Ponder anew what the Almighty
can do..
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost
Successful Living: Prayer
Matthew 6:5-15/6b
Jack Wallace, Senior Pastor
UMW FRIENDS,
Tuesday, Oct. 14th, is our scheduled meeting. Because of
Debra
Pierson's program in September, WE STAND FOR CHILDREN, our unit will
have a discussion of ideas to demonstrate how we do stand for
children in our local area. Children and women throughout the world
are
supported in many ways by our UMW offerings, but, sometimes, our
local
women believe there is too little involvement in our own community.
If
there are needs we can meet, we need to be apprised of them. Some
ideas emerged in the September meeting, but the group were asked to
ponder this question for reporting at our October meeting. We don't
need
to find busy-ness just to be busy. If we are to be busy about God's
work, we should truly find what the needs are and if we can truly
fulfill them and if we truly believe this is the business God wants
us
to be about.
All women of FUMC Whitesboro are most welcome. Anna Beth Perkins is
the program provider for October. The meeting will be held at
7p.m. in
Wesley Hall.
Here we are, Lord! Use us.
Gwen Grady
Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace
University
Volunteers are needed to assist in the children’s Sunday
School department. We are trying to start a volunteer substitute
teacher list. If you need more information or would like to volunteer,
then please contact Kathy Brown
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Jack Wallace
Senior Pastor
Jack’s Journal
Philippians 3:12-16
"…this
one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to
what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the
heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.”5
Philippians 3:13b-14
This past week I had the opportunity to relax in my office and read the
moving account of the history of FUMC Whitesboro. The reflections, from
Mrs. Hattie Robertson Simpson and Ms. Mona Sullivan, helped me to
imagine the worship and ministry journey of the church family. Our
legacy spans from a few families gathering at a house of worship near
the existing Oakwood Cemetery, at Ambrose White’s Hotel, at Long School
Building, at Robertson Memorial Church, at a downtown movie theater, and
then, at our present day sanctuary. As the worship community grew, so
did the church campus to house them.
When I read
these documents, written by members who have gone home to Christ, and
experienced the wonderful Golden Anniversary Celebration of the
Sanctuary on September 14th, several thoughts came to mind.
First, throughout our history, the growth of the church depended on
dedicated and passionate people who loved Christ and lived out our
current mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation
of the world. They transformed their world.
Second,
throughout our history, there were always people who had vision for
growth of the congregation, helping to bring God’s kingdom here on
earth. There were people who took seriously God’s opportunity for
growth, melding together their prayers, presence, gifts, service, and
witness to accomplish the call before them.
Third, the
people remembered their past but continued to look forward. As Paul
states in the selected verse above, the people of FUMC glanced back but
proceeded to move forward toward the goal of the high calling of God.
The people lived for the goal of resurrection within their lives and
wanting the same for others. The people continued to move forward toward
this goal until they crossed the final goal line of eternal life and
left the tasks for us.
The Golden
Anniversary Celebration was a wonderful milestone (see other pictures
and comments in this newsletter). We glanced back into a rich history, a
history steeped in beautiful moments in the lives of the transformed
people called FUMC Whitesboro. However, today and tomorrow bring new
days to press on. We cannot stay in history, but rather our history
becomes a springboard for our part of the legacy of pressing on toward
the goal that is before us. May we press on together and continue to
build on the legacy of this journey in Christ, and in the process ask
ourselves daily, “How is God calling me to do to press on toward the
goal in Christ Jesus?”
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for all those who pressed on
before us and gave us the legacy we cherish. Please place a passion in
us to bring together our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness
to add to the legacy and press on toward your goal. Amen.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Jack
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