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July 27, 2014

7/30/2014

The First Methodist ladies along with assistance from the community did a fine job of serving a noon meal to June Trice’s wonderful family on Saturday. It was a labor of love.

Stormy Armstrong and Judy Lunsford were talking about how much cooking the women had been doing at the church. There was the July Vacation Bible School, the funeral dinner, and Community Table on 7-30. They have coined a new word, it’s “eat-a-rama.” We have one eating session after another, it’s time for a break!

Our church is having a garage sale in front of Rodney Armstrong’s building on N. Patrick St. on Saturday, 8-2. We will load up large trailers and haul them under the awning at Armstrong’s.

Anyone setting up an apartment or dorm room for the first time should come by and see what is on the trailers.

On Sunday, August 3 there will be a short Finance Meeting after church.

Judy Lunsford was asked to preach at Greens Creek United Methodist Church last Sunday. Their pastor, Mike Hannah and his wife Fran, traveled to North Carolina to visit family, so Mike asked Judy to fill in for him.

Judy has a prophesied that the Greens Creek congregation will be very happy to see the Hannah’s when they return.

Rev. Ken Lunsford titled his sermon “The Kingdom of Heaven is like …!” The scripture used was Matthew 13 : 31-33 & 44-52. In this part of Matthew Jesus talks about the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed.

The mustard seed is small, but it grows into a very large bush. Large enough for birds to build their nest in its branches.

Jesus is saying, “God is at work even though our human eyes often fail to perceive what is happening.”

We live in a society impressed by bigness, yet little things have tremendous impact. Tiny viruses can kill millions, heart valves no larger than a man’s thumbnail can mean life or death. We should underestimate the power of little events.

Jesus says in parables that the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, it is like yeast that will rise in the bread, it is like treasure hidden in a field, it is like a pearl of great value found in the market place, and it is like a net thrown into the sea which is full of fish of every kind.

When God moved in history for the salvation of humankind, He did not use a legion of angels or a meeting with the kings of earth. He did so with a seed planted in the womb of a peasant girl. That microscopic seed would grow into a man who would change the world and die for your sins and mine.

Invite someone to church, go by and give them a ride to church, take them home with you for lunch. You can be a disciple of Christ, you can make a difference!

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July 13, 2014

7/16/2014

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     Our Vacation Bible School held last week was great! Whew, we are worn out from singing, hand motions, jumping up and down and going from class to class. It really was “a blast.”   Huge thanks goes to Laura Leatherwood for directing and organizing this school, plus Laura taught the pre-kindergarten class. Leta Sage served as music leader and “Mission Control Leader.” Leta did an exuberant job. She has so much energy!   Pastor Ken Lunsford told Bible stories and “life lessons” over and over again, but the lessons seem to have taken. Stormy Armstrong and Kathy Logan served up tasty food for our supper each night and ended the school with a spaghetti supper for the parents.

      Many others worked hard to make the school a success, some came from other churches. Many members donated food and supplies. God bless them all for their endeavors.

      During the church service Sunday, a power point program was shown of the bible school activities. It was set to the music and songs the children learned. It was important the congregation see and hear what the school was about.

      Pastor Ken gave appreciation certificates to everyone who worked for the Bible school after the power point program.

       “Happy Birthday” was sung to our July birthday members and “Happy Anniversary” sung also. Those who have celebrated a birthday are Jennifer Miller, Erika Rowe, Conner Moore, and Jack Parks. Judy Beckham will celebrate on 7-20, Eddie Raley on 7-21 and Deborah Hammonds on 7-29.

      Pat and Lisa Leatherwood enjoyed their anniversary on 7-5 and Mike and Mary Haley married on 7-21.

      Pastor Ken asked our church to pray for Mickey Belew who is seriously ill.   Keep Butch and Carolyn Belew in your prayers also.

     Norma Westmoreland and Kim Burks were added to our prayer list.

     Mary Haley thanked all those who donated to the Food Pantry and said to keep giving because there is great need.

     Encourage folks having a difficult time fixing meals to attend the Community Table. Our church received a wonderful thank you card from a couple who enjoyed their meal here. The next Community Table meal is on Wednesday, 7-30 from 5:30 till 7:30 p.m.

       Our scripture lesson was from Matthew 13: 1-9 and 18-23. In these verses Jesus tells a parable about a farmer scattering seed, then Jesus explains the deeper meaning of the story.

     Jesus spoke in parables and this scripture compares the Kingdom of God to a sower spreading seeds. Some of it falls on hard ground and is unable to take root. Some falls on shallow ground and initially sprouts but it withers without deep roots. But some seed fall on good earth and comes to fruition and produces a harvest.

     The lesson Jesus says is the sower is God, the seed is the Kingdom, and the various kinds of soil represents you and me. This story really concerns the different types of soil. Or the response of the people to the Kingdom.

     What is the state of our hearts when the seeds are sown with us?

     The first is the hardness of heart. Jesus talked about soil that become packed down under the feet of men. These people hear the gospel every Sunday, they just don’t let their religion get in the way of how they want to live. The seed never really penetrates the soil of their heart.

      Secondly there is a distracted heart. Jesus explained the seed that fell in thick briar patches. Briar patches are worry and wealth, either can distract the heart.

      The defeated heart is next, it is rocky ground. Those folks are quick starters who fade away. They are those who seek Christ’s gift but resent the cost.

      Finally comes the hopeful and joyous heart. This can produce fruit a hundredfold. This is meant to be the people who hears the word of God, considers it in their mind, and act accordingly. Thank God; for these people are the hope of the world.

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July 6

7/9/2014

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Judy Lunsford served as Worship Leader last Sunday.

      We were glad to see Doris Morton back in church and feeling better.   Also there was thanks given for Kathy Logan’s safe return from Kansas. Kathy said they had a good visit with her sister, June Trice, and June enjoyed the visit.

      Stormy Armstrong told the congregation her brother, Chris Humphreys, had been back in the United States for a long visit and is now working in Turkey. The family is relieved Chris is out of Afghanistan. Their relief is short-lived because her niece, Sam’s daughter, has gone to Cambodia on a church related trip. Those Humphreys are a traveling bunch!

       Our Vacation Bible School started Tuesday, 6-8. Each night of the school at 5:30 p.m. we are serving a meal to the children and workers. Thursday, 6-10 is family night, so if your child is attending, come on out, eat supper and see what the children are learning.

       Remember the Food Pantry here at First Methodist Church.   Many families have been served this summer and the pantry is running low. All kinds of canned goods, and “dry” items are good choices. Money donations will be accepted in the office. For more information call 445- 2157.

       The family and friends of Dr. Russell Reynolds of Comanche has our congregation’s utmost sympathy and prayers. We offer prayers also for the men burned and injured in the fireworks explosion on 7-3 in Comanche.

       Rev. Ken Lunsford titled his sermon “Appetite or Desires.” The scripture he used was Romans 7 and Matthew 11.

      Cravings; we all get them. Whether it is for ice cream late at night or a dish our grandmother made when we were small. We crave with our memories and our souls. As life unfolds we desire more expensive things. Our appetite is whetted by success, money, security, and power. Our appetite shifts from tasty to take-over.

     In Matthew’s gospel Jesus notes that He is criticized by the authorities because He came eating and drinking. Jesus visited with and ate with all sorts of persons. Yet John the Baptist, the one announcing the coming of the Messiah, was considered strange for living in the wilderness, living off locusts and wild honey. John too, was “wrong” for the mainstream people.

     There is a chasm separating our earthly appetites and our eternal desires. St. Paul wrote,” I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” It is both a personal apology and a profound confession of the human spirit. Finding a way to discern our true desires takes Jesus.

     Jesus, who came eating and drinking did so to connect with the people who most needed to hear about the coming of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus gives something that sustains our soul for a lifetime. Jesus gives us a desire to love God and love each other with our heart, head, and hand. Desires of the Spirit moves us beyond the mundane to the miracle of abundant life.

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June 29, 2014

7/2/2014

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    The joint pool party with Deleon First United Methodist Church was a “rock ‘in” success. It was difficult to find a parking place in the pool area and some parked almost to the front gate! We met here in Dublin at our public pool and set up tables to serve hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, baked goods and homemade ice cream.

     People of all ages got in the pool to swim and folks of all ages sat and visited with each other. There was a large group of men and boys in the pool playing a game with a ball; maybe it was water polo.

     We listened to some Christian Rock music recorded by Joseph Cisneroz and others from Deleon. I thought it was a professional group till someone told me it was Joseph. Joseph is the son-in-law of Pat and Lisa Leatherwood.

      Pastor Ken Lunsford of Dublin and Pastor Judy Richmond of Deleon were shaking a lot of hands and grinning ear to ear, and with good reason. This was one of the most successful “small church projects” I have ever been to. Praise the Lord.

      6-29 was a fifth Sunday Singing. We called out our favorite hymns and sang instead of hearing preaching. The service was followed by a covered dish dinner. We enjoyed many good things from the garden.

      After the dinner there was a Vacation Bible School decorating work session. Our fellowship hall is looking like outer space. Laura Leatherwood directed the work and Jimmy Leatherwood brought us a tall ladder to use. We have the sun, moon, stars, and planets floating from the ceiling. All we need now is lots and lots of children to come and learn about their Lord and Savior.

      It was announced that Kathy Logan and her brother, Carl B. Sanders, have gone to Kansas to see their sister, June Trice. June is very ill and asked the family to come. We will keep them all in our prayers.

      The congregation extends sincere sympathy to the family of Emma Cortez. Emma is the mother of Sarah Button.

      Doris Morton had a trip to the hospital, but she is back home and doing ok.

      For Children’s Time, Laura Leatherwood brought a jar of jelly beans to show the youngsters. She asked the children to guess how many sweet beans were in the jar. No one got even close, but Laura said there is someone who would always know. She said God knows how many hairs we have on our head, He knows how we are doing. He watches over the little sparrow birds and He watches over you and me.

      Laura gave out a few jelly beans to eat to the children, but she did not want to spoil their dinner.

      The scripture read was from Romans 6:12 – 23. Verse 23 says the wages that sin pays are death, but God’s gift is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

       Bring Food Pantry items next Sunday, 7-6. Rice, beans, peanut butter and crackers are good choices. Call our office for more information at 445- 2157.

       Wherever you may go, be faithful to your church and support it with your prayers and your presence.

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July 27, 2014

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