MAY 2015 Brandenburg United Methodist Church Steeple...
8
MAY 2015 Brandenburg United Methodist Church Steeple Bell Anyone who has spent much time in “the South” is familiar with the creeping vine known as kudzu. The plant was first introduced to the U.S. by the Japanese in 1876. Kudzu spread rapidly after the Great Depression, particularly in the South where the climate was favorable and farmers were active- ly looking for a crop that would fight soil erosion. By the early 1950s, however, kudzu was seen for what it really is: an aggressive weed that, left unchecked, can at- tain heights and lengths of 100 feet, growing at a rate of up to 12 inches per day. While it appears benign, kudzu thrives by overtak- ing and smothering out all other surrounding vegetation. Its dense foliage can climb and cover most any surface, horizontal or vertical, and a blanket of kudzu can weigh down and even snap off shrubbery and trees. And having kudzu around is very expensive – after tallying up both unus- able cropland and eradication efforts, the cost of the perennial pest to our country is over $500 million annually. For me, kudzu is a very apt metaphor for sin. At first, disobeying the Lord and doing our own thing seems harmless enough, even attractive! We tend not to see sin for what it really is until it’s too late. Introduced into our lives by the Enemy, sin seeks first a foothold, then a rapid takeover. It entangles us in its snare, and our forward progress is hin- dered. We trip and fall into a cover of darkness. The weight of sin crushes and suffocates, and even in seasons when we experience respite, when we’re sure our sin is beaten back and under con- trol, we discover to our horror that dor- mancy is not death. And who can calcu- late the cost of separation from God, let alone actually pay it? Only Christ, who was buried under sin’s weight, only to come up through the darkness clutch- ing in His nail-scarred hand its root. – Bro. Jim
Transcript of MAY 2015 Brandenburg United Methodist Church Steeple...
MAY 2015B
ra
nd
en
bu
rg
Un
ite
d M
et
ho
dis
t C
hu
rc
h S
te
ep
le
Be
ll
Anyone who has spent muchtimein“theSouth”isfamiliarwiththecreepingvineknownaskudzu.Theplantwasfirst introduced totheU.S.bytheJapanesein1876.Kudzu spread rapidly after theGreat Depression, particularly intheSouthwhere theclimatewasfavorableandfarmerswereactive-ly looking for a crop that wouldfight soil erosion. By the early1950s,however,kudzuwasseenforwhatitreallyis:anaggressiveweedthat,leftunchecked,canat-tain heights and lengths of 100feet,growingatarateofupto12inches per day.While it appearsbenign,kudzuthrivesbyovertak-ing and smothering out all othersurroundingvegetation.Itsdensefoliagecanclimbandcovermostanysurface,horizontalorvertical,andablanketofkudzucanweigh
downandevensnapoffshrubberyandtrees.Andhavingkudzuaroundisveryexpensive–aftertallyingupbothunus-able cropland and eradication efforts,the cost of the perennial pest to ourcountryisover$500millionannually. Forme,kudzuisaveryaptmetaphorforsin.Atfirst,disobeyingtheLordanddoing our own thing seems harmlessenough,evenattractive!Wetendnottoseesinforwhatitreallyisuntilit’stoolate. Introduced into our lives by theEnemy,sinseeksfirstafoothold,thenarapidtakeover.Itentanglesusinitssnare,andourforwardprogressishin-dered.We tripand fall intoacoverofdarkness.Theweightofsincrushesandsuffocates, and even in seasonswhenweexperiencerespite,whenwe’resureoursinisbeatenbackandundercon-trol,wediscovertoourhorrorthatdor-mancyisnotdeath.Andwhocancalcu-latethecostofseparationfromGod,letaloneactuallypayit?OnlyChrist,whowasburiedundersin’sweight,onlytocomeupthroughthedarknessclutch-inginHisnail-scarredhanditsroot.
– Bro. Jim
2 Brandenburg United Methodist Church May 2015
How is it already May? Not that I’m com-plaining,butit’salwayshardtosaygoodbyetoourSeniorYouthstudents.EveryyearItellourSeniorsinAugusttoenjoytheride,thatgradu-ationwillbeherebeforeyouknowit…MaybeI’malso tellingmyself thesame thing!When Ilookatwherewestartedwiththisyouthgroupandwhereweare today, it’s toughnot togivethisgroupcredit.Theywere7th-graderswhenIstarted,andthey’vedoneasmuchasanyonetogrowourministry.Isaythiseveryyear…butI’mreallygonnamissthisgroup.Ifyouseeanyofthesestudentsatchurchoraroundtownoverthenext fewweeks, give themahugand tellthemyoulovethem!Class of 2015: John Wilson, Hannah King, Jenny Wood,BrittaniButler,KelseySutton,CassidyAdams,GraceRobinson,BrendenWard,CarleaBroth-ers, Georgia Sipes, Micah Kaiser, Nate Tan-guay, Spencer Hackert, Taylor Vanover, TylerRobinson,AnthonyGraham,andRyanJoyner. MeadeCountyHighSchoolGraduationwillbeheldFriday,May29,atHamiltonField.(Spen-cerHackertgraduates inLudington,Michigan,onMay31.) We will recognize our Seniors in all threeservicesonSunday,June7.
Invasion Life Groups! Afewweeksago,wecrankedupafewsmallgroupsforourstudentsaswepreparetotransi-tionintosummer.Thingsaregoingwell,butwehaveroomtogrow!I’mencouragingallourstu-dentstojumpintoagroup,evenifyouknowyoucan’tbethereeachweek.Truegrowthcomesfromtheaccountabilityandbondsthatarebuilt
Bar
rett
How
ard
insmallgroups.Thetimeslistedbelowaresub-jecttochange.Contactmeorthegroupleadersformoreinfo!Hereareyouroptions:
MarisHarreldandMicheleMiller-HSGirls MeetonSundaynightsat5:30KellyHolleyandMeganFackler-MSGirls MeetonSundaynightsat5:30WhitneyHooper-HSGirls MeetonSundaynightsat5:30Rob Miller, Randall Bradley, Stace McElfreshandClayHooper-ALLGuys MeetonSundaynightsat5:30BarrettHoward-YouthPraiseBand PracticemostSundaynightsBarrettHoward-SeniorBibleStudy MeetonMondaynightsat8:00
CongratulationstoCaleWilson,BrettWilson,Colby Dupin, Lauren Laslie, Matt Wilson andEmmaWardwhowereallConfirmedonourlastCelebrationSunday,March29.Alsocongratu-lationstoJennyWoodwhowasbaptizedintheEmergeserviceonCelebrationSunday. Asalways, feel free tocontactmeany timeifyouhavequestionsaboutanyofourInvasionYouth ministries. Cell 270-945-0173 or [email protected]
Bar
If you would like to receive e-mail messagesfromthechurch,[email protected] to be placed on thedistributionlist.Ourmemberslistincludesallmem-bersandregularattendeesforwhomwehavee-mailaddresses.Ourprayerrequestlistgoesonlytothosewhospecifytheywouldliketobeincludedonthee-mailprayerchaindistribution.
Do we have your e-mail address?
Brandenburg United Methodist Church May 2015 3
The Upper Room Living Prayer Center is a 7-day-a-week intercessory prayer ministry staffed
by Christian volunteers.Call 1-800-251-2468 (7am-11pm CST)
and a volunteer will pray with you.
Prayer for the Lost PrayforthatwindowofopportunitywhenIenterin,whentheyletMein,fortrulyIgonowhereuninvited.
The Bible says that the enemy veils the minds of unbelievers to the message of salvation. His top priority is to confuse their thoughts and close their ears so they cannot hear or understand the love of Jesus. When the enemy has this kind of a foothold in a person’s life, only the Holy Spirit can set him free (Jn 6:44). The LORD seeks those who would pray for the lost. “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it. (Ez 22:30). As we pray, His Presence begins to pull back the veil, making the truth known. We pray to evict evil and claim territory for the kingdom, be it an individual life or a definable area such as a school, neighborhood, or county. Pray for exposure to the Presence of God be-cause one glimpse of Jesus can do more than a life-time of human effort. Pray for God to make Himself real to the lost and for the Holy Spirit to soften their hearts to the gospel, convicting them of their need for forgiveness and salvation. Thank the Holy Spirit for wooing them to the Father. Jn 6:44, 16:7-11 Bind in Jesus’ Name the force of doubt veiling their minds. 1Cor 3:14-16, 4:3-4 Believe God for conviction of sin. Acts 2:37-38Pray for their hearts to be opened to believe. Acts 16:14 Strategic prayer can change the spiritual climate, thereby changing everyone and everything in it. The basic premise – prayer invites the Presence of God and the Presence of God has impact. No one can come to me unless the Father Who sent me draws him. John 6:44 Only a personal experi-ence with God himself can cause people to put their hope in the Son. When the Presence is real, the lost will either accept the gift of salvation or flee in convic-tion. There is no neutral ground in the Presence.
Claudia Stull
Visit to the Abbey at Gethsemani The prayer team is coordinating a visit to the Ab-bey of Gethsemani. We will depart from BUMC at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 9. The Abbey of Gethsemani is a community of Trappist monks who have lived, prayed, and worked in this same house of the Lord for over 150 years. The community supports itself by making cheese, fuitcake, and bourbon fudge.We will visit the grounds and Welcome Center which houses a gift shop and offers a film about monastic life. For those interested, we are welcome to attend the 12:15 Sext service which is one of the seven “hours” of the liturgy. The backbone of these services is the 150 psalms, sung or recited according to a two-week cycle. At each hour there is also a hymn, reading from Scrip-ture, prayer of the day and commemoration of Our Lady. The monks have taken a vow of silence, so much of our visit will be quiet time. We will stop for a late lunch and return to the church between 4 and 5 p.m. The abbey charges no admission fee; your only expenses would be for lunch and any items you may wish to purchase in the gift shop. Please contact Clau-dia Stull by May 6 if interested in this day trip: 270-945-7224 (phone or text) or via e-mail at [email protected]. More information about the Abbey can be found at www.monks.org.
Praying with Pastors: Some years ago it was routine for members of our church family to bless and pray with the pastor prior to the services. This is something the prayer team would like to resume and would involve praying prior to the 9 a.m. and 11:11 a.m. services. The prayer need not be lengthy and is intended to bless and support our pastoral staff. Covering our Church in Prayer: I have begun to pray Sunday mornings beginning around 7:30-7:45 a.m. to cover pastors, services, Life Groups, chil-dren’s groups, etc. prior to the first worship service at 9 a.m. I pray geographically, moving throughout the church. I am currently seeking those who would be interested in either joining me during this time or in periodically covering a Sunday morning. I hope to have enough interest that no one person is asked to cover every week. If you are interested in either or both of these initiatives of the Prayer Team, please contact Claudia Stull at 270-945-7224 (phone or text) or via e-mail at [email protected].
4 Brandenburg United Methodist Church May 2015
Our localunit ofUnitedMethodistWomenhasrecentlybeeninvolvedinseveralmissionprojects.Eventhoughourlocalgroupisrelativelysmall,wehavelaunchedoutinfaithtohelptheneedy.Herearesomeexamples: 1.Helping theneedy inAlaska:AhugeboxofusefulitemswassentrecentlytotheUnitedMeth-odistChurchinWillow,Alaska.Everyyear,giftsareauctioned off on March 28, the day “light comesback”tothisarea.Thefundsreceivedatthisauc-tionareusedtoassisttheneedyinthatarea. 2.BlanketsofPraiseannualevent:Eachyear,UMWgroupsthroughouttheElizabethtownDistrictcome togetherandbringbabyquilts (orblankets)
United Methodist Women Mission Projects
tobegiven to theneedy throughout thestate.Lastyear,237babyquiltsweredonatedanddis-playedattheannualBlanketsofPraiseservice.WearedeeplygratefultotheladiesofourchurchfordonatingbeautifulbabyquiltstoBlanketsofPraise.Thisyear’seventwillbeheldat1p.m.May26atRadcliffUnitedMethodistChurch. 3.ThailandMethodistMission:Wehave re-centlysent$400toassistinaddingspacetothesecondBlessingHomewhere191childrenlive.Thesearechildrenwhoarecaughtupintheepi-centerofhumantraffickinganddrugtrades. 4.Recentgiftstomissionprojectsinourstate:$50totheUnitedMethodistHomeforChildrenandyouth,$25toMethodistMountainMissions,and$25toWesleyCommunityHouse. Allwomenofthechuchareinvitedtoshareintheseandothermissionprojects.
Looking Ahead: VBS 2015
VBS will be held Monday, June 29, through Friday, July 3, at Brandenburg United Methodist Church. More information will
be forthcoming closer to the date.
Brandenburg United Methodist Church May 2015 5
MAY COMMUNION OFFERING
KentuckyAnnualConferenceMissionOffering
Eachyear,allchurches in theKentuckyAn-nual Conference are invited to participate in amissionofferingatAnnualConference,andourCommunionOfferingforMaywillgotothismis-sionoffering. Thisyear,theMissionOfferingwillbesharedequallybetweenEbolaResponseandthebuild-ing of a high school in Belmopan, Belize. ThedonationtoUMCOR’sEbolaResponseFundwillenable a long-termapproach that continues toaddress the Ebola epidemic and partners withthe local churches and healthcare facilities toprovidereliefandhope.TheseconddonationwillgotowardthecontinuedconstructionofaUnitedMethodistHighSchool inBelmopan,Belize. Inthis country, the government relies heavily onchurchestoprovideeducationforstudents,andonlyhalfofthechildrenattendschoolbeyondtheprimarylevelduetothelackofavailableschools. Thethemeforthisyear’sconferenceis“Dis-coveringtheUnexpectedJoyinGiving.”Bothoftheseministries are seeking to transform theirworldbymakingdisciplesofJesusChrist.Ouroffering will provide opportunities for joy to bediscoveredinthegiftandthegiver.BishopLind-sey Davis and the Cabinet have set a goal of$120,000withthisoffering.
The2015AnnualConferenceSessionoftheKentuckyAnnualConferenceofUnitedMeth-odistChurcheswillbeheldJune8-11inBowlingGreen.Thethemefor2015is“ReachtheWorld–DiscoveringUnexpectedJoyinGiving.” OnTuesday,June9,conferenceattendeeswillhavetheopportunitytoparticipateinanAfter-noonofService.OneofthegroupsattheAfter-noonofServicewillputtogetherhealthkitsfortheUnitedMethodistCommitteeonRelief(UMCOR).Ourgoalis2,000kits.Onceagain,churchesintheElizabethtownDistrictareaskedtosendtooth-brushes(singlebrushesonlyinoriginalwrapper,nochild-size)forinclusioninthehealthkits.Acol-lectionboxwillbeplacedintheAtriumifyouwouldliketocontributetoothbrushesforthehealthkits.
Fifth Sunday Offering
Sunday,May31,willbeaFifthSunday.Ourspecialoffering on this daywill go to theUnitedMethodistHomesforChildrenandYouth.Thisofferingisvitalinsupportingtheministrytoabused,neglectedandhurt-ingchildrenandyouth.Itenablesustohelpgivehopetothesechildrenforabrighterfuture. Please give generously and help our MethodistHomesoffer thesechildrenachanceto live inGod’sgraceandabundantlove.
Aldersgate Renewal Ministries (ARM) will presentAldersgate2015–Relentless Love –July9-12 inLex-ington. Morethanjustaconference,Aldersgate2015isastrategicallydesignedexperiencewherepeopleofallageshavetheopportunitytoencounterGodandbeencouraged and equipped to live and love like Jesus.Through song, creative prayer experiences, and rele-vantteaching,celebratetherelentlessloveofGodthatheals,inspires,compels,andtransformsbythepoweroftheHolySpirit. Thereareactivitiesandeventsforadults,youthandchildren.Anurserywill alsobeavailable.Registrationformsmaybefoundonthebulletinboardinthemaincorridor at church. You may also visit www.Alders-gate2015.orgforinformationandregistration.
Aldersgate 2015Relentless Love
Church Office Hours:Monday-Thursday 8:00a.m.-4:00p.m.Friday 8:00a.m.-12:00noon
Regular Weekly Events:Sunday, May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 9:00a.m. TheBlendWorshipService 10:00a.m. SundaySchoolLifeGroups 11:00a.m. TraditionalWorshipService 11:11a.m. EmergeWorshipServiceMonday, May 4, 11, 18 10:00a.m. SistersinChrist(varioushomes)Tuesday, May 5, 12, 19, 26 10:00a.m. SistersinChrist 6:30p.m. BoyScoutsWednesday, May 6, 13, 20, 27 6:30p.m. LifeGroups(decidedindividually) 6:45p.m. BrothersinChrist (EdwardJonesBldg.) 7:30p.m. ChancelChoirRehearsalThursday, May 7, 14, 21, 28 6:30a.m. BrothersinChrist 6:00p.m. CubScoutsFriday, May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 6:00p.m. GirlScoutsSaturday, May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 7:00a.m. BrothersinChrist (StoneLawOffice)
MAY CALENDAR
Please Remember: When there is no school (either scheduled or canceled due to weather),
there will be no church activities, including Halftime activities and shut-in meal delivery.
6 Brandenburg United Methodist Church May 2015
Current Events:Sunday, May 3 5:00p.m. SPRCMeeting 6:00p.m. ChurchCouncilMonday, May 4 12:00noon MinisterialAssociation 6:00p.m. MissionTeamMeetingTuesday, May 5 5:00p.m. PrayerTeamMeetingThursday, May 7 12:00p.m. NationalDayofPrayer PrayerServiceatCourthouseWednesday, May 6 4:30p.m. FamilyLifeCommitteeSaturday, May 9 9:00a.m. PrayerTeamTriptoGethsemaniMonday, May 11 6:00p.m. CubScoutCommitteeMeetingThursday, May 14 5:30p.m. LoveinActionMealSaturday, May 16 8:00a.m. FLCReserved HamiltonGolfScrambleSunday, May 17 9:00a.m. BloodmobileTuesday, May 19 8:30a.m. VAOfficerSunday, May 24 3:00p.m. FLCReservedMonday, May 25 - Memorial Day Church Office ClosedTuesday, May 26 1:30p.m. UnitedMethodistWomenThursday, May 28 5:30p.m. LoveinActionMeal 6:00p.m. TrusteeMeetingSaturday, May 30 1:00p.m. FLCReserved
Brandenburg United Methodist Church willsponsorablooddriveSunday,May17,from9:00
a.m. to 1:00 p.m., in amobilebloodmobiletobeparkedoutside. Every two secondssomeone in the U.S.needs blood because ofillnesses and diseases,
accidents,injuriesandviolence.Sevenoutoftenofuswillneedbloodduringourlifetimeandyouneverknowwhenyoumayneedit.Eachdonorcansaveasmanyasthreeliveswithonepintofblood.Giving blood is quick and easy and youcandoitevery56days. Nancy Inman is our blood drive coordinator.Formore information, please contact Nancy at270-422-4413 or Rose at the church office at270-422-2810.
CassidyAdams CarleaBrothersBrittaniButler AnthonyGrahamSpencerHackert RyanJoynerMicahKaiser HannahKingGraceRobinson TylerRobinsonGeorgiaSipes KelseySuttonNateTanguay TaylorVanoverBrendenWard JohnWilsonJennyWood
Congratulations to the Class of 2015!
Brandenburg United Methodist Church May 2015 7
ATTENDANCE REPORT for MARCH 2015
Date Life Groups Worship TotalMarch1 163 343March8 112 347March15 129 286March22 84 248March29 99 450
9:00 AM – The Blend ServiceUshers: Ed&PatCates,Amy&ScottBogardGreeters: Narthex-DaveMitcham ParishHall-SueMitcham Atrium–T.ParkerWelcome Center:SueMitchamCommunion Servers: Jim&PatCarlson SteveCannady,KasiSchoenbaechlerRevolution Kidz -Tobecontacted
11:00 A.M. – Traditional ServiceTellers: MarthaPile,RobynProctorUshers: MIchaelSmith(HeadUsher), StevenWard,JeffCannady, GlenWilson,SandraStoneGreeters: Narthex-JudyApplegate ParishHall–KarenIlario Atrium–10:00a.m.-JenniferMiller 11:00a.m.–BrunoIlarioWelcome Center: JudyApplegateCommunion Servers: DeeDee&JoelRamsey, Linda&DonDodson
11:11 a.m. – Emerge ServiceConnectTeam:May3: AlisonHoward,KellyHolley, StephanieStoneMay10: Lori&MikeCollard,EdiePace,AlexAikinMay17: EdiePace,Julie&JasonSutton,ToriAikinMay24: Steve&RhondaLaslie,SandyLove, LoriCollardMay31: Kelly&NateHolley,AlexAikin, TaraPowers
Revolution Kidz/Jr. Youth - 10:00 a.m. Pre-K/K: DeniseCorleyGrades 1/2:MaryBethMcQuary,NickiBanksGrades 3/4:KellyNelsonGrades 5/6:JackieBruington
Children’s Church - 11:00/11:11 a.m. Grades 1/2:DanaeMiles,MelissaVowelsGrades 3/4:SarahMcElroy,LoriCollard
Nursery volunteers:MAY 3: TobecontactedMAY 10: TobecontactedMAY 17: TobecontactedMAY 24: TobecontactedMAY 31: Tobecontacted
SERVING OUR CHURCH IN MAY MAY EVANGELISM AND CONGREGATIONAL CARE
Evangelism Volunteers for first time guests Jim&PatCarlsonAssisted Living & Rehab Visitation DawnSchollShut-in Food Preparation Week1–BeverlyFurnival,SheilaSager Week2–SandyWood,DawnScholl Week3–LeeKlockow,MelissaWardrip Week4-SharonMartin,JenniferHonakerShut-in Food Delivery Week1–BevFurnival,SheilaSager Week2–EarlMurphy,JohnnyBruington Week3–SandraStone,ChristineRamsey Week4-Sharon&DonMartin
Monthly servers are listed in the bulletin the last Sunday of the month and the monthly Steeple Bell.
If you are unable to serve on the day you are scheduled, please make arrangements, when
possible, to switch days with another member.
From the family of Barbara Yonker: Thank you so much to everyone who cooked,served and cleaned up for thewonderfulmeal youprovidedforourfamily. Momhadbeenphysicallyunabletoattendchurchforalongtime,butyouweremissed.
Sincerely, Ellen Armstrong
Dear Church family, Thankyouformakingour65thanniversaryspe-cial.Thanksforthebeautifulbasketofflowers,foodfromHomePlate,cardsandphonecalls. Wethankeachandeveryone. MayGodblessyouall.
We love you, Azro and Mary Janes
THE STEEPLE BELLBrandenburg United Methodist Church215 BroadwayBrandenburg, KY 40108
ADDRESSSERVICEREQUESTED
ORGANIZED 1829MAY 2015 EDITIONPASTOR: Jim Robinson
SUNDAY SCHOOL: 10:00 A.M.SUNDAY WORSHIP: 9:00 A.M., 11:00 A.M. and 11:11 A.M.
NON-PROFITORGANIZATIONPERMIT#6
U.S.POSTAGEPAIDBRANDENBURG,KY40108
CHURCH: (270) 422-2810PARSONAGE: (270) 422-2833
PASTOR’S E-MAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]’S E-MAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]
WEBSITE: www.brandenburgumc.comCHURCH FAX NUMBER: 270-422-5771
(1)ChesterDavisson,EmilyLepley,RobynProctor(2)LeviHamilton,MaryseParrish(3)DorisMangin,RustyPadgett,AnnaWilson,ZacharyWoolfolk(4)EricKing,JackLowndes,ChrisSheets,MeaganWright(5)AmyBogard,KatieWooldridge(6)JeffCannady,SteveCannady(7)HannahKing,KyptonMattingly(8)AngelaKerrick,PiperVowels,EllaWheatley(9)JuliaReed,CharlotteShepard(10)RandallBradley,JonahPapp(12)BethanySpencer(13)TravisAlexander,GraysonJones,EarlSmiley
(14)RichardMattingly(15)JacobMiller(16)MelissaAikin,NathanielFaith,AveryFord,CalvinHackert,BudWilson(17)DebbieTonelli(18)AnnaRohland(19)JamesCarreer,GrantKing(20)DeniseCorley(21)ColeCorley,MeganCorley,DaveWilson(22)JordanKing(23)BrandenGlen,RebeccaGrant(24)LindseyRoberts,JohnSaylor,MichaelSchwartz,JamesTussey(25)BryceMargle,ScarlettPowers(26)MasonDossett,AverySydnor(27)AshleySydnor(29)CraigMorris,JennyRohland,CarissaSchwartz(30)BubWarren
BIRTHDAYS
