Thursday, January 9, 2020

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: 
THE PROTOCOL DOCUMENT: 
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: 

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.


Sunday, January 12, 2020
Liturgist:       Jeff Van Loon                                               Greeter/s:    Ron and Faye Stewart
Hymns:        When Morning Gilds the Sky                     verses 1 - 4                       #185
                   Make Me a Servant                                 Sing twice                         TFWS #2176
                   Here I Am Lord                                     verses 1 1 4                       #593




          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.
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Thursday, January 2, 2020

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
                     Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah                verses 1 & 2                       #127
                     This Is a Day of New Beginnings                 verses 1, 3 & 4                     #383

  

           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.
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