Newsletter & Devotional Article
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Newsletter:
February Birthdays
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William Reeves |
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4th |
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Rhoda Ellison |
101! |
15th |
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Lesslee Hicks |
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16th |
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Steve Suggs |
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19th |
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Stephanie Kemmer |
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26th |
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Richard Kemmer |
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26th |
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February Anniversaries
None on record
(If we’ve missed yours, please let us know!)
FROM THE MAILBAG
To: Members of Centreville UMC
Thanks to each of you for all the kindness and love you have shown to me since
my diagnosis of cancer. Please continue to pray for me and my family during this
time. God bless each of you.
Love,
Ira Belle Lightsey
Dear Church Members:
Thank you for the lovely sweater. I know I will enjoy it and will think of you when I wear it.
Love,
Jessica Bishop
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Memorials In Memory of Doris Deason
Bill & Catherine Fulford
Gino & Connie Casali
Bobby, Faye & Chip Deason
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Editor’s Note: We miss our regular newsman, Lamar Calloway. Please pray for his speedy recovery and good health. The Link needs him back!
Theatre News
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Christian Community Theatre is to bring wholesome, family entertainment to the Bibb County area. This group will consist of local volunteers. We wish to be self-sustaining financially and to constantly improve the qualities of our productions. We will open and close each session with prayer, and never perform any shows with a message contrary to Christian doctrine. Approved January 13, 2005
Spring Production:
“Laffing Room Only”
by Tim Kelly
Rehearsals will be at Brent Elementary School.
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Bishop’s Town Hall Meeting
Bishop Larry Goodpaster invites interested church members to join him at Demopolis First UMC at 7:00 p.m. on February 2, 2005 for a “town hall” type of meeting. This will be a time to share visions and missions, and to ask questions of the bishop. There will be time for informal conversation as well as an exchange of thoughts and ideas.
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There are those who seek knowledge for the sake
of knowledge; that is curiosity.
There are those who seek knowledge to be known by others; that is vanity.
There are those who seek knowledge in order to serve; that is love.
Bernard of Clairvaux
Through The Looking Glass
by Mildred Benton
UMW’s Year at a Glance:
The year 2005 should be a busy one for members of the United Methodist Women. Mark these dates and events on your calendar now so you’ll be able to schedule your time to attend as many as possible.
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Local Unit Officer Training Day – Demopolis First UMC |
Saturday, January 29, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. |
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Mission Study on Cuba – Centreville UMC |
Sunday, March 6 & 13, 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. |
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Spiritual Enrichment Retreat – Blue Lake |
Friday – Sunday, April 1-3 (4 p.m.) |
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District Day Apart – Camden UMC |
Saturday, April 16, 9:30 a.m. |
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Mission Study on Public Education – Demopolis First UMC (Bro. Glenn) |
Saturday, April 23, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. |
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Mission Study on Prayer – Centreville or Brent |
To be announced |
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Mother-Daughter Event – Blue Lake |
Saturday, May 7 |
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Cooperative School of Mission – Blue Lake |
Thursday – Sunday, July 28-31 |
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District Mission Sampler – Demopolis First UMC |
Saturday, August 13, 9:00 a.m. |
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District Annual Day – Butler FUMC (tentative) |
Saturday, Sept. 17, 9:30 a.m. |
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District Officer Training – Blue Lake |
Friday, Sept. 30, 4:00 p.m. |
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Conference Annual Day – Blue Lake |
Saturday, October 1 |
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UMW Sunday – Centreville UMC |
Sunday, November 13, 11:00 a.m. |
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UMW Christmas Party |
December, To be announced |
Our local unit meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall (unless otherwise announced). This group includes women from Sandy Chapel and McDaniel Memorial (Brent) United Methodist Churches. All ladies of these congregations are cordially invited to attend; we need you! Our purpose is to learn about missions, to do all that we can to work for missions, and to spread God’s love around our community and world. Come and join us! I remember when I was a child (and that was a long time ago!) we sang “God has no hands but my hands to do his work today.” It’s still true today.
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Please pray for peace and unity in Iraq this month. Following elections on January 30th, it is a new day for freedom in that region of the world. Pray for the soldiers who continue to provide protection for the citizens. Ephesians 6:10-17 says that if we do not pray, the enemy will prevail. Please pray!
Captain Lyle Shackelford
Battalion Chaplain
HHD, 57th Transportation Battalion
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SUNDAY NIGHT
BIBLE STUDY & WORSHIP
Our new Bible Study, which began on January 16th, focuses on healing grief of all kinds. Using scripture references and provocative questions, we learn from each other the Christian means of overcoming grief. We open each session with guitar singing and prayer, and close in the same manner. Build your spiritual armor by joining us on Sunday evenings from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
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Question. What is Christian perfection?
Answer. The loving God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. This
implies, that no wrong temper, none contrary to love, remains in the soul; and
that all the thoughts, words, and actions, are governed by pure love.
John Wesley,
A Plain Account of Christian Perfection
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Give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good; his love endures forever. Jeremiah 33:11b NIV Bob and Mary sat in the marriage counselor's office. The young couple came to get some help on their relationship. "Well." Began the therapist, "Can you tell me briefly what seems to be the problem with your marriage." "Things have changed in our relationship," lamented Mary. "When we first met we loved to be with each other. Bob would enthusiastically come with me to the symphony concerts that I loved and I enjoyed going sailing with him in his boat." "Yeah," Bob added, "now I fall asleep at the concerts and Mary gets seasick!" Has your love been growing cold? Maybe you need to discover the source of endless love. Human affections change and often ebb, but God's love remains constant. Open your heart to the steadfast love of the Lord. His love will soon have you sailing to a new tune! Ceasing to be "in love" does not mean ceasing to love. C. S. Lewis |
Chosen by God
…everyone who is a child of God conquers the world. 1 John 5:4 NCV
White smoke rising from a chimney. A new leader for the Roman Catholic Church is proclaimed. Chosen from a group of holy men who have been set apart for God, called to ministry and personal purity. Chosen by a centuries-old method of sequestered conclave. Over 100 men, locked away from the world until the will of God can be determined and the next representative of God is identified among them. The process itself is a closely guarded secret. So the world watched in patient anticipation until the process was complete.
Chosen by God to be His representative. But wait – isn’t this what the Christian faith is about? Being chosen by God as joint heirs with His Son Jesus the Christ? Not just one special person, but all who confess the Lord Jesus Christ?
Christians are indeed chosen by God to be set apart, sanctified for the work of the kingdom! Christians are called to live holy lives. Christians are chosen to be in ministry and to follow God-ordained vocations. Christians have been fulfilling the will of God for centuries. But Jesus gave Christians a unique mandate. To go into the world in full view of all and to proclaim the gospel. To each be a chosen minister of grace.
Christians don’t lock themselves away from the world to serve God behind closed doors. Christians don’t need a single person to represent God to mankind. We all have access to God’s throne room; we all are recipients of God’s grace. Each of us is called to be a leader in our part of the kingdom, in whatever field of work or play that we have been led.
What a reforming thought! We all are chosen by God! And the only smoke we need is the smoke we want to avoid – the smoke from the fires of hell. So, my chosen friend of God, enjoy your status. For in God’s eyes, you are every bit as important as one who is labeled “pope.” You are special, a child of the King, saved by grace, and loved by the Creator. This status is available to everyone who believes. Now if we could only get the world to pay attention.
Brother Glenn
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