Lunenburg United Methodist Charge
On our walk. . . . .
February 8, 2008
Pastor’s Message –
Psalms 32:1-32:11
Blessed is he whose transgressions are
forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does
not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.
When I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to
you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my
transgressions to the LORD" — and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Therefore let everyone who is godly pray
to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will
not reach him. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and
surround me with songs of deliverance.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you
and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no
understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to
you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds
the man who trusts in him.
Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you
righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!
NIV
How many of us would consider ourselves
to be a “serious Christian”? Most of us would admit to being a serious
Christian. Could it be that maybe we are too serious? Some folks are so serious
that you never see any joy in them. David wrote: “Rejoice in the Lord and be
glad, you righteous; sing all you who are upright in heart!” What a wonderful
encouragement to us – Rejoice! Be glad! Sing!
The source of David’s happiness is quickly found in verse 10 – “…the Lord’s
unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts him.” Why shouldn’t David be happy?
Why shouldn’t we? The second fruit of the spirit mentioned in Galatians ch. 5
is joy! Are you bearing fruit of joy? When we encounter that lost and
bewildered soul in need of such unfailing love are we a testimony of it? Or, do
we look as though we swam a mile through pickle juice?
If God’s people don’t have a right to be happy no one does!
How can we turn from being a too serious Christian to a rejoicing one?
Understand that God loves you. See God’s continuous revelation in everything
around you. Seek an intimate relationship with Christ – tell the story of Mary
and Martha from Luke. Mary chose the “one thing” that was better – an intimate
relationship with Christ. Learn to share your joy with others– “Encourage one
another daily…”
It is so easy to be critical about everything isn’t it; weather, price of gas,
politics, spouses, church and even the preacher. What if we practiced only
saying good things? Sounds so Pollyanna doesn’t it?
Love one another
Upcoming Events – February
8, 2008, 2008 – February 13, 2008
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Men’s Breakfast @ Williams @ 8:00 AM
Youth Group
@ Williams @ 3:00 PM
Monday, February 11, 2008
Evening
Bible Study @ Antioch @ 7:00 PM
Tuesday February 12, 2008
Bible Study@ Audrey
Smith’s @ 10:00 AM
Evangelism
Committee @
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Mission
Committee @
Worship Events –February 3, 2008
Service Theme: Jesus Temptation
This week’s reading will be: Sermon Text Matthew 4:1-11
Hebrew Text Genesis 2: 15-17, 3: 1-7
Pianists: Nancy Turner
Diane Bacon
Men’s Breakfast at Williams
On Saturday, February 9, the Williams Men’s Group will
meet at the church at 8:00 AM for breakfast.
This is a time of fellowship and all those who have been attending have
had a good time. If you would like to join us meet us at the church at 8:00 AM
and enjoy breakfast.
Ladies Tea
On
January 26 Williams UMC Monthly Ladies Tea was held at 10:00am. This month they
are made soup to take to the shut-ins in our community. Thirty quarts of chicken
vegetable soup was made and distributed to those who have a hard time getting
out. After the soup was made all those who assisted in making the soup enjoyed
a time of fellowship with hot cups of tea and refreshments. If you
would like to join them at their next tea it will be held on February 23. The
theme for February is CHOCOLATE!
150th Anniversary
Throws Throws are still available. These beautiful throws
will make a great present for a family member. Our supply is running low –
about 5-6 left. The cost is $45.00 each. Please call Jane DiStefano if you would like
to order a throw or have any questions.
434-676-2314
Cookbooks are still available. The
Administrative Board authorized the Cookbook Committee to order an additional
400 copies. There are here and we have an
abundance of them for sale if you wish to get one or more. The cost is $10 each.
. If you would like to purchase one, you may contact any member of
Youth Group to Meet. The Williams Youth
Group will meet Saturday February 9, at 3:
PM.
This month they are going to make chocolates for the shut-ins in our community.
I’m sure they will eat more than they make. If you have a son or daughter who
would like to join in the fun bring them over to Williams Saturday.
Administrative Council met. The Antioch Administrative
Council met on Tuesday, February 5th at 7:00 pm. A frank discussion
on the future of the basement and the possibility of building a new fellowship
hall was had. Lay Leader Wayne Hendricks
presented a plan to build a new fellowship HALL for all to review. There seems to be a general consensus that we
should build a fellowship hall in the future as, even after repairs, the
basement can’t be used for that purpose as it isn’t handicap accessible. The
basement, though, should be our first priority as replacement and strengthening
of the wall is necessary. Evangelism, Missions, and Finance Committees
delivered reports on the status of their programs and their plans for the
coming year.
Williams Library & Prayer
Room. Everyone is invited to visit the Library/Prayer Room at Williams. We have done a little remodeling and added an
altar for prayer and some comfy chairs, but the room still houses the original
Library and we are hoping to add more books.
It’s a great place to sit quietly and read a book, or spend some time
with the Lord. Or just stop by to borrow
a book or two to read.
Sunday
School is available each Sunday
morning. The importance of Sunday School
is that, though you may think hearing the word will suffice for you, you really
need to be in attendance at Sunday School to gather all the information that
you can in an open discussion classroom. Jesus’ word cannot be totally understood just
by listening to a sermon. You have to
interact with it and with other Christians to learn what He was saying to us. This is a life long study and you should take
part. There is a class for every age so
please plan on joining us to learn more about our Lord, Jesus Christ. Sunday
School at Williams begins at 10:45 AM and at
Evening Bible Study. Evening Bible study will continue on February 11 at
7:00PM at
Morning Bible Study. Morning Bible study will meet this week. We will meet
on February 11 at 10:00AM at Audrey Smith’s. We will begin our study of Deuteronomy.
We will focus on chapters 1-10 this week. If you are looking for a study of
God’s word join us not only for the study, but good fellowship.
If
you cannot reach Rev. Ed at the parsonage, you may call him on his cell
phone: 252-532-0952. He can also be reached via e-mail at revedumc@yahoo.com . If you would like to receive e-mail messages
from the pastor send an e-mail to him at revedumc@yahoo.com
and we will add you to our list.
Please keep the following families in
your prayers:
|
Marjorie Thompson |
Christian Sutton |
Bertha Arthur |
|
Sarah Agnes Callis |
Sheila Cage |
Paul & Agree Turner |
|
Bobby & Virginia Overbuy |
Sara Sutton |
Jeff Hendricks |
|
Earl "Chucky” Barnes |
Our Military |
Nathan Hendricks |
|
Edna & Wilson Bagley |
Alan Green |
Maria Kay |
|
Phyllis Going |
Elsie Pennington |
Frances Hawthorne |
|
“B” & Etowah Hayes |
Sophia Jones |
Elizabeth Bigger staff |
|
Becky Evades & boys |
Thomas Taylor |
Bernard Bottoms |
|
Agnes & CV Thompson |
Tom Tanner |
Cathy Mitchell |
|
Doreen Marie Saunders |
Delores H |
Jason McReynolds |
|
Kenneth Chandler |
Michelle |
Lily Grace Coleman |
|
|
Alice Wright |
Kenneth McDaniel |
|
Nancy & Grayson Bagley |
Gertrude Hite |
Elizabeth Reese |
|
Gussie Abernathy |
Tommy Cage |
Hilda Olin |
|
|
Nick Holden |
Virginia King |
|
Harry & Margaret Smith |
Grace DiStefano |
David King |
|
Jane DiStefano |
Mickey Narrow |
Dorothy Ann Irby |
If you have
anyone who is in need of prayer, please place their names on the Prayer List
and lift up their names in prayer during worship service and throughout the
week.
Shirley Hite
asked me to let everyone know about this program and the plight it is in. If
you get a chance help a person who can’t afford to get this procedure.
A favor to ask, it only takes a minute....Please tell ten friends to tell ten today! The Breast Cancer site is having trouble getting enough people to click on their site daily to meet their quota of donating at least one free mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman. It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on 'donating a mammogram' for free (pink window in the middle). This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors /advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate mammogram in exchange for advertising.Here's the web site! Pass it along to people you know. http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/
The
Methodists recognize water baptism in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, no matter the
denominational setting for the baptism. Such baptism is baptism into the entire
After several years of debate, United
Methodists have come to accept baptized persons as full members of the
Baptism in the Wesleyan tradition is
Trinitarian; that is, baptism is in the name of the Father, and the Son, and
the Holy Spirit. This reality is called the Trinity.
The one God exists in three persons –
Father, Son, Holy Spirit. To diminish or take away one of these three persons
is to take away who God is.
At the heart of the mystery of one God
being three persons is the reality that God exists in community in
relationship. Father and Son talk to each other. The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and
Son. The Spirit brings the Son into the
present. Yet there is only one God.
“Being Methodist in the Bible Belt” F. Belton Joyner,
Jr.
Remember:
The will of God never takes you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.
Have
a Blessed Week