V o l u m e 1 2 I s s u e 3 - - M A R C H 2 0 1 5 A Publication of Cartecay United Methodist Church The Forty-Day Season of Lent: Lent is considered a solemn religious observance in the Christian Liturgical Calendar. Many Christians began the season with Ash Wednesday, February 18th, which unfortunately we missed at CUMC because of weather issues. The tradition is meant to prepare the believers through prayer, penance, repentance, atonement and self-denial towards the observance of Holy Week. This marks the death, burial and resurrection of our savior Jesus Christ. During Lent, many Christians commit to fasting or giving up certain type of behavior as a form of penitence. During this 40-day period they also commit to a spiritual discipline such as a daily devotion to bring them nearer to God. The night of Ash Wednesday all Stations of the Cross are removed, such as flowers on the altars, crucifixes, veilings or fabrics used to symbolize our Christendom. Some abstain from eating meat, candy, sugar, or some other habit. The service of Ash Wednesday is marked upon the forehead with a cross sign. The ash is typically from palms that were burned after the preceding year’s Palm Sunday observance. Through March we will observe the traditions of our fathers and forefathers in the Methodist Church. Our Pastor is: Rev. Rebecca Holmes [email protected] Church Phone: 706-276-7400 Church email: [email protected] Web: http://cartecayumc.com Facebook: facebookgroups/166559400064734 Remember, you may be the only Bible someone ever reads! 1 Blessed Jesus: Happy Birthday to YOU! Lee Oliver 3/3 Evelyn McQuary 3/3 Mary Battle 3/4 Maggie Anderson 3/5 Connie Arnold 3/7 Cally Aschmeyer 3/9 Cole Edmondson 3/10 Harry Ludwig 3/10 Ginger Holder 3/11 Ruth Fordham 3/12 Sanford Willard 3/12 Rob Hicks 3/14 Bill Deloney 3/15 Sharon Smith 3/16 Sylvia Andes 3/26 Happy Anniversary! Russ & Debbie Loper 3/15 Royce & Jane Hughes 3/16 Bob & Beth McDonald 3/26 Stephen & Sandra Finch 3/30 Dorothy Ann Thrupp 1779-1847 possibly wrote the words to Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us aka Blessed Jesus, but that is not a certainty. William Batchelder Bradbury, 1816-1868, was born in Maine where his father was the choir director. After moving to Boston he attended the Academy for Music and learned to play the organ, which he began, teaching in about 1840 Brooklyn. In 1841, he turned his attention to children’s music, holding free singing classes. The culmination of this effort was a annual performance at the Juvenile Music Festival with a thousand children filling the stage. Bradbury was a very generous man. A theology student once wrote him for a loan of five dollars, that he might buy himself a pair of boots. Bradbury sent him a check for $25, and a note saying he could not spare $5 at the moment, but that he might manage to do without the $25 until he could send $5 later. He went to Germany where he studied composition and vocals from the best masters. In 1854 he and his brother Edward started the Bradbury Piano Company. He wrote a number of books on music over the course of years and often would put poems to tunes. Such is the case for Blessed Jesus, Just as I am, Sweet Hour of Prayer, and Jesus Loves Me to name a few. He suffered from tuberculosis the remaining two years of his life. The children visited him often during his final weeks. They brought oak leaves that they had woven into a wreath, which was buried with him. A story related to this hymn is told about Ira Stankey, a musician who worked closely with Dwight L. Moody. On one occasion, Stankey sang this song, "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us" at a public gathering. Afterwards, one of the guests pulled him aside and asked if Stankey had served on guard duty on a particular night in a particular place. Stankey, who had served in the Union army, said that he had. The other man said that he had served in the Confederate army. On the evening in question, he had started to shoot a Union soldier when the Union soldier began to sing "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Me." The Confederate soldier, who had often heard his mother sing that song, couldn't do it. Singing "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us" had saved Stankey's life. ---copied from several sources 2 LIFE’s HANDBOOK for 2015 Health: 1. Drink plenty of water. 2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar. 3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured. 4. Live with the 3 E's - Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy. 5. Make time to pray. 6. Play more games. 7. Read more books than you did in 2014. 8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. 9. Sleep for 7 hours. 10. Take a 30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile! Personality: 11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 12. Eliminate negative thoughts and things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive and in the present moment. 13. Don't overdo. Know your limits. 14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does. 15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip. 16. Dream more while you are awake! 17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. 18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner of his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness. 19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others. 20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present. 21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you. 22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are part of the curriculum; they appear and fade away but the lessons you learn last a lifetime. 23. Smile and laugh more. 24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. Society: 25. Call your family often. 26. Each day do something good for others. 27. Forgive everyone for everything. 28. For a learning experience spend some time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 8. 29. Try to make at least three people smile each day. 30. What other people think of you is none of your business. 31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch. Life: 32. Do the right thing! 33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful, or joyful. 34. GOD heals everything. 35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. 36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up. 37. The best is yet to come. 38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it. 39. BE HAPPY EACH DAY! * * * * * * * * * contributed by George Tolbert 3 Worship Calendar: Lent 2 March 1 Genesis 17:1-16 Psalm 22:23-31 (UMH752) Romans 4:13-25 Mark 8:31-88 Nursery Covenant Lent 3 March 8 Exodus 20:1-17 Psalm 19 (UMH750) 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 John 2:13-22 Relationship Covenant Lent 4 March 15 Numbers 21:4-9 Psalm 107:1-22 (UMH830) Ephesians 2:1-10 John 3:14-21 “Snakey” Covenant February 2015 Total giving = $13,064.00 Budgeted = $17,343.49 Average Attendance: Early Service = 25 SS = 20 11 a.m. service = 61 Easter Egg Hunt scheduled for March 28th @ 2pm. Please invite children, grandchildren and neighbors. A basket will be in the hallway next to the sanctuary to collect Easter candy to fill plastic eggs. Please donate individually wrapped candies. Thanks, Debbie Loper, Children’s Ministry Invite! Invite! Invite! Invite! Come join us as we go to our neighbors around the church and invite them to join us in celebrating Easter, Saturday March 28th. Meet in fellowship hall at 10:00 A. M. We will be out until noon, and then return to the church to share about our visits. If you have any questions call: Lent 5 March 22 Jeremiah 31:31-34 Psalm 51:1-12 (UMH785) Hebrews 5:5-10 John 12:20-33 Heart Covenant Maundy Thursday March 26 no service Good Friday March 27 no service read Isaiah 7:10-14 , Psalm 45, Hebrews 10:4-10 and Luck 1:26:38 Liturgy of the Palms March 29 Palm Sunday only one service this Sunday at 11 a.m. Psalm 118 The Worship Committee has begun work on the Lenten and Easter season. At our meeting everyone had such good ideas, and it was exciting. Hint: do not go on to Pinterest unless you have a lot of time on your hands! Seriously, the Church needs you! While you may sit there and think you are the only one on this earth without a talent, believe you are not. It just has not had the opportunity to be revealed to the world! We have a number of areas in which we need help. Librarian: someone to check in donated books and label new ones. The system is set up in the computer and is very easy. We have someone that can teach you the computer system. Ushers: Every Sunday we need two ushers for the 11:00 service. We need a greeter as well. Someone who will say hello to visitors and make them feel welcomed. There is a sign up sheet in the Narthex (hallway behind Sanctuary) on the bulletin board. If you have any question about any of these "openings". Please contact me, Libby O'Neill (706-6353581) or [email protected]. Marcelle Rolan 706-698-7729 Kathy Swain 706-889-6307 4 CHURCH COUNCIL CHAIRS 2015 Chairperson Don Messick Vice Chairperson Yuri Schillin Pastor Rebecca Holmes Lay Leader Charlie Edmondson Lay Delegate to Annual Conference Jane Hughes Church Treasurer Sarah Corkedale Trustees Renee’ Walker Includes: Cemetery Nominations & Leadership Rebecca Holmes Staff Parish Relations Rod Thomas Finance Bonnie Dalrymple Missions Don & Sharon Smith Education Nancy Sauls Includes: Library, SS class leaders, Scholarship Invitational Marcele Rolan, Kathy Swain Hospitality Family Ministries Maggie McDonald Includes: Shepherding Worship Rebecca Holmes Includes: Alter Guild, Communion, Ushers, Music, Flowers, Audio/Visual Communications Leslie Thomas Children’s Ministries Debbie Loper Youth Ministries Elisa Ford UMW President Beverly Hiscox UMM President Mike Pilvinsky Recording Secretary Donna Carlsen This is your church council leadership for 2015. Want to volunteer? Ask. There is a place for you. UMW Report: Since we weren’t able to meet in February, I EXPECT PERFECT ATTENDANCE ON MARCH 19 AT 10:30! Don't forget the following dates: March 3......Lunch Bunch, Martyn House, downtown Ellijay at 11:45 March 7-8....Hinton Retreat, Pray for the 10 attendees March 10.....Crafters @ 10:00 at church. Vicki will do the "bow thing" then. I'm so glad she has been so flexible. Bring your ribbon, scissors, etc. LET THE FUN BEGIN! March 19.....UMW Meeting at 10:20 @ the church. REMEMBER, PERFECT ATTENDANCE! Beverly Hiscox, UMW President Being Methodist in the Bible Belt. What’s it mean to be a Methodist in the South? Come to a month long study by Rev. Rebecca Holmes to learn about being new to the denomination of Methodism. March 4, 11, 18 and 25th at 6:45 p.m. at the church. Let Rev. Rebecca know you are coming so she can give you a book. UMM will hold a Leadership Workshop March 7 & 8th in the Fellowship Hall. Ask any man about it. The men will meet March 28th at 8 a.m. at the IHOP restaurant for breakfast. 5 6 THE CHRISTIAN BAR OF SOAP (1 John 1:9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. There’s nothing like the feeling of being clean! Stepping out of the bath or shower you feel good all over. All the dirt and sweat from the day is washed away and you feel and smell fresh and ready for anything. And all because of that simple bar of soap. That’s how Peter felt when Jesus was washing the disciple’s feet. At first he objected to Jesus’ humble offer. But then the Lord said something to change his mind: “…If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” (John 13:8) After that Peter wanted a whole bath! But Jesus replied: “…He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet…” (John 13:10). What was Jesus trying to say? He was stating that when you are born again you have been placed under the washing of regeneration and are clean before the Lord because of the work of Christ on the cross: (Titus 3:5) not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. But as you continue on that journey you pick up dirt on the road. So when you enter a house you don’t need to take a whole bath (or get saved again). You just need to wash your feet and freshen up (confess you sins). What a wonderful promise we have in 1 John 1:9! It says if we confess our sins to the Lord, He is so faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. When we realize we have sinned and fallen short we can just go to the Lord and tell Him we are sorry. We can ask Him to pardon our iniquity and purify us. After we pray we can be assured that it’s been done! The Lord will forgive us and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness. We will be squeaky clean and feel so close to the Lord and thankful for His cleansing. David needed that scrubbing. After he sinned he said: (Psa 51:2) Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin…(Psa 51:7) Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. The Lord forgave all his sins and restored to him the joy of his salvation. I’m so thankful for THE CHRISTIAN BAR OF SOAP. It’s for big or little sins because all sin is defiling and makes you dirty. And it’s the bar of soap that is always large like when you first bought it. We all know how a bar of soap shrinks as you use it. It doesn’t seem to work as well and it’s so hard to use. Then you tend to drop it and it’s such a hassle to retrieve it. But not THE CHRISTIAN BAR OF SOAP! The Lord’s forgiveness is abundant and always accessible. Is that good news for you today? Maybe it’s time lather up and get that clean feeling again! Found several versions of this story online 7 Cartecay United Methodist Church 7629 Highway 52 East Ellijay, Georgia 30536 Cartecay UMC has been meeting in this area since before 1834. The original church was a half mile from the current site up Roy Road and had burned to the ground; however the old church cemetery is still there. A new church was built at the corner of Hwy 52 East and Roy Road in October of 1859 and is on the National Registry of Historic Places. The next structure was built in 1974. Current addition of the Fellowship Hall began March of 2008 and was dedicated in 2010. The church has served the community for over 175 years - slaves, Indians, and pioneers alike. We welcome all who enter our doors, regardless of your current affiliation or afflictions. Our prayer is that you will find God in our midst and in turn that we become family. We celebrate an open communion table the first Sunday of each month. Thank You for being part of us today. 180 Years serving Gilmer County Georgia 1834-2014 BE INTENTIONAL! 8
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