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PARKER
UNITED
NEWSLETTER
Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors; The People of the United
ISSUE 29
MARCH 2007
WHY
WE OBSERVE LENT?
Lent is a forty-day period of preparation for Easter.
The main focus of Lent is on the passion of Christ, his suffering,
tempta-tions, death and resurrection. Lent is a time of renewal.
It is celebrated in many parts of the world by fasting, praying,
repentance and self-evaluation. The
purpose of Lent is to gain self-discipline to strip away those things, which
clutter our life or impede us from having a close relationship with God and
with each other. Lent is three-fold:
- It is a time to prepare
new converts for baptism and for spiritual growth.
- It is a time for self
evaluation, to admit our shortcomings, to ask forgiveness, to seek
spiritual renewal and commit our faith to follow and serve the Lord.
- It is a time for serious
disciplined, intensive prayer, fasting, repentance and adjusting our
priority list to reflect God at the top of our list.
Lent always starts on Ash Wednesday and leads up to Easter, which is
40 days.
The
number 40 is connected with many biblical events, but especially with the
forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness preparing for his ministry by
facing the temptations that could lead him to abandon his mission and
calling. Christians today use this period of time for introspection,
self-examination, and repentance.
As we observe Lent this year I encourage you to renew your
relationship with God, your family, co-workers and friends. As we continue
our Lenten journey toward Easter. Let us be reminded of our shortcomings but
also remember how wonderful and deep God’s love is for us.
Please
consider the suggestions below as we walk in the wilderness with Jesus the
next 40 days.
1.
Seek to grow more spiritual during Lent and let it become a part of
your daily life.
2.
Make a list of people with whom you need to be reconciled. Pray for them and
let the
Lord guide you in your thinking and feeling toward them.
3.
Take time to inventory your priorities and plan how you might reorder them.
4.
Give up a grudge or forgive someone who has hurt you.
5.
Plan to visit a "shut-in" neighbor, church member or friend.
6.
Become a greater team member at home, on your job and at church.
7.
Plan to attend weekly bible study and Sunday school.
8.
Become a greater steward for the Lord.
Your Pastor
Richard
UNITED
METHODIST YOUTH FELLOWSHIP
February is the shortest month of
the year but that did not stop the UMYF from making the most of it. In the
last month we contributed $370.00
to Soup-r-Bowl For Caring, a
nationwide effort that raised $7,079,492.17 to fight hunger. The money
raised by our church was donated to Second Harvest. We also had a fundraiser
dinner, the Valentine Sweetheart Dinner that brought in $750,00 to send the
youth group to
In March we will have another youth auction on the 4th we
will be offering our services (generally in pairs) as babysitters, yard
workers, personal shoppers, dishwashers, and errand-runners among other
things. This will be another chance for us to raise the funds needed for our
Congratulations to the UMYF members who attended the Basic Lay
Speaker course offered by the NC Conference on February 24. They are now
qualified Lay Speakers and are eligible to attend the Advanced Lay Speaker
course next spring to become Certified Lay Speakers. The newest Lay Speakers
are:
v
Aaron Jones
v
Ashley O’Regan
v
Cassandra Wheeler
v
Cleo Chalwell
v
Heather Benbow
v
Jeremiah Tredway
v
John O’Regan
v
Kalen Benbow
v
Robert Walters
v
Shannon Strub
More long-term plans are in the works for the Conference Rally in
April at
Thank
you for your support of the Parker UMYF. Our goal is to glorify God in all
that we do.
-Heather
Benbow
UMYF President
From
the United Methodist Archives
This
is the final of an 11 Part series about the history of the
When The United Methodist Church was
created in 1968, it had approximately 11 million members, making it one of
the largest Protestant churches in the world.
Since its birth, United Methodism has
experienced a number of changes in its life and structure. It has become
increasingly aware of itself as a world church with members and conferences
in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the
While its membership in Europe and the
An increasing number of women have been
admitted to the ordained ministry, appointed to the district superintendency,
elected to positions of denominational leadership, and consecrated as
bishops. In 1980 Marjorie Matthews was the first woman elected to the
Church’s episcopacy.
The Church has endeavored to become a
community in which all persons, regardless of racial or ethnic background,
can participate in every level of its connectional life and ministry.
United Methodism has struggled with a
number of critical issues. It has created and refined theological and
mission statements. It has discussed and acted on matters of social
importance such as
nuclear power and world peace, human
sexuality, the environment, abortion, AIDS, evangelism, and world mission.
The Church has been concerned with the
faithfulness and vitality of its worship.
It published a hymnal in 1989, which
included a new Psalter and revised liturgies for baptism, the Lord’s
Supper, weddings, and funerals. Its 1992 General Conference authorized a new
Book of Worship. A Spanish language hymnal, Mil Voces Para Celebrar, was
published in 1996.
The
© Methodist Church Archives http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=346
Birthdays
For February
6-Eric
B. 2-Branda
Nicole
7-James
G.
For March
3-Dave
Bradley 7-Hally
8-Shelby
10-Charleen
13-Randy
W. 18-Jeremiah
22-Keni
For April
2-Sheri
7-Joseph
11-Diane
14-Danny
19-Makayla
21-Marguerite
24-Dee
25-Ted
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 6:30 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
February
24-Youth
Lay Speaker Training
at
the
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
15-District
Youth Council at
22-Conference
Youth Rally at
The
theme is “Get a life, follow Jesus”.
May
United
Methodist Days at King’s Dominion.
6-District
Youth Rally
Campground
UMC
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)
UNITED METHODIST
WOMEN
The ladies of Parker UMC met on Sunday Feb 18th at 3 pm. The outcome
of the first official Parents Day Out sponsored on Feb 3rd was discussed. It
appears to have been a success with 10 youngsters enjoying a day of fun,
games, crafts and food. Thanks to the ladies who helped to kick this project
off. We will be sponsoring Parents Day Out on the first Saturday of each
month with the next one scheduled for March 3rd. Parents of youngsters 10
and under can take advantage of some free time to do as they wish between
10am and 2pm secure in the knowledge that their little ones are well cared
for. There are a variety of activities scheduled including games, music,
arts & crafts and story time. Lunch is served between 11:30 and 12 and
an additional snack is provided around 1:30. For further information please
ask any of our ladies or feel free to contact Kathy Smith @ 904-5527
evenings or weekends. The ladies agreed to formally take on the "card
ministry" and will be writing notes and sending cards to any one in
need of a little uplift so if you know of someone who is unable to attend
our services, is out of town, homebound or sick , or just maybe in need of a
cheerful word and a prayer please get their name and mailing address to one
of our ladies. There will be information slips on the table in the air lock
that you can fill in and just give to one of the ushers and we will get
them. Starting at our March meeting we will be learning a new little craft
each month with a dual goal of learning something new and fun while we
prepare for a fall craft fair fund raiser. Please join us again on March
18th at 3pm for fun, fellowship and inspiration as we continue to find ways
to serve wherever the Lord leads us.
Kathy Smith
President UMW
UNITED METHODIST MEN
“Men are called to model the servant leadership of Jesus Christ”
Discussion at the Sunday morning UMM meeting included having ‘No
Trespassing’ signs ordered and installed on the fence surrounding the
playground to prevent unauthorized use. Also discussed was extending the
church parking lot to the side of the church. This will have to be staffed
through the trustees for approval. Members who served or are serving in the
military are asked to submit photographs of themselves with a small synopsis
of their duties. Photos can be emailed to UMMoffice@parkerunited.org
(there is a link on the newsletter page on the website) or given to one of
the UMM officers. There has not been a deadline established for photographs
yet.
Please submit items before the 20th of each month.
The Fayetteville District is preparing to send a work and mission
team to
Randy
H. Smith
Secretary,
UMM
Minister: Do you know what's in the Bible?
Little Girl: Yes. I think I know everything that's in it.
Minister: You do? Tell me.
Little Girl: OK. There's a picture of my brother's girlfriend, a ticket
from the dry cleaners, one of my curls, and a Pizza Hut coupon.
A young
boy had just gotten his driving permit. He asked his father, who was a
minister, if they could discuss his use of the car.
"I'll make a deal with you," said his father. "You bring your
grades up, study your Bible a little, get your hair cut, and then we'll
talk."
A month later the boy came back and again asked his father if they could
discuss his use of the car.
"Son, I'm real proud of you. You've brought your grades up and you've
studied your Bible, but you didn't get hair cut!"
"You know, Dad, I've been thinking about that. Samson had long hair,
Moses had long hair, Noah had long hair, and even Jesus had long hair."
"Yes son, and they walked everywhere they went!"
