and Serpents: Worship for Preparation and Easter

March 8, 2017March 9, 2017 / Rev. Alan Van Hooser / Leave a comment

Pour it out4

You are invited to join our Cheatham Memorial Church family for worship! This is a brief sketch of our Lent and Easter worship. You can also follow us on Facebook and our website www.cheathamumc.net . If you are in our corner of East Texas, don’t drive by, drive in. We would be honored to show you our “Welcome Home”. Here is our worship journey toward Easter

We need a breakthrough. In our hearts, homes and communities we need that breakthrough of awareness of God. God is already at work in the parts of our lives that hold us spiritually hostage. Have we intentionally sought God? Have we taken personal responsibility for a breakthrough of Grace. What we lack is the intimacy with God that is key to breaking the chains.

For our part of the breakthrough, we will focus on three spiritual practices. They are to GIVE-time talent or tithes, FAST-at least missing lunch on Wednesdays, and PRAY-specifically for that particular move of God we desperately want and need. This is not a weight loss program nor manipulating God for a new car but a celebration of the living resurrection of Jesus! God will provide direction and BREAKTHROUGH

Where is God moving in your life? What is holding you hostage-habits, addiction, relationship, employment, finances fear, health, or other?

The sermons are a 5 part journey through Acts . We will gather each Wednesday Evening at 5:30 for studies, centered on our Spiritual Gifts and practices. We will have many of our traditions but our goal is to be prepared for a personal, walking around, and living resurrection.

March 1: Ash Wednesday

Matthew 4:1-11 “The Desert Journey”. We are setting the stage for our Lenten preparation by meeting in the desert. In the desert we are all on the same level and totally reliant on God. The contest for the Christ’s will is the same temptations that we experience in our daily living. Where will our BREAKTHROUGH come? It starts with intentionally becoming more intimate with God.

March 5: The First Sunday of Lent , Lent Begins, Holy Communion Sunday

Acts 2:42-47 “A Community on Fire”

Pentecost started a spiritual fire in the homes and workplaces of the believers. After the overwhelming breakthrough, the new “Christian” community responded by church worship, personal worship, prayer, charity, and fellowship. Faith was for everyday living. Where are we being led to take the Pentecost fire?

March 12:The Second Sunday of Pentecost

Acts 6:8-7:3, 7:54-8:1 “Discipleship’s Cost

The walk with Christ is free of charge but very Costly. What will we pay? What riches will be receive?

March 19: The Third Sunday of Pentecost- We will have a guest Preacher, Jesse Brannen

Acts 8:25-40 “Living Water Alive” (This is my study text for the series.

We wear our baptisms and others find the living water for themselves. There is not shame in needing a guide! In our words, ways and relationships, we will share our water with others.

March 26: The fourth Sunday of Lent

Acts 9:1-31”The New Transfiguration

Paul’s conversion mirrors the Christ at the mount of Transfiguration. Where did God meet you on the road. Where is the road before you headed?

April 2: The Fifth Sunday of Lent Holy Communion

Acts17:16-31 “Knowing the Unknown”

God is made known to us with the images and experiences of daily living. God is shared with those who live with and around us. It is not accidental that we have the story in the exact way we need to share with those around us.

April 9: Palm Sunday: with a reading by a child at the beginning, A Children’s Play, Special Music, Procession of Palms!

Matthew 21:1-11 read by a young person or persons and possibly using the “Voice” version as a format.

Acts 28:1-23 “The 29^th Chapter of Acts”

Help me read the 29^th chapter of acts! Oh wait, you must write it first. The Holy Spirit is writing it through you! Thank you Terry Teykl-Check out his book here!

April 10-15: Holy Week

We will focus our attention on a Good Friday ,“7 Final Words Service, with several speakers . We will also offer a prayer Labyrinth and a time of praying through the Scriptural Stations of the Cross. Pat and are using the stations with Children’s Church. We will plan further use of the art work throughout the church.

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April 16: Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday will be tradition rich with special music, breakfast at 8:30, Easter Eggs by age group at 9:00 and rousing worship! Watch for further details on the CMUMC Website

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Cheatham Memorial September 2016 Worship!

August 27, 2016September 1, 2016 / Rev. Alan Van Hooser / Leave a comment

The theme for September is is “A Work in Progress” and the image is the cross. Yes, we have a cross in every sermon but these four message will give it more weight. Do our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness flow from the cross of Christ or just adorn our t-shirts? I am asking this of myself during quiet time. What amazing power the cross has in our everyday living….when we choose to access it. How do you do that? Come to worship and see. We will also explore prayers of blessing and host a two-week short course on prayer, September 15 and 22 at 6:30 PM. See cheathamumc.net for details

September 4, 2016: 16^th Sunday of Pentecost Jeremiah 18:1-11 “The Potter’s House”

We are all a work in progress. Even when life is under pressure, faith can build us even if circumstances are trying to get us down. The greater the pressure, the stronger the earthen vessel.

September 11, 2016: 17^th Sunday of Pentecost, remembrance of 9-11, 1 Timothy 1:12-17 “Strength for the Falls”

The promise of redemption if from Jesus himself. People of faith are strengthened for the everyday “falls” that inevitably come. Like physical fitness or a baby learning to walk, it is through our trials that we are strengthened in faith. This gift from the Christ is for all who believe and for all who don’t. We are all walking redemption’s path.

September 18, 2016: 18^th Sunday of Pentecost, Gideon’s Sunday with special offering. 1 Timothy 2:1-7 “Levelling Prayers”

In the prayer closet, kings and paupers are judged the same. This epistle is inviting us to seek God rather than asking God to seek us. How are we praying for our own spiritual formation? How are we praying for our political and church leaders in their life’s seeking of God?

September 25, 2016: 19th Sunday of Pentecost. Luke 17:5-10 “A starting place”

This service will be an old school revival Sunday and include our favorite “Methodist Roots” hymns in an upbeat and tradition filled worship experience! The vision of a victorious end is the start of all good journeys. Where is our starting place in the Christian life? The truth is that we have many starting placed in Christ. It is a journey of many steps. We don’t begin our life of salvation all mature and filled many answers. We start at the foot of the cross with the harsh reality that we are not finished yet, we continue with the present reality that we don’t journey along, and we live for the completion of our journey with eternity in Christ. That being said, how do we begin?

Coming Events: Charge Conference! Fall Festival on October 15 and a celebration of our fund raiser on October 16!

Summer Sermons! July & August 2016

June 30, 2016 / Rev. Alan Van Hooser / Leave a comment

Following is our Cheatham Memorial UMC sermon Planner for July and August 2016. Our church is open to anyone seeking to deepen their faith and take part in significant ministry as a way of life. Our Motto is “WELCOME HOME” and we know our congregation to be about these three things: Fist, our Mission: Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the World; second our Vision: We are Christ’s Love in Action: Following Christ, Serving Others, Unifying the Church. And finally, Our motivation: Loving God’s Word, Deepening the life of Prayer and developing ministering Skills. For more information on how we do that, click here and check out our activities on the main website.

July 3: 7th Sunday of Pentecost

Text: Psalm 33:6-17, Philippians 3:17-21 “God Country”

We live in the greatest nation with the greatest faith, the largest economy and the greatest technology in the history of the world. How did we get it and how do we keep it? Things seem pretty uncertain and we desperately need to look for this answer! Join us with a theological look at what it means to be a Christian in the USA today.

July 10: 8th Sunday of Pentecost

Luke 10:25-37 “The very first Lawyer Joke”

There are many lawyer jokes but only one that I know of in the Bible and it comes from one of the best known of all of Jesus’ parables. Which one? Look it up and see. Do you get the joke? How does your, mine and our faiths fit together?

July 17 Vacation Bible School Wrap Up Sunday

Luke 10:38-42 “Kids Remember What Grownups Forgot”

God speaks volumes through children. If you want to know God-Sized answers to God-Sized questions you must take on the manner of a child. What does that look like and how do I get it?

July 24 “Lawn Chair Worship Sunday”

Revival Theme. The text will be announces later for this morning of fun, barbecue and praise. Outside service at 9:00 AM followed by too much food and lots of music! See the main website for details.

July 31 Lawn Chair Sunday Rain out Day

Colossians 3:1-11 “You Find What You Look For”

August 7: Youth Service at 10:00 and Youth Rally at 2:00

Youth Speaker

August 14: Block Party Celebration

Hebrews 11”1-13 “A Love Song for the Vineyard”

I’m tired, where is the faith I need for today? The church is a fertile vineyard and Christ loves his church. Still, some days we fall short of Christ’s vision. The fruit of His vineyard is faith and faith is the seed where that fruit begins. We will discuss our every-day starting place to find and cast that faith for ourselves.

August 21: Back to School Consecration Sunday

Jeremiah 1:4-10 “Only a Child can Know”

We think of children as needing our teaching but often they are the example of faith for us grown-ups. Faith is supposed to grow in us and mature . Not knowing how the things of faith work is not an excuse. I our “not-Knowing” are the seeds of exciting spiritual formation. How do we build and plant that necessary faith?

August 28 15th Sunday after Pentecost

Hebrews 13:1-16 “Hospitality’s Gift”

Our church knows what hospitality looks like and knows that it is a FAITH BUILDER! We are very strong in opening our home to others. What do we get out of it? Is it ok if we get something out of it? We will discuss that gift that we get in return regardless of what our guests leave behind.

Coming Events: Gideon’s Sunday on September 18, Fall Festival on October 14 and a celebration service on October 15

Go to the main website!

THE THOUGHTFUL PASTOR

Rev. Alan Van Hooser

cheatham memorial umc

Ashes and Crosses: Lent as An Annual Season, a Daily Invitation

Success, Elusive Success…

Fire, Shipwrecks and Serpents: Worship for Preparation and Easter

“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16