Vienna Methodist Church

Good evening, community. 👋

This Sunday is the 9th Sunday After Pentecost.
In the month of July, we will be taking a look at the first chapter of the book of Mark.
---
👉Sermon: Evil Cried at the Command of Christ
---
Mark 1 : 21 - 28 (RSV)
And they were all amazed... saying, “With authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”
---
Zechariah 13:2 (RSV)
“And on that day, says the Lord of hosts, I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, so that they shall be remembered no more; and also I will remove from the land the prophets and the unclean spirit.”
---
In Jesus' day, Capernaum was a bustling fishing village on the Sea of Galilee, sitting right along a major trade route—making it the perfect central hub for His ministry. There, the synagogue wasn't just a quiet church; it was the town hall, school, and courthouse all in one. Every Sabbath, locals gathered to hear scripture read and explained out in the open. It was common for synagogue leaders to invite guest teachers to speak, which is how Jesus took the stage.

The typical legal scholars of the day always taught by borrowing credibility from someone else. They'd cite long chains of tradition: "Rabbi A says that Rabbi B taught..." But Jesus didn't quote human experts. He spoke with direct, undeniable authority—speaking as the Author of the Law Himself. The crowd was blown away because He completely bypassed their familiar routines.

When an afflicted man cried out, the moment got even more intense. In the ancient world, driving out a demon usually meant elaborate rituals, strange potions, or drawn-out spells. Jesus didn't do any of that. With just two direct commands—"Be silent, and come out of him!"—the unclean spirit obeyed.

In Jewish culture, an "unclean spirit" interrupting Sabbath worship was a total pollution of sacred space. Jesus didn't just heal a man and restore him to his community; He reclaimed the synagogue itself. It makes you wonder: was Jesus' authority here in Capernaum a tiny preview of His bigger mission to cleanse the entire Temple later on? What do you think?
---
If you can't make it in person, worship with us Online! 💻

You can join our Live Stream using the link below:

VMC Sunday Worship Service Live Stream - 07-26-2026 11AM A live streaming event of our Vienna Methodist Church Sunday worshi...

Good afternoon, community. 👋

This Sunday is the 8th Sunday After Pentecost.
In the month of July, we will be taking a look at the first chapter of the book of Mark.
---
👉Sermon: Called to Service
---
Mark 1 : 16 - 20
And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.”
---
Jeremiah 1:6 (RSV)
Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.”
---
Blind since an infant, Frances "F***y" Jane Crosby was responsible for over 8,000 hymns. Maybe lesser known is that she also dedicated time to working among and serving the impoverished in New York City. Her experiences therein serving as inspiration for her most familiar hymns.

As I read the account of her life, it seems to me that the writing in Mark is substantiated in that she didn't just repent and start to write 8,000 hymns and was on to the next thing. That may happen for some, but in her example there was a process involved to "become" that lyricist—despite her blindness, through the influence of many people placed in her life, and after years of life experiences—she was finally at that place.

In our Lectio Divina study of the book of Mark, I know I recall thinking and discussing just how clumsy those guys were. They routinely messed things up and waffled around.

Put this all in a pot and it says to me: follow Him, stay the course—that He can and does use anyone who is willing to let go of their condition. I should let Him work in and throughout my life. I should be always praying and trusting His plan. In the process of "becoming" He uses my life experiences, my hardships, and my proximity to the suffering of others to write His message on my heart—for others to see.

God doesn't make a habit of calling the qualified; He qualifies the called. The only prerequisite is the willingness to let go of your condition.
---
If you can't make it in person, worship with us Online! 💻

You can join our Live Stream using the link below:

VMC Sunday Worship Service Live Stream - 07-19-2026 11AM A live streaming event of our Vienna Methodist Church Sunday worshi...

Annual Conference

On Wednesday July 8th, Michael and Lisa Ramsey along with myself will be traveling to Epworth by the Sea to attend this year’s Annual Conference of the GMC. Please keep us in your prayers for traveling mercies and pray diligently for all of our leadership in the processes of making decisions on behalf of the South Georgia Conference.