We hope everyone had a safe and happy new year! Here at First Methodist we accomplished a great deal during 2011 and look forward to what 2012 has in store for us. There is always more to do and things that should have been done. But we praise God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that we have been fortunate as a congregation.
Leta Sage did double duty as Worship Leader and Song Leader last Sunday and Pat Beaty did a wonderful job as pianist.
Leta announced that Annette Cleveland had an anniversary on January 2nd, Tammy and Gene Coan has one on the 7th. Cole Moore has a
birthday on the 8th and Virginia Stephen’s birthday is the 11th.
Call the church office for Virginia’s address and send her a card.
Rev. Ken Lunsford taught the youth lesson. He used a Dr. Seuss character, Horton the elephant, to tell his story.
Horton volunteered to sit on an egg for a bird for a while. But the mama bird did not return, so Horton had to hatch the egg. Horton had a commitment and he kept to it. Pastor Ken told the children that God can always be counted on and will be there for them.
Pastor Ken’s sermon was “Jesus is Presented and Named.”
Pastor Ken said passwords are used in lot situations these days. He asked “Are you tired of passwords? Does anyone in the congregation have a good way of remembering your passwords?”
Passwords are like secret names known only to the computer software.
In the Gospel of Luke there is a public declaration of Jesus’ name. This is the name revealed by the angel Gabriel to Mary when he made his announcement to her. The name “Jesus,” Yehoshua in Hebrew, means “Yahweh saves.” The Hebrew rendering is “Joshua.” It is not an unusual name. The most extraordinary birth in history comes wrapped in an
ordinary name. Jesus received his name in the Temple when he was eight daysold.
But Jesus is not this child’s only name. He is called messiah, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
In Matthew’s gospel Joseph is told the child will be known as Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” He will also be called Savior.
Simeon calls the baby Jesus the “Consolation of Israel” and the Revelation to the Gentiles.” John the Baptist names Jesus the“Lamb of
God.”
In Revelation 2:17 there is yet another name, a secret name”a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.”
Our public names are public knowledge. But each one of us also has a “secret name.” a “soul name,” a name that God has given us as a guard and guide through our lives. We don’t really discover this name, we grow into it. One of the few persons to have their name explicitly revealed was Mary. The angel Gabriel declared her secret name as “God’s Favored One.”
Do you know your name? We can only begin to know our secret name as life unfolds, and we cannot be sure until we see ourselves reflected in God, in whose image we are made.
Much has been on the news lately about dishonest or poorly managed charities. If you give through a church run organization or to the Salvation Army you can be sure your money is wisely used.
Leta Sage did double duty as Worship Leader and Song Leader last Sunday and Pat Beaty did a wonderful job as pianist.
Leta announced that Annette Cleveland had an anniversary on January 2nd, Tammy and Gene Coan has one on the 7th. Cole Moore has a
birthday on the 8th and Virginia Stephen’s birthday is the 11th.
Call the church office for Virginia’s address and send her a card.
Rev. Ken Lunsford taught the youth lesson. He used a Dr. Seuss character, Horton the elephant, to tell his story.
Horton volunteered to sit on an egg for a bird for a while. But the mama bird did not return, so Horton had to hatch the egg. Horton had a commitment and he kept to it. Pastor Ken told the children that God can always be counted on and will be there for them.
Pastor Ken’s sermon was “Jesus is Presented and Named.”
Pastor Ken said passwords are used in lot situations these days. He asked “Are you tired of passwords? Does anyone in the congregation have a good way of remembering your passwords?”
Passwords are like secret names known only to the computer software.
In the Gospel of Luke there is a public declaration of Jesus’ name. This is the name revealed by the angel Gabriel to Mary when he made his announcement to her. The name “Jesus,” Yehoshua in Hebrew, means “Yahweh saves.” The Hebrew rendering is “Joshua.” It is not an unusual name. The most extraordinary birth in history comes wrapped in an
ordinary name. Jesus received his name in the Temple when he was eight daysold.
But Jesus is not this child’s only name. He is called messiah, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
In Matthew’s gospel Joseph is told the child will be known as Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” He will also be called Savior.
Simeon calls the baby Jesus the “Consolation of Israel” and the Revelation to the Gentiles.” John the Baptist names Jesus the“Lamb of
God.”
In Revelation 2:17 there is yet another name, a secret name”a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.”
Our public names are public knowledge. But each one of us also has a “secret name.” a “soul name,” a name that God has given us as a guard and guide through our lives. We don’t really discover this name, we grow into it. One of the few persons to have their name explicitly revealed was Mary. The angel Gabriel declared her secret name as “God’s Favored One.”
Do you know your name? We can only begin to know our secret name as life unfolds, and we cannot be sure until we see ourselves reflected in God, in whose image we are made.
Much has been on the news lately about dishonest or poorly managed charities. If you give through a church run organization or to the Salvation Army you can be sure your money is wisely used.
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