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Thoughts: Widows and lepers are frequently mentioned in the Bible. No one wanted to be a widow or a leper. Biblical widows were neither bewitching nor wealthy. Lepers were pariahs.
But Jesus cited the widow of Shunam and Naaman the leper from Syria as examples of people whom the prophet Elisha chose to help. Jesus reminded the skeptical people of Nazareth that there were many widows and many lepers, but Elisha chose the Shunammite widow’s only son from the dead, and to cleanse Naaman from his leprosy. Remember, Jesus told his frowning audience what God can do. “Surely, the presence of the Lord is in this place.” Discussion: What wonderful changes have you witnessed in the lives of people you know? Activity: Make one over-and-above gesture every day to sweeten someone’s life. Remember in prayer this week Judy Conley, Connie Gill, Vivian Hansard, Fred Laws, Norma Price and Chuck Tincknell This Sunday is Music Sunday with bells and choirs and violin. You won’t want to miss it. It’s also NoisySunday so don’t forget to bring your change. Paper money will also be accepted. The HealthPros will be in the CLC to take your blood pressure this Sunday. This Sunday is our first PickleBall party. Come and see what it’s all about. All ages are welcome from 4-6pm.
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Thoughts: Basketball is revered in southern Indiana. People from high schools with football, soccer, baseball, hockey, lacrosse, golf, tennis, and swim teams cannot understand the fervent devotion given to a small school’s one team – basketball.
Almost everyone in town attends all home games. Housewives know the point guard’s free throw percentage. Children know the schedule and the coach’s middle name. Larry Bird played basketball for such a small town team. One summer we drove over to his hometown and parked on the main street, renamed Larry Bird Boulevard. A lady emerging from the grocery store spotted our Michigan license. She couldn’t have been more startled if we had been from Nova Scotia. “What are you all doing here?” she wondered. “We wanted to see where Larry Bird grew up,” we told her. “You know,” she said, “they tell me he went out east and played basketball and did right well, but he’s just Larry to us.” And so Nazareth thought – he’s just Jesus to us. Discussion: What angels do we have among us of whom we are unaware? Activity: Remember to honor our own prophets. Remember in prayer this week Connie Gill, Vivian Hansard, Ken Engelmann, George Jonte-Crane, Ken Head, Eunice Kraase, Fred Laws, Sandy Northey and Tom Stevens. Prayers for the family of Debbie Hagelstein on the death of her brother-in-law David. This Saturday is an all-church Trustee Work Day at 9:00am. Please consider giving three hours of your time to benefit our church and keep expenses down. This Sunday is the Ministry Fair. Please contact Tom Stevens if you wish to have a table for display. Please note as of this date, Tidings articles are to be sent to Kara Olsavsky at kmolsavs@oakland.edu attached as a Word document. Thoughts: Compliments are precious. We remember them; we say them over to ourselves in the darkness; we savour them.
One of the most famous literary compliments is Antony’s for Cleopatra: “She makes hungry where most she satisfies.” Isaiah writes a beautiful compliment for Jerusalem: (You are) “a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.” Discussion: A diadem has many precious stones. Suppose each one represents a virtue. Which virtue would you like most to represent? Activity: Pay a sincere compliment to a church friend this week. ______________________________________________________________________________ Remember in prayer this week Connie Gill, Vivian Hansard, Larry Hornbeck, Wafaa Kareem, Eunice Kraase in rehab, Fred Laws at Heartland, and Linda Wright. We are expecting and welcoming visitors this Sunday. Please wear your name tag and let your friendliness shine. Mid-week Word is scheduled for tomorrow at 10:00am. Please join us for fellowship and Bible study. And, yes, there is also food. Ruth (9:30am) and Deborah (7:00pm) Circles meet this Thursday at the church. Please come. Sunday is Human Relations and United Methodist Women Sunday. February Tidings deadline is Monday, January 18th. Please email your articles as an attachment in Word to troyfirstumc@gmail.com. Thank you. Thoughts: “She already knows my name!”
I have heard this delighted exclamation frequently since last July. “And she knows my children’s names!” More surprised pleasure. We are blessed with a minister who learns names easily and remembers them. Most church members won’t care if their minister cannot quote Psalm 119, but Melvin will care intensely if the minister calls him Mervin. The names our parents give us are a significant part of the Methodist baptism service. The minister asks, “What name shall be given to this child?” One parent replies, slowly intoning each syllable of the name they have chosen. Careful to be precise, the minister repeats the name, adding, “I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” The prophet Isaiah told us of God’s promise to his people; “I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.” Discussion: When a baby is baptized in our church, the congregation repeats this promise: “with God’s help we will so order our lives after the example of Christ, that this child, surrounded by steadfast love, may be established in the faith, and confirmed and strengthened in the way that leads to life eternal.” How do we fulfill this promise? Activity: Smile at the children in our church and learn their names. ______________________________________________________________________________Remember Remember in prayer this week Ken Engelmann, Connie Gill, Vivian Hansard, Fred Laws at Heartland, and Bill and Eunice Kraase. “Connections” begins this Thursday at 7:00pm. Men’s Breakfast on Saturday at 7:30am. Please come and help finish un-decorating the church at 9:00am. Thoughts: “Well, we found him.”
“Yes, but not as we expected.” “It was a very humble home.” “But there was no doubt that this child was born King of the Jews.” “No, the star led us directly to his home.” “Will his parents know to treasure our gifts?” “Yes, I think they will. His mother seemed wise beyond her years.” “Perhaps we were wrong to ask Herod for directions.” “But he assured us he wanted to go worship the child, also.” “Surely you didn’t believe him.” “No, of course not. That’s why we’re going home a different way.” Discussion: How would history have been changed if the wisemen had not consulted Herod? Activity: Imagine a neighbor of Joseph and Mary in Nazareth telling about the visit of the wisemen. ______________________________________________________________________________ Remember in prayer this week Ken Engelmann at Heartland, Connie Gill, Vivian Hansard, and Martha Meyer. Start the New Year with Communion and Worship. We will start undecorating on Sunday also. |
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