Bruce s Bible Study. Our Gifts & Presence Sunday, June 17, June 18, Total Worship...46 Total Sunday School...19

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1 Our Gifts & Presence Sunday, June 17, 2018 June 18, 2018 OPEN HEARTS OPEN MINDS OPEN DOORS The People of the United Methodist Church Total Worship Total Sunday School...19 Budget... $1117 Bruce s Bible Study I'm starting a new series this week, and it's not precisely a Bible study, but it's related; it's a study of church music (hymns, anthems, choruses, gospel hymns, etc.). The best church music is based on the Bible, so you can see why I feel I can include it in this study. By the way, I'll tell you that church music is a stormy subject. When I teach Hymnology at Texas Wesleyan, I tell my religion majors they'd best have a tough skin, and to know why they're choosing the worship music that they are! Everyone has his/her own opinion about music, and woe betide anybody who goes against it! What has sparked this study is what our pastor Sally has done for this year and last year---during the summer she has the congregation sing their "popular requests." You may have noticed that there is a blank for your favorites in the bulletin this week (I turned mine in Wednesday night after choir practice). Of course, the use of hymns causes some people to get riled. A woman in the church I attended in Edinburgh told me, "I don't think we ought to sing hymns, but just praise choruses." She later changed her mind! Some people have said, "We should sing only scriptural choruses because the scriptures are the inspired word of God, and hymns are the work of sinful men (meaning humanity). Yes, there are people who have taken that stance, which I tend to think is based on a very poor argument. And, of course, there are those who don't like musical instruments in their worship. The monks at the Greek Orthodox monastery near where I lived in New York state didn't use instruments because they said that the human voice is the most wonderful instrument ever created, and we should use the "best" to praise God. I think we're all familiar with the usual Church of Christ stance, but you may not know the reason why they don't use instruments. It's because musical instruments are not mentioned in the church on earth in the New Testament, but only in Heaven; of course, the Old Testament is full of references to musical instruments, but the Church of Christ prefers to stick to known New Testament practice. As an organist, I think you can guess how I estimate that argument! The Free Church and its offshoots in Scotland also go unaccompanied, and their "relatives," the Presbyterians, did that until early in the 20th century. Did any of you see the movie A River Runs Through It, starring Brad Pitt? His "dad," played by Tom Skerritt, was a Presbyterian minister in Montana early in the 20th century. There was a scene in one of the services and the people were singing unaccompanied. Yep; its ironic that now one of the really good classical music series in Ft. Worth is hosted by First Presbyterian! You can see what we're getting into; more next week! If you have particular questions you'd like me to address in this series, please let me know!

2 Don t be caught by surprise on Sundays this summer. We have moved back into the Fellowship Hall. It is a more casual setting to be sure, and it actually helps greatly reduce our energy bill over the extreme months ahead. There may be an advantage, too, if you know of someone uncomfortable with big church, this might be an opportunity to bring them along and get them to know us easier. It might just take this little change to reach someone... Regular Needs for Eastside Ministries For Families: Canned Fruit Pasta Baby Items: Diapers, Baby Formula Homeless & Family Food: Small Pull-top Meats & Drinks, Canned Fruit, Snacks, Mac & Cheese Clothing Items: Men s Shoes Children s items: including Infant 0-18 mos. Towels & Sheets Feminine Hygiene: Pads or Tampons Other Items: Powdered Laundry Soap Quart Zip-lock Bags

3 Handley UMC had a lot to celebrate about last week! Bob had a birthday and the group shared some cake & ice cream with him. And, John Woodard was ordained as an Elder in Full Connection i.e. Reverend, at the 2018 Central Texas Annual Conference.

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5 June 11, Forest Ave Ft. Worth, Texas Address Service Requested Church Office: Church Fax: Meetings & Events Schedule Handley United Methodist Church June 20 June 26 & Calendar June 27 July 1 Communion set-up by Friendship Class July 2 Police Captain s meet July 4-5 Happy Fourth!!! Office Closed July 9 Handley Neighborhood Association July 10 July 11 July 18 July 24 & Calendar July 25 Sunday s Service: We Serve with the Holy Spirit 2 Corinthians 6:1-13