The First United Methodist Church
First Methodist Church Dublin, Texas
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November 18 & 25

11/27/2012

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The Community Wide Thanksgiving Service was uplifting from beginning to end. Rev. Harold and Community Baptist Church served as our hosts. The Invocation was given by Rev. Gerald Freeman followed by a “Thanksgiving” music selection sung by Dan DeVivo. Dan has one of the smoothest voices I’ve heard in years. Next Jana Roan led the congregation in singing two hymns. Rev. Ken Lunsford read from the New Testament and Rev. Jimmy Holleman gave the Offering Prayer. Sheera Emerson sang “Mary’s Alabaster Box” and put tears in our eyes and a lump in our throat. Rev. Brian Emerson preached the sermon God had laid on his heart to give.

Rev. Emerson asked us “who is our neighbor?” Then he told us about the hardship and difficulties the pilgrims faced. He explained what a help the Indians were to the settlers and how fortunate they were to be befriended by these Native Americans. Rev. Emerson said there were people in Dublin that needed our help and friendship. We should get out of our comfort zone and go to these people if we are to tell them about Christ. Brother Brian gave a thought provoking message.

Rev. Ronnie Horton dismissed us with a Benediction and we went to the fellowship hall for some tasty refreshments.

On Sunday 11-18 Leah Kunselman was our acolyte.

We learned the children’s playground area has been refurbished. Concrete has been poured to form a curb and wood chips have been spread in the play area. The congregation gives a big thanks to Pat and Lee Leatherwood, David Cleveland and Ken Lunsford for the work done on the playground.

Laura Leatherwood gave the children’s lesson. Laura brought some marbles and a cup to show the children a lesson on thankfulness. She told the young folks you may have heard the saying “My cup runs over” well we are going to put a marble in the cup for all the things we are thankful for. They put marbles in till the cup was full and realized there was a lot to be thankful for.

Rev. Ken Lunsford titled his sermon “Provoke One Another to Love.” The church of Jesus Christ is intended to be a community that encourages one another, that provokes one another to love and good works. Christ set the example of love and kindness for us. “We love because he first loved us,” says John 4:19.

Sunday, 11-25 Laura Leatherwood served as worship leader and gave the children’s lesson.

Laura asked the children if they had ever been sick. She said she had tonsillitis and other sickness. Laura said this time of year a lot of children get “I wantitis,” they want too many things and their Christmas list is too long. The Bible teaches us to be happy with what you have. If we use what we have, we have enough.

“Christ the King” was the title of Pastor Ken’s sermon based on John 18:33-37.

When Jesus is questioned by Pontius Pilate Jesus tells him “My Kingdom is not of this world.” Pilate says you are a king then! Jesus replies yes, I am, born a king to testify to the truth. The kingdom Pilate understands and the Kingdom of Jesus the Christ are not compatible. The kingdom of God and the kingdom of man do not see eye to eye.

Jesus told Pilate for this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.

Our congregation extends sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Dannis Lozano. Rev. Ken Lunsford officiated at the funeral of his friend and Laurel St United Methodist Church provided a luncheon for the family.

There is much sickness in our community, let’s all help when and where we are needed.

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November 11, 2012

11/14/2012

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The Lord’s Acre was a success. We had lots of friends and family come from out of town last Saturday to enjoy the fun.

The Belew family conducted the event and did a fantastic job! They have taken on this fund raiser for a number of years and a multitude of thanks and appreciation goes their way.

Jill Moore set up the auction tables which were overflowing with all types of items. The kitchen staff was Melani Belew, Tammy Coan, Carolyn Belew, Stormy Armstrong and Neva Smith. Ronnie Belew manned the fish fryer. The fish were seasoned right and fried to perfection. Ronnie was assisted by Joe Silva who is a teenage foreign exchange student from Portugal who lives with Tammy and Gene Coan. If I left anyone out call the office and I will give credit where it is due.

I traded my hush puppies to my granddaughter for more fish. Amy said “look grandma, I am eating fish,” that was the first time we got her to try fried fish.

The Dublin Community Thanksgiving Service will be Sunday, 11-18 at 6:00 P.M. at Community Baptist Church. Let’s all pull together and support the Ministerial Alliance.

Congratulations to Karen and Ricky Rowe, they have a new granddaughter named Ally Kay.

Laura Leatherwood served as Worship Leader last Sunday; she was accompanied by her little granddaughter also named Ally. Laura gave the children’s lesson and brought a big clock to emphasize her message. She told us we can pray anytime and that God always listens.

Jack Parks, a veteran of the Korean War, came forward to read a poem titled “A Soldiers Prayer.” Jack told us that 7,000 soldiers are still unaccounted for from the Korean conflict.

Lee Leatherwood and Pastor Ken presented a reading honoring our countries veterans, and then Pastor Ken asked all veterans, their wives and children to stand and they were given a round of applause thanking them for their sacrifices.

The congregation offers heartfelt sympathy to our friend Fannie Chambers and her son Steven upon the passing of Fannie’s daughter, Amy Lea Esparza.

Sympathy is also extended to the family and friends of Ivie Batson and Janet Del Bosque.

Rev. Ken Lunsford’s sermon was given on the “Widow’s Mite” which is written about in Mark, chapter 12.

Jesus accused the Scribes of “devouring window’s houses.” They were taking advantage of those who were the weakest and most vulnerable to add to their own considerable wealth and status. In that day and time windows could not directly inherit their husband’s wealth or property and they were dependent upon the benevolence of their male children or an estate manager. The Scribes, who were Torah scholars, performed as the “lawyers” of their day. They often served as trustees for these widows.

In the 21st century one example of devouring behavior are the CEO’s who bail out of a business with millions and leave the employees to lose their jobs and retirement.

The poor window in Jesus’ story gives away the tiny amount she possesses because it does not possess her, it does not hold her heart or her hopes. Her faith is being stockpiled in heaven, not on earth. She was compelled to give her all.


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November 4, 2012

11/7/2012

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Goodness, there was a big stack of coats and jackets in the foyer waiting to be picked up. Thank you to everyone who donated.

Laura Leatherwood was our Worship Leader this past Sunday and she also assisted with Holy Communion. Laura’s brother-in-law, Pat Leatherwood, also assisted with communion and worked the power point! That takes some multi tasking.

Our Song Leader, Leta Sage, put a lump in my throat when she sang “The Lone Wild Bird” during the receiving of the bread and cup.

How fortunate we are in Dublin to have such wonderful music in our churches all across town and area. Our son was telling me about a large church in Washington D.C. where he lives. It has a paid choir, he said they sing beautifully and perfectly, but he doesn’t feel like he can actively worship God while just sitting there. I think he is right.

So when the song leader asks you to “sing, sing out, please do and worship the Lord with gusto.

Let us remember the shut-ins and our friends in the nursing home at this time of year. Family time and holidays are difficult for these folks even though the institutions do the best job they can of making it joyful.

Now is the time to donate to the Goodfellows, Salvation Army, and Angel Trees. These charities don’t go and buy toys and food on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, these things must be done well ahead of time.

“You can give without loving. But you cannot love without giving.” This quote is by Amy Carmichael who was a missionary to India.

Continue to pray for family members, friends and those in the military. Your prayers are important to our heavenly Father.

“Love,” was the title of Rev. Ken Lunsford’s sermon. It was taken from the book of Mark.

When Jesus was asked by a scribe which commandment is the first of all, He answered, “The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

In His answer to this question, Jesus boils all the Law, the Commandments and all the teachings of the prophets down into one word; Love.

It’s easy to a Christian if that means keeping the “thou shall nots” of the law. And it is easy to come to worship from time to time and put some change in the offering plate. We can wait for the hurting people to come to us and we can apply a few Band-Aids. But friends, that is not love.

The scribe replied to Jesus, “Well said teacher, you are right.” When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

Pastor Ken said “That’s where I want to live, don’t you, near to the kingdom of God?

Every time we perform an act of love we glorify Christ.

See you at the “Lord’s Acre” Fish Fry. We want to replenish the Food Pantry and help with other local projects.

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October 28, 2012

11/6/2012

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Disasters are all over our own country! First pray for them, second do something proactive. Give to the Salvation Army, UMCORE, The Baptist Men, and the Catholic Charities.

Remember after Katrina, these charities could find the needy when the local, state or federal folks couldn’t. They are set up to go; their hierarchy is not paid a fortune for serving their fellow man. Let us be generous as the Heavenly Father has been generous to us.

Ronnie Belew, the chairman of our Administrative Council, says sell those tickets! Ronnie brought Fish Fry tickets to distribute after last Wednesday’s council meeting. The donation is still $8.00 for adults and $6.00 for children. Ronnie and his lovely wife Melani are usually working in the snack bar at the school volley ball and basketball games. But they are serving their church this November by organizing the ‘Lords Acre”. This proves if you need something done, ask a busy person.

Carley and Carey Belew turned 15 years old on 10-27. What a privilege to see these young ladies grow up.

Stormy Armstrong served as Worship Leader this past Sunday and did an excellent job. Laura Leatherwood brought the children’s message.

Laura made an impression on the youngsters by breaking a candy bar in half and asking them which they wanted, half a candy or a whole candy. Laura went on to explain the Lord God want us to love Him with all our minds, our hearts, and our souls. He does not want just half of us, but all. Then Laura dismissed the children with a prayer and a whole piece of candy.

Kathy Logan has a new great-granddaughter and she is thrilled. Kathy has been sewing pink things with ruffles on them for months; we think Kathy knew a little girl was on the way.

Joseph Cisneroz of Deleon had successful hip surgery and is recuperating. No one is more relieved than his fiancée, Amy Leatherwood. Joseph has visited our congregation in the past to sing and play his guitar. We wish him a speedy recovery.

Prayers were requested for Tina Salinas; Tina is Raymond Salinas’s sister.

Our sympathy goes out to the family of Sharon Whitehead.

Pastor Ken titled his sermon “Lord Let Me See Again.” Mark 10:46-52 was the inspiration for his lesson.

The story from Mark was about blindness. Blindness is bad in the 21st century, but it was much worse in Jesus’ day. Today a blind person has the hope of living a useful life with proper training. But in the first century blindness meant abject poverty. You would be reduced to begging in the streets for a living. You would be at the mercy of others.

One of the signs of the coming of the Messiah was that the blind would receive their sight. When Jesus announced his messiah-ship, he said; “The spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has sent me to recover sight to the blind.”

Jesus meets blind Bartimaeus sitting at the edge of Jerusalem on the Jericho road. That day Bartimaeus cried out; Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me. Bartimaeus physically lacked sight, but he still saw further than most.

Jesu Christ is Lord and Savior. He came to make us whole and to perfect his good work within us and he is sufficient for our every need. Why can’t we see that?

Don’t forget the clean up night on November 7 to prepare for the Lord’s Acre. Call the office and let them know you are going to volunteer.


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October 21, 2012

11/6/2012

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There is a work night planned for November 7 to prepare for the Lord’s Acre Fish Fry and Auction. Come by a while to help work or to feed the workers. We want to be all “spruced up” for this fall event.

Our church will be passing out inspirational bracelets and candy at the Halloween Spook Parade by the Dublin Bottling Plant stage on Wednesday, October 31st. We will set up at 3:30 p.m., and the hours are from 4-6:00. The Outreach Committee asks each family to bring a bag or two of candy to church or by the church office. If you would like to help pass out candy, that would be great! This is one of the few chances we get to act like kids again, so don’t miss the opportunity.
Prayers were requested for Joseph Cisneroz, Charles Gordon, Crystal Higgins, John May, and Jo Ellen Turner.

Pastor Ken told the youth about trying to get the “wishbone” when his mom cooked fried chicken for Sunday dinner. His sisters and brother wanted the “wishbone” also.

Pastor Ken explained what the bone was and what it looked like. He said they would pull on each end of the bone till it broke apart and the one with the long end was the winner! They could get what they wished for.

James and John were two brothers who were disciples of Jesus. One day they asked Jesus if they could sit in places of honor beside Him at the table, one at His right side and one at His left. That is what they wished for. They wanted to share in His greatness.

Jesus told James and John they did not know what they were asking. He said whoever wants to be great must be a servant of all. Then Jesus told them, “For even I the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.”

“Serve or Be Served” was the title of Rev. Ken Lunsford’s sermon which he gleaned from Mark 10:35-45.

Pastor Ken told the congregation this has not been a good year for Protestants. The Pew report on religion in America reveals that those who answered “None” to the religion question are the fastest growing belief segment in America. Protestantism is shrinking in America and stagnant everywhere except China and Africa. All of Christianity is having an identity crisis.

What is your identity? At the very core of your being, who are you? In Mark’s text Jesus is giving His followers a new identity. Disciples will be great by becoming servants, the first in a lineup will be last and the “slave of all.” This new identity is not found in success, status, wealth or power. It is found in Christ, in following Him not just on His miraculous ministry before Jerusalem, but in following Jesus all the way to the cross.

Being a disciple of the Messiah is a verb, it is an action taken. It is being an active sacrifice for another.

Jesus is our “Life Lock,” in Him our identity is safe and secure from all alarm.

See Dublin United Methodist Church online at http://fumcdublintx.weebly.com


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