Weekend Update 1.13.12

Filed under: Weekly Update — admin @ 9:58 am

Weekend Update
1-13-2012

Do All the Good You Can
The year was 1739.  John Wesley had been preaching all around England to great effect.  His words usually contained a caution.  Be careful how you live, for God intends to judge your life according to God’s desires for you.  His words were for those who desired to “flee from the wrath which is to come.”  Of course, this was in a time which threats of wars that could not be thwarted, natural disasters threatened to undo life for generations and evil was pervasive in all of society.  The understanding of many of those threats was that God might at work in any one of them to get the attention of people.

The year 1739 marked at turning point for Wesley, though.  A few of those who had made the salvation “transaction” with God found that the promise of salvation after life in this world wasn’t enough.  They wanted more.  They wanted to experience not only an assurance of their future, but their present.  They wanted to go deeper in their life with God by pursuing a life of holiness.  It wasn’t enough to know their sins were forgiven, they wanted to know they could overcome them.

Wesley’s wisdom was to give them advice about overcoming sins, to remind them that assurance was an inner reality promised by God through Paul that “The Spirit witnesses to our spirit that we are children of God,” and that they should meet in groups for supportive accountability.  Now, not only would they be accountable to God for their sin, they would open themselves to be accountable to each other for growing as Christian disciples.

Further, it was not enough to just seek a deeper faith.  Knowing the content and focus of the New Testament book of James, faith must be lived out in one’s life by the way one lived.  A response to grace included more than a desire to flee from God’s judgment, faith that did not create in the person an urge to do good with and for people around them was a “gospel of straw.”

Now, I believe we understand that as well as any congregation could.  We know what it means to do all the good we can, since we have opportunities to help in mission almost every month.  However, I wonder if we missed what motivated Wesley and the people in his movement at the very beginning.  Are we folks who fled from the wrath that is to come, and yet have become comfortable with who we are and what we do?  Would we ever sit in a room with other loving and supportive Christians who would help us grow by asking us how our walk with God is REALLY going?  Would we ever trust one another that way? Perhaps our doing good is only a diversion or distraction from something we know we need on a deeper level.  Do we need to grow?

See you soon, in the place where He calls us from comfort to challenge.
Pastor Mark

SERVING IN MINISTRY
January 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, Richard Kusserow, Barbara Kusserow, Diane Jackson

January Ushers-Team #1
8:00     Doyle Smith, Sara Smith, Dick Johnson, Joy Wilson
9:30     Larry Rothman, Robert Ferrell,
Bobby Rettig, Katherine Martinez, Mario Martinez
11:00    Jerry Wallace, Gary Noble, Susan Noble,
Sandra Myers, Gene Myers, Bill Peters Joe Barnhill

Coffee Time
9:00     Pam & Bill Hooten
10:30    Michelle & Tony Aguilar & Family

Muggers
Jeanette & Torey Moye

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

Acolytes
8:00      Christopher Martinez, Stone Smith
11:00    Denali Gonzales, Jimmy Gallardo

Altar Flowers
Today’s flowers are given by Suellyn Lehrschall in celebration of Dave’s birthday.

Scripture
Hebrews 13:1-16

Weekend Update 12-9-11

Filed under: Weekly Update — admin @ 3:13 pm

Weekend Update
12-9-11
Thanks to everyone who has, either from worship or from announcements this week, taken a shoe box or more to fill for Sidewalk Sunday School.  It will be marvelous to see them all stacked on the altar this week, along with the multitude of wrapped gifts under the tree for Centro Santa Catalina orphanage.  You are such a generous group of Christians, and we are also celebrating the fact that we now have 180 bricks purchased for a home to be built by our missioners in Nicaragua.  What a joy it will be to see the report and meet the family by video and photos next spring.

Speaking of Joy, that indeed is the theme of our services this week as we look at more of Isaiah’s prophetic words to God’s people.  His words were intended to bring hope, peace and joy to people living in very troubled times.  We will light the pink candle in the Advent wreath this Sunday.  It is intended to remind us of the Joy of the coming of Christ.

I am often asked, “Why pink?”  As I understand church history one of the stories that comes from the early years of the church involves a priest and a group of parishioners living in difficult economic times. Times that were unimaginably difficult, not times like ours where we are just trying to cut back on consumption, but times when believers were shut out of the economy and jobs simply due to their faith.

As the story goes, the priest noticed the despair of his congregation, so at the annual Christmas day celebration and modest meal, he was somehow able to procure a bundle of pink roses.  As everyone sat for dinner, he began to give every female a pink rose.  The gesture created such an uplift of faith for them that the modest celebration turned into a real party and the carryover of inspiration it is said, made everyone joyful to be part of the Kingdom of God, regardless of what the world was handing them.

Another, and perhaps less sentimental reason, is this one: The season of Advent, was for a number of centuries, a great deal like the season of Lent.  Purple was the color of penitence and the season was one of self-examination before God so that one might be prepared spiritually for the receiving of Christ once again into our lives.  The season was not only one of self-reflection; it was one of prayer and fasting.  However, the third Sunday was the one Sunday in the season where Christians were allowed to break their fast and celebrate their life with God and one another.  The pink was a reminder that for one week, they should be able to “rejoice” about their life with Christ and the celebration of his coming.  The return to self-reflection was a better experience with a little joy and the third Sunday began to be known as Gaudete Sunday – gaudete is Latin for rejoice.

Whichever story one believes, I wonder what would give us that kind of joy in this season of Advent?  It surely will not come from the consumptive culture we experience during the season.  Most likely it will come from slowing down and remembering who we celebrate.

See you soon, in the place where rejoice is our common experience.
Pastor Mark

Order forms available in this Sunday’s bulletin.

IF YOU SELECTED A NAME FROM THE GIVING TREE OR A SIDEWALK SS SHOEBOX,
PLEASE RETURN YOUR GIFTS TO THE CHURCH BY THIS SUNDAY, DEC. 11TH.

SERVING IN MINISTRY

December Greeters-Team #3
8:00     Lollie Yetter, Dick Yetter, Pam Hooten, Bill Hooten
9:30     Pam Hooten, Bill Hooten, Wanda Cost, Dave Cost
11:00   Johnelle Moore, Victor Moore, B.A. Hallum, Pat Crawford

December Ushers-Team #3
8:00     John Nance, Norm Wilner, Craig Fortune, Reese Fortune, Nancy Nelson
9:30     Nancy Haegele, Janis Hillis, Rick Snow, Suzy Snow
11:00   Lee Hand, Debbie Hand, Bill Littlefield, Paddy Littlefield, Hector Garcia, Jody Garcia

December Communion Servers-Team #3
8:00     Connie Baker, Clark Baker
9:30     Shannon Richkowski, Dave Richkowski Janis Hillis, Laurie McBride
11:00   Kathy Hernandez, Paddy Littlefield,Zoe Dean Middleton, Frank Middleton,
Jackie Gaines, Jody Garcia, Connie Smith, Teresa Alexander

Coffee Time
9:00    Sarah Raffel & Nancy Jullian
10:30  Carol Pancoast & Alleen Burkholder

Muggers
Mark & Teresa Alexander

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, Robert Ferrell
11:00   Hannah Gan, Grace Gan

Altar Flowers
Today’s flowers are given by
Lee & Debbie Hand in celebration of
Ryan’s  homecoming.

Scripture
Isaiah 12:1-6
Luke 2:8-14

Weekend Update 12-2-11

Filed under: Weekly Update — admin @ 10:41 am

Weekend Update
12-2-11

You are a wonderfully generous congregation.  Just one week into Advent and we have already taken care of 53 bricks for a home in Nicaragua.  It takes about 300 to complete a home, and it is my prayer we can do that this year.  As you well know, each missioner will personally pay roughly $1800 for the privilege of being in mission there, most of that to ensure travel costs are covered and the daily expenses of being in residence at Bridges of Hope mission.  Our effectiveness of ministry is once again expanding to include our United Methodist friends from Big Spring, and our hope of creating a sustainable mission there is becoming reality.  In Place of a Poinsettia will help us do so, and help us bless one more family with a home for healthier living conditions.  If you’ve not added this to your giving list, I hope you will do so this week, and do it in honor or memory of someone special to you.

We also began displaying the giving tree in the sanctuary this past week, and in my observation, there are only 8 tags left, opportunities to make Christmas special and practical for orphans in Centro Santa Catalina.  That mission serves more than their capacity should allow, since the need is always greater than the capacity.  Some details about the mission as well as a newsletter are linked in this update, so take a look at the impact you are having there.

For at least the 9th year in a row, we will make sure Christmas is both special and practical for the children at Westway again this year. The shoe boxes will be in narthex/lobby of the sanctuary this week, and our only requirement is to return them next week to the altar for blessing and distribution.  If you’ve not been to a distribution and seen the ordered way in which the gifts are distributed and watched the gratitude etched across the faces of the recipients, volunteer to help this year by speaking with Jane LaGrone.  It will make your Christmas special too.  The growth of that ministry in the past 8 Christmas celebrations that I have known about it is wonderful, and teens who were once little ones on the carpets are still attending each week to hear the stories of the Bible and experience God’s love and care for them through us.

This week, there were even a couple of you who asked questions about how to be involved with McMurry University and its goal for McMurry in Motion.  Just a simple illustration from a message has turned into contributions that will aid  the building of young leaders as they navigate the college years.  The experiences they will have will help shape their lives and cause their leadership to go beyond career.  Hopefully, it will help make them missionaries for life and for the cause of Christ.

I pray you will be joyous this year as in all years, that the impact you make creates ripples of ministry, the final effect of which we may never know, but the God we serve always will. We hear his command to care for “little ones such as these” and then we practically do something to respond.  What better way is there to protest the culture than to undermine its selfishness?

This week in worship we will remember the prophet Isaiah and his words that were intended to make for peace. His picture of tranquility that is supposed to ensue when the servant of the Lord comes from the tree stump of Jesse is more than idealistic or utopian.  His picture of peace creates in us a longing that the world might be set right, that all of God’s creation might see the reverse of the Fall, and that all flesh shall experience the moment of shalom.  Shalom (Hebrew for Peace) is not just the absence of conflict, but  the absence of selfishness which creates injustice in the lives of others.  When God comes our selfishness departs, our distrust of God, one another and creation is surrendered and God’s intent for the creation comes into view.  Will we ever catch sight of what could be?

I hope you say a good word about the Lord Jesus Christ and Western Hills this week, and I pray you invite someone to be in church with you this week.  It is the season and time that people are looking for something more than the spiritually empty life of consumption.  Make sure they know there is another option.  See you soon, in the place where we will dine at His table, feed on His grace and hear His call to be people who are making a generous difference in the world.

Shalom,
Pastor Mark

IF YOU HAVEN’T SELECTED A TAG YET — WE STILL HAVE TAGS AVAILABLE
PLEASE RETURN YOUR WRAPPED GIFTS NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 11th


Order forms available in this Sunday’s bulletin.

CARDS REQUESTED
When you are addressing your Christmas cards this year,
we encourage you to add John Shipley to your list.
Let John know that he is cared about and we are praying for him this Christmas.
Cards can be sent to:
John Shipley
47666-280
FCI Camp Englewood
9595 West Quincy Ave
Littleton CO, 80123

SERVING IN MINISTRY
December Greeters-Team #3
8:00     Lollie Yetter, Dick Yetter, Pam Hooten, Bill Hooten
9:30     Pam Hooten, Bill Hooten, Wanda Cost, Dave Cost
11:00   Johnelle Moore, Victor Moore, B.A. Hallum, Pat Crawford

December Ushers-Team #3
8:00     John Nance, Norm Wilner, Craig Fortune, Reese Fortune, Nancy Nelson
9:30     Nancy Haegele, Janis Hillis, Rick Snow, Suzy Snow
11:00   Lee Hand, Debbie Hand, Bill Littlefield, Paddy Littlefield, Hector Garcia, Jody Garcia

December Communion Servers-Team #3
8:00     Connie Baker, Clark Baker
9:30     Shannon Richkowski, Dave Richkowski Janis Hillis, Laurie McBride
11:00   Kathy Hernandez, Paddy Littlefield,Zoe Dean Middleton, Frank Middleton,
Jackie Gaines, Jody Garcia, Connie Smith, Teresa Alexander

Coffee Time
9:00    Judy & Dave Chicka
10:30  Nancy & Jerry Roberts

Muggers
Mark & Teresa Alexander

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

Acolytes
8:00     Madelynn Schmidt, Sarah Carter
11:00   Alex Bozeman, Dylan Bozeman

Altar Flowers
Today’s flowers are given by Doug & Cindy Wright
in thanks and praise to God for His precious gift
of our three grandchildren – Bradley and Andrew Mattingly
and soon to arrive “baby girl” May.

Scripture
Isaiah 11:1-9

Weekend Update 11-18-11

Filed under: Weekly Update — admin @ 6:41 pm

Weekend Update 11-18-11

Weekend Update 11-11-11

Filed under: Weekly Update — admin @ 2:29 pm

Weekend Update
11-11-11
The title of the film was intriguing, even as the story was absurd.  The story covered an absent minded professor whose desire to see matter shrink without deformation led him to create a machine that did just that.  When an accident occurs and his children were in the path of the machine’s impulse, they were subsequently shrunk too, then tossed out with the garbage.  The slow realization of what had happened led to the search to find the children and the eventual reversal of the process. The story of “Honey, I shrunk the kids” was born and theaters crowded as we took in the story.

As I sat watching with my children, a thought occurred to me.  There have been times that I should have said, “Honey, I shrunk the kids.”  It was not in the context of a lab experiment gone wrong especially, it was in the crucible of parenting that it happened.  There were times my analysis of their behavior shrunk their little hearts and made tears appear.  There were times when clear expectations unmet meant a moment of consequence had arrived and frustration shrunk a smile into a cloudy frown.  There were times when the anger boiled and the words arrived much too quickly, then I shrunk their hearts with the same fatherly words that had once shrunk mine, even though I had said I never would.  Once in a while, the confidence I had tried to build into them was shrunk to tiny proportions of the effort exerted.  The time to rebuild it took exponentially more time than the time to shrink it.  I had to say, “I am sorry” more than once, for eventually, I too felt diminished by what transpired.

It has always seemed a cruel irony that the little fellows come without an owner’s manual from God.  From the moment self-awareness comes to them, we struggle to teach, train, raise, instruct, love and nurture them in environments rich enough that they can leave our homes and be fully functional adults.  Our desire to achieve that uncertain outcome, coupled with our own anxiety about failing as a parent, often means we exert control measures that are less about changing behavior and more about changing how we feel about ourselves as parents, dealing with whatever expectations we may have for ourselves as a parent.  Our children know it often, even if they fail to have the language to articulate what they experience.

How then did God intend for us to be as parents relating to children?  What did God do as a father who made sure his only son was born into – you know it – the family unit?  How is it that Jesus could realize the call of God upon him enough to lay down the craftsman’s tools and take up his cross?  Could it be that Joseph and Mary were ideal?  Hardly.  Mary and the family had their own control issues. Don’t believe me?  Try to remember the story of Jesus being told that his family was waiting outside of a place he was speaking to take him home, convinced he was mad or possessed.

What marked the family of Jesus?  Perhaps just this – the environment was just safe enough from shrinkage that he could grow in wisdom, stature, and in the love and respect of God the Father.  How about ours?

See you soon in the place where the Father sings over us in song, disciplines us when we are wrong, and loves us beyond compare.
Pastor Mark

SERVING IN MINISTRY

November Greeters-Team #2
8:00     Melba Dyal, Eldene Amundson, Norm Amundson, Betty McCann
9:30     Lyn Gan, Becky Martin, Misty Lindsey
11:00   Debbie Hand, Lee Hand, Robert Horn, Ginny Moe, Sue Minor

November Ushers-Team #2
8:00     Doyle Smith, Randolph Young,Sandra Young, Dick Yetter
9:30     Julie Perez, Ana Battles, Deanne Battles, Kevin Battles,
Sheryl Shioji, Sarah Shioji
11:00   Phillip McCoy, Dave Chicka,Judy Chicka, Johnelle Moore,
Victor Moore, John Magruder, Charlie Birkelbach

Coffee Time
9:00    Bill Hooten & Ginny Moe
10:30  Carol Pancoast & Alleen Burkholder

Muggers
Doug & Cindy Wright

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
Frank & Zoe Dean Middleton

Acolytes
8:00     Madelyn Schmidt, Bonnie Abbott
11:00   Stone Smith, Christopher Martinez

Altar Flowers
Sunday’s altar flowers are given by Lee & Debbie Hand to honor the birthdays of Duane Bowers & Nathan Bowers.

Scripture
Ephesians 5:15-21, 6:1-4

WAYS YOU CAN BE INVOLVED . . .

aLONG THE roAD WITH cHRIST

Join us on the
Pathway to discipleship!

wHY – yOUTH

Western Hills Youth

Radical
Relevant
Relational

Children’s Ministry

Come Grow With Us!
Shadow

Weekend Update 11.4.11

Filed under: Uncategorized,Weekly Update — admin @ 5:36 pm

 

 
WEEKEND UPDATE
NOVEMBER 4, 2011
Leroy Elms, celebrated author of The Lost Art of Discipleship, tells the following story in his reflections on discipleship:
One spring our family was driving from Fort Lauderdale to Tampa, Florida. As far as the eye could see, orange trees were loaded with fruit. When we stopped for breakfast, I ordered orange juice with my eggs. “I’m sorry,” the waitress said. “I can’t bring you orange juice. Our machine is broken.”
At first I was dumbfounded. We were surrounded by millions of oranges, and I knew they had oranges in the kitchen–orange slices garnished our plates. What was the problem? No juice? Hardly. We were surrounded by thousands of gallons of juice. The problem was they had become dependent on a machine to get it.
Christians are sometimes like that. They may be surrounded by Bibles in their homes, but if something should happen to the Sunday morning preaching service, they would have no nourishment for their souls. The problem is not a lack of spiritual food–but that many Christians haven’t grown enough to know how to get it for themselves.
If asked, how would you respond to Elms?  Would you say the same thing about others in worship?  Ah, it’s always easy to point the finger at another, but what about us?  Is there as much dust on our own Bibles as there is on someone else’s?  Do we often seek to ignore the need we have to give ourselves to becoming more mature by hoping some delivery system will do it for us?  After all, isn’t that what our consumer culture trains us to expect?  Of course it is.  Culture gives us lots of information, but can offer little wisdom in how to utilize it.  Culture gives us a plethora of opportunities to go, be and do, but little responsibility in discerning what might be best for us.  Culture prompts us to wait for something that is intended to make life better, but usually delivers yet another distraction instead of improvement.  What do we do?
For the past couple of  months, we have been encouraged to invest in our own growth by volunteering again our own time, talent and treasure to Christ’s use.  We have been given “guides” and been offered opportunities to expand our minds and enlarge our hearts toward God. In the end, I wonder, how have we done?   Have we determined to put forth the effort to grow or have we waited for the machine to deliver it for us?  Of course, God will never break down or cease to be willing to deliver, but I believe the less we make ourselves available to God for growth, the further we get from it.  If you’ve not involved yourself in a means of grace with your time, talent and treasure, do so now.  There is really no time like the present to end cultural frustration and disappointment by involving ourselves in growth.
See you soon in the place where His means of grace deliver every time.
Pastor Mark
 
SERVING IN MINISTRY
November Greeters-Team #2
8:00     Melba Dyal, Eldene Amundson, Norm Amundson, Betty McCann
9:30     Lyn Gan, Becky Martin, Misty Lindsey
11:00   Debbie Hand, Lee Hand, Robert Horn, Ginny Moe, Sue Minor

November Ushers-Team #2
8:00     Doyle Smith, Randolph Young,Sandra Young, Dick Yetter
9:30     Julie Perez, Ana Battles, Deanne Battles, Kevin Battles,
Sheryl Shioji, Sarah Shioji
11:00   Phillip McCoy, Dave Chicka,Judy Chicka, Johnelle Moore,
Victor Moore, John Magruder, Charlie Birkelbach

November Communion Servers– Team #2
8:00     Suellyn Lehrschall, Dave Lehrschall
9:30     Kevin Battles, Deanne Battles, Sheryl Shioji
11:00   Allison Butler, David Butler, Johnelle Moore, Victor Moore,
Marilyn Stanley, Charles Stanley, Victor Mireles, Ramona Russell

Coffee Time
9:00    Nancy & Jerry Roberts
10:30  Michelle & Tony Aguilar & Family

Muggers
Doug & Cindy Wright

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
Marilyn Stanley

Acolytes
8:00     Nicholas Valenti, Sophia Valenti
11:00   Sarah Carter, Robert Ferrell

Scripture
Ephesians 5:15-21,
22-24

Weekend Update 10-28-11

Filed under: Weekly Update — admin @ 4:44 pm

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.
Pastor Mark

 


CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
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

Filed under: Weekly Update — admin @ 8:48 pm

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.
Blessings
Pastor Mark

 

THE WEATHER HAS BEGUN TO CHANGE…
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

Weekend Update 10-14-11

Filed under: Weekly Update — admin @ 5:12 pm

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.
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    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

Weekend Update 10-7-11

Filed under: Weekly Update — admin @ 5:23 pm

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

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