Weekly Newsletter

Hello Friends,
During my time in Seminary, I was blessed by three great deans; Dean Maxine Clarke Beach, Dean Virginia (Ginny) Samuel and Dean Anne Yardley. I also had some wonderful professors. Leonard Sweet was one of those professors. Since he was always writing or reviewing books. His students were blessed with free copies. Dr. Sweet had an ability to make us think out of the box. To envision the world in a unique way. All of us might be asked to do things we normally don’t do. To do something that might take us out of our comfort zone, but maybe that is not a bad thing. Scripture shows us many people who stepped out of their comfort zone and the world was better for it.
I have enclosed an article written by Leonard Sweet.

I Don’t Do…
One of our students received an appointment from a bishop, and the student did not feel the placement exactly suited his abilities.
I overheard him complaining about it to another student, and then the other student said, “You know, the world's a better place because Michelangelo did not say, ‘I don't do ceilings.' ”
Her comment stopped me dead in my tracks. I had to admit she was right.
If you and I are going to be faithful to the ministry God is calling us to, then we had better understand that. I reflected on the attitudes of key people throughout the Scriptures and the history of the church.
The world's a better place because a German monk named Martin Luther did not say, “I don't do doors.”
The world's a better place because an Oxford don named John Wesley didn't say, “I don't do preaching in fields.”
The world's a better place because Moses didn't say, “I don't do Pharaohs or mass migrations.”
The world's a better place because Noah didn't say, “I don't do arks and animals.”
The world's a better place because Rahab didn't say, “I don't do enemy spies.”
The world's a better place because Ruth didn't say, “I don't do mothers-in-law.”
The world's a better place because Samuel didn't say, “I don't do mornings.”
The world's a better place because David didn't say, “I don't do giants.”
The world's a better place because Peter didn't say, “I don't do Gentiles.”
The world's a better place because John didn't say, “I don't do deserts.”
The world's a better place because Mary didn't say, “I don't do virgin births.”
The world's a better place because Paul didn't say, “I don't do correspondence.”
The world's a better place because Mary Magdalene didn't say, “I don't do feet.”
The world's a better place because Jesus didn't say, “I don't do crosses.”
And the world will be a better place only if you and I don't say,
“I don't do ……”
— Leonard Sweet, United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio. Leadership, Vol. 15, no. 2.

This Sunday the message is, Freedom to follow." The scriptures that support the message are Acts 9: 1-6, 7-20 & John 21: 1-19

See you on Sunday.
God bless you all
Pastor Robyne