Since I announced that I have cancer I have had two main reactions: Those who have had it and survived (there seems to be more of us than you might know) and those who are curious and caring. Very often the two overlap. I know that I am not alone is this nor more important than anyone else. I hope that I do not over burden you with it all. In fact, I won’t write again about this until later.
I will want to discuss it not to bring attention to myself but to bring attention to you. I actually heard from one man who said in essence, “I hope my wife doesn’t find out. She’s been after me to get a check up. Now she’ll have real ammunition.” Well, one word to all, see your physician regularly. In almost all cases early detection is criticle. I think God wants us to take care of this temple. The Bible actually reminds of this.
Second, no matter what you face in life make the best of it. Life is precious, fragile and all to easily taken for granted when things go well. The truth is that we are a part of a great plan the God has created. We do not all see the plan in it’s entirety. If we did, we probably couldn’t take it. It would overwhelm us. However, we can see, live and experience that part God reveals to us in our lives. Therefor, make the best of it.
Well anyway, I wanted to share this with you all since as the senior pastor I need to keep the church informed when things like this come up. I promise that I won’t write much more about it.
Hill County Paw Pals visited Wesley Academy last week and explained to the children the importance of caring for pets and animals. Beau, a mastiff, and Piper, a Chihuahua, were introduced to the children. Paw Pals is a non-profit corporation dedicated to building a county-wide animal shelter and reducing the overpopulation of unwanted dogs and cats. Wesley Academy is a parents day out program at First United Methodist Church of Hillsboro.
On Palm Sunday morning, April 5, the junior high youth will present an Easter Pageant. With costumes and dialogue, the youth will portray the story of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, the events in the Garden of Gethsemane which include Christ’s betrayal and arrest, the crucifixion and the resurrection. This moving presentation will be part of the Palm Sunday activities during the 10:00 a.m. Sunday School hour. , followed by the pageant and an Easter Egg hunt for the younger children. Please bring a dish and be prepared to have Easter week brought to life by the junior high youth.
To read the article click on: www.fivepractices.org and go to “Five Practices Stories” and the article entitled “Helping Ideas Become Practices”. See the picture, too.
Don’t forget that a few weeks ago in the Extravagant Generosity sermon eggs were handed out and taken home. Remember that we are to fill them with money, any amount, and bring them to church on Palm Sunday. The directors of The Wesley Academy, Kids Under Construction and Tweeners will get to hunt for the eggs and divide the funds. So if you haven’t started filling your egg, start now. If you weren’t here that Sunday, just get one of those plastic eggs and fill it. Be sure to tape it so that it won’t fall out. Then bring it to the church before Palm Sunday. I have a few now but we will take them all.
We will have fun watching the ladies scramble to find the eggs!!
I’m back. It was a great trip and we logged in many miles. Traveled through 7 states in a week. Sometimes it was just a passing glance. Still, road trips are fun.
Now to business. I was reading the instructions for leadership for the United Methodist Men in the booklet, “Guidelines for Men’s Ministries” and thought these were good enough to share since they apply to everyone. So here they are.
Traits of a UMMen Leader:
Be honest, humble with a desire to encourage and help others grow as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Be willing to sat aside personal agendas for God’s agendas.
Be growing in his relationship with God through regular prayer, Bible study and worship attendance.
Be mature enough to have an orderly life yet flexible enough to consider new and innovative approaches to men’s ministries.
Practice and model the principles of servant leadership.
As you can see, with a few substitutions these can apply to everyone. How about you? Are you living up to these simple ideas? If so, good. If not, start.
5:30 - Terrific Nights Together (we eat and enjoy the company of the church and community)
6:15 - Junior High Youth
7:00- Senior High youth
Wednesday, March 18
NO YOUTH – Enjoy Your Spring Break
Sunday, March 29 – Youth Trip –
We’ll be looking at leaving at around 9:30-9:45 to go up to Ft. Worth and worship at a different church, so that we can experience how other Christians Worship. After that we’ll grab some lunch and then head to Main Event for Laser Tag and Video Games. Estimated arrival time back at home is about 5pm. The trip looks to cost around $25. We’ll be needing another adult to come along as well, so if you’re interested give David a holler.
A lady goes into a pet store and talks with the owner about being lonely. He sells her a parrot since it will talk to her. Later she returns and complains that the bird hasn’t spoken to her. The owner suggests she get a ladder. As the bird walks up the ladder she could talk with him and he will eventually talk.
After a couple of days, she returns and still the parrot is not talking. The owner suggests a mirror and when the bird walks up the ladder and looks into the mirror she could say, “Pretty bird.” until the bird talks. Still, though, nothing. Then a bell was purchased to simulate the bird further
A couple of days later she comes in. “Well, how’s it going?” she was asked. “My bird died but at least he talked just as he expired.” “Oh I’m sorry. What did he say?” asked the store owner. “Doesn’t that store sell any food!!”, she said.
The point is that as a church we can do all the bells and whistles, all the trappings, all the furnishings, etc. we want but unless we feed those around us, we are not doing what is really needed. We are to be about feeding God’s flock. I am not talking about lunch or supper. I am talking about feeding the soul.
Jesus tells Peter to feed the sheep, tend the lambs and care for the flock. He doesn’t tell him to give a ladder, a mirror and a bell. We as a church are called to feed the flock. We are entrusted to that task.
The poor bird died because he wasn’t fed. The world will die if we do not feed them the word of God. So next time you encounter one of God’s flock, just remember what they need. They will surely speak praise of your kindness.
A team appointed by the Church Council to review the suggestions generated during the recently completed Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations learning/study process made its report at the Council meeting on March 9. The 32 suggestions that were recommended for implementation were categorized by the estimated time required to “put them in place”. The time frame categories were: 1 to 3 months, 3 to 6 months, and longer than 6 months.
During a lengthy and productive meeting, the Church Council endorsed the recommendation of the team and started the process of assigning responsibilities for leading the implementation of each suggestion. As expected some of the items can be implemented rather easily and others require more development, planning, and in some cases funding.
There are opportunities for every member of the congregation to actively participate in incorporating these suggestions for improvement into the life of our church. A listing of the suggestions will be published within a few days. Look it over, choose the item(s) on which you want to work and volunteer your services. Does that sound a little radical or risk-taking ? Seriously, don’t wait to be asked. The benefits of this whole activity are dependent on the broad participation of all of us.
The Methodist Men of FUMC are considering the sponsorship of a program similar to the Hands of Christ Ministry at First United Methodist Church of Mansfield. This program assists home owners in the community who need help with maintenance and repairs to their homes. There will be a planning meeting to discuss the options of just how we might get started, the scope of the endeavor, and other issues, right after TNT on Wednesday, March 11. This is notjust for men and all interested in this matter are invited to attend. We will meet in the Family Life Center at 6:30. Risk-taking Mission and Service? Here is one place to start.
