September, 2018 Newsletter United Methodist Temple ~ Volume IX

Transcription

1 September, 2018 Newsletter United Methodist Temple ~ Volume IX He breaks the power of cancelled sin, he Sets the prisoner free; his blood can make the Foulest clean; his blood availed for me. ---Charles Wesley, O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing, v4 Every once in a while I stumble over something that I almost always manage with ease. I hit my shin against a table that has been in the same place for years. I misspeak the Lord s Prayer (almost always in front of a live microphone). I call me friend Linda not Linda, but Cindy. I do not know anyone named Cindy. I make the same sort of misstep in my spiritual life as well. For reasons I do not understand, for reasons that do not seem even reasonable, I find myself in the same rut, rehearsing the same inner habit that I discarded long ago. It is as though I can venture freely only for so long, then I have to start over. I stumble where I have walked easily for weeks or months. Suddenly, without warning, I am back at the beginning. My inner life loses its rhythm. Suddenly, I have to start over, to begin again. I find myself stumbling over the simplest things, thrown back to the beginning. This not a big thing. It is not that though my right hand has lost its skill because I have forgotten Jerusalem. It is more like forgetting a dance step after months of practice. The moment is frustrating because I have to start over again! A wise spiritual teacher told me, once and again, and again that we are always novices in the ways of the spirit. We always start over, and over, and over. Sensing my growing frustration, eventually she added this little reminder: If you have the sense of being trapped repeatedly, as though you were being tricked by an escalator finding yourself back on the floor below when you were so close to the floor above perhaps you carry the burden of cancelled sin. You know Christ, loves, forgives, recovers, and restores you. You know it. You have experienced it. You are convinced of it. But you do not believe it. You carry the burden of sin forgiven, the burden of sin cancelled. Perhaps your problem with

2 continually starting over is that have become concerned that God is starting over too. God is not stumbling in footstep or tongue. And you are not Sisyphus. Repetition creates habits; and habits are learned best from the beginning. Do not confuse the simplicity of God s grace with the memory of your sin. The power of the former is with you from every beginning, the power of the latter was broken before you ever began. Fear not. Enjoy the day. It will never come again. ["BE HAPPY IN THE MOMENT, THAT'S ENOUGH. EACH MOMENT IS ALL WE NEED, NOT MORE." ~ MOTHER TERESA] Elizabeth Circle/ all ladies of the church: Summer is soon to end and WE are soon to begin!! Our first meeting will be September 10, 10am. The invitation is open. If you would like to join in the fun and be apart of an active group, please consider checking us out. We pray, we have devotions, we plan events and ways of service to others. Come...join the fun...you won t be sorry, I promise! His abundant love, Dianna As the days grow shorter and summer draws to a close, the choir will be returning from a much deserved break. I would like to thank Eric and Beverly Hines, Judy Shively, Diane Poling, Mary Jane McCall and Kay Sloan, for providing such beautiful music during the month of August. Our church is certainly blessed to have such amazing voices, and people willing to share their talent.

3 With the choir returning and our winter members beginning their annual migration to Florida for the winter, it can only mean one thing it s time to start working on the Christmas Cantata! And we could sure use some more male voices!! You don t need to have any musical training, the ability to read music, or a solo quality voice; just a love of music and a willing spirit! Of course, everyone is invited to join, but men are especially encouraged. So, come join us on Wednesday night, September 5th at 7:00 pm in the choir room! (There might even be cake.) Soli Deo Gloria Glory to God Alone! Jim Jordan September Calendar 9-2 Pot Luck lunch 9-3 Labor Day 9-5 7:00 PM Choir Rehearsal 9-6 9:30 AM Kids Pack delivery 9-9 Dine Abouts to Abuelo's :00 AM Elizabeth Circle :30 PM Finance Committee :00 PM Admin Council :00 PM Choir Rehearsal :30 PM United Methodist Men 9-19 Lifeline Screening :00 PM Choir Rehearsal :00 PM Choir Rehearsal :30 AM Kids Pack packing day COME...have LUNCH...LET s PLAN The Worship Committee will be meeting October 11am in the Conference Room. We will plan from October thru Advent, Hanging of the Greens, even thru New Years and Epiphany. So, please come, share your ideas. Let s make this a very special experience for our church family. Lunch will be provided. It s the most...wonderful time...of the year In Christ, Dianna

4 Greetings everyone! As we approach the one-year anniversary of Irma, the Florida Conference Disaster Recovery Ministry is reaching out to clients we have helped or are in the process of helping with a thank you card for allowing us to partner with them in their recovery. The cards and envelopes are ready to go but we need volunteers to sign the cards and address and stuff the envelopes. We want to fill two-hour shifts from 9-4 on September 5 th and 6th with a minimum of 6-8 volunteers each shift. Volunteers are welcome to stay for more than one shift. Snacks, goodies, laughter and fellowship are included! We are asking volunteers to please RSVP to Erin at efrey@flumc.org no later than Tuesday (September 4) by noon with the shift/shifts and date/dates they will be here so that we can prepare for them. Many hands make light work and we thank you for your help! Pam Pam Garrison Disaster Response Coordinator Office of Missional Engagement Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church (800) Ext. 148 (813) (Cell) 450 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. Lakeland, FL Happy Birthday

5 9-6 Diane Poling 9-23 Alice Doolittle 9-9 Dee Touchtone 9-25 Kay Sloan 9-10 Ron Clark Beti Wheeler Cindy Fulton 9-27 Kristie Taylor 9-18 June Davis 9-29 Heidi Urquhart 9-20 Mark Koebernik Happy Anniversary 9-5 Charlie & Margaret Merritt 9-14 Jerry & Stephanie Miklavcic