Methodist Messenger Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the

Transcription

1 Skiatook First United Methodist Church Methodist Messenger Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world! A Lenten Journey Towards Wholeness in Skiatook 1007 S. Osage P.O. Box 910 Skiatook OK office@fumcskiatook.com Fax: March 2015 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, Woman, you are set free from your infirmity. Luke 13:12 (NIV) This verse in Luke refers to the physical healing of a crippled woman. She had a condition where she could not straighten up, and had been bent over for 18 years. After calling her forward and physically healing her, Scripture tells us she straightened up and began praising God. She was a woman who had been broken both in body and in spirit. There are many such stories in the Gospels of the different ways that Jesus healed people--- physically, spiritually, and even emotionally, as he restores people back to health and wholeness and affirms their worth and value. Last month, Feb. 18, was Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season. Lent is the 40 days (not including Sundays) that lead through Holy Week, and culminate in Good Friday, and then Easter the Resurrection! During this time, it is an opportunity for Christians to reflect on and consider the reality of God s ongoing story of salvation in our lives. Though we give thanks throughout the year for the work God has done and is doing in our lives, Lent is a special opportunity to renew our commitment to God, and to examine our practices as Christian disciples. It is a time to reflect on the healing we need in our own lives, and to examine the broken places we may find from time to time. We have all experienced brokenness in some form or another, at some point in our lives. All of us have been brought low in some way, through our own suffering, or the suffering of family, friends, or co-workers. Even Jesus suffered; both physically as he was beaten and abused; and mentally as he wondered if God had forsaken even him. We see Jesus pray and weep in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night before his death. Yet, He arose from the grave and emerged victorious through the healing and restoring power of God. We too, can come through the difficult times, and arrive at healing and wholeness. During this Lenten season, we will be focusing on the healing and wholeness that faith in Jesus Christ can bring, if we will allow it. We will be doing a sermon series called Broken Yet Beautiful: A Lenten Journey Towards Wholeness. We will be sharing the stories of Bible characters who experienced brokenness either through sin, choices, and sometimes the choices made by others. Yet, each finds redemption and healing in some way. Join us, as we learn from these stories of Adam & Eve, David, Sampson, the Samaritan woman at the well, and the woman caught in adultery. We will be using symbols of broken flowerpots, beach glass, river rocks, and much more as we confront the brokenness in our own lives, and move towards Christ in a Lenten journey of healing and wholeness. I invite you to use this Lenten time as a time to examine yourselves, identify your areas of brokenness or pain, and move deeper in your faith walk with Christ. Lenten Blessings, Pastor Susan

2 March Children s News Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these. Matthew 19:14 Lenten Workshop March 8th Join us in the LAF building after 2nd service for lunch. Following lunch we will come to the old Fellowship Hall for Lenten activities. We will have several different stations of activities as the children learn about the Easter story. All children of the church are invited! Bring a friend with you! Sunday each week at 9:30 March Lessons THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT" 1st Self Control 8th Honesty 15th Forgiveness 22nd Obedience 29th Responsibility No FIX or Confirmation the week of Spring Break or Holy Week! Enjoy your time with family! Acolyte Calendar: 3/01 Oki / Gabe 03/08 Lexi / Mallory 03/15 Will / Tyler 03/22 Oki / Gabe 03/29 Lexi / Mallory Acolyte training is available to anyone 3rd grade through youth. Please let Miria know if you have a child who is interested. NEW FIX SUNDAY SCHOOL! We have started a new Sunday class each Sunday at 9:30 for our FIX (5th and 6th grade) aged children. This is a unique age for tweens they re too old to be in Sunday with the smaller children, but not quite ready for youth! Leslie Allred has volunteered to teach this class. But we need one thing for this to happen. WE NEED YOUR KIDS! If you have 5th or 6th grader, please encourage them to come to this new class. a Please contact Miria Jones CONFIRMATION CLASS Confirmation Class is meeting on Mondays from 3:15 5:00 in the Old Fellowship Hall beginning 03/02/2015. Exceptions will be 03/16 for Spring Break and 03/30 for Holy Week. Confirmation Sunday is 05/17/2015. Please keep our Confirmands in your prayers. Confirmation retreat at Camp Egan: Abby Younger Layla Haley Mallory Bertwell Mary Rosser Will Jones

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4 Gifts are Given Misc. Happenings To: the General Endowment, in memory of Glenn and Genevieve Donnelly, by Gene and Jackie Moss. In memory of Clancy Burill by Mike & Janine Dodson. Servant Spotlight Thanks to: ** Vern Fuller, for being here and helping with the installation of our new video equipment. **Gary Tucker and Keifer Jones for moving equipment, tables, etc. around in the balcony to accommodate new equipment. **Beverly Dollar, for leading and directing the handbell choir. **Dale Cooley, for donating new chairs for some of our classrooms. Spring Walks to Emmaus Coming Soon The Walk to Emmaus is an inter -denominational weekend experience based on United Methodist theology and understanding. The weekends last from Thursday evening to Sunday afternoon, and are designed as an intensive time of retreat that draws one closer to God. This spring, the Walks will be held at Bixby UMC. The men s weekend will be April Gary Tucker will be a leader on that team. The women s walk is April 30-May 3. Pastor Susan will be the Spiritual Director, and Rev. Mark Whitley will be the Assistant Spiritual Director. If you have ever wondered about Emmaus, please see Pastor Susan for more info. REMEMBER YOUR CHURCH OK UNITED METHODIST FOUNDATION One of our most important acts of stewardship is the final distribution of our life s accumulation. How we distribute our estate speaks volumes about our values and our concerns for our loved ones. First, we must have a written estate plan, either a will or a revocable living trust. Over 50% of Americans die without a plan! Without an estate plan, we have no control of how our estate will be distributed, and may cost our estate between 15-40% of its value. Bequests to our family members tell of our love and concern for their welfare. Bequests to our church affirms our belief in the mission and ministry of the church. As Christians, we need to be good stewards of that which God has provided for us, and this means having a written estate plan. A bequest to our church expresses confidence in the future of our the church, and creates a lasting legacy. It makes a difference! A bequest to your church can be made through your will or trust. This is the simplest method. It can be a certain dollar amount, or a percentage of the estate. Many faithful people choose to tithe their estate. If you would like information on making a bequest to your church, please contact David Battles, CPA, at , or your own attorney to find out your many options. Reprinted with permission from OKUMF United Methodist Men News Our United Methodist Men will be hosting a 2015 Spring Shooting Sporting Clays Event and Luncheon on Saturday, April 25, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. Cost will be $125/shooter or $500 for a four man team. This will include 100 target rounds, 100 shells per shooter (12 or 20 gauge), door prizes, awards, and lunch. Everyone on the range is asked to provide their own eye and ear protection. Safety first! Golf carts will be available for those unable to walk the course. Shooters are asked to indicate the necessity on the form. Round assignments will be made on a first-come, first-served basis, and there will be a morning flight only. There is an opportunity for company sponsorship, with only 1 Gold Sponsor in the tournament. Companies may also elect to become Silver, Bronze, or Station sponsors. More information and registration forms can be found on our website at under the Forms tab. Registration deadline for both sponsors and shooters is Wednesday, April 23, All donations are tax deductible, A receipt will be furnished for your tournament entry. Welcome to our newest members! Welcome to Casey Moss, who transferred her membership from Asbury UMC in Tulsa. Also, welcome Erin Davis who transferred membership from Avant United Methodist Church.

5 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 11:45: SPRC meeting 2:00 Winter Jam Noon: Level 1 3:15: Confirmation 3 7:00 Boy Scouts. 4 Noon: Level 1 3:pm: FIX 5:15 Bells 6 pm: Chums to Nursing Home Bible 5 4:30Chair 6pm Level 2 7pm Bible 6 12 noon: CHUMS Lunch :45 Trustees 11:45: Lenten Workshop (Lunch provided) 5:30 Youth Group 15 No Youth 9 3:15: Confirmation :00: United Methodist Women 7:00 Boy Scouts. 17 St. Patrick's Day 11 noon: level 1 3pm FIX 5:15pm: Bells 6 pm: Chums to nursing Hone 6:30: United Methodist Men Bible 18 noon: level 1 6:00 Chums to nursing home Bible 12 2:00 6:30 Red Cross Blood Drive 4:30Chair 6pm Level 2 7pm Bible 19 4:30Chair 6 pm: Level 2 7 pm Bible 13 No ASAC Closed Youth GLOW party 8-10 pm 20 8:30: CHUMS Breakfast :30 Youth Group 29 (Palm Sunday) 5:30 Youth Group 23 3:15 Confirmation Class 30 S P R I N G B R E A K A S A C C L O S E D - > 24 7:00 Boy Scouts 31 7:00 Boy Scouts 25 noon: level 1 3 pm: FIX 5:15pm: Bells 6:00 Chums to nursing Home Bible 1 5:30: Handbells 6:30: Lenten Bible 26 4:30Chair 6 pm: Level 2 7 pm Bible 2 Maundy Thursday Dinner: 6:30 pm Good Friday service of Tenebrae: 6:30 pm 4

6 Skiatook First United Methodist Church 1007 S. Osage P.O. Box 910 Skiatook, OK RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED RECYCLE PLEASE Holy Week is always a special time in the life of the Skiatook church. Holy Week is a special time of reflection, prayer, and worship leading up to the joy of Easter Sunday. We believe that the joy of Easter is richer for having faced the pain of the journey of Holy Week. Please plan on joining us for our special services this week. Sunday, March 29: Palm Sunday We will enter with the traditional waving of the Palm branches. Thursday, April 2: We will celebrate Maundy Thursday in the LAF Building with a shared meal and short drama. We will try to capture the mood of Jesus final meal with his disciples, and will end with the sharing of Holy Communion. Be watching for more details we will need lots of help in many ways. If you can help with the Maundy Thursday dinner, please let Cathy Allred, or the church office know. Friday, April 3: We will have a Good Friday service of Tennebrae (light to dark) service at 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary. This sobering service reminds us of the loving sacrifice of Jesus. Easter Sunday, April 5: Our 8:30 service will be our service of Darkness-to-Light as we experience the unexpected joy of the Resurrection. Join us for a truly unique experience! 9:30: We will have Easter Brunch in the LAF Building, with an Easter Egg hunt for the children immediately after eating, before the 2nd service. 10:30: Join us for a traditional Easter celebration with bells, music, flowers and a message of Resurrection!