Loving and Learning in Lodi September 1 2019

           Where O where did summer go?!? Daylight is shrinking and the grass is losing its vibrant green! Over this Labor Day Weekend, we have one more message from the “Becoming Like Children” series: Learning to Ride a Bike.

                                                                          See You Sunday!                                                                                                                                            Pastor Diane

Sunday, September 1, 2019

Liturgist:      Bob Wooley                                               Greeters: Ruth Hebble

Hymns:         Come, Thou Almighty King                          verses 1 – 4                         #61

                     Surely the Presence of the Lord                                                             #328

                     Change My Heart, O God                            sing twice                            TFWS #2152

                     Here I Am Lord                                          verses 1 - 3                         #593

Scripture                                      Ephesians 4:1 – 16                                Common English Bible

            He gave some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. His purpose was to equip God’s people for the work of serving and building up the body of Christ until we all reach the unity of faith and knowledge of God’s Son. God’s goal is for us to become mature adults—to be fully grown, measured by the standard of the fullness of Christ. As a result, we aren’t supposed to be infants any longer who can be tossed and blown around by every wind that comes from teaching with deceitful scheming and the tricks people play to deliberately mislead others. Instead, by speaking the truth with love, let’s grow in every way into Christ, who is the head. The whole body grows from him, as it is joined and held together by all the supporting ligaments. The body makes itself grow in that it builds itself up with love as each one does its part.

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

THE CHURCH IN ACTION

Choir rehearses on Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. Join us!

Monthly Church Potluck is this Sunday after worship. Bring a dish to share and enjoy each other’s company!

Advent Devotional: We’ll be creating our own Advent Devotional for us to use during the 4 weeks of Advent in December this year. Each week will have a theme based on the candle we lit in worship on that Sunday: Candle of Hope, Candle of Peace, Candle of Joy, and Candle of Love. Start pondering what you’d like to contribute: a personal story on one of the themes, a favorite poem, hymn, song, or a favorite devotion from some other source. Please include a short closing prayer. Remember that your devotion needs to fit on a half sheet of 8 ½ x 11 paper. Larry Scott will be in Fellowship Hall to sign you up on August 18th & 25th. The deadline for turning in your devotion is Sunday, October 6th. You may email it to Dottie Kimble at mywifedot@aol.com or give her a hard copy at any time.

ADULT STUDY OPPORTUNITY – “ENTERING THE PSALMS” - a 7-week adult study on the Psalms. The spiritual formation study is by Mary Lou Redding and includes short reflective, devotional readings five days a week, in-class sharing and lectio divina reading in class. Personal workbook fee: $6. Sign up in Fellowship Hall or contact Pastor Diane at 719-648-9065 or at dianebell7@msn.com. We will have a morning class on Tuesdays at 10-11:30 a.m. Classes begin on September 10^th.

September 10 – Intro – Worship              October 8 – NO CLASS             September 17 – Psalms of Praise                October 15 – Psalms of Royalty             September 24 – Psalms of Petition             October 22 — Psalms of Wisdom             October 1 – Psalms of Pilgrimage             October 29 – Psalms of Faith & Trust

Loving and Learning in Lodi August 25 2019

          

            Ever been “body surfing”?  Did you know that Fire Ants can do it?  Yes, if you drop one ant in the water, and it's dead. Drop in a tablespoon of ants, and they live through interconnection.

            

            They know instinctively what Benjamin Franklin reminded his fellow patriots who were about to sign The Declaration of Independence: "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately."

          

            This week join us as we discover what the Apostle Paul teaches us about “Togetherness”.

                                                                         
                                                                          See You Sunday!                                                                                                                                            Rev. Donna Van Trees

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Liturgist:      Larry Cray                                                 Greeters: Larry & Connie Cray

Hymns:         Forward Through the Ages                         Verses 1 - 3                         #555

                     Surely the Presence of the Lord                                                             #328

                     Help Us Accept Each Other                          verses 1 - 4                         #560

                     Sent Forth By God’s Blessing                       Verses 1 & 2                        #664

Scripture                                      Ephesians 4:1 – 16                                Common English Bible

          

           Therefore, as a prisoner for the Lord, I encourage you to live as people worthy of the call you received from God. Conduct yourselves with all humility, gentleness, and patience. Accept each other with love, and make an effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit with the peace that ties you together. You are one body and one spirit, just as God also called you in one hope. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all, who is over all, through all, and in all.

          

           God has given his grace to each one of us measured out by the gift that is given by Christ. That’s why scripture says, When he climbed up to the heights, he captured prisoners, and he gave gifts to people.

          

           What does the phrase “he climbed up” mean if it doesn’t mean that he had first gone down into the lower regions, the earth? The one who went down is the same one who climbed up above all the heavens so that he might fill everything.

          

           He gave some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. His purpose was to equip God’s people for the work of serving and building up the body of Christ until we all reach the unity of faith and knowledge of God’s Son. God’s goal is for us to become mature adults—to be fully grown, measured by the standard of the fullness of Christ. As a result, we aren’t supposed to be infants any longer who can be tossed and blown around by every wind that comes from teaching with deceitful scheming and the tricks people play to deliberately mislead others. Instead, by speaking the truth with love, let’s grow in every way into Christ, who is the head. The whole body grows from him, as it is joined and held together by all the supporting ligaments. The body makes itself grow in that it builds itself up with love as each one does its part.

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

THE CHURCH IN ACTION

Choir rehearses on Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. Join us!

Advent Devotional: We’ll be creating our own Advent Devotional for us to use during the 4 weeks of Advent in December this year. Each week will have a theme based on the candle we lit in worship on that Sunday: Candle of Hope, Candle of Peace, Candle of Joy, and Candle of Love. Start pondering what you’d like to contribute: a personal story on one of the themes, a favorite poem, hymn, song, or a favorite devotion from some other source. Please include a short closing prayer. Remember that your devotion needs to fit on a half sheet of 8 ½ x 11 paper. Larry Scott will be in Fellowship Hall to sign you up on August 18th & 25th. The deadline for turning in your devotion is Sunday, October 6th. You may email it to Dottie Kimble at mywifedot@aol.com or give her a hard copy at any time.

ADULT STUDY OPPORTUNITY – “ENTERING THE PSALMS” - a 7-week adult study on the Psalms. The spiritual formation study is by Mary Lou Redding and includes short reflective, devotional readings five days a week, in-class sharing and lectio divina reading in class. Personal workbook fee: $6. Sign up in Fellowship Hall or contact Pastor Diane at 719-648-9065 or at dianebell7@msn.com. We will have a morning class on Tuesdays at 10-11:30 a.m. Classes begin on September 10^th.

           September 10 – Intro – Worship               October 8 – NO CLASS

           September 17 – Psalms of Praise              October 15 – Psalms of Royalty

           September 24 – Psalms of Petition            October 22 — Psalms of Wisdom

           October 1 – Psalms of Pilgrimage               October 29 – Psalms of Faith & Trust

Loving and Learning in Lodi August 18 2019

         

           It’s that time of year again for me…I’m headed out to work with my family’s lemonade business at the Darke County fair on the western side of the state! In preparation for being away, I held another Preaching Boot Camp. So this Sunday, recent Boot Camp graduate, Jeff Van Loon, has created the worship service and will preach. His message is God Is Really Out There!  from Genesis 1:20 – 26.

                                                                  
                                                         Have wonderful times together while I’m gone!                                                                                                     
                                                                                           Pastor Diane

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Liturgist:       Larry Scott                                                  Greeters: Ruth Hebble

Hymns:        For the Beauty of the Earth                      Verses 1 - 3                       #92

                   Surely the Presence of the Lord                                                       #328

                   My Tribute                                            Sing Twice                        #99

                   To God Be the Glory                               Verses 1 - 3                       #98

Scripture                                          Genesis 1:20 - 26               Common English Bible

         

          God said, “Let the waters swarm with living things, and let birds fly above the earth up in the dome of the sky.” God created the great sea animals and all the tiny living things that swarm in the waters, each according to its kind, and all the winged birds, each according to its kind. God saw how good it was. Then God blessed them: “Be fertile and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.”

         

          There was evening and there was morning: the fifth day.

         

          God said, “Let the earth produce every kind of living thing: livestock, crawling things, and wildlife.” And that’s what happened. God made every kind of wildlife, every kind of livestock, and every kind of creature that crawls on the ground. God saw how good it was. Then God said, “Let us make humanity in our image to resemble us so that they may take charge of the fish of the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and all the crawling things on earth.”

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

THE CHURCH IN ACTION

Choir rehearses on Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. Join us!

 Blessing of the backpacks: This Sunday, August 18th, during our “Time with Children, Youth and the Young at Heart,” Dottie will bless the backpacks of our students as they head back to school this year. Please bring your backpacks with you.

Advent Devotional: We’ll be creating our own Advent Devotional for us to use during the 4 weeks of Advent in December this year. Each week will have a theme based on the candle we lit in worship on that Sunday: Candle of Hope, Candle of Peace, Candle of Joy, and Candle of Love. Start pondering what you’d like to contribute: a personal story on one of the themes, a favorite poem, hymn, song, or a favorite devotion from some other source. Please include a short closing prayer. Remember that your devotion needs to fit on a half sheet of 8 ½ x 11 paper. Larry Scott will be in Fellowship Hall to sign you up on August 18th & 25th. The deadline for turning in your devotion is Sunday, October 6th. You may email it to Dottie Kimble at mywifedot@aol.com or give her a hard copy at any time.

Loving and Learning in Lodi August 11 2019

          

            Last night, I found myself weeping and unable to stop. I was catching up on the news of the day and something inside of me broke and the tears flowed. Often, when I’m catching up on the news, the emotion I feel is anger. But my tears last night showed me that under the anger is a deep sadness. I was reminded of the passage in Romans that I sometimes quote during our prayer time in church when Paul encourages the Romans to “rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.” Paul is wanting the Romans to flex and exercise their compassion ‘muscles.’

          For me, feeling the sadness…the heaviness of the day’s events is more difficult than being angry. Anger hardens my heart a little bit which helps me ignore or move past the pain and suffering of the people in the news. Keeping an open heart to the pain and suffering is hard…and…last night…overwhelmed…I wept.

                                                                   Weeping with those who weep…                                                                                                                                                                                       Pastor Diane

Here’s the link to the School My Sheep video. Feel free to share it with others.

https://youtu.be/-GLLsWgvjB0

Sunday, August 11, 2019

Liturgist:       Judy Foster                                                  Greeters: Larry & Irene Scott

Hymns:         Blessed Assurance                                     Verses 1 - 3                         #369

                     Surely the Presence of the Lord                                                             #328

                     Be Still, My Soul                                         Verses 1 & 2                        #534

                     It Is Well with My Soul                               Verses 1 - 4                         #377

Scripture                                      Philippians 4:10 - 13                 Common English Bible

The Apostle Paul is writing to the church in Philippi:

          

           I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

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

THE CHURCH IN ACTION

United Methodist Women meet this Saturday at 9:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. All women of the church are welcome to attend.

Trustees meet after worship this Sunday.

Choir rehearsals begin next THURSDAY, August 15th at 7:00 p.m. Anyone who likes to sing is welcome to come and join in!!

Blessings of Backpacks and prayers for school starting, Sunday, August 18^th in Worship! Children and youth bring your backpacks on August 18^th!

School My Sheep 2019: This year was bigger and better than ever, and the results never cease to amaze!

By the numbers: $1760 of donations came in (and right back out)

~We put together 151 school bags, and gave away 143, as of Sunday! Last year, for those that are counting, we gave away 109.

~Items left (mouse sets, headphones, paper, pencils, and folders) will go to the proper schools. 

~We gave away 43 coats and 27 hats!

~Of the 27 totes and 10 big boxes of clothes we received, we have only 5 totes left and part of those include coats which will also be given to the schools.

~More than 120 students walked through our doors, reaching well beyond Lodi and the Cloverleaf district. We had families from Brunswick, Black River, Independence, Northwestern, Norwayne, Medina and Mogadore.

~Our entire church lent their support through donations, time, thoughts and prayers. We cannot possibly thank everyone properly. We can only hope you understand how much you were a part of School My Sheep.

     Beyond the numbers there was (and is) a powerful feeling of community and faith that ran through this church and wrapped itself around this project.

           Each time we realized we needed something, it appeared. On Tuesday, while getting ready to put the school bags together, I wished I had more college notebooks.  I ran home to grab a bite to eat and there was a bag on my porch. Inside? Thirty college notebooks! On Friday, we were sad that we didn’t have more little girl clothes. As I was leaving, a car pulled up to the door. A woman, I’d never seen, got out of the car with two little girls. They’d seen the sign and emptied their closets of clothes they could no longer wear.  As I result, we were the recipient of two huge bags of the most beautiful little girl clothes.  On Saturday, feeling a bit frazzled, a woman with two young boys approached me. “It’s been a really rough year, “she said, “and your church has helped our family so much. Is there a way I can donate next year when things get better?”  Wow. Just wow.  

           We have no idea how we touch other people, but when we do it with the spirit of Christ, it grows into something larger and more powerful than we can ever understand. God is Good. 

Loving and Learning in Lodi August 4 2019

           

            In worship this week, we’ll have many pictures to share during our Church in Action time. We’ve been busy this week: prepping for School My Sheep, trimming bushes, and cutting up wood for the parsonage.

         

           The next week will have more projects with the chair cleaning party and the Ruritan Auction. Several groups will meet: worship committee on Thursday, United Methodist Women on Saturday and the Trustees next Sunday. Different people take the lead with these projects and in this meetings while the rest of us join in as we are able and have interest in the project. We are thankful for both our leaders and those who join in.

         

           This week we’ll look at the game from childhood, King of the Hill, for lessons we learned about leadership and working together.

                                                                  
                                                                   See you Sunday!
                                                                             Pastor Diane

Here’s the link to the Youth Mission Trip’s video. Feel free to share it with others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Swd6Y3BP0-g&t=31s

Sunday, August 4, 2019

Liturgist:       Cindy Namerow                                              Greeters: Ron & Faye Stewart

Hymns:        O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing            Verses 1 - 5                       #57

                   Surely the Presence of the Lord                                                       #328

                   O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee              Verses 1 & 2                      #430

                   O Jesus, I Have Promised                        Verses 1 - 3                       #396

Scripture                                          Matthew 20:20 - 28                       Common English Bible

         

          Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.

         

          “What is it you want?” he asked.

         

          She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”

         

          “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”

         

          “We can,” they answered.

         

          Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”

         

          When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

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

THE CHURCH IN ACTION

School My Sheep will give away the school supplies and clothing we’ve collected this Saturday, August 3^rd from 8am – 12noon.

Our monthly, all-church potluck is this Sunday after worship. Bring a dish to share and enjoy both good food and good fellowship together!!

2^nd Chair cleaning party!! Monday, August 5^th at 10:00 a.m. Join us as we clean up the chairs that we purchased. Let’s see if we can beat the 1^st Cleaning Party’s 31 chairs cleaned!!

Ruritan auction in Fellowship Hall, Tuesday, August 6^th at 5:30 p.m.