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Thoughts: (Jesus and his disciples enter Capernaum.)
Peter: Good to be back in Capernaum, isn’t it, guys? Andrew: Nothing like being near the Sea of Galilee. John: Its water is exquisitely azure. James: Good fishing, too. (Jewish elders approach) Simon the Zealot: Here comes trouble. Zedekiah: We have a message for Jesus of Nazareth from Petrullus, the Roman centurion. Simon the Zealot: Told you. Jesus: Welcome, friends. You have a message for me? Malachi: Petrullus the centurion asks that you heal his favorite servant. Matthew: That’s it? James the Less: We’re not being arrested? Zedekiah: Petrullus has been very kind to our people. Malachi: Oh yes, he built a synagogue for us. Zedekiah: And Petrullus implores you to come to his home and heal his servant. Jesus: Of course. We’ll follow you. Thomas: I doubt this centurion’s good intentions. Philip: Well, we’re not far away from his house. (Lucius and Publius approach) Lucius: We have a message for Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus: I am he. Publius: Petrullus the centurion really appreciates your coming, but he thinks he is unworthy to invite you to his house. Bartholomew: Say what? Lucius: Petrullus believes that you need only to say his servant is healed, and his servant will be well. Publius: You understand the centurion himself has great authority and can send the men in his command anywhere he likes. Lucius: And Petrullus knows that you also have great authority. Jesus: I have not found so great a faith, no, not in Israel. (Lucius and Publius return to Petrullus’ home. Petrullus rushes out to meet them.) Petrullus: Lucius! Publius! My servant Obadiah is well again – completely well! It’s a miracle! Discussion: What do we find hard to ask? Activity: Listen with your heart to the next request you receive. Remember in prayer this week Joyce Bauman, Francis Corera, Joan Doptis, Bob & Vivian Grusnick, Vivian Hansard, Bill Schaper, and Laurie Urbach’s dad in Hospice. This Thursday, our softball team is playing a double header beginning at 6:15pm at Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Birmingham. This Thursday night, Connections will be doing some yard work around the church to spiff up the grounds. This Sunday is Noisy Sunday so save your loose change. You may also get your blood pressure checked. “So, What Happened in Portland?” Come to Birmingham First UMC on Friday, June 3rd, at 7:00pm to find out. They are sponsoring a forum on the 2016 United Methodist Church General Conference which was held in Portland, Oregon. It is also being sponsored by the Detroit Renaissance District. Please let the church office know if you wish to attend. For more information, call the office.
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Thoughts: These few verses contain an interesting list of nouns: faith, peace, grace,hope, glory, tribulations, patience, experience, hop (again), and love.
The first five words are positive – indeed wonderful. We are blessed to know faith, peace, grace, hope, and glory. But then we encounter tribulations. We do not consider tribulations to be blessings. Patience is admirable – difficult, but admirable. Experience is valuable, although we don’t always like the courses which teach us experience. Again we find the word hope. The first hope followed faith, peace, and grace. But the second hope came after tribulations, patience, and experience. And finally – love. Discussion: Is hard-won hope more precious than hope that comes after blissful days? Activity: Memorize 1 John 3:1. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God….” ______________________________________________________________________________Remember in prayer this week Francis Corera, Nancy Dolehanty, Joan Doptis, Jack Gill, Jr, Vivian Hansard and Mildred Wyse. This Thursday Connections will have a meaningful fellowship as Mark Bauer engages them in a discussion about “Sharing our Faith with Others.” You don’t want to miss it!!! Reservations for “Spring into Summer” luncheon are due Sunday. You really don’t want to miss this!!! If you pledged a CROP Walker, be sure to get your money to them by Sunday. If you were a CROP Walker, please turn in your envelopes to Betty Kalvoda by this Sunday. Thoughts: Years ago, my Uncle Wendell was a visiting professor at the University of Copenhagen. One Sunday afternoon he and his wife Betty tried to walk to a famous museum.
But they couldn’t find it, so they stopped a passing gentleman. In English, Uncle Wendell asked him for directions to the museum. The man smiled and shook his head. So, in rather halting German, Uncle Wendell asked him again. And again, the man smiled and shook his head. Aunt Betty tried asking him in French. Once more, the smile, the head shake. Uncle Wendell pulled out his Danish dictionary and slowly put together his question in Danish. This time the man’s smile was broad. “Oh, so you really want to find the museum,” he said, in perfect English. “You turn left at the next street, and the museum is two blocks down on the left.” Discussion: Discuss the significance of verse 11; “…we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.” Activity: When you welcome visitors to our church, remember to ask them questions about themselves. ______________________________________________________________________________ Remember in prayer this week Joyce Bauman, continued healing, Martha Blair, Francis Corera, Lexi Flores, Vivian Hansard, Sandy Northey, and Mildred Wyse. Please pray for our Young Adult Mission Trippers this week at Henderson Settlement in Frakes, KY. They will return Thursday night. Make sure you schedule your family photo for our new church directory. Go to fumctroy.org and click on the sign up for portraits. It’s easy and quick and you can do it on your computer. You may also sign up in the Christian Life Center on Sunday. Don’t forget to bring your gently-used books for the UMW Book Sale on May 22nd and 29th. The deadline for books is May 18th so this is your last chance to clear your shelves and make room for new summer reading material. This Sunday wear RED for Pentecost. We will confirm six youth and celebrate with cake. Thoughts: John 17 devoted to Jesus’ prayer. This prayer comes between the Last Supper and Jesus’ betrayal by Judas. Did John hear Jesus praying and jot down the words, or did he think these are the words Jesus might have said?
Jesus is facing his betrayal by Judas, his trials before the high priests, Herod, and Pilate, hideous pain, a gruesome death on the cross. Most of us would have been reduced to gibberish. But Jesus prays for the people God has given him that they may know God’s love. Discussion: If we were faced with betrayal and anguish, what would we pray? Activity: In every prayer, ask for a blessing for a certain person. Remember in prayer this week Joyce Bauman, Martha Blair, Francis and Megal Corera, Brian Drake, Jack Gill, Bob and Vivian Grusnick and Vivian Hansard. Please note that all children from age 3 through 5th grade should go directly downstairs for music this Sunday so they will be ready to sing during worship. This Thursday we will be meeting at 7pm in the lower level CLC kitchen and preparing meals for our Young Adults as they travel to Tennessee to do mission work. We will also be discussing a fundraiser for Connections. Shakespeare comes to life this week in our CLC with the REACH Drama performances of “Two Noble Kinsmen.” Four performances are available. Thursday, May 5th, at 7:00pm, Friday, May 6th, at 1:00pm and 7:00pm and Saturday, May 7th, at 1:00pm. You are sure to enjoy this theatre in the round. Sunday we will be consecrating our Young Adults for their Mission Trip to Henderson Settlement in Kentucky. It’s also the final Handbell Sunday for the season. Sunday will still be sign-ups for the CROP Walk which is May 15th and sign-ups for the pictorial directory. Dates and times for photography sessions are Tuesday-Friday, June 7-10 from 2 to 8:30pmand Saturday, June 11th from 9:30am – 4pm. Thoughts: The book of Revelation is filled with symbolism and imagery and mystic numbers. We need an interpreter to follow most of it.
But if we had only 21:4, we would be warmed – comforted – blessed. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain….” Discussion: How would you describe a world without tears and death and sorrow and pain? Activity: Write a note of comfort to someone who hurts. Remember in prayer this week Francis & Megal Corera, Brian & Staci Drake, Bob & Vivian Grusnick and Vivian Hansard. This Thursday Connections will be going to the HOPE Recuperation Center. Please plan to meet at the church by no later than 7:00pm. Ken Abbey will meet everyone at the church and can take three people in his vehicle…other vehicles can follow. Please plan to be at the Center from 7:30-9:00pm(unless guests get tired and want to go to bed early). There will be cards and games at the center…some patients may want to just converse. Also, confidentiality forms will need to be read and signed for each attendee. If you have not already signed a confidentiality form, we will have forms for you at the Center. Remember summer camping registrations are due soon. Camp scholarships are available for our church youth. Contact Pastor Weatherly for more information. This Sunday will be Communion during worship with our spring/summer Ministry Fair following. Contact Tom Stevens to reserve your table and be ready to check out the many opportunities at our church. |
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