Volume 62, Issue 7 March, Ecclesiastes 3:1: For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven (NLT).

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1 Fellowship Lantern Volume 62, Issue 7 March, 2019 Ecclesiastes 3:1: For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven (NLT). Winter has finally arrived! We finally got winter! Or perhaps it is more accurate to say, winter finally got us! For, December was wonderfully deceptive. Not enough snow to mention and the temperatures were mostly bearable and warmer than typical December weather. Some of us even dared to hope for a White Christmas. I have realized in my older age that there is something about cold weather that is no longer fun. It takes much more time to warm up after I get cold. That may explain why I no longer desire to go skiing, make snow angels, snow men or even a single snow ball! Hurry up spring-time! Come Quickly! We humans spend a lot of time wishing along the seasons, don t we? When it is hot and humid during the summer, we wish for cooler weather. When it is cold and blustery during the winter, we wish for warmer weather. God created seasons and while they do not always agree with us, they are a necessary part of life and will continue to be with us. Genesis 8:22 reminds us, For as long as Earth lasts, planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never stop (MSG). It is the same with the various seasons of our lives. We will have seasons of all types and durations. When we are young, we wish to be older. How many adolescents wish to be old enough to drive, get a job or live on their own? And when we are older, we wish to be younger. How many of us adults wish to be younger with fewer aches and pains, more hair and more time? Some seasons are easy, some are difficult, some are simply so-so. Yet, realize it or not, we grow during each of them. So, how do we find ourselves in our seasons? Do we wish them away? Rather than spend our time wishing away the seasons, we can practice living in and through them, and with God s help, accept that they are seasons of growth for us. We become stronger and wiser during our seasons. In the midst of our seasons God, the Master Potter shapes us to more closely resemble the persons who God ultimately intends us to become. It is true that there is a season for everything. It is equally true that every season does its work on our lives if we allow ourselves to rely on God to show us the lessons and enable us to thrive. So, don t wish away the seasons! Cherish them as times on the Potter s wheel. In the meantime, our hands and feet are cold Hurry up spring-time! Come Quickly! To promote Christian discipleship and fellowship in the congregation and community Published by.the FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF Wayne-Westland Pastor Marva Pope 3 Town Square Wayne, MI Telephone Blessings and Peace! Pastor Marva 1

2 INTERCESSORY PRAYER Three men were discussing the proper position and attitude for prayer. One said, You should be on your knees with your head bowed in reverence to the Almighty. The second man spoke up and said Remember that you were created in God s image. The position in which to pray is to stand up looking into the heavens, into the face of God and talk to Him as a child to his father. The third man spoke up and said, I know nothing about those positions, but the finest praying I ever did was upside down in a well. Some people see prayer as a last resort to be tried when all else fails or in an emergency. This approach is backward. Prayer should come first. Because God's power is infinitely greater than ours, it only makes sense to rely on it. There are several kinds of prayer. There are prayers of thanksgiving, prayers of praise and prayers of Confession, and personal "me with God. For this occasion I want to consider intercessory prayer. James writes to the Church, James 5:16-, pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. We all pray prayers of intercessory probably as much as any other type of prayer. You can do even more for your friends in our church family. The "Prayer Cluster" is a group of people who pray for each other in pairs of two. They change partners each month and share praises and concerns with each other. This is not only a good means of praying for each other but is also an excellent way of getting to know people better. Some people are concerned about their privacy but you only have to share what you are comfortable with. The Prayer Cluster started several years ago with 16 members but because of attrition we are now down to 8 members and would encourage others to join us. If you are interested, please contact me either at church or call me at In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with Joy! Red Miller 2

3 UNITED METHODIST WOMEN EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING March 7, 2019 (Thursday) 6:30 p.m. Parlor PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE IN DATE CHARIS CIRCLE March 4, 2019 (Monday) 7:00 p.m. Parlor Program Get In Touch with God s Word Leader Shirleen Curtis CONSIDER JOINING US Then just do it! ESTHER/MARTHA t/b/a HEAVENLY CIRCLE This is our Circle Please contact Kim McCain kimmiemccain@gmail.com ************************************************************************* COMING UP: Lenten Potluck Dinners March 13, March 20, March 27, April 3 & April 10 May 23 UMW Salad Lunch June 23 UMW Sunday *************************************************************************** Jeannine Klay s new address: Vista Springs 605 Pere Marquette Room 203 Howell, Michigan

4 Pastor Marva!, = 2019 LENTEN POTLUCK DINNERS March 13 Host Bob & Carole Simons Meat - Chicken Program Elvis Impersonator Ray Gagnon March 20 Host Doug & Irene Schoonover Meat Pot roast Program Pastor Chris Richards March 27 Host Mike & Tonia Szabo Meat - Meatloaf Program Dr. James Waggoner April 3 Host Witness Committee Meat - Turkey Program Irene Miller holocaust survivor April 10 Host Sandy Ofiara & Gale Wilbur Meat Pork loin Program A Play Way of the Cross Bring a dish to pass and your own table setting. A FREE WILL OFFERING WILL BE TAKEN TO DEFRAY THE COST OF MEAT 4

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7 PLEASE SIGN UP FOR COFFEE HOUR March 3 Doug & Irene Schoonover March 10 Vince & Linda Maylone March 17 Evelyn Clark, Donavon, Jonathan & Abby March 24 Sandy Ofiara & Gale Wilbur March 31 Witness Committee ************************************************************ LAY READER FOR MARCH: Wade Cupps *********************************************************** ALTAR FLOWERS March 3 Lenora Krieger in honor of birthday 2/27/19 March 10 Michelle Hyde in honor of grandparents Eber & Virginia Hyde and Pat & Irene Navamore March 17 Gale Wilbur & George Kirlanoff in memory of Susan Wilbur March 24 OPEN March 31 Mary McCormick in memory of Robert McCormick 7

8 This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC MARCH BIRTHDAYS: MARCH 3 rd Melanie Bradley MARCH 6 th Kathryne Jahn MARCH 7 th Marc Boiteux MARCH 13 th Ethan Hjortsberg MARCH 14 th Sandra Ofiara MARCH 15 th Robert Clark Joseph Piazzi MARCH 17 th Marilyn Craig MARCH 19 th Sharon Orwin MARCH 22 nd Edward Jackson MARCH 24 th Alexander Bradley George Kirlanoff ******************************************************************* This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA MARCH ANNIVERSARIES: MARCH 22 nd William & Carol Henico 8

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10 FELLOWSHIP LANTERN REV. MARVA POPE PASTOR is published monthly except August GALE WILBUR EDITOR DEADLINE FOR ARTICLES Is the 15 th of the month address for the lantern is Visit us on the web at Mission Statement We are the Congregation of First United Methodist Church of Wayne-Westland and are a committed, loving, Christian community of Jesus Christ, in ministry, witnessing to the love of God as experienced in our lives, and expressed by: worship together, Christian nurture, education evangelism, Christian fellowship and support of one another, invitation to others to share our faith, social awareness, involvement and support of worldwide Methodism. Our witness embraces all people. First United Methodist Church 3 Town Square Wayne, MI SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE 10:00 A.M. ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL AT 9:00 A.M. CHILDREN S SUNDAY SCHOOL 10:00 A.M. 10