Lunenburg United Methodist Charge
Antioch UMC Williams UMC
On our walk. . . . .
April 13, 2009
1 John 1: 1-5
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes ,which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete. Walking in the Light. This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
Every year at the University of Chicago Divinity School, they have what is called "Baptist Day." On this one day, everyone brings a picnic lunch to be eaten outdoors in a grassy picnic area. The school would invite some great theological mind to lecture while the students and faculty ate their lunches. One year they invited Dr. Paul Tillich, who spoke for two and one-half hours "proving" that the resurrection of Jesus was false. He quoted scholar after scholar and book after book. He concluded that since there was no such thing as the historical resurrection, the religious tradition of the church was groundless emotional mumbo-jumbo, because it was based on a relationship with a risen Jesus, who in fact, never rose from the dead in any literal sense. He then asked if there were any questions.
After about 30 seconds, an old, dark skinned preacher with a head of short-cropped, woolly white hair stood up in the back of the auditorium. "Docta Tillich, I got one question," he said as all eyes turned toward him. He reached into his sack lunch and pulled out an apple and began eating it.
"Docta Tillich"... CRUNCH, MUNCH... "My question is a simple question," CRUNCH, MUNCH. "Now, I ain’t never read them books you read..." CRUNCH, MUNCH...and I can’t recite the Scriptures in the original Greek"...CRUNCH, MUNCH ..." I don’t know nothin’ about Niebuhr and Heidegger"...CRUNCH, MUNCH... He finished the apple. "All I wanna know is: This apple I just ate - was it bitter or sweet?"
Dr. Tillich paused for a moment and answered in exemplary scholarly fashion: "I cannot possibly answer that question, for I haven’t tasted your apple. "The white-haired preacher dropped the core of his apple into his crumpled paper bag, looked up at Dr. Tillich and said calmly, "Neither have you tasted my Jesus."
The 1,000 plus in attendance could not be contained. The auditorium erupted with applause and cheers. Dr. Tillich thanked his audience and promptly left the platform.
Have you tasted Jesus? That is our question for today.
John was written for the time after Easter when we begin to doubt what we know is true. People started to say, I wonder if he was only a spirit or a ghost or an apparition. So John wrote this first of three short letters to answer one question, “Is he real?”
He uses three arguments summed up in the third verse; we saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us; this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ.
From the very first day, we were there, taking it all in—we heard it with our own ears, saw it with our own eyes, and verified it with our own hands. The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen! We heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joys will double our joy! This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ and are passing on to you: God is light, pure light; there’s not a trace of darkness in him.
And now we are telling you…
HAVE A BLESSED WEEK!
Holy Week Services 2009
April 9 -- Maundy Thursday at Antioch
Maundy Thursday, a service remembering the Lord’s Supper was conducted at Antioch. Pastor Ed led us on a journey through the Passover Seder with significant stops at the points where Jesus changed the world with a few words. All who joined in the service were able to take communion and observe the dramatic Seven Cup table, The sanctuary was then draped in black and all objects removed till Sunday morning.
April 10 – Good Friday at Antioch
Good Friday was celebrated at Antioch this Holy Week. The story of the Passion of Christ was told in the bare, stark, dark sanctuary. As each reading from the Passion was completed a candle, one of sixteen, was extinguished as we approached the conclusion --- the death of Jesus. When the end, the death of Christ is read the last candle, the Christ Candle is extinguished like his life with a loud noise. The entire service took place in the dark with only the candles on the table and a lamp on the podium providing light. This was a very moving service with a definite ending that brought you a better understanding of the events of Good Friday.
April 12 – Sunrise Worship at Williams at 6:30AM
At 6:30 AM at Williams it was cold and the sky was just starting to burn orange as the sun was about to rise. In the kitchen several people were cooking bacon, sausage, breakfast casserole, homemade biscuits, scrambled eggs, coffee and tea for the worshipers. A holy morning was slowly coming together. People started to gather and as in any program where you are dependant on electronics they acted up. The prelude this morning was the contemporary “Crucified with Christ.” The service was highlighted by the sun rising just as the reading and sermon took place. Voices rang out in praise and joy at the thought that Jesus had risen. Once services were over everybody made their way to the fellowship hall where there was plenty of food and warm drink for the 40+ people who had risen so early to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Regular Worship at Williams at 9:30AM
The Resurrection was celebrated with an original musical piece written by our own Sam Armstrong and Ludwig Beethoven. The Williams Celebration Choir presented this piece honoring the risen Christ. Communion was celebrated as part of this wonderful occasion.
Regular Worship at Antioch at 11:00AM
The Resurrection was celebrated with a special musical piece presented by Dorothy Shields son-in-law, Lee Barnhill. Lee presented the piece, “I Believe In a Hill Called Mt. Calvary” honoring the risen Christ. Communion was celebrated as part of this wonderful occasion.
Sunday School is available each Sunday morning. The importance of Sunday School is that, though you may think hearing the word will suffice for you, you really need to be in attendance at Sunday School to gather all the information that you can in an open discussion classroom. Jesus’ word cannot be totally understood just by listening to a sermon. You have to interact with it and with other Christians to learn what He was saying to us. This is a life long study and you should take part. There is a class for every age so please plan on joining us to learn more about our Lord, Jesus Christ. Sunday School at Williams begins at 10:45 AM and at Antioch at 10:00 AM.
Evening Bible Study Evening Bible study will continue on April 21 at 7:00PM at Antioch. We will be reviewing chapters 41-50 of Isaiah. We will discuss the events depicted in the book. If you are looking for a study of God’s word join us not only for the study, but good fellowship.
Morning Bible Study. Morning Bible study will meet Tuesday April 22 @ 10:00 AM at Audrey Smith’s house when will be reviewing chapters 11-20 of Isaiah. If you are looking for a study of God’s word join us not only for the study, but good fellowship.
Picture of Events.
If you would like to see pictures of recent events at Antioch please go to antiochmethodistchurch.org. This is the address for our webpage and it is updated as information becomes available. The video “One Pair of Hands”, from the Palm Sunday service is now available for viewing.
April 13 – 18 Pastor Ed on Vacation
I will be on vacation April 13 – 18. I will be available if needed. Please call me on my cell phone: 252-532-0952, or 252-537-5705. I can also be reached via e-mail at revedumc@yahoo.com .
UMW Asks for Support of Madeline’s House
The Antioch UMW is asking for everybody’s support for Madeline’s House. There will be boxes for donations of needed items to help Madeline’s House in there endeavor to supply a place for those who have suffered from domestic abuse. These boxes will be in the church office along with information on the programs offered along with a list of the needs of Madeline’s House. Madeline’s House has been on the verge of closing during the past year and their situation both materially and financially is tenuous. Please open your hearts to this important program. A special offering will be taken up on for Madeline House on April 19. Madeline's House is a home for the mentally and physically abused women and their children in south side Virginia. Let us support this wonderful program with our giving both monetarily and materially.
Prayer List
Please keep the following families in your prayers:
Becky Eades & boys
Edna A. Bagley
Dee Welch
Harry & Margaret Smith
Edith Parham
Bernard Bottoms
Walter B. & Carolyn Moseley
Tommy Cage
Bertha Bottoms
Fred & Denise Harper
Grace DiStefano
Betty Reese
CV & Agnes Thompson
Gertrude Hite
Betty Yerby
Nathan Hendricks
Leona Campbell
Bertha Arthur
Tommy Conner
Justin Mc Daniel
Allen Alcock
Sgt Christopher Thompson
Elizabeth Crowder
Irvin McKinney
SGT Laura Dutzman
Dorothy Daniel
Layton Powell
Elizabeth Biggerstaff
Tommy Shell, Jr.
Alicia Clary
Rev. Robert Day
Ruthie Turner
Ronnie Leistra
Frances Hawthorne
Sheila Cage
Hazel Taylor
SSGT Tom Fowler
Martha White
Jeff Hendricks
Kathy McReynolds
Danny Horne
Maria Kay
Linda Dunlow & Family
JoAnne Doty
Dennis Chumney
Kay Thompson & girls
Doris Fisher
Hilda Ozlin
Estelle McCrimmon
Fred Baskerville
Vince Callis
Earl "Chucky” Barnes
Dorothy Driscoll
Doug Winn
Bobby & Virginia Overby
David Jones
Betty Roegge
Mildred Cohines
Brenda Cave
Otha Wilkins
Gale Crabtree
Justine Mc Henry
Roger Reese
Prayer Gram.
Please, when putting somebody’s name on our prayer list, PRINT their names and addresses if you have them. This will help us get the prayer grams out sooner and it will also make it easier to read during services.
A Final Word:
Pastor's Business Card
A new pastor was visiting in the homes of his parishioners. At one house it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated knocks at the door. Therefore, he took out a business card and wrote "Revelation 3:20" on the back of it and stuck it in the door. When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his card had been returned. Added to it was this cryptic message, "Genesis 3:10." Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in gales of laughter. Revelation 3:20 begins "Behold, I stand at the door and knock." Genesis 3:10 reads, "I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid for I was naked."
Have blessed week!!
