tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16950641243803091082024-02-02T02:42:45.249-06:00Connectional Giving Blog of The United Methodist ChurchThis is the connectional giving blog of The United Methodist Church. The purpose of this blog is to share connectional giving stories from around the conferences and world, personal reactions to how connectional giving has changed lives and commentary on interesting connectional giving articles found online.Lladalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667140677527422473noreply@blogger.comBlogger270125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695064124380309108.post-54378528388103860682013-12-30T08:00:00.000-06:002013-12-30T08:00:00.529-06:00Can We Make it New Again?<br />
<br />
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>So if anyone is in Christ,
there is a new creation: <br />everything old has passed away; see, everything has
become new! <br />-- </em></i><em style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 Corinthians 5:17</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: '', sans-serif, '', serif; line-height: 107%;">It was hard to tell what was more painful
to look at, the shattered toy on the living room floor or the shattered
expression on my young daughter’s face. The one gift that she had wanted and
longed for at Christmas was now a broken mess thanks to the carelessness of her
younger brothers. Once the tears had stopped and the anger subsided, the
question came that I was not expecting “Daddy can we make it like new
again.” So that afternoon, with tools and superglue in hand, we started to
rebuild her shattered dream. The “rebuilt” toy looked nothing like the
original, but it was functional and for a little while at least, I was her
hero.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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As we begin the countdown of the last few days of 2013, take time to celebrate
accomplishments, remember dreams that were shattered, loved one’s lost and new
creations that took their first breath in the year that is quickly wrapping up.
But be also reminded of the incredible opportunity that we have in Christ Jesus
that not only on January 1, but everyday He offers us a new beginning. He
offers to take our shattered lives and make them new again. He offers to
rebuild that which we have destroyed and make it a new creation through Him.<br />
<br />
On Youth Sunday the youth of Dacula UMC wrote the following affirmation of faith
for the New Year:<br />
<br />
“We believe that God is eternal and holy, so that whoever believes in him shall
not die, but live forever. We believe that God's existence is a circle, with no
definite beginning or end. We also know that our lives are a line, with a start
and finish. We must make the best of our lives. We know that time wasted is
time taken away, while time spent for God is time earned forever after. We
should not live in the past, but continue forward, and strengthen our faith and
relationship with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<em><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">--Bill Martin, </span></b></em><em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">North Georgia Annual Conference</span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><b>God Is Still In Control!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Miss Lladale Carey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Web Content Producer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">www.umcgiving.org</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">lcarey@umcom.org</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br /> <o:p></o:p></span>Lladalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667140677527422473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695064124380309108.post-79451702943272962412013-12-23T08:00:00.000-06:002013-12-23T08:00:04.667-06:00Preparing for The Glorious Celebration<br />
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for God’s glorious breakthrough. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Charles Wesley’s words express the hopes of so many:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<em>“Come, thou long expected
Jesus,</em><i><br />
<em>Born to set thy people
free;</em></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">From our fears and sins release us,</span></em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let us find our rest in thee.</span></em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Israel’s strength and consolation,</span></em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hope of all the earth thou art;</span></em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dear desire of every nation,</span></em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Joy of every longing heart.”</span></em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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we make our final preparations for the upcoming glorious celebration, let us pray
that God’s most gracious gift will be received by a sinful world in desperate
need of a Savior. Let us pray for peace in the name of the Prince of Peace. Let
those of us who name the name of Jesus also show the love of Jesus to all
people as we labor for justice and mercy for all God’s children everywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We must ask ourselves if we are truly prepared to have God
break into our world through the Christ-child. Are our hearts open? Will we
offer our lives in grateful service to our God who loved us enough to be born
in a manger, preach, teach and heal a hurting world, suffer at the hands of
sinful people, and be crucified to save us from ourselves?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Before many in the world will receive God’s Good News in
Christ, the world needs to see Christian lives radically transformed by
Christ’s love. They need to see us love each other and love all people in the
name of Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Are we ready for Christmas? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-- Bishop Mike Watson, North Georgia Annual Conference</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>God Is Still In Control!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Miss Lladale Carey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Web Content Producer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">www.umcgiving.org</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">lcarey@umcom.org</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
Lladalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667140677527422473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695064124380309108.post-5683757583464961782013-12-16T08:00:00.000-06:002013-12-16T08:00:00.604-06:00“Christmas, is it more than the Celebration of the Birth of Jesus?”<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTQn94QR6aq1SStLIg0V_S0loc3FKim8z96-IU_EznzvGytxPmJAbndvIS-m9mDrm2I9qvl8YGOX9OhYgWXBvXyNJlzgZQ9JiX1r_vnPpqRYOsMJWNfPKDDdbGiTeW6vMW5qcazl9o5cC/s1600/BLOG_Christmas_more_Than_Celebrate_250W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTQn94QR6aq1SStLIg0V_S0loc3FKim8z96-IU_EznzvGytxPmJAbndvIS-m9mDrm2I9qvl8YGOX9OhYgWXBvXyNJlzgZQ9JiX1r_vnPpqRYOsMJWNfPKDDdbGiTeW6vMW5qcazl9o5cC/s1600/BLOG_Christmas_more_Than_Celebrate_250W.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Many
times the celebration of Christmas especially in the United States has become
an opportunity for commercialism to creep into our lives in enormous amounts,
disrupting our normal day-to-day schedule that we maintain the rest of the
year.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">We
are bombarded with once-a-year advertising, merchandising, and changes to our
daily lives and to our Christian lives at our churches and elsewhere. In
many ways it seems we are victims of commercialism to the point we cannot
escape, and we get the feeling the real meaning of Christmas is lost in the
ribbons, glitter and wrappings of gifts.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Yes,
this is true; we let Christmas become very big in our lives and very dominating
in our attitudes toward others, our time is consumed in events and in ways we
never consider the rest of the year. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Christmas
and the pageantry of Christmas in the United States are so large the other
religions of the world take exceptions to our total immersion into Santa Clause
and the Birth of Jesus. There are groups in the world that don’t believe in
Jesus, that are constantly trying to keep Christ out of Christmas.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Those
of us in the Christian Church that truly believe will never leave Christ out of
Christmas, or if we do, even unintentionally, then we missed something along
the way in our Christian learning.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Perhaps,
even though we are overwhelmed by all that seems to come along with Christmas,
we may be missing the greatest chance of the year to take God’s message to a
hurting world.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Because
of the pageantry of Christmas the door is open for the believers, to declare
the message to people on an individual basis and for churches to declare the
message of Jesus on an even larger scale.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">With
the ice of normality broken, the time is perfect to interject the message of
the Messiah into the world. So what, if they hear the same message about
the Birth of our Savior over and over in music and in testimony during the
Holiday season, the good news may eventually sink in to those that really need
to hear the message.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
message may be two thousand years old but Christians the world over anticipate
the good news of the Birth of Christ just like they did the first time they
heard it. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">If
you are in a mood of just going through the motions of Christmas, then do
something out of the ordinary for someone, maybe someone you don’t even know.
If you make a concerted effort to do something nice for someone, they may
receive a gift, but you will receive blessings that will lift your spirits.<br />
<br />-- The Lay Ministry team of the North Alabama Annual Conference</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><b>God Is Still In Control!</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Miss Lladale Carey</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Web Content Producer</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">www.umcgiving.org</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">lcarey@umcom.org</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span>Lladalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667140677527422473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695064124380309108.post-15508514050181443032013-12-09T08:00:00.000-06:002013-12-09T08:00:00.758-06:00Listen in Anticipation This Advent<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROeLv8WiPoJoeYINEaIIj20HqSPpaTj1VMA3Up8lCA7PiuG4HXcEHbCvaIjaYfkK_8AmTLW00eGE18VBJyEwic-0ABLgRy-Y4DfzdfDYKz8SLGyIiKl8VcvBCBtwjrtzEGzdAbzEuCn42/s1600/BLOG_Listen_To_Anticipation_Advent_250W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROeLv8WiPoJoeYINEaIIj20HqSPpaTj1VMA3Up8lCA7PiuG4HXcEHbCvaIjaYfkK_8AmTLW00eGE18VBJyEwic-0ABLgRy-Y4DfzdfDYKz8SLGyIiKl8VcvBCBtwjrtzEGzdAbzEuCn42/s1600/BLOG_Listen_To_Anticipation_Advent_250W.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“And when, in scenes of glory, I
sing the new, new song, ’Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so
long.” The power of song and shared story to communicate and to create
community never ceases to amaze me. Several years ago I was blessed to travel to
Israel on a mission and study trip. It was the opportunity of a lifetime, and I
was prepared with camera and notepads to capture every moment. I was less
prepared for the moments that captivated me. One such moment occurred during a
simple Sunday worship service.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">We traveled from our hotel
in the Old City of Jerusalem to Bethlehem where we were scheduled to worship
with a Palestinian Christian congregation. I remember being disappointed by the
nondescript building and worship space set for contemporary worship. Compared
to all the wondrous sites we had seen, rich with history and religious art,
this plain room had as little atmosphere as any school in the States being used
for temporary worship space. But our group was warmly welcomed, and we were
given headsets for hearing the translator. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br /></span>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">A few of the songs were new to me,
and I relied on the voice in my ear to help me tentatively sing English lyrics
in unison with the Arabic voices around me. Some of the praise choruses were so
familiar that I didn’t need the translator’s prompting, and the two languages
blended as one. Then the music started playing one of my favorite hymns, How
Great Thou Art.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">I was taking off my
headphones to sing from memory when I suddenly realized that the translator had
misspoken the opening line. Listening carefully, it was soon apparent that he
did not have a copy of the English version; he was paraphrasing this song from
Arabic. When he reached the third verse and sought to put into words the
redemptive act of Christ’s offering for us, his voice broke with emotion. In
that moment, all differences and expectations melted away. Christ alone
mattered.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">During Advent we have an
opportunity to retell the continuing story of God’s love and grace. But
there is no mistaking that this old, old story is filled with song from Mary’s
Magnificat to the shepherds’ repeating of the angelic chorus. Advent invites us
to listen in anticipation for new songs and even for old songs sung in new ways
that open us to the constant newness of God’s activity in our midst.<br />
<br />
<em><b>Rev. Teresa Lilja, </b></em>pastor of Alcovy UMC, North Georgia Annual Conference<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><b>God Is Still in Control!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Miss Lladale Carey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Web Content Producer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">www.umcgiving.org</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">lcarey@umcom.org</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br /></span>Lladalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667140677527422473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695064124380309108.post-46203648048196910342013-12-02T08:00:00.000-06:002013-12-02T08:00:11.279-06:00Advent Greetings<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0eHN3gv6-ZaEQwaMbLsO7Sp3sklWJISGAA6WUKqCE6jaxF1zYoB5lQcXRWYUJR5OfMvqd7DLg9IpfGKKZ3ldTHeFMebVYv8FQVO5iTLdLBBz7xLvW3rhKP8dB36imzD05hzJG0hJS9u3e/s1600/Adventcandles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0eHN3gv6-ZaEQwaMbLsO7Sp3sklWJISGAA6WUKqCE6jaxF1zYoB5lQcXRWYUJR5OfMvqd7DLg9IpfGKKZ3ldTHeFMebVYv8FQVO5iTLdLBBz7xLvW3rhKP8dB36imzD05hzJG0hJS9u3e/s200/Adventcandles.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 30.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As we enter this season of Holy births, new beginnings, and the hope of peace,
I want to extend my deepest blessing upon you, your church, and our world. It
is a time for all of us to take stock of our faith as we celebrate the One who
for us is the hope for all of creation. <span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 30.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 30.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> May this be our time to model the
grace of God who has given us the child who set in motion a lasting faith, new
hope and a different way to be. May our churches be a place of refuge and
welcome for all the weary travelers of the world, and may we reach out to model
our faith so that others might know the joy in our hearts.<span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 30.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 30.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> My prayers go to each one of you
during this Advent and Christmas season. Feel free to drop me a message if
there is any special prayer that you wish me to include during my own daily
spiritual practices. <span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 30.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">
May we all revel in the sheer joy of the birth of our Lord!<span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Be the Hope,<span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-- Bishop Grant Hagiya, </span></span></div>
<span style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference</span></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;">
God Is Still In Control!</span></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Miss Lladale Carey<br />
Web Content Producer<br />
www.umcgiving.org<br />
lcarey@umcom.orgLladalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667140677527422473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695064124380309108.post-33419188934554744712013-11-25T09:35:00.000-06:002013-11-25T09:35:32.504-06:00I was a stranger and you welcomed me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgB3eSS3T1XUecjA5vH6Wx762uOMbALaUKtY7LnLF8vOG7XZ7O0osLfhkxXYbS4vk3LTpHETrkyErE_Khi5vTBEkq-nIul-OaXM1Fn74sHhDtYDOuikc5a03bc0mIF6Gv_tXqnBgzcXrt3/s1600/BLOG_I_was_a_stranger_250H.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgB3eSS3T1XUecjA5vH6Wx762uOMbALaUKtY7LnLF8vOG7XZ7O0osLfhkxXYbS4vk3LTpHETrkyErE_Khi5vTBEkq-nIul-OaXM1Fn74sHhDtYDOuikc5a03bc0mIF6Gv_tXqnBgzcXrt3/s1600/BLOG_I_was_a_stranger_250H.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">In 1982 I agreed to
coordinate a night shelter at Trinity UMC near the State Capital. I had been
volunteering at the nearby shelter at Central Presbyterian. As that shelter
became dangerously overcrowded, the need for additional space became apparent.
Trinity’s shelter operated during the cold months of February and March that
year, and I was often scrambling for volunteers. If you had told me then that
thirty-one years later, the problem of homelessness would be even worse, I
would not have believed it. Those of us who were coordinating church shelters
in 1982 thought that we would be able to solve the problem of homelessness by
opening a few shelters.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Over these 31 years, I have accepted
that God has called me to connect the church to those we would call “the least
of these” according to the parable of the sheep and goats in Matthew 25. When
Jesus said, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me,” I see this as an
opportunity to see the face of Jesus in the faces of those we serve. If Jesus
comes as a homeless person, sometimes Jesus has had a bad day! He may come to<img align="left" hspace="4" src="http://northgaumc.s3.amazonaws.com/4D804ADE21DB4C25ADEA1991AD152E33_homeless%20pic.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_s1026" vspace="4" /><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">
us as one who is ragged, smelly, or delusional. When I accept these encounters
as a way to experience Jesus, I look for what he wants to teach me through
these meetings. An encounter with Jesus challenges me to question my
assumptions, to put my faith into action, and to work to bring about change to
policies and systems that cause people to fall into homelessness.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">As Director of the Housing
and Homeless Council, I have had the opportunity to see people all over the
North Georgia Conference who are putting their faith into practice by serving
people in need in their communities. When churches contribute to the Homeless
Offering, the funds are distributed as grants to ministries all over the
Conference. Members of the Housing and Homeless Council make site visits to the
applicants, and we come back and report on all the good work that is going on
as we seek to serve Christ in the person of the homeless and hungry.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">--</span><em><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Rev. Virginia
Tinsley, </span></b></em><em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">director of the NGa Conf. Housing and Homeless Council.</span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><br /></em></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">God Is Still In Control!<em> </em></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Miss Lladale Carey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Web Content Producer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">www.umcgiving.org</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">lcarey@umcom.org</span></span>Lladalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667140677527422473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695064124380309108.post-10442758249388302352013-11-18T08:00:00.000-06:002013-11-18T08:00:01.625-06:00Re-Advent Yourself<br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">
<br />
The prayerful preparation of Advent seems to always compete with the constant
call of Christmastime conspicuous consumption. I have wondered what could
actually slow us down enough to change the way we make decisions in these
hectic days before Christmas.<br />
<br />
Anne Rex, pastor at Fields Chapel near Canton, designed a unique Advent gift
for members of her congregation. She passed out a laminated “master” card
(pictured below) and asked everyone to put the card in front of the
credit cards in their purse or wallet. Then during the intensity of the
Christmas shopping season, she invited her people to look at the card and to
ponder the five questions before making any purchase.<br />
<br />
</span><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=""
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img align="left" height="174" hspace="4" src="http://northgaumc.s3.amazonaws.com/0752F8A18B82446CA2EBE57AAA5135D0_master%20card.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_s1027" vspace="4" width="300" /><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">The questions continue to echo:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br />1. Do I really need this item? <br />
Does the person I am buying it for really need it?<br />2. Can I afford to just buy something rather than investing myself more fully in
my relationship with the intended recipient? <br />3. Does my giving recognize the injustices that litter our world today? <br />
Will this product be a dust catcher or merely find its way to a future yard
sale? <br />4. How might we give gifts that really endure? <br />5. Have I remembered the real birthday boy on my shopping list? <br />
Can you ever BUY Christmas? Maybe Christmas can only be born.<br />
<br />
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<v:imagedata src="http://northgaumc.s3.amazonaws.com/09B6FFB846704DBBB7D2BF5D1DD391B1_birmingham%20mastercard1.jpg"/>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Ideas are just ideas unless they
actually change our behavior and change us. So now I keep one of these cards in
my wallet, in front of my credit cards, forcing me to ponder my own spending
habits every time I reach into my wallet, calling me to go deeper in my own
Advent journey as I make more room for what Christ is trying do with me. So
perhaps it’s not just how I spend the money God has entrusted to me, but how I
spend my time, my energy, and my thoughts.<br />
<br />
How might your spending change this Advent?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">-- Blessings and Peace, Rev. Dr. Phil Schroeder, North Georgia Annual Conference<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">God Is Still In Control!</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Miss Lladale Carey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Web Content Producer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">www.umcgiving.org</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">lcarey@umcom.org</span><br />
<br />Lladalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667140677527422473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695064124380309108.post-15827906618917547722013-11-11T06:00:00.000-06:002013-11-11T06:00:01.552-06:00We Are The Church Together<br />
<br />
<span style="clear: right; color: #333333; float: right; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img height="199" id="_x0000_i1025" src="http://adot.s3.amazonaws.com/1BB065480C304BC8AD27337C934E646D_hundley-square.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 5px;" width="200" /></span><br />
<h3 style="line-height: 15.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We looked at one
another and pointed and made motions as we sang. I always feel a little silly doing the song. But, I remember it well.<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15pt;">The longer I live, the more I find my memories to be like snapshots in my mind. They come and go; they are here at one moment, then gone the next.</span>
<br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">One of my favorite memories is that of standing in my home church as a young adult (which really was not too long ago) leading children and youth in singing Hymn 558 in our United Methodist Hymnal. I am sure all of us in the Cal-Pac Conference hold advanced degrees in hymnology. But, just in case my assumption is not true, let me note that I am talking about the hymn, “We Are the Church.”<span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<h3 style="line-height: 15.0pt;">
<em><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am the church! You are the church! We are the church together!</span></em><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <em>All who follow Jesus all around the world! Yes, we are the church together!</em></span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Is this a part of the hymn that we sing as a local church? A Mission Area? A District? A United Methodist Church? The call to be together in this fragmented world is visibly obvious. It does not take long to notice just how many people throughout our neighborhoods, if not the world, feel so alone. And, the ways in which we keep ourselves from others is many times all too normal: we drive alone in our cars, put on earphones when we listen to music in public places, and we sit behind computer screens for a large portion of the day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.0pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The question is: how might we minister in this environment?</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.0pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Our way is to offer the church in the name of Jesus to all! And, let us not forget that "offer" is a verb. I was excited to experience this verb in action as I worshiped at one of our local churches this past Sunday. The preacher, the worship, the greeters and the people all consistently and genuinely echoed this call to community in their own loving and biblical way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">My prayer is for this to be the standard throughout our Conference, not the exception. These holy moments inspire me to believe that we must continually look for opportunities to live out, and live into, God's call for us to share ourselves with others in making disciples for the transformation of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.0pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Yes, this is God's call: that we be the church TOGETHER!</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.0pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">--By Rev. Dr. Stephen Hundley, Cal-Pac AC, </span><span style="line-height: 15pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>REFLECT</i> email newsletter</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 15pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 15pt;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>God Is Still In Control!</b></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 15pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 15pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Miss Lladale Carey</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 15pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Web Content Producer</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 15pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">www.umcgiving.org</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 15pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">lcarey@umcom.org</span></span></div>
Lladalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667140677527422473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695064124380309108.post-80243467558203420582013-11-04T06:00:00.000-06:002013-11-04T06:00:02.627-06:00“House Rules”<br />
<br />
<h3>
</h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have young children; therefore, we have house rules. You know the type: Do your chores. Don’t hit. Clean your room. </span></v:imagedata><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">In the past, the kids would invariably do something they knew was wrong, only to say, “You didn't say that was against the rules!” (Kids are so good at technicalities!) Other times, they would just blatantly disobey. (Ugh!) So, in an effort to simplify and be more effective, my husband and I combined Mr. Wesley’s wisdom and a wise parishioner’s parenting tip into the
“New and Improved Nelson House Rules:”</span> </v:imagedata><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">1. Obey people in authority (parents, teachers, etc.).</span> </v:imagedata><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">2. Do no harm to others: instead, do good to others.</span> </v:imagedata><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">With the understanding that obedience and doing good produce positive consequences (yay!), and disobedience and doing harm produce negative consequences (boo!). </span></v:imagedata><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">We want our children to respect, obey, and appreciate authority so that one day that perspective will be broadened to respect, obey, and appreciate the authority of God in their lives, and in light of that, do good for others in the world.<o:p></o:p></span> </v:imagedata><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Case in point: Some of you may recall a Monday Morning in North Georgia I wrote in the fall called <a href="http://www.ngumc.org/site/link/BLHNEPHCIBOMENOCGNHIOGEGJIBPIDEMJGBNIDPEJBMNKHDECOPNEP" target="_blank">“Fruit in my Fridge.”</a> In the article I relayed a personal story of when I said, “I’ll know I’m RICH when my fridge is filled with fruit,” and later came home to find a huge bag of fruit hanging from my mailbox on a day when I had been seriously struggling with contentment. <o:p></o:p></span> </v:imagedata><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">So, did you wonder who put the bag of fruit on my mailbox?<o:p></o:p></span> </v:imagedata><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Sherri is the obedient servant. When I learned she was my “fruit fairy,” I told her her how much the kind gesture spoke God’s love and provision right to my heart, right when I needed it. And I asked her what possessed her to hang fruit from my mailbox, and she shared this:<o:p></o:p></span> </v:imagedata><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">“Your words about being rich with fruit in your fridge tugged at my heart, and the Holy Spirit said, ‘You can do something about that, and do it anonymously.’ So I went to the grocery store, full of joy, and began to pick out the freshest and best looking fruit I could find. I was so excited to think about you finding it!”<o:p></o:p></span> </v:imagedata><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">I hope to teach my children through our family’s house rules the joy of obedience so that one day they can become the “Sherris” of tomorrow, obeying the Good Authority and blessing others with the positive, joyful consequences of doing good to others. Amen.</span></v:imagedata><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><b>--Anne Nelson </b>wife of Rev. Matt Nelson, pastor of Inman Park UMC in Atlanta. North GA Ann Conf.</span></em></v:imagedata><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><b>God Is Still in Control!</b></span>
<br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Miss Lladale Carey</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Web Content Producer</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">www.umcgiving.org</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">lcarey@umcom.org</span>Lladalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667140677527422473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695064124380309108.post-62659470613698142182013-10-28T06:00:00.000-05:002013-10-28T06:00:00.686-05:00Lessons from the Neighborhood<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">When I was a child, there
were adults in my neighborhood who played special roles. They were characters
who entertained and taught us in their own special way.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">There was Mr. W.T., who sat
on his front porch and threw candy at us like it was a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day
Parade. Isiah, whom we called “Wise,” always had a sing-song rhyme of a wisdom
saying that sounded more like “pool hall banter” than a proverb. And then there
was Mr. Alvin, who was the self-proclaimed Sheriff of the neighborhood. He
actually walked around with a toy badge and an unloaded Colt 45. He saw his job
as making sure that things were running smoothly in the neighborhood. But if
there were any signs of conflict, like Barney Fife of Mayberry, he would often
complicate matters and someone else would have to come in and clean things up.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Mr. Richard, who drove his
1975 Pontiac Grand Ville like Richard Petty in the Daytona 500, played rule
enforcer. He had the keys to the neighborhood park and wouldn’t allow
profanity, violence, or mischief to occur on park grounds.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">And there was Mrs.
Patterson, who made homemade cupcakes and had a choice selection of grape,
orange, or strawberry soda. We could buy a cupcake and soda for a quarter at
her house - and get a lecture on the importance of saving money while we were
there.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br /></span>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img align="left" height="150" hspace="4" src="http://northgaumc.s3.amazonaws.com/86560C1567AB49AF954A7822C62EF0AB_basketball%20hoop.JPG" v:shapes="_x0000_s1027" vspace="4" width="200" /><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Many of the lessons I learned in
childhood seemed to center around the basketball court in the neighborhood
park. I watched my adult neighbors practice fairness, responsibility, and doing
their share to make our community better. I learned about honesty, patience,
compassion, generosity, courage, gratitude, forgiveness, loyalty, and respect
by walking up and down the streets. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">But it didn’t stop there. I
saw many of the same adults in church on Sunday mornings worshipping God.
They were ushers, greeters, lay speakers, Sunday school teachers,
confirmation class mentors, and choir members. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Like the mentors who
trained their protégés by walking around using hands-on teaching; I was taught
that character is about who we are and what we do when people aren’t watching
us. I learned how to “walk the walk” of Christian character.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<em><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">--Dr. Quincy Brown, </span></b></em><em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Vice President for Spiritual
Life and Church Relations at LaGrange College. North GA Ann Conf.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br /></span></em>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><b>God Is Still in Control!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Miss Lladale Carey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Web Content Producer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">www.umcgiving.org</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">lcarey@umcom.org</span>Lladalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667140677527422473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695064124380309108.post-15130180353291084022013-10-21T06:00:00.000-05:002013-10-21T06:00:01.066-05:00'Amazing Grace'<h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Grace is sometimes defined as God finding some favor with a
person. But, is that the whole of grace? For me, grace is more substantive
than a favoring – which can be momentary and changeable. God’s grace is an
ultimate act of love. <i>For God so loved the world that God gave His only
begotten Son, that whosoever shall believe shall not die, but have the
gift of eternal life. (John 3:16)</i> This is more than finding favor. This grace
is a sacrificial love that can only truly be grasped through spiritual
awakening. God’s love for us is all-encompassing and enduring, whether we
feel we are “in favor” or not. <br />
<br />
The hymn "Amazing Grace" was written by the captain of a slave
ship. It would be short-sighted to determine that God favored the captain
over the hundreds of Africans he delivered to slavery and, perhaps, death. Yet,
what God gave the captain was a testimony which beautifully conveys that
God’s grace is available and offered to all. Today, this song, penned by
someone who would be thought of as “unredeemable” by some, is sung by both the
descendants of the author and the descendants of the Africans he
transported as slaves—-with equal fervor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img align="left" height="131" hspace="4" src="http://northgaumc.s3.amazonaws.com/07E68B3ED7FA444A8E31BC90BADD26D3_amazing%20grace.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_s1027" vspace="4" width="200" /><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As
believers, we come to an understanding that we are all sinners saved through
God’s grace -- the blood of Christ. “For ... grace and truth came through
Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). To know that God willingly allowed Jesus to
suffer the pains of death so that we could be saved from our own sins and
become one with Him, fills one with humility, rather than a sense of
self-righteousness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am eternally thankful to know that I am a beneficiary of
God’s great love and grace; and in knowing, I daily seek a closer
relationship with God. Whether in sickness or in health, whether in times of
plenty or in need, I see God’s grace in my life. No other could raise me
from my bed of affliction and cause me to walk again. No other could give
me a calling to fulfill for His glory. No other could fill my heart with joy.
No other could wash away my sins. It is in knowing God’s love—that Christ
died and rose to save me—that I can sing “Amazing grace, how sweet the
sound that saved a wretch like me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>--Pamela Perkins Carn, </b>c</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">oordinator of the Interfaith Children's Movement and a member of Central
UMC in Atlanta. North Georgia Ann Conf.</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">God Is Still In Control!</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Miss Lladale Carey</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Web Content Producer</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">www.umcgiving.org</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">lcarey@umcom.org</span></div>
Lladalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667140677527422473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695064124380309108.post-44300535456900660122013-10-14T06:00:00.000-05:002013-10-14T06:00:00.932-05:00And a Child Shall Lead Them<h3 style="text-align: left;">
</h3>
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<a href="http://northgaumc.s3.amazonaws.com/639A586481D74E8FB04C0D11FFB662A0_children%20praying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" hspace="4" src="http://northgaumc.s3.amazonaws.com/639A586481D74E8FB04C0D11FFB662A0_children%20praying.jpg" style="text-align: left;" v:shapes="_x0000_s1027" vspace="4" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;">
I am not a bumper sticker person. I’m not quite sure why I
have this adverse feeling toward words and glue stuck to the bumper of my car,
but I do. However, I do enjoy those who love bumper stickers. Their bumpers
entertain me. Their bumper stickers cause me to chuckle; stir me through inspiration
and at times make my blood boil in anger. </span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A bumper sticker that once caused me to roll my eyes in a
‘whatever?!’ sort of attitude was the bumper sticker that read “Let Me Tell You
about My Grandchildren!” No longer do my eyes roll. I now totally
understand and agree. You see I have the two most precious grandchildren in the
entire world (I’m not biased at all). Caroline is four and Luke is two. They
reach, touch and teach me in ways I never imagined possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Caroline (4) asks her ‘Shady’ (this is what they call
Sharon, her grandmother) as she applies her make-up “Shady, what are you
doing?” “I’m putting on my make up.” “But why are you doing that
Shady, you’re beautiful just the way you are!” Out of the mouth of babes
comes a truth that speaks to the soul. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke (2) is at the stage in life where he believes that a
kiss heals all things. Whether it is stumped toe, bug bite or an incision
from knee replacement surgery, all one needs to do is kiss the violated area
and the result is…all is well. You see a two year old believes there is power
in a kiss. And a child shall lead them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I
shall always remember the question of a child in my first appointment at
Ebenezer UMC in Conyers. During ‘Small Talk’ (that’s we called the Children’s
Moment in worship) Corey Kohlmeyer, age 6, raised his hand and asked this
Pastor in front of the entire congregation: “Preacher Terry, why do we call
‘Good Friday’ good?” </span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You could have heard a pen drop on the sanctuary carpet. All
ears turned to see how this young ‘whipper-snapper’ of a preacher was going to
answer a child. In that moment a child captured a worship service.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This week our Bishop will ask those candidates who offer
themselves for ordination, “Will you teach the children in every place?” A
simple but very important question! But I have to wonder if another question
might also be appropriate. Perhaps Bishops should ask us all—laity and clergy
alike, “Will we allow children to teach us in every place?” God speaks in all
kinds of ways … I hope I’m listening. Now that’s a bumper sticker I just might
put on my bumper!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<em style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></em><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>--Rev. Terry Walton, </b>senior pastor of Gainesville
First UMC. North Georgia Ann Conf.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">God Is Still in Control!</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Miss Lladale Carey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Web Content Producer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">www.umcgiving.org</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">lcarey@umcom.org</span></div>
<em style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</em>
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Lladalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667140677527422473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695064124380309108.post-41514563286708429712013-10-07T06:00:00.000-05:002013-10-07T06:00:00.751-05:00All Are Welcome Here<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">A small brick church is located on a street corner in a high
crime transitional neighborhood. </span><br />
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margin-left:128.8pt;margin-top:0;width:180pt;height:135pt;z-index:251659264;
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mso-wrap-distance-right:3pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:3pt;
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mso-position-vertical-relative:line' o:allowoverlap="f">
<v:imagedata src="http://northgaumc.s3.amazonaws.com/17468055E987482E8260C6E3FF4F24C3_douglas%20street.jpg"/>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img align="right" hspace="4" src="http://northgaumc.s3.amazonaws.com/17468055E987482E8260C6E3FF4F24C3_douglas%20street.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_s1026" vspace="4" width="300" /><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">During
the week, more than 100 students in grades 4-12 fill the building to
overflowing for the Hands of Christ After School Program. Picnic tables under
the trees are in daily use for church activities and community families
enjoying the shade and the playground. During the summer months, residents from
the surrounding community come daily for free lunch where all are welcome.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On Sunday morning the congregation begins to gather 45
minutes before worship begins. Some come walking, some drive a few minutes,
some drive more than half an hour. There are families with children - lots of
children - young adults, singles, straight and gay. There are Hispanics, Anglos
and African Americans. There are people from Peru, Columbia, Ecuador, El
Salvador, Honduras, and Mexico. Some can barely read, others have graduate
degrees. Some have served prison time. Some are recovering alcoholics. Some are
citizens; some are not. There are many differences, but those differences are
unimportant as the congregation gathers for worship at Iglesia Metodista Unida
Douglas Street United Methodist Church. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After being greeted on the patio, most people stop by a
small room on the right of the narthex for continental breakfast, which is
taken into the traditional sanctuary and eaten throughout the service. As the
music begins there are worship videos in English and Spanish, traditional
hymns, contemporary music and a variety of musical styles. Diversity is the
face of worship in this multicultural, bi-lingual church. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Every Sunday is a day of Pentecost with worshippers hearing
the Gospel in their own language. Many who worship on Sunday have not felt
comfortable or welcome in other churches. Here they find a church home where
all are welcome. Because we are one in Jesus Christ, we look for ways to build
bridges. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It has been my privilege for more than ten years to be
pastor of this wonderful congregation. Each day I see God at work and lives
being transformed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In Luke 10:27 Jesus calls us to love God and love our
neighbors. What bridge is God asking you to build? Who needs a place to
feel welcomed? What doors need to be opened? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">--Rev. Angela Gilreath-Rivers, p</span></em><em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">astor of Iglesia Metodista Unida Douglas Street United Methodist
Church.</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">God Is Still In Control!</span></b></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Miss Lladale Carey</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Web Content Producer</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">www.umcgiving.org</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">lcarey@umcom.org</span></div>
Lladalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667140677527422473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695064124380309108.post-72499681164018671572013-09-30T08:00:00.000-05:002013-09-30T08:00:06.932-05:00Challenged to Trust<br />
<a href="http://northgaumc.s3.amazonaws.com/FDCFFCCDAB434C17B1648E9BB3DA55C0_belay%20rope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" height="320" hspace="4" src="http://northgaumc.s3.amazonaws.com/FDCFFCCDAB434C17B1648E9BB3DA55C0_belay%20rope.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_s1027" vspace="4" width="212" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Climbing,” the lone voice said.<br /><br />“Climb on,” replied the small chorus.<br /><br />The youth leader was battling to be brave in front of the students who look to her every day for direction and guidance. This time they held her belay rope securely, she hoped, in their teenaged hands. She trusted them in this moment with her safety and prayed this was a moment, unlike many others, that they would take seriously. Each step further up the ladder was an exercise in trust and the moment she stepped foot off the ladder and on to the tree was a personal accomplishment. <br /><br />This is the scene I witnessed on Sunday at the Challenge Course at Glisson. Time after time on this holy dirt, people are challenged to trust one another. Groups come here to build trust, practice trust, and ensure trust. Why are we so focused on trust that we've made it a major part of our business at Glisson? Because trust is a building block of meaningful relationships, and meaningful relationships matter in our personal and spiritual growth. They remind us of what it means to trust fully as we put ourselves on the line in the face of fear. <br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Don’t worry,” one of the teens yelled to the youth leader. “Remember, God won’t let you down.”<br /><br />“True,” the voice muffled with nervous laughter replied, “but God’s not holding the other end of the rope. The boys are!” <br /><br />The boys, in that moment, had to make a choice to react in such a way that trust was built by their actions, or to not take things seriously and decrease the trust, increasing the fear of their climber.<br /><br />Psalm 56:3-4 reminds us, “When I am afraid, I will trust in Thee. In God I will praise His Word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.”<br /><br />Who is on the other end of your rope? Are you taking the time to foster the relationships that matter in your growth? Are you holding the rope for someone else and needing to be reminded how seriously you should take that responsibility? Are you looking to the ultimate belayer in those times where the climb has you fearful? As the church, may we be ever understanding of the role we play in one another’s growth.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>--Kim Bell</em><em><b> </b>is program director at Glisson Camp and Retreat Center</em></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>God Is Still In Control!</b><i> </i></span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Miss Lladale Carey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Web Content Producer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.umcgiving.org</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">lcarey@umcom.org</span>Lladalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667140677527422473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695064124380309108.post-70702910931809106852013-09-23T08:00:00.000-05:002013-09-23T08:00:01.327-05:00Planned Giving<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><i>The grass withers, the flower fades; But the word
of our God will </i></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><i>stand forever.”</i></span></b></div>
<b></b><br />
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<b><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">(Isaiah
40:8 – NRSV)</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Edna loved children, yet she was never blessed to
become a mother. Instead, she taught children
all her life and cared for each one of them as a gift from God. As she prepared her will, Edna spoke with
her pastor about leaving a portion of her estate to the church to be used for
children’s or youth ministries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Pastor Phil suggested she make her gift available
to provide seed money to start new ministries that might emerge during the
program year, outside of the normal budget cycle. He pointed out that often there’s no money
to even try some new and creative ideas for reaching out to children and youth,
when they come up in the middle of the year.
Edna was excited about that possibility and included a paragraph in her
will stating that a percentage of her estate would be sent to First Church to
establish a Ministries Fund. When she
died in 1997, $20,000 came to the church and an account was established with
the Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation.
Every year 4% of the market value of the fund is sent to the church to
be used for developing program ministries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Shortly after Edna’s gift established the
Ministries Fund, another estate gift came to First Church from her friend, Mae
and was added to the fund. Mae and her
husband, Bill, were also committed to caring for the children and youth of the
church. Before he died 10 years
earlier, Bill had named the church as the beneficiary of a Certificate of
Deposit. He knew that if Mae needed it
after he died, the money would be available to her first. But, if she didn’t need it, they both had the
assurance that a significant gift would be given to the church at the time of
her death. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">If you have questions about how you might leave a
legacy gift to your church, please call us or visit our website listed below.</span></div>
<h4>
<st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">-- WI</span></st1:place><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Annual Conference Stewardship Message</span></h4>
<div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><b>God Is Still In Control!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Miss Lladale Carey</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Web Content Producer</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">www.umcgiving.org</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">lcarey@umcom.org</span></div>
Lladalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667140677527422473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695064124380309108.post-16122108882336007912013-09-16T08:00:00.000-05:002013-09-16T08:00:00.628-05:00Giving is Fun!<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">”God loves a cheerful giver.”</span></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">(2 Corinthians 9:7b)</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnEyQ7SEzjmJrvsQceEl7gwdLd4qXoBxEK4wo1ULxLqQTVJCJ7MJg819ttDfAhgf2ndo-w4mDJDG7XYZf6QySr_45LMEZKE1cPE15Lmw6xaBcl1-0FCGdv5g7tTYJ9oSfatOJa2uqBbCG/s1600/BLOG_Giving_Is_Fun_250W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnEyQ7SEzjmJrvsQceEl7gwdLd4qXoBxEK4wo1ULxLqQTVJCJ7MJg819ttDfAhgf2ndo-w4mDJDG7XYZf6QySr_45LMEZKE1cPE15Lmw6xaBcl1-0FCGdv5g7tTYJ9oSfatOJa2uqBbCG/s1600/BLOG_Giving_Is_Fun_250W.jpg" /></a></div>
Blake was so tired one night in the middle
of the mission trip that he fell asleep at the table during supper! When he got
home he was sick for a week, became dehydrated and had to spend time in the
Emergency Room.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Now that he's recovered, his pastor asked
him, "If you had known ahead of time that you were going to get so sick,
would you have gone anyway?" Blake quickly responded, "Of course!
Those people have to live like that all the time. We only had to do it for one
week. And, we were able to build some
things to help make their lives a little better."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">God gives us time, talents and treasures to
use for God's glory. They are not gifts
given to us to store in bigger barns for ourselves. They are like seeds, given to us to plant in
good, rich soil so that they can bear the fruit of God's love for us to share
with the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We often feel the temptation to use all the
blessings that come to our own lives for our own benefit. Our Christian faith, however, invites us to
live in community. Jesus calls us to
TITHE, SHARE, and SACRIFICE from all our blessings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">How will you use your time, talents, and
treasures to make a joyful difference for God this month?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">-- WI Annual Conference Stewarship Message</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>God Is Still In Control!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Miss Lladale Carey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Web Content Producer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">www.umcgiving.org</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">lcarey@umcom.org</span></div>
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Lladalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667140677527422473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695064124380309108.post-80348923906435959132013-09-09T08:00:00.000-05:002013-09-09T08:00:00.674-05:00Should I Give Less When I Retire?<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
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Yes, my income is
less; yes, I need to tighten my belt; but, please hear the experience of a
couple from First <st1:stockticker w:st="on">UMC</st1:stockticker> in <st1:city w:st="on">West Allis</st1:city> when they
reached retirement.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Introducing
Sheridan and “Lou” Ellsworth. <st1:city w:st="on">Sheridan</st1:city> retired from a
long career of teaching and as a Principal in the West Allis School
System. “Lou” was a homemaker and a very
talented artist. They loved this
church! When retirement came they
pondered “must we reduce our giving to match our reduced income?” <o:p></o:p></div>
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After much thought
and prayer the answer was, “Heavens, No!”
They discovered that when not holding a regular job their expenses were
much less, and so in retirement they actually increased their giving! <o:p></o:p></div>
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You cannot love
something and not offer your best – especially to your church, your family,
your friends, and your Lord… “for where your treasure is, there will your heart
be also!”<o:p></o:p><br />
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-- <i>Rev. Earl F. Lindsay</i>, Retired,WI Annual Conference<i></i><br />
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<i>The following was story one of many stewardship stories that we will be shared from individuals throughout the Wisconsin Annual Conference.</i><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;">God Is Still In Control!</span></b><br />
<br />
Miss Lladale Carey<br />
Web Content Producer<br />
www.umcgiving.org<br />
lcarey@umcom.orgLladalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667140677527422473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695064124380309108.post-32446035590941765322013-09-02T08:00:00.001-05:002013-09-02T08:00:00.618-05:00Building Church Budgets<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 140%;">Around this time of
year, many churches are beginning to prepare ministry budgets for next
year. We get calls with leaders trying to figure out how much should go
into each category to help make sure a church is sound financially. As a
very broad, general rule, we have recommended that churches consider using one
third of the budget for missional giving, one third for facility and
operational expenses and the other third for staff compensation. This
kind of a budget would be a goal as we know that many churches have suffered
financially during the economic downturn and we have seen budgets so bare bones
that 80% or more was for paying the preacher and the other 20% just to keep the
lights on and doors open. That does not leave much room for outreach and
evangelism efforts.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 140%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As the economy begins to
pick back up and individuals begin to come back or grow in giving to the
church, we encourage you to take a look at how the budget is structured at your
local church and make sure that budget reflects where your heart is as a church
and helps you grow the mission of your church. This may be a perfect time
to revamp the budget and prioritize resources to the places that will help to
focus the ministry most effectively. Money and financial assets are only
resources to assist ministry to get done and not barriers to ministry happening.
Give thanks to our Lord for the great abundance God has given us and do the
very best you can with the resources that have been given. If we are
solely focused on God’s work, our efforts will be blessed and we will do far
more than we realize can be done with what we have. Thanks be to God for
the blessings of which we are aware – and the ones we are given that we don’t
even recognize!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 140%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">-- Christine, North Carolina Annual Conference</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 140%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 140%;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>God Is Still In Control</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 140%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 140%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Miss Lladale Carey</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 140%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Web Content Producer</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 140%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">www.umcgiving.org</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 140%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">lcarey@umcom.org</span></span></div>
Lladalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667140677527422473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695064124380309108.post-55678047163876124562013-08-26T08:00:00.000-05:002013-08-26T08:00:01.253-05:00Giving is…recognizing God’s priorities <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Teaching Children
About Money</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Learning how to
handle money responsibly was a value my wife and I wanted to pass on to our
three children. Yet, where does one go
for appropriate “curriculum” for such teaching?
We decided to develop our own system.
Among the values related to money management that we wanted to teach
were:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Learning to give
to God and others.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Learning to
save.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Learning to
spend responsibly.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As a fundamental
learning experience, we provided each of our children with three banks, as soon
as they were old enough to receive money of their own. One was the “spending” bank. One was the “saving” bank. One bank was for “giving.” The kids were urged to divide whatever money
they receive among the banks. And this
they did without complaint.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The plan worked
beautifully for a number of years, until one day my oldest son came home from
Sunday school. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Facing me, Chris
declared, “Dad, you’ve been lying to me!”
I couldn’t imagine what he was talking about!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“You’ve always told
me I should give away one third of my money.
Today in Sunday school, they told us to give only 10 percent!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">By: Wayne Barrett<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The Abingdon Guide to
Funding Ministry, Vol. 2<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">by Donald W. Joiner and Norma Wimberly<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Copyright 1996 by
Abingdon Press</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>God Is Still In Control!</b></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Miss Lladale Carey</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Web Content Producer</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">www.umcgiving.org</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">lcarey@umcom.org</span></span></div>
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Lladalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667140677527422473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695064124380309108.post-25141772066685357952013-08-19T08:00:00.000-05:002013-08-19T08:00:03.425-05:00Faithful Steps with Others<br />
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<i>"Where you go, I will go; Where you lodge, I will lodge;</i></div>
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<i>your people shall be my people, and your God my God." --</i><i>Ruth 1:l6b</i></div>
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I honestly never preached from Ruth until this past fall, It was then that the story grabbed me. Here is Ruth, a Moabite, a foreign woman, who makes the decision to stick with her mother- in-law, Naomi and journey to<br />
Naomi's homeland. Ruth's husband is dead Naomi is without husband or son, so she decides to go to her ancestral home in Bethlehem. Naomi seeks to convince her daughter-in-law, Ruth, to stay behind with her own people, but Ruth insists on going with Naomi. Ruth steps out in faith. One faithful step at a time without knowing what is fully before her.<br />
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The story continues with Naomi guiding Ruth into a marriage with Boaz. It turns out that Ruth is the great-grandmother of King David. She is also listed in the ancestry of Jesus in the gospels. Ruth did not know this<br />
at the time she stepped forward with Naomi. She just lived in faith that the two women could do more together than they could apart.<br />
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We are never sure about the future, but each faithful step with others can make a difference. Your dollars joined with other dollars can be the source of a scholarship for a young woman who may be the next bishop<br />
of Mississippi. Your dollars may provide the bed net that prevents Malaria in Africa and saves the life of a child who could become the next Albert Einstein. Your dollars joined with other dollars may provide a camping experience for a child who will encounter the love of Jesus Christ for the first time and this child may be your future pastor.<br />
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We may never see the result of our next faithful steps in all of its fullness, but taking that next step with others--The Power of WE--may make all the difference.<br />
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-- Rev. Mike Hicks, Hattiesburg DS, MS Annual Conference<br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;">God Is Still In Control!</span></b><br />
<br />
Miss Lladale Carey<br />
Web Content Producer<br />
www.umcgiving.org<br />
lcarey@umcom.orgLladalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667140677527422473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695064124380309108.post-28237855187016433022013-08-12T08:00:00.000-05:002013-08-12T08:00:08.797-05:00Lessons from the Kresge Kids<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><em>And the Lord of hosts will
prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain. --</em></span></i><em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Isaiah 25:6</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">They started praying weeks before the van left to pick up children who had been
invited to Anna Kresge UMC in Cedartown. They weren't sure who would
be waiting to get on it, but get on it they did. Kresge had an all too
common problem: few children were attending their church. But a committed
group, including several senior adults, decided to extend the table and reach
out to children not reached by any church. The van returned loaded with
children, and then went back out for even more children waiting to come. </span><br />
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On a June summer evening, Kresge went from an average of
10 children to 40! The church now welcomes 65 children, and pastor
Rebecca Holmes tells me adult attendance is growing too. Three vans go out each
week, including the van from nearby Aragon UMC. Has it been perfect?
Hardly. Have these children increased worship attendance or giving? The
jury is still out. But lives have been forever changed, including the adults
who now consider Wednesdays the highlight of their week. <br />
<br />
I offer some lessons learned from the Kresge Kids; they offer unique insights
on those who are not yet at the table. <br />
<br />
<strong>It starts with
prayer: </strong> Prayer makes the impossible, suddenly possible.
Wesley was right, God is for us. Are we praying like we believe that? <br />
<br />
<strong>Children are important
to God:</strong> They are Jesus’ future church. Do whatever it
takes to make them a priority ministry. The church they inherit will be
very different from the one we know today. We are going to have to do
things differently. <br />
<br />Senior adults are a powerful resource and there are children in
your community not being reached by anyone. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is all about the
kids. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Is Sunday the best day, or would Wednesday be a better
day? For Kresge, it was Wednesday evening. For the unchurched, and for
many in the fold, Sunday mornings are just hard. We have some work to do
on why church matters. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>-- </b>excerpt from <b>Sharon Yancey</b>, founde</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">r of The Matthew
Initiative, a non-profit foundation that provides the seed funding and staff
expertise to help new churches and churches who need to grow again, start a
dynamic children's ministries program. Contact her at </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.ngumc.org/site/link/BLHKFEHIIBOMENOCGNHIOGEGJIBPIDEMJGBNIDPEJBMNKGDNCKABFC"><span style="color: blue;">Yancey.Sharon@gmail.com</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">North Georgia Annual Conference</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><em><br /></em></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">God Is Still In Control!</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><em><br /></em></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Miss Lladale Carey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Web Content Producer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">www.umcgiving.org</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">lcarey@umcom.org</span>Lladalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667140677527422473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695064124380309108.post-73661807201174754612013-08-05T08:00:00.000-05:002013-08-05T08:00:09.921-05:00Be faithful<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">“…fix your attention
on God. You’ll be changed from the
inside out.”</span></b></i></div>
<i></i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><i><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">(Romans 12:2 <u>The Message</u>)</span></i></i></div>
<i>
</i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">To give is to Respond Gratefully</span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1iGyKOgOSDOM9mxtltGYtOUdEcQAfznY_DwPdZsjr5n9v4NiZsQ_OSginX-blV1QxGR5s6uD2LrPuIiXHMlya13iky-yOvYNtLIozdlRHsRl3203vnbGiWfHCjpUnLbJKtjBCRN7f42ui/s300/BLOG_Thank_You_God.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1iGyKOgOSDOM9mxtltGYtOUdEcQAfznY_DwPdZsjr5n9v4NiZsQ_OSginX-blV1QxGR5s6uD2LrPuIiXHMlya13iky-yOvYNtLIozdlRHsRl3203vnbGiWfHCjpUnLbJKtjBCRN7f42ui/s300/BLOG_Thank_You_God.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: -webkit-center;">My dad would sit down at the kitchen table on Saturday evenings, write a check, and put it in the envelope. Then he would set it on the corner of the kitchen counter next to his car keys. That’s it. He never said anything to my brother and me about stewardship, about giving to God, about the importance of sharing. He just did it. He never missed. He still does it every Saturday night. It’s a powerful memory, and it continues. </span><br />
<span style="text-align: -webkit-center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: -webkit-center;">I did not inherit my dad’s organizational skills, nor more honestly, his faithfulness. I have been known to search my purse for a pen while the ushers were coming down the aisle, or to fill out my check for the offering while the pastor was recapping the Gospel lesson. If by some chance the plate went by before I finished – more times than I care to admit – that week’s offering never made it anywhere. </span><br />
<span style="text-align: -webkit-center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: -webkit-center;">But I still remember that envelope sitting by the car keys. And some weeks I lay my own witness on the kitchen counter for my kids to see. I might even write a bigger check to “catch up.” It’s not a have-to it’s a want-to something from my past that allows me to be faithful. </span><br />
<span style="text-align: -webkit-center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: -webkit-center;">- Barbara DeGrote, f</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-center;">rom </span><i style="text-align: -webkit-center;">The Abingdon Guide to Funding Ministry, Vol. 3 </i><span style="text-align: -webkit-center;">by Donald Joiner and Norma Wimberly</span><br />
<span style="text-align: -webkit-center;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #38761d; text-align: -webkit-center;"><b>God Is Still In Control!</b></span><br />
<span style="text-align: -webkit-center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: -webkit-center;">Miss Lladale Carey</span><br />
<span style="text-align: -webkit-center;">Web Content Producer</span><br />
<span style="text-align: -webkit-center;">www.umcgiving.org</span><br />
<span style="text-align: -webkit-center;">lcarey@umcom.org</span>Lladalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667140677527422473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695064124380309108.post-47558888639464743722013-07-29T08:00:00.001-05:002013-07-29T08:00:07.601-05:00“Thank you, God<br />
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<em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">“Thank you, God, for
the beauty of this summer day.”</span></em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">
Those were the opening words to the blessing that my eldest son prayed over the
burgers and fries we shared at a local restaurant. After he
finished the rest of his prayer, the power of those opening words, “Thank you,
God” reminded me of the importance that gratitude has in the life of God's
people.<br />
<br />
It's very easy to let personal anxieties and worldly expectations drive the way
we live our lives. Take a moment sometime and talk to a stranger in line at the
grocery store or at the airport or at the ball field and sooner or later they
will reveal the source of a fear or an anxiety in their lives. As a pastor, you
learn very quickly that, at best, fear and anxiety can cast a pall on life,
muting its beauty and vitality; at worst, as the Garden of Eden narrative
teaches, it will destroy relationships and community.<br />
<br />
In the third chapter of Paul's letter to the church in Colossae, he reminded
the followers of Jesus that their lives – individually and corporately - were
to be evidence that Christ is alive. One of my favorite passages in the Bible
is found in verse 15: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as
members of one body you were called to peace. And be
thankful.” I believe Paul wrote that because he learned that adopting the
posture of gratitude is a powerful gateway to experience God's grace and God's
peace. Gratitude opens our hearts to the revelation of how God has indeed
blessed us.</span><br />
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<br />
Now, there are a myriad of ways that we can experience that manifest goodness
of God; but I experience God's goodness best through the people he has placed
in my life. When I think about my wife, Jennifer and our children I am grateful
for God's constant companionship through their patience and constant love. When
I think about the wonderful lay people in the churches we've served, I am
grateful for the church and for the way God uses ordinary people to do
extraordinary things. When I think about the Bishops, superintendents and
pastors who through the years offered me direction, accountability and
fellowship I am grateful that God did not let me be in ministry by myself.<br />
<br />
God's grace is abundant in our lives, my friends. Be grateful and you'll see
it. Even if it is over burgers and fries.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Grace to you and peace...<br />
Rev. Herzen Andone<br />
<br />
<em><b>-- </b>excerpt from a reflection by Herzen Andone</em><em> is superintendent of the Northwest
District. </em><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><em><br /></em></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">God Is Still In Control!</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Miss Lladale Carey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Web Content Producer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">www.umcgiving.org</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">lcarey@umcom.org</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br /></span>Lladalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667140677527422473noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695064124380309108.post-4441476130983573082013-07-22T08:00:00.000-05:002013-07-22T08:00:07.090-05:00Worship<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and Truth." </span></b></div>
<b></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- John 4:24</span></b></b></div>
<b>
</b>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>"Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God; for He is gracious, <br />and a song of praise is fitting." <br />- Psalm 147:1</b></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHnCo96z99aU2HclnLMJCYg4acRuzqxMVogYlUYnHyYnH7-aK-F2xRVjk3uAOyeF0TZY-Bc2v1OUl4nCZJsg3DZnt45uYE2_U7OA1PSfb5jajjpXBXG0VHSIlT0_VyareHjhm81jVg7GD/s327/BLOG_Bad_Singing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHnCo96z99aU2HclnLMJCYg4acRuzqxMVogYlUYnHyYnH7-aK-F2xRVjk3uAOyeF0TZY-Bc2v1OUl4nCZJsg3DZnt45uYE2_U7OA1PSfb5jajjpXBXG0VHSIlT0_VyareHjhm81jVg7GD/s200/BLOG_Bad_Singing.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was Sunday morning and the congregation of a small village United Methodist church was gathering for Sunday school and worship. Dewey was in their midst and in his usual jovial, spirited form. He always had a tale to tell and a laugh to share. It was time for the Sunday school assembly, and Mrs. Ritter's piano music ushered them in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They opened with prayer and then an old favorite hymn. As usual, Dewey sang with great vigor and feeling. His singing was always loud, spirited and with gusto. He knew all the words to all the hymns, so he could sing unencumbered. There was only one problem. He could not carry a tune in a number three washtub. The old folks used to tell stories about the days before central heat and air, when the windows would be open in warmer weather. The village dogs would join in the chorus-howling when Dewey sang.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After the assembly, we would go to the Sunday school classes. There were two adult classes-the young adult class and the older adult class. Dewey went to the young adult class because he said he didn't want to go into the class with "all those old folks." Dewey was in his late 70s.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After Sunday school there was worship, of course. Once again Dewey sang to the Lord with exuberance. The church was only 75 feet from a railroad track. A train came through once while we were singing a hymn, and the only voice I could hear was Dewey's, but the train sounded better. I often wondered why someone didn't ask him to hush, but nobody ever did.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I remember being back at that church a few Sundays after Dewey died, and I missed his singing. There seemed to be so little spirit in the worship. The praise seemed so weak and everybody there seemed to be older. Then I knew. It is not the tune that is the most important. It is a heart for God filled with the Holy Spirit bursting forth in a song of Praise!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">--by Rev. Wayne Webster, Brookhaven Dist. Super., MS Annual Conference (Psalm 111:9)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">God Is Still In Control!</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Miss Lladale Carey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Web Content Producer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">www.umcgiving.org</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">lcarey@umcom.org</span>Lladalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667140677527422473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695064124380309108.post-78203974756938295312013-07-15T08:00:00.001-05:002013-07-15T08:00:01.184-05:00Be faithful in your giving<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0beo0TrXG1DUEskh29od7aH8zuxM4M10r2sVeMVeA_AquU5Y5eJfmCwzTVH2va1pc-ILDGHea1NQ5Tv3BdN8_7h4WK3oQQIAw6nensvpBX1bYeHPo7RVTvzthZsQL2fhnl-uvwJHbXJb/s300/BLOG_collection_plate_300x200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0beo0TrXG1DUEskh29od7aH8zuxM4M10r2sVeMVeA_AquU5Y5eJfmCwzTVH2va1pc-ILDGHea1NQ5Tv3BdN8_7h4WK3oQQIAw6nensvpBX1bYeHPo7RVTvzthZsQL2fhnl-uvwJHbXJb/s300/BLOG_collection_plate_300x200.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">“…fix your attention on
God. You’ll be changed from the inside
out.”</span></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">(Romans 12:2 <i><u>The Message</u></i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Cindy and Steve were making final
plans for their summer vacation. They
had considered some trips close to home, yet their dream trip to Yellowstone
kept bouncing back into the discussion.
They thought about the fact that their oldest child will start high
school in the fall and and the fact that they usually traveled home to Michigan
to see family. Finally they decided to
“go for it” and head to Yellowstone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">The next Sunday, Steve started writing
the check for their offering. He found
Cindy and asked, “What do you think about giving less to the church this summer
to make sure we have enough money for our vacation?” She said, “I guess it’s okay…I don’t know,”
as she ran off to comb little Lily’s hair. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">When it came time for the offering,
their 10 year old son took his turn at putting the envelope in the plate. Steve noticed that he was studying it pretty
closely. When they got out to the car,
Tyler asked, “How come you gave less to the church today, Dad?” Steve looked at Cindy, who stared straight
ahead at the road. He replied, “Well,
your mother and I were thinking about taking a special vacation this
summer. You know that Kristy’s going to
high school next year and…” Kristy
interrupted, “Mom said you were thinking about taking us to Yellowstone instead
of going to Grandma and Grandpa’s this year.
Why would we want to do that? It
doesn’t seem very faithful to me for us to give less to the church just so we
can take a trip to see <i>Old Faithful</i>!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">After the kids were in bed, Cindy
brought Steve the checkbook and said, “I just went online and signed up to have
our regular tithe sent to the church every week through online banking. Do you want to write a check to make up the
difference this week or should I?” “I
will,” he said. “And I’ll call my folks
to make sure we can come during our usual week in August. Maybe we can take the ferry or do something
special while we’re in Michigan this year and start a new tradition.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
--- <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wisconsin
United Methodist Foundation</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><b>God Is Still In Control!</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Miss Lladale Carey</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Web Content Producer</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">www.umcgiving.org</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">lcarey@umcom.org</span></div>
Lladalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667140677527422473noreply@blogger.com0