Tuesday, January 25, 2011

OUR WEEK - JANUARY 30TH - FEBRUARY 5TH

REMINDERS —
• In Adair U.M.C. we are holding Sunday Services
on
the lower level until winter temperatures rise.
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26TH —
S • P • R • C MEETING AT CASEY U.M.C. - 6:30 P.M.
Planning Conference for 2011
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 27TH —
T.T.T. #2 — 9:30 TO 10:30 A.M.
DEBORAH/MARY CIRCLE @ 2 P.M. - CASEY U.M.C.
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SUNDAY, JANUARY 30, 2011 —
FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY

COLOR: GREEN

SCRIPTURE READINGS ARE:
MICAH 6:1-8
(The Message)
The Lord has a controversy with Israel, and the
prophet asks what the Lord requires.

1 Listen now, listen to God: "Take your stand in
court. If you have a complaint, tell the mountains;
make your case to the hills.
2 And now, Mountains, hear God's case; listen,
Jury Earth - For I am bringing charges against my
people. I am building a case against Israel.
3 "Dear people, how have I done you wrong?
Have I burdened you, worn you out? Answer! 4 I delivered you from a bad life in Egypt; I paid a
good price to get you out of slavery. I sent Moses
to lead you - and Aaron and Miriam to boot!
5 Remember what Balak king of Moab tried to pull,
and how Balaam son of Beor turned the tables on
him. Remember all those stories about Shittim and
Gilgal. Keep all God's salvation stories fresh and
present."
6 How can I stand up before God and show proper
respect to the high God? Should I bring an armload
of offerings topped off with yearling calves?
7 Would God be impressed with thousands of rams,
with buckets and barrels of olive oil? Would he be
moved if I sacrificed my firstborn child, my precious
baby, to cancel my sin?
8 But he's already made it plain how to live, what to
do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's
quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don't
take yourself too seriously - take God seriously.————————————————————————
PSALM 15 (UMH 747)
(The Message)
Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
1 God, who gets invited to dinner at your place? How
do we get on your guest list?
2 "Walk straight, act right, tell the truth.
3 "Don't hurt your friend, don't blame your neighbor;
4 despise the despicable. "Keep your word even
when it costs you,
5 make an honest living, never take a bribe. "You'll
never get blacklisted if you live like this."
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I CORINTHIANS 1:18-31
(The Message)
God's saving love confounds every source of
human boasting. Let your only boasting be in the
cross of Christ.

18 The Message that points to Christ on the Cross
seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on
destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it
makes perfect sense. This is the way God works,
and most powerfully as it turns out.
19 It's written, I'll turn conventional wisdom on its
head, I'll expose so-called experts as crackpots.
20 So where can you find someone truly wise, truly
educated, truly intelligent in this day and age?
Hasn't God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense?
21 Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had
a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his
wisdom took delight in using what the world
considered dumb - preaching, of all things! - to bring
those who trust him into the way of salvation.
22 While Jews clamor for miraculous demonstrations
and Greeks go in for philosophical wisdom,
23 we go right on proclaiming Christ, the Crucified.
Jews treat this like an anti-miracle - and Greeks pass
it off as absurd.
24 But to us who are personally called by God himself
- both Jews and Greeks - Christ is God's ultimate
miracle and wisdom all wrapped up in one.
25 Human wisdom is so tinny, so impotent, next to the
seeming absurdity of God. Human strength can't begin
to compete with God's "weakness."
26 Take a good look, friends, at who you were when
you got called into this life. I don't see many of "the
brightest and the best" among you, not many influential,
not many from high-society families.
27 Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men
and women that the culture overlooks and exploits
and abuses,
28 chose these "nobodies" to expose the hollow
pretensions of the "somebodies"?
29 That makes it quite clear that none of you can get
by with blowing your own horn before God.
30 Everything that we have - right thinking and right
living, a clean slate and a fresh start - comes from
God by way of Jesus Christ.
31 That's why we have the saying, "If you're going
to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God."
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MATTHEW 5:1-12
(The Message)
The good news Jesus began to preach in the
region of Galilee, and especially in the towns
along the shore, is summarized by Matthew.
We recognize the beatitudes. The Sermon on
the Mount begins with eight words of blessing,
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
Identical wording to the message of John the
Baptist (Matthew 3:2), who is now in prison at
Herod's headquarters in Galilee.

1 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds,
he climbed a hillside.
Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed,
climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat
down
2 and taught his climbing companions. This is what
he said:
3 "You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope.
With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
4 "You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is
most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by
the One most dear to you.
5 "You're blessed when you're content with just who
you are - no more, no less. That's the moment you
find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't
be bought.
6 "You're blessed when you've worked up a good
appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal
you'll ever eat.
7 "You're blessed when you care. At the moment of
being 'careful,' you find yourselves cared for.
8 "You're blessed when you get your inside world -
your mind and heart - put right. Then you can see
God in the outside world.
9 "You're blessed when you can show people how to
cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when
you discover who you really are, and your place in
God's family.
10 "You're blessed when your commitment to God
provokes persecution. The persecution drives you
even deeper into God's kingdom.
11 "Not only that - count yourselves blessed every
time people put you down or throw you out or speak
lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that
the truth is too close for comfort and they are
uncomfortable.
12 You can be glad when that happens - give a cheer,
even! - for though they don't like it, I do! And all
heaven applauds. And know that you are in good
company. My prophets and witnesses have always
gotten into this kind of trouble.

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MONDAY, JANUARY 31ST —
Pastor Lynn's and Naomi's day off.
Office closed today.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1ST

NO MORNING BIBLE STUDY IN ADAIR U.M.C.

FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Black History Month is an annual celebration of the
achievements by black Americans and a time for
recognizing the central role of African Americans in
U.S. history. After the thirteenth amendment abolished
slavery in the United States, the roll of African
Americans changed drastically. It was a slow change
and not without distress. Black History Month gives us
an opportunity to honor the too-often neglected
accomplishments of black Americans in every area of
endeavor throughout our history.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND —
ADAIR U.M.W. IN ADAIR U.M.C. AT 1:30 P.M.ABC AD COUNCIL MEETS IN CASEY U.M.C. @ 6:30
Guest speaker will be Edward Kail,
Field Outreach Minister, Southwest District,
800 Poplar St., Atlantic IA, 50022-1617

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH, PLUS 5TH, AND 6TH —
YOUTH STRIKE FOR CHRIST
FOR 7TH THRU 12TH GRADE YOUTH!
FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY —
POLK COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER
GREAT MUSIC!GREAT SPEAKERS!FOR MORE INFORMATION CHECK IT OUT ONLINE AT:
http://www.youthstrike.com/
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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH —
90TH BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR ILA LYDON
WHERE:
GUTHRIE CENTER UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
WHEN: 2 P.M. UNTIL 4 P.M.
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FUTURE FOCUS —
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH —
Holy Communion and Super Bowl Sunday
SUBMARINE SANDWICHES
EACH SERVED WITH CHIPS, PICKLE, AND COOKIE BAR
PRICE: $3 EACH OR BUY SIX AND OVER, $2.50 EACH
LET US PREPARE YOUR SUPER BOWL SNACKS.
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Thank you for all you have done for our church life
this week. The weather has caused us to proceed
slowly, and move snow often. Stay well and safe.

God Bless and Keep You,
Pastor Lynn