The Love Month The Vine February is the month that we normally think about love because of Valentine s Day. I have been thinking recently about God s love. John describes God s love in I John 4 as being revealed by God sending Jesus to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins so that we might live through him. Love gives of oneself completely for the other, even when the other is undeserving of that love. Paul does an excellent job of describing then the love that we are to have for one another. He does that in I Corinthians 13 where he describes love as patient, kind, not envious boastful or arrogant or rude. It doesn t insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrong doing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. Certainly God is patient with us and merciful and forgiving. We have all experienced that. But there is another side of God s love that we don t think about too often. Paul talks about it when he says asks if he should sin more so that God s grace might abound. His answer, God forbid. There is a part of God s love that corrects us. Much like a parent disciplines a child out of love so that they do not harm themselves, so God s love does for us. One of the beautiful illustrations of how this works is in John 8. A woman caught in adultery, punishable by death, was brought to Jesus by the scribes and Pharisees. Knowing the law, they hoped that Jesus would say something that would get him in trouble. He responded by saying that whichever of them was without sin should throw the first stone. When they all went away, he asked her where her accusers were. Then he said to her,
Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on, do not sin again. She was forgiven, but he also corrected her behavior. God s love does the same for us. As we think about love, we can be grateful for God s love, mercy, and grace. We can also give thanks for God s love that corrects and keeps us on the right path. So however it is that you are experiencing God s love today, thank him for it. And the only proper response except for gratitude is for us to love each other the way that God loves us. Dana Isles & Facedown March 21, 2014 Headstone 118 April 11, 2014 Above the Fall May 16, 2014 Pastor Doug, Pam, Justin, Tyler, and Kristin would like to thank all of you for your kindness in remembering us this Christmas season! The Langer family thanks everyone for your thoughtfulness this Christmas and we hope you all have a joyous 2014!
Souper Bowl Sunday is February 2nd! Don t forget to bring in Soups and Stews to help stock the Corinthian Cupboard! Ash Wednesday Soup Supper will be March 5 at 6:00 pm in McConnell Hall. Please sign up to bring your favorite homemade soup or a loaf of bread by contacting Janet Fuhrer 848-9986. Acolyte Update February 9 Pizza Party and Game Night (may change to February 2) February 23 Acolyte Meeting Valentine s Day Cards for Pitman Manor residents will be in McConnell Hall. Please stop by and sign a card, it may be the only one they receive. Blanket Sunday February 2 You ve helped us respond to disasters for more than six decades. We ve seen CWS Blankets used as shelters, suitcases, coats, stretchers you name it. But the first role the blanket plays is as a symbol that someone care enough to help. Are you that someone? Each $10 dona on purchases one blanket to give to someone in need. Bus trip: Destination: Cost of trip: Shady Maple & Sight & Sound Bus Trip Leaving from UMC of Mantua at 8 am on Mar 27 & returning to UMC of Mantua at 8 pm Lunch at Shady Maple & Moses at Sight and Sound $99. Checks made payable to SCUCS. Please contact Gail Slimm for further information 207-7800. Rock the Block Meeting Sunday, February 23 After 2nd Service February Confirmation Class Schedule February 6, 7:30 pm at UMC of Mantua February 20, 7:30 pm at UMC of Mantua Women s Community Bible Study Women s Community Bible Study led by Pastor Gene Wilkins meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays September through May at the United Methodist Church of Mantua. Starting at 9:30 am for coffee and fellowship, with the study beginning at 10:00 am. Currently, Pastor Gene is leading a study on Biblical miracles. All are welcome. If you have any questions, contact the Church office at 468-2711 or call 468-5549. Come Out and Support Rock the Block February 20th 5:00 pm 8:00 pm At the Mantua Chick-fil-A
February 2014 Mantua Methodist Vine By William M. Crowley, Educational Research Director 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV), Study to show thyself approved unto GOD This exciting, unending series researches the KJV Bible with other sources. In time for Valentine s Day SOLOMON S LOVE SONGS: BORROWED? Song of Solomon 1:2, The bride says, Let him kiss me It reflects both their passions. This love-inspired poem we are showing as historical. The events are: Solomon seizes a very beautiful peasant girl to be put in his private bed chamber. Her skin is black from the sun. Song 1:5, I am black but comely... ** Privately she admits chastity loss. Song 1:6, but mine own vineyard (is) not kept. Her shepherd lover. Song 1:7, thou whom my soul loveth, where thy flock rest Solomon s wooing fails. Song 6:13, Why should you look upon the Shulamite...? Solomon rejected. Song 8:7, waters cannot quench love, neither floods drown it. She goes home. The brothers feel still a virgin. Are not aware of her shepherd s role. Boyfriend shepherd now has a ring put in his nose. Song 8:6, Set me (my emphasis) as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave. Lesson learned: A beautiful peasant girl, who outwits Solomon, is the one who got away. Solomon wrote about this loss. Then she got the shepherd. No more pasteurizing. SOLOMON S LOVE SONG: BORROWED? The most important Sumerian ceremony began at the new year. The king needed the priestess to participate in the symbolic marriage to the moon-goddess, Inanna, the life-giving goddess of fertility. The Sumerians believed this ceremony ensured a fruitful and prosperous year. The Oxford Bible Commentary was linked to a temple priestess. A Sumerian poem s 1947 translation had loving words of an unnamed priestess to her king. We found her: Kubatum. KUBATUM, THE SUMERIAN PRIESTESS In 2030 B.C., she was the priestess in the city of Ur. Insisting on physically acting out the ritual made her the special favorite of her fertility ritual partner, Shu-Sin, King of Ur. Performed every spring at the top of a ziggurat, Kubatum and the king physically relived the Sacred Marriage of Dumuz and Inanna. Shu-Sin favored Kubatum with gold jewelry gifts strictly religious perks coupled with a warm relationship. KUBATUM S GIFT Kubatum, besides the erotic contribution, gave the king immortality in her writings. She wrote marriage songs lots of them which analyzers feel the later Hebrews borrowed. Remember: In the Oxford Bible Commentary, it was felt the origin was a priestess (or a poem to a temple goddess). Here was our love goddess with full instructions on procedures. The king had his Boswell (biographer). The milk and honey references refer to Near Eastern poetry sexual circumstances. SONG SIGNIFICANT REFERENCE? ** Song 1:5,6 I am black and beautiful, Do not gaze at me because I am dark, A stranger has the king s favor. The Queen of Sheba? Black no obstacle then. Why now?
St. Mark s United Methodist Church in Florida has a Care Package program that has been shipping boxes of items and letters to different Military troops around the world. We have decided that our Youth Group needs to find more ways to show God s love outside of our churches (Barnsboro and Mantua). We are hoping to send items, letters, and cards to soldiers in war torn areas to show our support. The youth have been asked to write letters or a card for some of our military members. We are asking for your help too! Please help us help others by picking up a few of the items listed on the back of this insert. Bring it in to our churches and place them in the boxes marked Military Collection. If you would like to send a couple of cards of encouragement, please feel free to write them up and give them to Pam Baitinger or Penny Kirkbride. Thank you in advance for your support! Items for the care packages will be collected from January 19 February 9 Items Wanted for Boxes to Our Military Entertainment Ink pens Notepads of paper Word Puzzle books Long-distance phone cards Movie DVDs Games blank DVDs (making things to send back) Magazines Poker games Playing cards Dice Dominoes Music CDs Paper back books (new or used) Miscellaneous pillow cases Sheets Blankets Air fresheners Koozies to keep bottles and cans cool Brown t-shirts AAA-D size batteries Cotton dark bandanas Stress relief balls Tennis balls Sewing kit Black or Brown Boot laces Boot Socks Hand warmers Inflatable seat cushions Toiletries Shower to Shower body/foot powder Baby Wipes Razors Body Wash Soap bars Shampoos Toothbrushes & toothpaste Heat Wraps for sore muscles Liniments Lip Balm Icy Hot Patches Vitamins Aspirins Alka-Seltzer Deodorant Ziploc Bags Groceries Powered mixes for water Jelly beans/ hard candy Rice Krispie treats/any treats/cookies Send M&M's (plain or peanut) * No Chocolate candies * (They melt) Altoids or mints/ gum/ tic-tacs/ etc. Beef jerky/ trail mix/ Snack mixes Sunflower seeds/crackers / Nuts Instant Oatmeal Little Debbie's or Oreo snacks Pop Tarts Gatorade/Yoohoo drink mixes Shelf life milk Canned food items (Tuna/Vienna sausage, beans and franks, Smoked oysters and sardines, Canned pasta, soup, Canned Fruits) *Best with pop top lids* Coffee and filters, instant coffee, teas Small packs of spices: crushed red pepper, salt, pepper (Store in zip lock bag) Pringles chips squeeze type cheese small mayo Catsup mustard Salsa Hot sauce Pickles BBQ sauce Microwave popcorn and Mac&cheese Cereal bars/granola bars Hot cocoa mix Soup mix
Best Chili in Town The UMM needs your help to round up some suspects! February 15th 6:00 pm In McConnell Hall This will be a men's event and an opportunity to gather for fellowship, food and fun. There will be a competition for the best recipe and lots of good food to eat. Other congregations will be participating as well. Come out and support the men's ministry here in Mantua! Please see or contact Keith Wyckoff if you have any questions: 856-537-7656 United Methodist Church of Mantua Ministering Through Video Painless Fundraiser Buy Shop Rite ($20) Cards. The Church receives 5% You receive gift cards dollar for dollar. It costs you nothing! Currently: We sell approximately $1,000 of gift cards per month. Annually we earn about $600. Where does the money go? It pays for some of the equipment needs of MTV. In addition, contributions have been made to The Roof Fund, Chime Choir Repair, UMC Mission Trips and The Carpet Fund. Goal: We have a goal of $1,000 per week. This is easily achievable! If we only had 50 families that shop at Shop Rite and each family bought one card per week, that would be $1,000. The church would earn $2,600 per year. When we meet this goal, MTV would not only be mostly selfsupporting, we would also be able to make larger contributions for other church needs. Action: LET S DO IT! Exchange your cash or check for Shop Rite gift cards and go food shopping for your family or donate cards to The Corinthian Cupboard or Family Promise! It costs nothing but reaps great rewards! Results for the Year 2013: Average $425 per week in gift card purchases! Great Job! THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT! Bruce Reyher, MTV Treasurer
Happy February Birthday! 1 Brayden Green Betty Jameson Joyce Wescott 2 Amy Durand Jody Miller Linda Rudisill 4 Brenda Anderson Nick Colamarino 6 Larissa Tumminia 7 Bill Lisle Richard Lynch 8 Morgan Gallagher Robert Hoskins 9 Adam Eubanks 12 Patricia Nolte Joe Vincent 13 Charlie Armstrong Danielle Davis Erin Munch Marc Nagtegaal 14 Pam Baitinger Ryan Borgersen 16 Chelsea Guarrera Lisa Legg 17 Barbara Davis Nancy Fink Marilyn Heston Kai Kraft Karisa Wescott 18 Chris Seabo 19 Anthony Dorisio 20 Judy Bufala 21 Shannon String 22 Kristin Baitinger Marcie Daniels Jeffrey Fuchs 24 Emily Wyatt 25 Monica Dilio Evan Ewan Donald Rumbol Lynn Varner 27 Terry Grabert 29 Timothy Shockley Happy February Anniversary 2 Dan & Terri Smith 6 Doug & Pam Baitinger 11 Pardam & Theresa Skalit 14 Bill & Debbie Wolf 22 Harry & Lorraine Litle 27 Jan & Janet Fuhrer