THE TWIG BENDER. Tithing is a Blessing

Transcription

1 Greenwood UMC November 2013 THE TWIG BENDER Tithing is a Blessing Page By Steve Stalnaker W here do you stand on tithing? Do you view tithing as an obligation to God or as a blessing from God? One of the fastest ways to turn people off is to preach or write about tithing. However, tithing needs to be discussed. Greenwood s financial situation is precarious. We are presently OUR MINISTRY OF PRAYER Please pray for these brothers and sisters in Christ Susanna Carson, Ronald Dolan, Ashley Draper, Maddie Newton, Lisa Patteson, Dean Pittman, Porter Schermerhorn, Ben Shannon, Tommy Sheets, Lavelle Sheffield, Steve Sheffield, Teresa, Bobby and Austin Skloss, Bob Smith, Nancy Smith, Ray Smith, Barbara Thornton, Harold Yeary November 2013 just meeting our obligations. Currently our offering is only about 50 % of what we need for operating expenses, reported Greenwood Finance Committee chair Ray Smith at a recent Council meeting. Look at tithing this way: if you had an opportunity to do something voluntarily for the Creator of the Universe would you consider that a blessing or an obligation? (Continued on page 9)

2 Page 2 From the Pastor Come and Worship I recently attended the Five Talent Academy event led by Dr. Constance Cherry and sponsored by our Virginia Conference. The focus was on worship the why and the how. Worship attendance has changed drastically over the last four decades here in America. The why, the for whom and the how we worship have not changed. Worship is something that God has invited us to participate in so that we can reflect on who God is, what God has revealed to us about who God is, to give thanks to God and to participate in God s saving power. Worship is the joyous duty of all Christians. God has called us from the beginning of time to come together as a people to worship God. Exodus is particularly full of references to God s people, the Israelites, being called together to worship. Exodus 24 describes the basic components of Israelite worship. Paul describes in the New Testament how we are God s people. In worship, we practice and acknowledge the covenant God has made with us, God s people. A covenant is a binding agreement between two parties. It has its basis in relationship. God sealed the new covenant with us through Jesus Christ, ushered in through Jesus crucifixion. The sign of the new covenant is the Table of the (Continued on page 10) November Communion Offering Children s Hospital Of Richmond at VCU

3 November 2013 Page 3 Brunswick Stew/Fall Fair Greenwood s annual Fall Fair and Brunswick Stew Sale was a rousing success again this year. A big thanks to everyone who helped with preparation on Friday night, with stirring during the night, the stirdown, filling and labeling containers and selling the stew, said stew organizer Brenda Shuler. It was truly a joy and a time for rejoicing when noon came and all of the stew was sold. As you see, it took a lot of people to help in making this and we were all blessed by the fellowship. The money will also continue to be a blessing as it is given to our missionary, Clara Biswas in Cambodia. Other attractions and events at the Fair included a yard sale, a bake sale, a silent auction, food stand and fun for the kids. Thanks to everybody who took part in the fall fair, added Adamarye Patteson. The yard sale was a big success. The bake sale was sweet as ever and the silent auction went very well. Fun was had by everyone. Not all the accounting was completed by press time, so the receipts listed in the table on the back page are gross amounts, not net. Check the church s website or the weekly bulletin for final numbers. Daylight Savings Time Ends On Sunday, November 3, at 2 a.m. Daylight Savings Time will end. So, set your clocks back one hour at 2 a.m. if you re up then, or before you go to bed Saturday night. Don t miss church!

4 Page 4 Pastor s Discretionary Fund We are blessed to have the opportunity to help out people in need from time to time with the generous donations received for our Discretionary Fund. The first Sunday Communion offering in January is the main income source for this fund, along with occasional donations throughout the year. During the last six weeks, we have been able to help four families with utilities. In one case, it was a family who needed help with their water bill after receiving a shut-off notice. They had fallen behind and had been working on catching up and were just a little short when they called us. Another family was struggling financially after being out of work due to an accident and needed help with their electric bill. One individual was a senior citizen who, following a hospital stay, needed a little extra help with the past month s electric bill. Another senior citizen needed some rent money for the motel where she is currently living. Last Sunday, a family arrived at Greenwood in a van looking for help with their rent. They had been evicted and were trying to get enough money to pay the back rent, so they could move back into the house and out of the van. Thank you to all who have helped make a difference in these individuals lives. The fund is at a very low balance now, and the number of calls each month looking for help is increasing. Contributions are always welcome. Thank you, Barbara

5 November 2013 Page 5 Willing Workers Serve Community By Nancy Yeary The fall season is here and The Willing Workers Circle has started with new resolve and purpose to serve our church and community. We are still having Drive Thru Prayer (weather permitting) on Monday mornings. We have some repeat guests and the drivers frequently toot their horns and wave. This is great fellowship time for us and a time to watch the sunrise and hear the birds awaking with song. We continue to support LAMB'S Basket with $100 of non-edible products (soap, dish detergent, etc.) each month. We are gathering and packing shoe boxes to be sent to other countries at Christmastime. We have made a donation to the Samaritan Fund to provide Thanksgiving dinner for 30 people. Longdale School has given us the name of a family whose Thanksgiving dinner we are supplying. We donate books to hospitals and nursing homes. Each month we send greeting cards to those in the church having trials or grief. More recently we have planted pansies in planters at the front door step and delivered apples to the firemen at fire station 21. We are saving pull tabs from cans, Campbell soup labels, box top coupons and used U.S. postage stamps. We ask that the congregation help us collect these items in support of mission including Longdale School. Please drop any of these items in the LAMB'S Basket by the front door and we will sort and deliver them. (Continued on page 11)

6 Page 6 Student Day Gifts Provide Scholarships Sunday, November 24 is United Methodist Student Day. On this day we acknowledge the church s support of students as they prepare for life in uniting faith with knowledge and we make a special offering. Your generous gifts support United Methodist scholarships and the U.M. Student Loan Fund. Here s a few statistics to consider: 500 seminary students are awarded scholarships each year. 2,300 UMC students receive scholarships each year on average. $13.1 million in scholarships was awarded from Eating Opportunities Fellowship Dinner Wednesday, November 13 at 6:30 p.m. Menu: Turkey and gravy, dressing, mashed potatoes, butter beans, rolls and pumpkin pie. Entertainment: Gospel Music by Amy Ladd 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, November 10; 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 lunch - pick up after worship service on Sunday, November 24. For only $7.00 you get a beef and cheddar sandwich, Doritos, fruit, Oreo cookies. Reserve yours on the sign up sheet in the Narthex.

7 November 2013 Page 7 Gospel of John Bible Study Gospel of John Study the group decided that they need a break during the month of November before the Advent study in December. We'll pick up the last four sessions of the GOJ study after the first of the year. Community Thanksgiving Service This year s Community Thanksgiving Service will be hosted by Westhunt Baptist Church on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. Dr. Steven Summers, the new pastor at Good Shepherd United Methodist will preach. Offering will go to Interfaith Services of Henrico (ISH). Westhunt Baptist is located at 3801 West End Drive. Charge Conference Greenwood/Laurel Park Charge Conference November 16 at 9:30 a.m. at LPUMC. All are welcome to attend. Poinsettias 2013 $15 each. Order yours by Sunday, December 15. Order forms will be available in the bulletin or our web site by November 29.

8 Page 8 Greenwood UMC November 2013 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 All Saints Day 5:30 p.m. Fun Friday 2 8 a.m. Men s Breakfast 9 a.m. Greenwood Road Clean Up 3 All Saints Sunday 6 a.m. Drive By 4 Daylight Savings Prayer Ends 6:30 p.m. Boy LAMB s Basket Scouts Sunday 5 Election Day 6 7 p.m. Circles meet 7 6:30 p.m. Choir Practice 6:30 p.m. Cub Scouts p.m. Jewelry sale to benefit Aggie s Attic at Agnes House 11 Veterans Day a.m. Drive By Prayer 6:30 p.m. Boy Scouts 7 p.m. Finance Committee Meeting 6: 30 p.m. Fellowship Dinner 14 6:30 p.m. Choir Practice 6:30 p.m. Cub Scouts :30 a.m. Charge Conference (LPUMC) F r i e n d s h i p Q u i l t e r s Deadline 6 a.m. Drive By Prayer 6:30 p.m. Boy Scouts :30 a.m. Cornerstones 21 6:30 p.m. Choir Practice 6:30 p.m. Cub Scouts Bible Sunday Methodist Student Day Last Sunday in Pentecost FunRaisers Bag Lunches 25 6 a.m. Drive By Prayer 6:30 p.m. Boy Scouts Hanukkah 7 p.m. Community Thanksgiv- Begins ing Service at West Hunt Baptist Church 28 Thanksgiving a.m. Hanging of the Greens in the Sanctuary

9 November 2013 Page 9 Where Do You Stand on Tithing? (Continued from page 1) How can tithing being able to do something for the Lord God be anything but a blessing? And it brings blessings, according to God s Word in Malachi 3 (see the sidebar on page 13). Here God promises to bless so much those who tithe that there will not be room to store it. As the psalmist says, My cup runneth over. Greenwood is current on all its bills, apportionments and other financial obligations, including last year s heating oil bill. Your tithes pay for a warm and safe place for the children to gather as part of the After School program. Your tithes do much more than pay the bills. We are open for ministry, not just keeping the heat and the lights on. Rev. Barbara says: When we pay the apportionments we are not just paying a bill but enabling others to experience God's love through a variety of ministries that we help support as part of the larger church. Thank You, Greenwood! I would really like to thank everyone who kept us in their prayers, sent us cards and called to see how we were doing. Harry and I have truly been blessed by having a caring and loving church family to lean on and know they are offering intercessory prayers for us. Thank you, Brenda Shuler and family. It is, of course, your decision to tithe or how much to give, period. The Apostle Paul writes: Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV). So think about it, and be a cheerful giver. Worship God, serve God, and support God's ministry through His church at Greenwood.

10 Page 10 Come and Worship (Continued from page 2) Lord and the participation in the bread and the cup as instituted by Jesus. Many of you, when asked about attending worship, will say you can worship God at the river, on the golf course, on your boat or in one of the community parks, or... well, you can fill in the blank. Personally, I like to worship God in the mountains and at the beach among other places. But I also recognize the importance of worshipping God with other people. This is called corporate worship. The word corporate is a matter of belonging to or being united with other believers in one body as described throughout Paul s writings especially in 1 Corinthians. The covenant was not made with just one person, but with God s people. We are related to these people through God. The first recorded worship event of the church was a corporate one on the day of Pentecost in Acts. Thousands of people experienced the Holy Spirit together, heard the word preached together and responded together. (Continued on page 11)

11 November 2013 Page 11 Come and Worship (Continued from page 10) Corporate worship is what happens when the body of Christ comes together with one heart and one voice to speak the words, praises, prayers, petitions, and thanks of Christian worship. When we come together in worship, worship is more meaningful. When done well, worship is transformational, changing us to be more like Christ. Part of what we miss when we worship alone is how God uses our brothers and sisters in Christ to help transform us, or uses us to help transform them. Coming together in worship fills out our worship experience and enriches it as we react and respond together. And while you may feel that you can worship just fine somewhere else on Sunday morning, you have a responsibility as part of the body of the church to be present, participating, fulfilling God s invitation to be one with Christ, one with each other and one in the Spirit. The boat, ocean, mountains, or wherever your favorite spot is will still be there the other hours of Sunday and the other six days of the week for your personal devotional time. Grace and Peace, Barbara Willing Workers Update, Continued (Continued from page 5) We are delighted to have Virginia Wagner back with our circle. She is one of the founding members of our group. Our circle s next meeting is in the home of Glenda Stalnaker on Wednesday, November 6. You are welcome to join us.

12 Page 12 Be Prepared Read the Scriptures November Lectionary Readings November 1 All Saints Day November 3 November 10 November 17 November 24 Christ the King November 28 Thanksgiving Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18; Psalm 149; Ephesians 1:11-23; Luke 6:20-31 Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4; Psalm 119: ; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12; Luke 19:1-10 Haggai 1:15b-2:9; Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17; Luke 20:27-38 Isaiah 65:17-25; Isaiah 12; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13; Luke 21:5-19 Jeremiah 23:1-6; Luke 1:68-79; Colossians 1:11-20; Luke 23:33-43 Deuteronomy 26:1-11; Psalm 100; Philippians 4:4-9; John 6:25-35 Malachi 3:10-12 (NIV) 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe, says the Lord Almighty. 12 Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land, says the Lord Almighty.

13 November 2013 Page 13 Greenwood Church Family Birthdays Nancy Lloyd... 11/3 Betty Henley... 11/4 Betty Ritchie... 11/5 Seth Stanley... 11/6 Kevin Favilla... 11/8 Dorothy Sties... 11/8 David Stanley... 11/12 Frank Miner... 11/21 Anniversaries Mike Workman & Jennifer Friedline... 11/7 Betty & Harvey Roach... 11/8 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. No Room at the Inn Celebrate the joy of the birth of the Christ Child at the 6 th annual No Room at the Inn exhibit at Church of the Redeemer in Mechanicsville December 6 through 8. See 300 Nativity sets from around our world to benefit our neighbors in need of housing. Visit churchredeemer.org/no-room or call for more info.

14 Page 14 October 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 October $ 2,897 October $ 2,310 October $ 1,394 October $ 1,881 October Totals $ 8,482 Weekly Average $ 2,120 YTD Totals 796 1,742 $ 84,188 YTD Weekly Avg $ 2,004 We need a weekly offering of at least $2,678 to meet Greenwood s operating budget of $139,240. 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 Minister of Christian Ed. Rev. Denise Janssen revdlj@att.net Music Director Ms. Susanna Carson After School Phone: Office admin@gumcva.org Fax: Office hours 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday Friday editor Steve Stalnaker webmaster@gumcva.org Visit our web site at Greenwood UMC all rights reserved

15 November 2013 Page 15 Fall Fair by the Numbers Stew Made 377 quarts Stew Sales $2,336 Yard Sale $ Bake Sale $379 Silent Auction $721 Food Stand $ Vendor Table Rental $20 Mark Your Calendars 12/22... Christmas Cantata 12/24... Christmas Eve Service 12/25... Christmas Day 1/1/13... New Year s Day