First United Methodist Church, Great Bend

06/11/2026

Dear Church Family,

“What if the deepest exhaustion you are feeling right now isn't a sign of weakness, but a sign that you are trying to carry a burden you were never meant to bear alone?”

In a world that constantly demands more of our time, energy, and attention, it is incredibly easy to find ourselves running on empty. We look around and see a culture that is utterly spent. That is why, as we continue to walk through our 2026 church theme, "The Call to Care and Compassion," our hearts are turning toward a deeply needed focus this week: "Care for the Weary."

In the medieval church, there was a beautiful concept known as "cura animarum" - the cure, or care, of souls. The ancient believers understood that our souls get bruised and battered by the friction of life, and that the local church is meant to be a hospital for those broken places. They knew that before we can effectively care for others, we must allow our own weary souls to be tended to by the Great Physician.

Our scripture text for this upcoming Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time brings us right into the heart of Jesus’ ministry:

"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.'" (Matthew 9:36-38)

Notice that before Jesus ever sends the laborers out, He first looks at the crowd with absolute compassion. He sees their weariness. He doesn't lecture them for being tired; He moves toward them to offer rest and relief. It is only out of that deep well of received compassion that we are then sent out to be laborers of care in a hurting world.

Whether you are the one who is desperately seeking rest, or the one ready to be sent out to care for others, there is a place for you this Sunday, June 14th, as we gather together:

》 9:30 AM – Traditional Service: A sacred space of familiar hymns, deep reflection, and community prayer to anchor your soul.

》 11:00 AM – REVIVE Service & Communion: A contemporary worship experience concluding with the Lord’s Supper, where we physically taste and see the sustaining grace of God.

There is an old story about a weary traveler walking down a dusty road, carrying a massive, heavy boulder on his back. A man driving a wagon pulled up beside him and invited him to hop in the back for a ride. The traveler gratefully climbed aboard, but as the wagon rolled along, the driver looked back and noticed the traveler was still sitting there with the heavy boulder strapped to his shoulders.

"My friend," the driver said, "why don't you lay that heavy rock down on the floor of the wagon?"

The traveler replied, "Oh, you were kind enough to give me a ride - I didn't think it was fair to ask you to carry my burden, too."

How often do we do that with God? We show up to church, we offer Him our presence, but we keep the crushing weight of our worries, our exhaustion, and our burnout strapped tightly to our own backs. This Sunday, the invitation is to lay the boulder down. Come to worship, receive His care, and let Him renew your spirit so that we might go out together as witnesses of His matchless compassion.

Looking forward to worshipping with you.

All are welcome to our Father’s house!

Grace and Peace,

Revd. Robert Selvakumar

Pastor, Great Bend First United Methodist Church

06/06/2026

06/04/2026

Dear Church Family,

What if the most spiritual thing you could do this Sunday was not to escape the world, but to let yourself be consumed by it?

​It is easy to think of our faith as a private sanctuary - a quiet place where we find comfort away from the chaos of life. But as we continue to journey through our 2026 church theme, The Call to Care and Compassion, we are being drawn into a much deeper, more disruptive reality. This coming Sunday, June 7th, as we observe the ancient feast of Corpus Christi, we are invited to look at the communion table not just as a symbol of past sacrifice, but as a living blueprint for how we are meant to exist today.

​Our scripture text for this weekend is John 6:51-58, where Jesus boldly declares, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven... and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." Our focus will be on Care by Sharing!

​When Jesus calls Himself the Bread of Life, He isn't offering a superficial spiritual fix. He is showing us that true care is an act of radical sharing. He allowed His life to be broken and given away so that a starving world could find nourishment. As his followers, we are called to do the exact same thing: to care by sharing our resources, our time, and our very lives with those who are hungering for hope, dignity, and love.

​This isn't an optional extra for the Christian life; it is the very heartbeat of our faith. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, understood this deeply. In his sermon “The Duty of Constant Communion,” he reminded the church that coming to the table is an irreplaceable means of grace because it fuels our active love for the world. Wesley wrote:

​"The grace of God given herein confirms to us the pardon of our sins, by enabling us to leave them. As our bodies are strengthened by bread and wine, so are our souls by these tokens of the body and blood of Christ... to love and serve God with all our strength."

​We don't receive communion just to feel at peace; we receive it to be energized for the work of compassion outside our church walls.

​I want to personally invite you to join us this Sunday as we gather around this life-giving table. Whether you find your home in the sacred rhythms of our Traditional Service at 9:00 AM or our vibrant and refreshing REVIVE Service at 11:00 AM, there is a place reserved specifically for you. Come ready to encounter the living Christ, and come ready to be transformed into bread for a hungry world.

​As you prepare your heart for this weekend, I leave you with a couple of questions for reflection:

1.Where in your life right now are you holding back your time or resources out of fear of scarcity, rather than sharing them out of Christ’s abundance?

​2. Who is the "hungry neighbor" in your immediate circle - whether starving for physical help, emotional support, or simple kindness - that Christ is breaking you open to feed this week?

All are welcome to our Father’s house!

​Expectantly,

​Revd. Robert Selvakumar
Pastor, Great Bend First United Methodist Church

05/28/2026

Beloved Church Family,

"What if the enigma of the cosmos isn't a riddle to be deciphered, but a bond to be cherished?"

As we draw near to May 31st, a day of reverence known as Trinity Sunday, we stand on the cusp of a profound exploration into the essence of God. This auspicious occasion calls for a Combined Service at 10:00 AM in the Church Fellowship Hall, preceded by a hearty communal breakfast that beckons all members of our church family.

Throughout this year, our congregation has been guided by the overarching theme of The Call to Care and Compassion. On this upcoming Sunday, we will zoom in on a crucial aspect: Nurturing Relationships.

Our scripture reading for the week, Matthew 28:16-20, ushers us into the renowned Great Commission, focusing on Care in Relationship. While often perceived as a directive for evangelism, its core is deeply rooted in the Trinitarian nature of God. Jesus speaks of baptism in the singular name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The Trinity serves as a poignant reminder that at its essence, God embodies a fellowship of flawless love, reciprocal submission, and profound tenderness. Renowned theologian Jürgen Moltmann eloquently posited in his social teaching on the Trinity that divine communion isn't about solitary supremacy but about an inclusive, egalitarian community. In essence, the Triune God stands as a paradigm for human relationships. We are beckoned to care for one another as we mirror a God whose very essence is a perfect bond of care.

Come as You Are: Our "Picnic" Sunday

To bridge this lofty theological concept into our daily lives, our tangible and applicable theme for this Sunday is "Picnic."

The mere mention of a picnic evokes images of leisurely conversations, communal meals, a more unhurried rhythm, and an open invitation to simply revel in togetherness. Hence, we implore you to leave formal attire aside. Embrace comfort in line with the picnic motif! Don your favorite casual ensemble, slip into cozy sneakers, or attire that exudes relaxation and eagerness for connection.

Just as the early church "shared meals with glad and sincere hearts" in their homes (Acts 2:46), we aspire for our gathering to be brimming with warmth, laughter, and authentic fellowship. Arrive hungry - not just for the 10:00 AM breakfast but for the camaraderie we shall forge together.

Reflecting Together:

As you ready your hearts to convene with us on May 31st, take a moment to ponder a couple of questions:

1. If the only evidence of God's character and care came from your relationships with family, friends, and neighbors, what would others glean?

2. In a world fixated on flawlessness and achievement, who in your circle craves the unassuming, comforting grace of your presence and compassion this week?

Anticipation fills our hearts as we look forward to worshipping and dining alongside you. Come prepared to unwind, bond, and plunge deeper into the exquisite relational care epitomized by our God.

With affection and pastoral well-wishes,

Revd. Robert Selvakumar

Pastor, Great Bend First United Methodist Church

05/21/2026

Dear Friends and Members of Great Bend First UMC,

In the fourth century, when the desert fathers and mothers sought the heart of God, a young monk approached Abba Joseph and asked how he could do more to find spiritual perfection. The elder stretched his hands toward heaven, and his fingers became like ten lamps of fire. He looked at the young man and said, "If you will, you can become all flame."

This striking moment from our history reminds us that the Holy Spirit is not a distant memory or a polite guest, but an all-consuming fire meant to inhabit our very being. It leads me to ask: If the Holy Spirit is truly a "rushing mighty wind," have we spent our lives building walls to keep it out, or have we finally dared to set our sails?

This Sunday, we gather for Trinity Sunday, a sacred time when we marvel at the mystery of our Triune God. Yet, as United Methodists, this particular Sunday holds a double significance. We also pause to remember Aldersgate Day - marking that pivotal night on May 24th, 1738, on Aldersgate Street in London, when our founder John Wesley sat listening to a reading of Luther’s preface to the Romans. There, Wesley famously felt his heart "strangely warmed." It was the moment a dry, dutiful faith was suddenly set ablaze by assurance and grace.

In our 2026 journey through The Call to Care and Compassion, this dual celebration turns our focus to a vital truth: Care with Power! We are not called to a tepid, fragile kind of sympathy, nor a cold, routine religion. Like Wesley, we are called to a robust, life-altering compassion fueled by the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead.

As St. Irenaeus of Lyons wrote in the second century: "For as a large amount of dry wheat cannot be kneaded into one dough or one loaf without moisture, so we, being many, could not be made one in Christ Jesus without the water that comes from heaven."

Our scripture for the day, John 7:37-39, promises that "out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water." This is the Spirit breaking out! It is a river that refuses to be dammed up by our doubts or contained within our comfort zones. It is a river that flows from the sanctuary into the streets of Great Bend, bringing healing and hope.

I invite you to join us as we seek to "become all flame":

》Traditional Service, 9:00 am: A beautiful, liturgical celebration of the Triune God and our Methodist heritage.

》REVIVE Service + Communion, 11:00 am: A time of modern worship and the breaking of bread.

Whether you are feeling spiritually parched, seeking a "strangely warmed" heart of your own, or ready to overflow, come and experience the transformative work of the Living God.

“The River Within”

The drought is done, the desert starts to bloom,
No longer locked within that upper room.
The Breath of God has cracked the temple floor,
And burst the hinges off the heavy door.
A London street, a heart is strangely warmed,
As by the flame a movement is transformed.
But not in words alone does Spirit move -
It flows in acts of sacrificial love.
From deep within, the living waters rise,
To clear the scales from tired, weeping eyes.
To Great Bend’s streets, the river makes its way,
Turning our shadowed nights to brilliant day.
So let the current carry us along,
To be the witness and to be the song.
Until the world is drenched in grace and might,
And every heart is flooded with His light.
- RSK

In the Person and Power of the Spirit,

Revd. Robert Selvakumar
Pastor, Great Bend First United Methodist Church

05/19/2026

Dear Friends,

Good morning!

"Gathered" or let me add "Scattered," we are a Church in the world of pandemic, poverty, prosperity, pollution, privacy, personal preferences, politics, piety, placements, etc.

We belong to one another, and to Christ the HEAD of the Church (the Body of Christ)!

So be encouraged and be an encourager - you are precious and priceless in the eyes of the eternal Father, as His child.

Grace and Peace,
Revd. Robert Selvakumar
Minister, Great Bend First UMC

05/14/2026

Dear Church Family and Friends,

"When Jesus stepped into those clouds and ascended to the Father, did he leave us behind, or did he simply open the door for us to follow him into the heart of the world?"

This coming Sunday, May 17th 2026, we celebrate Ascension Sunday - a day that marks not an absence, but a new kind of presence. As we continue our 2026 journey, The Call to Care and Compassion, we are diving into a powerful truth: Care is our Mission.

The "Great Commission" in Matthew 28:16-20 is often framed as a command to go and speak, but at its core, it is a call to go and love. It is a mandate for global compassion. When Jesus tells us to "make disciples of all nations," he is inviting us to extend the same radical, borderless care to the world that he extended to the eleven on that Galilean mountainside.

Our Methodist heritage reminds us that our faith is never meant to be solitary. John Wesley famously noted in his sermon, "Upon Our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Discourse IV":

"Christianity is essentially a social religion; and to turn it into a solitary religion, is indeed to destroy it." (Sermon 24)

Wesley understood that to follow Christ is to be deeply woven into the lives of others. In his sermon "The Witness of Our Own Spirit," he further emphasizes that our "perfected" love is shown through "a heart and life devoted to God" and an "earnest desire of the salvation of all men" (Sermon 12). This Sunday, we explore how that "earnest desire" translates into tangible acts of care that span the globe.

We invite you to join us as we seek to be the "hands and feet" Christ left behind:

□ Traditional Service, 9:00 AM: A beautiful, contemplative hour of hymns, liturgy, and shared prayer.

□ REVIVE Service, 11:00 AM: A contemporary, energetic atmosphere featuring Holy Communion, where we nourish our souls to fuel our mission.

As we prepare our hearts, let these words from 1 John 3:18 guide us: "Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action." And remember the promise of Galatians 6:9: "So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at gentle harvest time, if we do not give up."

Whether you have been part of this family for decades or are walking through our doors for the first time, all are welcome. There is a place for you at the table and a role for you in this mission of care.

Questions for Reflection:

1. If "Care is Mission," who is one person in your "global neighborhood" that God might be nudging you to reach out to this week?

2. In what ways can we move beyond simply feeling compassion to practicing it in our daily routines?

See you this Sunday!

With peace and hope,

Revd. Robert Selvakumar
Pastor, Great Bend First UMC

05/07/2026

A Heartfelt Thank You from Chesed Cafe!

Dear Friends,

​What a beautiful beginning!

Today’s launch of the "Chesed Cafe" was more than just a success; it was a deeply purposeful and joyful milestone for our faith community.

​There is something sacred about the simple act of sharing a table. Between the pours of coffee and iced tea, and the plates of cakes and cookies, the real magic happened in the unscripted, delightful conversations that filled the room. Without an agenda or a program, we simply were - a community enjoying the gift of each other’s presence.

■ ​Words of Appreciation:

​Our deepest gratitude goes to our Cafe Stewards, the Church Office, our Custodian, and Church Leaders. Each of you oversaw your respective calling with excellence, ensuring every detail was handled awesomely. Your service (especially your presence) created the atmosphere where fellowship could truly flourish.

​We also want to thank Rebecca Peak for beautifully capturing the morning in this shot, and creatively using it to design our promotional information going forward. It perfectly captures the spirit of what we hope to build here.

■ ​Reflection on Fellowship:

​As we look forward to many more mornings together, let us keep these words in mind:

​"Christianity means community through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ. No Christian community is more or less than this... the more clearly we learn to recognize that the ground of our fellowship is Jesus Christ alone, the more serenely shall we think of our fellowship and pray for it."

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together (Harper & Row, 1954), p. 21-25.

■ ​Looking Ahead:

​By the enabling grace of God, we will continue to offer this space for fellowship and friendship to grow, supporting both our faith and our wider community.

​Please come and join us. We invite you to share the word about the Cafe; next time you visit, consider bringing a friend or two along to experience this warmth with us.

​With Gratitude,

​Revd. Robert Selvakumar
Pastor, Great Bend First UMC

05/07/2026

Dear Church Family and Friends,

Have you ever noticed how the most profound promises in our lives aren’t usually found in grand, sweeping contracts, but in the quiet, steady commitment to show up for one another?

As we move deeper into this beautiful season of Easter, we find ourselves approaching the Sixth Sunday of Easter on May 10th. For many of us, this date is marked on our calendars as Mother’s Day - a time when we celebrate the nurturing figures who have shaped our lives. However, within our church walls, it is also a moment to lean into our annual theme: The Call to Care and Compassion.

This Sunday, I invite you to join us for a service titled "Care In Promise!" based on the intimate words of John 14:15-21. Our Traditional Service is at 9.00 am and our REVIVE Service + Communion is at 11.00 am.

》The Anatomy of a Promise

In this passage, Jesus speaks to his disciples during a time of deep anxiety. He is preparing to leave them, yet he offers a radical assurance: “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you” (John 14:18). This isn't just a sentiment; it is a covenant of "Care in Promise." Jesus connects our love for him directly to how we embody his commandments - specifically the commandment to love and care for the vulnerable.

To truly care is to participate in the very life of God. As the late theologian Henri Nouwen beautifully articulated in his reflections on the compassionate life:

"Compassion asks us to go where it hurts, to enter into the places of pain, to share in brokenness, fear, confusion, and anguish. Compassion challenges us to cry out with those in misery, to mourn with those who suffer, to share with those in fear, to listen to those who tremble."

》Care as an Active Presence

Our care for one another is the primary way the world experiences the "Spirit of Truth" that Jesus promised. When we extend compassion, we are not just being "nice"; we are fulfilling a divine mandate. Dr. Kate Bowler, a contemporary voice on faith and suffering, reminds us that "the work of love is often the work of showing up when there are no easy answers." In her writing, she emphasizes that our promises to one another are the "scaffolding" that holds us up when life feels precarious.

This Sunday, we will explore how we can be that scaffolding for one another. Whether you are celebrating a mother, honoring a mentor, or perhaps navigating a day that feels heavy with loss, there is a place for you here.

》Scriptural Foundation

☆ John 14:15-16 (NRSV): "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever."

☆ 1 John 3:18 (NRSV): "Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action."

》For Your Meditation
As you prepare your heart for this Sunday, I invite you to sit with these questions:

1. Who in your life has modelled "Care In Promise" to you, and how has their consistency shaped your understanding of God's love?

2. In what areas of your life is the Holy Spirit calling you to move beyond "word and speech" into "truth and action" this week?

I look forward to seeing your faces, hearing your voices, and sharing in the breaking of bread as we rediscover the power of a promise kept through care.

In Grace and Peace,

Revd. Robert Selvakumar
Pastor, Great Bend First UMC