Newsletter
March 2, 2010
The Christian Characteristic of Kindness
In the Lenten Season my prayer for all of us is that we would reflect upon Christian characteristics. In this article I would like for us to focus on Christian kindness.
How important it is that we in the church learn to cultivate the attitude of kindness!
Our kindness may be the only sermon some person out there will ever hear. We are called to imitate the kindness of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Poet John Boyle O’Reilly expressed this in “ What is Good.”:
“What is real good?”
I asked in musing mood.
“Order” said the law court;
“Knowledge,” said the school;
“Truth,” said the wise man;
“Pleasure,” said the fool;
“Love,” said the maiden;
“Beauty,” said the page;
“Freedom,” said the dreamer;
“Home,” said the sage;
“Fame,” said the soldier;
“Equity,” the seer.
Spake my heart full sadly
“The answer is not here.”
Then within my bosom
Softly this I heard;
“Each heart holds the secret,
Kindness is the word.”
We can be kind if we choose to be , and if Christ is really in us, we will be!
In Ephesians 4:32, a wonderful verse not only reflects the importance of kindness, but reveals three different levels of kindness: Be kind to one another (the level of common courtesy), tenderhearted (the level of empathy), forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you (the level of Christlike kindness).
May God Bless you this Lenten Season,
MACK
ADULT NEWS
During the month of March subscribe to the North Georgia Advocate
During the month of March, you will have the opportunity to subscribe to the Advocate! Look for information and subscription forms in the bulletins. The Advocate, a twice-monthly newspaper produced by the North Georgia Conference Communications Office, is a wonderful resource. In it you’ll find local church stories of faith and discipleship, practical ideas for ministry, glimpses into lives of people who inspire our clergy and laity, news relevant to our conference, details on upcoming events, Sunday school lessons, and more. Plus, you’ll receive the national United Methodist Reporter with every issue. Don’t miss out!!.
Usher/Greeter/Parking Attendant Training, March 14
If you are presently an usher or greeter or would like to be, please plan to join us after the mission meal on March 14. We also would like to add parking attendants to help ease the congestion between services. First impressions are the most important impressions; therefore, those who meet visitors first are critical in making first time visitors return visitors. The training will not be lengthy but is very important to assure that St. Andrew continues to be the welcoming church that it is known for.
Prayer Ministry
You may have noticed the chairs with white covers at the back of the Sanctuary and the Fellowship Hall. The Prayer Team has set up special chairs for people to pray during each service. There are printed guides for prayer. If you would like to be part of this ministry, please contact Donna Howard, 770-827-6178.
There is also a prayer room located downstairs beside the elevators. This is a quiet place to spend time alone with God. Please make use of this room.
Healing Service, March 21, 3 pm
There are many situations in need of healing—family struggles, economic struggles, job tension, as well as illness. God is a God of healing and healing comes in different ways. Plan to attend the Healing Service and bring a friend to experience the healing of our God of grace.
Holy Week Schedule
Monday March 29, 12-1—Lenten Lunch and Devotion led by Becky Copeland
Tuesday March 30, 12-1-Lenten Lunch and Devotion led by Emily Case
Wednesday March 31—5:45 pm—Dinner and Bible studies
Thursday April 1, 7 pm—Maundy Thursday Service
Friday April 2, 12 noon—Good Friday Service with lunch following
Saturday April 3, 9 am—Breakfast with the Bunny and Easter Egg Hunt
Sunday April 4—Easter Services
7 am—Sunrise Service at the Youth House
8:30 & 10:45– Traditional Service—Sanctuary
9:30—Contemporary Service—Keheley Center
Needed—Creative People
On Easter Sunday, we would like to have a flower-covered cross outside the Sanctuary. It would involve using a wooden cross with chicken-wire around it to put fresh flowers in. We need someone creative to cover the cross with chicken-wire and we need everyone to think about bringing fresh flowers on Sunday morning to decorate. If you would like to help with this, please call Rev. Angie 770-926-3488 or email angie@thepumpkinchurch.org
CONGREGATIONAL CARE
Helping Hands
We need your help. Our cupboard and freezer are bare.
The Helping Hands Meal Ministry delivers meals to those whose family members need a
loving hand; for example, assisting family members who have had surgery, lost a loved one, or are chronically ill. Something as simple as a meal can ease the burden.
We also have three St. Andrew families who are struggling to make ends meet and need the extra food. Please bring your food to the front office to put in the freezer in the Keheley
Center. Also, please date and label your food. Any questions? See Sandy.
Haiti Health Kits Community Wide Project
St. Andrew was so wonderful to collect 650 health kits but we also brought in the community on this project. We had numerous schools in the area get on board as well as boy scout and girl scout troops. As quoted in the North Georgia Advocate, “To feel that your hands are touching something that will help someone in Haiti-that’s the spiritual side of it. This is a very basic way we can care for people.”
SOS, Sisters of Support Breast Cancer Support Group
On Thursday, March 4th, SOS will have Sherri Smith come and show us Gentle Yoga for Breast Cancer Survivors. Any questions call Sandy at 770-926-3488 or sandy@thepumpkinchurch.org.
Yoga
Do you know the benefits of Yoga? Increased Flexibility, increasing lubrication of the joints, ligaments and tendons. Stretching your tight body in new ways will help it to become more flexible, bringing greater range of motion to muscles and joints. Over time, you can expect to gain flexibility in your hamstrings, back, shoulders, and hips.
Come and check it out. First class is free. Any questions see Sandy.
Monday morning 10:00 am
Thursday morning 10:00 am
Tuesday night 7:00pm
Thursday morning 10:00 am
Classes are $30.00 a month or drop in $10.00
Bridgebuilders
Bridgebuilders will meet on Monday, April 5 at 11:30 am at the Oak Leaf Restaurant
Oakleaf is at 4796 Canton Rd. Marietta 30066(678) 494-6585. Bridgebuilders are a group that has had a loss in their life and meets monthly for fellowship and support. Any questions or for directions, please call Sandy 770-926-3488.
“The Munching Methodists”
Get to know new people and have fun!! New Supper Group!!! Groups of 8 with a host who decides the meal or you can meet in a restaurant. Adults Only. For more info contact Mary Bowman glenn.mary@comcast.net or 770-516-2616 Or Jeneane McKibben jeneane18@hotmail.com or
770-928-0015
CHURCH NEWS
Lenten Concert by “Two or More” Praise Band
Join the St Andrew United Methodist Church “Two or More” Praise Band for a Lenten Praise and Preparation Concert on Friday, March 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the Keheley Center. Enjoy worshipful and uplifting praise music followed by refreshments. Admission and refreshments are free. A love offering will be collected for St. Andrew Missions. Invite your friends and neighbors as we prepare for the holiest days of our Christian faith
SILVERTONES SATURDAY EVENT
WE WILL BE ATTENDING THE ATLANTA PASSION PLAY AT THE ATLANTA CIVIC CENTER ON SATURDAY, MARCH 20TH AT 11 AM. IF YOU HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PLAY, DO SET ASIDE THE TIME TO DO SO. YOU WILL NEVER REGRET IT. THE PLAN IS TO
ATTEND THE PASSION PLAY AND THEN LUNCH AT THE OK CAFE. WE WILL BE TRAVELING BY BUS. MEET IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT FOR 9 AM. OUR RETURN TIME WILL BE AROUND 3 PM. THE COST IS $45 PER PERSON. PLEASE NOTE THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE LUNCH. THERE ARE A LIMITED NUMBER OF TICKETS SO CONTACT MICHELLE PAINE 770-928-2519. FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS. REMEMBER IF YOU’RE 50 YEARS OLD & OVER YOU CAN JOIN US!!!
EPWORTH BY THE SEA
27TH ANNUAL FAMILY RETREAT
JUNE 19th – JUNE 23th
REGISTRATION STARTED FEBRUARY 21st
1ST COME 1ST SERVE/WE HAVE 50 ROOMS
DOWNLOADABLE REGISTRATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE ON
OUR WEBSITE AT: THEPUMPKINCHURCH.ORG.
PRINTED FORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE NARTHEX, ATRIUM,
AND IN THE CHURCH OFFICE.
PLEASE CONTACT TIM WILSON FOR MORE INFORMATION PHONE: 770-517-6644 EMAIL: TIMW@HASACK.COM
Mark Your Calendars … Tee Off to Help Peter’s Flock on Monday May 10
Please join us for the St. Andrew UMM Golf Outing to benefit Peter’s Flock and the St. Andrew United Methodist Men’s work in Local Missions. This year’s golf outing takes place on Monday, May 10, 2010.
We need door prizes, players, and sponsors for this year’s event:
• Individual Golfer — $95 (Includes playing position, lunch, cart, goody bag, & practice range.)
• Hole Sponsor — $100 (Signage Recognition at tee.)
• Flag Sponsor — $200 (Signage recognition on flag at green. Sponsor keeps flag after event.)
- Gold Sponsor — $600 (Flag Sponsor + 4 playing positions, lunch, cart, goody bag, & range balls included.)
- Platinum Sponsor — $1,000 (Signage recognition at tee, on flag, appreciation plaque + 4 playing positions, lunch, goody bag, & range balls included.)
Format: Ft. Lauderdale Scramble. Shotgun Start: 9 a.m. Playing spaces are limited to the first 128 registrations received. All entries must be received by May 3, 2010. If you can help or would like a registration form, please e-mail gwh903@yahoo.com.
Missions Silent Auction Thank YOU!!
Thank you St. Andrew for supporting this year’s Silent Auction with your donations and attendance. It was our best auction yet in attendance and profit. Because of your support, the auction raised $6,600 for St. Andrew Missions!! Thank you again for your continued support of this event.
SAVE THE DATE!!
Saturday, April 3
9:00am – Breakfast with the Bunny
10:00am – Annual Easter Egg Hunt
Registration Information will be out soon.
St. Andrew Missions Yard Sale and Car Wash will be Saturday, April 17.
We Need Your Junk! Your junk will be another’s treasure. Donations can now be brought to the church during regular hours. Items needed – Everything! We will accept household items, clothes, furniture, toys, etc. All money earned at the Yard Sale and Car Wash will support St. Andrew Missions. Contact Lorna Martin or Lisa Springer if you have any questions.
Prayer Team
An Evening of Prayer will be 4p.m.-8p.m. on Thursday March 18th in the Sanctuary. These quarterly opportunities for meditative, intentional, corporate prayer will vary in focus and length of time. There will be a prayer board for sign up times. You may come for as little or as long as you can, in groups, couples or individually. In March, our prayer focus will be onfinancial and economic hardships and struggles in our homes, church, community, country and world. If you would like to have a specific prayer request prayed over during this time, please fill out the short request form that will be available soon. Invite those from the community who would like to participate.
St. Andrew will be enlarging our prayer phone chain. This important prayer chain is involved when calls come into the office and need immediate prayer. All that is needed is a phone (cell works great at work – even if you can only check it periodically). You will receive 1 call or voice mail and send out 1 call. Pray & that’s all! Please call the office, Rev. Angie or Donna Howard if you would like to participate.