The First United Methodist Church
Dublin, Texas
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May 25, 2014

5/28/2014

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     Pastor Ken Lunsford and six members met for the Safe Sanctuary Webinar on Tuesday, 5-27 at 10:30 am.  Dublin Police Chief, Shawn Fullagar, spoke to the group before the Web telecast about many of the laws concerning child safety and reporting child abuse of any kind.

     Vacation Bible school is set for July 8, 9, and 10.  It will run from 6:00 pm till 8:00 pm.   Please pre-register your children and grandchildren if possible.  For more information call the church office at 445-2157 or email us at secretaryoffice@embarqmail.com

     The Central Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church will be 6-8 through 6-11.  Rev. Ken Lunsford plans to attend.  

     It was announced that young Zeke Miller will proceed from Cub Scouts into the Boy Scouts this May.  Also his brother Nolan scored high on an important math test last week.  Their mother, Jennifer Miller, has written an informative article for the National Aeronautics and Space

Administration.  Congratulations to one and all.

    High School graduation is right here upon us.  Let’s support these youngsters and wish them well.

    Last Sunday Pastor Ken presented a Memorial Day video on the overhead screen.  It honored those who have served in the military and who gave their lives. 

    Laura Leatherwood brought the children’s lesson.  This time she pulled a knife out of her sack! She asked if they knew what it was and the older boys sure did.  It was a Swiss Army Knife.  The boys said the knife had what a soldier needed to survive; a knife, can opener, scissors, and other parts. They said it had a lifetime guarantee.

Laura said that sounds like someone I have heard about. “Could that be Jesus,” Laura asked.  Jesus offers you what you need to survive and He can guarantee eternal life!  So when you see a Swiss Army Knife with a white cross on it, think of Jesus our Savior.

     The children were given small US flags to carry back to their seats.

     The sermon Rev. Ken Lunsford chose on 5-25 was titled “H.O.P.E.”  It was about the hospital ship called H.O.P.E.

     There were big naval ships designated as “haven class” ships which offered the most accessible care to wounded troops during World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.  One of those ships was named the U.S.S. Consolation and capable of caring for over 800 patients plus housing the medical personnel.

      They were painted white and emblazoned with a red cross to show their non-hostile identity.  But this did not insure their safety.

      The Consolation was reborn in 1960 to civilian medical service.  It became Project Hope. It stood for Health Opportunities for People Everywhere.  It sailed across the world bringing help to those who needed it.

      In our scripture today from 1 Peter 3:13-22 and St. Peter’s letter is a clear declaration of hope.  Hope in Christ.

      Christians have hope in God’s mercy and hope in God’s promise of salvation.  They have hope in a future where a redeemed relationship with God will bring perfect peace and holy harmony.

     Cling to hope, we are a people of hope. 

 

 

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May 18, 2014

5/21/2014

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Judy Lunsford served as Worship Leader on Sunday, 5-18.  Judy gave the opening and offertory prayer and read the scripture lesson.

Prayers were requested for our friend, Gracie Maikell, who is in the hospital.

There will be a Safe Sanctuary Webinar on Tuesday, 5-27 from 10:30 am till 12.00 noon. Everyone who will be working with children should attend. 

 That same Tuesday, 5-27, there is a District Conference at the Stephenville First Methodist Church at 7:00pm. 

Next on Wednesday, 5-28, Community Table comes round again!  We serve food from 5:00 pm till 7:30 pm.  So have an appetite built up and be ready to eat.  This means you!  

We had a productive meeting last week to organize the vacation bible school that First Methodist is having this summer.  We will have a space exploration theme and a lot of fun with decorations.  The bible school is set for an evening session.  Any members or parents that want to help or participate call the church office ASAP at 445-2157 email us at secretaryoffice@embarqmail.com

Rev. Ken Lunsford’s sermon was “Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled!”   He took his lesson from John 14:1-14.   This is the scripture where Jesus says “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in me.”  He tells His disciples that “My Father’s house has many rooms and where I go you may go also.” Jesus tells them that He is the way, the truth, and the life.

How would you describe a troubled heart, what words would you use?  Fearful, angry, bitter, envious, or stressed out?   The United States is among the wealthiest countries in the world, and yet it is filled with people, rich and poor, who are anxious about their future and who feel that they don’t have enough.

Most of our troubles boil down to one word: fear.  Envy is fear that we don’t have what someone else does.  Greed is fear that we don’t have enough, that we are somehow incomplete.

Some of us have legitimate fears about our health, our family, or about our future.  But many of us are troubled far beyond what we need to be.  We need to open ourselves to the Great Physician and ask Him to change our attitude toward life.

Ask God for a new perspective.  Step back and look at our lives through the eyes of faith.  Ask God for patience, sometimes problems take care of themselves, don’t live your life dreading things that may never occur.  Faith in God is the best remedy for our problems, so ask God for stronger faith.

Those who live in Christ have an inward joy because they have hope!

Our congregation gained a new member Sunday, he is Jim Denn.  Jim comes to us from the Catholic tradition and we welcome him as a brother in Christ.

Sunday evening Pastor Ken and Judy Lunsford went out to Greens Creek United Methodist’s tabernacle for their co-revival with Greens Creek Baptist Church.  The music was wonderful and the preaching was meaningful.  Bro. Ben Macklin from Stephenville First Baptist brought the message.  After the service we enjoyed all flavors of ice cream served with baked desserts.   Pastor Ken went back on Monday for more preaching, he was getting “his batteries recharged.”   If you didn’t make it out to Greens Creek this year you better hope you live till the next revival, put it on your “bucket list!”


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May 11, 2014

5/14/2014

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     Lisa Leatherwood served as Worship Leader this past Sunday with Cole Moore and Joe Salinas performing as acolytes.

     The congregation sang “Happy Birthday” to all members with May birthdays.

     We wish Cliff “Buddy” Wooldridge a happy day on 5-21.  Jim Leatherwood and James Sage both celebrate a birthday on 5-29.

     Travis and Melba Rasberry have an anniversary on 5-21 and we send them congratulations.

     More congratulations are in order as Cole Leatherwood is getting married in Hearne, TX this week.  Cole’s parents are Eddie and Effie Leatherwood.  We wish much happiness for Cole and his young lady.

     There were many guests in church on Mother’s Day.  Jim and Laura Leatherwood had their children, the children’s spouses and their grandchildren with them.  Nancy and Buddy Wooldridge had their daughter visiting them.  The young woman said she had been having a lot of fun with her mom.  Doris Morton sat with one of her grandsons and a great-grandson. 

     We enjoyed four other guests from Stephenville and Dublin who were not related to members.

     Pastor Ken Lunsford had a contest for the oldest and youngest mothers attending church on 5-11 and Doris Morton won for the oldest!  Megan Leatherwood won for the youngest mom present.  Both ladies received a Bible from Pastor Ken on behalf of our church.

      Pastor Ken presented little pins to all the mothers present.  The Moore brothers, Cole, Brady, and Conner handed them out to the ladies.

      Laura Leatherwood gave the children’s lesson and she brought a picture of her mother to show.  She told a large group of youngsters that her mother was in heaven.  Laura said if you have a mom what kind of gifts can you give her.  The answers were hugs, flowers, gifts, scratch her back, and do your chores.  Laura said you could make her happy if you obey the rules, pray to God, read the Bible and look for Jesus’ words in red letters.  When you know Jesus’ teaching you can obey Him.  Then she gave all the children a back scratcher for their moms.

      The congregation extends profound sympathy to the family of Megan D’ann Horry. Megan is the granddaughter of Dean and Ruthie Bradley.

     Rev. Ken Lunsford’s sermon was “Mothers Day!”   The scripture read was Romans 16:1-13 but Pastor Ken took meaning from many other places in the Bible that gives credence to women.

     In Paul’s letter to the Romans he singles out 26 people for a personal greeting.  Six of these were women.   I think this shows the influence that women had in the early church.  In the male oriented first century Palestine, it is telling that Paul could not describe the church without mentioning the significant role of women.

      There are a lot of important jobs in the world today but not one is more important than the job of being a mother.  I would like to salute all of the mothers who are with us today.

       First Mothers have tenacious love.  As I go around and make hospital calls I see that sick rooms wear out fathers a whole lot quicker than they do mothers.  Fathers get impatient and go in and out, but moms stick it out.

       There is an obscure story in the Old Testament about Rizpah.  She had two illegitimate sons by King Saul.    The sons participated in a conspiracy which resulted in many deaths.  When David took the throne he had these men hung on a public gallows.

     Rizpah goes to the site and begins a sad and lonely vigil beside bodies of her two sons.  We are told she drove away the vultures by day and the jackals by night.  When King David heard of this mother’s vigil and tenacity he was moved to compassion.   He went to Gibeon personally and had the bodies given a decent burial.

     The highest tribute that we can give our mothers is not to praise her, or give her a gift, not to pay a visit, or to come to church with her on her day.  It is to be the kind of person that she, and our Heavenly Father, want us to be.

     Last Monday, May 12, was a cold and wet evening but we had warm and cordial Trustee Board meeting.  Progress was made and they hope to move forward on improvements for our building.

 

 

 

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May 4, 2014

5/7/2014

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     Happy Mother’s Day on the 11th.   We hope all the ladies who are mothers or have done a mother’s job will have a joyous day.

     Monday, May 12 a Trustee Board meeting will be held at 6:00 pm.

     Our last Community Table was bigger than ever!  They served ground beef tacos with all the trimmings and wonderful desserts.  If you need a ride to the meal please call the church and let us know.  This meal is for anyone, young or old, rich or poor, but especially for those who are running low on supplies by the end of the month.  The next Community Table is on Wednesday, May 28 from 5 to 7 pm.

      Our congregation extends sympathy to the family of Helen Boatwright Holladay.  We wish for you all peace and a brighter future.  Pastor Ken preached Helen’s  funeral this past week.       

      Amy Cisneroz celebrated a birthday on May 7, Amy’s brother, Lee Leatherwood will celebrate the 10th.  Wanda Patterson’s birthday is the 18th.  You can send Wanda a card to Three Oaks Assisted Living here in Dublin.

     Lisa Leatherwood served as Worship Leader this past Sunday and Adrian Salinas gave the children’s lesson.

     Adrian brought a pair of eye glasses to show the youngsters.   She talked about how some people cannot see very well.  They don’t notice what is going on around them.  Adrian said eye glasses help a person to see better and to enjoy what they are missing.  Then she read from the Bible in Luke 24 about two men who were disciples of Jesus that were walking on the road going to Emmaus.  A third man joined them on the road.  They talked about the things that had just happened in Jerusalem and the treatment of Jesus and his crucifixion.  When they got to Emmaus they asked the stranger to have supper with them and when He broke the bread they could see He was Jesus!  Immediately He vanished from their sight.

     Adrian said we all should pay attention and try to see what is going on.  We should look for Jesus and we will see Him.

     Rev. Ken Lunsford called his sermon “Distracted by Disappointments, We Can’t See the Forest for all the Trees!”

Each of the Gospel writers tells the Easter story in a different way.  These were the jumbled reports of eye-witnesses to the most dramatic moment in human history, when Jesus of Nazareth was raised from the dead.   For many of us this fact adds a note of authenticity to these accounts.  These were not carefully crafted works of fiction.  They only reported what they had experienced.

     We don’t know why these disciples were going to Emmaus which is about seven miles from Jerusalem.  What we do know is that they walked and talked with each other about their experiences.  Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them; but they both could not recognize Him.  Not until supper when Jesus gave thanks and broke the bread did the men see who He really was.

     When you lose hope, you discard your dreams, and you are blinded to the good things that still surround you.

 

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