LIVING and LOVING IN LODI Sunday,
January 31, 2021
From Pastor Pam:
Humility and Dignity
After getting the boys off to school, I made my second cup of
coffee, took a deep breathe, and settled in to watch the news until my mug was
empty. The host of this morning program began to talk about Tom Brokaw: his
accomplishments and his retirement. She spoke of his naming, writing, and
teaching about what he termed “The Greatest Generation,” and she
played old footage of Mr. Brokaw interviewing two veterans of the Battle of
Normandy on that very beach. As he began the interview, he spoke of the men's
profound dignity and humility. As the interview progressed my tears began to
flow, and I wondered if my morning brew would become as salty as the sea.
Both veterans spoke quietly; there was no marching band, no loudspeaker, no
flags waving, no cheering crowds; there as only the sound of the wind and the
waves and the echoes of the past valor.
One veteran spoke of opening the door of the transport boat and seeing
the dead body of a medic floating by. As he spoke, there was none of the
belligerent bravado that often flows from the mouths of what Thomas Paine
called "barroom patriots and summer soldiers;" there was the
true courage that speaks with humility and dignity and that acts in accordance
with professed values even when the cost is beyond calculation. The man
acknowledged his fear; he spoke of his obedience when the commander issued the
order for the men to leave the boat and enter the bloody seas to serve together
in anonymity a cause greater than self for a purpose far more noble than
comfort, wealth or fame.
Humility and dignity are central to a life lived in and for
Christ. Humility come from the word meaning earth or dirt. To be humble
is to be "down to earth," It is not a denial of one's gifts and
graces with limiting self- condemnation but rather a hope born of
authentic understanding of who and whose we are. Even as Adam, which translates
to “dirt man", was formed by God from the earth, he and all people
are made in "the image and likeness of God." What greater
dignity can we humans have than being children of the King and servants of the
Lord?
We will not be asked to serve in the exact
way these veterans have served; but with God's help we can approach
our daily work and relationships with humility and dignity. We can ask for
the grace to live in and for Christ in spirit and in truth by acting in
accordance as best we can with the values we profess.
Spiritual Reflection-Weekly E Bible Study
1.
Read the first chapter of Genesis. Reflection on the
awesome wonders of creation often inspires a spirit of humility
and dignity .. and joy!
2.
Can you think of specific relationships or areas of your daily life that need
the graces of humility and dignity? How might these spiritual gifts help you in
issues related to power and control- How does humility teach us to let go and
let God? How does dignity empower us to act with quiet courage?
Spiritual Support: Pastor Pam is available for a
porch visits, to bring Holy Communion for you to partake in your home, to
listen, to pray with you. Please call or text: 216 704 0307 or
e-mail pamelab23@hotmail.com.
Even though our building is closed, until the governor says we can
reopen, we are live on Facebook at 10:00am Sunday mornings AND once the
service has been uploaded, it will be on our private YouTube channel!!!!
An e-mail will include the link. A new website is being worked on – this
will make viewing the Sunday service much easier! Please be patient as
this takes time.
Thank you: From our District Superintendent, Rev.
Doug Lewis: (pictures and the story of the cross were sent to the district and
conference) What a beautiful Beacon of Hope to the
community in the midst of this difficult time in which we find ourselves. Thank
you for your witness to the Light that continuously shines.
Blessings,
Doug
Ash Wednesday – things are in the works for an Ash Wednesday
service – details will be coming!
Lenten Food Drive - In the past we have
celebrated Super Bowl Sunday by bringing in cans of soups to stock the shelves
at the Good Samaritan food pantry, as we dine, together, on homemade
soups. This year is so different than in the past – but the need to help
others never changes.
We can still help stock the shelves, just in a new way.
Here’s the plan:
Lent is from Ash Wednesday, February 17, to Easter Sunday, April
4, or 6 weeks. Easter to Christmas in July (July 25) is 16 weeks.
Let’s “give” for Lent – in place of “give up” for
Lent. Place a canned food item in a basket or box (whatever works for
you, in your pantry, garage or wherever) each week of Lent. As you form a
really great new habit, keep it up for the next 16 weeks, until Christmas in
July! We will then set up collection times for the food to be brought in
to give to the Good Samaritans food pantry.
The food pantry’s shelves, at times during the summer, get a
little sparse, so we will help replenish them this coming summer!
Thank you!
The Trustees met on Sunday, January 17. They continue
to work hard on many projects that will allow us to be faithful stewards of the
gifts God has given us. We will be ready to grow our ministry in our time and
place.
Youth News: A local mission experience is
being planned for the last week in June; there will be Zoom planning meeting on
the evening of February 14- here is the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8529323948
All LUMC are welcome to join with youth from
Lafayette UMC and other churches for Zoom or in person gatherings on
Wednesday evenings. We plan to develop our youth program to meet the needs
of the young people in our church and in our community.
You can mail your offerings to: Lodi UMC, PO Box 3, Lodi,
OH 44254 (The church continues to need your tithes and offerings, each
week. Even though we are not meeting in person, the work of the church
goes on. Thank you for your continued support.) 2021 Offering
envelopes are just inside the single door at the church. Call Dottie for a
code 330-887-1471
Statements will be in the mail by the first of the week.
Do you have a new phone number or e-mail address? Please
share it with us so we can all stay connected!
Noteworthy News and Needs: Do you have News or Needs or Prayer
Concerns? Please share them with Dottie (lodiumcsec.dottie@gmail.com ,
330-887-1471) or Pastor Pam Buzalka (216)704-0307 pamelab23@hotmail.com
Life Line Screening at Lodi United Methodist Church March 16,
2021 9am-5pm Life Line Screening, the nation’s leading provider of preventive
health screenings, will offer affordable, non-invasive and painless health
screenings at Lodi United Methodist Church on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. A
package of 5 screenings to identify risk for stroke, heart disease and other
chronic conditions will be offered: 5 vital screenings are offered for only
$149 & take 60-90 minutes to complete. If you register today, you will
receive a $10 discount. Register: 1-888-653-6441 or text
"circle" to 797979.
Lodi United Methodist Church Bulletin, Sunday, January 31, 2021
Worship
Prelude People
Need the Lord Missy
Call to Worship - Larry Scott
Larry: Come let us worship Christ in whose presence the way,
the truth, and the life are revealed.
Community: Jesus came to bless us.
Larry: With a love that did not count the cost
Community: Jesus came to heal us.
Larry: From hopelessness and despair
Community: Jesus came to free us.
Larry: With the power of the Holy Spirit,
Community: Jesus came to save us.
Amen adapted
from The Abingdon Worship Annual 2018, p.71
Hymn Surely the Presence
#328
Surely
the presence of the Lord is in this place, I can feel His mighty power and His
grace.
I can hear the brush of angel's wings, I see glory on each face.
Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.
Unison Prayer Larry Scott
God of light and love, shine on your people this day. Meet us in
our brokenness, and heal our errant ways. Take from us our spirit of
disobedience, and save us with your grace. Lead us into your truth that we may
live as children of light and act as children of the Most High.
Amen Abingdon, p.
58
Church in Action – Larry
Scott
Joys and Concerns - Pastor
Pam
Prayer Song Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
#349
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face,
(wonderful face),
and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of
his glory and grace.
Silent Prayer and Lord’s
Prayer
“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom
come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily
bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass
against us; and, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.”
Amen
Hymn He Lives vs. 1,2
#310
1
I serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today; I know that He is living
whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, and just the time I need
Him, He's always near.
Refrain: He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.
He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.
2 In all the world around me I see His loving care, and tho' my heart grows
weary I never will despair;
I know that He is leading thro' all the stormy blast, the day of His appearing
will come at last.
Refrain:
He
lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.
He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.
Offering prayer:
Larry Scott: We pray that we may offer our gifts to God in
prophetic and faithful ways. Take a moment to thank God for the gifts and
graces of the week.
Moment of Silent Prayer
Larry Scott: Let us with one heart and one voice praise the
Holy One.
*Doxology Praise God From Whom All
Blessings Flow #95
*Prayer of Dedication - Larry Scott
To God the Creator, who loved us first and gave us this world to
be our home. To God the Redeemer, who loves us and by dying and rising
pioneered the way of freedom, to God the Sanctifier, who spreads the divine
love in our hearts, we offer all that we have and all that we are so that the
holy kingdom may come on earth as it is in heaven. Amen
adapted from A New Zealand Prayerbook, 1989
p.185
Special Music: An
Outcast Among Outcasts vocal solo Larry Scott
with Missy
The Good News
Mark 1: 21-28 Larry Scott
Message When
We Open the Door to Jesus, Things Happen!! Pastor
Pam
Hymn Go Forth for God
#670
2 Go forth for God; go forth to the world in love; strengthen
the faint, give courage to the weak,
help the afflicted; richly from above His love supplies the grace and power we
seek.
Go forth for God, go to the world in love.
3 Go forth for God; go forth to the world in strength; hold fast
the good, be urgent for the right,
render to no man evil; Christ at length shall overcome all darkness with his
light.
Go forth for God, go to the world in strength.
Benediction Larry Scott
Christ be within us to keep us. Beside us to guard, before
us to lead, behind us to protect, beneath us to support, above us to bless!
adapted from A New Zealand Prayerbook, 1989 p.186
