July Inside this issue: 2015 SGA Annual Conference. 60th Church Anniversary Kick- Off Celebration. Pastor s Welcome Back/Graduate Sun-

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1 July 2015 Welcome Visitors The Road UMC is the place to be! The mission of The Road UMC is to become a community of believers committed to helping all people to personally know Jesus Christ by delivering a biblically based teaching and preaching of the gospel to those saved and seeking Christ and thereby developing disciples, families and communities through the power of the Holy Spirit. If you are new to our community and looking for a church home or desire to explore your spirituality, please consider us. At The ROAD, we are engaged in the L4 experience: Loving God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and loving neighbor as thyself. Living a life that is Christ-centered and biblically oriented. Learning to be a disciple of Jesus Christ as we live counter to the culture following wholeheartedly after God in a broken world. Leading others to experience God; being light in darkness and salt in a decaying environment. If you would like to enter into fellowship with The ROAD UMC Come during the Invitation to Discipleship See our pastor or a member after church Call the church office and schedule an appointment to speak with the pastor us at stmarysrd@theroadumc.org See one of our greeters or ministers after the worship service This is the working church! The lazy church is down the street! James R. King, Jr., Resident Bishop Cynthia Williams, Lay Leader The SMRUMC Staff Shea Ellis, Receptionist Jacqueline McCall, Administrative Assistant Jacquelyn Egins, Director of Music Debra Alexander, Youth Musician stmarysrd@theroadumc.org F/B: The ROAD UMC Pastor s Information: PastorK@theroadumc.org Telephone Number: (706) Rev. Dr. Buddy Cooper, District Superintendent Willie Belfield, Associate Lay Leader A Christ-centered Church where we are loving, living, learning and leading in the kingdom of God Inside this issue: 2015 SGA Annual Conference 60th Church Anniversary Kick- Off Celebration Pastor s Welcome Back/Graduate Sun Annual Men s Day Celebration Believer s Bap- 5 News In The Pews 6 Celebrations/ Congratulations 7 Church Flag Article 8 Prayer Warriors 9 Kids Korner 10 July Calendar 11 Welcome Visitors St. Mary s Road Columbus, GA (706) stmarysrd@theroadumc.org f/b: The ROAD UMC Rev. Dr. L.K. Pendleton, Pastor South Georgia Annual Conference Recap of Wednesday, June 3 During Wednesday afternoon's opening worship service, Bishop King introduced the Annual Conference session's theme of "We're Better Together" and emphasized the importance of Christian fellowship. In the Business Session Wednesday afternoon, the conference: Approved changes to the Standing Rules of the Conference. Were invited to attend the 2015 Georgia Pastors School set for July at Epworth By The Sea. More information can be found at Honored 5 Star and 4 Star Pastors for There were 59 Five Star Pastors and 157 Four Star Pastors. Celebrated with the ministry of New and Revitalized Congregational Development as they highlighted The Top 12 things the church should do more often with a video. Mrs. Karen Hahn then introduced a resource called Mission Insite that South Georgia Churches have access to use. Memorial Service with Holy Communion was held on Wednesday evening to remember those who have gone before us. Those being remembered include the Rev. William B. Howell. Recap of Thursday, June 4 Thursday morning began with the Laity Session at 8:30 a.m. which Assistant Director for Connectional Ministries told laity about resources that Connectional Ministries offers to local churches, including webinars, trainings, consultations, conference website and much more. In the Business Session Thursday morning, the conference elected, General Conference Delegates: Bill Hatcher, Allison Lindsey, Larry Price, Carl Childs, Jurisdictional Conference: Marianne Wright, Richard Shinhoster, Kelly Roberson, Miriam Hagan Alternates: Gloria Morgan and Rus Black Recap of Friday, June 4 Approved a motion that the churches of the South Georgia Conference emphasize faithfulness in marriage in 2017; that the Nurture Committee provide guidance and materials to assist pastors and church leaders in promoting marital fidelity in 2017; that District Laity Ministries provide leadership within the district and assist churches in promoting marital fidelity in 2017; and that groups holding conference-wide events be urged to add faithfulness in marriage to the topics they cover during 2017 and beyond. Heard the Board of Ordained Ministry report given by Rev. Jimmy Towson, chair. Received the clergy who have been elected into provisional membership and the clergy for reception into full conference membership. General Conference: Don Adams, Buddy Cooper, Jay Hanson, Bob Moon Jurisdictional Conference: Jim Cowart, Denise Walton, Scott Hagan, Robert Beckum, Alternates: Doreen Smalls, Stacey Harwell-Dye Black Methodist Church Revival Dinner : South Columbus own Rev. Marcia Williams was the speaker and also received the Mary McCloud Bethune Award. Robert Anderson received the Rev. Joseph Roberson Award and Rev. Michael Culbreth received the Harry Hoosier Award. Recap of Saturday, June 6 Business Session: took action on the church closings of the following churches, while also celebrating the impact these churches have had on many people in the South Georgia Conference: Doles UMC and Wesley Chapel UMC. All materials including the Book of Recommendation and Reports will be made available online on the conference website in an electronic format. Other materials may be distributed via a community table in the display area. Approved the equitable compensation report. Accepted an invitation to hold the 2016 Annual Conference session in Tifton June The Conference gathered for the service for the Ordination of Deacons and Elders with Commissioning. Bishop Jonathan Keaton, episcopal leader for the Illinois Area, was the preacher for this service. Annual Conference 2015 ended with a Service of Sending Forth as Bishop King encouraged each person to be the light of the world. "You are the hope for a better day; hope for a better world," said Bishop King. "Together we are better together." Mike Powell, Lay Delegate to Annual Conference

2 ~ July 2015 ~ Page 2 Newsletter (PK Message) Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Trustees on Call for July 2015 William August Roland Calendar (706) James Tanksley (706) Trustee 6:30 p.m. 7 Church Anniversary Mtg. 8 9 Admin Office Closed for July 4 th Observance UMM 8:30 a.m Married 6:20 p.m. 14 Outreach Mtg Newsletter Deadline 18 Boy Scout 10:00 a.m. Food Box Deadline M.I.T. 6:30 p.m Are you ready to celebrate the 60th Anniversary? We can hardly wait for the fun and fellowship to begin! Be sure to attend the kick-off celebration on August 30, 2015 to receive all the details of what s to come at the Diamond Celebration Council 6:30 p.m. 28 Pro-Active Care Team Mtg. 29 Food Box Pick Up The Road UMC 3993 St. Mary s Road, Columbus, GA tel: (706) Rev. Dr. L.K. Pendleton, Pastor Trustees on Call for July 2015 William Roland (706) James Tanksley (706)

3 The Staff Parish Relations Committee is proud to announce the reassignment of Rev. Dr. L.K. Pendleton back to St. Mary s Road United Methodist Church for another year. Thanks you being our spiritual leader and helping us to become better disciples for Christ. We look forward to working with you another year. Welcome Home! Congratulations to our 2015 Graduates: Alexander Asante, Mekhi Brown, Christopher Florence, Marie Mitchell, and Tiffani White. A special congratulations goes to Marie Mitchell on her award as the 2015 recipient of the Brandice Arlene Martin Scholarship. Marie received $1, from the United Methodist Women to further her education.

4 Prayer Warrior On-Call for the Month of July Mr. Emery Ramsey (706) Prayer Concerns Eunice Claytor Curtis Milliner Emily Walker 926 Celia Drive, Columbus, GA (07) 5369 Gettysburg Way, Columbus, GA (07) 5410 Kennedy Street, Columbus, GA (07) (706) (706) (706) Christ in our Homes, Christ in our Church, Christ in our Community, Christ in Us! Please call the church office at (706) to notify the staff of any known illnesses, hospitalizations or deaths. Trustee Alert Installation of surveillance cameras has been completed! St. Mary's Road UMC campus is being monitored 24/7 at both interior and exterior spaces. As the Men of The Road ventured on the path of developing it s mentoring program, we were challenged to keep some ideals close to our venture: Loyalty a part of mentoring making relationships, being honest with self and the children, charged and convicted to staying the course of focusing on the youth of the church and community, growing our ranks, not walking away when we were unable to maintain commitment to out challenges. The main ingredient that led to a very successful Men s Day was Mr. Vincent Watkins. As he came to our Men s Day planning meeting in April, he shared with us that men do what they do because they have been mentored to do it, that we must get mentors into the program and get younger men into the program. Mr. Watkins shared with us that we must look at taking mentoring outside of the walls of the church start at a younger age. We as men must commit an amount of time. We recruit, train, support and assess. He stated that growing the ranks will only come through things that we are doing. We illustrated that through our Men s Day program with the youth involved in every phase of the program. Thank you to all of the Men, Adults and Youth, who participated and supported our 2015 Annual Men s Day Celebration. The event was a phenomenal experience for all the young men involved. Henry Holt, UMM President Please refrain from giving money to people who approach you on our campus. We have ministries in place to respond to persons in need. If you have any articles, announcements, or important events you would like to share with the church, please contact one of the editors or the church office. Pictures are also wanted! Moreover, we will appreciate any suggestions that will help make our newsletter better. FOOD PANTRY ITINERARY Food Pantry Order Deadline: Friday, July 17, 2015 Food Pantry Distribution Date: Thursday, July 23, 12:00 p.m NEWSLETTER DEADLINE DATES July 17***August 21***October 18***November 20***December 18

5 Page 5 The background of the Christian flag and the reasons why it should always have the place of highest honor when it is displayed. It is not a denominational flag or a church flag, but a symbol of our allegiance to Jesus Christ, who is above all others. It is a cardinal tenet of our faith that our loyalty to Christ comes above all earthly loyalties. On the other hand, the Flag Code (United States Statues At Large, Seventy-Seventh Congress, Second Session 1942, Volume 56 Part 1, Public Laws) states in Section 3(k): When displayed from a staff in a church, or public auditorium, the [American] flag should occupy the position of honor and be place at the clergyman s or speaker s right as he faces the congregation or audience. Any other flag so displayed in the chancel or on the platform should be placed to the clergyman s or speaker s left as he faces the congregation or audience. But when the flag is displayed from a staff in a church of public auditorium elsewhere than in the chancel of on the platform, it shall be placed in the position of honor at the right of the congregation or audience as they face the chancel or platform. Both in The Flag Code and in the Bible, it is assumed that placement on the right signifies higher honor than - and priority over - placement on the left and that higher placement signifies higher honor than priority over lower placement. It is important to remember that the Christian flag originated almost a hundred years ago in churches that usually did not display a cross in the sanctuary other than the white cross on the blue field of the Christian flag. Today, of course, most United Methodist churches have a cross in the sanctuary in what is obviously intended as the place of highest honor, on or above the Lord s Table. Since this cross serves the same function as the Christian flag, it renders the Christian flag unnecessary. It also places any American flag present in a position relatively lower honor. Given the provisions in the U.S. Flag Code and the fact that a cross serves as a symbol of allegiance just as a flag does. Because of its central and higher location, the cross plainly has a place of higher honor than the American flag. On Sunday, June 28, 2015, we had the awesome joy of witnessing baptism by immersion to six persons at our 10:00 a.m. worship service. The theological significance of baptism symbolizes the believer's total trust in, and total reliance on the Lord Jesus Christ as well as a commitment to live obediently to Him. It also symbolizes unity with all the saints (Ephesians 2:19), that is with every person, in every nation on earth, who is a member of the body of Christ. (Galatians 3:27-28). Water baptism expresses this and more, but it is not an entrance into Christianity. Instead, we are baptized because our Lord commanded it and because we obey Him. We are commanded to go and make disciples of every nation baptizing them in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And when we do so Jesus promises to be with us. (Matthew 29:18). We welcome the following persons into the community of faith and into the community of St. Mary's Road United Methodist Church: Tamiya Bowen, Siarra Clark, Daveon Hurey, Wonyea Mayes, Aubriana Quick, and Austin Taylor. Let us do all that we can abiding by the Scriptures to live a life of authenticity so that they are nurtured and strengthened in the way that leads to life eternal. Ancestral Blessings! The same difficulty arises when the American flag is carried in a processional at opening of a service and the processional cross goes first, as Christians agree it must. There is still another difficulty in displaying the American flag in the place of highest honor during worship. It is one of the oldest and most universal Christian understandings of worship that when we gather around the Lord s Table for worship, the gathering consists not only of God and the visible congregation, but also includes (even though invisibly) the whole universal church of all times and all places, in heaven and on earth. Even if everyone visibly present is an American citizen, most of those invisibly present are not. In America we wisely separate church and state. As American Christians, we honor the cross and we honor the flag; but we keep them separate. To read this article in it s entirety : wwwumcdiscipleship.org/resources/should we-have-flags-in the church The following response to a request for help with issues of placement of the American flag and the Christian flag in the sanctuary was written by Hoyt Hickman when he was a staff member of the Discipleship Ministries The Meaning of the Liturgical Colors

6 Fort Benning Military Friendly Churches Wanted Fort Benning is looking for Military Friendly Churches and Schools for the online housing website. We connect our military men and women with local businesses in the area who want to reach out to our military community. We will feature 4 Preschools and Daycares and 4 Private schools K-8, 4 High Schools If you are a Church or School who would like to work with our military members online or in class and their spouses and would like to secure one of these limited spots, please contact me directly via or phone. We have a special pricing of $449 for 1 full year for 1 base and $848 a year for both bases, $1197 for 3 bases. We are proud members of the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating. The Education Store is opening again to reward our children and youth for their service to the church. Please bring the following items to the Education office for all ages; games, toys, school supplies, technology and electronics. For more information, contact Ms. Beverly Brown and Mrs. Paula Shaw-Powell. Don t forget to deposit your change in the Faith Well located in the Narthex next to the Kiosk, each week before or after service. This money will be used to fund our Sunday Breakfast Ministry! Michael & Paula Powell - 18 th Helen Gibson - 1 st Chris Mickey - 5 th Acqualine Mickey - 21 st Mary Tanksley - 21 st Victoria Watt - 21 st Andrea Taiste - 22 nd Marie Sharpe - 26 th Jazmyn Bernard - 27 th Otis Florence, Jr th Brenda Holmes - 29 th The Mildred Terry Library is collecting your stories about: Life in Columbus and the South, 1950 s to today, The Liberty Theatre District, The Fifth Avenue School, The Mildred Terry Library, The Civil Rights Era in the Chattahoochee Valley and more. Your stories are special, they have real meaning and they need to be saved. You may sign up via the Library s website, and look for the StoryCorps button. If you would like to share your anniversary or birthday in the church newsletter, send your first and last name, date of birth (month and date, NO YEARS.) Forward this information to Ms. Emma Griggs at eagriggs@aol.com or the church office at receptionist@theroadumc.org. We would like to thank the congregation of St. Mary s Road United Methodist Church for all of their love and support in the passing of our loved one, Harold Claytor. ~ The Claytor Family Ashlee Ogletree was one of 12 students at Reese Road Leadership Academy to receive the SOUL (Spirit of Uncommon Leadership) Award. She was recommended by all of her teachers. Ashlee also received 14 honor certificates at the end of the school year! On Saturday, May 30, 2015, Ashton (Ace) Thomas was crowned Little Mister Fort Valley by the Columbus, Georgia Chapter of the Fort Valley State University National Alumni Association. One of his sponsors was Dr. Sylvester McRae.