Welcoming the other

Imagine for a moment that you are not a member of a small church where everyone knows your name or in a community where you have grown up. Perhaps you have moved to this area for employment or retirement. Perhaps you are even attending church for the first time. When you come to worship it feels awkward — you are not really sure how to enter the building, let alone where various rooms are located (such as the sanctuary, social hall, nursery or restroom). Not knowing what to do and when can be embarrassing. What would bring you back to this place again? What would keep you away?

Read more at this link.

Happy birthday, Charles Wesley!

Charles Wesley (1707-1788), wrote this hymn for his birthday:

God of my life, to thee

My cheerful soul I raise;

Thy goodness bade me be,

And still prolongs my days;

I see my natal hour return,

And bless the day that I was born.

My soul and all its powers

Thine, wholly thine, shall be;

All, all my happy hours

I consecrate to thee;

Whate'er I have, whate'er I am,

Shall magnify my Maker's name.

Long as I love beneath,

To thee, oh, let me live!

To thee my every breath,

In thanks and praises give!

Creating and preserving grace

Let all that is within me praise.

Then, when the work is done,

The work of faith and power,

Receive thy rescued son

In death's triumphant hour;

Like Moses, to thyself convey

My soul, to live in endless day.

Source: The Voice of Praise: a Collection of Hymns 

for the Use of the Methodist Church, #727    

Today in Methodist History

Today is the birthday of the Rev. Samuel Wesley, Sr. (1662-1735), father of John and Charles Wesley. 

(“[To John] The inward witness, son, the inward witness; this is the proof, the strongest proof of Christianity….[to Charles] The weaker I am in body, the stronger and more sensible support I feel from God….[to John] God does chasten me with pain; yea, all my bones with strong pain. But I thank Him for all; I bless Him for all; yea, I love Him for all. [to Charles] “Be steady. The Christian faith will surely revive in this kingdom; you shall see it, though I shall not….[to one of his daughters] Do not be concerned at my death: God will then begin to manifest Himself to my family….Think of heaven, talk of heaven; all the time is lost when we are not thinking of heaven.”

Wednesday with the Wesleys

They shall call his name Emmanuel - To be called, only means, according to the Hebrew manner of speaking, that the person spoken of shall really and effectually be what he is called, and actually fulfil that title. Thus, unto us a child is born - and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Prince of Peace - That is, he shall be all these, though not so much nominally, as really, and in effect. And thus, was he called Emmanuel; which was no common name of Christ but points out his nature and office; as he is God incarnate, and dwells by his Spirit in the hearts of his people. It is observable, the words in Isaiah are, Thou (namely, his mother) shalt call; but here, They - that is, all his people, shall call - shall acknowledge him to be Emmanuel, God with us. Which being interpreted - This is a clear proof that St. Matthew wrote his Gospel in Greek, and not in Hebrew. Isaiah 7:14.

~ John Wesley’s Notes on the New Testament, Matthew 1:23

Scripture for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

Next Sunday, the worship service will center around the telling of Christmas story using a unique offering called "A Christmas Pageant in-a-bag!" The scripture lesson will be Luke 2:8-14.

"Therefore, the Lord will give you a sign. The young woman is pregnant and is about to give birth to a son, and she will name him Immanuel."

- Isaiah 7:14 (CEB)

Today at GUMC

The Candle of Joy (the pink one) is lit

Nancy & Roy B. light the Advent candles

Shelley G. is today's reader

Renea H. offers beautiful music during worship

It was a frigid start to our morning, but the warmth of our fellowship made all the difference as we came together for worship on the Third Sunday of Advent.

JOYS

+The church family thanks God for the gift of Dale S.’ birthday this coming week.

+Gloria S. thanks God for the joy of 15 family members arriving today to celebrate Christmas together.

+Mike and Cheryl R.’s grandson Carson is in worship with us today: Yay!

+Belinda A. thanks the church family for their continued donations to the “noisy bucket” campaign of the United Women in Faith (formerly United Methodist Women). Last month’s collection was $60.28. Praise be to God for a church family who donates money for mission work locally and all around the world.

+Pastor Charles thanks God for a church family who demonstrates beautiful expressions of love and concern during the “Passing of the Peace” during worship each Sunday. Also, he is thankful that this congregation sings the “Gloria Patri” each Sunday, a testament to the sacredness of the Christian faith.

+Belinda A. thanks God for the wonderful United Women in Faith Christmas party and readers’ theater melodrama at the Albert Lea Pizza Ranch restaurant last Wednesday. A good time was had by all.

+Belinda A. thanks God for Sid T. who delivered her phone and eyeglasses to her worksite, after she left them at the Pizza Ranch.

+The congregation praises God for Shelley G.’s continued prayer shawl ministry. She brought seven completed shawls to worship today for a blessing.

+Shelley G. invites the church family to take prayer shawls to people they know who would benefit from having them – “anyone in need of a hug.” She asked that a picture of each shawl be taken and shared with her, along with the name of the person who received it.

+Belinda A. thanks God for the joy-filled activity of assembling goodies plates for dear members and friends of the church, after last Sunday’s administrative board meeting.

+Bob S. it was a joy to deliver the goodies plates.

+The congregation is thankful for Shelley G.’s service as Scripture reader this morning.

+The congregation is thankful for the music ministry of our beloved organist, Renae H.!

CONCERNS
+Bob S. invites the congregation to join him in praying for his friend Calvin R. who is battling health challenges.

+Sandy D. asks the church family to join her in praying for her friend Sarah S. who is dealing with serious medical challenges.

+Shelley G. asks for prayers for her dear friend Diane in Wells; her son Levi died last week.

+Cheryl R. asks for prayers for the family and friends of Steve P. who died recently.

+Cheryl R. invites the congregation to pray for nephew’s wife Nikki who is dealing with a medical challenge.

+The congregation is invited to pray for Patty R.’s husband Craig who is undergoing more medical testing.

+Korla S. asks for prayers for Bill P., a dear friend dealing with serious medical challenges, and Bill’s wife, too.

+Nancy B. invites the congregation to join her in praying for those impacted by the shootings at Stewartville High School, Brown University, and at a synagogue in Australia.

+Sandy D. invites the church family to join her in continuing to pray for her nephew Jay who has returned home after a hospital stay. He will be recovering the next four to five weeks.

+Kraig S. invites the congregation to pray for Karnella S. who fell again and is recovering at St. John’s Lutheran Community.

Seeing the need for our future

Leaders of the General Commission on United Methodist Men and the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women have each issued statement jointly affirming the UMC's need to reach young men with the Gospel message that does not silence women.

Statements from the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women and from the United Methodist Men.