Lunenburg United Methodist Charge
Antioch UMC Williams UMC
On our walk. . . . .
April 23, 2008
A message from Jim Tongue, Farmville District Superintendent.
Living into “All Things New”
And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." *
In Southside we like old things. And that is a good thing, since we have so many things that are old. Take our churches, for instance. We have ninety-four of them. Some of them date from the Old South. Easters in Mecklenburg County began in 1783, predating the Christmas Conference in 1784, which founded the Methodist Episcopal Church in America and elected Francis Asbury its first bishop. Rocky Mount in Buckingham County also began in the 1780s, making it part of the Old Brunswick Circuit, often called the “Cradle of American Methodism.” Then there is Butterwood Church in Nottoway County which stands on the site of Butterwood Chapel of the Church of England, where Devereaux Jarratt preached his first sermon. Jarratt’s preaching in the early 1770s fostered Methodism before Asbury reached Southside and laid the groundwork for the Old Brunswick Circuit. And we have Zion in Mecklenburg County which arose from a camp meeting about 1790. In the summer of 1828 Zion hosted the Annual Conference committee which recommended Boydton as the site for the new men’s school, Randolph-Macon College. The college was built there in 1832.
Some of our churches began in the Antebellum South, constructing new buildings in the 1800s, which still stand today. While organized fifty years earlier, Antioch in Lunenburg County built a fine new building in 1857, with its distinctive three entrances, the middle entrance leading to its gallery. Mt. Pleasant in Prince Edward County had a great revival in the 1850s and built its beautiful sanctuary to accommodate the many new converts including a large number of slaves. Prospect in Prince Edward did the same. Hanes Chapel in Buckingham County was also built before the War to serve the nearby Methodist academy for boys. Last fall Main Street in South Boston celebrated its 160th Anniversary. Then there is Hobson’s Chapel in Powhatan County, built on the Old Buckingham Road, and Thomas Chapel in Cumberland, where General Robert E. Lee scratched his name on a brick beside the front door during his stay at a nearby plantation following the surrender at Appomattox.
Several of our churches began in the New South, serving the new towns and villages springing up all along the new railroads which were forging their ways westward to the coalfields. Victoria in Lunenburg celebrated its centennial last year; others recently have, others soon will. It is something worth considering, that on the Farmville District many of our newest congregations are nearly a century old. In Southside we like old things. For us United Methodists, that is a very good thing. But what does it mean for us to hear the words from the Throne: “See, I am making all things new!?” For me it means at least three things.
First, every one of our churches was once a brand, spanking new faith community, fired by the Spirit, eager for souls, ready to spread Christ’s gospel across the land. Second, the old, old story is about a new, new thing: God “…has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” Third, no matter how old we are, it is always good to ask, “How can we be born anew? How can our churches be born again after having grown old?” Even as we ask, God is still working to make all things new! Jim Tongue
Have a blessed week Rev. Ed
This Weeks Event:
Saturday, May 17
Southside Emmaus Gathering @ Crenshaw UMC, Blackstone @ 6:30 PM
Monday, May 19
Bible Study @ Antioch @ 7:00 PM
Tuesday, May 20
Bible Study @ Audrey Smith’s @ 10:00 AM
UMW Meeting @ Nannie Sue Dawson’s @ 8:00 pm
Wednesday, May 21
Prayer Meeting @ Williams @ 5:45 PM
Choir Practice @ Williams @ 6:30 PM
Worship Events –May 18, 2008
Service Theme: Antioch – Pentecost
Williams – Trinity Sunday
This week’s reading will be: Sermon Text – Antioch Acts 2: 1-21
Williams Matt 28: 16-20
Hebrew Text -- Antioch Psalm 104: 24-35
Williams Gen 1:1-2:4
Pianists: Leigh Ann Bacon, Nancy Turner
Special Events: Communion
Antioch Mother’s Day Program a Success
Sarah Stallings did an outstanding job directing the Mothers Day program, May 11th. It was truly a gift to see all the children honor their mothers on such a glorious day. It was really great to see all the mothers and grandmothers in attendance and be so greatly honored.
Walkathon May 3rd a Success.
Members of Antioch and Williams UMC took part in a Walkathon that took place on May 3rd. The participants from all over the county raised $2600 for the Lunenburg Ministries to continue their work in our community. The participants from our churches all completed the seven mile hike from Victoria to Kenbridge. They said they had a good time; that was Saturday. By Monday the soreness had set in and they knew they had pushed the envelope, but it was for a good cause. Congratulations to our intrepid team.
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 May 19 at 7:00PM at Antioch. We will be reviewing II Samuel. 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 continue on May 20 at 10:00AM at Audrey Smith’s house. We will be reviewing 1 Samuel. 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.
If you cannot reach Rev. Ed at the parsonage, you may call him on his cell phone: 252-532-0952. He can also be reached via e-mail at revedumc@yahoo.com . If you would like to receive e-mail messages from the pastor send an e-mail to him at revedumc@yahoo.com and we will add you to our list.
Please keep the following families in your prayers:
Marjorie Thompson
Christian Sutton
Bertha Arthur
Sarah Agnes Callis
Sheila Cage
Edith Tanner
Phyllis Staples Briel
Sara Sutton
Jeff Hendricks
Earl "Chucky” Barnes
Our Military
Nathan Hendricks
Family of Wilson Bagley
Mae Overby
Maria Kay
Dorothy Shields
June Watson
Frances Hawthorne
Ellen & John Gentry
Rooster Wells
Elizabeth Biggerstaff
Becky Eades & boys
Gertrude Hite
Bernard Bottoms
Unspoken
Tommy Cage
Susan Pernell
Jason Mc Reynolds
Faye Seamster
Harry Smith
Lydia & Jimmy Payne
Grace DiStefano
Wanda Chumney
Argy & Paul Turner
Joe Coleman
Alicia Clary
Aubrey & Allen Green.
Junior McHenry
Layton Powell
Margaret Smith
Mildred Carter
Dawn Bacon
CV & Agnes Thompson
Walter B. Moseley
Jackie Griffith
Cynthia Peebles
Betty Reese
Just a note:
150th Anniversary Throws There is one still available. The cost is $45.00 each. Please call Jane DiStefano if you would like to order a throw or have any questions. 434-676-2314
Cookbooks are still available.
The cost is $10 each. . If you would like to purchase one, you may contact any member of Antioch Church, or call Earl or Barbara Callis at 676-3063.
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.
The Methodist Way –
In previous columns we talked about two of the other means of grace: the ministry of the Word and searching Scriptures. Preaching is a part of vital Methodism. (Remember that one of the definitions of the Church in the Articles of Religion of the Methodist Church is “a congregation of faithful people in which the pure Word of God is preached.) Architecture has often reflected the importance of preaching as pulpits are placed in the center of worship space. (Other designs grow out of the varying emphases of what it means for the congregation to gather: to celebrate Communion, to be with one another in fellowship, to magnify Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.) Some congregations in the Bible Belt refer to their main gathering space as the “auditorium.” What is most valued in these settings is what is heard (audio – torium). Although faithful preaching is critical to the Methodist experience (for conversion, for social witness, for nurture, for rebuke, for vision, for teaching), it is not a Methodist tradition to call the chief worship space “auditorium.”
A Little Story
Henry: I can worship God at the park as I stroll alone.
Sherrie: Hogwash!!
God is at the park. God is with Henry when he strolls. But the call of this promise of God’s grace is in public worship of God. Those worship settings will vary. (It is not necessary that rites and ceremonies should in all places be the same or exactly alike), but worship is communal and not a matter of private judgment. Public worship affords accountability in the Christian journey. Public worship acknowledges that the faith walk is personal, but not private; it is communal, not isolated. Public worship recognizes that the biblical account is of a God who most frequently calls and speaks through community. Public worship reminds us that worship is not judged simply by how it “makes us feel.” Public worship is a celebration by the people God has called into being. Public worship is confession that we have broken the unity God has desired. Public worship is reflective of biblical images of the faithful gathered together at God’s throne in heaven. No wonder that public worship is a means of grace. The means of grace include the public worship of God.
Being Methodist in the Bible Belt” F. Belton Joyner, Jr.
Remember: We don't change the message, the message changes us.
Have a Blessed Week
