Prayer and Action should also be our response to the disaster in Haiti. I heard last night that there had been another earthquake in Haiti. As God’s people, we need to be in prayer for the people of Haiti. Here are some of the ways I have been praying for the people of Haiti: Strength for those still trapped; Direction for those searching for survivors; Medical help for the injured; Wisdom for the nation’s leaders; Protection and Energy for rescue and help personal; Supplies to arrive where needed; Guidance for leaders of helping agencies. Our prayers also need to take action. The best action at the present time is money and/or health kits. Our Mission Team has already sent $1300 from our Faith Promise Budget to Haiti relief. In addition, $1905.69 was given Sunday to Haiti relief and it has been sent. I am aware of additional money that has come in since Sunday. If you want to make a gift simply make your check to the church and mark it for “Haiti.” One advantage of giving through your church is every penny given through our United Methodist Committee on Relief will go to Haiti relief. Here is some of the latest information I have about our Annual Conference’s efforts. On January 19, a PX-12 airplane departed Huntsville with purification systems, health kits and medical supplies. We were ready to respond so quickly because of our Disaster Warehouse in Decatur. “Health Kits” were there, ready to be shipped. The plane should have landed by now Barahona, Dominican Republic. The supplies will then be trucked 20 miles to an orphanage in Jimani, Haiti. This 40 bed orphanage was scheduled to open in February. It has become a relief station that had 1,800 people last Thursday night. There were 10 water purification systems on the plane. Each system will produce 10,000 gallons of drinking water per day. The rest of the shipment was health kits and medical supplies. It is a God thing that a general surgeon from Nashville, Dr. David Vanderpool, was in Haiti. He is now working out of the orphanage. On Monday he made contact with his wife in Nashville listing medicines and supplies that were needed. She worked with Nashville hospitals to collect the supplies and got them to Huntsville to be part of the shipment. The plane also carried a satellite uplink system so that better communications with our UMCOR teams can take place. These kind of things happened because of the connection of our great church. Let me get back to Actions we can take. We are told that right now money is the best thing we can do. Attached is a link to the UMCOR site where you may make a donation. http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/ There are two other ways you can also take action. One is collect items for Health Kits. Our Children’s Ministries are giving leadership in this. Our Child Enrichment Center has collection bins outside their dining room where Health Kit Items can be placed.
Here is what is included in each Health Kits:1 hand towel (15” x 25” up to 17” x 27”, no kitchen towels)1 washcloth1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up)1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, no child-size brushes)6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandagesPlus $1.00 for toothpaste (Our UMCOR warehouse purchases toothpaste in bulk to ensure product does not expire before it is sent.) The After-School Children at CEC will be putting these supplies together into Health Kits. Because of international transportation issues, each kit must have only the listed items, so if you bring items they must be those listed above.
There is also a need for Food – specifically rice, dry beans, powdered milk and powered infant formula. Our Disaster Relief Warehouse in Decatur is collecting these specific food items and will be doing a shipment of them. Bins will be place around the church were you can donate these items as well.
Don’t forget there are two important Training Events Sunday. Our Evangelism System training will be 12:15 PM. This includes lunch, so please contact the office to make your reservations. There are a variety of opportunities in our Evangelism System where volunteers with a heart to bring people to Christ and the Church are needed. The Evangelism System includes Sunday Computer Teams, First Time Visitor Follow-up, Telephone Teams, Cultivation Teams and Welcome Wagon Teams. Come and see if there is a place God may be calling you to serve.
Care Team Captain training will be held at 4:00 PM Sunday afternoon. These teams are vital to providing care to our growing congregation. Each Team consists of about 5 families. The Captain sees that the Care Team truly cares for one another. We can always use additional Care Team Captains as the need for additional teams grows every year.
Our Global Impact Celebration kicks off two weeks from tonight. (Kick off service is Wednesday, February 3, 6:30 PM) Make plans to be part of this great night of worship. And be in prayer about your above the tithe commitment to this year’s Faith Promise Budget.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Prayer & Action Together Yields Results
This morning’s Upper Room Devotional (January 20, 2010) captures key parts of my last two messages. The devotional was based on the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem under Nehemiah. The scripture was from Nehemiah four. As the wall was going up, some opposition developed. Nehemiah told the people to pray and establish some guards.
Tori Tremaine Walker, who wrote the devotional, closed this way: “What desire or situation pulls at your heart today? Besides praying, what action does God want you to take in this matter? As Nehemiah 4 tells us, God’s people discovered that prayer plus action yields results.”
Prayer and Action are keys to living the change that God wants to establish in our lives. Many of us made New Years Resolutions. Others in our Church Family made a commitment to change something in their life. These are represented by the sticky notes on the crosses in the sanctuary and gym. But how do we keep the change? That’s what we are looking at in the present message series, “Keep the Change: Resolutions that Stick.”
In the first message we saw that Thinking is a key component to change. Paul tells us,“Let the Spirit change your way of thinking.” (Ephesians 4:23; Contemporary English Version) This most often takes place was we pray and mediate on God’s Word and the change that God wants to bring about in our lives.
This past Sunday we saw that Action is also vital if we are to Keep the Change. We must become doers of God’s Word. This Sunday we will see that we must take Responsibility for Change in our lives. But Tori was right, real change involves Prayer and Action. The Application Sheet this week can help you in both of these areas.
Tori Tremaine Walker, who wrote the devotional, closed this way: “What desire or situation pulls at your heart today? Besides praying, what action does God want you to take in this matter? As Nehemiah 4 tells us, God’s people discovered that prayer plus action yields results.”
Prayer and Action are keys to living the change that God wants to establish in our lives. Many of us made New Years Resolutions. Others in our Church Family made a commitment to change something in their life. These are represented by the sticky notes on the crosses in the sanctuary and gym. But how do we keep the change? That’s what we are looking at in the present message series, “Keep the Change: Resolutions that Stick.”
In the first message we saw that Thinking is a key component to change. Paul tells us,“Let the Spirit change your way of thinking.” (Ephesians 4:23; Contemporary English Version) This most often takes place was we pray and mediate on God’s Word and the change that God wants to bring about in our lives.
This past Sunday we saw that Action is also vital if we are to Keep the Change. We must become doers of God’s Word. This Sunday we will see that we must take Responsibility for Change in our lives. But Tori was right, real change involves Prayer and Action. The Application Sheet this week can help you in both of these areas.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
A New Way of Thinking
God truly moved in our worship Sunday. In each service people lined up to place a commitment on one of the crosses. Several hundred of us made a commitment to be made new in some area of our life. If you are one of those who placed a commitment on one of the crosses, I have prayed for you this morning. I pray that the Holy Spirit will lead you to a new way of thinking that will change your life.
There was an insert in this past Sunday’s bulletin that was designed to help you apply the message. In case you were not here or forgot to take yours with you, a copy is attached to this email. As I studied for this message series, “Keep the Change – Resolutions that Stick,” I realized that many of our resolutions never take root in our minds. Sure, our mind is involved when we decide to make our resolutions. But how much time do we really devote to thinking about the new way we are to live? If we don’t make thinking about the changes a part of our lives, our commitments will soon be out of our minds. The application ideas provided on the attachment can help you think for a change.
This morning’s thought from “WalktheWalk.com” spoke to this issue of thinking. The quote was from Patricia Neal; “A strong positive mental attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug.” If you really want to see change, it must start with your mind. Remember what the Proverb says,“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7a, New King James Version)
Yesterday, I had the privilege of appearing on NBC 13’s Mid-Day News to share a little about our 150th Anniversary. I thank Teresa Watson for setting that up. It was an opportunity to share about our year long celebration of 150 years of ministry in North Jefferson County.
I understand we are going to have a special guest from the past with us in worship Sunday. He will share what brought him to what is now the Gardendale area to begin a new church. The church that began as Shugart’s Chapel would later become New Bethel and after the town of Gardendale was established, it became the Gardendale Methodist Church.
Lisa Crane was the NBC 13 news person who did the interview. She was amazed by the three different styles of worship we offer each Sunday morning. In our prep time before the live interview, she made the comment that many churches have three worship services, but she was not aware of any that had three different styles of worship. Then she said, “I can see where that opens the door to reach a diversity of people.” That is so true. In conversations with new members the last few years, this diversity of worship has regularly been lifted up as one of our greatest strengths.
Each month, we send a questionnaire to those who worshiped with us for the first time during that month. It asked them to share their reflections on various aspects of their experience here at Gardendale-Mt. Vernon. It also asks “How did you hear about Gardendale-Mt. Vernon UMC?” The number one response to that question continues to be “Invitation.” More people come to worship because someone invited them than any other reason. It reminds me we must be offering the invitation. Who have you invited lately?
One of the latest questionnaires to be returned reminded us we are not always as welcoming as we like to think. Another question asks, “Did an usher or greeter extend a warm welcome and provide adequate assistance?” The person checked “No.”
Hospitality should be the responsibility of all of us. We need to make an effort to speak to persons, especially persons we do not know. It is also true, what is everybody’s responsibility is often nobody’s responsibility. That is the reason we must be very intentional about our hospitality. Come and learn how you can help make Gardendale-Mt. Vernon a more Hospitable Place in the Hospitality Training this Sunday afternoon, at 5:00 PM.
Another key to helping people feel truly welcome is effective follow up. On Sunday, January 24, you can learn how to help with our follow up on guests to our church. That is what our Evangelism System is all about. Our Evangelism System training will be, January 24, 12:15 PM. This includes lunch, so please contact the office to make your reservations. There are a variety of opportunities in our Evangelism System where volunteers with a heart to bring people to Christ and the Church are needed. The Evangelism System includes Sunday Computer Teams, First Time Visitor Follow-up, Telephone Teams, Cultivation Teams and Welcome Wagon Teams.
Also on January 24, Care Team Captain training will be held at 4:00 PM. These teams are vital to providing care to our growing congregation. Each Team consists of about 5 families. The Captain sees that the Care Team truly cares for one another.
Participation in any of these trainings do not obligate you to serve in that area. Come and learn what your church is doing and see if one of these might be a place you can use the Gifts God has given you.
Our Global Impact Celebration is kicks off three weeks from tonight. (Kick off service is Wednesday, February 3, 6:30 PM) Because of your support of the Faith Promise Budget, we already have money to send to Earthquake relief in Haiti. Be in prayer for your above the tithe commitment to this year’s Faith Promise Budget. And if you don’t give to Faith Promise, and want to give to Haiti relief, you can mark your gift Haiti relief.
As always, your responses to these Reflections are welcome. You can email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.
There was an insert in this past Sunday’s bulletin that was designed to help you apply the message. In case you were not here or forgot to take yours with you, a copy is attached to this email. As I studied for this message series, “Keep the Change – Resolutions that Stick,” I realized that many of our resolutions never take root in our minds. Sure, our mind is involved when we decide to make our resolutions. But how much time do we really devote to thinking about the new way we are to live? If we don’t make thinking about the changes a part of our lives, our commitments will soon be out of our minds. The application ideas provided on the attachment can help you think for a change.
This morning’s thought from “WalktheWalk.com” spoke to this issue of thinking. The quote was from Patricia Neal; “A strong positive mental attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug.” If you really want to see change, it must start with your mind. Remember what the Proverb says,“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7a, New King James Version)
Yesterday, I had the privilege of appearing on NBC 13’s Mid-Day News to share a little about our 150th Anniversary. I thank Teresa Watson for setting that up. It was an opportunity to share about our year long celebration of 150 years of ministry in North Jefferson County.
I understand we are going to have a special guest from the past with us in worship Sunday. He will share what brought him to what is now the Gardendale area to begin a new church. The church that began as Shugart’s Chapel would later become New Bethel and after the town of Gardendale was established, it became the Gardendale Methodist Church.
Lisa Crane was the NBC 13 news person who did the interview. She was amazed by the three different styles of worship we offer each Sunday morning. In our prep time before the live interview, she made the comment that many churches have three worship services, but she was not aware of any that had three different styles of worship. Then she said, “I can see where that opens the door to reach a diversity of people.” That is so true. In conversations with new members the last few years, this diversity of worship has regularly been lifted up as one of our greatest strengths.
Each month, we send a questionnaire to those who worshiped with us for the first time during that month. It asked them to share their reflections on various aspects of their experience here at Gardendale-Mt. Vernon. It also asks “How did you hear about Gardendale-Mt. Vernon UMC?” The number one response to that question continues to be “Invitation.” More people come to worship because someone invited them than any other reason. It reminds me we must be offering the invitation. Who have you invited lately?
One of the latest questionnaires to be returned reminded us we are not always as welcoming as we like to think. Another question asks, “Did an usher or greeter extend a warm welcome and provide adequate assistance?” The person checked “No.”
Hospitality should be the responsibility of all of us. We need to make an effort to speak to persons, especially persons we do not know. It is also true, what is everybody’s responsibility is often nobody’s responsibility. That is the reason we must be very intentional about our hospitality. Come and learn how you can help make Gardendale-Mt. Vernon a more Hospitable Place in the Hospitality Training this Sunday afternoon, at 5:00 PM.
Another key to helping people feel truly welcome is effective follow up. On Sunday, January 24, you can learn how to help with our follow up on guests to our church. That is what our Evangelism System is all about. Our Evangelism System training will be, January 24, 12:15 PM. This includes lunch, so please contact the office to make your reservations. There are a variety of opportunities in our Evangelism System where volunteers with a heart to bring people to Christ and the Church are needed. The Evangelism System includes Sunday Computer Teams, First Time Visitor Follow-up, Telephone Teams, Cultivation Teams and Welcome Wagon Teams.
Also on January 24, Care Team Captain training will be held at 4:00 PM. These teams are vital to providing care to our growing congregation. Each Team consists of about 5 families. The Captain sees that the Care Team truly cares for one another.
Participation in any of these trainings do not obligate you to serve in that area. Come and learn what your church is doing and see if one of these might be a place you can use the Gifts God has given you.
Our Global Impact Celebration is kicks off three weeks from tonight. (Kick off service is Wednesday, February 3, 6:30 PM) Because of your support of the Faith Promise Budget, we already have money to send to Earthquake relief in Haiti. Be in prayer for your above the tithe commitment to this year’s Faith Promise Budget. And if you don’t give to Faith Promise, and want to give to Haiti relief, you can mark your gift Haiti relief.
As always, your responses to these Reflections are welcome. You can email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Being Made New
The Apostle Paul said that those who commit their lives to Christ are made new. The old person dies and a new life begins. (2 Corinthians 5:17) This is more than simply making some improvements in our lives. It is becoming new in Jesus Christ.
That’s the way I’m looking at my New Years Resolutions. Where is it that I need to be made new in Christ? I need more than simply to improve. I need to be changed by the power of Christ.
As I think about that, I remember what Paul said in Romans 7; “I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.” He would go on to write, “Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:18-19, 24-25; NRSV)
It is Christ who makes us new. Through His Word, God gives us some instructions on living this new life, this changed life. That’s what we are going to be looking at in the message series that begins this Sunday, January 10, 2010 – “Keep the Change – Resolutions that Stick.” The issue really is being changed and staying changed. We cannot do that on our own. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to keep the change.
This is what John Wesley referred to as Sanctifying Grace. It is the grace of God that justifies us, makes us clean, gives us a new life. He called that Justifying Grace. Sanctifying Grace transforms us and gives us the power to live differently, to live the change. If you want to understand and experience the fullness of God’s grace, I recommend the Emmaus Walk. If you want to know more about this 72 hour spiritual weekend, drop me an email. Or, talk to someone who has attended the Walk to Emmaus.
We have many new, exciting, faith-growing classes beginning tonight. I encourage you to find a class to grow deeper in your faith. I know it is cold outside, but the heaters are working here. If you are reading this after Wednesday, then come next Wednesday. It will not be too late to join a class.
Over the next few Sundays there will be training in several areas vital to the growth of the church. It begins this Sunday, January 10th with Fellowship Friends and Prayer Usher Training. Fellowship Friends come alongside new members to help them get connected to the Body of Christ here at Gardendale-Mt. Vernon. That training begins at 12:15 and includes lunch. To help us be good stewards of the food, please sign up with the office. Prayer Ushers serve alongside the pastors during the altar times in our worship services. That training will be at 4:00 PM.
The following Sunday, January 17, there will be Hospitality Training at 4:00 PM. We are all responsible to make this a welcoming community. But with the many entrances to this facility, it is easy for people to enter and not be truly welcome. It can even happen in the main entrance places if we are not being intentional. This training will essentially be Hospitality 101. Come see where you might use your gifts to make guests feel truly welcomed.
On Sunday, January 24, there will be two more training events. Our Evangelism System training will be at 12:15. This one includes lunch, so please sign up. There are a variety of opportunities in our Evangelism System where volunteers are needed who have a heart to bring people into the church. The Evangelism System includes Sunday Computer Teams, First Time Visitor Follow-up, Telephone Teams, Cultivation Teams and Welcome Wagon Teams.
Also on January 24, Care Team Captain training will be held at 4:00 PM. These teams are vital to providing care to our growing congregation. Each Team consists of about 5 families. The Captain sees that the Care Team truly cares for one another.
Participation in any of these training does not obligate you to serve in that area. Come and learn what your church is doing and see if one of these might be a place you can use the Gifts God has given you.
You may have seen that some warming shelters have been established in the area to provide a place for people to get out of the cold. Boutwell Audorium will be open as a place to sleep during this period of record cold. They opened Tuesday night and will be open through Sunday night. Hours are 6:00 PM to 7:00 AM. There will not be any meals provided, but some warm drinks and snack. http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/01/downtown_birmingham_warming_sh.html
There is an opportunity to volunteer at the warming shelter. Volunteers are needed to help guests feel welcome, serve coffee, help families to their cots, general clean up and help with the information booth. If you would like to volunteer, here’s a contact email Candi@handsonbirmingham.org.
As always, your responses to these Reflections are welcome. You can email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Reflections from Bro. Rudy –
December 30, 2009
New Year Goals
Twitter is one of the new communication tools on the internet. Some use it to share what they are doing, some to communicate with their friends, and some to share thoughts. I saw one the other day that caused me to stop and think. It read simply, “2010. Would u rather 'get' or 'become'?” It was posted by Mike Henderson, a pastor in Virginia.
How would you answer the question, “Would you rather ‘get’ or ‘become’?” The New Year is a time when many think about their lives. We think of improvements we would like to see in our lives. We think of changes we’d like to make in our lives. We think of goals for our lives.
In an effort to make improvements in our lives, many will make some New Years Resolutions. I imagine most of our New Years Resolutions relate more to “become” than “get.” Some of them may actually relate to both.
The sad reality is, many of our resolutions will be broken by the end of January. Some of them will never make it past the first week. Why is that? Is it that we really are not serious about making the changes we know we need to make? Could it be that we need some help to sustain the changes we need to make?
I’m excited about a new message series that I will be preaching beginning January 10th. The title is “Keep the Change – Resolutions that Stick.” The Bible is a book about sustaining changes in our lives. God really does want us to live the Good Life. To live life to it fullest, we have to make changes in our lives. That’s what sanctifying grace is all about, keeping the changes in our lives.
In this series, we’re going to look at some biblical teaching related to keeping the changes we seek to make in our lives. God knows that we have problems sustaining the Good Life. God knows we face temptations to compromise. So God has given us instructions, even guidelines that will help us remain faithful.
In preparation for this new series and the New Year, prayerfully consider some New Years Resolutions that God would have you make. You might think in terms of these areas of your life: Body/Health, Relationships, Finances, Spiritual and Vices. Your Resolutions might relate to changes you need to make or areas in which you need to grow.
On Sunday, January 10th, we will kick off this series with a message entitled, “Thinking for a Change.” During the morning services, you will have an opportunity to commit your resolutions to God and begin the journey in making them stick.
This coming Sunday, January 3rd, we will celebrate the Epiphany, the arrival of the wise men. Judy Shepherd will be preaching a message entitled, “Wisemen Still Seek Him.” Then on Sunday night, we will join as Methodists have since the times of John Wesley, to participate in a Covenant Renewal Service.
During the Sunday morning services on January 3rd, we’ll also commission our Church Leadership for 2010. If you will be a member of the Administrative Board, the Council on Ministries or one of the Boards, Committees or Ministry Teams, make plans to be present for your commissioning. If you have not gotten your Covenant Sheet, it should be in the mail. Sign it and bring it with you to worship. There will be an opportunity to affirm your commitment during the service.
New Wednesday Grow classes begin January 6th. If you have not made a commitment to some class or Small Group, I encourage you to find a place to grow with other believers. The last Connection had a list of the classes being offered. Or, you can contact Jeri Hunt about signing up for a Wednesday Grow class. (jhunt@gmvumc.org)
December 30, 2009
New Year Goals
Twitter is one of the new communication tools on the internet. Some use it to share what they are doing, some to communicate with their friends, and some to share thoughts. I saw one the other day that caused me to stop and think. It read simply, “2010. Would u rather 'get' or 'become'?” It was posted by Mike Henderson, a pastor in Virginia.
How would you answer the question, “Would you rather ‘get’ or ‘become’?” The New Year is a time when many think about their lives. We think of improvements we would like to see in our lives. We think of changes we’d like to make in our lives. We think of goals for our lives.
In an effort to make improvements in our lives, many will make some New Years Resolutions. I imagine most of our New Years Resolutions relate more to “become” than “get.” Some of them may actually relate to both.
The sad reality is, many of our resolutions will be broken by the end of January. Some of them will never make it past the first week. Why is that? Is it that we really are not serious about making the changes we know we need to make? Could it be that we need some help to sustain the changes we need to make?
I’m excited about a new message series that I will be preaching beginning January 10th. The title is “Keep the Change – Resolutions that Stick.” The Bible is a book about sustaining changes in our lives. God really does want us to live the Good Life. To live life to it fullest, we have to make changes in our lives. That’s what sanctifying grace is all about, keeping the changes in our lives.
In this series, we’re going to look at some biblical teaching related to keeping the changes we seek to make in our lives. God knows that we have problems sustaining the Good Life. God knows we face temptations to compromise. So God has given us instructions, even guidelines that will help us remain faithful.
In preparation for this new series and the New Year, prayerfully consider some New Years Resolutions that God would have you make. You might think in terms of these areas of your life: Body/Health, Relationships, Finances, Spiritual and Vices. Your Resolutions might relate to changes you need to make or areas in which you need to grow.
On Sunday, January 10th, we will kick off this series with a message entitled, “Thinking for a Change.” During the morning services, you will have an opportunity to commit your resolutions to God and begin the journey in making them stick.
This coming Sunday, January 3rd, we will celebrate the Epiphany, the arrival of the wise men. Judy Shepherd will be preaching a message entitled, “Wisemen Still Seek Him.” Then on Sunday night, we will join as Methodists have since the times of John Wesley, to participate in a Covenant Renewal Service.
During the Sunday morning services on January 3rd, we’ll also commission our Church Leadership for 2010. If you will be a member of the Administrative Board, the Council on Ministries or one of the Boards, Committees or Ministry Teams, make plans to be present for your commissioning. If you have not gotten your Covenant Sheet, it should be in the mail. Sign it and bring it with you to worship. There will be an opportunity to affirm your commitment during the service.
New Wednesday Grow classes begin January 6th. If you have not made a commitment to some class or Small Group, I encourage you to find a place to grow with other believers. The last Connection had a list of the classes being offered. Or, you can contact Jeri Hunt about signing up for a Wednesday Grow class. (jhunt@gmvumc.org)
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Christmas – It’s About Christ and It’s About You
December 23, 2009
I had a brief conversation this morning (December 23, 2009) with one of the parents in our Children Enrichment Center. He mentioned that it didn’t feel like Christmas and he wasn’t talking about the weather. He went on to say that the real reason for the season seems to have been lost.
When I got to my office, I had an email that communicated a similar truth. Bob and Linda Brewis had taken their 2 and half year old granddaughter Kamdyn on a ride to see Christmas lights. They went to one neighborhood where all the houses had white lights along the edge of the street. Several houses had snowmen, Santa & reindeers and other such blowups. As they rode slowly through the streets pointing out things for Kamdyn to see. In Bob’s words, “the angelic voice of the precious child strapped in her car seat says, ‘Where is Baby Jesus?’ Not a single house in that neighborhood had anything in their yards that represented the real meaning of Christmas.”
On the street where I live, the majority of homes have some Christmas lights on the outside of the house. But only two of us have nativity scenes in our yards. Kamdyn’s question is a good one, “Where is Baby Jesus?” After all, is He not the reason for the season?
There is a house on old Mt. Olive road that has a simple post card that has a picture of the nativity with the words, “The Reason for the Season.” Jesus is who this season is all about. He is the gift God gave to the world. He is the gift God is waiting for many to receive.
As I think about that, I realize that Christmas is also about us. That’s right, Christmas is also about us. You see, we are the reason Jesus came into the world. You and I matter so much to God that Jesus came into the world to rescue us from our sins. As the scripture says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:13; NRSV)
Think about that for a moment: The Awesome God who spoke this world into being; the Great God planned for us to live the Good Life; the Holy God who is too holy to look upon sin; this God loves you and me too much to leave us in our sins. God came in Jesus to deliver us from the bondage to sin and death and restore a relationship with us. That’s the reason Christmas happened. “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.” That means, you and I are the reason for Christmas. Christmas took place because God loves you and me.
Rick Warren, in a recent devotional said that the Good News of Christmas is that “You Matter to God. God knows everything about you – the good, the bad, and the ugly – and He still loves you. He cares about you. He loves you more than you could ever know. God is for you, not against you.” That is the reason for Christmas. It is about God’s gift of love for you and me.
Rick Warren closed that devotional saying; “Christmas is God saying, ‘I want to relate to you. I want you to know Me as much as I know you.’ That’s joyful news. It’s good news!” (Email Devotional, “Renewing Your Faith at Christmas” December 17, 2009)
Christmas Eve we have the opportunity to make Christ a priority by worshiping Him. We will have three unique Christmas Eve Communion Services:
5:00 PM – Carols, Scripture and Communion Service – Sanctuary
7:00 PM – Contemporary Communion and Candlelight Service – Gym
11:00 PM – Carols, Scripture, Communion and Candlelight Service – Sanctuary
As always, your responses to these Reflections are welcome. You can email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.
I had a brief conversation this morning (December 23, 2009) with one of the parents in our Children Enrichment Center. He mentioned that it didn’t feel like Christmas and he wasn’t talking about the weather. He went on to say that the real reason for the season seems to have been lost.
When I got to my office, I had an email that communicated a similar truth. Bob and Linda Brewis had taken their 2 and half year old granddaughter Kamdyn on a ride to see Christmas lights. They went to one neighborhood where all the houses had white lights along the edge of the street. Several houses had snowmen, Santa & reindeers and other such blowups. As they rode slowly through the streets pointing out things for Kamdyn to see. In Bob’s words, “the angelic voice of the precious child strapped in her car seat says, ‘Where is Baby Jesus?’ Not a single house in that neighborhood had anything in their yards that represented the real meaning of Christmas.”
On the street where I live, the majority of homes have some Christmas lights on the outside of the house. But only two of us have nativity scenes in our yards. Kamdyn’s question is a good one, “Where is Baby Jesus?” After all, is He not the reason for the season?
There is a house on old Mt. Olive road that has a simple post card that has a picture of the nativity with the words, “The Reason for the Season.” Jesus is who this season is all about. He is the gift God gave to the world. He is the gift God is waiting for many to receive.
As I think about that, I realize that Christmas is also about us. That’s right, Christmas is also about us. You see, we are the reason Jesus came into the world. You and I matter so much to God that Jesus came into the world to rescue us from our sins. As the scripture says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:13; NRSV)
Think about that for a moment: The Awesome God who spoke this world into being; the Great God planned for us to live the Good Life; the Holy God who is too holy to look upon sin; this God loves you and me too much to leave us in our sins. God came in Jesus to deliver us from the bondage to sin and death and restore a relationship with us. That’s the reason Christmas happened. “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.” That means, you and I are the reason for Christmas. Christmas took place because God loves you and me.
Rick Warren, in a recent devotional said that the Good News of Christmas is that “You Matter to God. God knows everything about you – the good, the bad, and the ugly – and He still loves you. He cares about you. He loves you more than you could ever know. God is for you, not against you.” That is the reason for Christmas. It is about God’s gift of love for you and me.
Rick Warren closed that devotional saying; “Christmas is God saying, ‘I want to relate to you. I want you to know Me as much as I know you.’ That’s joyful news. It’s good news!” (Email Devotional, “Renewing Your Faith at Christmas” December 17, 2009)
Christmas Eve we have the opportunity to make Christ a priority by worshiping Him. We will have three unique Christmas Eve Communion Services:
5:00 PM – Carols, Scripture and Communion Service – Sanctuary
7:00 PM – Contemporary Communion and Candlelight Service – Gym
11:00 PM – Carols, Scripture, Communion and Candlelight Service – Sanctuary
As always, your responses to these Reflections are welcome. You can email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.
Friday, December 18, 2009
December 16, 2009
Santa and Children
Yesterday, I had a visit from Santa. The Santa Claus who came to visit the children of our Child Enrichment Center came by the office and gave us a candy cane. It was lunch time when Santa finished his visits in each classroom. I had gone down to join Gina for lunch when he came by her office. He said, “This is the best program I visit.” For several moments he bragged on our Child Enrichment Center. He said that of all the Day Cares and Preschools he visits our Child Enrichment Center is the best.
What a complement to the staff of our Child Enrichment Center. They seek to be at their best for the children, knowing that each child is a precious gift from God.
I was shown a picture that was taken of Santa in one of the classrooms. Santa was kneeling alongside a couple of the children, looking at the Manger. I don’t know this Santa’s name. He is the one the Child Enrichment Center uses each year. But he is very quick to tell the children that Jesus is the reason for the season.
In all of the activities of Christmas it is easy to loose sight of the real reason we celebrate Christmas. The original St. Nicolas did not give gifts to draw attention to himself. He gave to those in need as an act of worship and commitment to Christ. He loved because Christ had captured his heart.
I’ve witnessed that kind of giving in our Church Family. In spite of the struggling economy you gave over 300 “Shoeboxes” that are being delivered to children. Then you adopted all the angels from the Casa Angel Tree. You gave $2,183.50 to the White Christmas Offering, which supports our United Methodist Children’s Homes. And because of your giving we are helping several church families who are having struggles financially.
You’ve also demonstrated your worship of Christ through your financial commitment to the ministries of the church. According to the scriptures, that should be our first act of giving. 239 adults/families and 23 children have committed $1,116,429.64 toward our 2010 Ministry Budget. They have committed 62 % of the 2010 Ministry Budget. Of those who have made commitments, 40 have made a first time commitment to this church. If you have not made your Financial Commitment to the 2010 Ministry Budget, Commitment Cards are available in the Welcome Areas or you can contact our Financial Secretary, Cece McNeil.
We also worship Christ by giving of our time. Peter wrote, “Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” (1 Peter 4:10; NRSV) Writing on that passage, Oz Hillman said, “There is a Kingdom principle I find few really understand. The principle is this: When you focus on serving others, your need is often met through God’s supernatural law of serving.”
In this week’s TGIF devotional (December 16, 2009) Oz’s went on to say; “Whenever God calls me to serve another person with my time and resources, I notice how God measures resources back to me from unrelated sources. Sometimes it comes through an unexpected donation to our ministry or a speaking engagement or a new opportunity. It is uncanny how this happens consistently when I serve others.”
We have an opportunity to serve this Sunday night. Join us for Caroling to our Homebound persons. Meet at the church at 5:00 PM. Bill has two caroling routes lined up. We want to fill a Bus or two on each route. Then we will return to the Fellowship Hall for some refreshments and fellowship.
Family Night at the Movies is this Thursday, December 17. It begins at 6:30 PM in our Family Ministry Building (Gym). There is no cost, so invite your friends and neighbors.
Next week we celebrate Christmas. We will again have three different Christmas Eve Services:
5:00 PM – Carols, Scripture and Communion in the Sanctuary.
7:00 PM – Contemporary Worship, Communion and Candlelight in the Gym
11:00 PM – Carols, Scripture, Communion and Candlelight in the Sanctuary.
As always, your responses to these Reflections are welcome. You can email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.
Santa and Children
Yesterday, I had a visit from Santa. The Santa Claus who came to visit the children of our Child Enrichment Center came by the office and gave us a candy cane. It was lunch time when Santa finished his visits in each classroom. I had gone down to join Gina for lunch when he came by her office. He said, “This is the best program I visit.” For several moments he bragged on our Child Enrichment Center. He said that of all the Day Cares and Preschools he visits our Child Enrichment Center is the best.
What a complement to the staff of our Child Enrichment Center. They seek to be at their best for the children, knowing that each child is a precious gift from God.
I was shown a picture that was taken of Santa in one of the classrooms. Santa was kneeling alongside a couple of the children, looking at the Manger. I don’t know this Santa’s name. He is the one the Child Enrichment Center uses each year. But he is very quick to tell the children that Jesus is the reason for the season.
In all of the activities of Christmas it is easy to loose sight of the real reason we celebrate Christmas. The original St. Nicolas did not give gifts to draw attention to himself. He gave to those in need as an act of worship and commitment to Christ. He loved because Christ had captured his heart.
I’ve witnessed that kind of giving in our Church Family. In spite of the struggling economy you gave over 300 “Shoeboxes” that are being delivered to children. Then you adopted all the angels from the Casa Angel Tree. You gave $2,183.50 to the White Christmas Offering, which supports our United Methodist Children’s Homes. And because of your giving we are helping several church families who are having struggles financially.
You’ve also demonstrated your worship of Christ through your financial commitment to the ministries of the church. According to the scriptures, that should be our first act of giving. 239 adults/families and 23 children have committed $1,116,429.64 toward our 2010 Ministry Budget. They have committed 62 % of the 2010 Ministry Budget. Of those who have made commitments, 40 have made a first time commitment to this church. If you have not made your Financial Commitment to the 2010 Ministry Budget, Commitment Cards are available in the Welcome Areas or you can contact our Financial Secretary, Cece McNeil.
We also worship Christ by giving of our time. Peter wrote, “Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” (1 Peter 4:10; NRSV) Writing on that passage, Oz Hillman said, “There is a Kingdom principle I find few really understand. The principle is this: When you focus on serving others, your need is often met through God’s supernatural law of serving.”
In this week’s TGIF devotional (December 16, 2009) Oz’s went on to say; “Whenever God calls me to serve another person with my time and resources, I notice how God measures resources back to me from unrelated sources. Sometimes it comes through an unexpected donation to our ministry or a speaking engagement or a new opportunity. It is uncanny how this happens consistently when I serve others.”
We have an opportunity to serve this Sunday night. Join us for Caroling to our Homebound persons. Meet at the church at 5:00 PM. Bill has two caroling routes lined up. We want to fill a Bus or two on each route. Then we will return to the Fellowship Hall for some refreshments and fellowship.
Family Night at the Movies is this Thursday, December 17. It begins at 6:30 PM in our Family Ministry Building (Gym). There is no cost, so invite your friends and neighbors.
Next week we celebrate Christmas. We will again have three different Christmas Eve Services:
5:00 PM – Carols, Scripture and Communion in the Sanctuary.
7:00 PM – Contemporary Worship, Communion and Candlelight in the Gym
11:00 PM – Carols, Scripture, Communion and Candlelight in the Sanctuary.
As always, your responses to these Reflections are welcome. You can email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.
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