The
Heavenly Happenings
At The Hopwood United Methodist Church
November/December 2004
Greetings:
It does not seem possible that we are at the
end of October and ready to go into the Thanksgiving and Christmas
Seasons.
We also have an important job as
Christians. That is to be a strong
witness for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
We are in very trying times in our country since September 2001. Three years later, I wonder are we in better
situations?
As we ponder the future, remember what we
read in Matthew 24:4-14 about the future - rumors of war, famines (lack of food
and spiritual), pestilence (destruction – look at all the rains, hurricanes,
tornados, and earthquakes happening all over the world). I do believe God is trying to get our
attention. How about you? Do you remember the Jabez prayer? Are you willing to pray the same
prayer? Are you willing to let go and
let God have his way in your life? Are
you willing to finally say to God, here I am, use me, send me, make me a
witness for you?
We are so blessed. During this Thanksgiving,
let us help those that don’t have. I
feel so blessed by what God is doing in the churches. Not that I had anything to do with it, but that God was, is, and
will be working through me as his servant.
We live in a great country, but we need to do
better. PRAY – PRAY – PRAY!
In
His Service I Am “Shalom”
“String”
September/October 2004
As I ponder the past and look to the future,
I ask myself a question, “Where are we headed?” Almost every time I read or listen to the news there is a
killing. Somebody has done what God
said not to do. “Thou shalt not kill or
murder.”
We have lost the B.I.B.L.E (Basic
Instructions for Leaving Earth). We
have put everything ahead or working for God.
We must return to God (II Corinth. 6:2)
It has been a rainy summer. The schools will be opening, teachers will
be in place, and bus drivers will be delivering the children to school. We need to be praying everyday for all the
school districts and teachers. It is so
easy to lose one’s thoughts as we are busy with school, but remember God is
still on the throne.
We will see the choirs back in full swing,
the Senior Citizen Luncheon back at Hopwood, and most everyone has had their
vacation. Now we need to start back to
our first choice: God and give Him what belongs to Him.
May everything you wish to happen this fall
happens to you. May we always look to
the cross and the one who died for our sins.
He is still alive and well!
In His
Service I Am “Shalom”
“String”
July/August 2004
Greetings:
As I sit at my desk here at the end of June,
I was wondering what goes through our minds when we enter the summer season and
know that we are heading toward July 4th, Independence Day, when we
will either be on vacation or going somewhere to see the fireworks. It is a great time of the year. Picnics are in full force, V.B.S. are in
many areas, and many are hunting a swimming place because of the heat and
humidity.
As we begin to do all the above, Sundays
become a forgotten day. We all need to
be aware of what I call a memory lapse.
Our church attendance is low, our offerings are low, and consequently we
run in the red.
I know you probably think we have heard that
before, but, we as servants of Jesus Christ need to remember, are we making up
for the Sundays we miss or do we forget the church. The church operates 365 days a year and it needs everyone to do
his or her part.
Everyone knows by now that beginning July 1st,
I will have a co-worker as I will be beginning my last year at Hopwood and
Brownfield Churches. His name is Randy
Costolo and he comes from the Dawson charge.
I ask each one to give as much to Randy as you have to June and I.
I will surely miss all when June 30, 2005
rolls around. We have made many, many
friends and hope that you continue in that love.
Thanks be to God for our time here.
In His Service I Am
Shalom
“String”
May/June 2004
Greetings to All:
By the time you read this newsletter, we will
have gone through the greatest week in the Christian’s life. First, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good
Friday, and finally the day of resurrection, Easter.
I consider this to be the week of all weeks,
we came into Jerusalem (Mt. 21:1-10), we had the Last Supper with Jesus (Mt.
26:17-29), we walked to Calvary with our Lord (Mt. 27:35-50), and finally death
was defeated for us. We no longer need
to fear death; we can now look forward to the resurrection promised to us.
Today, there are still many who think of
Easter as the day of big meals, candy, eggs, and new clothes when it really for
the Christian should be the greatest chance for us to live with Jesus
forever. Can you think of anything more
gratifying than to have this opportunity?
He could have called Ten Thousand Angels, but
he died for you and I. HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!
Now we need to ask ourselves this question,
“What comes next?” Do we go back living
the way we used to or do we take the Great Commission that Jesus gave us and go
with it (Mt. 28-19).
Sometimes it really looks like the Easter
Season is just one day. Sometimes it
doesn’t even last for a day, and then we forget what happened almost two
thousand years ago. Make this Easter
the greatest that you have encountered in your life.
Remember, HE IS RISEN. HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!
Until we meet again
Shalom
String
March/April 2004
Greetings from our Lord and Savior:
Well, we have completed almost two months on
the New Year and we are now in what a lot of people call a “rat race” to get
our income taxes done and hope we get a return of some sort or, if not, hope we
don’t have to pay.
Which brings me to the question of how much
we think about our lives; for example, or where we will spend eternity? If we are as concerned as many of us are
about our tax refund, are we concerned about life and where we will spend it?
We will have gone past Ash Wednesday, which
is a time of again looking at our life situation (Mt. 6:16-21), a time of
reflection and prayer. We start the
Easter season with Ash Wednesday and the Sundays following. This is a time of renewal, a time of change,
a time of living and serving Jesus the Christ.
As I think about the special days coming in
February, March, and April, it doesn’t seem possible that we have gone another
year. The question can be: “What is life?” James tells us it is just vapor and it’s gone. We must truly realize and be ready for life
to end her eon this earth.
·
It is time to be
challenged.
·
It is time to make
decisions.
·
It is time to say yes to
Jesus.
·
It is time to awaken
from sleep.
·
It is time to serve our
Master.
·
The time is now. (2 Corinth 6:2)
In His Service I am
Shalom
“String”
January/February 2004
Greetings:
Christmas is over. Gifts are unwrapped…but did you unwrap the greatest Gift of
all? Sometimes I believe all we think
about are decorations, spending money, eating, and whatever. Instead we should really and truly know that
“Christ” takes up the biggest part of Christmas.
As we tackle another year, 2004, we can ask
ourselves what challenge do we have for the New Year. We can help first by preparing for the new sewage line at the
parsonage and what it will cost. As you
all know, the insurance costs are on the rise every year. We need to ask the Holy Spirit how we can
help, then listen to the Holy Spirit.
As the new officers are installed and take
over in 2004, remember Jesus has told us in Matthew 9:37-38 that we are truly
the ones to “harvest” the fields for Him. We will all have the opportunity to
fulfill the job the church has entrusted us with.
May 2004 be the year that changes each and
everyone.
In His Service I am
Shalom
“String”
December 2003
Hi Everybody:
Greetings from the One that made Christmas
real. It wasn’t the sales in the store
before and after but the birth of Jesus Christ. Can you imagine what it would be like with no Jesus?
As you think about this Christmas season and
what gift you would truly like, would it be Jesus?
What if Jesus had not been born? What the…no cross, no tomb, no resurrection,
no disciples, no church, no fellowship.
Yes, the world can be a scary place, but just imagine how bad it could
be if Jesus had not been born.
Mt. 2:1 & 2 tells us about the birth of
Jesus and the wise men where led to Him by the star in the east. The world was ready for a redeemer. The Old Testament tells of the birth of a
Messiah that would come and save the world from sin. That Savior that was born long ago was not only for the but also
for today. Many, many people have taken
Christ out of Christmas and have made it more of a holiday for society than a
coming of a King.
I would ask you today what have you decided
to do with Jesus this Christmas? Unwrap
Him or unwrap the gifts you always wanted!!!
As this is the 6th Christmas June
and I have been blessed to be you leaders, we pray that you and yours would
have the best of the holidays and the coming year.
Put the gift of Jesus under your tree this
year and may 2004 bring the best.
Blessed Holidays from “June and String”
“Shalom”
P.S.:
Happy Birthday, Lord Jesus!
Remember Jesus stand for:
J –
Joy
E –
Excitement
S –
Security
U
–Unity
S –
Savior
November 2003
It just doesn’t seem possible that we are in
the next to the last month of the year.
Sometimes when I’m sitting at my desk working on the sermon for Sunday,
I ask myself the question, where has the time gone?
We will be having Thanksgiving Eve Services
at Brownfield United Methodist Church at 7:00 p.m. on November 26th
with Holy Communion. We have so much to
be thankful for. Paul states in
everything give thanks!
Sometimes we can ask what good does it do to
say thanks? We are dependent on the One
that can change everything and make our lives a lot better. But, Trusting and obeying God is a 24-hour a
day job, we cannot just say thanks for one thing and not all things.
As we come into this Thanksgiving month, we
need to remember what we have compared to other countries. Giving thanks is just not at
Thanksgiving, it should be everyday.
See you at Brownfield November 26th.
In His Service I Am
Shalom
“String”
P.S.
National Bible week is November 16th through the 22nd. If anyone wants to bring a bible and leave
it on display for Bible Sunday, November 16, 2003, it would be greatly
appreciated. Do you have a bible you
could bring?
September/October, 2003
Greetings:
As I am writing this, we are just a couple
weeks from Labor Day, which is September 1, 2003, just eleven (11) days from
the beginning of the new school year.
We can ask, what happened to the summer? But, a better question would be what have we
done for the Lord? We need to realize
that regardless of how we feel or what we are doing, the first step is serving
the Lord, Jesus Christ, Our Savior.
The Church Conference with the new District
Superintendent, Rev. Frank Sherman will be coming the Hopwood on September 3,
2003. All people of the church can come
to this meeting. I feel it is our
responsibility to serve God to the fullest.
I have a very full calendar schedule so we
can get all the committees together before this day. I would ask that everyone pull together and work together for
God’s Church. We have been given the
opportunity as servants of God to care for His church. We, as His servants, have not really done,
as we should. Paul tell us in 1 Corinth
16:2; NIV Translation, “on the first day of every week, each should sit aside a
sum of money in keeping with his income.
Do we really give to the Lord what really belongs to Him? If everyone would do his or her part, the
church would flourish.
I would ask that each one would really pray
on how God can use us as His servants.
In His Service
I Am Shalom
“String”
July/August 2003
Hi There:
School’s out, Independence Day gone, we’re
well into the month of July, only about seven weeks until school again (so soon). Remember the older we get the faster time
flies.
Enjoy each day (one day at a time) and know
that the one who watches us every day doesn’t take vacations. So if we are missing from the church, please
be careful, but also remember our duty to pick up our Sunday we miss so the
church can still operate. Sometimes we
get so wrapped up in what we are doing, or where we are going, we forget. Please remember (Pro. 16:1 LB)
Did you know God never takes a day off? Neither does Satan. Who has interfered with you to keep you from
following the truth? (Thess 2:18). Remember the Devil prowls around like a
roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.
We also need to remember all the dangers of
the hot weather, need to have proper attire in the sweltering heat and be
careful of wasting one of God’s primary things, the water. Do not waste the possessions God has given
for you.
If you remember to take God with you each
day, everything will work out. Don’t
try to handle each day by yourself.
Proverbs 16:7 will help, 1 Peter 3:11 will
also help. Remember, God loves you and
wants nothing but the best for you.
Trust Him!!!
Your strength comes for those that wait upon
the Lord. (Isaiah 40:31). Can you wait?
Shalom
“String”
May/June 2003
Greetings to one and all. Hallelujah! He is Alive!!
By the time you read this letter, it will be
past Easter and all the symbols.
Sometimes we get caught up into what are we doing for Easter. Where are we going? Who is coming to dinner? But, the real issue at Easter is HE’S
ALIVE!!
The war in Iraq has slowed down to more like
police duty now as we strive to rebuild what we knocked down. It doesn’t make much sense to bomb a
country, then rebuild, but isn’t that what Jesus said in Luke 24:7, “the son of
Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the
third day be raised again.”
This is what being a believer means, to know
death has no hold on us, and Jesus promised us life eternally. As we think about what we are about and what
we have on our minds, I wonder if we really appreciate what Jesus the Son of
God, our Savior, Redeemer and the Way, the Truth, and the Life has done for us.
We are coming up to Memorial Day when we
remember what all the service personnel have done for us. Then when I think of all the years we
celebrated Memorial Day on May 30th, then the government changes it
so they could have a three-day weekend.
I wonder if they, the government, could change the Bible to satisfy
themselves, I am sure they would do it.
It is great they can’t?
Life for us today is built on John 3:3, “you
must be born again.” “You must believe
on the Son of God to be saved.”
Have a good day, week, month, etc.
If we don’t meet again here, we will meet on
the other side of the Jordan.
Shalom
“String”
March/April 2003
Greetings from Jesus Christ:
It seems like we just got over the 9-11, and
now we have run into another tragedy, Challenger and 7 Astronauts lost their
lives. Can you recall the President
quoting Isaiah 40:26. We have a very
religious and dedicated President where many times he quotes from God’s word.
A tragedy has hit the families of loves ones,
but who but Heaven knew that this would happen. In the Living Bible, Proverbs 16:1 quote “We can make plans, but
God has the final say so.” Sometimes I
think we forget that God is still in control and we forget to check with Him to
see if it’s all right.
As we begin a New Year and are heading for
Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday, we need to ask ourselves the
question, “How important are these dates to us?” All three nights, the church should be filled, especially now
with the situations in the world.
My prayers for each and everyone are that
God’s will will be done in your lives and also in His world.
May the peace of Jesus Christ be with you and
yours. If we don’t see each other
there, we’ll meet on the other side of Jordan.
Shalom
“String”
January/February 2003
Greetings:
It doesn’t seem possible that we are in the
last month of 2002, but I guess the old adage the older you get the faster time
flies by is a truthful statement.
As I survey the past year, the
accomplishments that have been done around and inside the Hopwood U.M. Church,
one can see there has been much in the way of activities going on. One has to just say, “Praise the Lord,” we
have overcome with his help. If we look
at the book of Revelations and the Seven churches, we see where they were to
overcome, just as we are today. The
opportunity of keeping God’s church alive and well is in His people’s
hands. Are we doing anything to help?
Now in the Christmas Season, and cards, and
letters, and prayers, being lifted up for all, we need to remember the shut-ins
and include them in our thoughts also.
It can be very lonely at this time of the season for them. Send cards to them and let them know the
church hasn’t forgotten them.
By the way, have you noticed the new windows
in the room off the sanctuary and the new basement windows? It really adds to the church. Thanks to all for everything.
As we start the New Year, the year 2003, ask
yourselves a questions like, “Lord, what do you have in mind for us this
year?” I hope and pray that the Holy
Spirit touches each of us.
Shalom
String
December 22, 2002
To ALL God’s People:
It doesn’t seem possible that this is our
(June and my) fifth (5th) Christmas season together with all of
you. We have seen many changes in both
churches and we know that the Holy Spirit is working.
As I ponder back on the church and the
activities that have been on going, I am reminded of the Scripture in Psalm
18:32; “It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect
(KJV)”. The scripture is close to me
always as I know that without Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, we are nothing
and I am nothing.
As we think about the future of what we would
like to see, to have, and to be assured of, James 4:13-15 tells us to make sure
what we ask for includes our Lord & Savior. I have seen many people growing in the last four (4) years that
June & I have been your shepherds, but I am sure we have not reached our
potential. Remember one of the seven
(7) deadly sins which was slothful or lazy, idle, sluggish, we must keep our
guard up at all times, and keep our eyes fixed on the cross as a reminder of
who we are, where we are going, and what we need to do.
June and I would just like to say it has been
a great four and one-half (4½) years of fellowship and having a great time
together. We pray for the Holiday
season that all your prayers are answered and you and your families have the
greatest of Holidays.
Peace & Love
June &
“String”
November/December 2002
Greetings:
What has happened in Your Life since the last
newsletter? I see where the new office
is finished, drop by and visit Wednesday and Thursday 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Also, Noah’s Nursery is finished and looks
great. Did you drop in to see what has
changed and all you mothers have a place to go if your children start to fuss
and make you uneasy.
Some of you already know that the Bible Study
has started and we are doing the book of Romans, Wednesday Evenings at 6:30
p.m., drop in and learn with us.
The nominating committee has been working
hard to have new officers in place for our church conference December 3rd
at Asbury United Methodist Church, 7:30 p.m.
The annual church bazaar was held on October
5th and turned out to be a great success. It was great to see the church in action and everyone doing their
part. Oh, by the way, our attendance
has fallen off; do you have a good reason for not being in church every Sunday
and serving our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?
Remember your commitment when you joined the church.
We still have things in the church, inside
and outside that need to be done. If
you decide that you would like to serve Jesus Christ, please leave any of the
Trustees know.
Remember Thanksgiving Eve Service at 7:30
p.m. with Communion at Brownfield. The
Christmas Eve Service with Communion will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Hopwood
Church. See you there!!!!
Shalom
“String”
September/October 2002
Greetings:
It doesn’t seem possible we have gone almost
through the summer, and only have about three weeks or so before school
starts. Where did June and July go?
I was watching T.V. while on vacation about
the nine miners that were trapped in the darkness 240 feet below the
surface. The Bible talks about darkness
and I feel that there was a message for those in the dark; only Jesus Christ
can release us from that total darkness and destruction (I John 1:5-7).
I feel that there was a connection with
Flight 93 where all were killed and the miners where all were saved or
rescued. I feel that the Lord had a
message for us with these two incidences and that message was and still is
today one of saying I’m in control yet, (that is Jesus Christ) and if you trust
and believe in Me, everything will be alright.
We need to in these troubled times of today
make sure we know who our leader is and that is our Lord & Savior Jesus
Christ. He is the only one who can give
us what we really want. So as we think
of the summer almost gone, and school just around the corner, let us turn to
the Great Shepherd and the Great “I Am” as the teacher.
Shalom
“String”
Pray for the School Teachers---Pray for the
Children---Pray for the Schools---Pray for the Bus Drivers—Pray for our Leaders
everywhere.
July/August 2002
From the Pastor’s Desk:
As I am writing the newsletter, I am thinking
back a few weeks ago to Memorial Day Weekend.
We had asked that as in the past, people could bring in Geraniums in
memory of, or in honor of, or just buy one so they could be planted outside in
front of the church. They have been
planted and the front of the church looks great.
By the time you receive this letter the
U.M.C. Annual Conference will be over and all the paperwork done. There were some tough issues but we need to
remember W. Pa. Conference is opposed to homosexuality and also against
ministers that profess it. Be in much
prayer for all U.M. Churches as they deal with one large issue. God loves the sinner but not the sin.
I am sure as this letter reaches you one
might think God went back on His word (Gen. 9:8-13), especially with all the
rain and storms we have had. We need to
remember also the rainbow in the sky and we then can realize that God does love
us.
We also need to remember that June, July,
Aug., families will be on vacation.
Please pray for the families and the church. Also, don’t forget to pay for each Sunday you are away, God does
not take a vacation, so we need to make sure our tithes are paid in full, even
when we are away. The church still has
bill to pay.
Until the next time, remember, God loves you
and so do I.
Shalom
“String”
May/June 2002
Greetings:
We have had what you would call a very mild
winter at the least. Hardly any snow,
but seems like we had a lot of rain but yet, the East Coast is still in a
drought watch. If we would read Eccl.
3:1, 2, 11, we would see who is in control.
We need to say as Paul put it, “give thanks in everything.”
We have just come through the Easter Season,
the last seven stages of the cross, and using the younger boys and girls
reading the scriptures. I would hope
that the sermons on the seven stages would bring to life what our Lord and
Savior went through. Now we are getting
ready for Pentecost Sunday, the beginning of the Church age, May 19th
is the day to wear red if you have it to wear, buy geraniums in memory or in
honor of someone so that they can be planted outside the church. A sure sign that the church is alive. Today as I am writing this newsletter, I
think back to the happenings of the last six months or more and ask myself the
questions, as I sure we all can, “Where are we headed?” Even in John’s Gospel Chapter 13:38 were
Jesus is telling Simon Peter, “That the cock will not crow thrice, till you
have denied me three times.” Do we hear
the same question put to us today, have we denied Jesus Christ as Lore and
Savior of our lives? Because He lives,
we can face many of the tomorrows to come.
Won’t you let Him in”?
Shalom
“String”
March/April 2002
Greetings to All:
It’s that time of
the year when we all should look at our spiritual life as well as our physical
life.
Ash Wednesday, a
time of reconciliation, reconciling ourselves to God once again for His work
and our future.
Not only Ash
Wednesday, but the Sundays of Lent (5), Palm or Passion Sunday, Maundy Thursday,
Good Friday and the best day of all, Easter, the resurrection, which without,
we would have no hope. Not only the
resurrection of hope and life, but also the resurrection of grass, trees,
flowers and the resurrection of our spiritual life.
I think I have told
everybody that this is my time of the year.
Thank you Jesus for dying for my sins and rising for my future. Think of the hymn, “Up From the Grave He
Arose.” Death could not hold Him in
that tomb, and He is alive and well today.
HALLELUJAH.
When we think about
every situation around us, the wars in many places and the shootings and drugs
we have next door to us, we can be very thankful that as we admit our sins to
Jesus Christ and ask Him to reside with us, we know that we only are residing
on earth temperal. The song, “This
World is Not Our Home,” I cannot wait for that day.
Shalom
“String”
P.S. May this season be a wake up call for us all.
January/February 2002
Greetings to All:
Well, here we are again, another year past, a year
that we probably will never forget. A year that regardless we thank God for
being with us, for He tells us in His Word, "I will never leave thee, nor
forsake thee," (Hebrew 13:5).
As I sit writing this letter, I keep thinking of the
days ahead. What will the New Year bring? Will peace come? Will the fightings
stop, not only on the home front, but also abroad? But then again if we pray
the Lord's Prayer, it tells us, "not our will be done, but thy (Gods')
will be done."
We need to look at ourselves and ask
the simple question, "Are we ready?" Ready for what you might ask,
are we looking forward to Ash Wednesday (Feb. 13th) where it brings forth a
dual theme of sin and death in the light of God's redeeming love in Jesus
Christ. The use of ashes can be used for a day of repentance and reconciliation
– repentance for our sins and reconciling ourselves with our Lord and Savior.
Let us one and all come before the Lord
God and start the Year 2002 with a bang, doing all we can, as long as we can,
for God. We all need to be doing our part.
Shalom
“String”
November/December
2001
Greetings:
It seems to me, as
we look back on what has happened in the past several months, that the next
question could be "What's next?"
Our country has
gone through things that we never thought would happen to us. Yet, we have
never tasted what other countries have gone through and hope we never have to
face anything worse. We have had planes hijacked and lives lost. Now we have
Anthrax, everybody is running because of fear. Psalm 14:1-3 speaks to everyone.
We are trying our best, but maybe we haven't surrendered our whole to the Lord.
Solomon was asked
by the Lord what could He give him. Solomon's reply, "Give me an
understanding heart, that I may discern between good and bad," (1 Kings
3:6-9). Maybe we need to seek wisdom from God. We as a people want to have the
best, but there are people who have a hardened "heart," and right
away we condemn before asking the question, "Who's guilty?"
I would pray that
the Lord would touch our hearts and we would pray for the safety and hope that
the situations all around us would change. Psalm 51:10.
Remember today as a
new day, and pray the Jabez Prayer
to help you through it.
May God put His
blessings on all.
Shalom
“String”