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Weekend Update 10-28-11
Weekend Update
10-28-11
| A number of us have made calls and expressed concerns about the news regarding Impact Sunday last weekend. The news is good, and will be on the front page of the newsletter, but here are the stats you will see: From the earliest moments of worship to the end with prayerful commitments, we had a very special day. The worship and music for our worship services celebrated our lives with God and called to us to make an impact for Christ in the new year. The message from Mr. Tom Thomas was to the point, well crafted and delivered. Among his remarks were these: The conscience is kept tender through obedience. We are in this giving thing together with God. God is our partner. It’s all about attitude – give what you give from what you have, not what you have left. Giving will complete your life and your relationship with God. You will reflect the righteous life of the one described in Psalm 112.As to our results, here are the preliminary figures. We have had a total of 132 giving estimates returned. Of those, 84 or 54% reflect an increase in giving. New income toward initiatives highlighted through the months of September and October will allow us to invest in at least one-third of those. The total increase in giving to date is $56,417. Thanks to each of you for blessing the mission of Western Hills UMC with your gifts. See you soon, in the place where counted blessings evoke a grateful response. |
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THE WEATHER HAS BEGUN TO CHANGE…
MAKE SURE TO BRING IN YOUR DONATED BLANKETS
HAVE YOU TURNED IN YOUR PLEDGE CARD YET?
SERVING IN MINISTRY
OCTOBER GREETERS – TEAM #1
8:00 Wendy Dickman, Mona Lindly, Jeanne Baker
9:30 Gail Hernandez, Laurie McBride, Bobbie Rettig, Jeanne Baker
11:00 Betty Rae Barney, Jerry Barney, Richard Kusserow, Barbara Kusserow,
Diane Jackson
OCTOBER USHERS – TEAM #1
8:00 Doyle Smith, Sara Smith, Dick Johnson, Joy Wilson
9:30 Ann Rothman, Larry Rothman, Robert Ferrell, Bobbie Rettig, Susan Behrendsen
11:00 Jerry Wallace, Gary Noble, Susan Noble, Sandra Myers, Gene Myers, Bill Peters
Coffee Time
9:00 Bob & Peggy Craig
10:30 Nancy & Jerry Roberts
Muggers
Bill & Sherry Peters
Media Ministry
Manny González, Bob Phillips,
Dave Beck, Don Wilkinson,
Marty Alexander, Robert Underwood, Rick Snow
The Gathering Band
Alan Shioji, Felipe Perez, Jackie Gaines, Charles Ogren,
Steve Putnicki, Paul Behrendsen, Adrien Reyes,
Melissa Ogren, Mary Gaddy, Kerry Boone
Hospital Ministry Visitor
B.A. Hallum
Acolytes
8:00 Alex Bozeman, Dylan Bozeman
11:00 Bonnie Abbott, Robert Ferrell
Scripture
John 15:5-17
Weekend Update 10-21-11
Weekend Update
10-21-11
|
This week is the height of many weeks at Western Hills. We have been repeating the message, in hopefully attractive ways, about how each of us will be involved in the life and service of Western Hills UMC. This week, we won’t talk about our time or talent, we will talk about the treasure God has given to us. We will be asked to calculate just how we will invest in the work God has us doing and to calculate just how well God has trusted and invested in us. It is time, we are ready, and we are believing that God has always provided where we have risked by faith. We have always responded to the inherent risk of giving, by renewing our faith by giving more.
I pray, that as you think about and talk about what God has done for you, you would respond appropriately this year. We need one another more and more as our ministry expands and our resources reveal even more needs we could be meeting. We cannot reach the initiatives of our vision, and we should not, without everyone giving time, talent and treasure to it. Let us own and pursue the vision, whatever the costs might be. See you soon in the place where God has given and will give, to our most important needs. |
THE WEATHER HAS BEGUN TO CHANGE…
MAKE SURE TO BRING IN YOUR DONATED BLANKETS
MAKE SURE TO BRING IN YOUR DONATED BLANKETS
SERVING IN MINISTRY
OCTOBER GREETERS – TEAM #1
8:00 Wendy Dickman, Mona Lindly, Jeanne Baker
9:30 Gail Hernandez, Laurie McBride, Bobbie Rettig, Jeanne Baker
11:00 Betty Rae Barney, Jerry Barney, Richard Kusserow, Barbara Kusserow,
Diane Jackson
OCTOBER USHERS – TEAM #1
8:00 Doyle Smith, Sara Smith, Dick Johnson, Joy Wilson
9:30 Ann Rothman, Larry Rothman, Robert Ferrell, Bobbie Rettig, Susan Behrendsen
11:00 Jerry Wallace, Gary Noble, Susan Noble, Sandra Myers, Gene Myers, Bill Peters
Coffee Time
9:00 Pam & Bill Hooten
10:30 Jill Boyea & Ginny Moe
Muggers
Bill & Sherry Peters
Media Ministry
Manny González, Bob Phillips,
Dave Beck, Don Wilkinson,
Marty Alexander, Robert Underwood, Rick Snow
The Gathering Band
Alan Shioji, Felipe Perez, Jackie Gaines, Charles Ogren,
Steve Putnicki, Paul Behrendsen, Adrien Reyes,
Melissa Ogren, Mary Gaddy, Kerry Boone
Hospital Ministry Visitor
Dick Johnson
Acolytes
8:00 Madelynn Schmidt, Bonnie Abbott
11:00 Nicholas Valenti, Sophia Valenti
Scripture
2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Generosity’s Gift 10-16-11
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Weekend Update 10-14-11
Weekend Update
10-14-11
| UpDate A story is told about a couple who lost a son to war. As a way to honor that son, the couple determined to give a sizable donation to honor his memory. As the gift was announced, its amount and subsequent intended use, another couple were in church to hear about it. The husband, whose heart and voice had become choked with emotion, turned to his wife and said, “Let’s do the same for our son!” “What are you talking about? Our son came home safe and sound from the war.” “Exactly the point. Let’s give a gift that will express our gratitude to God that our son was spared, and we were spared the grief we see in them.”Ever give much thought about from where gratitude comes and how we might express it? Does it come in a moment of heartfelt and choked-voice emotion? Does it come because we fully realize that God is the source of all we are given and even all that we may have been spared? How can we not think about and respond to the sheer truth of that? We have been blessed and we have been spared. All that is left to do of course, is respond. As we move closer to October 23rd and Impact Sunday, I pray that you are considering all that you have heard about the Administrative Board’s vision and the new initiatives that seek to fulfill it. We want to share the good news of Jesus Christ to families, to Segundo Barrio, to the Northeast area of El Paso where so many new families are finding housing, to children in the depressed areas just down the hill from us at LBJ elementary, to new persons we’ve not yet met who will attend our Gathering at 9:30, to renew our community visibility and make our guest base even stronger every Sunday. As you heard Sunday, not everyone needs to move up a percentage or two in their giving. Many of us have learned what it means to give generously and enjoy what generosity does within us. Many of us know what it means to give and see the fruit of our giving and sacrifice bring hope and life to others. Many of us have not. If you find yourself in that last category, it is my prayer that you will pray about your response to God this year for giving next year. You may not need or believe yourself able to tithe or move up some percentage of your income. However, as Grant and I said this past weekend, the opportunity to fulfill the vision initiatives comes at a relatively low sacrifice – $12 per week per giving in new giving. Perhaps this is the best place to start for some of us. A simple commitment of $12/week means we all participate in the future God wants to give us in return. See you soon in place where gratitude chokes our voices, even as we seek to proclaim it. |
SERVING IN MINISTRY
OCTOBER GREETERS – TEAM #1
8:00 Wendy Dickman, Mona Lindly, Jeanne Baker
9:30 Gail Hernandez, Laurie McBride, Bobbie Rettig, Jeanne Baker
11:00 Betty Rae Barney, Jerry Barney, Richard Kusserow, Barbara Kusserow, Diane Jackson
OCTOBER USHERS – TEAM #1
8:00 Doyle Smith, Sara Smith, Dick Johnson, Joy Wilson
9:30 Ann Rothman, Larry Rothman, Robert Ferrell, Bobbie Rettig, Susan Behrendsen
11:00 Jerry Wallace, Gary Noble, Susan Noble, Sandra Myers, Gene Myers, Bill Peters
Coffee Time
9:00 Nancy & Jerry Roberts
10:30 Becky & David Hingst & Family
Muggers
Bill & Sherry Peters
Media Ministry
Manny González, Bob Phillips,
Dave Beck, Don Wilkinson,
Marty Alexander, Robert Underwood, Rick Snow
The Gathering Band
Alan Shioji, Felipe Perez, Jackie Gaines, Charles Ogren,
Steve Putnicki, Paul Behrendsen, Adrien Reyes,
Melissa Ogren, Mary Gaddy, Kerry Boone
Hospital Ministry Visitor
Sue Minor
Acolytes
8:00 Hannah Gan, Grace Gan
11:00 Stone Smith, Christopher Martinez
Scripture
John 6:1-15
Pressing Forward 10-09-11
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Weekend Update 10-7-11
Weekend Update
10-7-11
In a survey of the 30 major league baseball managers, it was discovered that the most feared hitter in baseball is the Cardinals’ Albert Pujols. Pujols is clutch when clutch is needed, is defensive when defense is needed and can bring his speed to bear when it is needed. Little wonder he has been named league MVP three times.
Besides, however, the baseball fame, Pujols has also become known for his humanitarian efforts to children with Downs’ syndrome and their families. His foundation also brings relief to his home country, the Dominican Republic. One might wonder what gives him the motivation to make his life about more than baseball and his own fame.
While speaking at an event at Lafayette Senior High School in Missouri, Pujols told the audience of men and young boys, “As a Christian, I am called to live a holy life. My standard for living is set by God, not by the world. I am responsible for growing and sharing the gospel.” Then, after reading Paul’s words in Philippians 2:3—”Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves”—Pujols told the crowd, “One way for me to stay satisfied in Jesus is for me to stay humble. Humility is getting on your knees and staying in God’s will—what he wants for me, not what the world wants.” He added: “It would be easy to go out and do whatever I want, but those things only satisfy the flesh for a moment. Jesus satisfies my soul forever.”
What would we say if we were to have the chance to address a group about what satisfies us? Would we, like a famed baseball player, extol the virtue of humility and Christ follower-ship? Would we be able to say the source of our strength and motivation for what we do in life comes from moments on our knees that lead us to moments of making other people’s lives better? Is that not what following Christ is really all about? Is it not about following Christ in such a way that following Him is not simply one option among many that helps me do good things and surrender myself, but that we are humbly submitting ourselves and responding to His grace? Is it not helping the world become a better place, making sure we do what it takes to make Him known even as we seek to know Him? Why then, do we shrink at the claims He places upon us to give our time, talent and treasure?
For the past few weeks, and for just a few more, we are placing ourselves in the position of listening for the voice of God calling us to greater, better, more sacrificial follower-ship. We are listening for God to ask from us more time, more talent and more treasure, all the while the selfish side of us wants us to believe God has all God needs from us, that we have no more to give, that we have done our time and it is someone else’s turn.
When I find myself doing that, I can usually also find some feelings of guilt and even selfishness. Yet, when Paul speaks to the Philippian church there is this continual call to place other things ahead of ourselves. His example is that same God in Jesus Christ who models such a life for us. Not that we can or will attain to that level, but without responding in humility and with a focus on what will truly satisfy us, we will only get what our selfish behavior gives us – satisfaction in the flesh “for a moment.” God calls us to a life that is satisfied, not by the self, but by Him. Humility and giving are the steps to it.
See you soon in the place where the call is clear and unyielding, even if our response is not.
Pastor Mark
SERVING IN MINISTRY
OCTOBER GREETERS – TEAM #1
8:00 Wendy Dickman, Mona Lindly, Jeanne Baker
9:30 Gail Hernandez, Laurie McBride, Bobbie Rettig, Jeanne Baker
11:00 Betty Rae Barney, Jerry Barney, Richard Kusserow, Barbara Kusserow, Diane Jackson
OCTOBER USHERS – TEAM #1
8:00 Doyle Smith, Sara Smith, Dick Johnson, Joy Wilson
9:30 Ann Rothman, Larry Rothman, Robert Ferrell, Bobbie Rettig, Susan Behrendsen
11:00 Jerry Wallace, Gary Noble, Susan Noble, Sandra Myers, Gene Myers, Bill Peters
Coffee Time
9:00 Sarah Raffel & Nancy Jullian
10:30 MIchelle & Tony Aguilar & Family
Muggers
Bill & Sherry Peters
Media Ministry
Manny González, Bob Phillips,
Dave Beck, Don Wilkinson,
Marty Alexander, Robert Underwood, Rick Snow
The Gathering Band
Alan Shioji, Felipe Perez, Jackie Gaines, Charles Ogren,
Steve Putnicki, Paul Behrendsen, Adrien Reyes,
Melissa Ogren, Mary Gaddy, Kerry Boone
Hospital Ministry Visitor
Roberta Harrison
Scripture
Philippians 3:4b-16