Sunday Worship Opportunities

THE PROCLAIMER Non-profit organization

Robertsdale United Methodist Church U.S. Postage

Post Office Box 866 Paid

22220 Highway 59 Permit No. 9

Robertsdale, AL 36567

(Change Service Requested)

Robertsdale United Methodist Church

Children’s Church

(4 years through 2nd grade)

10:00AM Worship

8:30 am 9:30 am 9:45 am

11:00 am

Early Worship Fellowship Sunday School Morning Worship

Email Addresses

Web Page Pastor Office Children Youth Office

Phone Numbers

www.robertsdaleumc.com pastor@robertsdaleumc.com office@robertsdaleumc.com children@robertsdaleumc.com youth@robertsdaleumc.com (251) 947-4602 FAX (251) 947-4445

Pastor Youth & Family Director

Director of Children Directors of Music Ministries

Housekeeper Organist Pianists

Secretary/Treasurer Media

Sound

Jonathan Hart Wesley Anderson June Kennedy Harold Clendenin, Paul McKinney and Barbara Jo Newberry Heather Feller Betty Rawls Barbara McKinney and Kim Sanderson Sylvia Thomet Dan Koier, Jennifer Hadaway and Makenzie Kitchens , Ken Sanderson, Tony Hadaway, Evan Summers-Jones, Don Verret and David Kitchens

Worship Music Team:

Renee McKinney, Brittney Kingston, Alex Campbell, Melissa Campbell, Trey McKinney, Danielle Godwin, Joylyn Ruffin, Elaine Wiley, Betty Rawls,

Barbara McKinney, B.J. Newberry, Nancy Cosby, Ethel Clements, Carol Clendenin, Barbara Hansen, Joyce Thames, Melinda Wallace,

Eddie Wrenn, Matt McKinney, Paul McKinney, Chuck Turner, Harold Clendenin, Fletcher McKinney, Eddie Pratt & Natasha Pratt

SUNDAYS: 8:30am Fellowship

9:00am Sunday School 10:00am Worship 5:45pm Youth Snack Supper 6:15-7:30pm Youth Program

WEDNESDAYS: 3:00pm Sonshiners 5:45pm Evening Meal 6:30pm Bible Study, Refuge for Youth, J.A.M.,

Chancel Choir Practice 7:30pm Praise Team Practice

THE PROCLAIMER

“…Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation…” Mark 16:15 NRSV

ROBERTSDALE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH P.O. Box 866, Robertsdale, Alabama 36567 (251) 947-4602

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Vol. 24, No. 10 October 2018

The Ragamuffin Gospel

One of my favorite books is entitled The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning, an alcoholic once-Catholic priest. In

confronting his own demons, he encountered a God of whom he had seldom heard – a God who offers salvation by grace alone through faith alone. He describes the audience to which he writes in “A Word Before”:

“The Ragamuffin Gospel was written for the bedraggled, beat-up, and burnt-out. It is for the sorely burdened who are still

shifting the heavy suitcase from one hand to the other. It is for the wobbly and weak-kneed who know they don’t have it all together and are too proud to accept the handout of amazing grace. It is for inconsistent, unsteady disciples whose

cheese is falling off their cracker. It is for poor, weak, sinful men and women with hereditary faults and limited talents. It

is for earthen vessels who shuffle along on feet of clay. It is for the bent and the bruised who feel that their lives are a grave disappointment to God. It is for smart people who know they are stupid and honest disciples who admit they are

scalawags. The Ragamuffin Gospel is a book I wrote for myself and anyone who has grown weary and discouraged along the Way.”

(Manning, Brennan. The Ragamuffin Gospel. Colorado Springs: Multnomah Books, 2005; pg. 14)

I don’t know about you, but if ever there was a saint who doesn’t have it all together yet is too proud to accept grace

without feeling awkward about it, inconsistent and unsteady whose cheese is falling off their cracker, I feel it’s me. Maybe that’s

not what you want to hear from your pastor! But I believe the church is exactly the place for such struggling pilgrims, as Morton Kelsey once wrote, “not a museum for saints, but a hospital for sinners” (Manning, pg. 23). Jesus Himself is a wounded healer, and

I am reminded recently that is what we are called to be.

Holiness is important. In fact, God commands us to be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16). I believe the first act of holiness is admitting we are not holy. It is falling hopelessly and helplessly, warts and all, into the outstretched arms of grace that have

been waiting to catch us but for our determination not to stumble. It is realizing that by grace we have been saved through faith; and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Thomas Merton once said, “A saint is not someone who is good but who experiences the goodness of God.” (Manning, pg. 25)

I want to ask you an odd and unpleasant question: what in you do you hate? About what are you most self-conscious and

feel most unlovable? Would you dare to open yourself up in prayer and walk alongside God as He takes you to where that thing is inside you, and can you be vulnerable enough to let Him love you there? Brennan Manning writes, “My deepest awareness of

myself is that I am deeply loved by Jesus Christ and I have done nothing to earn it or deserve it.” (Manning, pg. 25) I pray this can be true of me. And I pray it can be true of you.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Jonathan

In the Beginning

While Pastor Jonathan has been leading the adults through the book of Revelation, our youth and I have been studying

the book of Genesis. Thus far, we’ve covered the first eight chapters of the book, have had inspiring conversations, and

have looked together at how what we’re studying applies to our lives. I’ve been so encouraged by the expectation and

wonder with which our youth have approached God’s Word, and their hunger for knowledge of it. In trying to help the

youth better understand the Bible and learn how to study it for themselves, I thought it only appropriate to start in the

beginning. Too often, especially in youth ministry, students are only taught the New Testament. Since I primarily teach

from the New Testament at youth group on Sunday nights, I decided to devote Wednesday night Bible Study to the Old

Testament.

Studying the Old Testament is vitally important. When we know the New but neglect the Old the result is that we often

remain only nominally Biblically literate, sometimes even have misconceptions about how the two fit together. Over the

years, I’ve had many conversations with students who are confused about the God of the Bible. In their estimation, the

God of the Old Testament appears to be a mean and out of control tyrant bent on destruction, while the God of the New

Testament seems to be all about grace and love. When we study both the Old and New testaments learning to view

scripture and the story of God and story of us as a whole, however, we see that this is not the case. The God of the Bible

is the same throughout, Genesis-Revelation. He’s a God of love and mercy who never gives up on us, and who is willing

to be our God as long as we’re willing to be his people. This is what I want our youth to know, because it’s a truth that

can serve as a solid foundation for them, an anchor that holds no matter what may come their way. We are inconsistent.

We fail. We make mistakes. We doubt. Our relationship with God will ebb and flow like any other, yet he is there. He is

constant. He is unchanging. And he loves us. Life is good because our God is good, and life is found only in him. That’s

the truth of scripture and what we’re learning together on Wednesday nights, starting “in the beginning” and continuing

through God’s Word together. At Robertsdale UMC, we have a terrific group of youth and a wonderful church family.

How cool it is that we are studying the beginning and the end together!

3 Reasons We Study God’s Word:

God’s Word Transforms US

God Speaks to Us Through His Word

God’s Word Helps Us Discern Truth from Error

Grace and Peace,

Wes Anderson Youth & Family Director

OUR FELLOWSHIP

Month Day

August 5 August 12 August 19 August 26

Sunday School 98 104 98 103

Worship 139 160 171 166

Budget Offering $9,677.00 $6,288.00 $4,901.53 $3,805.00

Income and Expenses

August 2018

INCOME

Budget Contributions $24,671.53

TOTAL INCOME $24,671.53

EXPENSES

SENIOR PASTOR 7,046.06

YOUTH MINISTER 3,147.26

YM Insurance 800.00

CHILDREN’S DIRECTOR 692.30

Secretary 1,565.40

Nursery Attendant 25.00

Custodian 1,443.08

Payroll Taxes 525.77

Postage 50.00

Pastor’s Prof. Expense 200.00

Youth Minister Prof. Expense 48.74

Copier Lease/parts 230.95

Copier Maintenance Agree. 14.08

Utilities 2367.01

Janitorial Supplies 33.43

Repairs/Maintenance 153.12

Lawn Service 800.00

Tags/License 15.57

Sunday School Lit & Expense 811.00

Bibles, Upper Rooms, Lit. 77.80

Nursery Supplies/Equipment 55.40

Honorariums 300.00

Youth Ministry 51.00

Kitchen Supplies 209.13

Background Checks 19.42

AL/WF Apportionments 3,545.00

TOTAL EXPENSES $24,219.42

EXCESS INCOME/EXPENSE $452.11

October

Birthdays

Oct. 2 Logan Turner

Oct. 3 Charles Campbell

Oct. 4 Milton Head

Oct.5 Matthew Adams, Charlie Koier

Oct. 7 Laura Love

Oct. 8 Vanessa Mattingly

Oct.9 Layne Davis

Oct. 11 Troy Moore

Oct. 13 Donna Boswell

Oct. 14 Dawn Aldridge, Debbie Broussard,

Hannah Wallace

Oct. 16 Trent Walters

Oct. 17 Dennis Calvert

Oct. 18 Louie Golfos

Oct.19 Ashley Kucera, Dee Lees, Natasha Pratt

Oct.22 Russell Campbell, Jenni Wiley

Oct. 24 Barbara Jo Newberry, Ray Shores

Oct. 25 Andy Koier

Oct. 26 Melissa Campbell, Alex Campbell

Oct. 28 Keri Hullihen, Terri Walters

Oct. 29 Kim Gardner

Oct. 30 Edna Aldridge, Judy Cameron

Oct. 31 Mary Barnhill, Daniel Barnhill,

Lynn Golfos

Su

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Tu

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Wed

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at

1

2

3

4

5

6

9-11AM

Food Pantry

9AM

-2PM Preschool

12:30-2PM

Daylight

Dominoes

6PM

CR Step Study

6PM

Joel Council

8:30-10:00AM

Come & Go

9AM

-2PM Preschool

10AM

Prayer Shawl

6:30PM

Scouts

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

6PM

Step Study

DEAD

LINE TO

ORD

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FRU

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!

9-11AM

Food Pantry

9AM

-2PM Preschool

6PM

CR Step Study

6PM

Joel Council

8:30-10:00AM

Come & Go

9AM

-2PM Preschool

9:30AM

Ruth Sirmon Circle

6:30PM

Scouts

9AM-2PM

Preschool

6:30AM M

en’s Prayer Group

9AM-2PM

Preschool

2:30PM Chair Based Yoga

6-9PM Celebrate Recovery

6PM Scouts Com

mittee

Meeting

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

6PM

Step Study 9-11AM

Food Pantry

9AM

-2PM Preschool

12:30-2PM

Daylight

Dominoes

6PM

CR Step Study

6:30PM

Helen Novotny

8:30-10AM Com

e & Go

9AM-2PM

Preschool 10AM

Prayer Shawl

6:30PM Scouts

9

AM-2PM

Preschool

Deadline for November

Proclaimer

6:30AM M

en’s Prayer Group

9AM-2PM

Preschool

2:30PM Chair Based Yoga

6-9PM Celebrate Recovery

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

6PM

Step Study

RETURN TO

2

WO

RSHIP SER

VICES

9-11AM

Food Pantry

9AM

-2PM Preschool

6PM

CR Step Study

8:30-10:00AM

Come & Go

9AM

-2PM Preschool

6:30PM

Scouts

9AM

-2PM Preschool

6:30AM

Men’s Prayer Group

9AM

-2PM Preschool

2:30PM

Chair Based Yoga

6-9PM

Celebrate Recovery

Kelly H

ullih

en

Circle

(Ple

dg

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)

28

29

30

31

6PM

Step Study

9-11AM

Food Pantry 9AM

-2PM Preschool

6PM

CR Step Study

8:30-10AM

Come & Go

9AM

-2PM Preschool

10AM

Prayer Shawl

6:30PM

Scouts

9AM

-2PM Preschool

FALL FESTIVAL

5:00-7:00PM

6:30AM

Men’s Prayer Group

9AM

-2PM Preschool

2:30PM

Chair Based Yoga

6-9PM

Celebrate Recovery

SU

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8

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Early

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Sunday S

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Snack

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: 3:00pm

Sonshiners 5:45pm

Evening Meal

6:30pm

Small Group

Study ,J.A.M., Refuge for

Youth, Choir Practice, 7:30pm

Praise Team

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Just a Reminder: Altar flowers are donated by members and friends of RUMC in memory or honor of loved ones or friends. Flowers left after

Sunday worship services are delivered to shut ins of our congregation.

If you would like to donate flowers or have any questions, please contact

Carol Clendenin.

~ News & Notes ~

Thursdays

6-9PM

October is finally here! I love Fall. Someone said it’s Fall...flip flops,

swimsuits, sunshine, and pumpkins...wait, it’s just Summer in Baldwin

County with pumpkins! Fall makes me think of the

seasons changing. I love the scripture in Ecclesiastes 3:1 “There is a

time for everything and a

season for every activity under heaven.” Just like the seasons changing,

in our Christian walk we may need to change in order to grow toward

being more like Christ.

Looking forward...another reason I love Fall is the Fall Festival. It will be Wednesday, October 31

from 5-7PM with Trunk or Treat starting at 6:30PM. The best decorated vehicle gets a prize, so

start getting your decorations ready! Keep in mind that this is a “family friendly” event so if

you’re coming in costume please dress so as to not scare the little ones. We will have a short

meeting of all volunteers later this month. Please be thinking of anything you’d like to discuss

about Fall Festival. The date and time of the meeting will be announced later.

Wednesday nights have started back and this quarter J.A.M. kids (Jesus and Me) are studying all

about the family: Jesus’ important role in His family, the J.A.M. kids role in their family, and we

will finish with the role that all of us have as a church in God’s family. The bulletin board by the

J.A.M. room has what the children consider to be their family’s artwork displayed.

Service in Christ,

June Kennedy

“Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.”

Matthew 18:5

~ News & Notes ~

Fruitcakes! Fruitcakes! Fruitcakes!

Last Call to order your delicious fruitcakes!

Order from a UMW member or place your order on the order

forms in the fellowship hall. DEADLINE for ordering is

October 7. Cakes are $18.00 and will be ready the week of November 9.

Scholarships Available

Two college scholarships are

available this year—

the Robertsdale United Methodist Scholarship

and

the Heflin-Massey Memorial Scholarship.

Applications are available in the church office

and must be postmarked no later than

December 28, 2018.

The Children’s Fall Festival will be Wednesday,

October 31 from 5:00-7:00PM.

There will not be Wednesday Night Bible study

that night.

Volunteers are needed!

Please see me if you are interested in helping.

Thank you!

Service in Christ…

June Kennedy

Children’s Ministry

“Whoever receives one little child like this in My name

receives Me.” Matthew 18:5

Beginning October 21

8:30AM Early Worship

9:45AM Sunday School

11AM Worship

Annual Church Charge Conference Sunday, November 4

4PM In the Sanctuary

Head Usher:

10:00AM October 7

Tony Smith, Josh Devericks, Bill Dwelle & David Kitchens

October 14 Tony Smith, Joe Kitchens,

Joy Thomley & Emri Stidham

October 21 8:30AM

Tony Smith & Mike Johnson

11AM Kenneth Abbott, Lisa Bayans,

Anthony Cooper & Daniel Barnhill

October 28 8:30AM

Tony Smith & Mike Johnson

11AM Josh Devericks, Roger Barnhill, Mary Barnhill & Dennis Calvert

Service Leaders & Events

October 7 Mr. & Mrs. Charles Campbell

October 14 Mr. & Mrs. Mike Johnson

October 21 Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Calvert

October 28 Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Dyess

October 7

Dennis & Robin Calvert

October 14 UMM

October 21 Daniel Barnhill

October 28

Dan & Susan Koier

10:00AM

October 7

Nancy Blackmon (FD)

Lillian Black (WC)

October 14

Susie Dicken (FD)

Andy Koier (WC)

October 21

8:30AM

Andy Koier

11AM

Lisa Bayans (FD)

Daniel Barnhill (WC)

October 28

8:30AM

Linda Fennell

11AM

Mary Barnhill (FD)

Susie Dicken (WC)