ARMA/GRACE/MULBERRY
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
NOVEMBER 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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BE THANKFUL FOR YOU
In Psalm 8 David sings about the wonder and majesty of God, the greatness of God’s creation, then he says, and I paraphrase, “When I think about all that, something rises deep inside me and causes me to ask, “What are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?” Who am I? Who are you? Who is anyone?” God has the whole universe to govern and in which to celebrate, so why does he care about you and me? “Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor. You have given them dominion over the works of your hands.”
The power to move from feelings of low esteem is not the determination that “I will rise above this,” but the cultivation of a thankful spirit. Such a spirit is a liberating influence in our life. We are freed from the pressures of trying to be someone we are not. Instead we claim, right up front, by the gift of God, that we are already precious, precious in the sight of God who is infinite.
Paul said, “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its mold, let God mold you from within that you may prove in practice that God’s will for you is good, meets all of God’s demands and moves toward the goal of true maturity.” How do you do that? Be believing as Paul did, “If God be for us, who can be against us . . . we can be more than conquerors through him who loves,” regardless of the odds against. us. He said he learned a secret and that is “I can do all things through him who strengthens me . . . :
Let me give you a practical method of dealing with the crises of your life. When you face a critical situation, or a difficult challenge in your life, take out a pencil and paper and one side of the paper write down all of the odds in the crisis you are dealing with, all of the persons and issues you have to face in that circumstance. On the other side, write down all of the persons, things and resources you have for dealing with that crisis, and at the top of the list put the name of God. My friends, you are already ahead. When you focus on your strengths, and especially on the strength of God’s love and affirmation of you, it is amazing what you can do. You will find reasons for being thankful to God and for you.
Much of our insecurity, our lack of confidence and feelings of low self-esteem can be traceable to experiences we had as children. Let me then urge you to listen to what Paul said, “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up my childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face. Now I know in part, then I shall understand fully even as I have been fully understood. So faith, hope and love abide, but the greatest of these is love.
One of the simple truths of our religion is that God loves you, and will see you through. That is reason for being thankful, and especially for you.
It is an old poem, perhaps you have heard it or read it before. I will share with you what I remember of the story of The Auctioneer: He picked up an old battered violin and bow. He asked, “What am I bid? Two dollars, three, four dollars, five?” A violinist came and took the violin out of his hand and began to play. He played with such beauty that there was a silence over the crowd. As he continued to play, one string broke and then another. Finally, he was left with only one string, but he never ceased to play, and the music was beautiful. Finally he finished and handed the auctioneer the violin once again. The auctioneer said, “Even a battered and abused violin with only one string can make beautiful music in the hands of a master.” Does that say something about you and your value? Does it say something to you, no matter the condition of your life, or your belief that you have only one talent to give? In the hands of the Master, you have great value.
Pastor Don Foster
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GRACE NEWS
PRAYERS:
Please keep Wilrose Bough, ShirleyEdwards, George & Vivian Tretbar in your prayers. Our condolences to Les Eurit on the passing of his brother, Ronnie Eurit. Please keep Les and the Eurit family in your prayers.
Our thanks to all who helped with the Spaghetti dinner. It was a big success.
thanks to all who helped cook and serve the Wesley House meal.
Thanks to Kay Goodwin, Barbara Tustin, Krista Bough, Kathryn George, Jill Goodwin and Susie Taylor for their baking and working the bake sale on Homecoming Day. It was greatly appreciated.
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Sunday, Nov 1 Holy Communion
Daylight Savings time ends.
Tuesday, Nov 3 PPR meeting 6:00 p.m. at Grace followed by
Charge Conference, 6:45 pm at Grace – everyone is welcome
Sunday, Nov 22 Annual Thanksgiving Dinner Starts at 12:30 p.m. Arma and Mulberry Churches are invited. We encourage members to invite
their family and friends.
Sunday, Nov 29 Break the bank/Advent begins
OOPS!!! Last newsletter it was stated that our SOUP/CHILI DINNER was Dec 2 (wrong)
It is THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3RD. Soup or Chili, pie and drink. ADULTS - $6.00
CHILDREN under 12 - $3.00.
NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS:
Nov 12 Barbara Tustin Nov 17 Hannah Kramer
Nov 12 Judy Reese Nov 17 Coetta Trahan
Nov 17 Don Bough Nov 27 David George
NOVEMBER GREETERS: DECEMBER GREETERS:
Nov 1 Mike Seely Dec 6 Mike Seely
Nov 8 Della McDaniel Dec 13 Tyler Lynn
Nov 15 Jim Mynatt & Eldora Dundee Dec 20 Frank & Emmaline Rodich
Nov 22 Norma Brooks Dec 27 Susie Taylor
Nov 29 Frank & Emmaline Rodich
Time is precious every day –
Make it count in a selfless way.
Catherine Janssen Irwin
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ARMA NEWS
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Nov 1 All Saints Day
Nov 3 Charge Conference, 6:45 pm at the Grace Church
Nov 11 Administrative Board
Nov 29 “Bring a Friend Sunday” and breakfast in the Narthex
NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS
Nov 3 Danielle Hays Nov 13 Mike Garrett
Nov 3 Kylee Yarnell Nov 13 Muriel Stroud
Nov 4 Sandra Hohenwalde Nov 16 Kathy Anselmi
Nov 5 Bret Doubledee Nov 16 Joe Polhlopek
Nov 6 Diane Cameron Nov 19 Brenda Banks
Nov 7 Mildred Nicoletti Nov 21 Joe Verga
Nov 7 Christie Parrish Nov 24 Madeline McAllister
Nov 10 Rachel Cameron Nov 27 Charlotte Culbertson
Nov 10 Ben Cole Nov 27 Dori Pipkin
Nov 11 Linda Culbertson Nov 29 Lois Loeffler
Nov 12 Ava Adams Nov 30 Laura Farley
Nov 12 Natalie Huber
NOVEMBER GREETERS
Nov 1 Phil & June Harris
Nov 8 Harry & Betty Brunk
Nov 15 Youth
Nov 22 Phyllis Hay
Nov 29 Susan Tewell
U.M.W. NEWS
U.M.W. meets November 18 at 11:30 am at the home of June Harris. Marlene Single has devotions and the program while June Harris is the hostess.
U.M.W. is collecting spaghetti and spaghetti sauce during the month of November to donate to Wesley House. June Harris.
CHICKEN NOODLE CARRYOUT
A chicken noodle carryout will be held on Sunday, November 8, 2009. A signup for noodles orders will be available in the narthex or you can order them by calling
347-8658 or 347-4696. The price is $5.00 a quart and the noodles can be picked up between 12:30 and 1:30 pm.
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Listed below is the Treasurer’s Report for September 2009:
General Fund Income $2,278.00
General Fund Expenses $2,564.98
WORSHIP COMMITTEE
● All Saints Day and Carry-in Dinner on November 1
● Worship committee meeting at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, November 17
● Bring a Friend Sunday & Breakfast in the Narthex – 10:15 to 10:45 on Sun, Nov 29
● Cantata practices are Sundays at 5:30 pm and Wednesdays at 6:30 pm. Cantata presented at the Arma UMC on Dec 6 at 7:00 pm
● If you are interested in singing with the adult choir, please contact Murray Lockwood.
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ELEVATOR PROJECT
The Trustee Committee has researched the cost of purchase and installation for an elevator in the Arma United Methodist Church. The cost is approximately $38,000 and the Trustee Committee has been assured that this bid price is good through the year 2010.
A special account has been set up for the elevator project. Several donations have been designated for an elevator and are deposited in the elevator fund. To date approximately $10,000 is in this account. The administrative board has voted to pursue fundraising in the hopes that by the end of 2010 an elevator will be installed in the Arma UMC. The fundraising goal is $20,000 in order to get an elevator ordered. Once the additional $20,000 is raised, there are additional funds that perhaps could be used for this project.
Why an Elevator?
Arma United Methodist Church desires to welcome all people. At this time, it is not possible. Those that are handicapped cannot get to the upstairs where the restrooms are located or downstairs where the kitchen and many dinners and activities are located.
These people cannot be a part of special times such as our annual cantata or funeral dinners, etc.
There is a way to welcome all people and that is to donate a monetary gift. Please help with your special gift to the church. A special offering card is enclosed.
Church Centennial – In preparation for the Centennial celebration of the Arma UMC, we are seeking volunteers to chair a Centennial Committee. Please let Linda Roberts (347-8568 or laroberts@ckt.net) know if you are interested.
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Arma/Grace/Mulberry ARMA, KS 66712
P. O. Box 489 PERMIT 6
Arma, KS 66712-0489 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
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