Dear Friends,
Books…. they are such a friend to a pastor until it is time to move!
One of the problems with clergy types is that we have never really believed what the most important book teaches us. In Ecclesiastes 12:12 it says, “Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.” Amen! To paraphrase that passage, for pastors, “Of the purchasing of books there is no end…”
Books are an important tool for people that are called to preach the Gospel. They are full of ideas, information, inspiration, and illustrations. (Note how clergy fall into the continued pattern of alliteration!). Even Paul, a missionary and servant of the Gospel who wrote a major portion of the New Testament, recognized the value of books and reading. In 2 Timothy 4:13, the Scripture tells us that he made this request of his friend Timothy, “When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.”
When we read the New Testament, especially the letters of Paul to the churches, we see that he was a well-read man. He was conversant with Greek philosophy and Hebrew theology. His writings are punctuated with numerous quotes from the Old Testament. His intelligent writing on faith has been a model to all who preach the Good News.
All of us who preach recognize that the message of salvation is simple but deeply profound. One of the great sins of a witness to the Lord is to present the message in terms that are boring or uninteresting to the hearer. The challenge of a preacher is to take the same core idea and present it in fresh ways over the weeks, months, and years in the life of the church.
It takes time reading and studying books to do that task well. These days the internet has provided a convenient channel for gathering information. The World Wide Web contains a wealth of available research for anyone to discover. The blessing of a computer is that as long as there is an internet provider in a place, all a person needs is the necessary equipment to link up to the signal and the study and learning can begin!
However, on the other side of that issue is the amazing blessing of owning and reading a book. What a joy it is to dig into the text, ponder the insights provided by the author, scribble thoughts and reflections in the margins, and keep that book on the shelf where a hard drive cannot crash and lose the information on its pages!
Last week and this week I have been packing my books. It is one of the tasks I find most distasteful when we move. First, I have a lot of books. Second, when they are in boxes, I cannot access what is inside of them. Third, books add a lot of weight to the moving van. Fourth, after we arrive in the new place, I have to unpack and organize them again!
Each time I go through this process, I remember the words of John Wesley. He said, “I am a man of one book.” Even though he read and studied many subjects, his primary focus was on understanding and communicating the message of the Bible.
At First United Methodist Church, there are services of worship at 8:30 and 11:00 each Sunday. Those services are intended to provide an opportunity for us to come together to learn what is in God’s word, the Bible, and to discover God’s purpose for our lives. See you in church!
Blessings!
ARM
Rev Alan R Miller +
On June 11, Rev Miller’s last Sunday with us, the worship schedule will follow our weekly pattern. There will be a Celebration Service at 8:45 and the traditional service at 11:00.
The differences for that day will be as follows. The Celebration Service will not have a sermon. That service will be solely for the enjoyment of the contemporary worship music led by our Worship Team. At 11:00, there will be a Liturgy for the Ending of an Appointment included in the service. Following the 11:00 service, there will be a reception. Check the newsletter for additional details about that event.
Please come share with us on June 11 as we celebrate the three years that the Miller family has spent with us and the ministry that Rev Miller has had at First United Methodist
Chaplain as Guest Speaker on May 28
Chaplain (Major, Promotable) Paul Yacavone will be our guest speaker for both services on Sunday, May 28. Chaplain Yacavone is from Springfield, MA, and his denomination is Church of the Nazarene. He is attached at Fort Stewart to the 3rd Sustainment Brigade and will be going to Fort Lewis, WA, in June.
Bertha Martin Circle To Meet
The Bertha Martin Circle will have their last meeting of the year on June 12th at Holton’s Seafood Restaurant in Midway. If you wish you can meet in the church parking lot at 5:30 to carpool and the meeting will start at 6:00 at the restaurant.
Sunday School Perfect Attendance
Congratulations to the following folks who had perfect attendance in Sunday School during the month of April: Gerald DeLoach, Bill Downs, Ed Edwards, Charles Strickland, Joe Thompson, Carl Varnedoe, Jack Kirkwood.
Vacation Bible School
Mark your calendars for June 19-23. That is when Vacation Bible School is scheduled. Volunteers are still needed. If you can help, please call Donna Rowan at 369-4965 or the church office 368-2200. We are also in need of the following items for VBS. If you can donate some of these please bring them to the church office.
Wet Wipes
Ziploc Sandwich Bags
Fish Crackers
Round Balloons
Curling Ribbon
Snack Bags of M & M Candy
Mini Marshmallows
Jelly Beans
Birthdays Needed
The church secretary is trying to update the membership roll of the church. We are still in need of some birthdays. Please call the church office or email to dfermin@hinesvilleumc.com if we do not
Youth News
On June 3 the youth will be sponsoring a car wash/garage sale to raise funds to go to ASP and to Brunswick for our summer mission trips. This event will take place in our church parking lot so please come out and support our students. If anyone wants to donate any items for the garage sale please drop them off on Sunday mornings, Sunday night before or after MYF, or on Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30. Arrangements can be made to pick-up items by calling Alan Darsey at 877-1960 or 977-4992.
Attention all ASP participants and parents! Forms were given out Sunday night during MYF, if your child was not there, forms will also be given out this Sunday during MYF. Please make sure your child is present to receive these forms. On June 4 there will be a mandatory meeting of all participants and their parents in the church social hall. All forms will need to be turned as well as tools that your child will be taking to ASP on this date.
Attention Jr. High: A $100 deposit is due this Sunday for the mission trip to Brunswick. Sunday we started “clown training” and it was a BLAST! There is still time to take part in this trip. Please call Alan Darsey or Robert Kitchingss (429-1604) for more info.
We need your help!! Power tools and a mini-van or SUV is needed for transportation for ASP. Anyone interested in donating these items please call Alan.
This Thursday night is the last youth Bible study for the summer. Our Jr. High will meet at Elizabeth Goff’s grandparents house- 105 Harrison Dr. Our Sr. High will meet at Alan and Jennifer’s house- 207 W. General Stewart Way. Bring your swim suits because a pool will be involved at both places.
I will support First United Methodist Church by…
MY PRAYERS
Elizabeth Hutton, Ann Powers, Dorothy Stagmeier, Davis Darsey, Faye Darsey, Chris Varmecky, Ethelda Lee, Jack Bell, Irene Martin, John Folker, Scot Sikes.
MY PRESENCE
Sunday School:....................................................................................................113
Worship 8:30:......................................................................................................100
...............11:00: ....................................................................................................123
Total Worship:.....................................................................................................223
MY GIFTS
Received Last Week: ....................................................................................9,126.51
Received to Date:.....................................................................................158,517.00
Memorials:.......................................................................................................200.00
MY SERVICE
Ushers:.................................................................................Clifford Johnson, Capt.
Guy Browning, Bob Dasher, Buddy DeLoach Bob Pirkle, Charles Strickland
Security Steward:..................................................................................... John Long
Greeters: ................................................................ Darlene Goff & Cassie Tanner
Acolytes:............................................................. Molly Zechman & Jacob Mackrill
Crucifer:........................................................................................... Joshua Mackrill
Altar Steward: ......................................................................................Judy Shippey
Children’s Church: ...........................................................Craig & Laura Stafford
Children’s Sermon: .................................................................Heather Garrido
In Sympathy
Christian love and sympathy to Stacy May in the loss of his wife, Jonnie May. Funeral services were held last week in our sanctuary.
New Baby
Congratulations to Kevin & Margaret VanHouten on the birth of their son, Andrew Harris VanHouten born April 15, 2006 at Candler in Savannah.
Nursery Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are needed in all of the nurseries on Sunday mornings during the 11:00 worship service. If you can help out with this ministry, please call the church office – 368-2200 or Nancy Stafford at 884-2433.
Rev. R. Douglas Force
3993 St. Mary's Road
Columbus, Georgia 31907
Pastor Marci Hannah
8000 Waters Avenue #88
Savannah, Georgia 31406
