ARMA/GRACE/MULBERRY
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
MAY 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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COMMUNITIES OF LOVE
Mother’s Day is a very important day in our lives for many reasons. It is a day when we are lifted above religious, social, economic and racial differences. It is a nostalgic day for me, one on which it is very easy to be sentimental, as I am sure it is for some of you. My mother was the most important person in my early life and development of faith.
Even now, when something good happens in my life, or I do something good for which I am affirmed, I remembers the proverb which says, “May . . . your mother be glad and may the one who gave you birth rejoice.” I still feel her spirit, even though she has been dead many years.
Jesus was a very persuasive but also a troublesome preacher. When May and the brothers came, and Jesus was told they were waiting outside for him, he said, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Waving his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, my sister and my mother.” (Matthew 12:46-50)
The Church has a tremendous opportunity, acknowledging that we are disciples of Jesus Christ, to be a community of love like a mother’s love in which everyone is welcome to come and be embraced by those seeking the will of the Father. The Church is not a building, but we who make up its membership. We have tremendous opportunity to be the mothers who express the redemptive, healing, helpful and hopeful love.
Faith and character are things usually passed on from parents to children, but not always in good ways. I am convinced that the spiritual heritage of a person is equally as important as his or her biological heritage. But in this enlightened generation, I still hear parents who say to me that they are going to allow their child to grow up and when they become an adult to be able to make decisions about their faith on their own. It sounds plausible to them, it sound pitiful to me. I wonder, when they say it, if they feel the same way about education, health habits, sex and drugs? If they do, no wonder we are seeing so much disintegration in families in our times.
It is worthy of note that one of the most infamous, criminal syndicates in our society – the Mafia – also calls itself a family. They demand loyalty, obedience, trust, devotion and honor, which are things we associate with family life. Instead of cringing and crying with those who cry about the disintegration of family, morals and values in our society, I believe Jesus has given us a word of hope. When other loves have failed, there is still the community of love in which we can find love and have a life worth living. That is not just the responsibility of our biological mothers. Jesus said it is the responsibility of us all.
I conclude with the words of John. “Beloved, let us love one another for love is of God and he who loves is born of God and knows God . . . for God is love . . . “ The will of the Father is love and communities of love. Claim that love and live in it. Honor your mother and the mothers who have blessed your life. Accept your opportunities for mothering and thus glorify God. It is a wonderful opportunity and a great need in our time.
Pastor Don Foster
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GRACE NEWS
PRAYERS:
Please keep Betty Eurit, David George, Haylee Goodwin, Wilrose Bough, Vera Little, George & Vivian Tretbar in your prayers..
A BIG THANKS to all the people who worked, cooked, baked and donated money for the chili/soup dinner and the bake sale. All was greatly appreciated. Both events were a success.
DATES TO REMEMBER
May 3 Holy Communion
May 10 Mother’s Day
May 31 Break the Bank
MAY BIRTHDAYS
May 5 Norma Brooks
May 12 Melvin Reinhardt
May 16 Linda Lowell
May 23 Irene Jones
May 29 Fred Berger
MAY ANNIVERSARIES
May 30 Barbara & Charlie Engelhardt
MAY GREETERS
May 3 Mark Seely
May 10 Barbara Engelhardt
May 17 Bryan, Jill & Blake Goodwin
May 24 Emmaline & Frank Rodich
May 31 Barbara Tustin & Norma Brooks
JUNE GREETERS
June 7 Mike Seely
June 14 Jim McDaniel
June 21 Susie Taylor
June 28 Norma Brooks & Barbara Tustin
God who brought us to life will continue to care for us the rest of our days.
Ebenezer R. Vedamuthu
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ARMA NEWS
DATES TO REMEMBER:
May 13 Administrative Board
May 24 Heritage Sunday/U.M.W. Sunday
May 31 Pentecost/Graduation Sunday
MAY BIRTHDAYS
May 4 Bill Fawcett May 20 Scott Roberts
May 7 Elizabeth Banks May 22 Susan Robinson
May 12 Marvin Reinhart May 23 Cheryl Hartzfeld
May 12 Ted Unruh May 23 Steve New
May 13 Nadine Jones May 23 Tammy Wayman
May 15 Debi Bierbrodt May 24 McCade Mason
May 15 Marlene Singel May 26 Judy Revia
May 17 Sonny Anselmi May 31 Daniel Ryder
May 18 Ken Cleland
MAY ANNIVERSARIES
May 12 Dave & Delores Bierbrodt
May 20 Ira & Dianne Reiken
MAY GREETERS
May 3 Susan Herrell & Emma Louise Ales
May 10 Murray & Norma Lockwood
May 17 Youth
May 24 Harry & Betty Brunk
May 31 Linda Manion
U.M.W. NEWS
Arma U.M.W. will meet on May 20 th . Betty Brunk has the program, Naomi Cameron the devotions, and Linda Manion is the hostess. We will meet at 11:00 am at the church to go to El Charro. UMW will have a program at the 11:00 am church service on May 24th. 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 March 2009.
2009 Offerings received in Mar 2009 $3,709.41
2009 budgeted expenses in Mar 2009 $3,365.38
Coins collected $174.50 (designated for youth activities)
The 2009 budget is $50,882.00, and all bills have been paid. We wish to thank everyone for your Easter offerings and for supporting the mission of the Arma United Methodist Church.
TRUSTEES
Trustees continue to update the church, parsonage and grounds. The flower beds have been raked, 2 new entrance rugs that were donated have been installed, Quality Pest has sprayed the parsonage and the church, and the basement and kitchen have been mopped. THANK YOU, TRUSTEES!!!!
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The Worship Committee has scheduled the following events:
May 10 Mother’s Day
May 24 Heritage Sunday/UMW Sunday
May 31 Pentecost/Graduation Sunday
This special Sunday we will be asking everyone to wear red for Pentecost.
Look in your closets for red neck ties, jewelry, clothing, shoes and
anything else to show that our spirit is soaring! Graduates will also be
recognized during the worship service. To start off the morning,
refreshments will be served in the narthex from 10:15 – 10:45 am, so
Bring a Friend!
Looking ahead, mark your calendar for our Spring Fling on June 14 and Father’s Day
Recognition on June 21.
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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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