Our church family and community are looking forward to this Sunday, August 30, 2009. We will break ground on Wesley Center. This name chosen by you, represents our roots as we grow into the future with God. Brothers John and Charles Wesley were the founders of the Methodist movement, what was a fresh new breath of the Holy Spirit into the Christian faith and has now become a dynamic world wide church. Two of the most significant contributions to the Christian faith the Wesley's made were their focus on discipleship and grace - the daily, lifetime walk with God that is discipleship and knowledge and growth in the grace of Jesus Christ. It is our prayer as a church that we will grow into this vision of the Wesley's in the building that will bear their name.
We welcome our bishop, Janice Huie this Sunday morning. Bishop Huie will preach at our morning worship service and will pray over our groundbreaking outdoors. Just after worship we will all recess out of the front of the church and make our way to the building site on the Nellius Street side. There, we will offer prayers and share in a liturgy that will consecrate that ground for building. We will have various participants in that from the church and community. Following the groundbreaking, please join us for a light lunch reception.
Bishop Huie is excited to join us this Sunday. From what I read in our church history, it is the third time a bishop has preached in Woodville. Bishop Paul Martin came in 1961 and Bishop Finis Crutchfield preached here in 1982. When our church history is updated one day, Sunday August 30, 2009 will be a highlight.
Worship this Sunday will reflect the special day. As we did on Palm Sunday and Pentecost this year, the choir will process in to begin worship and Bishop Huie, Dr. Jerry Pennington our District Superintendent, and myself will also process in to begin worship. Processionals go back to the Old Testament days of entering the temple for worship. Our Chancel Choir will sing and Jimmy Robertson will also be singing a solo.
It is such an honor to share with you in this holy and historic day in the life of Woodville UMC.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Hungry for God
This Sunday August 23rd will be student day in worship. We’ll pray for them in worship and send them off into the school year with their church’s love. If you have a child or grandchild entering school this year, please make it a priority to be here this Sunday. We’d love to see you. This Sunday after worship we’ll vote on the name of our new building. Please see inside this newsletter for the ballot.
We are planning the special ground-breaking ceremony for our new building for August 30th and look forward to welcoming our Bishop, Janice Huie for that day. She’ll preach and help us dedicate that building to the glory of God.
I saw a powerful article in the Houston Chronicle newspaper this week that I want to share with you. It connects in with our focus on discipleship.
A Kenyan who was believed to be the world’s oldest pupil has died at the age of 89, five years after entering primary school so that he could learn to read the Bible, his family said Monday.
Joseph Stephen Kimani Nganga Maruge accomplished his biggest goal – being able to read the Bible – but he remained shy of completing primary school. Mr. Maruge became sick with cancer 7 months ago.
“In the morning he used to wake up early to read the Bible before going to school,” Anne Maruge, 18, said. “Even when he felt ill and you found him basking in the sun, often he would be reading the Bible.”
Mr. Maruge enrolled in primary school 5 years ago after the government made primary school free. He wore a school boy’s uniform and walked with a book bag slung over his shoulder. After his village and home was burned down in the aftermath of the violent 2008 elections in Kenya, he was forced to live in a displacement camp with thousands of others who had lost their homes. He continued his studies however until he became sick. “When he became ill, he started to cry because he was not going to school,” Anne Maruge said. “Liberty means going to school and learning,” he said in an interview before his death. “You are never too old to learn.”
What is special to me about Mr. Maruge is his hunger to learn about God. There are so many truths to be taken from his story. His desire to learn was rooted in a hunger to know God. His age did not discourage him or cause him to think he couldn’t learn something. He seemed like a humble man one who would wear a school boy’s clothes. Finally the last quote in the story about liberty speaks a truth to us. So many think and behave as though freedom means we should be able to do whatever we like, be left alone, or be independent, make a living and a life at others’ expense. “For freedom Christ has set us free,” Paul said in Galatians. Our freedom is a gift not just to be used for selfishness, greed or hoarding or for irresponsible living either but for learning, growing and giving. Mr. Maruge seems to have “gotten it.” He understood freedom or liberty as an opportunity to learn – in his case driven by a deep desire to be able to read the Bible. “O God make us ever aware of that hunger to know you and your Word that is in us all. Amen.”
We are planning the special ground-breaking ceremony for our new building for August 30th and look forward to welcoming our Bishop, Janice Huie for that day. She’ll preach and help us dedicate that building to the glory of God.
I saw a powerful article in the Houston Chronicle newspaper this week that I want to share with you. It connects in with our focus on discipleship.
A Kenyan who was believed to be the world’s oldest pupil has died at the age of 89, five years after entering primary school so that he could learn to read the Bible, his family said Monday.
Joseph Stephen Kimani Nganga Maruge accomplished his biggest goal – being able to read the Bible – but he remained shy of completing primary school. Mr. Maruge became sick with cancer 7 months ago.
“In the morning he used to wake up early to read the Bible before going to school,” Anne Maruge, 18, said. “Even when he felt ill and you found him basking in the sun, often he would be reading the Bible.”
Mr. Maruge enrolled in primary school 5 years ago after the government made primary school free. He wore a school boy’s uniform and walked with a book bag slung over his shoulder. After his village and home was burned down in the aftermath of the violent 2008 elections in Kenya, he was forced to live in a displacement camp with thousands of others who had lost their homes. He continued his studies however until he became sick. “When he became ill, he started to cry because he was not going to school,” Anne Maruge said. “Liberty means going to school and learning,” he said in an interview before his death. “You are never too old to learn.”
What is special to me about Mr. Maruge is his hunger to learn about God. There are so many truths to be taken from his story. His desire to learn was rooted in a hunger to know God. His age did not discourage him or cause him to think he couldn’t learn something. He seemed like a humble man one who would wear a school boy’s clothes. Finally the last quote in the story about liberty speaks a truth to us. So many think and behave as though freedom means we should be able to do whatever we like, be left alone, or be independent, make a living and a life at others’ expense. “For freedom Christ has set us free,” Paul said in Galatians. Our freedom is a gift not just to be used for selfishness, greed or hoarding or for irresponsible living either but for learning, growing and giving. Mr. Maruge seems to have “gotten it.” He understood freedom or liberty as an opportunity to learn – in his case driven by a deep desire to be able to read the Bible. “O God make us ever aware of that hunger to know you and your Word that is in us all. Amen.”
Monday, August 10, 2009
Celebrate Educators this Sunday August 16th
This Sunday in worship we will continue an annual tradition at this time of year. Even if we are not students or teachers, many of us continue to operate on a school calendar. It's sort of treated like another new year. New resolutions are made, habits are established, goals are set. In our community there is just a different buzz in the air when school is in session. The town is busier and life seems to pick up pace.
The beginning of a school year is an exciting and anxious time. Some teachers are new and others are veterans but all have new classes and new expectations. For this reason we think its important to devote some time in prayer at the beginning of a school year and celebrate our educators. Educators are all those who work in our school system. They may be up front or behind the scenes but in some way, they are a part of the education of our children and we thank God for them. We celebrate them.
We have almost 30 people in our church employed in the school system. Most are members of our church and others are regular guests.
We will pray for our students on Sunday August 23rd, the day before they go back to school. Teachers and others return on August 17th. In this as in other years, they will go with our prayers and with a small gift to remind them of the love of their church family.
Join me in celebrating them this Sunday and in sharing a covered dish meal after worship.
The beginning of a school year is an exciting and anxious time. Some teachers are new and others are veterans but all have new classes and new expectations. For this reason we think its important to devote some time in prayer at the beginning of a school year and celebrate our educators. Educators are all those who work in our school system. They may be up front or behind the scenes but in some way, they are a part of the education of our children and we thank God for them. We celebrate them.
We have almost 30 people in our church employed in the school system. Most are members of our church and others are regular guests.
We will pray for our students on Sunday August 23rd, the day before they go back to school. Teachers and others return on August 17th. In this as in other years, they will go with our prayers and with a small gift to remind them of the love of their church family.
Join me in celebrating them this Sunday and in sharing a covered dish meal after worship.
Monday, August 3, 2009
People of the Book
Thank you for your prayers while Bethany, Addie, Samuel and I were away on vacation this past week. We saw family that we hadn’t seen in some time and were able to enjoy time in a gorgeous part of our country. Bethany’s family is very generous and we’re grateful for that important time with them. We spent some of our time in St. Simon’s Island, Georgia where John and Charles Wesley spent a short while. The Wesley brothers were leaders of the Methodist movement in England and ambitiously set foot in Georgia to bring the Gospel there. It was a very short visit for them but it is a part of their and our history as Methodists. While visiting there, I did some thinking about our Fall focus on discipleship and what John Wesley said about the Bible as a key part of our formation as Christian disciples.
John Wesley was a "man of one book" and that a Methodist who wants to rediscover some of that "Wesleyan fire" should become very familiar with his or her Bible. Hearing from God through scripture should become as natural as breathing for a Methodist. United Methodist Bishop Will Willimon has said that all great reformations of the church are based in scripture and a fresh encounter with scripture.
One of the frequent questions I am asked is about translations. Which Bible should I buy? Which one should I read? The short answer is, if you don’t have a Bible get your hands on any Bible. If someone is asking you for one, get them one as fast as possible while it’s fresh on their mind and yours. However there are some translations that are better than others. I study with the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV). It is true to the original languages and it has some other features I like. Our pew Bibles are the Revised Standard Version (RSV) which is good also. Many of our youth and young adults read the New International Version (NIV). While not quite as close to the original languages, it has a “readability” that is nice and modern. The King James is poetic and beautiful but also takes some liberties with the original Hebrew and Greek.
Bottom line is – the Bible is essential for the formation of Christian discipleship. Private reading and studying with others allows God to speak to us personally and in community with each other.
I am excited about the numerous opportunities you will have for Bible study this Fall, short and long term. Please begin now praying about being in one of these groups. Surprise yourself by committing to one of them and watch God change your life.
John Wesley was a "man of one book" and that a Methodist who wants to rediscover some of that "Wesleyan fire" should become very familiar with his or her Bible. Hearing from God through scripture should become as natural as breathing for a Methodist. United Methodist Bishop Will Willimon has said that all great reformations of the church are based in scripture and a fresh encounter with scripture.
One of the frequent questions I am asked is about translations. Which Bible should I buy? Which one should I read? The short answer is, if you don’t have a Bible get your hands on any Bible. If someone is asking you for one, get them one as fast as possible while it’s fresh on their mind and yours. However there are some translations that are better than others. I study with the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV). It is true to the original languages and it has some other features I like. Our pew Bibles are the Revised Standard Version (RSV) which is good also. Many of our youth and young adults read the New International Version (NIV). While not quite as close to the original languages, it has a “readability” that is nice and modern. The King James is poetic and beautiful but also takes some liberties with the original Hebrew and Greek.
Bottom line is – the Bible is essential for the formation of Christian discipleship. Private reading and studying with others allows God to speak to us personally and in community with each other.
I am excited about the numerous opportunities you will have for Bible study this Fall, short and long term. Please begin now praying about being in one of these groups. Surprise yourself by committing to one of them and watch God change your life.
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