September October This issue of THE METHODIST MESSENGER is given by. Elma Martinosky in memory of her husband Marty s 68th birthday

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1 September October 2018 This issue of THE METHODIST MESSENGER is given by Elma Martinosky in memory of her husband Marty s 68th birthday MON-YOUGH TRINITY CHARGE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 200 State Street, Belle Vernon, PA Phone: Pastor Derek R. Platt Fax: Office Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday THEME FOR THIS ISSUE: Are you on the right team the JESUS team? Surrender to Love As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:9-12 Greetings to you all in the name of our Risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! In an age where everyone has distinguished themselves with a personal brand, where corporations work to advance their corporate brand, they spend billions on tag lines, mission statements and catch phrases. They do this all, in hope you will buy what they are selling. The church, however, is not a brand or strategy to be bought and sold. The church s defining mark, its sole motivation, is wrapped up in one word LOVE. It is why we worship, it is why we care, it is why we plant churches; so that others will know the love of Christ. This month s devotion drills down on the topic of love. It s my prayer that you soak it in, and live it out. You have a choice. No one has to get caught in fruitless searches which lead only to entanglement. Neither do you have to become a victim of the manipulative ways of the world, or get trapped in addiction. You can choose true love and freedom. Jesus invites us to abide in His love. To do so, however, we must take the uncharted plunge; we must surrender to Him as our Lord. While this may sound frightening to some people, the truth is that as we surrender ourselves more and more to Jesus as our Lord, we become more alive than we ever thought possible. The love of the Father is a vast, wide, deep, unmeasurable love that exceeds all knowledge and can never be fully taken in or grasped by the mind. All one can do is continually abide (Continued)

2 in Him, ever becoming a personal lover of God by learning to loiter in God s love and enjoying it in our lives. Jesus found His own deep joy in the love of the Father. We find abundant life only in Christ, by surrendering to Him. For many of us, however, surrender is difficult. We have always fought to win, own, or control things, and we like being in charge of our lives. Nevertheless, Jesus wants us to surrender to Him. What is holding you back? What battle scars can you point to that reinforce your stubbornness to keep fighting? Tired warrior, it is time to surrender to Jesus. Come now to Him and cast your burdens upon Him. Doing so will free you to live the way God truly created you to live. Respond: Lord Jesus, I come to You weary and ready to surrender myself to You. I want to abide in Your love and drink from Your fountain of life. Receive me, Lord. I am Yours. Amen! Blessings to you all as you enjoy the Labor Day weekend and get back into the routines of school and other activities this coming fall. See you in worship! He is Risen! Alleluia! Pastor Derek Rev. Derek Platt Senior Pastor 200 State Street Belle Vernon, PA (724) (Office) (724) (Parsonage) pastorderekplatt@gmail.com A Back to School Prayer It is an important season of transition for many students, families, teachers, administrators, and school staff-members. As we enter into the month of September, many students are going back to college or going to college for the first time. And many public and private schools are starting another school year. If you are someone who believes in the ministry of prayer, I invite you to join me in praying the prayer below every day over the next few weeks for these people. God of the Ages, who cares deeply about what transpires in both the sanctuary and the classroom; at both the dinner table and the cafeteria; in both the home and the hallways of our educational institutions: We cry out to you on behalf of our students. Some of these students are very young, heading off for their first day of pre-school. Some are a bit older, making ready for elementary school or middle school or high school. Others are headed off to college, or perhaps into a new season of graduate study. Others are entering the workforce in order to begin a journey of lifelong learning. (Continued)

3 Open the minds of the students, that they might be available to their teachers and receptive to meaningful learning. Open their hearts, that they might be compassionately attentive to the other people whose lives intersect with theirs in the journey of their education. Even now, O God, the faces of many different students are appearing in our prayerful reflection. Grant that, as the students learn about mathematics and science and literature and language, they might also learn a deeper reverence for the One in whom all knowledge is ultimately to be found. We cry out to you on behalf of our teachers. Strengthen them in their labor. Energize them in their task. Guard them against the kind of negativity and cynicism that can make a classroom into a cold and hurtful place. Deepen their love, not only for their subject matter, but also for the ones they teach. By the power of your Holy Spirit, equip these teachers to be the instruments of compassionate tutelage that you are calling them to be. We cry out to you on behalf of our school administrators and staff. College presidents, deans, financial officers, planners, and registrars. Superintendents, principals, vice-principals, and guidance counselors. Nurses, school psychologists, and behavioral counselors. Administrative assistants, receptionists, custodial staff, security officers, cafeteria workers, and bus drivers. These are the souls whose sacred responsibility it is to generate a safe and nurturing environment in which holistic learning might take place. Bless them with an ever-deepening awareness of their purpose, and grant to them the strength to fulfill it. We cry out to you on behalf of families that are struggling in painful ways during this season of transition. Some parents are dealing with the anxiety of seeing their child step onto a school bus for the very first time. Some parents are finding it particularly difficult to let their children go as they head off to college in this often-frightening world. Some children and youth are burdened by a sense of insecurity as they enter into a new season of life and learning. Weave the different threads of these family circumstances into the rich and vibrant tapestry of your grace, so that the members of these families might be drawn closer to one another and closer to you. Build a protective fortress, O God, around our schools and our institutions of higher learning. Guard them against violence, hatred, bullying, and hurtful manipulation. Make every classroom and office into a sanctuary for your presence, so that, through our system of education, many will be led to recognize that a reverence for you is the beginning of all wisdom. We pray this in the trustworthy name of Jesus Christ, whose transforming Lordship is our highest learning and whose grace is the curriculum by which we live, move, and find our being. Amen! MAKING CONTACT C. S. Lewis Prayer is a personal contact between embryonic, incomplete persons (ourselves) and the utterly concrete Person. Prayer in the sense of petition, asking for things, is a small part of it, confession and penitence are its threshold, adoration its sanctuary, the presence and vision and enjoyment of God its bread and wine. In it God shows himself to us. Faith is not a once-done act but a continuous gaze of the heart at the Triune God. A. W. Tozer A FULL-SPECTRUM PRAYER Dean Samuel Miller For this day s sins, O God, grant us mercy: for sloth that wasted the hours or for haste which outran its benedictions; for fear that frustrated bold hopes or dullness that took everything for granted; for anger that burst forth destructively or indifference that smothered the soul; for suspicion wrongly held or for trust cheaply betrayed; for indecision that avoided the evil or for compromise that disguised it. Amen.

4 TREASURES UNCOVERED THE PARABLES OF JESUS led by Bev Hazlett Beginning on Thursday, September 6th at 7:00 p.m. and running through Thursday, October 11th These sessions will help you to explore the surprising and often challenging dimensions of Jesus parables. Through commentary and questions, you will help to deepen your understanding of the story and reflect on its meaning for your own life. MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND MAKE PLANS TO JOIN US! MARATHON READING By Dave Branon READ: Nehemiah 8:1-8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read. Nehemiah 8:8 When the sun came up on the first day of the seventh month in 444 BC, Ezra started reading the law of Moses (what we know as the first five books of the Bible). Standing on a platform in front of the people in Jerusalem, he read it straight through for the next six hours. They stood up in reverence for the Book of the Law (Neh. 8:5). They praised God by lifting their hands and saying Amen. they bowed down in humble worship (v. 6). Then they listened carefully as the Scriptures were both read and explained to them (v. 8). What an amazing day as the book that the Lord had commanded for Israel (v. 1) was read aloud inside Jerusalem s newly rebuilt walls! Ezra s marathon reading session can remind us that God s words to us are still meant to be a source of praise, worship, and learning. When we open the Bible and learn more about Christ, let s praise God, worship Him, and seek to discover what He is saying to us now. Lord, thank You for this amazing book we call the Bible. Thank You for inspiring its creation by the writers You chose to pen its words. Thank You for preserving this book through the ages so we can learn Your people s story and the good news of Your love. The goal of Bible study is not just learning but living. (Copied from Our Daily Bread Devotional.) MAKE IT COUNT! Beth Moore This is our time on the history line of God. This is it. What will we do with the one deep exhale of God on this earth? For we are but a vapor and we have to make it count. We re on. Direct us, Lord, and get us on our feet. 16th-CENTURY GUIDANCE FOR TODAY How can we know whether we re following God s will? Sometimes we act, only to see in hindsight that we caused harm. Or selfrighteousness blinds us to the good guidance of others. St. Ignatius of Loyola pondered the difficulty of aligning our actions to God s ways. He taught the need for discernment of spirits examining internal thoughts and emotions to see if they originate with and lead to God. Ignatius called it consolation when he felt loved by God and eager to care for people in need, and desolation when something left him full of darkness and fear that moved him away from God and neighbor. Think of a time you made a decision and then felt peaceful, full of light, convinced it was right. And when have you done something despite feeling tangled in knots about it, and perhaps later felt worse. Life isn t always so clear-cut, but the more we practice discernment, the better we will recognize and follow God s will.

5 WHAT S HAPPENING!!! Monday, September 3rd Tuesday, September 11th MON-YOUGH TRINITY CHARGE Join us in our outdoor worship service at 11:00 A.M. on Join us on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7th Celebrate with our sister churches around the world! Sunday, September 9th at SAMPEY PARK, Perryopolis If you are bringing food, we ask that you arrive early (pavilion open at 10 a.m.) so the food can be arranged before the worship service begins. Mark your calendar and join in the food, fun and fellowship with your extended church family! 2018 SEE YOU AT THE POLE EVENT WEDNESDAY, September 26th THEME: BROKEN SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 3:14..I fall on my knees before the Father, OCTOBER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH! OCTOBER IS PASTOR APPRECIATION MONTH We are asked to pray for The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 1 Timothy 5:17 It s important that we pray daily for our spiritual leaders, including our Pastors and their families, our Administrative Council and those in authority in our church as well as our sister churches of Concord and Perryopolis.

6 DOES GOD CARE? By Max Lucado (excerpt from Fearless) Fear corrodes our confidence in God s goodness. We begin to wonder if love lives in heaven. If God can sleep in our storms, if his eyes stay shut when our eyes grow wide, if he permits storms after we get on his boat, does he care? Fear unleashes a swarm of doubts, anger-stirring doubts. And it turns us into control freaks. Do something about the storm! is the implicit demand of the question. Fix it or... or... or else! Fear, at its center, is a perceived loss of control. When life spins wildly, we grab for a component of life we can manage: our diet, the tidiness of a house, the armrest of a plane, or, in many cases, people. The more insecure we feel, the meaner we become. We growl and bare our fangs. Why? Because we are bad? In part. But also because we feel cornered. Martin Niemoller documents an extreme example of this. He was a German pastor who took a heroic stand against Adolf Hitler. When he first met the dictator in 1933, Niemoller stood at the back of the room and listened. Later, when his wife asked him what he d learned, he said, I discovered that Herr Hitler is a terribly frightened man. Fear releases the tyrant within. It also deadens our recall. The disciples had reason to trust Jesus. By now they d seen him healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people (Matt. 4:23 NKJV). They had witnessed him heal a leper with a touch and a servant with a command (Matt. 8:3, 13 NKJV). Peter saw his sick mother-in-law recover (Matt. 8:14-15 NKJV), and they all saw demons scatter like bats out of a cave. He cast out the spirits, with a word, and healed all who were sick (Matt. 8:16 NKJV). Shouldn t someone mention Jesus track record or review his resume? Do they remember the accomplishments of Christ? They may not. Fear creates a form of spiritual amnesia. It dulls our miracle memory. It makes us forget what Jesus has done and how good God is. And fear feels dreadful. It sucks the life out of the soul, curls us into an embryonic state, and drains us dry of contentment. We become abandoned barns, rickety and tilting from the winds, a place where humanity used to eat, thrive, and find warmth. NO longer. When fear shapes our lives, safety becomes our god. When safety becomes our god, we worship the risk-free life. Can the safety lover do anything great? Can the risk-averse accomplish noble deeds? For God? For others? No. The fear-filled cannot love deeply. Love is risky. They cannot give to the poor. Benevolence has no guarantee of return. The fear-filled cannot dream wildly. What if their dreams sputter and fall from the sky? The worship of safety emasculates greatness. No wonder Jesus wages such a war against fear. His most common command emerges from the fear not genre. The Gospels list some 125 Christ-issued imperatives. Of these, 21 urge us to not be afraid or not fear or have courage or take heart or be of good cheer. The second most common command, to love God and neighbor, appears on only eight occasions. If quantity is any indicator, Jesus takes our fears seriously. The one statement he made more than any other was this: don t be afraid... So don t be afraid. You are worth much more than many sparrows. (Matt. 10:31 NCV)... I tell you not to worry about everyday life whether you have enough. (Matt. 6:25 NLT). Take courage. I am here! (Matt. 14:27 NLT). Do not fear those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul. (Matt. 10:28 NKJV). Don t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me... (John 14:1 NLT). I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. (John 14:1, 3 NLT). Don t be troubled or afraid. (John 14:27 NLT). You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. (Matt. 24:6 NIV). Jesus came and touched them and said, Arise, and do not be afraid. (Matt. 17:7 NKJV). (Copied from Never Forget...Hope booklet.)

7 STRENGTHENING THE HEART By David Roper READ: 1 Timothy 4:6-11 It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace. Hebrews 11:9 The neighborhood fitness center where I have worked out for years closed down last month, and I had to join a new gym. The former place was a warm, friendly facility, patronized by those who liked to socialize while they worked out. We hardly ever broke a sweat. The new gym is a hard-core facility filled with serious men and women, earnestly invested in building better bodies. I watch these people strain and toil. Their bodies look strong, but I wonder if their hearts are being strengthened with grace. The heart is a muscle the muscle that keeps the other muscles going. It s good to build and tone our other muscles, but the essential thing is doing whatever keeps the heart strong. So ti si with our spiritual heart. We strengthen and tone the heart through the Word of truth by receiving its message of God s goodness and grace. Keeping our spiritual heart strong and fit must be our first priority, the one thing we do above all others. Paul would agree: Train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come (1 Tim. 4:7-8 ESV) May I feed on Your goodness every day, Lord, so my heart will grow stronger through the Spirit. God s training is designed to grow us in faith. (Copied from Our Daily Bread Devotional.) OUR WEBSITE SPONSORS September and October In memory of the Myers family members who have joined our Lord in Heaven! A LEGACY LIFE By Joe Stowell READ: Proverbs 22:1-16 A good name is more desirable than great riches. Proverbs 22:1 While staying in a hotel in a small town I noticed that the church across the street was having a service. People were jammed into the church with a standing-room-only crowd of both young and old flowing out onto the sidewalk. When I noticed a hearse by the curb, I realized it was a funeral. And given the crowd, I assumed that it was the celebration of the life of some local hero perhaps a wealthy businessperson or a famous personality. Curious, I said to the desk clerk, That s an amazing turnout for a funeral; it must be for a famous person in town. No, he replied. He wasn t rich or famous but he was a good man. This reminded me of the wisdom of the proverb that says, A good name is more desirable than great riches (Prov. 22:1). It s a good idea to think about what kind of legacy we are leaving for our family, friends, and neighbors. From God s perspective it s not our resume or the amount of money we ve accumulated that matters but rather the kind of life we have lived. When a friend of mine passed away, his daughter wrote, This world has lost a righteous man and in this world that is no small thing! It s that kind of legacy that we should be seeking for the glory of God. Lord, help me to pursue a life that is pleasing to You and honors Your name. Live to leave a legacy for God s glory. (Copied from Our Daily Bread Devotional.) NEWSLETTER DEADLINE FOR NOVEMBER DECEMBER ISSUE Sunday, October 21st

8 FAIR PLAY By Leslie Koh READ: Titus 2:7-8, In everything set them an example by doing what is good. Titus 2:7 When Singaporean runner Ashley Liew found himself at the head of the pack during a marathon at the Southeast Asian Games, he knew something was wrong. He quickly realized that the lead runners had taken a wrong turn and were now behind. Ashley could have taken advantage of their mistake, but a strong sense of sportsmanship told him it would not be a genuine victory. He wanted to win because he was faster not because those ahead of him had made a mistake. Acting on his convictions, he slowed down to let them catch up. In the end, Ashley lost the race and missed out on a medal. But he won the hearts of his countrymen and an international award for his act of fair play. It spoke well of his faith as a Christian, and must have prompted some to ask, What made him do that? Ashley s act challenges me to share my faith through my actions. Little acts of thoughtfulness, kindness, or forgiveness can glorify God. As Paul put it simply, Show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned (Titus 2:7-8). Our positive actions toward others can show the world that we are able to live differently because of the Holy Spirit s work in us. He will give us the grace to reject ungodliness and wrong passions, and to live upright lives that point people to God (vv ). Heavenly Father, may our behavior today cause others to ask us why we are different. We ask that we follow Your Holy Spirit s leading as we explain to them the hope that is in us. Live so that others will want to know Jesus. (Copied from Our Daily Bread Devotional.) FACE TO FACE By Amy Boucher Pye READ: Exodus 33:7-14 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Exodus 33:11 Although the world is connected electronically like never before, nothing beats time together in person. As we share and laugh together, we can often sense almost unconsciously the other person s emotions by watching their facial movements. Those who love each other, whether family or friends, like to share with each other face to face. We see this face-to-face relationship between the Lord and Moses, the man God chose to lead His people. Moses grew in confidence over the years of following God, and he continued to follow Him despite the people s rebelliousness and idolatry. After the people worshiped a golden calf instead of the Lord (see Ex. 32), Moses set up a tent outside of the camp in which to meet God, while they had to watch from a distance (33:7-11). As the pillar of cloud signifying God s presence descended to the tent, Moses spoke on their behalf. The Lord promised that His Presence would go with them (v. 14). Because of Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection, we no longer need someone like Moses to speak with God for us. Instead, just as Jesus offered His disciples, we can have friendship with God through Christ (John 15:15). We too can meet with Him, with the Lord speaking to us as one speaks to a friend. Face to face! I blissful moment! Face to face to see and know; face to face with my Redeemer, Jesus Christ who loves me so! Carrie E. Breck We can speak to the Lord as a friend. (Copied from Our Daily Bread Devotional.) No thief, however skillful, can rob one of knowledge, and that is why knowledge is the best and safest treasure to acquire. L. Frank Baum Intelligence is knowing the right answer. Wisdom is knowing when to say it. Tim Fargo The happiest people don t have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything. Unknown

9 HISTORY OF LABOR DAY Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and From these, a movement developed to secure state legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature, but the first to become law as passed by Oregon on February 21, During the year four more states Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York created the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories. There is still some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers. Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold. McGuire s place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. It is clear that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic. The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later on September 5, The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country. The celebration has taken on many forms through the years from a street parade, prominent men and women giving speeches, to a festival for the recreation and amusement of workers and their families. Celebrate the American worker on September 3rd! (Information obtained from the Department of Labor website.) A LEGACY OF FAITH National Grandparents Day became an official observance in 1978 thanks largely to the lobbying e f f o r t s o f M a r i a n McQuade, a West Virginian who had 15 children and 43 grandchildren during 60 years of marriage. The purpose of National Grandparents Day, celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day, is threefold: to honor grandparents, to give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children s children and to help children become aware of strength, information and guidance older people can offer. Grandparents and, in this mobile society, surrogate grandparents also serve as examples of how to endure challenges with God s help. Elders describe how God remains present, faithful and steadfast throughout the years. As Psalm 145:4 (NIV) says, One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. CELEBRATE ON SEPTEMBER 9th! If you want your children to turn out well, spend twice as much time with them, and half as much money. Abigail Van Buren KEEPING SCORE Baseball purists often delight in keeping detailed scorecards. So do many Christians often unknowingly. Do you give yourself credit for your years in the faith? For the number of services or studies you attend? For the good deeds you perform? For the Bible verses and creeds you know by heart? In Philippians 3:4-6, Paul recites his impressive scorecard, yet despite those credentials, he couldn t ear God s favor. Neither can we. Our tallies are all loss (v. 7) when compared to the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ (v. 9). Attending church, serving and memorizing Scripture are good things. But we do them not to get right with God but because we are right with God through Jesus.

10 A VIBRANT PALETTE In the mid-90 s, David Crowder was a student at Baylor University, a Christian college in Waco, Texas. When he and fellow student Chris Seay realized how few students were attending worship, they launched University Baptist Church. Crowder became the worship pastor and started writing songs for the services. The result was David Crowder*Band and many passion-filled worship songs. Of the group s inventive musical style, Crowder says, I think if we re going to try to tell the story of God or paint the story of God, we ought to use as many colors as we can find or at least try to add them to our palette. SING TO THE LORD! The hymn Earth and All Stars, based on Psalm 148, invites all creation to praise the Lord. Some people love Pastor Herbert Brokering s allencompassing lyrics; others appreciate calling earth, starts, plant life and weather to sing to the Lord but find it far-fetched to urge engines, steel and hammers to do so. The song s fifth verse and part of the sixth make it especially popular for school-year kickoffs: Classrooms and labs, loud boiling test tubes, Sing to the Lord a new song! Athlete and band, loud cheering people, Sing to the Lord a new song! Knowledge and truth, loud sounding wisdom, Sing to the Lord a new song! Whether or not you find the hymn poetic, it reminds us that God gives us the ability to learn. Factual knowledge and critical thinking need not impair faith but can strengthen it. EDUCATION INSURANCE Robert A. Millikan Cultivate the habit of attention and try to gain opportunities to hear wise men and women talk. Indifference and inattention are the two most dangerous monsters that you ever meet. Interest and attention will insure to you an education. VICTORY! Peggy Ferrell The world can be filled with its trials and swords, Its famines and perils, its peasants and lords, With power and heights and bitter despair, With sorrow and death and with crosses to bear. Yet which one alone, or combined with the rest, Can wedge out God s love and the Christ he has blessed? For, no! There is nothing of evil or worth That can separate God from his children on earth! GIVING YOUR ALL C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity Christ says, Give me all. No half-measures are any good. Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours. NOTE: When you give your heart to Jesus and accept Him into your life, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within you to help you face any situation that might come into your life. The only prerequisite you must yield your ALL to Him and let Him direct you. Turn that steering wheel of your life over to the one who knows what is best for you and will not allow you to be harmed. BIBLE HUMOR We take Scripture seriously, of course, but God also gave us the ability to laugh and it s healthy to do so! Enjoy these Bible-based riddles: Q: Who was the fastest runner in the Bible? A: Adam. He was first in the human race. Q: Where is baseball played in the Bible? A: Genesis 1:1 reads In the big inning. Then Eve stole first, and Adam stole second. Cain struck out Abel, and soon everything was rained out. Q: Who was the best financier in the Bible? A. Pharaoh s daughter. She went to the Nile bank and pulled out a little prophet. Q: What was Boaz like before he got married? A: Ruthless.

11 FREE TO FOLLOW Monica Brands READ: Matthew 11:25-30 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29 My high school cross-country coach once advised me before a race, Don t try to be in the lead. The leaders almost always burn out too quickly. Instead, he suggested I stay close behind the fastest runners. By letting them set the pace, I could conserve the mental and physical strength I d need to finish the race well. Leading can be exhausting; following can be freeing. Knowing this improved my running, but it took me a lot longer to realize how this applies to Christian discipleship. In my own life, I was prone to think being a believer in Jesus meant trying really hard. By pursuing my own exhausting expectations for what a Christian should be, I was inadvertently missing the joy and freedom found in simply following Him (John 8:32, 36). But we weren t meant to direct our own lives, and Jesus didn t start a self-improvement program. Instead, He promised that in seeking Him we will find the rest we long for (Matthew 11:25-28). Unlike many other religious teachers emphasis on rigorous study of Scripture or an elaborate set of rules, Jesus taught that it s simply through knowing Him that we know God (v. 27). In seeking Him, we find our heavy burdens lifted (vv ) and our lives transformed. Because following Him, our gentle and humble Leader (v. 29), is never burdensome it s the way of hope and healing. Resting in His love, we are free. Lord, I m so thankful I don t have to be in charge of my own life. Help me rest in You. True freedom is found in following Christ. (Copied from Our Daily Bread Devotional.) SLOW BUT STEADY D. L. Moody There is progress in a Christian s life when he may not seem to be going ahead like a canal boat in a lock, when it stands still but is rising all the time. TREASURE IN HEAVEN Cindy Hess Kasper READ: Matthew 6:19-21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21 WHERE IS YOUR HEART? When I was growing up, my two sisters and I liked to sit side-by-side on top of my mother s large cedar-lined chest. My mom kept our wool sweaters in it and handiwork that was embroidered or crocheted by my grandmother. She valued the contents of the chest and relied on the pungent order of the cedar wood to discourage moths from destroying what was inside. Most earthly possessions can easily be destroyed by insects or rust, or can even be stolen. Matthew 6 encourages us to place a special focus not on things that have a limited lifespan but on those that have eternal value. When my mom died at fifty-seven, she had not accumulated a lot of earthly possessions, but I like to think about the treasure she stored up in heaven (vv ). I recall how much she loved God and served Him in quiet ways: caring, faithfully for her family, teaching children in Sunday school, befriending a woman abandoned by her husband, comforting a young mother who had lost her baby. And she prayed.even after she lost her sight and became confined to a wheelchair, she continued to love and pray for others. Our real treasure isn t measured in what we accumulate but in what or whom we invest our time and our passions. What treasures are we storing up in heaven by service and following Jesus? Dear Father, help me to choose to invest my life in things that are eternal. Our real wealth is what we invest for eternity. (Copied from Our Daily Bread Devotional.) YOUR ROLE -- Francis Schaeffer, No Little People We must remember throughout our lives that in God s sight there are no little people and no little places. Only one thing is important: to be consecrated persons in God s place for us, at each moment.

12 1st Jennifer LoGreco Pam Yankel 3rd Kayela Pavtis 5th Keighen Owens 6th Danyal Cowley Lucy Gondak Cheryl Mattay 9th Morgan Perry 10th Frank Hoosac 12th Janice Shutterly Leigh Stromberg 13th Janet Stevenson Sally Lopes 14th Cyndil Labash 15th Shawna Owens 17th Ron Kander 19th Carley Askin 20th Elma Martinosky 22nd Christopher Herron Dale Lehew 25th Jesse Gray Jack Chester 26th Lori Hill Roland Shawley 27th Mallory Staub 28th Mark Hill Amelia Longnecker Shelly Rhome 29th Daniel Henry Chaz Sztroin IT S A DAY TO REMEMBER By Regina Wiencek A picture-perfect Autumn day - Yellow leaves dance from the trees, The fragrant scent of goldenrod Is carried on the gentle breeze. A carefree, dainty butterfly Settles on a flower fair, Soon to flutter again; Pursuing joys without compare. And busy little honey bees Are gathering the nectar sweet, From wild flowers, white and gold, Profusely blooming round my feet. Cotton clouds drift leisurely Through the endless blue above. From the beauty of this day My eyelids cannot hold enough. And deep into my heart I tuck The sights and sounds the hour brings. With joy I will recall this day When not a single robin sings. When silent falls the crickets shrill, No longer swallows part the sky; When on the stove the kettle sings, I dream of Summer days gone by. OCTOBER DAYS By Beverly J. Anderson October days how much they bless Our lives with Autumn loveliness The earth with colors all aglow, The painted leaves that sparkle so, The tapestry of brilliant hills, The lilting notes the redbird spills, The sapphire sky, the sunshine s gold A wealth of splendor to behold. The fields with harvest s rich display, A bright Chrysanthemum bouquet, The sumac by the road s ablaze, The goldenrod long country ways, The graceful flight of geese on high, The dreamy moon in Autumn sky, The crimson sunset in the west October days I love them best! 1st Maura Askin Emilee Hawk Carolyn Mendola 2nd Pastor Rose Granato 3rd Madison Shutterly 4th Shelby Ferguson II Nicole Winterbottom 5th Clint Davis 6th H. Lee Hill 7th Connie Bethem 9th Kaylee Gilchrist Brian Layhue Clare Parsons Ruth Wilkinson 10th Thomas Gilchrist Jim LoGreco 11th Ray Gilchrist 12th Leann Watkins 15th Linda Smitley 18th Melissa Yancec 19th Lauren Booher Colin Chalfant Emily Frederick Kelly Hill 21st Carol Kubalinski Chanell Labash Katelyn Mattay 22nd Amy Boyd Scott Shawley 23rd Cyndi Kortina 24th Ryan Dunmeyer Tabitha Hill Taylor Hill 25th Monte Labash 26th Diana Schomer 27th Wyatt Perry 30th Vince Trombino 31st Terri Shutterly Carrie Munshower

13 Eric Allison 320 Delmont Avenue Belle Vernon, PA Carl Dunlop 203 Vine Street Belle Vernon, PA Edythe Ferencz 826 Edwards Avenue Belle Vernon, PA Sean Ganoe 1204 Maple Avenue Monessen, PA Lucy Gondak 3381 Greensburg Pike West Newton, PA Evelyn Gearhart Dunlevy Manor Personal Care Home 2218 Route 88 Dunlevy, PA George Leasure 235 Vernon Avenue Belle Vernon, PA Doris Nelson c/o Carole Chalfant 22 Chalfant Road Coal Center, PA Lorraine Quintier 919 Graham Street Belle Vernon, PA Jane Shider 325 Water Street Belle Vernon, PA THE TIME TO PRAY By Elnora Wilson When the sun comes peeping o er the hills to herald the approach of day, and the silvery moon fades in the sky, just then is the time to pray. Ere the toils of life come crowding in and the day speeds on in its flight, the strength one finds when alone with God is sufficient for the fight. So I ll steal away while the day is young and bow at the Master s feet. I ll ask for the grace He ll give me to face each trial I ll meet. He ll fill my soul with peace and joy, a peace that I could not know apart from Jesus the Prince of Peace, as on through the day I go. AMAZED By Edna M. Massimilla I never cease to be amazed By wonders God has planned... The rising sun, the morning dew It s the work of a Master s hand. Such perfect system of control; Every month, in sweet array, Different kinds of flowers bloom... God planned I all that way. In the early days of Spring The bright forsythias grow; Then in June sweet roses come, And in Autumn pumpkins glow. When cold weather comes our way, I glance up at the sky, And see formation of the birds As to the South they fly. Through holidays and holy days People spend much time in prayer... Christmas Easter and many more, Showing love, and faith, and care. It s just a fool who could deny God s power through the land. I am amazed but realize It s the work of a Master s hand. Donohoe, Patrick D. Back in the States Michael & Valerie Ferencz PSC41 Bx APO AE TSgt Eric S. Hill 200 Edgecliff Way Columbia, SC H. Lee Hill 7402 Paxton Drive Fayetteville, NC Ryan Hill 164 Wayfair Lane Hinesville, GA Reinstadtler, Cory Unit Box 1008 FPO AE FC3 Schickel, Joseph P. Unit Box 651 FPO AE Jared T. Schomer 460 Constitution Street Perryopolis, PA Sean Winterbottom 2533 Archdale Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23456

14 FOUR PERSPECTIVES Because different writers penned each Gospel, the four books offer unique angles and insights. Although the overall message is the same, the human authors backgrounds and perspectives shine through every account. These verses by an unknown writer remind us of each Gospel s characteristics: MATTHEW Messiah, Israel s King, sets forth, by Israel slain; but God decreed that Israel s loss should be the Gentiles gain. A MORNING PRAYER Thomas a Kempis At the start of a day, who can tell what a day may bring forth? Cause me therefore, gracious God, to live every day as if it were to be my last, for I know not but that it may be such. Cause me to live now as I shall wish I had done when I come to die. O grant that I may not die with any guilt on my conscience, or any known sin unrepented of, but that I may be found in Christ, who is my only Savior and Redeemer. MARK tells us how in patient love this earth has once been trod by One Who, in a Servant s form, was yet the Son of God. LUKE, the physician, writes of a more skilled Physician still Who gave himself, as Son of Man, to save us from all ill. JOHN, the beloved of Jesus, sees in him the Father s Son, the everlasting Word made flesh, yet with the Father One. GOD S WORLD Edna St. Vincent Millay O world, I cannot hold thee close enough! Thy winds, thy wide grey skies! Thy mists, that roll and rise! Thy woods, this autumn day, that ache and sag And all but cry with color! That gaunt crag To crush! To lift the lean of that black bluff! World, World, I cannot get thee close enough! WEALTH IS WORTHLESS Arne Garborg It is said that for money you can have everything, but you cannot. You can buy food, but not appetite; medicine, but not health; knowledge but not wisdom; glitter, but not beauty; fun, but not joy; acquaintances, but not friends; servants, but not faithfulness; leisure, but not peace. You can have the husk of everything for money, but not the kernel. The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials. Origin uncertain THE ROLE OF A LIFETIME Linda Dillow, Calm My Anxious Heart We grow up when we see our life and our role from God s perspective; when we thank God for the role he has assigned us and begin to see our cup as a gift instead of a cross; when each morning we ask, God, how can I glorify you today in my given role?

15 VOICES OF THE REFORMATION There is not nor can there be! any reason for tearing oneself away from the church in schism. Rather, the worse things become, the more one should help her and stand by her, for by schism and contempt nothing can be mended. Martin Luther, German pastor whose 95 Theses sparked the Protestant Reformation Our confidence in Christ does not make us lazy, negligent or careless, but on the contrary it awakens us, urges us on and makes us active in living righteous lives and doing good. There is no self-confidence to compare with this. Ulrich Zwingli, Swiss leader of early Reformation movements A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God s truth is attached and yet would remain silent. John Calvin, French reformer who fled to Switzerland; father of the Presbyterian Church You cannot antagonize and influence at the same time. John Knox, a staunch follower of Calvin who brought Presbyterianism to Scotland REFORMATION CORNERSTONES Every October, many Protestants celebrate the work of reformers who brought about much-needed change in the Christian church. At the center of their contributions were four teachings: Scripture alone: The supremacy of the Bible as the surest guide for faith and life. Grace alone: The supremacy of God s undeserved love. God counts us right with him when we accept his free gifts of forgiveness and salvation. Faith alone: The supremacy of faith. Only by believing and trusting in God s promises, and through no works or achievement of our own, do we receive eternal life. The priesthood of all believers: Christians are members of one another (Ephesians 4:25, NRSV). In God s eyes, Christians are all on the same level. We each have a ministry to fulfill to one another and to people outside the faith. Martin Luther said we re reciprocally and mutually one. I M CLEAN! Church reformer Martin Luther once had a nightmare about being judged by the devil. From a scroll, Satan was reading all the sins Luther had ever committed. What hope of heaven do you have as a miserable sinner? the devil accused. Feeling despondent, Luther remembered the cross. There s one entry which thou hast not made, Satan, he said. When the devil inquired about it, Luther responded confidently: The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin (1 John 1:7, KJV). Praise God that he sent Jesus to be our Deliverer (Psalm 18:2) so we are no longer held hostage by Satan s accusations! YOU RX NXXDXD! Evxn though my typxwritxr is an old modxl, it works quitx wxll xxcxpt for onx kxy. I havx many timxs wishxd it workxd pxrfxctly. It s turx that thx othxr kxys work grxat, but just onx kxy not working makxs a hugx diffxrxnex. Somxtimxs our church sxxms likx my typxwritxr not all thx kxy pxoplx work. You may say to yoursxlf, Wxll, I[ m just onx pxrson. I don t makx or brxak thx church. But it doxs makx a big diffxrxncx bxcausx a church, to bx xffxctivx, nxxds thx activx participation of xvxry pxrson. So, thx nxxt time you think your xfforts arxn t nxcxssary, rxmxmbxr my typxwritxr and say to yoursxlf, I m a kxy pxrson in thx congrxgation, and I m nxxdxd vxry much. A TRUE ORIGINAL By A. W. Tozer A real Christian is an odd [individual]. He feels supreme love for one whom he has never seen; talks familiarly every day to someone he cannot see; expects to go to heaven on the virtue of another; empties himself in order to be full; admits he is wrong so he can be declared right; goes down in order to get up; is strongest when he is weakest, richest when he is poorest and happiest when he feels the worst. He dies so he can live; forsakes in order to have; gives away so he can keep; sees the invisible, hears the inaudible, and knows that which passes knowledge. The man who has met God is not looking for anything; he has found it. He is not searching for light, for upon him the light has already shined....he is not a copy, not a facsimile. He is an original from the hand of the Holy Spirit.

16 SURPRISING SAINTHOOD On October 28, the Christian church traditionally commemorates two saints Simon and Jude. Simon is named in all four New Testament lists of Jesus disciples. In two, he s called the Zealot, indicating his affiliation with an extremist Jewish-nationalist sect that believed the Messiah would lead Jews to throw off Roman rule. The Zealots incited a Jewish uprising that ended with the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 A.D. Jude is called Thaddeus in Matthew and Mark. Little is known of him because he s mentioned only in lists of the 12 disciples. Scholars don t believe he wrote the Letter of Jude. Jesus choice of a rabble-rouser, and of someone with so little to distinguish him that we know nothing but his name, reminds us we re all chosen because of Christ s holiness, not our own. THE FESTE BURG Homiletics A Mighty Fortress, the hymn written by Protestant reformer Martin Luther in 1529, is powerful in English but even better in its original German. Historian Michael Streich notes that Luther compares God not only to a fortress but to a completely secure stronghold, or Feste Burg. A burg was a fortified town, Streich says. When invaders approached, the surrounding populace fled to the safety of the walls sometimes to layers of walls within walls. Luther s hymn compares God to the most powerful of all burgs, with eternally unbreakable walls.] When we need a place of refuge, God offers his Mighty Fortress, his Feste Burg. Within this refuge, with our value base on our relationship to God rather than on earthly achievements, we ll never be put to shame. Inside this fortified town, the God who desires an eternal relationship with us delivers, rescues and saves us. WORLD WIDE COMMUNION Sunday, October 7th TRUE JOY Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline There is something sad in anyone s running from church to church trying to get an injection of the joy of the Lord. Joy is not found in singing a particular kind of music or getting with the right kind of group or even in exercising the charismatic gifts of the Spirit, good as all those may be. Joy is found in obedience. When the power that is in Jesus reaches into our work and play and redeems them, there will be joy where once there was mourning. To overlook that is to miss the meaning of the incarnation. RENOVATION Mary Ann Sundby FROM MARTIN LUTHER Whatever fear still assails us is either a temptation of Satan or a remnant of the old man, for in Christ there can be nothing but supreme assurance and joy. Faith is a living and unshakable confidence, a belief in the grace of God so assured that a man would die a thousand deaths for its sake. Renovate me, precious Lord. I turned from you and just ignored your plan for me to be restored. Without your love, I sink, not soar, so change and fix my inner core. Renovate me, precious Lord. Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, leave the rest to God. Attributed to Ronald Reagan

17 AUTUMN FUN FOR THE KIDS! A WELL-SHAKEN TREE Martin Luther For several years I have read the Bible through twice in 12 months. It is a great and powerful tree, each word of which is a mighty branch. Each of these branches have I well shaken, so desirous was I to know what each one bore and what it would give me. And the shaking of them has never disappointed me.

18 ARE YOU ON THE RIGHT TEAM THE JESUS TEAM? Well, here we are looking forward to approaching fall and once again, the beginning of football season. I know there are many die-hard, completely committed Steeler fans in this congregation, being it s the nearest to what we would call our hometown team. Some of these fans wouldn t miss a game if their lives depended on it. I m not saying that to anger any of these avid fans, but stop and think about it. How many times have you not attended a worship service because you had to get ready to watch the game later on that day? However, there are some who make it a point to attend church first and then prepare to watch the game once the service is over. Wouldn t it be wonderful to see all of that enthusiasm in people when they were preparing to attend a church service or to work on a church-related project out in the community? Don t get me wrong, I m not saying that being excited about a sports team or game is wrong, because we all need to relax from time to time and that is one way to enjoy a game and perhaps relax as well. What I am saying is that time is growing short for us as disciples of Christ, commissioned to spread the gospel among the people. There is still a lot of work to be done and I m not so sure that we re doing all we can to bring our friends, neighbors and others into the kingdom. Are you doing all that you can to win people over to the Jesus Team? That s the team that counts to get you to heaven! As much as you might love the other sports teams out there, they will not get you to heaven! Being enamored with them will not get you a place in the kingdom of God. Only by having faith in Jesus Christ and accepting Him into your heart will you make the touchdown to reach the goal of heaven. Some would have you believe that if you work hard for the kingdom, doing all that is asked of you, you will be saved. Unfortunately, that is not totally true that s only part of it! The Bible tells us that first we must admit that we are sinners in need of a Savior. Then in turning our heart over to Jesus, we accept Him as the Son of God and believe that God raised Him from the dead. Following that line, we will want to do what God has equipped us to do for the further advancement of His kingdom. You see, you were placed on this earth by God for a purpose you re not here by mistake or circumstance. God knows you; knows your name and even knows the number of hairs on your head. He loves you more than you could ever imagine. In fact, He loved you enough to give up His own Son, Jesus Christ, to die in your place and take on the sins of the world, on that cruel cross (John 3:16). We can t possibly, in our wildest imagination, know the pain and suffering Christ endured for you and me! THAT WAS TRU- LY AMAZING LOVE! When someone gives up their life for you, wouldn t you want to repay the debt? But, that was the problem; nothing we could ever do would repay the debt we owed to God. Only the death of Jesus could do that! Every day, our world grows increasingly difficult to understand and to live within. Remember, it s not God who is creating the turmoil everywhere. On the contrary, it s the Prince of Darkness Satan! God is not the author of confusion. All that is happening in our world right now, was not part of the original plan quite the opposite. God s plan for this world was perfect, however, He has allowed Satan free reign until the day that He sends His Son, Jesus, back for His church. If you know anything about the end times as explained in the Book of Revelation, you ll understand what I mean when I say that I believe time is growing shorter each day before Jesus returns. Once that occurs, watch God do another cleansing of the earth (far worse than the Genesis flood). I would not want anyone to have to go through what is predicted in the Book of Revelation. Knowing you have Jesus Christ so dedicated to you, wouldn t you want Him on your team? Well, guess what? HE ALREADY IS! A while back, we had a Bible study entitled, FAN OR FOLLOWER? written by Kyle Idleman. In it, Pastor Idleman distinguishes between people who enthusiastically admire Jesus (fans) and those who fully commit their lives to Him (followers). Which category do you fall into? Do you acknowledge and cheer for Jesus but show no real interest in truly following Him? Do you want to be close enough to Jesus to get all the benefits, but not so close that it requires anything from you? If either of these statements hits too close to home, pray that Jesus will transform you from a mere fan to an all-in follower. Once you commit your life to Him, it becomes a daily journey and at times, not an easy one but one well worth every minute you spend on it. (Continued)

19 If you have taken the steps to invite Him into your life, He is with you everyday, every minute and every hour no matter what you do or where you go. You can call upon Him at any time of the day or night; 24/7, and know that He is listening and will answer. On the other hand, if He is not part of your life yet, He is still waiting to hear from you all you need to do is call upon Him! Don t wait until the last few seconds of the game to do something about winning you may not get the chance! Take the initiative kick that touchdown and become part of the winning team for heaven THE JESUS TEAM!! Until the next time Blessings, Cathy 1 FOR JESUS! MINISTER TO YOUR MINISTERS In honor of Clergy Appreciation Month, use these alphabetical reminders of how to treat your pastors: Accept them as people. Build them up. Say thank you. Communicate with them. Defend them when someone tries to run them down. Entertain them. They like to have fun, too! Family. Allow them to have a family life. Genuine. Be honest with them. Be yourself around them. Honor them. Don t put them on a pedestal, but respect them. Income. Pay them enough so money isn t a concern. Judge not! Avoid being critical. Kind. Treat pastors as you want to be treated. Love. See! Corinthians 13. Maintain. Their families have the same needs as other families. Nurture. Help them grow in grace. Offer to help. The list of things you can do is endless. Pray for them. Lift up their names to God daily. Quelch not. Encourage instead! Rejoice in and with them. Surprise them in little and big ways. Trust them. Believe in them. Understand them. Put yourself in their place. Vacation. They need time away. Welcome them into your home. Don t wait for an invitation. expend yourself, not them. Yoke. Help them bear their burdens with grace and dignity. Zap all gossip! Looking back over a lifetime, you see that love was the answer to everything. Ray Bradbury STICK WITH IT! If I ve learned anything about friendship, it s to hang in, stay connected, says journalist Jon Katz. Don t walk away, don t be distracted, don t be too busy or tired, don t take them for granted. Friends are part of the glue that holds life and faith together. This applies to church life too. When we re annoyed by some aspect of congregational life or caught in conflict with other members, it s tempting to drift away to another church or no church. Even when all is fine, we sometimes let church take a back seat. But our bonds with the family of God are part of the glue that holds life and faith together. For the sake of the benefits we gain and give, may we hang in [and] stay connected with our church family. May we not walk away [or] be distracted, ne too busy or tired. May we not take one another for granted but thank God for this glue even when things get a big sticky! SERVANT LEADERSHIP Geoff Gorsuch, Brothers! Calling Men Into Vital Relationships From Christ s perspective, a true leader is a servant, committed to the success of each individual in the group. Jesus did not criticize his disciples desire to lead; he just showed them how to do it by washing their feet....the essence of spiritual leadership, therefore, is following Jesus and serving people. People rebel against controlling leaders, but it is impossible to rebel against a servant.

20 THE METHODIST MESSENGER MON-YOUGH TRINITY CHARGE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 200 STATE STREET BELLE VERNON, PA Phone: Fax: Website: FALL IS ON THE WAY! RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED HARVEST TIME SIGNS OF THE SEASON FOOTBALL SEASON