Hilda United Methodist Church

Transcription

1 Hilda United Methodist Church Hilda Herald JULY 2014 WEBSITE Sunday Worship 11:00 AM Sunday School 10:00 AM Wednesday Prayer 9:00 AM PASTOR S INFO Rev. Wade Powell Ranch Rd. 783 P.O. Box 1404 Mason, TX Cell: arcwade@gmail.com Open Hearts Open Minds Open Doors How can a baby be baptized if it doesn t know what it s doing? Last Sunday, a question about baptism came up in Sunday School. I thought it would be appropriate to address the question here in the newsletter. Please realize that the subject is more complex than what can be addressed in a newsletter, but I think this is a good starting point. I titled this article with the above question, because I believe as it is answered, we are further addressing a more complete understanding of Baptism, whether it be infant or adult. First, let s start with the premise that a person cannot do something if they don t know what they are doing. I would have to say that is true. The great part is that the person being Baptized isn t doing anything. They are receiving a gift of grace. God is doing the doing. In the United Methodist Church, we believe that Baptism is complete when the person that receives the Baptism responds or confirms their Baptism. In other words, Baptism is something God does, and confirmation is something we do. There is no reason that infants should not be Baptized. Do you think God will only act on Baptisms that are done at the point of confirmation as in an adult Baptism. Do you believe that God is willing and able to bestow his grace upon everyone, including infants, even though it may take ten or more years to confirm and respond to that grace? I do. I ve heard people say they want to be re-baptized when they change churches or denominations. Or that they don t really remember being baptized as an infant and want to do it again. Well, that is an admirable thing to want, but the reality is: God s grace is irrevocable. God doesn t take away your membership card when you change churches, or because you have gotten older. Once you are Baptized, you ARE Baptized! If you get to the point at which you feel you must be re-baptized, congratulations, you are on the road to confirming your true Baptism. Please understand that in the United Methodist Church, we understand Baptism to be a Sacrament. That is, an act of God in which he makes his presence known and active in our lives. Some other protestant denominations such as Baptists, Church of Christ, and many non-denominational congregations adhere to Baptism as an ordinance in which the one being baptized is the primary player in Baptism. So, if Baptism is an ordinance, something a believer does, I can see the importance of having the believer know what they are doing. But as a Sacrament, something God does for us, it is irrelevant as to the age or understanding of the Baptism. It is then the duty of the parents, congregation, and church to nurture the one baptized into accepting and responding to the grace that God has given them. Continued on Pg. 6 1

2 Page 2 Hilda Herald UNITED METHODIST WOMEN HILDA UMW The Hilda UMW met on Tuesday, June 10 at 10:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. Jan Appleby was hostess and Rebecca Dodson presented the program, Community. Study Leader, Rebecca Dodson Our next get-together will be on Tuesday, July 8. It will be our Christmas in July and we ll be repairing the Chrismon decorations for the sanctuary Christmas tree and also making Christmas cards to send to our friends who are not always able to make it to our meetings and to those who may MARTHA CIRCLE Martha Circle met on Tuesday, June 24 at 6:00 p.m. in Mason at Teresa Walker s office. in Mason. Next meeting is Tuesday, July 22nd in the Hilda Fellowship Hall. Linda Kesler, Florence Smith, T.J. Mitchell & Jan Appleby (not pictured) worked on UMW scrapbooks on May 22nd ANNOUNCING Rebecca Dodson & Jan Appleby are opening a shop on the north side of the Mason square in the Shooting Star located in the Hofmann Building. They will be selling their handmade cards as well as gift bags and bookmarks. They will offer classes for children & adults in card-making and scrapbooking. Having a party? They ll design and make the invitations. Stop by & visit the new store!! 2

3 Volume 6, Issue 1 Page 3 CALENDAR OF EVENTS JULY 2014 Friday, July 4th - HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!! Sunday, July 6 - Communion Sunday Tuesday, July 8 - UMW Meeting - Christmas in July - 10:00 a.m. - We will be making & repairing our Chrismon decorations and if time, working on Christmas cards for our mailing list; Hostess will be Gerry Daniel Saturday, July 11 - Roundup on Courthouse lawn - 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sunday, July 13 - Friday, July 18 - Hilda Community Club Meeting - 6:30 p.m. in Hilda Clubhouse Sunday, July 20 - Guest preacher will be Rev. Tom Gibbons AUGUST 2014 Sunday, August 3 - Communion Sunday - Rosemary Davis will be our guest speaker Sunday, August 10 - Tuesday, August 12 - UMW Gals Day Out - Friday, August 14 - Hilda Community Club Meeting - Ice Cream Social p.m. in Hilda Clubhouse Sunday, August 17 - Rev. Mal Hierholzer will be our guest preacher Sunday, August 24 - Sunday, August 31 - Tuesday, July 22 - Martha Circle - 6:00 Hilda Fellowship Hall Sunday, July 27 - Advisory Council Meeting following worship service/communion in new Fellowship Hall - Bring a sack lunch Vacation Time! & it s Back to School the 25th of August! 3

4 ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL 10:00 a.m. New Fellowship Hall Nanci Gibbons, leader NEEDED: MUSICAL VOLUNTEERS For Sundays during the summer JULY BIRTHDAYS Linda Kesler - July 4 Don Daniel - July 10 Wade Powell - July 10 Sandra Reitz - July 10 Catherine Bjork - July 17 Sheyanne Brandenberger - July 17 Dian Willmann - July 30 JULY ANNIVERSARIES There is a sign-up sheet on top of the organ - this can be solos, duets, groups, just instruments, etc. Choir does not meet during the summer. Randall & Peggy Brown - July 24 THANKS to the following for providing special music during the month of June: Nancy Gibbons - June 1 Dian Evans, Veleda Boyd, & Jan Appleby - June 8 June 15 Nanci Gibbons, Kay Hudler, Tom Gibbons, Jeff Bransford - June 22 June 29 The Lively Notes presented special music on Sunday, June 15th. L-R: James Feuge, David Lively, Keith Kaan THANKS to Jayde Witt & Sara Powell for their participation during the Sunday worship service on June 29th Thanks to Reuben & Doris Geistweidt who provided special music at the June 29th service. 4

5 COMMUNION STEWARDS 2014 Please sign up to be a Communion Steward for one month (if you can t do every Sunday of that month, just ask someone to take your place that Sunday) JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER CHANGING SIGN-UP FOR COMMUNION TO 2 SUNDAYS JUNE 29, July 6 JULY 13,20 JULY 27, AUG.3 AUG. 10,17 AUG. 24,31 NOV. 2,9 Leighton Brown Tuck & Pat Tucker David & Linda Kesler Florence Smith SIGN-UP SHEETS ARE LOCATED ON TOP OF THE ORGAN IN THE SANCTUARY - PLEASE SIGN UP TO USHER, BE A SCRIPTURE READER, AND/OR A COMMUNION STEWARD see next page) - THANKS!! ******************************************************************************** L-R: Clyde & Leatrice Haley, Kay Hudler, Carol Kothmann, Dian Willmann, Pastor Wade, & Ethan Powell worked at the Mason Food Bank on June 9th. MASON FOOD BANK L-R: Laurie Witt, Margaret Brown, Mark Witt, T.J. Mitchell, & Peggy Brown worked at the Food Bank on June 11th. Jan Appleby is not pictured. 5

6 USHERS READERS July John & Carole Flournoy Danny & Florence Smith August Leighton Brown & Jan Appleby Carole Flournoy September T.J. Mitchell & Leatrice Haley Leighton Brown October David & Linda Kesler November Larry & Dian Willmann Rosemary Davis December Danny & Mona Hyde SIGN-UP SHEETS ARE LOCATED ON TOP OF THE ORGAN IN THE SANCTUARY - PLEASE SIGN UP TO USHER, BE A SCRIPTURE READER, And/or A COMMUNION STEWARD - THANKS!! Pastor Wade presents a painting of the Estes Chapel at Asbury Seminary to the Seminary President, Dr. Timothy Tennent. It hangs in a prominent place in his office. Continued from Pg. 1 Of course, there could be chapters written on the subject of baptism, but I only get a page or two in the newsletter. So, I would be happy to discuss baptism or any other questions just give me a call. Also, in response to this question and others I have gotten over the past several months, I am planning a Methodism 101 course (probably in September) that will cover the history, doctrine, and polity of the United Methodist church. God bless you, Pastor Wade "Happy is the man who has broken the chains which hurt the mind, and has given up worrying once and for all." Ovid 6

7 Rev. Altman Retires Rev. Larry Altman and his wife at the Annual Conference in Corpus Christi last month at his retirement. Larry has been our District Superintendent for several years. We wish him well in his retirement! STRENGTHEN Your Community In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!! It took America nearly 200 years to realize the aspirations of the founding fathers, who included in the second section of the document these words: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Please have a joyous, safe, and meaningful Independence Day! 7