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Thoughts: The attic in my childhood home was a source of never-ending interest. Built in 1858, this home had a large attic crammed with books and wedding dresses and letters and fur muffs – even a musket carried by an ancestor who fought in the Revolutionary War.
I remember especially two large wooden rectangles covered with black velvet. On these, my father and his brother Ainslie had pinned dozens of campaign badges. Teddy Roosevelt and his Bull Moose party were there, along with McKinley and Wilson and Cleveland and Garfield and Grant. It was history unfolded. There was mild bickering among my brother and my sister and me as to who would eventually inherit these. But in the tearful time after both of our parents had died, a rapacious aunt (Uncle Ainslie’s widow) rolled up in her gleaming Lincoln and carried home both boards of medals. Discussion: What tangible possessions do we treasure most? Activity: Try to lay up intangible treasures in heaven. ______________________________________________________________________________Remember in prayer this week Jackie Braidwood, Judy Conley, June Lamm, Martha Meyer, and Thelma Welbaum. This Sunday, don’t forget your coins for our Noisy Sunday offering and the Health Pros will be with us during coffee fellowship for your blood pressure checks. Pickleball time change on Sunday, come and play from 3:00 to 5:00pm. Next Monday starts our Vacation Bible School week. Nancy Dolehanty could still use a few more volunteers for this fun ministry for children ages 3 through 5th grades. Call Nancy today. Sunday, August 7, is the George Bauman Memorial Golf Outing. Jeff Stover will take your reservations until August 3rd. Call him today.
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Thoughts: As soon as our children can gaze about a grocery store from their seats in shopping carts, their eyes widen with greed and their chubby hands reach out for candy – oh so cunningly placed along the narrow aisle that leads to the cash register.
What to do? We want to give our children what they want. We love them. We want to look good in their childish eyes. We want them to be happy. Less altruistically, we don’t want to hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth. We don’t want everyone in the store to hear a loud outburst of tears and recriminations. We don’t want reproaches. “Kerry has 308 Beanie Babies (substitute the current rage), and I have only 267!” Jesus commands parents in verse 13: “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” Discussion: In what ways does the Holy Spirit come to us? Activity: Give a non-tangible gift to someone in your family. ______________________________________________________________________________ Remember in prayer this week Gerda Clark, Shirley Geggie, Shirley Gulian, June Lamm and Chrystl Roman. Please come out tonight at 7:30pm and root our softball team on to victory. This is a championship game and they play at Our Shepherd Lutheran School, 1658 E. Lincoln Street, Birmingham. This Sunday come and hear about our youth and their God-filled adventure week in Hamilton, Ohio. You won’t want to miss it. Thoughts:Jesus came to our house in Bethany a lot, traveling around the way he did. They do say I’m the best cook for 20 miles around Jerusalem – no brag, just fact.
Jesus and Lazarus were great friends. Used to talk by the hour. And Mary? She was crazy about him. Couldn’t get a lick of work out of her when he’d show up. He came by unexpected one day. Wasn’t long before they crucified him. You know how you say to people, “Just drop by any time”? Lazarus was a great hand for doing that. Well, all of a sudden there they were – Jesus and that dusty mob he called his disciples. Sure I was glad to see him, but did you ever try to put a meal together in a hurry – enough to fill up thirteen hungry men? But I started in, and I got the mutton simmering and I had the matzo ball dough all stirred up. I turned around to tell Mary she could set the table. And where do you think she was? Why she was in the front room, sitting there at Jesus’ feet and gazing up at him and drinking in every word. I tell you, I was right provoked. I marched out of the kitchen, and I said, “Master, why don’t you tell Mary she ought to help me?” And Jesus just smiled at me and said, “Martha, Martha, you are troubled about many things. Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” It took the wind right out of my sails. I just went back to the kitchen and finished up dinner. I reckon he meant to be kind to Mary and not embarrass her, but I do notice that everybody likes to sit down to a good meal. Discussion: Do you identify with Martha, Mary, or Lazarus? Why? Activity: Invite someone to your home who may not have many invitations. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Remember in prayer this week our work trippers who return on Saturday, Gerda Clark, Francis and Megal Corera, Brian Dukes family, and Chrystl Roman. Tonight at 5:00pm is the RUSH Series with Jackson Steiger at Metropolitan UMC. Then at 7:30pm our church softball team has a play-off game at Our Shepherd Lutheran School in Birmingham. Come out and cheer them on. Please join tomorrow at 10:00am for Mid-Week Word. Thoughts: When we hear the word “Samaritan,” we automatically add the adjective “good.” Undoubtedly, there were selfish Samaritans, slovenly Samaritans, solacious Samaritans. We don’t know about them. But Jesus immortalized the one Samaritan who stopped by the roadside – probably at his own peril – to take care of the man who had fallen among thieves and to take him to a safe place to recover.
Discussion: What adjectives do people attach to Methodists? Activity: So live, that when people think of Methodists, they think good – gracious – generous - ______________________________________________________________________________ Remember in prayer this week Francis and Megal Corera, Dale and Mary Jo Johnston, June Lamm, Martha Meyer and Pastor Weatherly with complications from last week’s surgery, hoping to be home today or tomorrow. This Saturday, please join us at 6:30am for our communion service send-off for our 30 work trippers going to Hamilton, Ohio, for the week. We will continue to pray every day for this group ministry with 400 youth. Thoughts:
Jesus: Now I have divided you 70 men into 35 pairs. I want you to go to every town I plan to visit. Jonah: How soon will you be coming? Joel” Yeah, like we don’t want to promise the people you’ll be there – Joab: And then you like never show up. Jesus: Just go. I’ll be there. I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Jacob: Say what? Japheth: Man, that doesn’t sound like good. Jesus: Don’t take any money with you, or extra shoes. Judah: But what if our shoes like wear out? Jesus: If someone asks you to come to super, you say, “Peace be to this house.” Jehosaphat (writing it down laboriously): Peace – be – to – this – house. Jesus: If they receive you graciously, then peace will indeed rest upon that house. Jubal: What if they serve us six-day-old lentils? Jesus: Then this peace will return to you. But don’t refuse their hospitality. Stay at this same house and be grateful for all the meals they give you. Jude: But I don’t like lentils. Jesus: You must eat whatever is served to you. And if sick people are brought to you, heal them and tell them, “God’s kingdom has come near to you.” Jebu: I don’t want to touch anyone who has leprosy. Jesus: But if some town refuses to receive you, wipe the dust of their streets off your shoes. Jeconiah: Yeah, I like that! Jesus: And tell them – as you leave – “God’s kingdom has come near to you.” Remember, he who hears you, hears me. He who despises you, despises me. He who despises me despises Him who sent me. (Several weeks later) Jeremiah: Lord, we were able to cast out devils in your name! Jesus: With the power I gave you, nothing can hurt you. Joram: I’m ready to sign up to go again! Jesus: Rejoice! Your names are written in heaven! Discussion: Where are you willing to go in Christ’s service? Activity: Go to the grocery store and buy some food for the local food pantry Please remember in prayer this week Vivian Hansard, George Berquist, June Lamm, Francis Corera with surgery Thursday, Mike Rumel with surgery today, and Pastor Weatherly with her re-scheduled surgery tomorrow. Please also remember Sam & Faith Clay as they move to North Carolina. Their new address is: 199 Merion Circle, Pinehurst, NC 28374. A church family has requested weekly (paid) help with housekeeping, driving to doctors’ appointments, and down-sizing their household. If you know of someone, this referral would be most welcome. If you are this caring Christian, please call the office for more information. Come out and cheer our softball team on to final victory, (they are 10-1) this Wednesday at 7:30pm at Huffman Park, 400 W. Cowan, Madison Heights. World Series to follow, if they win!!! This Sunday you may sign up for the George Bauman Memorial Troy 1st Golf Outing on August 7th. See Jeff Stover in the CLC. |
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January 2021
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