Season’s greetings everyone! On the 19th I turned a year older. So far I don’t feel it! Thanks for your greetings, gifts, cards, prayers and best wishes; also for singing Happy Birthday to me during our Sharing of Joys. If you didn’t make it to our Sunday School Christmas program, you missed out on some good singing and a meaningful message. You also missed out on kids being kids-- several struggles for control of microphones a tearfully reluctant Mary; a wandering wise man and another with his crown stuck over his ears, an angel crawling under the Communion rail, etc. I’m really sorry you had to miss out. Our Christmas Eve Candle Light worship service begins at 10:00 p.m. Friday. Hopefully the snowy weather will be over before that. Thanks to everyone who will be helping make this an inspirational and meaningful occasion. Sunday we’ll be singing a number of Christmas carols (pp. 217-254 in our hymnbook). Be ready to choose your favorites. This week be sure to offer up prayers for our members or friends serving in the military; especially those who will not be able to celebrate Christmas or the New Year with family. For this Sunday (26th) • Scripture: Matthew 2:13-23 • Sermon Title: Holy Refugees For Reflection 1. What events surrounding your celebration of Christmas will likely be less than perfect? 2. What events surrounding the birth of Jesus were less than picture-perfect? 3. How did Herod react to the news that a new king was to be born? Does that kind of behavior happen in our time? 4. What part did “divine intervention” play in this scripture passage? God is with us—let’s celebrate! LOVE & JOY TEXtor
0 Comments
Hi Friends!
Not much to report this week
This week be sure to offer up prayers for our members or friends who are homebound or in nursing homes or living in assisted living. For this Sunday (19th)
For Reflection 1. Before they were married Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant—but not by him! What led him to go ahead and marry her? 2. Why was the child to be called Jesus? 3. What does Emmanuel/Immanuel mean? Blessings on you! LOVE & JOY TEXtor It’s me again… Don’t forget our movie night this Saturday at 6:30 p.m. We’re showing a movie for the young at heart—“The Santa Claus” with Tim Allen. This is an occasion for all age groups so come and bring guests with you. The movie is free, and there will be cookies and drinks available at intermission for a free will offering. Our Sunday School Christmas program will be during worship the 19th. The Christmas Eve Service is Friday the 24th at 10:00 p.m. Please pray for Ilene Parkhill who has gone to stay with her daughter in Virginia for the duration of her chemo treatments. Her address will be in this Sunday’s bulletin. Also keep in mind Shirley Frizzell. Her knee replacement is doing well, but she has had a prolonged stay in the hospital to get her potassium level back on an even keel. In addition, several families who have lost loved ones recently can use your prayers and words of support. For this Sunday (12th) • Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-10 • Scripture: Matthew 11:2-6 • Sermon Title: Signs of the Kingdom For Reflection 1. This is the third Sunday of Advent; the theme is joy. Where do you see joy reflected in our scripture passages? 2. What words and phrases in these two scriptures are similar? 3. Why do you think John the Baptist might have been wondering if Jesus was really the Messiah? 4. How did Jesus respond to John’s question? 5. The sermon has to do with signs of the kingdom. Where do you find signs of the presence of God’s kingdom in our time and in our midst? May you be blessed as you wait and prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus and at the same time live in anticipation of his glorious appearance and final triumph. LOVE & JOY TEXtor Greetings!
Hope Thanksgiving was a great time for you and that you didn’t spoil it by getting trampled during the Black Friday shopping frenzy! In addition to other prayer concerns, be sure to add to your list Ilene Parkhill who began chemo treatments this week. The chili supper-nativity set display was a fun fellowship event. The chili was excellent and Anita McMartin was the pleased winner of the nativity set offered as a door prize. You can read more about the event in future bulletins or newsletters. Keep these three December events in mind – 1) movie night featuring “The Santa Claus” at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday December 11, 2) Christmas program during worship December 19; and 3) Christmas Eve Service Friday the 24th at 10:00 p.m. For this Sunday (5th) • Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-10 • Sermon Title: The Jesse Tree For Reflection 1. This week I’ll be referring to the Jesse tree. If you can’t make it to worship and don’t know what a Jesse tree is try to Google it. Let me know what you find. 2. How was Jesse related to King David? 3. Why is the royal line of King David important to Christians? 4. What is Isaiah’s vision of God’s kingdom; how does he describe the ruler of this kingdom? 5. What part did trees or wood products play in Jesus’ life and death? LOVE & JOY TEXtor Holiday greetings!
During this season of the year some folk are nearly overwhelmed with joyful celebrations while others will have to be away from family or alone for some reason or another. With that in mind, I would ask that you would pray for persons in the military, for persons who will not be with family during this time, and for our homebound and nursing home residents. Also remember Walt Keast who is recovering from surgery, Edith Haines who is taking treatments for cancer, and Pauline Hogzett who is in Oakland Manor for therapy. Add to that Elijah Dietz, a 9th grader in our school system, who was seriously injured in a car accident this past weekend. Thanks to several volunteers, we were able to complete our Hanging of the Greens after worship last Sunday. The outside display and poinsettias will be added at a later time. The crowd at the RCA sponsored community Thanksgiving meal was down this year; but the food was still plentiful and delicious! Speaking of food—don’t forget our chili feed (free will offering) and nativity sets display this Saturday night (27th) from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. If you have one or more nativity sets to add to the display, be sure to wait until Friday or Saturday to drop them off. Come in the kitchen door if possible. For this Sunday (28th) • Scripture: Romans 13:10-14 • Scripture: Matthew 24:36-44 • Sermon Title: Do You Need a Wake-up Call? For Reflection
LOVE & JOY TEXtor Dear friends,
Be sure to pray for meaningful Thanksgiving activities this coming week and next. Also keep in mind those serving in the military on our behalf. And remember in prayer persons with serious health concerns and persons who are homebound or in nursing homes or in hospitals during the holiday season. Be sure to keep these activities in mind: Bernie and Norma’s 50th wedding anniversary open house this Saturday, Hanging of the Greens right after worship Sunday (hope you can be there to help out), RCA sponsored Thanksgiving Community Meal at the Community Building at 6:00 p.m. the 21st, and our chili supper/nativity display on the 27th. If you have one or more nativity sets you would be willing to loan us for the occasion you may bring them to the church office anytime before the 27th. For this Sunday (21st) * Scripture: Matthew 4:1-4 * Sermon Title: Starving Souls For Reflection 1. “The hunger of the stomach is mild when compared to the gnawing hunger of the heart.” What connection do you see between this statement and today’s scripture? 2. What life circumstances might contribute to the hunger of the stomach? 3. What life circumstances might contribute to the gnawing hunger of the heart? 4. In what ways does the Christian faith address the hunger of the stomach? 5. In what ways does the Christian faith address the gnawing hungers of the heart? 6. What does celebrating Thanksgiving have to do with any of this? LOVE & JOY TEXtor Greetings all…
It was our honor Sunday to celebrate the lives of these church members—Lois, McConeghey, Dick Harris, Arlene Haines, Berwyn Cleaveland, John Taylor, Cheryl Keast, Doris Gray, Jim Carrick, Janis Dobernecker, and Addie Mae Smith. And now a new list of names for your prayers of support: our confirmation class—Hannah Hummel, Kyra Martens, Grace Gleaves, Hayley Haines and Andrew and Sarah Jones. Prayers also for Nancy Young who is slowly recovering from her latest bout of illness, for the family of Don Bates whose funeral will be in our church this Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m., and Wayne Hopping, a new resident of Oakland Manor. Two special events on November 21—Hanging of the Greens after worship; hope you can help! Also, the RCA sponsored community Thanksgiving meal that evening at 6:00 p.m. Just bring yourself and a side dish or two. And don’t forget our chili feed/nativity set display on Saturday evening the 27th. For this Sunday (14th) • Scripture: John 10:9-10 • Sermon: A Charmed Life For Reflection 1. What do you think Jesus meant by a full life? 2. What does living a full life mean to you? Where does God fit into that picture? 3. Sometimes we need a wakeup call to sort out what is important to us and what is not? What might that wakeup call be for you? For our church? 4. What changes might we need to make in our lives and in our church to live the full life Jesus was referring to? 5. Where does God’s gift of grace fit in? LOVE & JOY TEXtor END OF DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME THIS WEEKEND – set clocks back an hour!
Greetings folks… Sorry I didn’t get my sermon reflection sheet sent out last week. I’m glad to be back on track. If you missed worship Sunday, you missed a fun and exciting event. The kids livened things up with their Halloween costumes and songs. They even got us out of our pews to circle the sanctuary, join hands, and sing along. We also enjoyed singing favorite hymns selected by young and older folk alike. We were challenged and entertained by a video presentation--“Pie”--to help kick off our annual financial campaign. And the message was short and sweet! This coming Sunday is also very special—we will be honoring members of our church and others with our candle lighting memorial service. I hope you can be on hand for this special time of remembering. As for prayers—we need to consider these things: men and women serving in the armed services, newly elected state and national leaders, healing for Nancy Young and others with health concerns, persons who are grieving, and 7th and 8th graders who are beginning confirmation class this week. For this Sunday (7th) • Scripture: Revelation 7:9-12 • Sermon Title: The List For Reflection 1. Do you ever get bogged down when you run across lists of names? Why? 2. What does make a list of names important to you? 3. Would you like for your name to be included in God’s book of life? Good News--Jesus’ resurrection makes it possible! DON’T FORGET – Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend. LOVE & JOY TEXtor Here I am again …
Have you been enjoying this beautiful fall weather? Then prayers of thanksgiving as well as harvest safety are certainly in order! The Christian Church folk had great weather for the dedication of their new building Sunday. We sent a plant of congratulations to them in the name of our congregation. Hope some of you had a chance to take part in the festivities. “Miracle” was the word of the day for them. May it also be a word for us! I indicated some changes might be in store for the youth groups. Because of school activities, the senior high group will not be meeting this week or next. Some of them, though, will be gathering on Thursday to decorate pumpkins for folks in Oakland Manor. The junior youth group ate at 6:00 p.m. instead of 6:30 p.m. this week in order to work in a field trip to Treynor. They will resume meeting at their usual time next week. Making it to worship is always a worthwhile experience, an event pleasing to God. But if you like to sing, the 31st will be a special event for you. We are having a worship song fest, and you are invited to come prepared to request your favorite hymns. Also our children will be presenting some special numbers. For this Sunday (24th) • Scripture: Luke 10:25-37 • Sermon title: Heartfelt Compassion 1. What virtue or quality of character was Jesus highlighting in this parable? 2. In what ways, if any, are you like the robbers – cold-hearted, ruthless, selfish, etc. 3. In what ways, if any, are you like the scribe or Levite – observers, skirting trouble, avoiding involvement, etc. 4. In what ways, if any, are you like the Good Samaritan – compassionate, helpful, self-giving, etc. 5. Why do you think Jesus choose a Samaritan to teach about neighborliness and compassion? If you are using the stewardship study book be ready to discussion chapter 6 this Sunday. LOVE & JOY Shirley TEXtor Greetings… Rev. Mark Haverland, has been appointed to serve the Macedonia- Wheeler Grove-Henderson charge through June. Please pray prayers of encouragement for him and these churches—they’ve faced some serious and unexpected losses this year. Also pray for and join in celebration with the Christian Church folk as they dedicate their new building this Sunday. And don’t forget to pray for harvest safety, as well. Again I thank those of you who assisted with the funerals for Janis Dobernecker and Addie Mae Smith. I’m sorry that in my last email I forgot to thank those of you who ministered to these families by providing sound and projection expertise, music and food. Our cluster charge conference was held at the Carson UMC this week. Most persons attending felt it was a positive experience. Sorry you had to miss! Be alert—the youth group schedule for the 20th MAY be changed. For this Sunday (17th) • Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34 • Sermon title: First Things First For reflection 1. The study book refers to a biblical lifestyle. What’s that? See what Jesus has to say in Matthew 6:23. 2. This bible passage tells us not to worry about various things but to seek God’s kingdom instead. Could it ever be right to be worried, concerned, or anxious? 3. On page 85 of the study book is a list of Richard Foster’s principles to help guide our lifestyle choices and financial decisions. How can you apply this principle to your life—Shun whatever would distract you from your main goal of seeking first God’s kingdom. 4. If kingdom seeking is not your main goal in life what is getting in the way? These are some tough but important thoughts for reflection. Be sure to pray for guidance as you consider them. LOVE & JOY Rev. TEXtor . |
Archives
June 2011
Categories
All
|