Pastor’s Page | July 23rd, 2026
Sermon Prep (Read Ezekiel 37)
In 1916 there was a college football game that was played that would forever stand in the history books as one of the most lopsided victories of all time. It was a game between the Yellowjackets of Georgia Tech and the Cumberland Bulldogs. After the first quarter, Georgia Tech was leading by a score of 63–0. By halftime, it was 126-0. Now I want you to imagine the pep talk the coach for the Cumberland Bulldogs gave at halftime. What kind of hope could he give? What chance did they have of a comeback? It would take a miracle. Let me tell you what happened. There was no comeback. By the time that last whistle sounded, the score was 222 to 0. 222 TO 0!!! People who watched the game said that about midway through the first quarter, the players on the Bulldogs side just gave up. They stopped trying to win. When there is no hope, there is no life.
Israel had no hope. They had no life. Everything was gone. Their nation was gone. Their temple was gone. Their faith was all but gone. They were dead. Not just dead, but graveyard dead! What hope did they have? They were exiles who had forsaken their first love and had been disciplined severely because of it. Could they come back? Could they be a nation once more? Could they once again find their life in God?
With God, there is always hope. Ezekiel is taken to a valley of dry bones. Not just bones, but dry bones. And God asks him a question, “Can these bones live again?” Isn’t that the question we all ask? Not just with our spiritual walk, but with any situation we find ourselves in. Can I find joy in my life again? Can I find the strength to carry on? Can our marriage live again? Can my relationship with my child live again? Can my walk with Christ be fervent again? Is revival possible? Ezekiel finds out through this very vivid vision that God gives him. As you read through Ezekiel 37, I want you to notice the hope that God is giving to Israel. Notice how this connects not just to their eventual return to the Promised Land, but to the New Covenant and the arrival of Jesus. This vision of the valley is for us to see. It is part of our story and our promise.
Here are some verses for you to look to help prepare us for Sunday: 2 Chronicles 7:14, Psalm 85:6, Isaiah 44:3. Ezekiel 37:1-14, Joel 2:12-29, Habakkuk 3:2, Acts 2:17-21, Acts 3:19-20, James 4:8-10, Revelation 2:4-5
June Sermon Series
Teach Me To Pray
08/02 - Our Father Who Are in Heaven, Hallowed Be Thy Name - Matthew 5:9-14
08/09 - Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be Done on Earth as it is in Heaven - Matthew 5:9-14
08/16 - Give Us this Day our Daily Bread - Matthew 5:9-14
08/23 - Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors - Matthew 5:9-14
08/30 - Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil - Matthew 5:9-14
Updates, Thoughts and More
I am super excited about something we are going to be doing on August 5th. As a Methodist congregation, we have a rich history that traces back to the roots of John and Charles Wesley. On August 5th at 5 pm in the White Chapel, we will be celebrating this history by having a worship service that comes from "The Sunday Service of the Methodist in North America" written by John Wesley in 1784. This is the oldest liturgy we have from the Methodist movement. We will be going through this liturgy (with updated language) and will celebrate communion together. This will be a wonderful reminder of the rich heritage we have as people connected to the Methodist revival movement. Who knows, the pastor may even robe up just like John Wesley.
School is starting up again which means it is time for us to get ready to Bless the Backpacks. On August 9th, we are asking all of our students, teachers, and anyone associated with our schools to bring their backpacks (or briefcases) to worship service as we will be saying a prayer of blessing for the beginning of a new school year.
Have you had a chance to meet our new Director of Operations, Holly Riney? If not, she is a super awesome person. We will be having a welcome reception for her this Sunday in between the services with cake and refreshments in the CLC. Please come and introduce yourselves and welcome her to our church family.
Summer is coming to an end which means that our weekly services will be revving up once more. Our Wednesday Night Study called Table Talk will begin on August 12th at 5 pm in Education Room 101 (If you don’t know where that is, just follow the cars). Our first study this season will be a study of discovering your Spiritual gifts taught by me and will be done in connection with our Stephen Ministry. This will be an 8-week course that will help us to better understand and utilize the gifts God has given us for His church.
Do you realize that the Hall of Fame game is on August 6th. That is just a few weeks away. That means football is back! Let me give you a few bold predictions: Kentucky will win 8 games and will win their bowl game. LSU will win the SEC. Alabama will fire their coach at the end of the season. A&M will be in the playoff. Indiana will take a nosedive and not make the playoffs. In the NFL, the Buffalo Bills will start off slow but will win the Superbowl this year. The KC Chiefs will not make the playoffs, and the Cowboys will win their division. So let it be written, so let it be done!
What’s Going On This Week
Sunday (07/26)
Worship Services — 9:00am & 10:30am
Monday (07/27)
Stitching Angels — 1:30pm
Tuesday (07/28)
Men’s Prayer Breakfast — 7:30am
Wednesday (7/29)
Prayer Warriors — 9:00am
Sip And Share — 10:00am
Important Upcoming Dates
8/05 — 5pm — John Wesley 1774 Traditional Communion Service in White Chapel
8/09 — 10:30pm — Blessing of the Backpacks
8/12 — 5pm — Table Talk Begins
8/30 — 10am — Combined Worship Service and Promotion Sunday
8/30 — 12pm — Discipleship Ministries Kickoff
Joke of the Week
Larry goes to the revival and listens to the preacher.
After a while the preacher asks anyone with needs to be prayed over to come forward to the front at the altar. Larry gets in line, and when it's his turn, the preacher asks: "Larry, what do you want me to pray about for you?"
Larry replies: "Preacher, I need you to pray for my hearing." The preacher puts one finger in Larry's ear, and he places the other hand on top of Larry's head and prays and prays and prays.
After a few minutes, the preacher removes his hands, stands back and asks Larry: "Larry, how is your hearing now?"
Larry says, "I don't know, Reverend, it's not until next Wednesday"
Memory Verse of the Week
He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “O Sovereign LORD, you alone know.”
~Ezekiel 37:3 (NIV84)
Quote of the Week
“There is need of a great revival of spiritual life, of truly fervent devotion to our Lord Jesus, of entire consecration to His service. It is only in a church in which this spirit of revival has at least begun, that there is any hope of radical change in the relation of the majority of our Christian people to mission work."
~Andrew Murray
