This will be the back page for the Fishkill United Methodist Church bulletin for the 3rd Sunday after the Epiphany (Year B), 21 January 2018.  The service begins at 10 and you are always welcome.

As I thought about the Scriptures for this Sunday, I saw a connection between the three that dealt with time.  This thought lead me to a quote from Sir Winston Churchill,

“To each there comes in their lifetime a special moment when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique to them and fitted to their talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds them unprepared or unqualified for that which could have been their finest hour.”

Paul is telling the Corinthians that time is of the essence and they cannot waste it. The death of John the Baptizer was the sign that Jesus was to begin His ministry.  And note that James and John immediately left their nets to join the group.

Almost every prophet chosen by God to give His message to the people of Israel didn’t want the job.  For whatever reason, they did not want to do the job.  The story with Jonah begins when Jonah is given a second chance.

Throughout the Gospels, we hear of people being called to follow Jesus and losing the opportunity because they thought they had time to do it tomorrow.

If you are called today, will you wait?  Or will you take this opportunity, this moment in time to share the Gospel message?                                     ~ Tony Mitchell