Well, the sun is shining. School will soon be out. Vacation Bible School is just around the corner. Here are few pictures from last year's Church Picnic to get us in the mood for summer...
http://picasaweb.google.com/ellykay24/ChurchPicnic03August2008?authkey=fciIzL6wsgo#
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Who We Are at Central United Methodist Church
We are Christians! We believe in the one God, who loves us and who proved his love for us through his Only Son, Jesus Christ. We are followers of Jesus. We take seriously that scripture where Jesus told us to "deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him."
1. Deny self: It doesn't say to only deny ourselves "things." That's only a small part of it. God knows, after all, what things we have need of, and has promised to supply all our needs according to his riches in glory. God knows we need basic necessities of life, and has asked of us, his followers, to trust Him to provide for us, and then "all these things that we have need of will be added unto us."
This call is to deny "self." Be willing to deny ourselves some of our time in order to minister to others in Jesus' name. Be willing to give of "ourselves" in service. That means, above all else, we are a people who take seriously God's Love Command: "Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself." So, we must be willing to give of our "self" as well as our resources in order to fulfill the love commandment.
2. Take up your cross: Just as Jesus had a cross to bear, so do we. Bearing a cross entail being willing to suffer on behalf of others. This goes right back to the love commandment. Scripture says, "No greater love is this, that you lay down your life for your friends." Jesus was willing to lay down his life for us, and he asks that we love others AS HE HAS LOVED US. Bearing a cross is not easy. Some days it is difficult; other days it is easier. But always, Christ has promised to help us bear that cross, carry it where he leads us in life.
Your cross, my cross, is the burden (and blessing) we accept when we become followers of Christ. It is our personal Christian path through life that we must follow to be faithful. As a minister I have burdens, crosses, that you may not have. You may be a Christian teacher, lawyer, doctor, technician, mother, father, caregiver, factory worker, self-employed business persons, etc., but in each of these vocations, in order to be a follower of Jesus, there is a cross one must be willing to bear. In these situations, we ask ourselves, "How can I be a faithful Christian and witness of the love of God and the love of neighbor where I am?" Living this out will, no doubt, bring criticisms, even hatred at times from others, who do not see the importance of God in their lives. So, our being faithful where God has placed us, is a major way we "carry our cross."
3. Follow Me: Follow Jesus. Follow where He leads you in life, where He wants to take you. You and I do not go anywhere alone. When we prayerfully listen to Him, and seek direction and wisdom through Him, we will not go astray. We will obey God's commandments (the Ten Commandments summed up in God's Love Commandments). When we do this, we show others what it means to follow Jesus. He is the only Perfect One who so lived and gave of himself as to point us back to God.
That is, scripture says that Jesus is "the way, the truth, and the life." To know Jesus is to know God; to follow Jesus is to discover through Him, the way that leads us to God and eternal life.
May God richly bless you this week.
Rev. Finegan
1. Deny self: It doesn't say to only deny ourselves "things." That's only a small part of it. God knows, after all, what things we have need of, and has promised to supply all our needs according to his riches in glory. God knows we need basic necessities of life, and has asked of us, his followers, to trust Him to provide for us, and then "all these things that we have need of will be added unto us."
This call is to deny "self." Be willing to deny ourselves some of our time in order to minister to others in Jesus' name. Be willing to give of "ourselves" in service. That means, above all else, we are a people who take seriously God's Love Command: "Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself." So, we must be willing to give of our "self" as well as our resources in order to fulfill the love commandment.
2. Take up your cross: Just as Jesus had a cross to bear, so do we. Bearing a cross entail being willing to suffer on behalf of others. This goes right back to the love commandment. Scripture says, "No greater love is this, that you lay down your life for your friends." Jesus was willing to lay down his life for us, and he asks that we love others AS HE HAS LOVED US. Bearing a cross is not easy. Some days it is difficult; other days it is easier. But always, Christ has promised to help us bear that cross, carry it where he leads us in life.
Your cross, my cross, is the burden (and blessing) we accept when we become followers of Christ. It is our personal Christian path through life that we must follow to be faithful. As a minister I have burdens, crosses, that you may not have. You may be a Christian teacher, lawyer, doctor, technician, mother, father, caregiver, factory worker, self-employed business persons, etc., but in each of these vocations, in order to be a follower of Jesus, there is a cross one must be willing to bear. In these situations, we ask ourselves, "How can I be a faithful Christian and witness of the love of God and the love of neighbor where I am?" Living this out will, no doubt, bring criticisms, even hatred at times from others, who do not see the importance of God in their lives. So, our being faithful where God has placed us, is a major way we "carry our cross."
3. Follow Me: Follow Jesus. Follow where He leads you in life, where He wants to take you. You and I do not go anywhere alone. When we prayerfully listen to Him, and seek direction and wisdom through Him, we will not go astray. We will obey God's commandments (the Ten Commandments summed up in God's Love Commandments). When we do this, we show others what it means to follow Jesus. He is the only Perfect One who so lived and gave of himself as to point us back to God.
That is, scripture says that Jesus is "the way, the truth, and the life." To know Jesus is to know God; to follow Jesus is to discover through Him, the way that leads us to God and eternal life.
May God richly bless you this week.
Rev. Finegan
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Youth Collect Items for Soup Opera
YOUTH COLLECTING items for the Soup Opera: for the month of May they will be collecting Personal Hygiene items. The have placed a box in the back of the sanctuary for the items to be dropped into and then will deliver first of June. Here is a list of items the kids came up with:
Toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush or comb, soap or body wash, shampoo, conditioner, mousse, hairspray, Q-tips, mouthwash, hand sanitizer, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, hand and/or body lotion.
Graduates Needed
So, you have made it through kindergarten, through jr. high, through high school, college, or your masters and beyond. Well we want to know about it.
Central will be honoring all graduates during recognition Sunday, May 31st. Bring your diploma, bring your pictures, bring your family. We want to celebrate your great accomplishments. Call the church office with information.
Congratulations graduates!
Central will be honoring all graduates during recognition Sunday, May 31st. Bring your diploma, bring your pictures, bring your family. We want to celebrate your great accomplishments. Call the church office with information.
Congratulations graduates!
Friday, May 8, 2009
Faith In Action
Members from Central United Methodist Church recently participated in the community wide mission project called: Faith In Action. Central members picked up mops and buckets and paint brushes recently to demonstrate their Christian love for the community.
The event, organgizedby several Methodist Churches in Fairmont, was a huge success, and featured participants of all ages. Central's Faith In Action coordinator was Bob Cover, and he had nothing but praise for all of the wonderful deeds that our members accomplished.
Learn more about Faith in Action from this WBOY TV story:
http://wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=57057
The event, organgizedby several Methodist Churches in Fairmont, was a huge success, and featured participants of all ages. Central's Faith In Action coordinator was Bob Cover, and he had nothing but praise for all of the wonderful deeds that our members accomplished.
Learn more about Faith in Action from this WBOY TV story:
http://wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=57057
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)