Loving and Learning in Lodi February 2 2020

            On Sunday, a common rodent (the Groundhog) will look to see if it can see the shape of its own shadow and let us know how much longer winter will be with us! Here are some more fun facts about these short, waddle-ie creatures: 

• Groundhogs are the largest species in the squirrel family.
• Other names for groundhogs include woodchucks, whistle-pigs and land-beavers.
• Groundhogs are skilled climbers and swimmers, which helps them to escape less-skilled predators.
• Groundhog burrows are so complex that each has its own "bathroom" chamber.
• Groundhog burrows are known to have been responsible for uncovering a historic village, the Ufferman Site, north of Delaware, Ohio…a famous archaeological site.

            How do groundhogs, Dr. Seuss and Epiphany’s Ah-ha’s tie together? W-e-l-l…

                                                               See you Sunday, as we listen for God’s voice…

                                                                                       Pastor Diane

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Liturgist:      Judy Foster                                                Greeter/s:    Leo & Chris Sparr

Hymns:         For the Beauty of the Earth                         verses 1 - 4                         #92
                     More Precious than Silver                                                                     TFWS #2065

                     Sanctuary                                                 sing twice                            TFWS#2164

                     In His Time                                               verses 1 - 2                         TFWS#2203

Scripture                           Psalm 139:1 – 6                           The Living Bible

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.

You know when I sit or stand.

When far away you know my every thought.

You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest.

Every moment you know where I am.

You know what I am going to say before I even say it.

You both precede and follow me and place your hand of blessing on my head.

This is too glorious, too wonderful to believe!

Leader: The Word of God for the people of God.                People:  Thanks be to God.

THE CHURCH IN ACTION

Choir rehearses on Thursday evenings 7:00 – 8:00pm. Join us!

Soups for Super Bowl Sunday Potluck – THIS SUNDAY!! - Our United Methodist Women will be providing a gift basket and a large cooker of soup to a “Soup cook-off” benefit for Matthew 25 on Sunday, March 29, 2020, at Grace Lutheran Church, Wadsworth, 1 -4 pm. In preparation for that, they will be providing soups for our monthly church potluck on the 2nd. We’ll be able to let them know what our favorite soup is and that is the one they’ll take to the Soup Cook Off. You can join them in bringing a soup if you want. Otherwise, bring a salad or light dessert to share and have fun tasting some yummy soups!!

Firelands United Methodist District Youth Council Presents “A Heart for Haiti.” Our youth will be taking orders for Valentine’s Day cookies in Fellowship Hall for the next two Sundays. Buy some classic, heart-shaped, iced, sugar cookies that promise to tantalize your taste buds with a sweet satisfaction, while making a huge difference for the lives of students in the LaTannerie School in Haiti. 100% of the money you pay for the cookies will go to support our mission in Haiti. Prices:  ½ Dozen $4 and 1 Dozen $8

Life Line Screening - will offer their affordable, non-invasive and painless health screenings at Lodi United Methodist Church on 3/3/2020.  Five screenings will be offered that scan for potential health problems related to: blocked arteries ...a leading cause of stroke; abdominal aortic aneurysms which can lead to a ruptured aorta; hardening of the arteries in the legs...a strong predictor of heart disease; atrial fibrillation or irregular heart beat... tied to stroke risk; and a bone density screening, for men and women, to assess the risk of osteoporosis.    Register for a Wellness Package which includes 4 vascular tests and osteoporosis screening from $149 ($139 with our member discount). All five screenings take 60-90 minutes to do.  To register for this event and to receive a $10 discount on any package priced above $129, please visit www.lifelinescreening.com/communitycircle> 

or call 1-888-653-6441 or text the word circle to 797979.

2020 Offering Envelopes are ready for you to pick up at the back of the sanctuary by the ramp. Please sign the sheet letting us know what numbered envelopes you have chosen. Thank you for your faithful and generous giving!

Please save your plastic caps & lids for a “buddy bench” at Sylvia Anderson’s great nephew, Braden’s school.

Loving and Learning in Lodi January 26 2020

            I have eaten green eggs (with food coloring in them) for fun. But, I have not intentionally eaten green ham! From that opening sentence, can you guess what Dr. Seuss book we’ll be reading this Sunday? Yes! Green Eggs and Ham! The spiritual Ah-ha is strong in this book in my opinion. AND, we’ll hear from Colette Laughlin about the mission trip she took to Mexico over Christmas break.

                                                               See you Sunday, as we listen for God’s voice…

                                                                                       Pastor Diane

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Liturgist:      Larry Scott                                                Greeter/s:    Lil Tozser & Sue Porter

Hymns:         I Love to Tell the Story                               verses 1 & 2                        #156
                     More Precious than Silver                                                                     TFWS #2065

                     We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations             verses 1 & 3                        #569

                     Pass It On                                                 verses 1 - 3                         #572

Scripture                           Matthew 5:43 - 48                       Common English Bible

           That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown…

           “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Leader: The Word of God for the people of God.                People:  Thanks be to God.

THE CHURCH IN ACTION

Choir rehearses on Thursday evenings 7:00 – 8:00pm. Join us!

Feed My Sheep is Thursday starting at 5pm—please continue to pray for this mission, make a sweet treat to bring in to share or come in a lend a hand!  We always have a great time doing something really good.

Our Men’s Group meets this Saturday at 9:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. All men of the church are welcome!

Soups for Super Bowl Sunday Potluck - February 2nd - Our United Methodist Women will be providing a gift basket and a large cooker of soup to a “Soup cook-off” benefit for Matthew 25 on Sunday, March 29, 2020, at Grace Lutheran Church, Wadsworth, 1 -4 pm. In preparation for that, they will be providing soups for our monthly church potluck on the 2nd. We’ll be able to let them know what our favorite soup is and that is the one they’ll take to the Soup Cook Off. You can join them in bringing a soup if you want. Otherwise, bring a salad or light dessert to share and have fun tasting some yummy soups!!

Firelands United Methodist District Youth Council Presents “A Heart for Haiti.” Our youth will be taking orders for Valentine’s Day cookies in Fellowship Hall for the next two Sundays. Buy some classic, heart-shaped, iced, sugar cookies that promise to tantalize your taste buds with a sweet satisfaction, while making a huge difference for the lives of students in the LaTannerie School in Haiti. 100% of the money you pay for the cookies will go to support our mission in Haiti. Prices:  ½ Dozen $4 and 1 Dozen $8

Life Line Screening - will offer their affordable, non-invasive and painless health screenings at Lodi United Methodist Church on 3/3/2020.  Five screenings will be offered that scan for potential health problems related to: blocked arteries ...a leading cause of stroke; abdominal aortic aneurysms which can lead to a ruptured aorta; hardening of the arteries in the legs...a strong predictor of heart disease; atrial fibrillation or irregular heart beat... tied to stroke risk; and a bone density screening, for men and women, to assess the risk of osteoporosis.    Register for a Wellness Package which includes 4 vascular tests and osteoporosis screening from $149 ($139 with our member discount). All five screenings take 60-90 minutes to do.  To register for this event and to receive a $10 discount on any package priced above $129, please visit www.lifelinescreening.com/communitycircle> 

or call 1-888-653-6441 or text the word circle to 797979.

2020 Offering Envelopes are ready for you to pick up at the back of the sanctuary by the ramp. Please sign the sheet letting us know what numbered envelopes you have chosen. Thank you for your faithful and generous giving!

Please save your plastic caps & lids for a “buddy bench” at Sylvia Anderson’s great nephew, Braden’s school.

Loving and Learning in Lodi January 19 2020

            On this weekend when we remember the non-violent ways of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we’ll look at Dr. Seuss’ story about the Sneetches and look for the spiritual lessons we can learn from them!

                                                               See you Sunday, as we listen for God’s voice…

                                                                                       Pastor Diane

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Liturgist:      Patti Graves                                               Greeter/s:    Jeff & Marta Van Loon

Hymns:         How Firm a Foundation                              verses 1, 2, 4 & 5                #529

                     More Precious than Silver                                                                     TFWS #2065

                     Grace Alone                                              verses 1 & 2                        TFWS #2162

                     We Shall Overcome                                    verses 1 - 4                         #533

Scripture                           Matthew 5:43 - 48                       Common English Bible

           “You have heard that it was said, You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who harass you so that you will be acting as children of your Father who is in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both the evil and the good and sends rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous.

           If you love only those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore, just as your heavenly Father is complete in showing love to everyone, so also you must be complete.”

Leader: The Word of God for the people of God.                People:  Thanks be to God.

THE CHURCH IN ACTION

Choir rehearses on Thursday evenings 7:00 – 8:00pm. Join us!

The Staff Parish Relations Committee meets next Wednesday, January 22^nd at 5:15 p.m.

Soups for Super Bowl Sunday Potluck - February 2nd - Our United Methodist Women will be providing a gift basket and a large cooker of soup to a “Soup cook-off” benefit for Matthew 25 on Sunday, March 29, 2020, at Grace Lutheran Church, Wadsworth, 1 -4 pm. In preparation for that, they will be providing soups for our monthly church potluck on the 2nd. We’ll be able to let them know what our favorite soup is and that is the one they’ll take to the Soup Cook Off. You can join them in bringing a soup if you want. Otherwise, bring a salad or light dessert to share and have fun tasting some yummy soups!!

Life Line Screening - will offer their affordable, non-invasive and painless health screenings at Lodi United Methodist Church on 3/3/2020.  Five screenings will be offered that scan for potential health problems related to: blocked arteries ...a leading cause of stroke; abdominal aortic aneurysms which can lead to a ruptured aorta; hardening of the arteries in the legs...a strong predictor of heart disease; atrial fibrillation or irregular heart beat... tied to stroke risk; and a bone density screening, for men and women, to assess the risk of osteoporosis.    Register for a Wellness Package which includes 4 vascular tests and osteoporosis screening from $149 ($139 with our member discount). All five screenings take 60-90 minutes to do.  To register for this event and to receive a $10 discount on any package priced above $129, please visit www.lifelinescreening.com/communitycircle> 

or call 1-888-653-6441 or text the word circle to 797979.

2020 Offering Envelopes are ready for you to pick up at the back of the sanctuary by the ramp. Please sign the sheet letting us know what numbered envelopes you have chosen. Thank you for your faithful and generous giving!

Please save your plastic caps & lids for a “buddy bench” at Sylvia Anderson’s great nephew, Braden’s school.

Loving and Learning in Lodi January 12 2020

           Being a good leader is tricky business! This Sunday we’ll explore and contrast Dr. Seuss’ Yertle the Turtle’s and Jesus’ leadership styles. We’ll also take time to thank those among us who’s committee leadership ended in 2019 and pray for our committee leadership in 2020.

                                                          See you Sunday, as we listen for God’s voice…

                                                                               Pastor Diane

United Methodist News:  Last week, a Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation was presented by a group in the United Methodist Church composed of a few of the Central Conference bishops and leaders from the Traditionalist, Centrist, and Progressive groups in the church. They had worked together since last summer with prominent attorney and mediator, Kenneth Feinberg and offer the protocol as a way to end the impasses we face theologically and separate graciously. All parties involved agree to the Protocol. In short, it allows the Traditionalists to separate from the UMC retaining their properties, assets and liabilities and create a new form of Methodism. Below are the links to the Protocol document itself and another article that gives more explanation of the process and details. Our own Bishop Malone reminds us that this is one possible option and that other ideas are being worked on as well. She, also, encourages us to follow our own news outlet: www.umnews.org. I hope this is helpful information for you as I offer it in the spirit of keeping you informed. If you have questions, please feel free to talk to me or contact me.

THE NEWS ARTICLE: 

https://www.umnews.org/en/news/diverse-leaders-group-offers-separation-plan

THE PROTOCOL DOCUMENT: 

https://cdnsc.umc.org/-/media/umc-media/2020/01/03/15/48/Protocol-of-Reconciliation-and-Grace-through-Separation

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: 

https://www.umnews.org/en/news/protocol-of-reconciliation-and-grace-through-separation-faq

A live-streamed panel discussion with members of the team that developed the Protocol  for The United Methodist Church’s future is set for Monday, Jan. 13. The panel interview, conducted by UM News, will be streamed on UMNews.org beginning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern U.S. Time. The panel discussion will last approximately one hour and will be recorded and archived on the site.

It can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2wZQyAjU6M&feature=youtu.be.

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Liturgist:       Jeff Van Loon                                               Greeter/s:    Ron and Faye Stewart

Hymns:        When Morning Gilds the Sky                     verses 1 - 4                       #185

                   More Precious than Silver                                                               TFWS #2065

                   Make Me a Servant                                 Sing twice                         TFWS #2176

                   Here I Am Lord                                     verses 1 1 4                       #593

Scripture                               Philippians 2:1 - 11                        Common English Bible

          Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort in love, any sharing in the Spirit, any sympathy, complete my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, being united, and agreeing with each other. Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others. Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus:

Though he was in the form of God,

he did not consider being equal with God something to exploit.

But he emptied himself

by taking the form of a slave and by becoming like human beings.

When he found himself in the form of a human,

he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Therefore, God highly honored him and gave him a name above all names,

so that at the name of Jesus everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth might bow

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Leader: The Word of God for the people of God.              People:  Thanks be to God.

THE CHURCH IN ACTION

Choir rehearses on Thursday evenings 7:00 – 8:00pm. Join us!

United Methodist Women meet this Saturday at 9:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. All women of the church are welcome to attend!

Trustees meet after worship this Sunday.

2020 Offering Envelopes are ready for you to pick up at the back of the sanctuary by the ramp. Please sign the sheet letting us know what numbered envelopes you have chosen. Thank you for your faithful and generous giving!

Please save your plastic caps & lids for a “buddy bench” at Sylvia Anderson’s great nephew, Braden’s school.

Loving and Learning in Lodi January 5 2020

            As we begin a new calendar year, we also change seasons in the Church calendar. We are entering the season of Epiphany. As Epiphany begins, we remember the Wise Men’s visit to Jesus…we remember that the gospel’s good news is for everyone…we remember to look and listen for God’s presence and working in our lives. Epiphany is a time of “Ah-ha’s!” A time of watching for God to break into our world in new and unexpected ways as our relationship with God grows deeper.

            On Sunday mornings during Epiphany, I will be combining my love for stories with my love of pondering and listening for God by reading stories by Dr. Seuss. Each Sunday, we’ll listen to one of the stories and then explore where we hear an epiphany from God...an “Ah-ha!” in that story.

            Why would we spend time with Dr. Seuss? Because I firmly believe that God is communicating with us all the time. We need practice in learning how to hear God’s voice. As we read Dr. Seuss, we’ll be listening for profound truths from scripture and from God. Hopefully, we’ll learn to better tune our ears, hearts and minds to God’s voice…no matter where we are or what we’re doing.

                                                               Yours as we listen for God’s voice…

                                                                                       Pastor Diane

                                                                                  

Sunday, January 5, 2020

Liturgist:      Russ Green                                                Greeter/s:    Ruth Hebble

Hymns:         We Three Kings                                         verses 1 & 5                        #254

                     More Precious than Silver                                                                     TFWS #2065

                     Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah                verses 1 & 2                       #127

                     This Is a Day of New Beginnings                 verses 1, 3 & 4                     #383

  

Scripture                           Matthew 2:1 - 12                                     Common English Bible

           After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the territory of Judea during the rule of King Herod, magi came from the east to Jerusalem. They asked, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We’ve seen his star in the east, and we’ve come to honor him.”

           When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and everyone in Jerusalem was troubled with him. He gathered all the chief priests and the legal experts and asked them where the Christ was to be born. They said, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what the prophet wrote:

You, Bethlehem, land of Judah,

by no means are you least among the rulers of Judah,

because from you will come one who governs,

who will shepherd my people Israel.”

           Then Herod secretly called for the magi and found out from them the time when the star had first appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you’ve found him, report to me so that I too may go and honor him.” When they heard the king, they went; and look, the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. They entered the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. Falling to their knees, they honored him. Then they opened their treasure chests and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Because they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by another route.

Leader: The Word of God for the people of God.                People:  Thanks be to God.

THE CHURCH IN ACTION

Choir rehearses on Thursday evenings 7:00 – 8:00pm. Join us!

2020 Offering Envelopes are ready for you to pick up at the back of the sanctuary by the ramp. Please sign the sheet letting us know what numbered envelopes you have chosen. Thank you for your faithful and generous giving!

Please save your plastic caps & lids for a “buddy bench” at Sylvia Anderson’s great nephew, Braden’s school.