Take 10 @ 10:00

Services

Sunday - 9:15 AM Sunday School, 10:30 AM Worship Service

Irvington UMC family and friends:

Keep an eye on Facebook and our website as we explore new ways to keep connected! "Take 10 at 10:00!" posts on our Facebook page a couple of times weekly on or before 10:00 am and can be viewed at any time. Look for a video posting, a scripture reading, music from our sanctuary, children and youth messages, or a podcast. Listen, read, and engage with us! We hope you will join us and add your comments. 

The Take 10 @ 10:00 schedule is generally as follows:

Tuesday - a "mixed bag" of poems, reflections, or other random thoughts
Friday - a weekly devotional from Pastor Denise

Make yourself a cup of coffee,  curl up in your favorite chair or on the sofa, and spend a few minutes with us!


Pastor Denise

Life's Acid Tests

by: Denise Robinson

10/15/2021

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Last week in our look at the life of Jacob (through the book "Escaping with Jacob" by David Ramos), we read about Jacob's return to Bethel and the building of an altar at that place where he had an experience with God. It was a time for Jacob to reassess his commitment to God and begin again, and a reminder for us that we need times of remembrance and rebeginning           __________________________Week 18: Read Genesis 35:16-29 (Life's Acid Tests)

"An incredible number of ...
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Half-Time

by: Denise Robinson

10/08/2021

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Last week in our look at the life of Jacob (through the book "Escaping with Jacob" by David Ramos), we saw Jacob's failure as a father and leader. The story of Dinah is a difficult one to understand and Jacob's role (or lack thereof) is frustrating. He's been growing in faith and his life seems to be going so well, and suddenly we are reminded that things often go wrong when we take our eyes off of God and rely on ourselves.          __________________________Week 17: Read...
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Justice Versus Love

by: Denise Robinson

10/01/2021

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Last week in our look at the life of Jacob (through the book "Escaping with Jacob" by David Ramos), we looked at Jacob's reunion with his brother, Esau. But just as it seems things are finally going right, we are reminded that human life is messy and complicated, and that things often go wrong when we take our eyes off of God and rely on ourselves.          __________________________Week 16: Read Genesis 34:1-31 (Justice Versus Love)

"In one of the darkest scenes of Genesis...
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He Prepares a Way

by: Denise Robinson

09/24/2021

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Last week in our look at the life of Jacob (through the book "Escaping with Jacob" by David Ramos), we looked at Jacob's encounter with a "stranger" that resulted in a dislocated hip and a new name (Israel). Jacob's life has been transformed and he is finally on the path to being who God has called him to be (and only after a few decades!). Now there are still family relationships to be mended; he still has to deal with the consequences of his past behavior. But he is no l...
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Forgiveness and Transformation

by: Denise Robinson

09/17/2021

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Take 10 @ 10:00:

Last week in our look at the life of Jacob (through the book "Escaping with Jacob" by David Ramos), we looked at how Jacob finally, after decades of deception and turmoil in his life, turned to prayer. Jacob is almost home now, and his brother is on his way to meet him. We are still left with the question: will there be violence or will their relationship be restored? But before we get the answer, it seems God has work to do yet in Jacob.         __________...
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How to Pray Like Jacob

by: Denise Robinson

09/10/2021

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Last week in our look at the life of Jacob (through the book "Escaping with Jacob" by David Ramos), we looked at how Jacob and his uncle Laban separate peaceably from one another so that Jacob can return to his homeland. We are still left with the question of how he will be received by his father and his brother. Will there be violence or will their relationships be restored?         __________________________Week 13: Read Genesis 32:1-21 (How to Pray Like Jacob)

"Jacob is ...
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Our Fierce Protector

by: Denise Robinson

09/03/2021

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Last week in our look at the life of Jacob (through the book "Escaping with Jacob" by David Ramos), we looked at how Jacob's life is now entering a new stage. He and his family are packing up and preparing to move back to Jacob's homeland. It's been decades since he was home, and Jacob's welcome is uncertain. But God isn't done with Jacob yet,        __________________________Week 12: Read Genesis 31:22-55 (Our Fierce Protector)

"Only days after Jacob's escape, his uncle La...
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When God is With Us

by: Denise Robinson

08/27/2021

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Take 10 @ 10:00:

Last week in our look at the life of Jacob (through the book "Escaping with Jacob" by David Ramos), we looked at how Jacob's life is beginning to turn around. He has a family of his own and is becoming wealthy. But there are loose ends: Jacob's greedy uncle Laban has his schemes and then there's the matter of Jacob's family back home. God still has work to do us in molding Jacob into the father and leader he has called him to be,        ____________________...
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Solving Our Own Problems

by: Denise Robinson

08/20/2021

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Last week in our look at the life of Jacob (through the book "Escaping with Jacob" by David Ramos), we looked at how Jacob's choices have led him into a "messy life." He is estranged from his parents and brothers, living in a foreign land, taken advantage of by a scheming uncle, and now he has a family of his own that is in conflict. But we discovered that just as we live messy lives, God does not turn away from us; instead. God comes to be with us, offering us "messy grac...
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Messy Grace

by: Denise Robinson

08/13/2021

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Last week in our look at the life of Jacob (through the book "Escaping with Jacob" by David Ramos), Jacob's life took an unexpected turn when, instead of him being the one outsmarting and taking advantage of others, he was the victim of his uncle Laban. Now he has two wives, Leah and Rachel, and it doesn't take much imagination to know there will be conflict. Life, for Jacob, continues to be "messy,"        __________________________Week 9: Read Genesis 29:31-30:24 (Messy ...
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The Frustrating Path to Fulfilled Promises

by: Denise Robinson

08/06/2021

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Last week in our look at the life of Jacob (through the book "Escaping with Jacob" by David Ramos), Jacob's new life has taken him to the land where his uncle, Laban, lives. Almost immediately he meets his family, including Laban's daughter, Rachel. Jacob, in falling for Rachel, begins to think of someone other than himself. Is this an event in Jacob's life that will begin to mature him or is Jacob still the selfish young man we have known so far?        __________________...
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The Journey of Progress

by: Denise Robinson

07/30/2021

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Last week in our look at the life of Jacob (through the book "Escaping with Jacob" by David Ramos), Jacob fled from his home and family to avoid the anger caused by his own selfish actions. He found himself alone, in the wilderness, dreaming of a staircase to heaven and being blessed by God. But now he has to get on with his journey and discover where his new life will take him.      __________________________Week 7: Read Genesis 29:1-14 (The Journey of Progress)

"Jacob's a...
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A Dream and a Portrait

by: Denise Robinson

07/23/2021

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Last week in our look at the life of Jacob (through the book "Escaping with Jacob" by David Ramos), we saw how Jacob's selfish actions caused tension, and even violent anger, within his family. Esau wants revenge, Isaac is hurt by Jacob's betrayal, and Rebekah now has to send her favorite child away and remain with a husband and her other son who both know of her role in all of this mess. Restoring this family is going to take God....     __________________________Week 6: ...
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Isaac's Mercy

by: Denise Robinson

07/16/2021

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Last week in our look at the life of Jacob (through the book "Escaping with Jacob" by David Ramos), we continued to see how Jacob's selfish choices impacted his family. He managed, through trickery and deceit, to steal his brother's blessing from their father, but in the process has broken the familial bond between them. His father is heartbroken; his brother is enraged and seeks revenge. His mother, who loves him best, now has to help him flee for his life. The tension mo...
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The Stolen Blessing

by: Denise Robinson

07/09/2021

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We continue our look at the life of Jacob through the book "Escaping with Jacob" by David Ramos. As we read last week, Jacob's brokenness is openly displayed for us to see. His life was on a downward spiral, due to his own greed and desires, encouraged by his mother. Today we continue our look into how Jacob's selfish choices impacted his family.   __________________________Week 4: Read Genesis 27:18-46 (The Stolen Blessing)

"Even though Jacob may have been apprehensive to ...
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