THE
FEBRUARY - MARCH 2010
"In the relentless busyness of modern life, we have lost the rhythm between rest and work. All life requires a rhythm of rest. There is a rhythm in our waking activity and our need for sleep. There is a rhythm in the movements of spring, summer, fall and winter that is necessary for completeness.
"We have lost this essential rhythm. Our culture invariably supposes that action and accomplishment are better than rest, that doing something - anything - is better than doing nothing. Because of our desire to succeed, to meet these ever-growing expectations, we do not rest. Because we do not rest, we lose our way.
"A successful life has become a violent enterprise. We make war on our own bodies, pushing them beyond their limits; war on our children, because we cannot find enough time to be with them when they are hurt and afraid and need our company; war on our spirit, because we are too preoccupied to listen to the quiet voices that seek to nourish and refresh us; war on our communities, because we are fearfully protecting what we have, and do not feel safe enough to be kind and generous; war on the earth, because we do not take the time to place our feet on the ground and allow it to feed us, to taste its blessings and give thanks.
"With a few notable exceptions, the way problems are solved is frantically, desperately, reactively, and badly. The Chinese pictograph for "busy" is composed of two characters: heart and killing.
In reflecting on these statements from Dr. Muller, I am beginning to realize that quiet and intentional prayer must be at the root of everything we do, even the most mundane tasks we undertake as individuals and a community of faith. We are trying something new this year at Elbaville and Fulton. Ken Blakley and Dawn Allen have taken on the task of being Prayer Coordinators for our churches. Please pray for them daily, and be prepared to work with them as they seek to prayerfully set up prayer mission teams for each of our churches.
Take time out of your busy day for quiet and restful prayer. Take time to hear the still, small voice of God in your own heart. Without God, our best efforts are meaningless. With God, our smallest efforts can transform the world.
Peace,
Kirk
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Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Dear sisters and brothers,
The season of Lent begins with the reading of Psalm 51 in which we are invited to a time of soul-searching and soul-cleansing, a time of self-reflection and self-assessment, and a time of focusing on the journey of Jesus to Jerusalem and the cross, on forgiveness and new life and mercy. Unfortunately for too many of us, we have turned the season of Lent into a game of giving up things without pondering the meaning of sacrifice and the sense of utter dependency upon God that is a necessity in the discipline of a Lenten experience.
I am sure that our churches will be filled with Lenten activities, prayer groups and studies. I suspect the sermons and the series of sermons preached will invite us to go deeper in our love for God and our commitment to follow Jesus. I know that in some meaningful way we will walk the way of the Cross and call to mind the sacrificial love of Christ. But my prayer is that these will not become items on a calendar or activities to fill up time and space without also engaging our hearts and souls. In the words of Charles Wesley: "O Love divine, what hast thou done? The immortal God hath died for me!...Is crucified for me and you, to bring us rebels back to God. Believe, believe the record true, ye all are bought with Jesus blood. Pardon for all flows from his side: my Lord, my Love, is crucified."
In thinking about these matters on this Ash Wednesday, I return to two writers who are often on my reading list in quiet times of meditation and reflection. Their observations and comments take me into the heart of the season and the heart of grace. Here are a couple of quotations for your reflection in these first days of Lent.
In his imaginative little book, Wishful Thinking, Frederick Buechner writes: "To confess your sins to God is not to tell him anything he doesn't already know. Until you confess them, however, they are the abyss between you. When you confess them, they become the bridge" (page 15).
Kathleen Norris, in Cloister Walk, writes: "Repentance is not a popular word these days, but I believe that any of us recognize it when it strikes us in the gut. Repentance is coming to our senses, seeing, suddenly, what we've done that we might not have done, or recognizing, as Oscar Wilde says in his great religious meditation De Profundis, that the problem is not in what we do but in what we become" (page 165).
In her further reflection on repentance in her follow-up book Amazing Grace, Norris tells of a young boy she had in a class one time. He had written a poem about his anger and his actions that ended by hurting others and wrecking his room and then the whole town. He then sits down in what he called his messy room and says to himself, "I shouldn't have done that." Norris comments: " If the house is messy...why not clean it up, why not make it a place where God might wish to dwell?" (page 70).
Perhaps this Lent we can come to our senses - individually and corporately, church and community. Perhaps this Lent we will do more than pay lip service to the emptiness in our souls and open ourselves to the grace of God that builds bridges and heals relationships. Perhaps this Lent we can, by the indwelling of God's Spirit, clean up our messy houses and hearts, and offer ourselves anew to God.
Have mercy on me, O God, and create in me a clean heart!
Larry M. Goodpaster
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FULTON ’S PRAYER LIST
Prayer concerns of the church and community:
Family of Bobby Swing
Rayvon Ring
Howard Taylor
BJ Lanier
Taylor King - broken neck
Lisa Jefferson - Cancer
Neville Storey
The Haiti nation
Our church
Our nation
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STOREHOUSE FOR JESUS - FEBRUARY ITEMS:
Jello Gelatin/Pudding - Ramen Noodles - Cookies - Saltine Crackers
Feminine Hygiene Products
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UPCOMING DISTRICT EVENTS:
February 28: 3 - 4:30 pm District Training for Pastor-Parish Relations Committee at First UMC, Lexington
March 7: 6:30 pm Planning/Visioning in Local Churches for Church Leaders at First UMC, Lexington
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CALLING ALL CHILI COOKERS AND EATERS!
Dawn Allen is organizing a chili cookoff to raise money for her mission trip. If you're willing to cook and set up a table, let her know. If you can't cook, plan on coming out and voting for the best chili and eating dinner too on March 6th at 6:00 pm.
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A NOTE OF THANKS
Dear Sew Sisters, Words just cannot express how blessed we were because of your ministry! Fred or I either one could put the quilt over us during a very stressful time and just feel the comfort.
Fred is cancer free at this time - Thanks to God for answering prayers of so many on our behalf. Fred gave his testimony in January at church and showed your quilt and encouraged our ladies to start a prayer shawl ministry.
We just pray God will continue to bless you through this ministry.
Much love, Fred & Alice Wilson
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2/16/2010
Please thank everyone for the lovely cards and their love. It couldn't come at a better time. As you know, Baltimore has been hit with 3 snow storms. I still have 20 inches and calling for snow this weekend.
I hadn't been out of the house for 3 weeks until this past Sunday. We missed two Sundays in a row, due to the snow.
Thanks again. All my love & prayers go out to everyone at Fulton Church.
Love, Sue Jenkins Rose
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Wednesday, February 17th was Ash Wednesday and the start of our 40 days of Lent. We always think of "giving up something" for Lent, but are we able to make it for 40 days? Can we give up chocolate, ice cream, fast food, etc.? I told the NOW Council what I was doing for Lent this year and I guess in essence, I am giving up something. Most of you know that Tim retired in January from RJ Reynolds. Although, he won't officially be living on "retirement" checks until 2011, I've been looking for ways to cut monthly expenses. My project for Lent was to give up something I didn't need and put more money into my offering for the church. I've cancelled long distance service on our house phone because we both have cell phones. I've contacted our insurance agent and arranged a meeting to look at cutting insurance costs - all our vehicles had travel to and from work on them - don't need all of that! I'm going to a "couponing" class on March 2nd to look at ways of cutting grocery costs. I'm switching our lights to energy efficient bulbs and looking at windows and doors to see where drafts are (houses do settle over the years). My goal is to make us more energy efficient in the long run, but to also transfer some of those savings this year to our church treasury. (Kirk had asked us at the beginning of the year to see if we could give an extra $20.00 over what we normally give anyway.)
We all know that economic times are tough, but just as those times are hitting us, they are hitting the church as well. Gas bills are going up (colder weather requires additional heating). The Trustees have met and made a list of projects that need to be addressed at the church and those items will require us all to help out. Our biggest project is that we are going to need a new roof and soon! The average estimate to obtain a new roof has been around $25,000.00 and up.
I invite you to reflect on the Lenten season and what you might could do without during this time. I promise you won't miss those few extra dollars, but since there is power in numbers, those dollars will add up for the church. Just a reminder that your donations to the church help reduce your income on your tax return. Don't forget to use the offering envelopes provided in the racks on the back of the pews and mark your name on the envelope so you can get a statement at the end of the year!
Lastly, if you don't have extra dollars to give, please take the time to pray for our church daily. We believe God has blessed us with an increase in membership and we know that he will sustain us during our toughest times as well. Join us for the activities that the NOW Council has planned for you - volunteer to help out or plan an event, show your support by being at the event, and lastly, invite someone else to come and share in our dreams and visions!
I wish you all a beautiful Lenten Season as you prepare your hearts for the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Teresa Young
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CHURCH CALENDAR - UPCOMING EVENTS:
MARCH
Saturday, March 6 - 6:00 pm Chili Cookoff Fundraiser for Dawn Allen' Mission Trip
Monday, March 8 - 7:00 pm UMW meets at Sue Ward's
Monday, March 15 - 7:00 pm UMW work night
Tuesday, March 16 - 4:00-7:00 pm Poor Man's Supper
Sunday, March 21 - 8:00 am Methodist Men meet
Monday, March 22 - 7:00 pm Administrative Board meets
APRIL
Thursday, April 1 - 7:00 pm Maunday Thursday Service (Advance UMC)
Friday, April 2 - 7:00 pm Good Friday Service (Elbaville UMC)
Saturday, April 3 - 11:00 am - 1:00 pm Egg Hunt & Lunch at Fulton UMC
Sunday, April 4 - 6:30 am Sunrise Service at Fulton UMC - Pancake breakfast to follow
9:30 am Worship Service remains same time
Monday, April 12 - 7:00 pm UMW meets at Jean Gaddy's
Saturday, April 17 - 8:00 am Church Cleaning Day
Sunday, April 18 - 8:00 am Methodist Men meet
Monday, April 19 - 7:00 pm UMW work night
Tuesday, April 20 - 4:00 - 7:00 pm Poor Man's Supper
Sunday - Wednesday (or Thurs), April 25 - 28 (or 29?) - 7:00 pm Community Revival (Advance UMC)
MAY
Saturday, May 1 - Komen Race for the Cure (Salem College). See Teresa or Dawn
Sunday, May 2 - 5:00 pm Senior Citizens' Banquet
Monday, May 10 - 7:00 pm Administrative Board meets
Saturday, May 15 - 10:00 am - 2:00 pm SPRING FLING
Sunday, May 16 - 8:00 am Methodist Men meet
JUNE
Saturday, June 5 - 6:00 pm Family Night Fish Fry
Thursday - Sunday, June 10 - 13 Annual Conference (Lake Junaluska)
Monday, June 14 - 7:00 pm UMW meets (location to be determined)
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