Tuesday, February 2, 2010

OUR WEEK - FEBRUARY 7TH - FEB. 13TH

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3RD —
ADAIR U.M.W. AT 1:30
IN ADAIR U.M.C.

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ABC FINANCE COMMITTEE
AT 7 P.M. IN ADAIR U.M.C.

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STAFF PARISH RELATIONS COUNCIL
(SPRC) - 7 P.M.
IN ADAIR U.M.C
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FEBRUARY 7, 2010
FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
THIS IS COMMUNION SUNDAY
COLOR: GREEN
FINAL SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY IS
TRANSFIGURATION SUNDAY
(FEBRUARY 14TH) VALENTINES DAY
THE SCRIPTURE READINGS ARE:
ISAIAH in Hebrew, Yeshayahu, "Salvation of God".
ISAIAH 6:1-13
(New Living Translation) NLT
The earliest and most sublime of the four greater
Hebrew prophets, was the son of Amoz, and he
uttered his oracles during the reigns of Uzziah,
Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.


THE LORD APPOINTS ISAIAH TO SPEAK

Isaiah is outside, near the altar in front of the
temple.
The doors open, and the veil hiding the
Holy of Holies
is withdrawn, unfolding to his
view a vision of God
represented as an Eastern
monarch, attended by
seraphim as His ministers
of state, and with a robe
and flowing train which
filled the temple. This assertion
is that he has
seen God.
1 In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord. He was
sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled
the Temple.
2 Hovering around him were mighty seraphim, each
with six wings. With two wings they covered their faces,
with two they covered their feet, and with the remaining
two they flew.
3 In a great chorus they sang, "Holy, holy, holy is the
LORD Almighty! The earth is filled with his glory!"
4 The glorious singing shook the Temple to its foundation,
and the entire sanctuary was filled with smoke.5 Then I said, "My destruction is sealed, for I am a sinful
man and a member of a sinful race. Yet I have seen the
King, the LORD Almighty!"
6 Then one of the seraphim flew over to the altar, and
he picked up a burning coal with a pair of tongs.
7 He touched my lips with it and said, "See, this coal
has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and
your sins are forgiven."8 Then I heard the Lord asking, "Whom should I send
as a messenger to my people? Who will go for us?"
And I said, "Lord, I'll go! Send me."
9 And he said, "Yes, go. But tell my people this: 'You
will hear my words, but you will not understand. You
will see what I do, but you will not perceive its meaning.'
10 Harden the hearts of these people. Close their ears,
and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their
eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts,
and turn to me for healing."
11 Then I said, "Lord, how long must I do this?"And he
replied, "Until their cities are destroyed, with no one left
in them. Until their houses are deserted and the whole
country is an utter wasteland.
12 Do not stop until the LORD has sent everyone away
to distant lands and the entire land of Israel lies deserted.
13 Even if only a tenth – a remnant – survive, it will be
invaded again and burned. Israel will remain a stump,
like a tree that is cut down, but the stump will be a holy
seed that will grow again."
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PSALM 138 (UMH 853)
(New International Reader's Version) NIRV
Response of Isaiah to his powerful encounter with
God, especially when you use the sung response.
"I sing your praise for steadfast love; fulfill a
purpose
for me."
"Give Me a Clean Heart," 2133, in the

hymnal "THE FAITH WE SING",
is a marvelous singing response.
David thanks God for His benefits, and expecting
a wider extension of God's glory by His means,
assures himself of His continued faithfulness.
A PSALM OF DAVID.

1 Lord, I will praise you with all my heart. In front of
those who think they are gods I will sing praise to you.
2 I will bow down facing your holy temple. I will praise
your name, because you are loving and faithful. You
have honored your name and your word more than
anything else.
3 When I called out to you, you answered me. You
made me strong and brave.
4 Lord, may all of the kings on earth praise you when
they hear about what you have promised.
5 Lord, may they sing about what you have done,
because your glory is great.
6 The LORD is in heaven. But he watches over those
who are free of pride. He knows those who are proud
and stays far away from them.
7 Trouble is all around me,but you keep me alive. You reach out your hand to
put a stop to the anger of my enemies. With your
powerful right hand you save me.8 Lord, you will do everything you have planned for
me. Lord, your faithful love continues forever. You
have done so much for us. Don't stop now.
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1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-11
(New Living Translation) NLT
Paul if left on his own will would never have been
an apostle. Paul's call as "an apostle by the will
of
God," while constituting the ground of the
authority
he claims in the Corinthian Church, is
a reason for
humility in his own view. Paul seeks
to establish the
foundations he had laid at the
church in Corinth
focusing on the resurrection
of Jesus, to which he was
a witness.1 Now let me remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of
the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed
it then and still do now, for your faith is built on this
wonderful message.
2 And it is this Good News that saves you if you firmly
believe it – unless, of course, you believed something
that was never true in the first place.
3 I passed on to you what was most important and what
had also been passed on to me – that Christ died for our
sins, just as the Scriptures said.
4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on
the third day, as the Scriptures said.
5 He was seen by Peter and then by the twelve apostles.
6 After that, he was seen by more than five hundred of
his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive,
though some have died by now.
7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles.
8 Last of all, I saw him, too, long after the others, as
though I had been born at the wrong time.
9 For I am the least of all the apostles, and I am not
worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted
the church of God.
10 But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured
out his special favor on me – and not without results.
For I have worked harder than all the other apostles,
yet it was not I but God who was working through me
by his grace.
11 So it makes no difference whether I preach or they
preach. The important thing is that you believed what
we preached to you.
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LUKE 5:1-11 (New Living Translation) NLT
Not their first call, nor their second call, but their
third
and last call before their appointment to the
apostleship.
That these calls were all distinct and
progressive,
seems quite plain. A sudden
miraculous catch of fish
in deep water reveals the
divine power of Jesus; and
Simon (Peter), James
and John leave to follow him.

1 One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the
Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen
to the word of God.
2 He noticed two empty boats at the water's edge, for
the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets.
3 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon,
its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the
boat and taught the crowds from there.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,
"Now go out where it is deeper and let down your nets,
and you will catch many fish."
5 "Master," Simon replied, "we worked hard all last
night and didn't catch a thing. But if you say so, we'll try
again."
6 And this time their nets were so full they began to tear!
7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat,
and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the
verge of sinking.8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he
fell to his knees before Jesus and said, "Oh, Lord, please
leave me – I'm too much of a sinner to be around you."
9 For he was awestruck by the size of their catch, as were
the others with him.
10 His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, "Don't be
afraid! From now on you'll be fishing for people!"
11 And as soon as they landed, they left everything and
followed Jesus.
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THIS IS SUPER BOWL SUNDAY AND - -
IT IS SUB SANDWICH SUNDAY
Superbowl Sunday at the Casey church, and folks will be
preparing Submarine sandwiches for your enjoyment.
The lunches will be a sandwich, chips, and drink for $3.00.
or six sandwiches for $15.00. Phone (746-2210) with your
order or sign-up on the sheet. These are delicious subs.
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH —
Pastor Lynn's and Naomi's day off.
The office will be closed.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH —
Women of the Bible Study will be in the Adair U.M.C. at
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH —
AD Council meets in Casey at 6:30 this evening.
Frankie Christofersen has volunteered to be Chairman
of the community dinner on March 21st. She needs an
individual to be second in command.
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11TH —
T.T.T. # 2 MEETS TODAY.
Last day to order from Angel Food Ministries.
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This is Black History Month —
There are hundreds of people to salute, but I have chosen
just a few.
ROSA PARKSHer book "QUIET STRENGTH" sounds soft and muted
and unobtrusive, but indeed it is not. If you decide to
read it, there are some difficult passages to weather.

FIRST PAGE:
"As a child, I learned from the Bible to
trust in God and not be afraid. I have always felt
comforted by reading the Psalms, especially Psalms 23
and Psalms 27. My grandfather also influenced me to not
be afraid. A very proud man, he was never fearful -
especially when it came to defending his home and family.
Back in those days, fear was very real for black people."This is Rosa being booked for attempting to sit in the
front seat of a city bus.

REV. DR. CHARLES ALBERT TINDLEYRev. Dr. Tindley was born July 7, 1851, Berlin, Maryland,
USA and died July 26, 1933. He was an American
Methodist minister and gospel music composer. Dr.
Tindley's father was a slave, but his mother was free.
Tindley himself was considered to be free, but even
so he grew up among slaves. After the Civil War, he
moved to Philadelphia. He continued his education
while working as a church janitor, teaching himself
Hebrew and Greek and eventually earning a Doctorate
Degree. After 25 years, he became the pastor of the
same church at which he had been a janitor.
Under his leadership, the church grew from 130 to a
multiracial congregation of 12,500.
On September 14, 2002, 69 years after the death of
Tindley, a marble head stone was placed in the
Eden Cemetery in the suburban town of Collingdale,
Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia.
The six-foot monument was placed at Tindley’s grave
by a group of admiring pastors.Tindley seemed to write music for suffering people.
Most of his songs held an anticipation of heaven,
when the trials of God’s people were finally over.
Upon reflection he could have been writing for
millions of people in the present day.
His hymns in the United Methodist Hymnal:
Page 373: Nothing Between
Page 512: Stand By Me
Page 522: Leave It There
Page 524: Beams of Heaven as I Go
Page 525: We’ll Understand It Better By and By

I have played his music hundreds of times over the
years but never before knew much about him. I
enjoy his simple melodies, wonderful harmony and
poetic lyrics. An extraordinary person - musically up
there close to Thomas A. Dorsey.

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KINGLAST HALF OF THE
I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH
(UP THERE WITH ABRAHAM LINCOLN)
I am not unmindful that some of you have
come here out of great trials and tribulations.
Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail
cells. And some of you have come from areas
where your quest -- quest for freedom left you
battered by storms of persecution and staggered
by the winds of police brutality. You have been
the veterans of creative suffering. Continue
to work with the faith that unearned suffering is
redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to
Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to
Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums
and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that
somehow this situation can and will be changed.

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say
to you today, my friends.

And so even though we face the difficulties of
today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a
dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream - that one day this nation will rise
up and live out the true meaning of its creed:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all
men are created equal."

I have a dream - that one day on the red hills of
Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons
of former slave owners will be able to sit down
together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream - that one day even the state of
Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of
injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression,
will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and
justice.

I have a dream - that my four little children will one
day live in a nation where they will not be judged
by the color of their skin but by the content of their
character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with
its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips
dripping with the words of "interposition" and
"nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little
black boys and black girls will be able to join hands
with little white boys and white girls as sisters and
brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream - that one day every valley shall be
exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made
low, the rough places will be made plain, and the
crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory
of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see
it together."

This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back
to the South with.

With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the
mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this
faith, we will be able to transform the jangling
discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony
of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to
work together, to pray together, to struggle together,
to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom
together, knowing that we will be free one day.

And this will be the day -- this will be the day when
all of God's children will be able to sing with new
meaning:

My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee
I sing.
Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,
From every mountainside, let freedom ring!

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become
true. And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops
of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.
Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of
Pennsylvania.
Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.

But not only that:

Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.
From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring,
when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet,
from every state and every city, we will be able to speed
up that day when all of God's children, black men and
white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics,
will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old
Negro spiritual:

Free at last! Free at last!
Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!
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FUTURE FOCUS
LAY MINISTRY SUMMIT 2010 - FEBRUARY 14TH

AGENDA FOR FEBRUARY 14TH

2:30 p.m. – Opening, Welcome, Singing

2:40 p.m. – Testimony – Stephanie Simmons,
SW District Missions Coordinator
- Naomi Sea Young Wittstruck,
Conference Leadership Development
Minister for Missions and Social Justice

2:50 p.m. – Open Microphone for further testimonies

3:30 p.m. – Offering for Haiti Disaster Relief

4:00 – 5:20 p.m. – Workshop “Carousel”, 20 min. each

Participants may choose 3 of the 10 workshops
(see map for locations)

There's a 10 minute transition time between workshops

5:30 p.m. - Fellowship Meal –
Soup supper, with a vegetarian option

* Childcare provided throughout the afternoon.

Available Workshops To Attend

Walk to Emmaus:
Leila Blackburn, Lynn Gardner & friends

Disciple Bible Study:
Jerry & Ruth Neal, & friends

Food Ministries:
Angel Food Ministries – Sharon Aupperle

Hancock Free Community Dinner –
Melissa Drake & friends

After-School Ministries:
The Lenox UMC J.O.Y. Club – Carol Rogers

Grant UMC’s “Time to Create” program: Cherie Miner

Mission in Community:
District Missions Coordinator – Stephanie Simmons

Community Ministries at Fifth Ave UMC,
Council Bluffs – Sandi Gobeli

“Friday Free” Program at Epworth UMC,
Council Bluffs – Tom Boomershine

Faith-Sharing in Worship:
“Unbinding the Gospel” at the Lewis UCMC –
Nadine Aydt and friends

“Co-Missioned: Missional Transformation Process:
Sidney UMC – Jaye Johnson & friends

Malvern UMC – Carl Phillips and Brenda Scott

Growing Stewardship:
Consecration Sunday at Red Oak, 1st –
Fred Pilecki & Ron Godbout

Partnering with Schools:
Partnerships in Council Bluffs – Marvin Arnpriester

Kids’ Hope USA at Manning – Sheryl Damman

Hispanic Ministry: Ernie Ruehle,
District Coordinator for Hispanic Ministries
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We come in many different colors and it should
be obvious by now that the wrapper doesn't matter.
It is the heart within.

God Bless and Keep You,
Pastor Lynn