September 2015 - Community United Methodist Church
Transcription
September 2015 - Community United Methodist Church
the newsletter of Community United Methodist Church September 2015 THOSE TRULY BLESSED OF GOD’S SPIRIT, A TRIBUTE Glorify God When changes come abruptly and I feel my control has slipped, I quiet myself in God’s presence and hear him whisper soft, “Hush my child, let go. For you will come to know you never lost the best.” “Do you not recall how your Barbara greeted the dawn with song, and the way she prayed for her patients she touched with tender care? Or Debbie’s love of sport coupled with a deep and steady soul? Now I’ve given you Michelle of kind and gracious heart. Their legacy you now carry, knowing it need never to depart.” I know life’s journey is toward a mystery glimpsed only from afar. But its people filled with God’s Spirit who most help along the way. Encourage One Another Share Jesus Not the ones who think they’re clothed when truly they are naked. Not the noisy or the loud, nor the ones who murmur or complain, not the movers or the shakers, or those who drift upon the wind and must be entertained. God’s Spirit is found among the humble, seldom those we would suspect. Knowing well the rock on which they stand, they remain steady through thin and thick. They are the quiet and the content, knowing that God’s richest blessings come when others seem unnerved and let their passions roam. They have mastered how to embrace as well as to let go. And to Doug this I say to you: I thank you for the music and your stories of the road. I thank you for the freedom when it came your time to go. I thank you for the kindness and the times when you got brash. And friend I don’t think I said I love you near enough. (adapted from Dan Fogelberg’s “Leader of the Band”)* *postscript: I had the privilege of knowing pop songwriter and singer Dan Fogelberg a bit (b1951 - d2007), who grew up in Peoria not far from me. He had a complicated life but now that I think back, his graciousness shone through. Pastor Scott SEPTEMBER WORSHIP THEMES Summer Communion Schedule Sunday, September 6, 2015 Note on the Prophets. The over-all recurring theme of the prophets is challenging people, who think of themselves as religious, to recognize and put away their idols. An idol is a close replica of the real thing. Idolatrous religious practice and lifestyle, then as well as now, mimic the real thing but neither pleases God or has the ability to transform lives. For calling people’s cherished practices and habits idolatrous, the prophets encountered a great deal of hostility and most were put to death. Would it be any different today? August 30 - Isaiah 40: 1-5 “Comfort , Comfort my People Says your God” Isaiah abruptly shifts from judgment to hope as we go into some of the most inspiring portions of the Bible September 6 – (Communion, Labor Day Sunday) Jeremiah 33:1-3, 15-16 “To Console a Weeping Prophet” Of all the prophets, Jeremiah’s emotions show through the most. Despite all the disappointments he mourns in his day, God shows him a much better day is coming. September 13 – Ezekiel 18:23, 25-29 “God is Sovereign and That’s Good to Know!” One of Ezekiel’s main themes is the sovereignty of God. In a world of gross injustice, we find assurance in this great truth. September 20- Ezekiel 37:1-14 “Can These Bones Live?” This is perhaps the greatest Old Testament teaching on the promise of restoration and prefigures the difference the resurrection of Christ makes. September 27- Daniel 12:1-4 “Visions of Hope and Dread” Daniel’s visions provide the imagery we find in the Book of Revelation and set the stage for prophecies of what is to come that even Jesus adopts freely to his teachings. Here at CUMC! We know there are some very talented people in our midst Don’t be shy! If you have paintings, photographs, stitchings or other worksthat can be displayed on the wall contact Tanya Fuhrman to find out what to do. My Grace is Sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” 2 Corinthians 1:9 Grief Share Recovery Support Group GriefShare meets Monday’s, September 14 - December 7, 6:15-8:15 PM Meets every Tuesday evening at 6:30 PM, in room 13 on the lower level here at CUMC. Your journey from mourning to joy! Grief Share is a weekly seminar/support group for people grieving the death of someone close. It is a place where you can be around people whounderstand how you feel and the pain of your loss. We know it hurts, and we want to help! $15 Registration Fee includes workbook. Contact Ron or Fay Tichy for details Ron-262-930-8488, Fay-262-930-9488 Each week is a stand alone topic join any time. Pastor Scott’s written sermons and a few articles can be found on our website at www.extremefaith.org. Look under Welcome to CUMC/Sermons & Articles. Printed copies are also available at the Welcome Center. Prayer Sunday The next Prayer Sunday will be September 6th. Please contact any of the prayer Partners or the church office if you need someone to Do you know someone who needs prayer? Invite them to prayer Sunday! Teams of prayer warriors are ready and willing to pray for those who need it for many different concerns. Enjoy the Convenience of Electronic Giving Community UMC wants to remind you that we offer electronic giving as a way to automate your regular weekly offering. Electronic giving offers convenience for individual congregation members and provides much-needed donation consistency for our congregation. As you contemplate future contributions, please consider electronic giving. Authorization forms and additional information are available from the church office. The Newsletter is available by email and on the website at www.extremefaith.org If you would like to stop receiving the newsletter by mail contact the office at 262-534-2313 or [email protected] to let us know. Fall Sunday School is Coming! 3 1 r be m e t p Se m a 0 9:3 Women’s Fall Retreat Coming up this autumn will be an opportunity for all women in our church family, as well as our female friends beyond our church doors, to come together for a one day women’s retreat. In his second letter to the Corinthian church, Paul reminds them that in Christ “they have become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!” (5:17). Oh, how these “new lives” of ours need periodic refreshing, or a boost out of a rut, or new color added to them, or an intentional deepening of our roots in Christ. If I were to sum up in three words the hope for this retreat, they would be “Refresh, Renew, Deepen”. Watch the bulletin and future newsletters for more details. Classes for Adults, Teens & Children Look for details soon! September Noisy Can Breakfast for Kids at Risk THE IMPORTANCE OF BREAKFAST When a child misses breakfast, their chances to succeed in the classroom is drastically reduced. This program funded by donations is focused on insuring children in Waterford Schools start their day with breakfast. Missions Updates Several years ago CUMC sponsored a Car Clinic offering to repair vehicles for people in the community who could not afford to have the necessary repairs done. Upon conclusion of the Car Clinic about $350 of the donations received from the congregation remained in the account. These remaining funds have now been transferred to the Missions Committee for use on other Missions support. Thank you for your generosity! $1,155.71 was raised during Vacation Bible School for “Let’s Build a Classroom” in Honduras Mission Project. Our Missions Committee will add to that amount to make the donation $3000.00! Afternoon Circle Christmas Mission Project Afternoon Circle will be collecting items for Love, Inc. in Burlington to give to area families at Christmas time. Suggested items are toys for all ages (no war type toys), stuffed animals, dolls, cars, coloring books and crayons, markers, books tablets, pencils, school suppies, puzzles, etc. New clothing items will also be accepted. ** Liquids and wrapped candy are ok! No shipping is required. Please DO NOT wrap items - Love, Inc. will sort everything as it arrives. Boxes will be located in the Lobby from Sunday, October 11 until Sunday, November 29 to collect your donations. Please contact Mary Wulz if you have any questions at 262-534-3256. Youth The Fall Sunday School quarter begins Sunday, September 13 9:30 - 10:30 AM Jr & Sr High classes meet in the Youth Room. Leader Training Wednesday, September 30 at 6:30 PM Sunday, September 20 Planet Extreme in Lake Geneva Watch for more info soon! All Youth Leaders, or those interested in getting involved with the youth are encouraged to attend. WiReD Youth Kick Off is Wednesday, October 7 Join us for dinner at 6:00 PM Youth group from 6:30 - 8 PM Invite your friends! Saturday Night Praise & Worship Saturday, September 26 at 6:30 PM Join us for Music and a Message that you will want to share with your friends! These services are the fourth Saturday of every month - Check it out!!! Fear Not! It’s Not Too Late! (To Fear the Lord and Read His Word) But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word. Isaiah 66:2b The friendship of the LORD is for those fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. Psalm 25:14 Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you. Psalm 31:19 Blessed is the one who fears the LORD always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity. Proverbs 28:14 O Lord, let your prayer be attentive to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name... Nehemiah 1:11 [A]nd he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is Zion’s treasure. Isaiah 33:6 You must seek it. God must give it. Both are true of wisdom and the fear of the LORD from which real wisdom flows. Most of us have sung Dennis Jernigan’s lyrics, Seeking you as a precious jewel, Lord to give up I’d be a fool. You are my all in all. And many of us have recently read these Proverbs: If you seek it out like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD (2:4-5). And, The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. In August, we’ve been reading Isaiah’s words to rebel Israel and the nations around her. There was a Righteous Branch. Of Him, Isaiah wrote, The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD (11:2). If Jesus’ delighted in fearing the LORD, we’d best do the same. One way we grow this God-honoring-empowering never paralyzing-fear of the LORD is by spending time in his Word. When the fear of the LORD-the sheer, awesome knowledge of the power of God our Father and Savior-is our delight, then we will know how abundant is his goodness which he stored up for us who take refuge in Him (Psalm 31:19). But straying or running away from Almighty God should cause fear. See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven (Hebrews 12:25). Don’t stray-or stay-away from the Heavenly Father. But perfect love drives out fear. God does not want us to cower like slaves in his household where we are his children. Enjoy his care. Abide. His friendship is for those who fear Him. Still, there is a real trembling for the saints. As Pastor John Piper puts it, “It is the trembling one feels in the arms of a Father who has just plucked his children from the undertow of the ocean.” So, Work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). Right fear of God is a gift and a gift to be sought. Seek it by knowing God. Know God by reading and hearing His Word. It’s not too late. Did you start strong in January and fall off in February? Or you made it to May? Just hit “refresh.” Start in Isaiah or pick up where you left off. Persistence is what matters. The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong (Ecclesiastes 9:11). By perseverance the snail reached the ark, wrote G.K. Chesterton. Want some encouragement as you read along? Want a place to share your God sightings and insights? Find us at the Facebook group WOW:Wonders of the Word. That we may be mutually encouraged by each others’ faith (Romans 1:12). September Sunday Monday Tuesday 1 Wednesday 2 4-5:45 PM Food Pantry Thursday 3 Friday 4 5 11 12 7:00 PM Praise Team Practice 6 Prayer Sunday Communion Sunday 7 8 6:30 PM 9 Worship Committee Meeting Happy Labor Day! 7:00 PM Trustee Meeting 6:30 PM Celebrate Recovery 6:30 PM 10 6:30-8 PM Alzheimer Caregiver Support Group Saturday 9-11:00 AM CR Step Study Groups 1-3 PM CR Praise & Worship in the youth room 9-11:00 AM CR Step Study Groups 1-3 PM CR Praise & Worship in the youth room 7:00 PM Praise Team Practice Glory Singers Rehearsal 13 14 New Group Fall Sunday Begins: School Quarter 6:15-8:15 PM Grief Share Begins!!! 9:30 AM 20 15 16 4-5:45 PM Food Pantry 6:30 PM Prayer Gathering 6:30 PM SPRC Meeting 6:30 PM Celebrate Recovery 6:30 PM Glory Singers Rehearsal 21 22 23 17 6:30 PM Finance Meeting 24 Noisy Can Breakfast for Kids at Risk 28 29 6:15-8:15 PM Grief Share 6:30 PM Prayer Gathering 6:30 PM Glory Singers Rehearsal 9-11:00 AM CR Step Study Groups 25 26 9-11:00 AM CR Step Study Groups 1-3 PM CR Praise & Worship in the youth room 6:30 PM Celebrate Recovery 6:30 PM Glory Singers Rehearsal 27 19 1-3 PM CR Praise & Worship in the youth room 7:00 PM Praise Team Practice 6:30 PM Church Council 6:15-8:15 PM Grief Share 18 7:00 PM Praise Team Practice 30 6:30 PM Saturday Night Praise & Worship Service Community United Methodist Church 455 S. Jefferson St. Waterford, WI 53185 Saturday Night Come as you are... really, wherever you are in life’s journey whatever your story... please come and join us September 26 March 28, 2015 Church Office - 262-534-2313 - Pastor Scott 608-792-3515 or [email protected] www.extremefaith.org - like us on facebook - [email protected] Sunday Worship Services at 8 & 10:45 AM Sunday School for all ages at 9:30 AM The Way to Grow Preschool 262-534-7998 thewaytogrowpreschool.org