What It Looks Like to Give Everything to God By Trevor Cox NewSpring Church

Transcription

1 Laurens United Methodist Church 201 W. Main St., Laurens, IA The Newsletter Volume 24 Issue 47 November 26, 2018 What It Looks Like to Give Everything to God By Trevor Cox NewSpring Church Christians tend to use the word worship to describe Sunday church activities. We say things like, Let s go to the worship service and see the worship leader who leads us in worship. Using the word worship to describe church music or Sunday activities is certainly not wrong. But it is a bit like using the word buffet when we actually mean potatoes. Potatoes are delicious, but a buffet includes much, much more. What Worship Is Worship describes our whole-life response to God s worth. We sing in response to God s worth, but worship encompasses so much more -everything we are and everything we have. God s worth is beyond measuring, so giving Him our entire life is our only reasonable response. Romans 12:1 says that in view of all God has done we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is our spiritual worship. continued on next page.. Wed., Nov. 28th: Book 9 a.m. Confirmation 6 p.m. Puppet Troop Christmas 7 p.m. Fri., Nov. 30th: Men s Bible 7 a.m. Sun., Dec. 2nd: Youth Group (Sr. High) 6-8 pm at Bethany Lutheran Church Mon., Dec. 3rd: Quilt Club 6 p.m.

2 Only God is worthy of our whole-life response. When we overvalue an object, a relationship, or a job, by responding as if it were God, we commit idolatry. For example, we might spend $4 on a cup of coffee, but we d never spend $4 million. Why? The coffee is worth no more than $4, so we respond by giving only $4 for it. Imagine a person paying $4 million for a cup of coffee! While this is an absurd example, the root of all idolatry is misassigned value. Idolatry begins when we place greater value on lesser things. Only God is worthy of our whole-life response. What Happens When We Give Everything to God John 12 paints the scene of a whole life poured out in response to the worth of God. Mary and Martha host a dinner in honor of Jesus because He recently raised their brother, Lazarus, from the dead. It s difficult to imagine the depth of conversation around that table. Ironically, the celebration of Lazarus resurrection takes place only a few days before Jesus death. As the guests lounge around the table eating, Mary enters, pours expensive perfume on Jesus feet, and begins wiping His feet with her hair. Her offering of perfume points us the self-giving nature of worship. Here we see a picture of what happens when we give everything to God. 1. Our worship will be perceived as undignified by some. Mary pushed through cultural norms setting aside her inhibitions as she poured perfume on Jesus feet and wiped them with her hair. No matter the culture or time period, Mary s act of worship in a room full of men reclining at supper would be considered awkward if not scandalous. She didn t allow others opinions to dictate her response. It s amazing how much value we place in others opinions! How often do we fail to make bold moves for fear of damaging our reputation? God is worth more than our reputation or the opinion of others. Would we be willing to let down our hair or mess up our look for the sake of following God? We can sit like wallflowers at the middle school dance, worried about everyone s opinion except God s. Or we can enter the undignified dance of life before the One who matters most. 2. Worship will cost us. Judas was upset because he viewed Mary s worship as a waste. For Judas, Jesus was worth 30 pieces of silver the equivalent of four months wages, or ironically, the amount paid in restitution for a slave killed by an animal. In contrast, Mary s response to Jesus declared His worth. How could she do less? When my wife first started as a teacher, her students would tell her they had wasted their milk. After a few days, she realized that when they said wasted they actually meant spilled. When it comes to giving our lives

3 to God, there will always be people who view what we pour out to Him as a waste. Whether it s a person confused by your generosity or a family member thinking your career change is a mistake, our worship to God will cost us and people will misunderstand. Whatever we sacrifice to God will cost us something, but it is never a waste. He s worthy! Oh, that we d be accused of wasting our life on Jesus! 3. God is truly pleased with our worship. We can all agree that grilled steak smells great. Even non-coffee drinkers appreciate the smell of coffee. The context of this episode revolves around a smell. Mary didn t light up the room with a candle or sing a beautiful song. She broke open a container of perfume and the fragrance filled the room. Have you noticed that smell powerfully connects us to our memory? This passage provokes our biblical memory incense rising, burnt sacrifices offered, and bread broken. In each instance, God was pleased with the aroma. In each case, the smell signified something wholly given to God in worship. The steak only smells good if it s burning. Coffee bean only smell good if they are crushed. Perfume only fills the room for all to enjoy if it s released from its container. Isn t this just like God? He asks us to give ourselves wholly to Him, offering our lives as living sacrifices to Him. Jesus had died as a sacrifice so that we might live broken before God, wholly given to Him. This is our only reasonable response to who He is and what He s done. Is there any area of your life not fully given to Him? Is there any object, relationship, or work you hold as more valuable than God. When we give everything to our worthy God, our lives rise like a pleasing aroma to Him and He is pleased. Mark your calendars for our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Tuesday, December 24, 5:00 p.m. Please bring the entire family to this special service. There will be NO 11 p.m. service.

4 Altar flowers this past Sunday were given in honor of Don & Grace Hertz s 57th Wedding Anniversary which was November 24, Thank you to Greg & Deb Hertz and family for providing them. Happy 57th Wedding Anniversary to Don & Grace! In case of inclement weather, church cancellations will be aired on KAYL (101.7 FM), KICD (107.7 FM), and KJYL (100.7 FM) radio stations. Cancellations will also be posted on our church facebook page (Laurens United Methodist Church), our website ( and Channel 4 (KTIV). Festival of Trees set up days will be Monday, November 26th & Tuesday, November 27th from 8:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. both days. Space assigned for each tree will be indicated at the church. Hands of Hope Puppet Troop Christmas party THIS Wed., Nov. 7:00 p.m.! Snacks, prizes & games! We will also decorate our tree for the Festival of Trees.

5 United Methodist Student Day special offering will be taken on Sunday, December 2, Your generous gift supports United Methodist Student Day scholarships, administered by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. When you give today, you enrich ministry and help connect students to their faith. Offering envelopes will be available in your Sunday bulletin. You may also mail or drop off your donation to the church office at 201 W. Main St., Laurens, Iowa Please be sure to mark your check UM Student Day offering in the memo. Thank you for your generosity. Our Children s Christmas Program will be held on Sunday, December 9th during the worship hour@ 10:30 a.m. Sunday School students grades 6th-12th who are in band please bring your musical instruments with you to Sunday School Dec. 2nd & Dec. 9th. Thank you. If your child would like to provide special music for the Children s Christmas Program on December 9 please notify (712) Youth Group Haiti Mission Trip date is set for June 10-June 16 of They are still in need of funds to attend the mission trip. If you would like to give a donation please make check out to the Laurens Area Community Youth Group and write Haiti Mission Trip in memo. Donations may be mailed to our church at 201 W. Main St., Laurens, Iowa All donations are greatly appreciated.

6 Our church is once again collecting Christmas gifts for local families in need. There is a bulletin board in the church narthex labeled Christmas Families. Please write your name on the cardboard of which family you took. Please have the gifts (wrapped or unwrapped) back to the church by December 9th. Gifts should be placed under the east Christmas tree in the church sanctuary. If you have any questions please contact Mary Svuba at Thank you for your generosity. Our church will be taking a special offering on Sunday, December 9th to aid the disaster relief for the victims of the California wildfires. There will be more details to come. Please keep all the victims, wildlife, firefighters, and first responders in your prayers.

7 The Life Line Program is now underway! Adults & Youth Life Lines, please leave notes/cards for your life line by the yellow mailbox on the table in the church narthex. Children are NOT to pick up their cards or gifts. Deb Spanier will deliver them to your Sunday School classroom on Sundays mornings. Adults, youth should receive a card or note from you at the very least once a month and youth please be sure that you are leaving notes & thank you s for your Adult Life Line also. If you have any questions regarding the Life Line Program please contact Deb If you or a loved one need to be added to or removed from our prayer list please notify the church office at (712) or methodistsec@laurens-ia.com. November/December 2018 issues of Upper Room are now available in the church library for you to pick up at your convenience. Thank you to everyone who participates, helps, performs & serves each Sunday morning to help make our fellowship & worship service a wonderful & meaningful experience for all in the glorifying of our Lord.

8 Quarter donations for the month of December will be going towards Cherish House which helps young struggling mothers. There will be baby bottles passed around to collect quarter donation during worship instead of the baskets for the month of December. For more information please visit Cherish Center online at Thank you to everyone who donates quarters each Sunday and to the children who collect them. If your mailing address, phone number or address has changed please notify the church office at (712) or If you or a loved one are hospitalized and would like a visit from Pastor Ed please contact (712) or (712) Watch our worship services online at your convenience at Click on Sermons Worship services may be viewed on local Channel 2 every Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.

9 Laurens United Methodist Church December 2018 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 Cleveland/Sullivan Wedding Festival of trees CLOSED 2 Student Sunday offering Brad Tendal, Katie Fuchs & Samuel Jones Adult Sunday 9:00am Sunday 9:10am 9:30 am 10:30 am Holy Communion Youth Grp 6-8 pm (HS) at Bethany Lutheran F.O.T. open NOON-7 pm 3 Quilt Club 6 p.m. 4 Joan Harris 5 Brett Latham Joan Enockson Book 9 am Chamber Soup Supper 4:30-7 p.m. Confirmation 6 p.m. NO Puppets 6 UMW Executive Board 1 pm UMW General 2 pm 7 Pastor s day off Men s Bible 7 am 8 Jadelyn Richardson UMM 8:00 a.m. Festival of Trees Open NOON 7 p.m. 9Jean Murray, Matt Hertz Adult Sunday 9:00a Sunday School 9:10 am 9:30 am 10:30 am Children s Christmas Program Caring Cards 2-4 pm Festival of Trees open NOON 7 p.m. Youth Group 6-8 p.m. (JH) at Lutheran Church Choir 7 pm 10 Laurens Power & Communications Tour of Lights 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Festival of Trees will be on the tour list Book 9 am NO Puppets 13 Brain Trauma Support 6 p.m. Wesley Room Finders Keepers 6:30 p.m in Fellowship Hall 14 Pastor s day off Men s Bible 7 am 15 Dawn Nelson Chase Oehlertz Festival of Trees Open NOON-7 p.m. Festival of Trees Readers Theatre event Time TBA 16 Don Aschenbrenner Adult Sunday 9am Sunday 9:10 am 9:30 am 10:30 a.m Choir performs Festival of Trees open NOON -7 p.m. Youth Group (HS) from 6-8p at Lutheran Church 17 Carolyn Garton Kelly Tate Book 9 a.m. Confirmation 6 p.m. NO Puppets Administrative Council 8:15 p.m. 20 NO Rachel Circle 21 Pastor s day off Men s Bible 7 am 22 Bob Dallenbach Festival of Trees Open NOON-7 p.m. 23 Brenda Harrold Jennifer Spooner NO Sunday School 9:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Choir performs NO Youth Group Festival of Trees open NOON-7 p.m. 24 Ataya Arends Christmas Eve Candlelight 5 p.m. NO 11 p.m. service 25 Janet Carlson Kale Kraft Merry Christmas! CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED 26 Diane Latham NO Puppets NO Book Club NO Confirmation Class 27 Julie Potter Community Blood Drive 1:30-5:30 p.m. Fellowship Hall 28 Blake Wiley Pastor s day off Men s Bible 7 a.m. 29 Yvonne Wenell Festival of Trees Open NOON-7 p.m. 30 NO Sunday School 9:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. NO Youth Group 31 Doris Sobotka Festival of Trees NOON 7 p.m. Festival of Trees tear down 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

10 Contact information: Pastor Ed Frank: Pastor s Cell phone: (712) Pastor s swmreved@hotmail.com Autumm Brazel, Executive Secretary: Office (712) methodistsec@laurens-ia.com Linda Olson, Custodian Office Hours: 8:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M. Monday Friday visit our website at: Stewardship for Sunday, November 25, 2018 Weekly Year-to-date Special Total Receipts for Nov. 25th: Projected Budget Needs: $ 4, $ 3, $ 135, $ 167, $ Attendance for Nov. 25th: Sunday School ~ 57 Worship ~ 99 PRAYER REQUESTS: Virginia Otto, Pete Davis (Beverly Rusch s son-in-law), Tom Steinkoenig, victims of California wildfires, Carolyn Garton (hospice), Deb Buse, Wyatt Gentry, Jamey Turner, Amy Gustafson, Emmaline Roenfeldt, Edith Colleen White, Gabrielle Wingler, victims of natural disasters, our schools (safety), our military, our nation (unity), our world (peace). Sunday, December 2, 2018 WORSHIP Adult Sunday School ~ 9:00 A.M. Sunday School (Cherubs-High School) ~ 9:10 A.M. Fellowship Coffee ~ 9:30 A.M. Worship ~ 10:30 A.M. Holy Communion Student Sunday special offering Liturgist ~ Angela Christenson Pianist ~ Barb Ryon Ushers ~ Greg Hertz, Brad Rubel, John Sobotka and Charles Harrold Greeters ~ Linda Lingo and Marilyn Jackson Acolytes ~ Ataya Arends and TBA Children s Sermon ~ Jean Murray