Lunenburg United Methodist Charge

Antioch UMC Williams UMC

On our walk. . . . .

October 10, 2007

Pastor’s Message –

Ezekiel 18:25b-32

Hear now O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. Again, when the wicked turn away from wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life. Because they considered and turned away from all transgressions that they have committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die. Yet the house of Israel says, “That the way of the Lord is unfair.” O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord God. Repent and turn around from all your transgressions that you have committed; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. Cast away from all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then , and live.

In the day of Ezekiel, God’s people were in captivity. They began to believe that they were being punished unjustly. They were saying of God, “The way of the Lord is not right.”
You see none of them at the time owned up to their own sins. They just blamed their present situation on the sins of their parents. In the beginning of Ezekiel’s ministry God said to him that He was sending him to a stubborn and obstinate people. God said they may or may not listen to the words He gives him to say. When God’s people said, ‘the way of the Lord is not right’ (Ex 19:29), they were forecasting a mindset that is still prevalent today. God’s answer to that question therefore is still purposeful for anyone whom feels they could create a better way of doing things than God’s. God’s response is a question asking, “Is it not your ways that are not right?” All throughout Scripture He clarifies His position. In Ezekiel 18:4-5 God says “Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the souls of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die. But, if a man is righteous… he will surely live.” Where do you stand with God and His ways. Is it your way or God’s way? Think about it!

Upcoming Events – October 10 – October 16, 2007

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Prayer Meeting @ Williams @ 5:45 PM

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

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Men’s Breakfast @ Williams@ 8:00 AM

Monday October 15, 2007

Bible Study@ Antioch’s @ 7:00 PM

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

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

Evangelism and Family Ministries Committees Meeting @ Antioch @ 7:00PM

Worship Events—Oct 14, 2007

Roberta Ricker will lead the churches in worship this week

Acts 29 Prayer Encounter

On Saturday, October 20, 2007 the Rev. Terry Teykl, a United Methodist minister and nationally known author and leader in prayer ministry, will bring his message on prayer to VUMAC. Rev Teykl will be talking about establishing a prayer ministry in the local church. Rev. Teykl’s style of incorporating humor in the message makes him sought after across the nation. He is a “prayer warrior” who believes that everything is through prayer. The seminar will begin at 8:30 am and end at 3:00 pm. The cost is $25.00 for the day and includes all materials and lunch. Attached is a registration form for those who would like to enjoy hearing Rev. Teykl. Our District is sponsoring this event. Please try to take time and join with others from our churches to hear this message.

Mission Committee Meets

The Antioch Missions Committee met Tuesday night. The committee brained stormed ideas that may become a plan of mission action in the coming months and year. Some of the possibilities are assisting the Shepherd’s Inn, Stop Hunger Now, seniors in our community, the Angel Tree, working with social services, and schools to help disadvantaged families and children. A plan will be coming out with what the committee hopes to achieve during the next couple of months

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 20 left. Get your copy now -- or some to give as gifts -- while they're still available!

150^th 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

Brunswick Stew On Saturday, October 6 the UMW, with the assistance of some able bodied gentlemen to stir, cooked a stew. It sold out and the proceeds will be used by the UMW for their mission programs. Attached are photos of the event.

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 October 8, 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 reading assignment for this week is Genesis 41-50

The Methodist Way

Church as we experience it at the corner of Main Street and Goshen Highway might not match up very well with the high – flung biblical descriptions of Church. The Church on earth is often a pale reflection of the image to which God calls God’s people. Even when we fall short of that destiny, Methodists maintain that God’s intent and ultimate will is a “building from God, a house not made with hands.” Maybe it is like this: when Jesus walked on the earth, we got a glimpse of God’s reign, what it would be like when God’s rule is fully realized. There still was evil; there still was illness; there still was brokenness. But in Jesus Christ we got a glimpse of God’s intent. So now the Church, the body of Christ today, gives us a glimpse of what is yet an invisible Church. In the mystery of God, the Word became flesh and lived among us as a human being, a perfect human one; in the mystery of God, the Church now lives in the world as human beings, imperfect, but the channel of God’s grace.

“But we have this treasure in clay jars,, so that it may be clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.” God ordinarily has chosen to give that extraordinary power through community. That’s why Methodists stick with the Church

“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	Dorothy Shields	Bertha Arthur
Earl "Chuckie” Barnes	Sarah Agnes Callis	Jeffrey Hendricks
Edna & Wilson Bagley	Rev. Al Green	Paul & Argy Turner
“B” & Teewah Hayes	Christian Sutton	Maria Kay
Elizabeth Biggerstaff	Peggy Stone	Frances Hawthorne
Harry & Margaret Smith	Sheila Cage	Grace DiStefano
Ellen & John Gentry	Sara Sutton	Tommy Cage
Becky Eades & boys	Bernard Bottoms	Our Military
Marvin L. Crutchfield	Walter B. Moseley	Martin Family
Yvette Morris & Family	Reita Bahama	Joe N. Coleman
Family of Ann Heffner	Pedro Patis	Jack Heater
Henry Lee Cundiff	Mrs. Parrish	Joyce Clary
McCormick Family	Paul Willis	Alice Wright
Joe Clyde Baker	Shawn Umstead	Dorothy Driskill
Audrey Glassock & family	Jean Parham	Elijah Taylor
Nathan Hendricks	Virginia King	David King
Kenny Cassada	Justin McDaniel	Gertrude Hite
Lawson Family	Mitchell Moseley	Helen Daniel
Dennis Bailey	Eddie Slagle	Joe Baker
Jim & Betsey Copeland		Allen Green

If you have anyone who is in need of prayer, please place their names on the Prayer List and lift up their names in prayer during worship service and throughout the week

In the Library

The Message New Testament (Audio tapes)

by Eugene H. Peterson

From the Publisher

Bringing out the expressive, earthy flavor of New Testament Greek, The Message allows today's readers to experience firsthand the same power and directness that motivated original New Testament readers to change the course of history centuries ago. Now available in paperback, this bold rendering sold more than 200,000 copies in hardcover in less than a year.

Synopsis

Written in a language you would use to write a letter to a friend, The Message is designed to read like any other book. With no distracting verse numbers or formal language, you'll read chapter after chapter and find fresh encounters with familiar passages. Working from the original Greek and Hebrew text, Eugene Peterson tells the stories of the biblical past in a way that makes them come uniquely alive in the present.

The Walk to Emmaus

This week we continue our new series about “The Walk to Emmaus”. The following information comes from “What Is Emmaus?” We hope you find it informative and we hope it clears up any misconception there may be about the Walk to Emmaus

Rev Ed

No leader said we should, but our table group became a close-knit community, sharing and caring for one another in ways that have continued since the Walk. The table groups were the “web of grace," offering each of us a sense of togetherness.

-Clergyperson from Indiana

One of the unique features of Emmaus is that, unlike many religious retreats and revivals, it is not a leader-centered experience. The quality of the three days does not depend on a dynamic preacher, an expert retreat leader, or a distinguished professor. Rather, the leaders are laity and clergy who agree to work as a team according to the guidelines of an Upper Room Emmaus manual. Teams differ for each Emmaus weekend. Though Emmaus teams have clearly defined leadership, the power of the Emmaus experience comes from the truth of Christ conveyed through the understanding, personalities, and faith-stories of ordinary Christians.

Local boards of directors of "Emmaus communities" select the teams and their leaders, all of whom have participated in an Emmaus weekend. Normally, team members attend eight to ten sessions of training or twenty to twenty-five hours of meetings in preparation to be leaders. Individual speakers preview their talks before the team and receive feedback for improvement. Table leaders receive training for their tasks of enabling dialogue. Team members grow together in the spirit of Christ and ready themselves as Christian servants. Every aspect of the three days is carefully planned to provide space for the pilgrims' encounter with Christ.

Remember: We are called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.

Have a Blessed Week

Attachments: Acts 29 Prayer Encounter Registration Form

Pictures of the stew

MARK THIS DATE October 20, 2007

ACTS 29 PRAYER ENCOUNTER Terry Teykl

Renewal Ministries Blueprint for the House of Prayer Building Prayer Ministry in the Local Church

A United Methodist pastor and nationally-known author and leader in prayer ministry, Terry Teykl's warm humorous style makes him one of the most sought after speakers and seminar leaders in the country.

"Sometimes as Christians we wind things up so tight that we break them. But prayer is God's idea. Our responsibility is to participate, not produce ... God makes it work" - Terry Teykl

Location: Virginia United Methodist Assembly Center, Blackstone, Virginia Date and Times: Saturday, October 20 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Cost: $25 per person (includes $15 for book and materials, and $10 for lunch, snacks, and facilities)

Accommodations: overnight accommodations and meals are available at VUMAC for those who wish to arrive

on Friday. Rates are as follows: Lodging - $32.55 Supper - $7.75 Breakfast - $5.25

REGISTRATION

Please make check payable to: VUMAC

Mail to: VUMAC, 707 Fourth Street, Blackstone, VA 23824. For more information call: 434-292-5308