Lunenburg United Methodist Charge
On our walk. . . . .
November 7,2007
Pastor’s Message –
1Everyone must
submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except
that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been
established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the
authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will
bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those
who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of
the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For
he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does
not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring
punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit
to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of
conscience.
There’s
a saying that goes, “Freedom’s never free.”
Folks, you and I live in a country that cost men their lives to make free. They paid the ultimate sacrifice, and some are
still doing it, so you and I can be free citizens of the greatest country on
earth. We need to honor not only those
who are serving now, but all who have served and in some instances given all
for that privilege. Let’s all take a
moment and remember all our veterans.
Talking about dying so you can be free, remember that you can have a home in
heaven because someone else died to make you free. Jesus paid the ultimate price so you and I
could be free citizens of a heavenly kingdom.
I say that citizens of heaven can be the best citizens on earth, and the main
reason for that is because we can look beyond the troubles and problems of our
country to see the wondrous joy of heaven that waits for citizens of heaven.
Let me ask you – are you a citizen of heaven?
If you were to die today, would you have a home in heaven? What would
you say if God asked you why He should let you into heaven? It won’t be good
enough to say you were an American. It
won’t be good enough to say you gave to charity. It won’t be good enough to say
you went to church. The only way to
become a citizen of heaven is to walk across the bridge of life that Christ
made with His blood. The Bible says that
the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus
our Lord. Jesus said that if you hear
His Words and believe the Father, you have crossed over from death to life.
God Bless
Upcoming Events – November 8 – November 14, 2007
Saturday, November 10,
2007
Men’s
Breakfast@
Williams
Youth Group Masquerade Ball @ Williams@ 5:00PM
Monday, November 12, 2007
Bible Study@ Antioch’s
@ 7:00 PM
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Bible Study@
Audrey Smith’s @ 10:00 AM
Administrative Board Meeting @ Antioch @ 7:00PM
Wednesday, November7, 2007
Prayer
Meeting @ Williams @ 5:45 PM
William’s Celebration
Choir practice @ Williams @ 6:30 PM
Worship Events—November 11, 2007
Service Theme: God’s
Promises
This week’s
reading will be: Sermon Text
Hebrew Text Psalm 145: 1-5, 17-21
Communion:
Traditional
The
Administrative Board of Antioch UMC will meet on Tuesday, November 13 at
7:00pm.
This
meeting is open to all who wish to learn how and what your church is planning
for the coming months. If you have
questions or requests come to the meeting and be heard.
The
Antioch Mission Committee met on Wednesday, November 7th. The November schedule of events are:
11/17/07
@ 8:00 AM @ Parsonage Men to
gather at cut and deliver wood to a needy family
11/25/07
@ 10:00 AM during Sunday School – write cards to send to recovering
servicemen
Please
join us in these events.
150th Anniversary
Throws Throws are still available. These beautiful throws
will make a great present for a family member. 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. They would make a
lovely Christmas Present.
Cookbooks are still available. The
Administrative Board has authorized the Cookbook Committee to order an
additional 400 copies. If you would like to obtain copies for the upcoming
Christmas Season please contact Susan Moseley at
676-2081, Gayle Grant at 676-3531, Trudy Wilkins at 676-4458, or anyone at
Brunswick Stew On Saturday, November
17, Williams UMC will be cooking a stew. It should be ready between 11 and 12
noon. If you would like to order please contact any member of Williams UMC.
Night in
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 November 5, at 7:00PM. We will be continuing to read and study Exodus
with a particular look at the historical view of the writers. If you would like to join us come on over, Monday
@ 7:00PM at
The
John Wesley believed that the
Bible was twice inspired: once when written and again when read.
Church today comes from disagreement about which of these two points to emphasize: inspired when written or inspired when read. In one case, the reader is concerned only with the precise wording of the original manuscript, with little regard to its cultural context or historical setting. In the other case, the reader is concerned with bringing to bear on the biblical text all of the influences of modern sociology, psychology, geography, and economics with little regard for the meaning offered in the ancient text. Methodists in the Wesleyan tradition balance these two extremes, aware that the same Holy Spirit who inspired the Scriptures is alive and well to bring the written Word alive' for the twenty-first century. We take seriously both the original inspiration and today's contemporary inspiration.
So, how did John Wesley sort through the Scriptures when there seemed to be conflicts, vagueness, uncertainty? In the preface to his standard sermons (1746), he spelled out how he studied the Bible:
“Here then I am, far from the busy ways of men. I sit down alone: only God is here. In his presence I open, I read his Book; for this end, to find the way to heaven. Is there a doubt concerning the meaning of what I read? Does anything appear dark or intricate? I lift up my heart to the Father of lights: "Lord, is it not thy Word, 'If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God'? Thou ‘givest liberally and upbraidest not.' Thou hast said, 'If any be willing to do try will, he shall know.' I am willing to do, let me know, thy will." I then search after and consider parallel passages of Scripture, "comparing spiritual things with spiritual." I meditate thereon, with all the attention and earnestness of which my mind is capable. If any doubt still remains, I consult those who are experienced in the things of God, and then the writing whereby, being dead, they yet speak. And what I thus learn, that I teach.”
Methodists who seek to study the Bible in this Wesleyan pattern will (I) set aside a time and place where such reading can occur without interruption; (2) accept the presence of God's Holy Spirit; (3) read with an openness to new places God might lead; (4) pursue difficult passages by praying, comparing other biblical texts, meditating on possible meanings, connecting with others in the community of believers, and drawing on the understandings of the ancient tradition.
In this way, the Bible itself becomes the balancing,
clarifying, even correcting tool for understanding the Scripture. God's gifts in
the written Word are so rich that they can continue to give
light and life as one digs again and again into the same Scriptures. God's
inspired Word is as fresh as the love God brings anew
each day.
“Being
Methodist in the Bible Belt” F. Belton Joyner, Jr.
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 |
Allen Green |
Bertha Arthur |
|
Sarah Agnes Callis |
Rev. Al Green |
Paul & Argy Turner |
|
Bobby & Virginia Overby |
Barry Fitzpatrick |
Jeff Hendricks |
|
Rev. & Mrs. Robert Day |
Kevin Cassada |
Nathan Hendricks |
|
Earl "Chuckie” Barnes |
Christian Sutton |
Maria Kay |
|
Edna & Wilson Bagley |
Sheila Cage |
Frances Hawthorne |
|
Family of Paul Rhyne |
Virginia King |
David King |
|
“B” & Teewah Hayes |
Sara Sutton |
Tommy Cage |
|
Elizabeth Biggerstaff |
Bernard Bottoms |
Our Military |
|
Becky Eades & boys |
Wanda Chumney |
Kitty Springer |
|
Harry & Margaret Smith |
Jack Heater |
Grace DiStefano |
|
Marvin L. Crutchfield |
Kathy Barnhill |
Eddie Slagle |
|
Walter B. Moseley &
Family |
Dorothy Driskill |
|
|
Sue Barnes |
Marjorie Coleman |
|
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.
In the Library
Knowing Christianity Series-
The Early Church by W.H.C. Frend,
A historical and theological survey of the development of the Christian church from apostolic times through the fifth century.
Bread for Believers by Curtis Hutson
The foundations for growth. What every Christian needs to know.
The
Walk to Emmaus
This week we
continue our new series about “The Walk to Emmaus”. The following information comes from “What Is
Emmaus?” We hope you find it informative and we hope it clears up any
misconception there may be about the Walk to Emmaus
Rev Ed
Ideally, Walk to
Emmaus participants would come to the end of their three days moved to live in
God's grace forever, to serve Christ and humanity through the church, and to
persevere in their spiritual growth through participation in an Emmaus
follow-up group. In reality, peoples' experiences on The Walk to Emmaus vary
widely. Though some will acclaim their Emmaus experience as a life-changing
event, it is not so for everyone. Nor should it be a life-changing experience
for everyone. Participants who come expecting a special kind of spiritual high
or mountaintop experience, based on what others have said about their
experiences, sometimes go home disappointed.
Emmaus exists to
strengthen the discipleship of church people. How God uses The Emmaus Walk to
that end differs for each person. For some, Emmaus strengthens an already
active Christian life and church involvement. For a few, it is the beginning of
an altogether new life with God. For others, Emmaus serves as the impetus to
move from an abstract commitment to Christ to a practical lifestyle of
Christian discipleship. For still others, Emmaus provides an opportunity to
link up with other Christians who want to form groups for mutual support and
growth.
When asked about
the benefit of Emmaus, some people will say they gained fresh insight. Others
will state they gained new grounding for their faith. Many will say they
experienced love and acceptance like they had never before known. Most everyone
will agree that the Walk was fun and that it resulted in lasting friendships.
Some people do not
enjoy certain aspects of the Emmaus Walk, finding it too structured or lacking
in sufficient time to do as they please. Others will report they gained more
from subsequent involvement in the follow-up groups or as team members, where
for them the message of the Walk took hold.
No standard
response to The Emmaus Walk exists. Though the form of the Walk is the same for
everyone, the experience depends entirely on each person's journey, temperament,
life circumstances, spiritual maturity, church background, and relationship
with God. What is important is that participants attend Emmaus out of a desire
to grow spiritually and that they allow God to use the three days to move them
forward in faith. The three-day Walk is only a platform from which to embark on
a deeper walk with Christ for the rest of one's life.
Remember:
“Standing on the Promises” or just sitting on the premises?
Have
a Blessed Week