Lunenburg United Methodist Charge
On our walk. . . . .
March 5, 2008
Pastor’s Message –
1 Samuel 16:
8-13
Then Jesse
called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "The Lord has not chosen this one either." Jesse then
had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, "Nor has
the Lord chosen this one." Jesse had
seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The Lord has not chosen these." So he
asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse
answered, "but he is tending the sheep. Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not
sit down until he arrives." So he sent and had
him brought in. He was ruddy, with a
fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one."
So Samuel took the horn of oil and
anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit
of the Lord came upon David in power. Samuel
then went to Ramah.
Did you know that
there is more written in the Bible about David than any other person except
Jesus? Did you know that David was an ordinary person who was used by God in an
extraordinary way because he was a man after God’s heart? By looking at David’s life we can learn how
we, normal Christians, can be used by God in extraordinary ways.
Who does God
choose to accomplish his purposes? Let
me say it in another way, what kind of person does God pick to do his
supernatural work in the world? Does God
choose the “good” people that have got it all together? The really talented people?
Smart people? The people who come from good family
backgrounds? Charismatic
or outgoing people? Good looking
people? What does God look for when
choosing people to do his work? God does
not choose people by the worlds standards. God does not look at the outside packaging;
rather God looks at the inside. God uses
one measuring stick above all others to choose people to accomplish his plans,
and it has nothing to do with anything on the list I just mentioned. The one thing God looks at is the heart. He chooses people who are sold out for God,
whose motives and intentions are focused on God’s desires above their own. God is looking for people who love him and
have a heart to serve God without thought to what they will receive in return. How do I know? David.
David’s dad didn’t think too
much of him, and yet who did God choose? When David walked in the door, God told Samuel,
“that’s the one; he’s the one I have chosen.” God wanted David to be king. David, the harp
playing songwriter, shepherd boy, the eighth son of eight sons in a culture
which gave preference to the oldest. David from a family without wealth or influence in their tribe (1
Sam. 16:4, 5; 18:18). The most
unlikely candidate to be king, but God chose David. Why? Because David was a man after God’s heart.
God works the opposite of our
society. We live in a society which
rewards beauty (think Hollywood, Extreme Makeover, cosmetic surgery, botox,
makeup,), ability (watching the Super Bowl a couple of weeks ago reminds me how
much money these people make just for playing a sport really well),
intelligence (university’s, doctoral degrees). But that is not what God rewards. God rewards those who have a heart for him,
who love him, and are obedient to him. The
Bible says, “This is love for God: to obey his commands (1 Jo. 5:3).” Jesus said, "If you love me, you will
obey what I command (John 14:15). David
served God wherever God placed him because of his love for God. What is your heart condition right now?
Be blessed this week.
Rev.
Ed
Upcoming Events – March 5 – March 12, 2008
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Men’s Breakfast @ Williams @ 8:00 AM
Youth Group@ Williams @ 3:00 PM
Monday, March 10, 2008
Evening
Bible Study @ Antioch @ 7:00 PM
Tuesday March 11, 2008
Bible Study@ Audrey
Smith’s @ 10:00 AM
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Prayer
Service @ Williams@ 5:45PM
Choir Practice @ Williams @ 6:30 PM
Upcoming Community Events – March 5 – March 12,
2008
Kenbridge
UMC: World Day of Prayer Breakfast March
Speakers: Rev Ray Buchanan, and Rev Lee Warren of STOP
Hunger Now
Call Roberta Redfern for reservations @ 434-676-8117
Worship Events –March 9, 2008
Service Theme: Lazarus
This week’s reading will be: Sermon Text
Hebrew Text
Pianists: Nancy Turner
Leigh Ann Bacon
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. Antioch UMC
has ordered an additional 400 copies. They 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
Report from the Evangelism
Committee. The Antioch Evangelism Committee has posted sign
up sheets for volunteers for greeters, the phone chain, and those who would
like to assist in going door to door with door hangers. Watch for details about
meeting to make these programs a reality.
Report from the
Help the People of Chacocente
As
a start to help those less fortunate in our world are the people that Brenda
Barnes helped in January. Please look at
the following and if you can, use this product. It only takes your use not your money to
provide funding for a disadvantaged area in the world. Let us ALL reach out and help these people.
GoodSearch
makes Good
“Cents”
Internet and supporting Chacocente. Every search you make using GoodSearch earns one cent for Chacocente.
Searching for a way to help children move out of the dump? Use GoodSearch! You can now support Project
Chacocente every time you browse the Internet! A new search engine called GoodSearch, powered by Yahoo!, donates
50% of its advertising revenue to nonprofit organizations and schools selected
by its users. To benefit Chacocente, all you have to do is download the
Good-Search toolbar, which is free, and use it when you search for any topic on
the Internet. Download GoodSearch at-http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbars.aspx and type in “Project Chacocente” as the
organization you would like to benefit. You can immediately begin searching the
day you download; Chacocente could receiveU$7,300 a year. That’s enough to feed
our families for 9 months!! It costs you nothing, so please download
GoodSearch today.
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 at 7:00PM at
Morning Bible Study. Morning Bible study will meet this week. We will not meet this week. However we will continue again next week at
10:00AM at Audrey Smith’s. We will begin our study of Joshua. 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 |
Jeanette Smith |
|
Bobby & Virginia Overby |
Sara Sutton |
Jeff Hendricks |
|
Earl "Chucky” Barnes |
Our Military |
Nathan Hendricks |
|
Edna & Wilson Bagley |
Alan Green |
Maria Kay |
|
Gayle Grant |
Danny Horne |
Frances Hawthorne |
|
The Family of “B” Hayes |
Kitty Springer |
Elizabeth Bigger staff |
|
Becky Eades & boys |
Gertrude Hite |
Bernard Bottoms |
|
Agnes & CV Thompson |
Tommy Cage |
Rose &Wilson Elliott |
|
Mary Hayes |
Robert King |
Jane DiStefano |
|
Denise Harper |
Grace DiStefano |
George Bishop Family |
|
Rev. & Mrs. Robert Day |
Joe Coleman |
Doug Winn |
|
Richard, Mindy , Robert,
Parker Hite |
Virginia King |
CV & Agnes Thompson |
|
Will Arthur |
Tony Chumney |
Alicia Clary |
|
Rev. Allen Branson |
|
Craig Baird |
|
Betty & Norman Yerby |
David King |
Susan Pernell |
|
Earl Pinchbeck |
|
|
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.
Breast
Cancer Awareness
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/ In the Library
Do We Still Need the Ten
Commandments?
By John H. Timmerman
From the Publisher
John Timmerman revisits the Ten Commandments and pronounces them very much in date, particularly when viewed as positive, grace-full, empowering provisions intended for our blessing and fulfillment as human beings
Children’s
books
James Herriot's Treasury or Children,
illustrated by Ruth Brown and Peter Barrett
Just the sort
of thing you hope will imprint on the memory screen of a young child: fresh,
clear, pure, and good. James Herriot's
Treasury for Children collects all of the beloved veterinarian's delightful
tales for young readers.
About the book:
This book is full of charming true stories told by the veterinarian James
Herriot. These are wonderful stories that introduce children to the
wonders and beauty of animals and nature. These are wonderful stories
that can be enjoyed by the whole family!
Jesus and His Times- Reader’s
Digest-
This book blends the biblical
and historical accounts of New Testament times and reveals the world that Jesus
knew. 10 Chapters
The
John Wesley celebrated the fact that
there are regular (ordinary ) ways that God uses to give grace to us. God is by
no means limited to these “ordinary means of grace,” but the reflective life of
the people of God reveals that there are channels most often used by God to
provide needed grace. God could use a blowtorch, but ordinarily does not!
Ordinary means of grace are the ways
God chooses regularly to give grace. In a sermon preached in 1746, Wesley wrote
“By “means of grace” I understand outward signs, words, or actions ordained by
God, and appointed for this end ---- to be the ordinary channels whereby [God]
might convey to [humankind] prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying grace.”
Methodists’ tradition acknowledges two
categories of means of grace: instituted means of grace (works of piety) and
prudential means of grace (works of mercy).
What are the ordinary means of grace,
particularly as spelled out in the General Rules? The public worship of God.
The ministry of the Word either read or expounded. The Supper of the Lord. Family and private prayer. Searching the Scriptures. Fasting or abstinence.
Wesley was quite clear that there was no
inherent (or magical) power available in following these rules, “but that God
alone is the giver of every good gift, the author of all grace; that the whole
power is of him, whereby through any of these there is any blessing conveyed to
our soul”
“Being Methodist in the Bible Belt” F. Belton Joyner,
Jr.
Please remember that
no one knows you like I know you --- Love God
Have
a Blessed Week