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PARKER
UNITED
METHODIST
CHURCH
APRIL
2007 NEWSLETTER
UNITED
METHODIST MEN
“Men are called to model the servant leadership of Jesus Christ”
The men of Parker UMC met on Sunday, March 11th. Deadline for submitting military photographs of church members, relatives and friends is May 1st. Please include a brief synopsis of military duties, dates of service, awards, etc. Photographs can be emailed to (there is a link on the newsletter page on the website) or given to one of the UMM officers.
Construction of the church playground continues. The support pillars were installed and concrete poured for the footings, and platforms have been built. Volunteer help is still needed and always welcome.
Discussed were the duties of the scripture reader, ushers and greeters. In order to ensure that the scripture readers can be heard by all, they are asked to read from a designated podium that will be placed strategically in front of the congregation. Also, it has been addressed that ushers and greeters arrive for duties
at least 15 minutes prior to the service.
Installation of the closed-circuit television (CCTV) cables continues for the Nursery and Sunday School classrooms. Once the cables are installed and operational, CCTV cameras will be installed so that these rooms can be monitored to comply with the safe sanctuary guidance.
Please submit items before the 20th of each month.
Randy H. Smith
Secretary, UMM
APRIL 2007
UNITED
METHODIST YOUTH FELLOWSHIP
Hi
this is Heather. We have had an awesome month! On
March 11th, our youth lay speakers were recognized at the District
Lay Rally at
(Front)
Joey, Ashley, Heather, Cassie, Kalen
(Back)
Robert, Jeremiah, Cleo, Aaron & John
On
March 3rd we had our second youth auction in which we offered our
services to the highest bidder. Through this fund raiser we made over $260.00
toward the expenses to get us to the youth rally in
In
April we will be at the Conference Rally at Wesleyan College on the 22nd , The
District Youth council meeting at Cumberland UMC on the 15th and on the 29th
which is a 5th Sunday we will lead the worship service.
Long-term
plans in the works for the youth include the Spring District Rally in May,
Confirmation and VBS in June and the Conference Pilgrimage at the Crown in
November.
I
also want to let you know that we have an awesome youth group and I love being
in it. I love it so much, because they have helped me in many ways. If it
wasn’t for Mr. Randy, John, and Ashley, we wouldn’t have the youth group we
have today. They are all amazing people with amazing hearts. Even sometimes I
want to quit and just give up. So I talk to people in the youth and they help me
and talk to me. Although some people have left it was because we tried to fix
their problem, but we couldn’t give them the answer that they really wanted to
hear. So all we do is pray, and sometimes our prayers aren’t answered, but
sometimes they are. One person who I know is there for us no matter what is Mrs.
Shirley. She has taught me about God and He doesn’t leave me no matter what!
And for that I am truly grateful. The youth has good hearts that love the church
with all their hearts and are willing to help with anything (even people in the
church).
Thank
you so much everyone for supporting us in everything we do!
-Heather
Benbow
UMYF
President
EASTER
April 8, 2007
The day in the Christian calendar that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter is the most important day in the calendar. It is celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon on or after March 21;
therefore, the date varies from March 22 to April 25. Read Mark chapter 15 for a story of the crucifixion and chapter 16 for the good news of the resurrection.
The final words of Jesus and their traditional interpretation:
"Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing”. Jesus prays for the executioners who do not understand or believe that Jesus is God. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Jesus (quoting a line from the Jewish scriptures) cries out at a moment in time when he is not just physically punished, but spiritually separated from God, his Father. God separates Himself from Jesus because all of the evils of mankind are placed on Jesus. This spiritual separation is the heaviest sacrifice which Jesus pays of behalf of mankind, so that mankind does not need to suffer spiritual separation from God. "It is finished." Once Jesus felt he had borne the penalty for the evils of mankind, he declared his mission as accomplished. This relates to Jesus' earlier mission statement to sacrifice himself for others: "The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Jesus quoted by Matthew 20:28). "Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise." These words, spoken to a thief also being executed with Jesus, indicates Jesus' belief that Jesus would continue to live in paradise (heaven) and that Jesus can choose who will be there with him. "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." Jesus believes his spirit, not body, now goes to heaven with God.
Hoke Charge, Parker UMC and Sandy Grove UMC sponsor an Easter Sunrise Service open to anyone at Camp Rockfish Easter Morning. You are invited to bring a guest (or 6) and join us for a celebration of the resurrection of the Lord and the promise of forgiveness and eternal life for all of us. More details, a map, and directions are available at www.parkerunited.org/easter.htm
Birthdays
For April
2-Sheri
7-Joseph
11-Diane
14-Danny
19-Makayla
21-Marguerite
24-Dee
25-Ted
For May
2-Laura
9-Tajuana
10-Dan
11-Jesse
18-Gary
19-Kaylee
29-Frank
25-Jamie
EVENTS
Regular Events
Sundays-UMYF
meeting at 5PM
Tuesdays-AA
meeting at 7PM
Wednesday-Bible
Study at 6PM
Choir
Practice at 7PM
Thursdays-Young
Adult Bible
Study
at 7 PM.
1st
Saturday-UMW Single Parent
Day
Out 10AM-2PM.
1st
Sunday-UMM Meeting at 8:20AM
2nd
Sunday-Holy Communion
3rd
Sunday-UMW Meeting at 3PM
5th
Sunday-Youth Led Worship
Family
Fellowship Dinner
March
11-Daylight
Savings Time Begins
Trustees/Finance
Committee
Lay
Rally at
18-District
Youth Council at
Hope
Mills UMC 2:30
21-Worship
Committee 8PM
April
8-Easter
15-District
Youth Council at
22-Conference
Youth Rally at
29-Youth
Led Worship Service
A
special offering will be taken for the Rachel Frizzelle Scholarship Fund. Church
Family fellowship dinner at 6PM.
May
6-District
Youth Rally
Campground
UMC 3-6 PM
June
3-District
Youth Council at
Trinity
UMC 2:30
24-29
SonForce
Kids; Special Agents
July
11-15
Youth 2007 S.P.L.A.T. in
November
9-11
2007 Youth Pilgrimage the theme is “If
we are the body”. Rev. Andy Lambert is the featured speaker.
Visitation
Committee
Please
consider joining the visitation committee on the first Wednesday of each month
to minister to the members of our church and community and serve God as
commanded by the “Great Commission” Matthew 28:19. Shirley Gleason is the
chairperson of the visitation committee if you have any questions.
Remember
our friends and family in
Ø
Ø
Emil Walsh
Ø
Jesse Runfola
Ø
Mike Strub
Ø
Eric Bechard
Ø
Scott Haymaker
Ø
Dave Bradley
ADDRESSES
Bob
& Christine Juranek
659th
Maintenance Company
Jesse
Runfola
AFSBn-KU
ATTN:AMC-ITT(FWD)
Nicole
Orians
Committee minutes
A
joint session of the Finance committee and Trustees was held on March 18th.
It was voted that a line item would be added to the budget to meet the expenses
of implementing the Safe Sanctuary policy. One thousand dollars was allocated
for criminal background checks, installation and maintenance of the closed
circuit cameras for the classrooms and other costs associated with the policy.
We evaluated one estimate for pressure washing the outside of the church and two
for the repairs to the driveway. A decision to accept either offer was tabled. A
proposal was made to invest some of the money in the general fund into a CD or
bond but it was decided to use that money on the driveway repairs.
The
Worship committee met on the 22nd to discuss Homecoming and other
issues. Speaker and musician options were discussed for homecoming and revival.
It was also proposed that awards be given at homecoming for various
achievements. Communion was on the agenda as well. It was decided that we would
continue to have communion on a monthly basis but would alternate the method
(i.e. portion cups vs. challis). The ushers will come forward at communion to
guide the congregation to the alter once the choir has been served. The usher
guidance booklet was also made known as the new head ushers, William and
Priscilla have come up with instructions for the ushers and greeters. This is
posted on the bulletin board in the foyer and all worship servants should be
aware of its contents. Those volunteers who give the children’s sermon are
urged to keep the time down to 3-5 minutes as anything longer tends to lose the
interest of the toddlers. It was suggested that classes be given for ushers and
acolytes so that worship is more uniformly conducted and the reverence is
maintained. Prayer groups will be established to pray for the service. One will
be in the choir room, the other in the pastor’s office. These groups will pray
reverently from 8:45-8:50, if you would like to be a part of this ministry, just
come to one of these groups before 8:45. Lastly, it was suggested that the
beginning of the worship time be moved up since the majority of the congregation
does not arrive in the sanctuary until 9:00 or later. Choir members need to be
in the choir room by 8:45 and Ushers and Greeters need to be ready by 8:30.
Remedies brought up included removing the continental breakfast or doing away
with it, Having the ushers announce the start of service or to have a bell
installed downstairs so that everyone in the fellowship hall knows when the
service is about to start.
The
outcome of the first official
Web
News
THE HOPE
AND JOY OF EASTER
Greetings in the name of our risen Lord and Savior!
We give God thanks for the hope and joy of Faster and what it means to us. Easter
gives us hope to believe that Christ arose from the grave victorious over
sin, death, hell, and the grave. Easter gives us hope to believe that we serve a
risen Savior, one with all power in His hands. Easter gives us eternal hope to
believe in the resurrection powers of God. As Christ was raised from the dead we
too shall be raised from the dead. Easier gives us hope to affirm our faith to
believe because Christ lives, we shall live with Him forever. The hope that
Easter offers is a stronger faith to believe whatever today or tomorrow holds
(valley or mountain top experiences} Christ is greater than our experiences.
Easter depicts the mightiest and most loving act of Gods redeeming power
reaching out to us through His Son. Easter gives us the joy of Knowing
that Christ won the victory for us and sin and death has no dominion over us.
Easter gives us the joy of experiencing a personal relationship with God and
knowing that we shall live with Him forever. Jesus said. Because I live, ye
shall live also”. John 14:19
As the Lenten season comes to a close I hope
we will continue to let the principles of Lent become a vital part of our daily
lives. Let us continue to give up more of ourselves and seek to gain a deeper
relationship with Christ and each other. As we continue our Lenten journey
towards Easter. may these 40 days of fasting, praying, self-renewal, self
evaluation, and self denial become a way of life for us rather than just a one
day celebration.
May God’s peace. love, and joy be with you as we
continue to be followers of Christ. I hope this season will he]p us to prepare
our hearts to receive the hope and joy of Easter as we seek the living God who
walks with us no matter where we are. Amen!
Your Pastor
Richard
Worship with us at PUMC !
