Lunenburg United Methodist Charge
Antioch UMC Williams UMC
On our walk. . . . .
June 19, 2008
Conference 2008
Sunday:
The Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church started the week with a Service of Rememberance and Holy Communion. The message for this service came from the Rev. Amanda Garber who told the conference to put on their running shoes, start the race and press on. She used the writings of Paul by telling us that we are not to lose our focus but to keep on running – Press on! Remember God is faithful! Bishop Kammerer celebrated Holy Communion and the names of clergy and spouses that had died since the last Annual Conference were lifted up.
Monday:
On Monday 99 year old Dr. George Lightner and 17 year old Rachel Smith offered an opening prayer. Dr Lightner was attending his 74th consecutive conference and Ms. Smith was attending her 1st. As the Conference met we were ready for the reports from the many committees and agencies of the Church. With boxes of apples, representing growth and being fruitful, spread out over the Roanoke Civic Center the 250 Task Force announced a program to plant 250 new faith communities and revitalize existing congregations over the next 30 years. The new program, called “All Things New,” will, over the next 30 years, guide the Church in a renewal of Methodism in Virginia.
“Deech” Kirk, executive director of the Center for Youth Ministry Training in Nashville brought us a message that youth in today’s world are looking for somebody to tell them their testimony. They want to know how God has changed your life today, or this week. He noted that we needed to take our baptism vows very seriously, where we promise to raise each young person up in faith.
That evening the licensing of Local Pastors and the Ordination of Elders took place with Bishop Kammerer preaching on the promise of the harvest being bountiful and the workers are few.
Tuesday:
Tuesday was a day blending worship, business and youth. Retirees were honored, Bishop Pennell returned to teach Bible study and he stated that the “All Things New” initiative was a great idea but we should be in prayer for it. He stated, “Don’t pray and it won’t happen!” Later that afternoon Bishop Pennel told us we should think about the questions John Wesley asked when conferencing. “What shall we do? And What shall we teach? The conference Lay Leader, Shirley Cauffman asked in her report; “What if we welcomed people into the church? What if the church truly became a place of open hearts, open minds, and open doors? She stated that maybe some day the church will truly welcome ALL who come to worship.
That evening a youthful worship service was held. The Keith Elgin Band from Virginia Beach rocked the entire conference as they led worship with a mix of traditional (kicked up a notch) and today’s contemporary music. Hands were being held high in praise and some people were even dancing in the aisles. A video on our world in chaos was a moving part of the service followed by a sermon by Rev. Chris Bennett. His theme was the chaos in our lives without Christ. He strongly stressed that “God doesn’t leave people alone in chaos, and neither should we.
Three resolutions were passed after worship Tuesday night. One was to request that the Governor and the Legislature restore the voting rights of felons after they have completed their punishment and made restitution if required. The second was for a ministry of caring and sorrow bearing for families of killed or injured service men and women in the war in Afghanistan and Iraq to be established. The third resolution requested that state set up a system of accountability for inmates’ medical care.
Wednesday.
Last day of Conference. We celebrated the 40th anniversary of the EUB- Methodist merger. We were honored with the establishment of the Society of St. Andrew as an organization recognized by the General Conference for its work in relieving hunger for the past 29 years. We enjoyed worship with a youth choir and the Bishop. Shortly after that all appointments were set for the coming year.
The Conference was a time of learning, a time of worship, a time of meeting old friends and making new ones. We spent each day from 8:30 AM until 9:00 PM working for our church. The theme of our conference this year was “The Promise for YOU, for your CHILDREN, and for ALL.” And that is what we tried to do as we represented the Lunenburg Charge at Conference.
Have a blessed week Rev. Ed
This Weeks Event:
Saturday, June 21
Ladies Tea @ Williams@ 2:00PM
Monday, June 23
Bible Study @ Antioch @ 7:00 PM
Tuesday, June 24
Bible Study @ Audrey Smith’s @ 10:00 AM
Council Meeting @ Antioch @ 7:00PM
Wednesday, June 25
Prayer Meeting @ Williams @ 5:45 PM
Choir Practice @ Williams @ 6:30 PM
Worship Events –June 22,2008
This week’s reading will be: Sermon Text –Matt 10: 24-39
Hebrew Text –Psalm 86:1-10,16-17
Pianists: Leigh Ann Bacon, NancyTurner
Contemporary Sunday, June 29, 2008
On the 29th of June our worship service at Antioch will take on a different look. At the request of several members of the church we are going to embark on a new style of worship called “Contemporary.” Though you may have an idea that we are going to have a lot of new music and a band will be playing -- that will not be the way we will do this first service. As an organization that I belong to says, “Participate! Don’t anticipate!” Let the joy of the Lord fill you at this service. Immediately following the service a luncheon will held for all who wish to join us. We are looking to do this at least every fifth Sunday.
William’s Ladies’ Tea
The monthly Ladies’ Tea will be held on June 21st at 2:00 PM at William’s UMC. If you are looking for a great time of fellowship, good international food and an inspirational program please join them.
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 June 23rd at 7:00PM at Antioch. We will be reviewing I Kings: 12-24. 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 June 24th at 10:00AM at Audrey Smith’s house. We will be reviewing I Kings: 12-24. 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 .
Antioch Council Meeting
There will be a meeting of the Antioch Council on Tuesday, June 24th at 7:00 PM. Committees should be prepared to give detailed reports of their activities since our last meeting in March. It is requested that the reports be in writing for distribution to all who attend. Please join us as we make important decisions on the operations of our Church.
Please keep the following families in your prayers:
Marjorie Thompson
Christian Sutton
Bertha Arthur
Sarah Agnes Callis
Sheila Cage
Virginia King
Margaret Conner
Sara Sutton
Jeff Hendricks
Earl "Chucky” Barnes
Our Military
Nathan Hendricks
Edna Bagley
Church Youth
Maria Kay
Peggy Bowen
VAUMC Conf
Frances Hawthorne
Ellen & John Gentry
Betty Reese
Elizabeth Biggerstaff
Becky Eades & boys
Gertrude Hite
Bernard Bottoms
People of the Midwest
Tommy Cage
Mary Bastikis
Thomas Clegg
Danny Horne
Harry Smith
Haynie Hite
Grace DiStefano
Unspoken
Rev. Al Green
Joe Coleman
Alicia Clary
Rebecca Kelly
Junior McHenry
Layton Powell
Walter B. & Carolyn Moseley Jr.
Rachel Moore
Margaret Smith
CV & Agnes Thompson
Jason Mc Reynolds
Marjorie Coleman
Family of Sandra Mayton
Peggy Sue Fogg
Just a Note: When I was appointed to this charge one of the requests that was made of me was to keep the Antioch Men’s Breakfast going. Now as I enter my third year we have experienced a dramatic drop in the number of men who attend the breakfast. If you would like to join us for breakfast and fellowship please do! We meet the first Saturday of each month at 8:00 AM and we are willing to cook if there are enough men to join the five or six regulars who attend. If you would like to join us please contact Earl Callis, Tommy Barnes, Wayne Hendicks or me. Our next breakfast is scheduled for July 5. Hope to see you there!!
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 Five-Finger Prayer
1. Your thumb is nearest to you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is a “sweet duty.”
2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.
3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the President, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God’s guidance.
4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is that this is our weakest finger (as any piano teacher will attest). It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.
5. And lastly comes our little finger, the smallest finger of all, which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, “the least shall be the greatest among you.” Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.
n Author unknown
In I Thessalonians 5:17 Paul told us to “pray without ceasing.”
Ask someone to join us in worship. Have a blessed week!
