Lunenburg United Methodist Charge

 

Antioch UMC                                                              Williams UMC

 

On our walk. . . . .                 

August 29, 2007

Pastor’s Message –

Jeremiah 2: 4-13

 

Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Isreal. Thus says the Lord: “What wrong did your ancestors find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthless things, and became worthless themselves?” They did not say,  “ Where is the Lord who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us in the wilderness, in a land of deserts and pits, in a land of drought and deep darkness, in a land that no one passes through, where no one lives?” I brought you into a plentiful land to eat its fruits and its good things. But when you entered you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination. The priest did not say, “Where is the Lord?” Those who handle the law did not know me; the rulers transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal and went after things that do not profit. Therefore once more I accuse you, says the Lord, and I accuse your children’s children. Cross the coasts of Cyprus and look, send to Kedar and examine with care; see if there has ever been such a thing. Has a nation changed its gods, even though there are no gods? But my people have change their glory for something that does not profit. Be appalled, o heavens, at this, be shocked , be utterly desolate, says the Lord, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living ater, and dug out cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns that can hold no water.

 

 

In this reading Jeremiah is relaying a message to the Hebrew people that isn’t one of joy. God has, finally, had it and is warning the Hebrew nations, Judah and Isreal, it is time to start thinking about what they have done. What have they done to deserve this dressing down?  For one thing they have forgotten who God is and have started worshiping Baal and for the second thing they are putting material things in front of God. These things are like cracked cisterns. They wouldn’t hold water with God. How much is this like the way we live today? We are a materialistic people. We worship the almighty dollar, buildings, places, and events and forget who God is. We turn away from our Lord and only chase after him if there is a situation we can’t handle. We would rather have God as a appointment line on our schedule than with us everyday 24-7. We are closely becoming the Hebrew nations and God is going to see to it that we are made to pay for our transgressions. If you read further in this book you will see that God reaches the end of the line and Judah and Jerusalem are destroyed. Are we headed in that direction? If we insist on putting God in a niche in our lives rather than allowing him to be the center of our lives then we could be on the way to becoming like Judah. We need to look at our lives and make the decision of where God belongs in our lives. I hope we make the right decision.

       God Bless.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upcoming Events – August 22 – August 28, 2007

 

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

   VBS Committee Mtg @ 5:00 PM @ Williams

   Prayer Meeting @ Williams @ 5:45 PM

   William’s Celebration Choir practice @ Williams @ 6:30 PM

   Lay Leadership (Nominating) Committee Mtg @ 7:30 PM @ Williams  

Sunday September 2, 2007

   Finance Committee @ Williams @ 9:00 AM

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

   Bible Study@ Audrey Smith’s @ 10:00am

   Finance Committee Mtg @ Antioch @ 7:00PM 

 

    

  

William’s Plans Heritage Days.  

 

Keep Saturday and Sunday, September 15 and 16 open on your calendars.  William’s is planning to have a Heritage Day weekend.  Plans include a yard sale, bake sale, Brunswick stew sale, an antique farm equipment display, live entertainment and free games for the children.  And that’s only Saturday.  On Sunday there will be a special worship service at 11:00AM, special music and an old fashioned covered dish Homecoming on the grounds, weather permitting.

                               

Cookbooks are still available.  If you would like to purchase one, please contact Susan Moseley at 676-2081, Gayle Grant at 676-3531, Trudy Wilkins at 676-4458, or anyone at Antioch.  Any church member can get a copy to you for $10 each.  Over 700 copies have been sold & there are less than 100 left.  Get your copy now -- or some to give as gifts -- while they're still available!

 

150th Anniversary Throws   Throws are still available. These beautiful throws will make a great present for a family member. 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

 

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 September 10, at 7:00PM. We will be continuing to read and study Genesis with a particular look at the historical view of the writers.  If you would like to join us come on over, Monday @ 7:00PM at Antioch.

 

 

 

 

The Methodist Way

 

Salvation is like a house. To get into the house, you have to first get on the porch (repentance) and then you have to go through the door (faith). But the house itself ----- one’s relationship with God ----- is holiness, holy living. Methodists care a lot about repentance. (There are 24 hymns in the UM Hymnal  in the section on invitation and repentance.) Methodists care a lot asking Jesus to pardon our sin. (There are 21 hymns in the UM Hymnal in the section on pardon and assurance of pardon.) But Methodists still understand when John Wesley wrote that the house of religion was holiness, holy living. (There are 168 hymns in the UM Hymnal in the section on holy living)  Admitting that you are a sinner and asking Jesus to save you and believing that that is all there is to it leaves people stuck on the front porch or lodged in the door. Repentance and faith (both possible by God’s grace) are access to the house. The goal is not the porch or the door. The goal is the house itself.

                                           “Being Methodist in the Bible Belt” F. Belton Joyner, Jr.

                                                                  

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

Eddie Slagle

Bertha Arthur

Frances Hawthorne

Sarah Agnes Callis

Jeffrey Hendricks

Earl "Chuckie” Barnes

Rev. Al Green

Paul & Argy Turner

Edna & Wilson Bagley

Christian Sutton

Dennis Hammond

“B” & Teewah Hayes

Paul Willis

Grace DiStefano

Elizabeth Biggerstaff

Sheila Cage

Tony Wilkins

Robert & Virginia Overby

Sara Sutton

Tommy Cage

Marvin L. Crutchfield

Bernard Bottoms

Our Military

Ellen & John Gentry

Gertrude Hite

Barbara Heppner

 Timmy Baird Family

Cumbea Family

Jeanette McGuire

Rev. & Mrs. Robert Day

Neil Barnes

Elizabeth Davis

Neal Davis Family

Steve Piercy

Audrey Glassock

Alexia Hatzopoulas

LaVerna Matthews

Dorothy Driskill

Bunny Green Family

Teresa Carpenter

Allie Daniel

Walter B. Moseley

Jack Heater

Rosita Bahana

Rebecca Medina Rodriguez

 Joyce

Pedro Patis

Mattie Rose Edwards

 Eva Baird

Teresa Carpenter

Becky Thompson Family

 Joey Howerton

 

 

 

 

William’s Youth Camp Out. 

 

The Youth Group at William’s gathered early in the evening on Friday the 24th. The occasion was an overnight campout. Tents were set up, hotdogs and all the trimmings were prepared over an open fire, and the fun started. There were eleven children there who did not go to sleep until sunrise on Saturday. They spent the night watching movies, telling stories, and eating. The kids had a ball. Breakfast was served at 7:30 am much to the horror of some of the kids. In fact we had one child who actually fell asleep in his breakfast.  There were 8 adults who slept on the ground outside of the tents if you can believe that! A grand time was had by all. There are three photos of the campers attached.

 

In the Library

 

Bad Girls of the Bible: And What We Can Learn from Them

by Liz Curtis Curtis Higgs

     From the Publisher

Good News from the Bibles Bad News Belles

Author and speaker Liz Curtis Higgs brings her best-selling book Bad Girls of the Bible to vibrant life in this funny, fast-paced hour with ten of the Bibles most infamous females and one enthusiastic audience.

Meet Bad-to-the-Bone Jezebel and Bad-for-a-Moment Lots wife. Share a rebellious snack with Eve and a delicious drink of water with the woman at the well. Toss out a red cord with redeemed Rahab, and snip a new do with Delilah. Learn lessons from Sapphira, Michal, and Potiphars wife on what not to do, while the sinful woman who anointed the feet of Jesus sheds timeless tears that still touch hearts today.

 

Congratulations:

John and Lori McDaniel on the birth of their daughter, Addison. She was born on Thursday, August 23. Welcome Addison.

 

Neil Barnes is a great grandmother again. Anne O’Neil Saunders born today to David and Meg Saunders.

 

Remember:  Many people want to serve God, but only as advisors.

 

 

Have a Blessed Week

 

Camp fires are fun.

 

Yes it is Saturday morning!

 

This is before night fell on Friday. Everybody is awake!