Rev. David Diller preached on Matthew 25:31-46, “To Act or Not to Act.”  We all want to know how to reach heaven, how to live life to the fullest, how to be whole, which is to be holy & happy.   In his final words, Jesus informs us the final Judgment ignores our religion.   This insight is the most surprising & the most important.   We are not measured by the religious ideas we have in our heads but by the love of others in our hearts & enacted by our hands.  Not that religions, churches, & faith systems are unimportant.  They are utterly important because they either direct us towards life or towards death.   Religious systems inevitably build bridges or create barricades, open new horizons or limit our vision, encourage us to grow or stifle our thinking, promote our ability to respond or take away our choices.  Following Jesus means being sensitive to others whatever their need.  The only time you can really help someone else is when they’re in need – otherwise you’re just swapping or hoping to swap favors.    Jesus is all about heaven, abundant life, eternal life & this is what happens when we live with a love for others that moves us out of our comfort zones to bless & help others.    To love God by loving others is salvation.

 
          Payne Springs UMC hosts a Walk to Emmaus reunion group every Tue at 5 pm.   Meetings are open & everyone is invited to bring a snack supper & join us.  All pilgrims are welcome
          Everyone is also invited to join us for Disciple Bible Study. Our next class meets Thursday December 4 at 3 pm. You do not have to be a church member, just curious and eager to learn about the God who loves us & expects us grow up in our thinking & our living so we live freely & responsibly caring for one another.
            Payne Springs UMC is a caring church family learning to follow Jesus. Our purpose is to help every person grow to full maturity in the image of Jesus Christ in the twenty-first century. With open hearts, open minds, and open doors, we combine both traditional & contemporary styles. We invite you to come learn about God and Jesus, the Bible and the Church each week. Sunday school is from 9-10am. At 10am coffee, juice, & snacks are served in Fellowship Hall. Worship is from 10:30-11:30am. Nursery care is provided. Sunday evenings we invite you to an in-depth study of Matthew at 5 pm. If you have questions or need directions, call our church office at (903) 451-2978 or go to www.paynespringsumc.  Or http://www.paynespringsumc.org.
             

God is calling everyone to ministry.  Everyone has daily opportunities to be a help to someone else.  This means everyone has the opportunity to enter heaven every day when they forget about self & concentrate on caring for someone in need.