Text Box: Greater Things John 14:12 January 29, 2008 Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church 4809 Bell Hill Road, Bessemer, AL 35022 Fax: (205) 428-6135 Office: 428-4056 Parsonage: 936-9540 FLC: 428-4920 e-mail: Pleasant Hill4809@aol.com Alan Head, Pastor Monica Harbarger, Student Minister e-mail: PHImpactyouth@aol.com Web Page Address: www.ph-umc.com
Text Box: KATRINA MISSION TRIP The next trip is scheduled to leave the church at approximately 4:00 P.M. on Thursday, February 7th, returning Saturday night. If you are interested in going on this trip call John Fillebaum.
Text Box: As We Prepare for Easter Transfiguration Sunday this year is February 3. This last Sunday before Lent commemorates Jesus' transfiguration in His physical appearance. He took Peter, James and John up on a high mountain and permitted them to see Him in splendor, with His face shining like the sun, and His garments bright with light. Suddenly two Old Testament figures, Moses and Elijah, appeared and talked with Jesus. Then a cloud over-shadowed them and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, in Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him". Lent is a season of preparation for the celebration of Easter. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 6 this year, and ends with Easter Sunday. Lent is a period of forty days, not counting Sundays. Sundays aren't counted because Sunday always celebrates Jesus' victory over sin and death. Even during Lent, Sunday is a "little Easter" The number "forty" is a significant number in the Bible and is a round number used to represent fullness. Jesus fasted forty days in the wilderness and, after the resurrection there was a forty day period when He was revealed to His disciples. The number forty indicated an amount of time essential for accomplishment of what needed to be done; as we need this time of repentance and renewal, representative of Jesus' time of preparation in the wilderness. As we begin our celebration of Lent with Ash Wednesday, we focus our worship on the themes of sin and death in the light of God's redeeming love in Jesus Christ. We receive everlasting life only as a gift of God's grace. Scripture refers to ashes both as a sign of mortality and a sign of repentance. The palms used on Palm Sunday last year are burned to provide ashes for our pastor to use to mark the sign of the cross on our foreheads at Ash Wednesday worship. We are called to observe Lent as a time of repentance, prayer, and self-denial, of meditation of Jesus' life and death, and of self-sacrifice for others. In our busy, secular world, Lent is a time of renewal, a time to remember Jesus and his sacrifice to give us eternal life. We are called as the body of Christ to come together to worship and study together as we use our forty days as a time of preparation for the greatest Christian celebration of all, Easter. Worship Committee Ernette Calhoun


Text Box: Youth The youth ministry department at Pleasant Hill is busting at the seams!! We are in need of lots of things, but right now our most pressing need is snacks and drinks. I feel very strongly that part of this ministry is having something available to these kids to snack on after school. We have about 25-30 kids here by 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday afternoons and the first thing they do is eat. Please just drop off anything (sodas, chips, candy, etc...) to the church office with my name on it and it will be put to good use. Thanks for your help!!! The youth are helping with Evening Under the Stars on February 15th. We will be waiting the tables and I need about 20-25 youth who can commit to being here that evening. Please let me know if you can help out. Also, I am still taking names for our summer plans. The cost is $50 for each trip. The middle school will be going to Chattanooga June 8-13 and the High School will be going to Washington, D.C. July 27-August 2. These are both mission opportunities but space is limited. Continue to pray for this ministry and the lives it is touching. -Monica Harbarger


Text Box: EGG DECORATING CLASSES Pysanky is an ancient craft-art that originated in Slavic cultures. Traditionally, Pysanky eggs were decorated during Holy Week and brought to the church on Easter night for the priest to bless after the Paschal service. The ladies of the Sisterhood of St. Xenia, from St. Gregory the Theologian Orthodox Church of Tuscaloosa, will be at Pleasant Hill UMC on February 23rd and March 8th to share the technique of making these wonderful Easter decorations. The classes will begin at 2:00 p.m. Children are welcome, but we ask that all children under the age of 12 have an adult with them in the class. You will need the following items to be able to decorate your pysanka eggs: - A Pysanky kit. We have two types kits available, the Super Deluxe ($33, includes 3 styli and a block of beeswax and the Basic kit ($25, includes 1 stylus and small block of beeswax). - A candle and candle holder (utility candles work best). - Something in which to carry your eggs home. If you are interested incoming to the Pysanky class, you may order your kit by contacting Vickie Derrington, phone 425-1415. Please sign up and place orders by February 10th, to insure that your kits arrive in time. We hope to see all of you for fun and fellowship! - The Sisterhood of St. Xenia (for more inforation on the art of Psyanky, see the bulletin board in the FLC).


Text Box: Food Drive NOW THROUGH FEBRUARY 29 A food collection cart is in the lobby of the FLC for you to place your donations. We are collecting canned and non-perishable food items for Urban Ministries and to replenish our church food pantry. We would like to fill this cart up several times during this drive. See Lynn Griffin for more information.



Text Box: Library Media Center Update Look what’s new and ready for circulation in your Media Center: Between Sundays by Karen Kingsbury Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon Last Jihad, Last Days and Copper Scroll. All three by Joel C. Rosenburg English Ivy by Catherine Palmer Crimson Eve by Brandyln Collins Truth War by John MacArthur 316 Numbers of Hope by Max Lucado Daughter of Silk and Written on Silk by Linda Lee Chaikin Never Look Back and Ever Present Danger by Kathy Herman Ulterior Motives Presumption and Evidence of Mercy Justifiable by Terri Blackstock Children’s Books What is Heaven Like? by Beverly Lewis The Oak Inside the Acorn by Max Lucado DVD’s Last Sin Eater Facing the Giants Miracle of Jonathan Toomey Thanks to all who donated to the Library this past year. Re-Cap of Items added in 2007 448 Books 37 Videos 9 DVD’s 5 CD’s 3 Cassette Sets 1 DVD Bible Study Kit


Text Box: M & M NEWS We met on January 21st to plan our coming year and got more good ideas than we will most likely have time to use. For February I am working on a luncheon at the Chocolate Biscuit in Trussville along with another local tour. Other fun things include a tour of the Mercedes plant, a cruise on the Bama Belle, Sand Mountain Parrish, a springtime 2 nighter in Savanna, Ga. and a Christmas trip the first week in December in Aiken, SC. Watch for exact places, times, and sign-up. Thanks, Barbara Clinton



Text Box: “The Music Man” Another exciting event in the life of Pleasant Hill UMC is coming this summer. We are making plans to present the Broadway musical “The Music Man.” We need people to help with many areas of this production including: costuming, make up, set design, set building, lighting, sound, publicity, casting, etc. If you have experience in any of these areas, call Alan Brooks. We will need to get started immediately with our plans. We are going to have so much fun with this and at the same time do something wonderful for our community. As of now, we are planning this show for mid July. Let me hear from you! -Alan Brooks


Text Box: “Love One Another” Dinner Wednesday, February 13 6:00 pm This is one you don’t want to miss. Get your heart ready for “Heart Day”. You are in for a double treat! Laura Jean will be preparing the meal and we will have a surprise visitor. Hint: He is not dead!..... He is known to drive girls wild!... He is “Mr. Love Song” himself. Who could it be???? You have to be here to see. Adults: $5.00 Children: $3.00 ( $15.00 family max) Name_______________ Adults____ Children____ (Those with standing reservations will automatically be expected)


Text Box: Living Stones Jamie and Heather Mays Kyndall and Kate Jamie was born on March 9, 1975 to Debra and Harry Mays. He grew up mostly in Birmingham in the Belview Heights area and attended Central Park Baptist Church and school there. When he was 15, his family moved to Clanton where he finished out his high school years at Chilton County High School. While there, his family attended First Baptist Church of Clanton. He has one sister, Andrea. Jamie attended Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa for 2 years. Jamie has worked for GAF/Elk Corporation in Tuscaloosa where they manufacture roofing shingles for almost 9 years now. He works 12-hour shifts, which leaves him plenty of days off for hunting, which is his true passion. He also enjoys golfing and competing in BBQ contests. Heather was born on November 13, 1976 to Jim and Kathy Keat. She grew up in Gardendale. Her parents are divorced now and have been remarried for quite some time. Heather has 3 sisters and 1 brother. Heather attended Gardendale’s First Baptist Church while growing up. After graduating from high school, Heather attended UAB for 2 years where she was a Blazerette. After that, she transferred to the University of Alabama. She graduated in 2000 with a degree in Business Management. Her first job out of school was with Aetna, where she continues to work. Jamie and Heather met through mutual friends while in college. There were five guys in Tuscaloosa who all graduated from Chilton County and there were five girls from Gardendale who all graduated together. Since the first match, all five couples have gotten married and still remain close friends today. Since Heather is allowed to work from home now, she has plenty of time to spend with their children, Kyndal and Kate. Kyndal was born prematurely in 2002 and graced them with a very small angel. Since then, she has caught up and is still running. Kate was born in 2006 and was truly a blessing from God. Kyndal attends Flint Hill Christian School where she is now in Kindergarten. Kate attends PDO here at Pleasant Hill. Jamie and Heather started coming to Pleasant Hill back in 2001, but never joined as members until the fall of 2006. They are very thankful for Bobby and Twink (Scales) for their constant support and for leading them to our wonderful church. Jamie and Heather truly feel like this is home for them. They said, “Everyone is genuinely nice and supportive and make us feel like family.” Jamie and Heather live in Bradford Park. They enjoy taking their children on vacation and enjoy together time. They went to Disney World this past year and had a complete blast. They are already planning their next trip back. We are blessed to have Jamie, Heather, Kyndal and Kate as living stones in the fellowship of this church and look forward to watching the girls grow in body and in spirit. Jean Baswell


Text Box: EVENING UNDER THE STARS Friday, February 15, 2008 We had such a great time last year at this event, that several of you asked if we could have this event again. Well, I am pleased to announce that the Music Department will again be hosting this event. The Joe Gaiattina Orchestra with Bill Jeffries directing will be our entertainment again this year. The JGO is known for its “big band” swing music. Laura Jean McGhee will be cooking a delicious meal and we will have child care available. This is a wonderful chance for you to plan an enchanting evening with your sweetheart at a very reasonable cost of $12.50 per person. Reservations are going to be limited, so you will need to get your reservation in early! Look for the reservation forms in the next couple of weeks. -Alan Brooks


Text Box: NEW BABY Congratulations to Jaime and Jason Cox on the birth of a son, Robert Bradon (Brady) Cox born January 15 . Congratulations also to proud grandparents, Marlon & Pattie Beavers, Uncle Will and Great-grandmother, Dot Walton


Connections

 

                 Our purpose here at PHUMC is all about connections. We are called to connect folks with Christ and one another. It is an awesome task! In order to be faithful to such a purpose requires us to make connections through: worship, congregational care, outreach, discipleship and missions. This past year (2007) we were able to see many of the fruits of such a task. In worship we experienced many powerful moments such as the Baptism of 18 children of God. In congregational care and outreach we welcomed 45 new members into our PHUMC family (16 of these joined our family by profession of faith). We also celebrated the lives of 12 faithful family members who have gone on to their eternal homes. Through our discipleship ministries we were able to grow in both our understanding and resemblance of Jesus Christ. Through our mission ministries we were able to reach out to people in need both locally and globally. Isn’t it wonderful to see the Holy Spirit at work through the folks here at PHUMC.

             During the coming year I believe that God has even greater things in store for you and me to be a part of. But in order for us to be a part of  this will require yet another connection. It will require that each and everyone of us be connected in service through our prayers, presence, gifts and service. The Apostle Paul once said; “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present yourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. For as in one body we have many members,  and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually, we are members one of another” (Romans 12).

             In the next few days each member will be receiving a list of  opportunities which will help each of us connect to what God is doing in McCalla through Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church. It is my prayer that each us will prayerfully consider what we can offer in terms of our Prayers, Presence, Gifts, and Service. On February 10th we will have a special service of commitment as we each offer ourselves to God in the service of Christ. I look forward to seeing what God will do through us in 2008!