The Journey. Antioch United Methodist Church Antioch Church Rd Gainesville GA Randy Strickland, Pastor.

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1 Randy Strickland, Pastor Cell 2922 Antioch Church Rd Gainesville GA Antioch United Methodist Church Randy s Ramblings Don t let your worries get to you. Remember that Moses started out as a basket case. Since we are now in the Lenten Season and Palm Sunday is the last Sunday of the month, I thought it would be a good thing to devote my Ramblings to a little history and explanation of these special times in the life of the Church. Lent probably originated with pre-easter baptismal rituals. Easter has traditionally been a time of receiving new members and baptizing them into the church. This is true for Protestants as well as Roman Catholics. Many churches time confirmation classes to coordinate with Easter. As early as 180 A.D. there are records of pre-easter fasts. Tertullian in 200 A.D. suggests that Catholics fast and pray for two days prior to Easter but the Montanists, a sect accused of being heretical fasted longer. By the time of the Nicene Creed in 325 A.D. the church had adopted a forty day time of fasting and prayer preceding Easter. The word Lent is derived from an ancient Germanic word which meant springtime. Many in the Church see lent as a kind of spring cleaning of our lives in preparation to properly celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. In our tradition, Lent has become a time for giving up things that claim our time and attention and for focusing on Bible Study, prayer, fasting, and doing charity. If we give up certain foods or activities but do not add these things to our discipline we are merely on a diet. Lent should be a time of self reflection and repentance as well as looking to the needs of those around us and offering God s love to them in tangible ways. It is a great season to plan mission adventures such as our youth and children did with the preparation of care packages for Haiti. Lent comes to a close with Palm Sunday and Holy Week. Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. The gospels record the arrival of Jesus riding into the city on a donkey, while the crowds spread their cloaks and palm branches on the street and shouted "Hosanna to the Son of David" and "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" to honor him as their long-awaited Messiah and King. Palm Sunday is an occasion for reflecting on the final week of Jesus' life. It is a time for Christians to prepare their hearts for the agony of His Passion and the joy of His Resurrection. A fact that you may not know; The palms of Palm Sunday are kept, allowed to dry and are then burned to become the ashes for next year s Ash Wednesday service. Wearin O The Green Remember your adopted GAP Client this month by sending them a St. Patrick's Day Card or a Shamrock plant. Shamrocks are very hardy plants and easy to maintain. If you do not have an adopted GAP Client see Joe Strickland for a name. Handbells It is not too late to join a Handbell choir! Music Readers rehearse on Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. and non- Music Readers rehearse on Wednesday mornings at 10:00 a.m. Come join the FUN. Volume 12 Number 3 March 2010

2 Page 2 If a church wants a better pastor, it only needs to pray for the one it has. God doesn t judge anyone until he s dead, so why should we? The Prayer Chain Our prayer chain is one of our most important ministries. When the need arises, we try to get the word our through and personal telephone calls. If you prefer a phone call, please call June Mathis ( ) and let her know. She will make sure you are notified. Send your requests to Danny Jones at antiochjourney@comcast.net or bampadan@comcast.net. Administrative Council Minutes (February 9) from Joan Briggs The will of God never takes you where the grace of God will not protect you. Prayer List The Burgners Elizabeth Cassady Ophelia Cook Caylin Davenport Margaret Dorsey Sandi Forshee W.L. Harrison Bobby and Kansie Haynes Lee Hudson Patricia King Sandra Olar Gladys Rumfelt Lera Strickland Nancy Swinson Jeff Wilkerson The opening prayer was given by Randy Strickland. Celebrations: New windows were installed in Truslow Hall. Sandi Forshee is home, and Greg Burgner is progressing well. Minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. The finance report was read and approved. Old Business: There was discussion of reprinting the church recipe book as a fundraiser. A poll of church members will be taken to see how many we will need to order. The possibility of a yard sale as a fundraiser was discussed. We will have a raffle of a chainsaw donated by Robby Hulsey. New Business: There will be a covered dish meal on Sunday, February 28 to honor Mary Beth Wheeler, one of our military heroes. Rita Edge reported that Bible School will be June 27 through July 1. The worship committee is making plans for Come Back Home Sunday next month. Postcards have been printed and mailed. There will be a covered dish meal featuring barbecue chicken. Evelyn Strickland will call the congregation for additional casseroles, etc. We will have Youth Sunday on May 16 to celebrate the high school graduation of our Megan Hulsey. PPR committee received the resignation of Brandon Nonnemaker as choir director. We will need to seek a new director. A vote was made and approved to pay Donna Corbin as temporary choir director. Rita Edge, Roni Grizzle and Randy Strickland will review the Safe Sanctuary rules and regulations. UMW reported that the Valentines the group made were mailed to Afghanistan to US troops. The trustees reported that changes will be made on the rules and fees for use of Truslow Hall and the sanctuary. We will also need a job description of the lawn work position. Bo Wheeler volunteered to take on this task and return his salary to the church. A motion was made by Donna Corbin and seconded by Sheila Coffee that Robby Hulsey will contact our present lawn service and notify them that their job will end March A letter of ghanks will be given to them as well as a letter of recommendation. The meeting was attended by the following: Rolan Smith, Vivian Smith, Emily Hulsey, Randy Strickland, Donna Corbin, June Mathis, Rita Edge, Mallory Edge, Evelyn Strickland, Bo Wheeler, Robby Hulsey, Sheila Coffee and Roni Grizzle.

3 Page 3 Minutes of the February 3 Trustees Meeting from Barbara Wilson In attendance: Roger Briggs, Lois Reaume, Charles Coffee, Randy Strickland, Glen Davidson, Barbara Wilson, and Robby Hulsey The meeting was brought to order by Robby Hulsey. Afterwards, a prayer was given by Randy Strickland. The minutes from the last meeting were read by the secretary, Barbara Wilson. All attending approved the minutes. Old Business: Robby replenished our supply of light bulbs. The trustees expressed thanks to the following people: Robert Wilson for cleaning & organizing the storage room in the basement of Truslow Hall. Glen Davidson for staining the new windows in Truslow Hall, removing the old playset & the discards from the storage room, & cleaning the outside of the new windows in Truslow Hall. Gloria Davidson for organizing the linen closet & for cleaning the new windows inside & out. March 3 March 7 March 9 March 28 April 4 April 13 May 9 May 11 May 16 June 9-13 June June 20 Trustee Meeting 7 pm Come Back Home Sunday Palm Sunday Easter Mother s Day Administrative Council 7 pm Youth Sunday and Covered Dish Dinner First GAP Annual Conference Father s Day Robby is compiling estimates on refurbishing the church sign in front of the church. Evelyn will wallpaper the wall above the kitchen sinks when the weather turns warmer. NEW BUSINESS: The thermostat in the parsonage had to be replaced by Glen. Lawson Heating & Air Conditioning was called Monday to check for the problem with one of our units. It was determined a fan motor was burnt & needed replaced. Upon replacing the fan motor, it was determined the actual problem was the circuit board which caused the fan motor to burn out. Therefore, the circuit board had to be replaced, too. The heating system is thus repaired with a five year warranty on the motor & one year warranty on the labor. Bo Wheeler is retiring from his job at the end of February & requested to view a Load Up Your Calendar For the Rest of the Year June June 27-July 1 July 18 July August 10 September 14 October 12 December 5 December 12 copy of the church s lawn maintenance requirements. Bo has expressed interest in handling the church s lawn needs. J & M Lawn Service currently handles the church s lawn maintenance. With approval from the Administrative Council, Bo will begin handling the church s lawn needs by April. Robby brought copies of the guidelines for Truslow Hall, weddings & the cemetery for the trustees review & possible modifications. The guidelines hadn t been updated since 1998, so after some revisions & unanimously accepted by the attending members, the new guidelines will be submitted to the administrative council for approval. Final discussion was developing a plat of the cemetery plots. Our next meeting will be on March 3, Meeting was adjourned. Second GAP Bible School Campmeeting Dinner 5:30 pm Campmeeting Dinner hosted by Stricklands Children s Program A lot of folks want to serve God, but only as advisors. It s easier to preach 10 sermons than it is to live one. The good Lord didn t create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close. Why do people change churches? What difference does it make which one you stay home from? Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you will be able to enjoy it a second time. Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

4 Page 4 God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God is your co-pilot, you need to swap seats. Some minds are like concrete thoroughly mixed up and permanently set. A lot of church members singing Standing on the Promises are just sitting on the premises. He who angers you controls you. The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us. Lenten Book Study Have you ever thought how your way of thinking influences your life? If you want to discover how to change your thinking to positively influence your life, then you will want to study The 4:8 Principle by Tommy Newberry. In this simple, straightforward book, Tommy uses the Bible verse from Philippians 4:8... whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things to give us guidelines for thinking more positively and improving our outlook on life. In other words how to have a revival of the spirit that starts with the mind. It is truly humbling to think that Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians while in prison. Truly, if anyone had a reason to be depressed and to think negatively, he did. And yet, he wrote words of hope and optimism which not only affected the early Church, but are still influencing us almost 2000 years later. I hope you will follow our journey as we try to change our way of thinking this Lenten season. Even if you can t physically be with us Wednesday nights, maybe you can read and study and pray along with us during this season of contemplation. Ella K Scholz Hymn of the Month In the coming months we will have a Hymn of the Month. We will sing the Hymn during Worship Services, hear the hymn played at various times, and will learn about the composers and possibly why the hymn was written. Our Hymn of the Month for March is "This Is a Day of New Beginnings," written by Brian Wren and music composed by Carlton R. Young. Read the words of this Hymn: This is a day of new beginnings, time to remember and move on, Time to believe what love is bringing, laying to rest the pain that's gone. For by the life and death of Jesus, God's mighty Spirit, now as then, Can make for us a world of difference, as Faith and Hope are born again. Then let us, with the Spirit's daring, step from the past and leave behind Our disappointment, guilt, and grieving, seeking new paths, and sure to find. Christ is alive, and goes before us to show and share what love can do. This is a day of new beginnings; our God is making all things new. Brian Wren is a Minister of the United Reformed Church of Great Britain, and an internationally published hymn writer. After taking degrees in Modern Languages and Theology at Oxford, and completing his doctoral work there, he served in parish ministry, then as a campaigner and adult education consultant on world poverty issues. Following nearly two decades of freelance ministry, he now serves on the faculty of Columbia Theological Seminary, teaching courses related to worship and congregational song. His wife Susan is an ordained minister of the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church and is now serving in the North Georgia Conference as Pastor of Owl Rock United Methodist Church, on the western edge of Atlanta. Carlton R. Young was born in Hamilton, Ohio and served in the Air Force during World War II. A teacher, editor, composer and conductor, he has the unique distinction of serving as editor of two revisions of hymnals for Methodists: THE METHODIST HYMNAL, 1966; and THE UNITED METHODIST HYMNAL, Since 1971 he has been a consultant and editor with Hope Publishing Co. In retirement, he continues to write and compose from his home in Nashville, TN.

5 Amount: In Memory of Easter Lilies If you d like to purchase an Easter lily in memory or honor of someone, please fill this out and drop it in the offering plate. Cost for each is $12. Mark your check For Easter Lily. Orders are due by Mar. 21, Name: Number of lilies: In Honor of You are invited to Come Back Home To Antioch Sunday, March 7, 2010 Service at 11 am Barbecue Dinner at noon Antioch United Methodist Church 2922 Antioch Church Rd Gainesville, Georgia Let s make this a great Homecoming Day! Page 5

6 Antioch United Methodist Church 2922 Antioch Church Road Gainesville, GA Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Trustees 7 pm Dot Roper Doug Hulsey 4 5 Bill Scholz Sabrina Edge 6 7 COME BACK HOME 8 9 Admin. Council 7 pm Carolyn Ferris 28 Palm Sunday Robert Wilson Martha S Coffee 31