The Newsletter of Bainbridge First United Methodist Church

Transcription

1 The Newsletter of Bainbridge First United Methodist Church 300 W. Shotwell St., P. O. Box 541 Bainbridge, GA Website: Telephone: (229) , Fax: (229) Vol. 22 July 8, 2018 No. 27 Staff Contact List Rev. Mike Brown, Senior Pastor, Gaye Herndon, Director of Music Ministries, Steven Hayes, Youth Director, Ida Cooksey, Children s Director, ida.cooksey@yahoo.com Lauren Turner, Events Coordinator, laurenturner1962@gmail.com Mary Nell Lovering, Financial Secretary, fumcfinancial@bellsouth.net Ruth Masciarelli, Church Secretary, 1stumc1@bellsouth.net Brownie Points A Slice of the PIE: A Discipline of Devotion I realize I can t go more than two weeks without saying something in a sermon, a lesson, or an article about the spiritual disciplines. Call it an occupational preoccupation, if you will I firmly believe that if we as church want to be more faithful to our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of our community and the world, we as individuals need to be engaged in a discipline of devotion, seeking to draw closer to God and becoming more like Jesus. Just as we need to spend one-on-one time with a spouse, a partner, or a friend to grow that relationship, so also do we need to spend one-on-one time growing our relationship with God who is Three-in-One, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Now, a definition is order here what do we mean by discipline? Often we think of discipline in terms of punishment, but that s not what we mean here at all. Discipline in the sense we want to understand it here has to do with voluntarily undertaking a rule or a regimen for our lives. For instance, as United Methodists, we have voluntarily placed ourselves under the rule and guidance of our Discipline we have agreed that this is how we order our life together as a local church and as a denomination (and if we cannot agree with that rule, we should probably choose to become part of another faith tradition). Many of us have a discipline of exercise and diet for our bodies; we have a discipline for our intellectual growth; but far too few of us have a discipline for the most important part of our lives, that is, our spiritual growth. A devotional discipline begins with a commitment to practice it every day, even when we don t feel like it. We need to pick a consistent time every day when we can read and reflect on the Scriptures and spiritual writings and pray. Whether it s first thing in the morning, the last thing before going to bed, or some time in between, the important thing is to pick that consistent time, set it aside and guard it, and then stick with it! A devotional discipline also requires a place a place where we can be comfortable but also where we will be undisturbed. It s hard to focus on growing our relationship with God if we re being interrupted! We need to find a place of solitude, and we need to ask those around us not to disturb us while we re spending our alone time with God. (We probably need to learn to ignore our cell phones as well!)

2 Scripture is a fundamental part of any devotional discipline for if, as we believe, the Scripture is truly the Word of God, we need to read it and reflect upon it. You ve heard me speak of getting your seven if you re beginning a discipline of reading the Scriptures, read it for seven minutes each day. What you read may not be important at first what is important is getting into the habit of reading the Bible. As you grow into this habit, you ll want to read more, and you ll want to move into a more systematic approach to reading the Scripture. (However, I don t recommend starting at Genesis and trying to read straight through to Revelation unless you re incredibly focused, you ll bog down somewhere around Leviticus or Numbers!) Prayer has to be an integral part of a devotional discipline. I ve said before that God already knows what we ask or think before we do ourselves, yet God grants us the privilege of speaking it so that we can acknowledge God as the One and Only, the One who grants us saving and transforming grace through Jesus, and the One who gives us new life and guidance through the Holy Spirit. We have the opportunity to glorify and praise God, to confess our sins and experience pardon, to pray for the needs of others, and to pray for our own needs. The format of how we pray may not be as important as the act of praying as a monk once instructed his young charges, Do not pray as you ought pray as you pray! There are other elements you can make a part of your devotional discipline: music (either listening, playing, or singing), reading and reflecting upon spiritual writings, and journaling (writing about your reflections on reading and prayer, how God is blessing you, or how your life is changing through your discipline). Do what works for you do what will help you draw closer to God. There s one more thing to note, however that your devotional time really doesn t end when you get off your knees or out of your chair and come out of your devotional space. Throughout the day, your spirit should reflect upon what you ve read and prayed. Let the Spirit speak to your spirit and show you how God is at work in you and through you! In the next slice of the PIE, I will share with you my own devotional discipline in the hope that it might be helpful. In the meantime, if you don t have a devotional discipline, start one you ll come to know a new joy in your relationship with God! Mike Calendar for July 4, 2018 Wednesday, July 4, 2018 Independence Day Church Office Closed Sunday, July 8, :30 AM United Methodist Men s Breakfast, J.O. Smith Building *9:00 AM Contemporary Worship Service, J.O. Smith Building *9:45-10:45 AM Sunday School, Sharp Building and Adult S. S. Building *11:00 AM Traditional Worship Service, Sanctuary Tuesday, July 10, :00 AM Food Bank, Adult S. S. Building 9:30 AM Church Staff Meeting, Simmons Parlor 6:00 PM Board of Trustees Meeting, Library Wednesday, July 11, :00 AM Children s Rest & Road Trips, Wakulla Springs, FL 12:00 PM Keenagers, J. O. Smith Building * denotes nursery provided

3 IMMEDIATE MISSIONAL NEED! Curtis Robinson is helping to coordinate a community response to help people affected by the recent fires in Eastpoint, FL, and we have been asked to help. The call is for canned goods, boxed pasta meals, diapers, and flip-flops for all ages and sizes toiletries and water are not needed (someone else has already responded to those needs). Donations can be brought to the Church Office no later than 4:00 p.m. Friday, July 6. Thank you for responding to this missional need! Pastor Mike s Upcoming Sermons Sermon Series: Kissed by Grace A kiss is a great metaphor for the expression of God s love for us made real in Jesus: passionately holy, filling us with love for God, love for neighbor, and love for one another in the Church, and transforming our lives. We ll look at the kiss of grace through the Letter to the Ephesians. Here are the dates, texts, and titles for these messages: July 8 Ephesians 1:3-14 The Blessings of Grace July 15 Ephesians 2:1-10 By Grace You Have Been Saved July 22 Ephesians 2:11-22 United! July 29 Ephesians 3:14-21 Grace: Doxology August 5 Ephesians 4:1-16 Living Out the Gifts August 12 Ephesians 4:25-52 Imitators of God August 19 Ephesians 5:15-20 Filled with the Spirit August 26 Ephesians 6:10-20 The Armor of God Church Office Closed The Church Office will be closed Wednesday, July 4, for the Independence Day holiday. United Methodist Men United Methodist Men will hold their monthly breakfast and meeting on Sunday, July 8, at 7:30 a.m. in the J.O. Smith Building. Keenagers Our July meeting of Keenagers will be held on Wednesday, July 11, at noon. Mr. J.B. Swicord will be our guest speaker. If you are able to attend, please call the Church Office and make your reservation. "Seasoned Saints" We invite all of our "Seasoned Saints," ages 65 and over, to join us for a lunch outing on July 17. We will leave the church at 10:30 to eat lunch at Mural Cakes and Deli in Colquitt. In order to make reservations and travel arrangements, please call the Church Office or Lauren to reserve your place. We ask that you please do this no later than Friday, July 13. Blessing of the Backpacks On Sunday, July 29, we will celebrate a new school year at our Unity Service. We are inviting all children preschool through 5th grade to bring your backpacks to church. We will have a special time of blessing for you and for your school year. Fifth Sunday Unity Lunch Our next Fifth Sunday Unity Service and Luncheon is July 29. The Epworth Sunday School Class will assist with set-up and clean-up that day; however, we welcome anyone who is willing to assist in any way. Please bring your favorite side dish and/or dessert to share; the church will provide the chicken and rolls/biscuits.

4 School Supply Drive Our church will assist students in need this year by hosting a school supply drive. We ask that you bring any or all of the following items as part of the drive: clear book bags, lead pencils (not mechanical), crayons, colored pencils, gallon zip lock bags, hand sanitizer, notebook paper, or spiral notebooks. There will be containers in the Narthex, at the Florida Street entrance, and in the J.O. Smith Building for collection. You may also bring the items to the Church Office. Thank you for helping with this important project. Campmeeting Days Campmeeting Days at our 11:00 a.m. Service began Sunday, July 1, and will continue through September 2. We ll sing from the Cokesbury Hymnal and take out some of the more formal elements of our service. Feel free to dress more casually, and let s enjoy this great tradition in our church. Financial Faithfulness Check-up We have passed the halfway point of 2018, and it s a good time to see where we are in financial faithfulness to the work of Jesus through Bainbridge FUMC. Are we up-to-date? Can we perhaps give a little more? Do we need to catch up? Giving statements will go out soon please check yours against your personal records and let Mary Nell know if there are any discrepancies. Most importantly, ask the Spirit to help you be the financial steward Jesus is calling you to be! Christian Sympathy Bainbridge First United Methodist Church expresses Christian love and sympathy to Carl and Billie Barber in the death of Carl s mother, Flora Archer Barber. A private memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 21, at Oak City Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday, July 20, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at Ivey Funeral Home. Still Waters Still Waters is a nondenominational, faith-based, temporary residence for women and children. The ministry relies on volunteer help and donations of items. They are always in need of the following: Trash Bags (13 gal.), Paper Towels, Toilet Tissue, Kleenex Tissue, Dishwasher detergent, Dish detergent, Laundry detergent, Dryer Sheets, Vinegar, Bleach, Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Soap, Deodorant, Towels (new), and Washrags (new). Contact Karen Howell at Still Waters ( ) or the Church Office for more information. Food Bank Food Items Needed: Peanut Butter (16 oz), Dried Beans (16 oz), Evaporated Milk (12 oz), Canned Soups (10.5 oz), Chunky Soups (18 oz), Canned Vegetables Green Beans, Corn, Tomatoes, etc. ( oz). I will support my church with my prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. July 1, 2018 Attendance: Sunday School Worship Service: 9:00 a.m :00 a.m Members Who Minister Ushers for July 2018: Charles Walker, Bolton Yarbrough, Greg Burch, Jason Murray Greeters for July 8, 2018: 9:00 AM Steve Reynolds 11:00 AM Pat Smith Contemporary Worship Leader for July 8, 2018: Steve Reynolds Offering Steward: Craig Fletcher

5 Services of Worship July 8, :00 AM Contemporary Worship Service 11:00 AM Traditional Worship Service SCRIPTURE Ephesians 1: Rev. Mike Brown SERMON Kissed by Grace: The Blessings of Grace Rev. Mike Brown Music Notes Children s Music and Arts Ministries: Two Year Old Music Group (for ages 18 months-2 years old): will resume our regular schedule on July 11, 5:30-6:00 p.m., in the Circle Room of the Sharp Building. Preschool Music and Arts and Children s Worship Arts: will resume on August 8. Chancel Choir: will be taking a break during the month of July. Youth Choir (Grades 6-12): will be taking a short break from rehearsals before beginning our new season. Handbell Choir: will be taking a break and doing some small-group ensemble ringing during the summer. Children s Chat No Rest and Road Trips this week. Have a great Fourth of July!! Be safe. See you July 11 for Wakulla. Youth News July 14 Youth Road Trip to Tallahassee for dinner and a movie. Departure time from the church TBA. July 15 We will start back our Sunday Night UMYF Gatherings with a Dairy Queen Night. We will meet at Dairy Queen at 5:30 pm. Bring a friend!!!! July 21 Youth Road Trip to Six Flags. If you want to go, you must let me know NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, JULY 6. The tickets are $45.00 each. You will also need money for food. There is limited space so this will be a first come, first serve trip. Please let Steven know if you want to go. Youth Summer Calendar of Events July 14 July 15 July 21 Road Trip to Tallahassee Resume Sunday Night UMYF Gathering Road Trip to Six Flags in Atlanta

6 Members to Visit, Call or Send a Card Marcia Barber 1633 Wesleyan Drive, Unit 122, Macon, GA Charles Burch 1032 Julia Circle, Bainbridge, GA Mary Ruth Gilliam 906 Pine Street, Bainbridge, GA Betty Hester 1020 Julia Circle, Bainbridge, GA Bill & Nita Holt 1407 Botts Street, Bainbridge, GA Sue Jones 1904 Douglas Dr, P.O. Box 245, Bainbridge, GA Steele & Kathy Malone 1808 Woodridge Drive, Bainbridge, GA Gloria Murphy 111 Bunny Lane, Bainbridge, GA Ruth Sansom 161 Redwood Drive, Bainbridge, GA Pat Smith 1118 Julia Circle, Bainbridge, GA William & Peggy Wildhagen 1104 Douglas Court, Bainbridge, GA Anne Fowler Wildwood, 3333 E. 28 Street, Tulsa, OK Betty Jo Fulmer Riverside Place, Room #152, 1151 W. College Street, Bainbridge, GA Evelyn(Pat) Morgan Memorial Manor, Room #16, 1500 E. Shotwell Street, Bainbridge, GA Pat Reynolds Memorial Manor, Room #73B, 1500 E. Shotwell Street, Bainbridge, GA Helen Tillman Riverside Place, Room #113, 1151 W. College Street, Bainbridge, GA *Cadet Nathaniel Lambert P.O. Box 2533, West Point, NY General Fund In Memory of: Flora Barber Bill Connell Memorials By: Sally Bates Sally Bates