The Apocrypha. Page 1 of 16

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1 The Apocrypha New Bible Study opportunity starting January 7 th! The Adult Forum, which meets at 9 am Sunday mornings, will begin a new Bible Study on January 7th on the Apocrypha, the group of fifteen books, or portions of books, that may or may not appear in your copy of the Bible. When they do appear, they are between the Old and New Testaments, as chronologically they were written after the end of the Old Testament prophets, and before the New Testament gospels, letters, and books. They do give us insight into Jewish activities from that period, approximately 500 BC to 60 AD. There has been much dispute among religious scholars and leaders as to whether or not to include these books in the Bible. The books are never included in the Hebrew canon, as they were considered to be past the time of prophetic history. The books were included in the Greek versions of the Bible, and continued on in many of the versions used by the Catholics. Eastern Orthodox Churches also recognize some of the books. Many Protestant versions of the Bible omit them. Please join us as we explore these books. We will be using a study guide published for the Lutheran edition of the Apocrypha. Guides are available for $8 each, or just join us as you can. Contact Phebe Kirkham or Burdette James for more information. Page 1 of 16

2 INCIDENTS AND HAPPENINGS OUT OF OUR PAST The Methodist Catechism One of the most basic forms of religious instruction is the catechism. The word comes from the Greek meaning to teach orally. The catechism is usually a series of questions and answers that are to be learned by rote, by memory, and by repeating them over and over and memorizing them. Catechisms may be used in several ways. An Administrator, Pastor, or Leader may ask the questions of a large body of persons who recite the answer as a response. A teacher may ask a class to respond, an individual may ask another person to respond, or an individual may ask themselves and respond. Though many of us associate the catechism with our Catholic friends who attended religious instruction, all religious groups have used catechisms. The catechism became very popular following the growth of the Protestant movement, and the notion that the people should be able to read the Bible and know and understand the church doctrines. Martin Luther adopted the format in 1529 when he authored two different catechisms to promote his religious thinking. The Large Catechism was meant for teachers and parents, while the Small Catechism was meant for children or persons new to the faith. The one for children begins with a statement and then asks a question. The answer then follows. The First Commandment: You shall have no other gods. Q. What does this mean? A. We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things. As Protestant churches and sects were established, many rewrote and adapted the catechism. John Calvin, the Baptists, the Pentecostals, and the Anglicans all wrote catechisms to support their Page 2 of 16

3 The Methodist Catechism (continued) particular beliefs. So it is not a surprise that John Wesley wrote one also. In 1743, Wesley published a 150-page book for children called Instruction for Children. It was in use in America by 1784 and contained lessons in the question and answer format, as well as advice and instruction for living the Christian life. Graded editions soon followed, divided by the age level of the children. This coincided with the movement to provide Sunday Schools for children. The first Sunday School held here in Stratford was in There are four examples of catechisms in our Church archives. The earliest is dated 1856, and is a paper pamphlet that easily fits into a pocket: Catechism of the Methodist Episcopal Church, No. 1. It contains 112 questions beginning with Who made you? Answer: God. There is a hardcover copy of Luther s Small Catechism developed and explained, published in This contains 377 questions along with hymns, a table of duties, and Christian Doctrine. A 1905 paper pamphlet called Junior Catechism of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South has 118 questions beginning with What is the first verse of the Bible? Answer: In the beginning God created heaven and earth (Genesis 1:1). There is also a hardcover Catechism for Beginners, No. 11. Though undated and without church affiliation, there is a handwritten name and date in the back: James Gibson Cornwall, New York, Sep 5, The questions here are set out in 28 lessons, and include hymns and remarks for teachers. Page 3 of 16

4 MISSION UPDATES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE Refugee U.S. mayor-elect is United Methodist A United Methodist refugee from Liberia, Wilmot Collins, recently made big news by getting elected mayor of the city of Helena, Montana. He s happy to talk about his membership at Helena s Covenant United Methodist Church. That church is family, the 54-year-old Collins said. The warmth in that church is unmeasurable. Collins arrived in Helena, Montana s capital city, 23 years ago, having fled a Liberian civil war that claimed the lives of his two younger brothers. In the U.S., Collins has balanced military service (he s soon to retire from the U.S. Navy Reserve) with work in the Montana office of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, and Montana s Department of Health and Human Services. Along the way, he earned a Master s degree, and he s close to finishing a Ph.D. He and his wife Maddie, a registered nurse, became U.S. citizens in When I arrived in this country, the only thing on my mind was to care for my family, he said. Once you show you work hard and you re dedicated, doors start to open. (From an article by Sam Hodges of United Methodist News Service.) Safe Water for Mayan Communities in Guatemala - Maria Santos Baquiax, a young married mother of two, lives in the Santa Apolonia area of Guatemala. Laden with two heavy jugs and a baby strapped to her back, she often walked twelve times a day to collect water for her family. Although the water was contaminated, Maria used it for cooking, laundry, and personal hygiene. Today, thanks to a partnership between the United Methodist Committee on Relief Page 4 of 16

5 MISSION UPDATES (continued) (UMCOR) and Asociación Bienestar Progreso Desarollo (ABPD), Maria and other Mayan families now enjoy safe water at home and a better life as a result. Together, Global Ministries and ABPD empower communities to achieve sustainable development, improving the lives of 1,600 men, women, and children. My life is totally changed, Maria said. Doing all this takes me only an hour or two every day, which has allowed me to have time to harvest strawberries with my husband and sell them in the market. The entire community owns the water project. We all use clean water now, Maria says. Families are practicing better hygiene, and we all have a better understanding about the importance of washing our hands. (From an article by Bella DiFilippo.) World Methodist Peace Award Recipients Announced -- Two organizations have been chosen to receive the World Methodist Peace Award for Both have boldly worked for peace in their respective areas of the world, but have also been instrumental in inspiring others to work for peace globally. Methodist Churches in Italy (OPCEMI), was chosen for their work with and commitment to migrants and refugees dating back to This small church has exhibited great courage when faced with the large crisis of refugees and migrants flooding Europe. A safe and welcoming space called House of Culture was created which has welcomed refugees and migrants from Syria, Iraq, the Middle East, as well as North, Central and West Africa. More information about Methodist Churches in Italy can be found at: hope.com. The Nassar Family was chosen for their work with the Tent of Nations which they host on their 100-acre farm located southwest of Bethlehem in a highly disputed area of Palestine controlled by the Israeli Government. The family remains on their land and share their story of peace with guests from around the world. Each summer, children from local villages (Christian and Muslim) participate in a summer camp aimed at giving the children freedom and distraction from the surrounding politics, empowering Page 5 of 16

6 MISSION UPDATES (continued) the children with self-confidence so that they can be a part of a better future for Palestine. The family also established the Bent Al-Reef Women s Centre to empower women with classes in English, Computer, Art, etc., and to encourage them to play a role in shaping society. More information can be found at (From First Friday Letter, newsletter of the World Methodist Council.) It s cold outside, and it s either snowing or going to snow, or it snowed yesterday. You need something for a cold or snowy day when you really don t want to do anything inside, and definitely don t want to do anything outside. One suggestion is to borrow a book from the Church Library. If it would make you feel warmer to think about Spring and your garden, borrow one of the garden books. The Better Homes and Gardens New Garden Book (635 B) might make you feel warmer just from looking at the pictures. The Book of Joy (294.3), a book of a week s dialogue between the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, is an exploration of finding joy while living through life s inevitable suffering. These two elderly men, both of whom have suffered a Page 6 of 16

7 CHURCH LIBRARY (continued) great deal, discuss how they have been able to discover joy and peace despite the pain and turmoil they have lived through. An eye-opening book is Inheriting the Trade by Thomas DeWolf, telling the history of one man s family involvement in the slave trade. This book details the hidden slave trade history of New England and the other northern states. These books are all in the Church Library and can be borrowed by signing the card in the back of the book and leaving the card in the box next to the card catalogue. Books can be kept for three weeks. Occasionally someone forgets to sign the card in the back of the book they ve borrowed and also forgets to return the book. If you have one of the Church Library books in your house, perhaps a New Year s resolution might be to return it. Others who might be interested will be pleased to see the book back on the library shelf. When you borrow a book, it is your responsibility to return the book within three weeks Staff Gift: The S.P.R. Committee is now collecting donations for the staff gift. If you would like to make a contribution, kindly put it in the offering plate labeled staff gift, or hand it directly to me. Also, take a moment to offer your thanks and appreciation to our wonderful staff as they continue to do God's work here at SUMC! Frank Damiano, SPR Chair Page 7 of 16

8 "Human Relations Day" will be celebrated by the United Methodists on January 14th. It is our day to celebrate everybody's potential to do great things. "In God, all things are possible". It is our hope that we can empower and invest in people and make a difference in their lives. In that spirit, reach out to someone near or far who could use your help or support. Even small acts can make a big impact. We are the Church! Save the Time and Date: January 7, 2018 at 2 pm! Epiphany Tea Sponsored by the Stratford United Methodist Women. An invitation to all the women of our Church to come for tea, fellowship, and inspiration! Page 8 of 16

9 Get Ready! Columbus, Ohio, May United Methodist Women have announced the keynote speakers at Assembly 2018 will be Michelle Alexander and Leymah Gbowee. Michelle Alexander, a legal scholar and civil rights litigator, is author of the critically acclaimed The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, a stunning account of millions of African-Americans imprisoned and then relegated to a permanent second-class citizenship, and legally denied enfranchisements won in the Civil Rights Movement. The New Jim Crow is a 2011 NAACP Image Award winner. She was a featured academic in the Academy Award-nominated documentary 13th, exploring systemic racism and the prison pipeline. Leymah Gbowee received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 for her work in leading a women s peace movement that brought an end to the Second Liberian Civil War in Ms. Gbowee is the founder and President of Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa based in Liberia. Her foundation provides educational and leadership opportunities to girls, women, and youth in West Africa. Keynote speakers are just the beginning. Assembly includes: inspiring worship services, workshops to help you increase your impact in your local community, a powerful network of women around the globe, a celebration of 150 years of women united to make a change, and so much more. Don't miss out! Registration is open until April 9, 2018, but the early bird discount expired December 31st. Register today. When women unite, bold and courageous actions happen. See you in Columbus, Ohio, May 18-20, Page 9 of 16

10 All youth from 6 th grade to 12 th be sure to make plans to attend the monthly Stratford United Methodist Church Youth Group. Most meetings are the third Sunday of the month at 6:30 pm. So come January 21 st for fun and fellowship! The Ash Wednesday service on February 14 th will be held in the Chapel at 7 pm. SUMC participates quarterly in THE LORD S KITCHEN at the Christ Episcopal Church, 2000 Main St., Stratford. It is held every Monday and Wednesday, 5-6 P.M. We will be participating on Wed., January 31 st. Contact Bonnie Huey or the Church Office with any questions. Help is always welcome! Page 10 of 16

11 Congratulations to Pearl Thurkettle who will be celebrating her 100 th birthday on Jan. 22 nd. May it be a happy and healthy one! Page 11 of 16

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13 January 2018 Wedding Anniversaries Jan. 1 st Jan. 10 th Mr. & Mrs. Daly Mr. & Mrs. Crowther February 2018 Wedding Anniversaries Feb. 13th Feb. 15th Feb. 17th Mr. & Mrs. Kranyak Mr. & Mrs. Lamoureux Mr. & Mrs. A. James If your January or February Wedding Anniversary is not on this list, please contact the Church Office: , secretary@sumcct.org. Page 13 of 16

14 Many Thanks to Dr. Kirkham for his pleasant visit with my mother, Teresa Kuhn, when she was recently hospitalized at Bridgeport Hospital. You made her day! - Roy Kuhn. Condolences to: the family of SUMC member Charlotte Mae Nedbal, who passed away on Dec. 5th at home. An SUMC Memorial Service was held on Sat., Dec. 9th, with Rev. Law officiating. The Thrift Shop is missing a six foot aluminum ladder with a shelf. If you know where it is or what happened to it, please let David Reilly know. Thanks. Page 14 of 16

15 Thanks to everyone who collated the Good News on Nov. 29 th : Marianne Card, June Evitts, Diane Troutman, Barbara Piper, Cecelia and Howard Jack. ALL ARTICLES FOR THE GOOD NEWS SHOULD BE ED TO SECRETARY@SUMCCT.ORG, OR DROPPED OFF IN THE GOOD NEWS BOX IN THE CHURCH OFFICE. THANK YOU! GOOD NEWS SCHEDULE FOR 2018 Good News Issue Articles Due no Good News later than... Mailed January/February December 12 th December 27 th March February 14 th February 28 th April March 14 th March 28 th May April 11 th April 25 th June May 9 th May 23 rd July/August June 13 th June 27 th September August 8 th August 22 nd October September 5 th September 19 th November October 10 th October 24 th December November 7 th November 28 th In addition to reading The Good News, bulletin supplements, viewing our website (sumcct.org), looking at our Facebook page, or checking out the local newspapers, there is another way to keep up-to-date on upcoming events at S.U.M.C. Call the Church Office ( ) when it isn't open (that would be after 1:30 p.m. weekdays and all weekends). Press 5 to hear a calendar of upcoming events. The recording is updated on a regular basis. Page 15 of 16

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