Greenwood United Methodist Church. A Brief History of Valentine s Day. By Steve Stalnaker

Transcription

1 February 2014 Greenwood United Methodist Church Page February 2014 Twig Bender A Brief History of Valentine s Day By Steve Stalnaker O n St. Valentine s Day, Americans send an estimated 1 billion valentine cards, according to the U.S. Greeting Card Association. One billion; wow, that s almost how many different stories I found on the Internet while researching the origin and history of this romantic holiday, when some of us feel a need to rely on cards, candy, jewelry or fancy dinners to express our love for someone. Apparently at least two Christians, named Valentinus, were gruesomely martyred in the 3rd century A.D. One of the Popes later decreed Feb. 14 as the feast day for these martyrs. But how did we get from gruesome martyrdom to hearts, candy, flowers and Cupid? Most sources say the first recorded association of Valentine's OUR MINISTRY OF PRAYER Please pray for these brothers Day with romantic love is in a 1382 and sisters in Christ poem by Geoffrey Chaucer of Canterbury Tales fame: "For this Susanna Carson, Dorothy Finley, was on Saint Valentine's Day, David Lewis, Adamarye Patteson, when every bird cometh there to Ben Shannon, Tommy Sheets, Steve Sheffield, Brenda And Harry choose his mate. (Continued on page 10) Shuler

2 Page 2 The Twig Bender Come to Bishop s Convocation Both laity and clergy are invited to attend the second annual Bishop s Convocation on Prayer on March 29, 2014 at Trinity United Methodist Church, The Rev. Tom Albin, Dean of the Upper Room Ministries and Ecumenical Relations, will be the plenary session speaker. There will also be small group learning opportunities in the areas of prayer and Wesleyan spiritual disciplines. Fee for the convocation is $10. Register online at the conference website Workshops include: Sharing and resourcing of Bishop Young Jin Cho Virginia Conference prayer covenant congregations; Upper Room Resources and Ministries; Centering Prayer; Contemplative Prayer Attending to God in silence and using silence; Contemplative Prayer in Worship; Body Prayer; Art Journaling; Journaling for the Whole Congregation; Wesleyan Spiritual Disciplines Means of Grace and Acts of Mercy; and How to Pray with Children and Youth. The Convocation is set from 9:30 a.m. 3:00 p.m. Trinity UMC is located at 903 Forest Avenue, Richmond, VA. Easter Cantata Don t miss Adoration, Greenwood s Easter Cantata. For those who would like to participate but can t make rehearsals right now, we have CDs they can listen to, said Greenwood Music Director Susanna Carson. Anyone is invited to join us for the Cantata; no audition needed, she added.

3 February 2014 Page 3 Greenwood Scouting We are Pack 744 By Mark Taylor Pack 744 Cubmaster We are comprised of about 2 dozen boys from age 6 to 12, from Longdale and Greenwood Elementary Schools and a great group of parent volunteers and leaders. We are working hard now on our rank badges and achievements. We have gathered food for the Central Virginia Food Bank, made blankets for the homeless and sent Christmas wishes to the service men and women who passed through the USO at Richmond International Airport this Christmas. We look forward to seeing you all on Feb. 9 and taking part in the service on Scout Sunday. We are honored and thankful to be sponsored by Greenwood United Methodist Church and you, the congregation. Don t forget the pack s annual Blue and Gold Banquet on March 22. Scout Sunday marks the founding of the Scouts in the United States on Feb. 8, The United Methodist Church celebrates Scout Sunday on the second Sunday of February so as not to conflict with Transfiguration Sunday. In the United States, Scouting has been used by churches, synagogues, and many other religious organizations as part of their youth ministries. Approximately 50 percent of all Scouting units are chartered to religious groups. (source: Wikipedia)

4 Page 4 The Twig Bender Opportunity to Help with Children s Ministry By Linda Walker When children are baptized at Greenwood UMC the congregation agrees to nurture the children in the Christian faith and life. One way to do this is to help with the Children s Moment at Greenwood UMC during the 11:00 a.m. service by presenting 3 to 5 minute Bible-based messages to which children can relate. Please consider helping with the Children s Moment. For more information, contact Rev. Barbara Lewis at or at revbarbara@gumcva.org or Linda Walker at February Communion Offering 2014 Planning Session and Church Council Meeting Saturday, Feb. 15 at 9 a.m. until noon, in the Fellowship Hall Everyone is Welcome bring your calendars and ideas. Refreshments provided.

5 February 2014 Page 5 United Methodist Day at General Assembly We invite you to join us Feb.6 as we celebrate our 22 nd United Methodist Day at the General Assembly! This is our opportunity to help faith communities become empowered to serve as missionaries of justice, as well as the more traditional missionaries of mercy. United Methodist Day and other avenues of faithful advocacy help us to look beyond mercy ministry to ask: What caused this problem? By joining together and establishing relationships with our elected officials, we empower members of our congregations to wonder, How can I make a difference? How can I be a Good Samaritan in our world to its fullest sense? This event gives congregations a vehicle for reaching beyond themselves and introduces them to the Social Principles of The United Methodist Church in a meaningful way. Registration is $35. Final registration date is Friday, Jan. 31 or until we reach our limit. Space is limited to 300. No refunds will be available. Registration includes information packet, hot breakfast, lunch, parking, transportation to the Capitol grounds, and afternoon speakers. Register now at the Conference web site click on EVENTS and go to Feb. 6.

6 Page 6 The Twig Bender Fellowship Dinner Wednesday, February 12 at Menu: beef vegetable soup, tossed salad; fruit cup; biscuits; brownies. Entertainment: gospel music by the "Finney's". Price increase effective January 2014: $7.00 per person, children ages 6-12 $5.00, children under age 6 free. In order for us to plan properly for the Fellowship Dinner, we must know ahead of time how much food to prepare. Therefore, please have your reservations in by Sunday, February 9; we will regretfully be unable to take reservations after this date. Sign up on the insert in the church bulletin, call the church office at (804) or admin@gumcva.org. FunRaisers Bag Lunches Pick yours up after worship services February 23; cost $7.00 per lunch. Menu: turkey and cheese on a roll, veggie chips, apple sauce and chocolate chip cookies. Sign-up sheet is in the Narthex. Daylight Savings Time Begins March 9 Don t forget to set your clocks ahead 1 hour!

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8 Page 8 The Twig Bender Greenwood UMC February 2014 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 8 a.m. Men s Breakfast 2 Presentation of the Lord LAMB s Basket Sunday Suggested Dona- 3 7 p.m. Finance Committee p.m. Circles Meet 6 UM Day at General Assembly Choir Practice 7 8 Boy Scouts of America founded Scouting Sunday Deadline for School Supplies Donations Fellowship Dinner 13 Choir Practice Cub Scouts 14 St. Valentine s Day 15 9 a.m. Planning Session and Council Meeting Presidents Day :30 a.m. Cornerstones 20 Choir Practice Cub Scouts 21 Twig Bender Deadline 22 F r i e n d s h i p Q u i l t e r s 23 FunRaisers Bag Lunches Choir Practice Cub Scouts 28

9 February 2014 Page 9 Mark Your Calendars March 5... Ash Wednesday March 9... Daylight Savings Time Begins March Cub Scout Pack 744 Blue and Gold Banquet March Bishop s Convocation April Palm Sunday April 17...Maundy Thursday April Good Friday April Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt April Easter Sunday

10 Page 10 The Twig Bender Valentine s Day History (Continued from page 1) Valentine s Day really gained steam as a romantic holiday early in the 19th Century when mass printing and lower postal rates made the exchange of romantic sentiments easier and sometimes anonymous ( your secret Valentine ). "Saint Valentine's Day... is becoming, nay it has become, a national holyday," observed Graham's American Monthly magazine in In the 20 th century, the custom of exchanging cards was extended to all manner of gifts including roses and chocolates. In the 1980s, the diamond industry began to promote Valentine's Day as an occasion for giving jewelry. From an obscure reference by Chaucer, through its becoming a national holyday, Valentine s Day is now the second largest cardsending holiday of the year, ranking only behind Christmas, again according to the U.S. Greeting Card Association. The advent of the Internet is creating new Valentine s Day traditions. An estimated 15 million e-valentines were sent in So, whether you need a card or a box of candy or a simple I love (Continued on page 11) Church Office Volunteers We have four primary volunteers and one alternate who staff the church office Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., 52 weeks a year. We could really use another alternate. If you have a few free hours we would love to have you as an alternate. Give the church office a call at or Gay Stapleton at

11 February 2014 Page 11 B y t h e N u m b e r s (Note: Different versions of this have been around the Internet a few times, but here s one with a unique twist) Ever wonder what people mean when they talk about giving more than 100%? How can you do that? Mathematically, 100% means all so how can one exceed that? If we assign a number to each of the letters of the alphabet: A = 1, B = 2, etc. Then: H A R D W O R K = 88% and K N O W L E D G E = 96% and A T T I T U D E = 100% But, see how far the Love of God gets us: L O V E O F G O D = 101% So, with mathematical certainty we can prove that hard work and knowledge will get you close, and attitude will get you there, it s the Love of God that will put you over the top. More Valentine s Day History (Continued from page 10) you to express your feelings, remember what Paul wrote: 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4 8a read the whole passage on page 13.) Primary sources: Wikipedia, History.com, American University United Methodist Community

12 Page 12 School Supplies Drive Part 2 The Twig Bender Help our local students get the school supplies they need and make an instant impact on Henrico County's at risk students. Approximately 35% of Henrico County students are considered economically deprived. Your donations of these school supplies, to the pupils at Longdale Elementary School, will help these students to be successful in the classroom. Please bring your donated school supplies to the sanctuary by Sunday, Feb. 9. As always, we are thankful for everyone s donations. School Supplies Needed Highlighters Crayons Glue sticks Book bags/backpacks Pocket folders Plastic pencil boxes Lined index cards #2 pencils 1 and 3 subject notebooks Notebook paper (wide-ruled) Greenwood Prayer List To keep our prayer list up to date, names will remain on the list for about four weeks. If you d like to add names, or add them again, contact Rev. Barbara, leave a message at the church office at or admin@gumcva.org.

13 February 2014 Page 13 Define Love 13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13 (NIV)

14 Page 14 The Twig Bender Greenwood Church Family Birthdays Gay Stapleton... 2/1 Teresa Coleman... 2/1 Don t see your birthday or wedding anniversary in The Twig Bender and would like to have us publish it? Send your dates to admin@gumcva.org or call the church office at ; likewise, let us know if you d like your birthday or anniversary removed. Sheltering Arms Celebrates 125th Anniversary One of central Virginia s premier rehabilitation facilities and recipient of Greenwood s July Communion Offering, Sheltering Arms celebrates its 125 th anniversary on Feb. 13. Read more at: Be Prepared Read the Scriptures February Lectionary Readings February 2 February 9 February 16 February 23 Micah 6:1-8; Psalm 15; I Corinthians 1:18-31; Matthew 5:1-12 Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12); Psalm 112:1-10; I Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16); Matthew 5:13-20 Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 119:1-8; I Corinthians 3:1-9; Matthew 5:21-37 Leviticus 19:1-2; 9-18; Psalm 119:33-40; I Corinthians 3:10-11; 16-23; Matthew 5:38-48

15 February 2014 Page 15 January Attendance and Offerings Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce Proverbs 3:9 Date Sunday School Worship Giving January $1,929 January $ 8,981 January $ 3,970 January $ 1,522 Weekly Average $ 16,402 YTD Totals $ 16,402 YTD Weekly Avg $ 16,402 Going forward in 2014, we will need a weekly offering of at least $2,642 to meet Greenwood s operating budget of $137,433. Women s Circles Meet Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. Willing Workers meets at Charlene Hawkins home Ruth meets in the home of Carolyn Smith Twig Bender is a publication of Greenwood United Methodist Church Greenwood Road Glen Allen, VA Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship 11 a.m. Pastor Rev. Barbara Lewis revbarbara@gumcva.org Music Director Ms. Susanna Carson After School Phone: Office admin@gumcva.org Fax: Office hours 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday Friday Twig Bender editor Steve Stalnaker webmaster@gumcva.org Visit our web site at Greenwood UMC all rights reserved