A Creed for the New Year

Reflections from Bro. Rudy –
January 4, 2012
A Creed for the New Year
Jackie Samples
introduced me to a devotional blog entitled “A Holy Experience.” It is
written by Ann Voskamp.
You can check
it out at http://www.aholyexperience.com/
The blog she
wrote on January 3rd was entitled, A Creed for the New Year.
She and her family have committed themselves to recite what she calls the Jesus
Creed every morning and evening. As I read her blog I was reminded
that Jesus was a Jew, who would have recited daily the Jewish Shema, “Hear, O
Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.” It is taken from the
instructions of Moses in Deuteronomy 6:4. That verse was repeated
throughout the Jewish prayer time. It is followed by the next verse, “You
shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and
with all your might.” (Deuteronomy 6:5)
In the
devotional Ann Voskamp offered a modification of the Shema for
Christ-Followers:
“The Lord our God, the Lord is One.
Love the Lord your God with all your Heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
The second is this:
Love your neighbor as yourself
There is no commandment greater than these.”
{Mk. 12:29-31}
Ann made this
application,
“What I’ve been reading aloud to the kids
, this Jesus Creed challenge we’ve taken up — to recite Jesus’ creed when we wake and when we
sleep every day for a month — for year — isn’t this Jesus’ Creed, isn’t it the
essence of koinonia:
Communion with God. Community with God’s people.”
What else is
there?
Relationship
is the essence of all reality. What else is
eternal but love — to God and His people, relationship with God and God’s
people? What can be shaken when we’re holding onto this?
That is a New
Year’s Resolution that is worth making. I’ve accepted the challenge of
this daily reminder of what Jesus called the greatest commandments. Paul
taught us to think on “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is
just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable…”
(Philippians 4:8; NRSV) I cannot think of anything more true, just and
pleasing to God than what Jesus called the greatest commandments.
Next Wednesday, January 11th, there will be many new opportunities to grow deeper in God’s
Word. Here is a list of Wednesday Grow options. For more
information or to sign up for a class, contact Marcia Cuellar, mcuellar@gmvumc.org
**NEW** The Case for Christ
Wednesdays at
6:30pm in Room 308
This course
led by Rev. Bill Wolfe will dig deeply into the evidence of Christ’s
divinity.
Course Length: 6 weeks beginning January 11 and concluding
February 15.
Book Required: The Case for Christ Participant’s Guide by Lee Strobel,
available in the Discipleship Office for $9.00.
**NEW** Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
Wednesdays at
6:30pm in the Chapel
This course
led by Rick White will dive into the well know work of Author C.S. Lewis as he
wrote of his understanding and case for the Christian faith.
Course Length: Undetermined - begins January 11
Book Required: Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis available in the
Discipleship Office for $8.00.
Kindle edition
available
**NEW** Seeing Gray in a Black and White World
by Adam
Hamilton
Wednesdays at
6:30pm in Room 306
This course
led by Chester Jolly will probe into those areas which so often divide
us and explore the means by which we find common ground despite our sometimes
passionate
differences.
Course Length: 5 weeks beginning January 11th and concluding February 8th.
Book Required: Seeing Gray in a Black and White World Participant’s
Guide, available through the Discipleship Office for $10.00.
**NEW** God Never Blinks
Wednesdays at
6:30pm in Room 209
This course
led by Jimann Edmonds will examine the essays written by Regina Brett in her
book “God Never Blinks” these deeply personal stories of trial and triumph
uplift the soul and bring encouragement for all who have ever struggled in any
journey of life. Single parents may especially find this course to
be a wonderful resource.
Course Length: Undetermined –Begins January 11th.
Book Required: God Never Blinks by Regina Brett, available in the Discipleship
Office for $13.00.
Kindle edition available
**NEW** Good Sense (Biblical Financial Principles
for Transforming Your Finances and Life)
Wednesdays at
6:30pm in the Library
This course
led by CeCe McNeil uses the budget materials
written by
Dick Towner and John Tofilon to guide participants through sound, Biblical,
financial planning. This is a great course for those of any economic
background and can greatly benefit even the most skilled financial planner
through Biblical insight and resources.
Course Length: 6 weeks beginning January 11th and concluding February 15th.
Book Required: Good Sense Budget Course Participant Book available
through the Discipleship Office for $10 each.
(It is highly
recommended that this book is pre-purchased and preliminary homework completed
prior to the first session)
**NEW** The Story
Wednesdays at
6:30pm in Room 320
This course
led by Marcia Cuellar will guide participants on a journey through the
beautiful story of God’s Word. See the heart of Christ from beginning to
end through this journey through scripture. And, see where your own story
fits into God’s grand design.
Course Length: 31 Weeks – Beginning January 11th and concluding August 29th.
Book Required: The Story and The Story Participants Guide both are
available in the Discipleship office for a combined cost of $14.Several
Kindle resources are available
**NEW** James - Mercy Triumphs (Beth Moore
Study)
Wednesdays at
6:30pm in Room 305
This course
led by Cathy Harris will journey through Beth Moore’s latest study on the book
of James. Beth Moore’s exciting and relevant approach to scripture
encourages participants to examine their lives in light of God’s word.
Course Length: 8 weeks beginning January 11th and concluding February 29
Book Required: James Mercy
Triumphs Participant book available through the Discipleship Office for $18
each.
*Bible Study: Revelation
Wednesdays at
6:30pm in Room 310
This course is
an in-depth Bible Study verse by verse on the book of Revelation. Rev.
Ben Hogan takes his students through the scripture exploring the symbolism and
hope found in this book of the divine revelation. This is a course
continuation from the last year but all are welcome to come in and pick up
where the class is currently studying.
Course Length: Undetermined
Book Required: Personal Bible
*Bible Study
Wednesdays at
6:30pm in Room 318
This course
will explore a designated book of the Bible in-depth through expository
teaching lead by Rev. Jeri Hunt. Practical theological application is
explored and God’s Word is the primary text.
Course Length: Undetermined
Book Required: Personal Bible
*Threads and Prayers
Wednesdays at
6:30pm in the Parlor
This is a GROW
service oriented group that uses their knitting talents to create items to
donate to a variety of needs in the community.
Course Length: N/A
Book Required: None
*Conversational Spanish for Ministry
Wednesdays at
6:30pm in Room 317
This course
led by Dean Borden works through the Spanish language by use of CD
memorization, conversation, hymns, and more. Advanced and beginning
coursework are studied simultaneously. This is a great course for those
who are considering missions to Spanish speaking countries or local ministry to
Hispanic populations.
Course Length: Ongoing
Book Required: None
**NEW** Disciple IV (Under the Tree of Life)
Sundays at
5:00pm Room 319
This course
led by Marcia Cuellar goes further into the Disciple Bible Study series with an
in-depth look at the writings of John and Revelation. Disciple I is a
prerequisite to this course as it gives the foundation for further Disciple
Bible Study exploration. Discussion, videos, geographic, and historic
materials are examined in depth. This course requires a commitment of 32
weeks of both home study and 2 hour class attendance. It is well worth it
for the knowledge and understanding of God’s Word you will receive. Space
is limited in this Disciple Bible Study course so those who have completed
Disciple I should reserve their place by contacting the Discipleship Office.
Course Length:
32 weeks – Beginning January 15th and concluding September 16th
Book Required: Disciple IV
Student Manual and Personal Study Bible. Disciple IV manuals will be
available in the Discipleship Office for $38.00.
As always, your responses to
these Reflections are welcome. You can email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.

Whose Birthday Is It Really?

Reflections from Bro. Rudy –

Whose Birthday Is It Really?

I was sent a devotional with the title, “Whose Birthday Is
It Really?” The author of the devotional
was Ann Voskamp who writes a devotional entitled “A Holy Experience.” In this particular devotional, Ann shared a life
changing moment in her family that happened when her preschooler asked, “What
does Jesus get for His birthday?” How
would you answer that question?

Many of us are busy getting ready for Christmas. A question we are often asked this time of
the year is, “Have you completed your shopping?” In answering that question, we generally
think in terms of all the gifts we will give this Christmas. But do we ever really consider the question, “What does Jesus get for His birthday?”

Ann did not have an answer for her son. So he pressed on; “But Mom…. if we get wrapped presents for our birthdays,
real sacrifices from people who love us — they gave up other things to
give something to us — then why don’t we do that for Jesus’ birthday?”

The son’s question
has led that family to radically change their approach to Christmas. They do not have presents under their
Christmas tree. In fact, they don’t
exchanged Christmas gifts in their family.
Instead, they give to Jesus by giving to the “least of these.”

During the last two
weeks of Advent they select projects to which they will give. At the breakfast table they have what she
called “His (Jesus) gift catalogues.”
Those include Compassion Catalog, Samaritan’s Purse Catalog, and World
Vision Catalog. Each day they pick a
project to which they will give. These
are their Christmas Gifts to Jesus.

As I read the
devotional, I thought about the Living Christmas Market we had in one of my
former churches. Each year, we would set
up a Christmas Market with Heifer Project International. Gina and I began to give a flock of chickens
each year in honor of her Grandparents.
At the market, we would get a Christmas card to send to her grandparents
to let them know that a flock of chickens had been given in their honor.

After her
grandparents died and we moved from that church, we stopped giving in that
manner. This devotional challenged me to
look again at our Christmas giving.
After all, “Whose Birthday is it really?”

This year we have
the unique opportunity of having Christmas fall on Sunday. I know many of us have family traditions related
to Christmas. But I cannot think of a
better why for families to celebrate the birthday of Jesus than to gather for
worship. After all, “Whose Birthday is
it really?”

Plans are being
finalized for a wonderful celebration of Christ birth. Our Christmas service will be at 10:00
AM. Steve West, who in now pastor of St.
Mark’s UMC in Birmingham, wrote some liturgy for the blessings of the
toys. We are going to use his idea
during the service. Children are invited
to bring one of their Christmas gifts, a non-scary, non-noise making toy with
them for the blessing of the toys.

This Sunday evening
we will go Caroling. This is an opportunity
to share some Christmas Joy with some of our Church family who are either
homebound or living alone. There will be
three caroling routes. Come and join in
this evening of ministry. It begins at
5:00 PM. When we return from caroling,
there will be some refreshments in the Fellowship Hall.

As always, your responses to these
Reflections are welcome. You can
email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.

Living Close to God

Reflections from Bro. Rudy –
November 30, 2011

Living Close to God

I saw a quote this morning that has been around a long
time. It was posted by Pray in
Faith. “If you are not as close to God
as you used to be, who moved?”

Christmas is about God’s move toward us. Being created in the image of God there is a
need within us to be in relationship with God.
One of my seminary professors said we were created to be balanced by
God. But sin separates us from God. Sin puts our lives out of balance. God, in Jesus, came to reconcile us back unto
Himself. At Christmas God’s reaching
love took human flesh as God moved toward us, so we could reconnect with God.

The problem is, rather than living in this restored
relationship with God, we often focus on our own selfish desires instead of
living by the Spirit. Paul wrote, “Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not
gratify the desires of the flesh.”
(Galatians 5:16; NRSV) When we
are not intentional about living by the Spirit, we move away from God.

This Christmas season has many opportunities. Sometimes even the good things make our lives
so busy that we lose focus on the main thing.
We get so wrapped up in the many activities of the season that we fail
to spend time with the One who is the reason for the season. It is not that God has moved. Rather, we have drifted.

Christmas is about God moving toward us – Emmanuel, God with
us, has come. It is my prayer that we
don’t miss this great God in the busyness of the season.

This Sunday night, our Children’s
Choir will help us remember this great God who moves toward us. They will share their Christmas musicals at 6:30 in the Sanctuary. You will be blessed by their faith and
excitement about Jesus.

During our Sunday night service this week, we will receive
our White Christmas Offering for the
Children’s Home. This offering helps
support this special ministry to children.
If you cannot be present, you can still make your special gift by
marking your check for “White Christmas” or “Children’s Home.”

Commitments to the 2012 budget continue to come in. If you have not made your commitment,
Commitment Cards are available in the welcome areas.

As always, your responses to these
Reflections are welcome. You can
email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.

Giving Thanks

Sunday that old song “Count Your Blessings, Name them One by
One,” came to me. As I begin to count my
blessings, it has a way of lifting my spirit.
God really is a good God.

Years ago I heard someone say that depression and expression
are the same root words, but they are totally opposites. You cannot have depression and expression at
the same time. I believe that is one of
the reasons the scriptures continually remind us to express praise and
thanksgiving. Giving thanks refocuses
our attention on the blessing that God is giving us. When we do we discover the song was right,
“it will surprise you what the Lord has done.”

I’m rejoicing at the privilege God has given me to be an
ambassador for Jesus. Just this week,
I’ve had the privilege of talking with a boy and his family as he was exploring
faith. After sharing the basics of the
Gospel, I asked him if he was ready to invite Jesus into his heart. He said he was. So I lead him in a prayer. I can still see the tears of joy in his
father’s eyes as we finished that prayer.
There is no experience like having a part in a person coming to faith in
Jesus Christ.

That same day I was meeting with a couple who are planning
on getting married. In the conversation
we talked about faith and he shared that he had not confessed his sin to
God. I had the privilege of leading him
in a prayer of confession and forgiveness.

As I left the office that night, I remembered that the
scriptures say there is rejoicing in heaven when a lost sheep is found. That made Thanksgiving for me.

We have discovered that many did not receive your letter
with a Commitment Card for
2012. They went out a couple of weeks
ago, but apparently some sections of our parish area never received their
cards. If you have not made your
commitment to the 2012 ministries of the church, a card is attached.

Have you finished your Christmas Shopping? This Sunday you will have a unique
opportunity to do some Christmas Shopping as our United Methodist Women and
Emerge Young Adult Ministries host a Holiday Bazaar. Sojourns, a local Fair Trade retailer, will
be here with a variety of Fair Trade items.
By purchasing gifts through this means, you not only can get your gifts
at a good price, but you are providing fair wages and labor. Items on sale will range from Coffee and
Chocolate, to soaps, accessories and jewelry, along with some great children’s
gifts from all across the globe. The
Bazaar will be in the Fellowship Hall.

This Sunday night, our Hanging of the Green service will
take place in the sanctuary at 6:30 PM.
It is a learning time, a refocusing time and a worshipful time. It is a great way to set our sights on the
reason for the season.


As always, your responses to these
Reflections are welcome. You can
email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.

I Bring an Offering to You

Paul Baloche has a great worship song entitled, Offering. It reminds us that worship itself is an
offering to God. The chorus
declares: “I bring an offering of
worship to my King. No one on earth
deserves the praises that I sing. Jesus
may You receive the honor that You’re due.
O Lord I bring an offering to You.”

Psalm 100 is sometimes called “The Call to Worship for the
Great Day of Thanksgiving.” Long before
we Americans established Thanksgiving Day, the Hebrew people had their Great
Day of Thanksgiving. On the day they
came together to bring an offering of worship.
The Psalm encouraged worshippers to “Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise. Give thanks
to him, bless his name.” (Psalm 100:4;
NRSV)

Singing and prayer are two ways we offer praise and
thanksgiving. But the Psalmist also
referred to another form of thanksgiving that took place in worship – the
offering. “Give an offering to show thanks
to God. Give God Most High what you have
promised.” (Psalm 50:14; NCV) This is
one reason I believe the offering time is a vital part of worship. It is not simply about collecting money for
the church. It is an act of worship in
which we declare our thanks and praise to God.
Notice also, that the offering is something “you have promised.”

This Sunday, you and I have the opportunity to make a
promise to God concerning our offerings for 2012. In making that promise, we are saying that we
trust God to supply our needs. And we
are giving Him thanks believing that God will be faithful so we can bring an
offering to God. It’s like Paul wrote to
the Corinthians; “And God is able to provide you with every blessing in
abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share
abundantly in every good work.” (2
Corinthians 9:8; NRSV)

Be in prayer about your Offerings for 2012. And bring your Commitment Card with you on
Sunday to make that promise of thanksgiving to God. If you cannot be present, you can mail you
card to the Church.

This Sunday night, we are hosting a Community Thanksgiving Service, at 6:30 PM. Mayor Othell Phillips will bring the message
and the Gardendale High School Chamber Choir will share some special
music. Invite your neighbors to join you
in this special evening of worship.

If you picked up a Box for Operation Christmas Child,
don’t forget to bring it Sunday. That is
another offering we bring to God. We
will pray over the boxes during worship and then on Sunday afternoon they will
begin their journey to the children.

Be in prayer for our wonderful custodians. This time of the year is very busy for
them. Yesterday, our Child Enrichment
Center had its Thanksgiving Celebration.
They had over 420 children, parents and grand-parents at the feast.

Now preparations are being made for tonight’s Night
in Bethlehem. The gym is being
transformed from a Thanksgiving Feast to the little town of Bethlehem. This will be a fun night for all ages. We are expecting guests from all over the area;
one church is bringing a group of their members to experience the night.

Then on Thursday night, we host a Boy Scout Banquet in the
gym. At the same time, our Junior Girl
Scouts have a special program going on in another part of the building.

With all the traffic, not to mention the set up and take
down, our custodians are busy. When you
see Lee, Joseph, Beverly and Betty, let them know how much you appreciate them.

Speaking of appreciation, the first phrase of the Playground
renovation has almost been completed.
There were numbers of volunteers who worked last Wednesday night and
Saturday pouring the new sidewalks that will also be a bike track. The main purpose was to provide wheelchair
access to the playground and also a better way to take wheelchair persons out
of the building in case of an emergency.
Thanks to all who gave time to this project.

This Sunday is the youth/UMW bake sale in the fellowship
hall. You can shop in between any of the
services. All money raised from this bake sale will go to buy gifts for the
CASA kids. Come with your sweet tooth
and a little money to go to a good cause!

As always, your responses to these
Reflections are welcome. You can
email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.

Giving Thanks for Freedom - It came with a cost.

Last Sunday we remembered the saints from our church that
have entered the Communion of Saints around the throne. I was part of the Home going Celebration for
several of them. Some of them were
veterans. They were honored with an
American Flag over their casket, which was presented to the family at the
graveside. It is always a moving moment
for me when the family is presented the flags with the words, “On behalf of a
grateful country…” We should be
grateful.

This Friday, November 11th, our nation celebrates
Veterans Day. This is an opportunity to
express our gratitude to those who have served in our nation’s Armed
Forces. During each of our worship
services this Sunday we will recognize our veterans. Because of the sacrifices they made, we have
the freedoms we enjoy in this country.

It is also true that our freedom from sin and death came at
a cost. As Paul wrote to Timothy,
“[Jesus] gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone.” (1 Timothy 2:6a; NLT) Our freedom was purchased at great cost. That is the reason the German Theologian
Dietrich Bonhoeffer referred to grace as “costly grace.” This unconditional acceptance, that we call
grace, cost Jesus His life on the cross.

How do you say thanks for such a costly gift? Over and over in the scriptures we see that
God’s unconditional acceptance brought forth a response of repentance,
re-commitment and worship. Jacob
responded by committing a tithe of all that God would bless Him with. Isaiah responded with confession, and then a
commitment to serve, “Here I am, send me.”

The Sunday before Thanksgiving, November 20th, will
be Commitment Sunday. It is appropriate
for Commitment Sunday to fall on Thanksgiving Sunday. The best expressions of Thanksgiving go
beyond words. We thank God for His
amazing grace by giving God our very selves.
Like Jacob we pledge our tithe and like Isaiah we surrender, “Here I am,
send me.”

This Sunday afternoon, November 13th, will be a
wonderful opportunity for Christian Fellowship.
The Tailgate Party begins at 3:30.
Bring food for your family or join with your small group or Sunday school
class to share a meal together. Also
bring a game or two to involve people in fellowship. Then at 5:15, we gather for worship. Martin Houston, who played on the 1992
Championship Team at the University of Alabama, will be the preacher.

If you have not picked up a box and instructions for
Operation Christmas Child, they are available in the welcome areas. The boxes need to be returned by November 20th,
so they can begin their journey to the children who will receive them at
Christmas.


As always, your responses to these
Reflections are welcome. You can
email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.

November 2, 2011

All Hallows’ Eve

It is impossible to know how many we actually had on our
campus for the Harvest Hoedown on Monday night.
Just the children who registered and their parents put the attendance
over 2500. But we know that many did not
register. The Children’s Team did an
outstanding job in preparing for the evening.
And it appeared that those who volunteered to help had a good time.

Did you know that before Halloween emerged as a holiday,
Christ-Followers were celebrating All Hallows’ Eve? That word “eve” points to something that is
coming, something just over the horizon.
For example, Christmas Eve points us to the celebration of Christmas,
the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
All Hallows’ Eve pointed believers to All Hallows or All Saints day. It was the day the Church celebrated the
“Communion of the Saints” as we affirm in the creed.

What comes to your mind when you hear the word “Saint?” Because of the influence of the Roman
Catholic Church, we tend to think of special people who lived extra-ordinary
lives. We think of the Apostles as
Saints; St. Matthew, St. John, St. Paul.
Some of the early church leaders are referred to as saints, like St.
Augustine and St. Francis. And more
recently we’ve heard about Mother Teresa’s journey to sainthood.

Sometime after the third century, the word “saint” began to
take on this different meaning in the church.
As the church became more of an institution in Rome, the emergence of
these special “saints” took place. That
was not the class in the early church.
In the New Testament, the word “saint” refers to those who are followers
of Jesus Christ. You may have heard the
saying, “Jesus transforms sinners into saints.”
By His grace we are cleansed of sin and made new creations. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are set
apart as holy, seeking after sanctification through His grace.

All Hallows or All Saints day emerged both to challenge
Christ-Followers to live as holy, set apart people and to remember those who
had joined the eternal Communion of Saints during the year. All Saints Day was celebrated in the Church
on November 1st. Hence, All
Hallows Eve, on October 31st, was the preparation for the All Saints
Day celebration.

Today, many churches take the first Sunday after November 1st,
to celebrate “All Saints Day.” It still
has that dual role, to challenge Christ-Followers to live as holy, set apart
people and to remember those who have joined the eternal Communion of the
Saints. In our 11:00 Service this Sunday
we will remember those from our Church Family who have become part of that
great “cloud of witnesses” referred to in Hebrews 12:1.

This Sunday our United Methodist Women will have their Soup Luncheon
for missions. Tickets are on sale
in the office for only $6.00 a person.
Be sure to get your tickets so they will know how much soup to
prepare.
As always, your responses to these
Reflections are welcome. You can
email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.