Lunenburg United Methodist Charge

 

Antioch UMC                                                         Williams UMC

 

On our walk. . . . .                 

October 31, 2007

Pastor’s Message –

Psalm 149

 

Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful.  Let Israel be glad in its Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice. I am their King.  Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine ad lyre.  For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory.  Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their couches.  Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two- edged sword in their hands, to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with fetters and their nobles with chains of iron, to execute on them the judgment decreed.  This glory is for all faithful ones.  Praise the Lord!

 

Worship must be fresh, and not just a form.  Worship must have in it spontaneity, an immediacy, something now, human, fresh.  We need to sing a new song; a fresh song.  I don’t think the Psalmist is telling us we cannot sing the old favorites.  I don’t think he is urging us to pick our worship music out of the Top Forty.  But, he is telling us that we need to be fresh.  We need to be personal, spontaneous, immediate, now.  Not routine, but fresh.  Not hackneyed and clichéd, but in real time, for our needs, in our language; fresh.  Worship must be in community, not simply individual.  Worship must take place in a gathered fellowship.  It is not just individual performance or preference, it is not just personal feelings, it is not simply private experience.  God’s worship is corporate, social, in community.  God’s worship is all of us together.  The bottom line for worship is joy.  Oh, there are going to be times when the mood of worship is somber and subdued; there is a time to mourn, a time for quiet.  Even so, the bottom line is joy; our joy of worshipping our God.  There is one non-negotiable, one truth never to be sacrificed, and that is that God loves us.  That God cares for us.  Let us sing with joy to our God; let us worship together our Lord.  God Bless

 

Upcoming Events – October 31 – November 7, 2007

 

Saturday, November 3, 2007

   Men’s Breakfast@ Antioch @ 8:00 AM( We will meet and go to breakfast from the Church.)

Monday, November 5, 2007

   Bible Study@ Antioch’s @ 7:00 PM

Tuesday, November 6, 2007  

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

Wednesday, November7, 2007

   Prayer Meeting @ Williams @ 5:45 PM

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

   Mission Committee Meeting @ Antioch @ 7:30PM

 

Worship Events—November 4, 2007

  Service Theme: All Saints and Healing and Reconciliation

 This week’s reading will be: Sermon Text     Revelation 21:1-4

                                            

Trees at Parsonage Destroyed

 

On Thursday a straight line wind or a small tornado tore through the side yard at the parsonage.  The wind was ferocious enough to twist the top of the large oak tree off and take out the electrical drop on the parsonage.  The Bradford pear was split and several trees in the grouping of oaks were damaged.  The parsonage was without electric until Monday evening.  We are thankful that the trees and the electric drop were the only things damaged.  The parsonage does look a little barren without the trees.

 

Mission Committee to Meet

 

The Antioch Mission Committee will meet on Wednesday, November 7 @ 7:30 @ Antioch.  The discussion will be on developing plans for the coming year.          

                     

 

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

 

Brunswick Stew   On Saturday, November 17, Williams UMC will be cooking a stew. It should be ready between 11 and 12 noon.  If you would like to order please contact any member of Williams UMC.

 

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 November 5, at 7:00PM.  We will be continuing to read and study Exodus 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 Exodus 21-30.

 

 

 

 

The Methodist Way

 

Some Christians think the Bible is inerrant, that is, without any error of fact, be it of science or geography or history.  Some Christians think the Bible is infallible, that is, without any human filters in its original texts.  Methodists have not been immune to these views.  However, a literal view of the Bible does not take into account differences in the way various biblical writers tell the story of what God has been doing. (Did God create all things in seven days?  How could creation have occurred in what we know as seven twenty-four hour days when Gen 1:14 says that it was not until the fourth “day” that there was any division between day and night?)

          A literal view of the Bible does not take into account how some of the texts address issues that were specific to one time and place and not necessarily to all times and places.  (Does it seem appropriate for Christians to implement Deut 21:18-21 which calls for stoning to death a disobedient son?)

          A literal view of the Bile doe not take into account the way Jesus reflected on Scripture.  For example, Jesus interpreted Scripture as having meaning far beyond the exact dictionary meanings of the words of the text.  In Matt 5:21, Jesus quotes Exodus 20:13 –“You shall not murder” --- but says the prohibition means far more than just literally killing people.  Jesus says the prohibition includes getting angry with those in the community. (Matt 5:22)

          A literal view does not take into account the use of images and figures of speech in the Scriptures.  Look at Psalm 64:7: does God really shoot people with a bow and arrow?  Look at Isaiah 37:29: does the Lord really grab people with a physical hook?  Look at Matt 6:6: does God really only listen to prayers that are prayed behind closed doors?

          John Wesley introduced his collection of biblical sermons by writing, “I desire plain truth for plain people.”  Wesley wrote in plain meaning of the biblical text but understood that plain meaning was not always the literal meaning.  He believed that the Bible was twice inspired: once when written and again when read.    

 

                                            “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

Sarah Agnes Callis                    Rev. Al Green           Paul & Argy Turner

Earl "Chuckie" Barnes               Christian Sutton         Maria Kay

Edna & Wilson Bagley              Sheila Cage               Frances Hawthorne

"B" & Teewah Hayes                Sara Sutton               Tommy Cage

Elizabeth Biggerstaff                  Bernard Bottoms       Our Military

Harry & Margaret Smith           Gertrude Hite            Joe N. Coleman

Walter B. Moseley, Jr. & family                                 Grace DiStefano

Ginny Arthur & family               Kathy Barnhill            Sara & Max

Poke Watson & Family             Jack Heater               Eddie Slagle

Audrey Glassock & family        Jeff Hendricks           Ann Thompson

Marvin L. Crutchfield

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

 

All for Jesus

By Franklin Graham, Ross S. Rhoads

      From the Publisher

The essence of the Christian life is Jesus-and when everything you do is aimed at glorifying Him, the life-changing consequences are limitless!

In this new trade paper edition, best-selling author Franklin Graham and Ross Rhoads offer thirty compassionate yet uncompromising devotionals that will inspire and challenge readers to embrace a life devoted to Jesus. Insightful and personal, All For Jesus helps readers develop the qualities of focused, wholehearted discipleship, while showing how to fully embrace a life lived all for Jesus.

 

Mind Siege: The Battle for Truth in the New Millennium

By Tim LaHaye, David Noebel

       From the Publisher

Two basic sources of reasoning determine the thoughts, ideas, beliefs, values, aims, morals, lifestyles, and activities of mankind—the wisdom of man and the wisdom of God. According to Tim LaHaye and David Noebel, life is mainly about the battle for your mind: whether you will live by man's wisdom, from the likes of Marx, Darwin, Freud, and Nietzsche, or God's wisdom and those who shared it, such as Moses, the prophets, Christ, and the apostles. Your choice will affect the way you live now and ultimately where you will spend eternity.

 

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

 

 

 

  Emmaus is for church persons. Emmaus designed for active church members and their leaders who want to rekindle their faith or renew their vision. Emmaus also benefits less active church members who are seeking to renew a relationship with God, to grow spiritually, or to discover firmer foundations for their lives. However, Emmaus is not an evangelistic outreach to non-Christians. The content of the Walk assumes a certain familiarity with the basics of the Christian faith and tries to build on each person's positive relationship with the church.

 Emmaus is for people who want to grow spiritually, who hunger for the bread of life. Emmaus is for persons who simply want to understand the Christian faith more fully and to mature as disciples of Jesus Christ. Emmaus is for persons who want to build up the church in love and contribute to its ministry.

The Emmaus Walk is mainstream in theological outlook. Emmaus has room for a great variety of Christians who seek to grow, share, and give themselves to a three-day walk with Christ. Emmaus is a common meeting ground for the great diversity of Christians in our churches who celebrate their unity in Christ and feel they can learn from one another, be they traditionalists, evangelicals, liberals, conservatives, activists, or charismatics. Emmaus is for those who seek to follow Christ without regard to labels and camps.        .

 

 

 

      Emmaus is for building faith and discipleship, not for working through grief or psychological problems. Emmaus teams are not trained for counseling or group therapy. If you are preoccupied with working through personal dilemmas, consider waiting to go through Emmaus when you feel freer to focus on the message of the Walk.

       Emmaus is for fostering Unity in Christ, not for theological debate and arguments about denominations. Emmaus tries to foster apprecia­tion and openness to the different faith-perspectives of the participants. Bring a spirit of Christian tolerance and charity toward others, includ­ing members of other denominations. If you cannot affirm your unity with other kinds of Christians, if you tend to define Christianity nar­rowly and legalistically or are intolerant of those who see things differ­ently, then Emmaus is probably not for you.

             Emmaus is a concentrated three-day course in Christianity, not a relaxing retreat. Don't bring work from the office or have hopes of tak­ing an afternoon off to read. Except for break times, Emmaus is a very full experience. Come with empty hands and open hearts, planning to give yourself completely to the Emmaus Walk.

 

           How Can I Go to Emmaus?

 

              You can go by contacting a friend who has been to Emmaus. Ask your friend to tell you about his or her experience of The Walk to Emmaus. Your friend will help you to decide whether the experience will be helpful.

 

 

Remember: Prayer:  Don’t give God instructions – just report for                                          

                                     duty.

 

Have a Blessed Week