ARMA/GRACE/MULBERRY
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
APRIL 2009 NEWSLETTER
8:00 am Worship Service -- Mulberry
9:30 am Worship Service -- Grace
11:00 am Worship Service – Arma
Church School – following Children’s Moment -- Arma
COME WORSHIP WITH US!!!
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Pastor Don Foster’s Contact Information: 620-347-8336 (office)
P. O. Box 489 620-249-4313 (cell)
Arma, KS 66712 620-347-8540 (home)
Email: def@ckt.net
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THE STEADFAST PURPOSE OF JESUS
Matthew and Luke tell us that after Jesus had fed the multitude, he turned to his disciples and said, “Who do you people say I am?” They said, “Some say you are John the Baptist, others say you are Elijah, others say you are Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” Obviously what they were saying is they do not know. They were just guessing.
Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said, “Who do you say that I am?” Simon said, “You are the Christ, the son of the Living God.” “Blesses are you Simon Bar-Jona,” Jesus said, “for flesh and blood have not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. Henceforth, I will call you Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death will not prevail against it.”
It was a divine revelation. No one, no human being, had yet understood, and even though Peter said these words which had been revealed to him, even he had not yet fully understood the meaning of what he had said.
Jesus had a choice. He did not have to go to Jerusalem. Jesus could have continued to teach and preach and do good things. He could have stayed there and had another fish fry with his friends. They would have understood why he did not want to go to Jerusalem. they would have still loved him.
But Jesus knew his purpose, and his purpose was not simply to be popular and to be loved as a friend. His purpose in going to Jerusalem was not simply because he had some desire to be killed, to fulfill some plan. He went to Jerusalem because he knew he must be obedient to God, to fulfill God’s purpose, and it is in that obedience that he demonstrated his worthiness to be called the Son of God, and Our Savior.
Now we have a choice. What will we do with this man called Jesus? Some have said, “Get rid of him. Make him only another human being who said good things and did good deeds.” Others have tried to get rid of him, to ignore him, but that has not worked. Instead, the more people have tried to cut him down, the more God has raised him up. The more people have denied and tried to get rid of him, the more we learned of the length and depth of his love, and it becomes even more appealing to us.
To be sure, there are experiences of following Jesus in Galilee of beauty and warmth and wonder and joy and celebration. But there also are the crucifying experiences of life in our Jerusalem. What God wanted us to know is that He sent His Son to be our savior in both of these, because both are part of the reality of life. In his obedience, Jesus made possible our reconciliation to God – a life that is good here, and a life which is eternal. Knowing that, we have a choice to make. We can make our excuses and say, “Galilee yes, Jerusalem, no.” We can say, “I’d be willing to follow, but,” and Jesus still says, “You either come with me and go all the way, or you will miss the best part, God’s power to save, in all circumstances.”
What are you going to do with this man called Jesus?
Pastor Don Foster
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GRACE NEWS
PRAYERS:
Please keep J. B. Standley, Betty Eurit, Eva Gartner, Vera Little,
George and Vivian Tretbar in your prayers.
BIBLE STUDY ON MONDAY NIGHTS AT 7:00 P.M.
DATES TO REMEMBER
April 2 Chili/Soup Dinner – 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Chili or soup, pie & drink,
$6.00 for adults and $3.00 for children 12 and under
April 10 Good Friday Services – 5:30 pm
April 12 Easter Sunday
April 13 Executive Board Meeting – 7:00 pm
April 16 Grace Ladies will cook dinner for Wesley House
April 25 We will have a Bake sale from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm
on the Northside of the Church. We hope you all can bake lots of goodies.
This is on Saturday – the day of the Pittsburg-Frontenac city wide rummage
sale. There should be lots of people out that day.
APRIL BIRTHDAYS
March 29 David Goodman
April 21 Charles Engelhardt
April 28 Gavin Kramer
April 29 Mary Jaramillo
Paul wrote, “The one thing I do … is to forget what is
behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead.”
Philippians 3:13
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ARMA NEWS
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Apr 8 Administrative Board, 7:00 pm
Apr 10 Good Friday Services at 8:00 pm
Apr 12 Easter Sunday
Apr 15 U.M.W.
APRIL BIRTHDAYS
Apr 1 Elizabeth Bedene Apr 22 Joan Cleland
Apr 7 Tony Cussimanio Apr 22 Darrel Lollar
Apr 7 Morgan Maransani April 24 Jaycie Polhlopek
Apr 10 Trevor Graham Apr 30 Sami Cleland
Apr 13 Angie Fletcher Apr 30 Dave Bierbrodt
APRIL ANNIVERSARIES
Apr 1 Jim and Nadine Jones
Apr 27 Mark and Cindy Price
APRIL GREETERS
Apr 5 Ray and Linda Vail
Apr 12 Carol Kessler and Wilma Lollar
Apr 19 Youth
Apr 26 Naomi Cameron
U.M.W. NEWS
Arma U.M.W. will meet at the church on Wednesday, April 15 at 11:00 am and travel to Sweet Greens for lunch. Wilma Lollar has the lesson “Prayer and Denial”. A special offering will be taken. Marlene Singel has devotions and Carol Kessler is hostess. Donations for Wesley House for the month of April is toilet tissue. All United Methodist Women may be members of UMW and there are no dues.
FINANCE COMMITTEE
The Finance Committee wishes to report to the congregation financial information for the month of February 2009.
2009 Offerings received in Feb 2009 $3,372.70
2009 budgeted expenses in Feb 2009 $3,628.30
Coins collected $164 (designated for utilities)
The 2009 budget is $50,882.00, and all bills have been paid. We wish to thank everyone for supporting the mission of the Arma United Methodist Church.
The spring fundraiser – chicken noodle carryout – was a successful event. Thank you to those who supported this fundraiser and a great big “Thank You” to those who made the noodles and cooked chickens!
TRUSTEES
Trustees continue to update the church and parsonage. A spring cleanup day was held at the parsonage. A new garbage disposal has been installed in the kitchen.
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Sunday, March 29, 2009 “Bring a Friend” Sunday with refreshments from
10:15 – 10:45 am in the Narthex
Youth Bell Choir to perform special during
worship service.
Sunday, April 5, 2009 Palm Sunday
Carry-in dinner following worship service
Friday, April 20, 2009 8:00 pm Good Friday services
Sunday, April 12, 2009 6:30 am Easter Sunrise Service
Breakfast following service
11:00 am Easter Services
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United Methodist Church U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Arma/Grace/Mulberry ARMA, KS 66712
P. O. Box 489 PERMIT 6
Arma, KS 66712-0489 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
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