Month: September 2006

“The Jesus Prayer” is an ancient prayer used by many Christians for meditation. the prayer itself is simple: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” One practice is to repeat part of the prayer while breathing in, and part while breathing out over and over. More information can be found at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_prayer
and
http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article7104.asp.

Nolen & Laudine Luhn will be honored at a reception at the Alumni Center at CCC on Thursday, October 5, 2006 between 5-7 p.m. They will also be honored at the football game on Saturday, October 7, 2006 between Butler County Community College & CCC for their 36 years of service to the CCC Red Ravens. In addition, the City of Coffeyville has made Saturday, October 7, 2006
Nolen & Laudine Luhn Day.

Dr. April C. Foreman will begin offering a free introduction to Yoga this Thursday at the church at 5:00 p.m. Here’s April’s description:

April Foreman will be offering a restorative yoga class. Restorative yoga focuses on breathing, deep relaxation, and stretching as a means to improve health and reduce stiffness and tension. The style of yoga April teaches is fitness based and does not focus on the religous or spiritual aspects of the discipline. Loose clothes or clothes that allow a wide range of movement are appropriate attire. You don’t need to have any experience with yoga to participate. Bring a mat if you have one. Appropriate for a wide range of age and fitness levels. It is the participant’s responsibility to ensure that they are physically able to participate in this class. April has experience teaching yoga to Senior Citizens, pregnant women, people with a range of health concerns, as well as younger adults with a broad range of phyical fitness. If you have special fitness needs that should be considered during your participation in class (like hypertension, pregnancy, pain/injury joint injury or replacement, etc.) it is the participant’s responsibility to notify April before you begin.

The best explanation of the intended effect of a restorative yoga class was given by a first time participant in April’s class who said, “I feel more relaxed and rested than if I had laid on the couch and watched TV all night like I usually do.”

“Every Christian community must know that not only do the weak need the strong, but also that the strong cannot exist without the weak. The elimination of the weak is the death of the community.”

“Nobody finds time for prayer. You either take time for it or you don’t get it.”

With all the talk of torture in the news recently, I was interested in what the United Methodist Church had to say officially. The only reference to torture I could find in The United Methodist Book of Discipline comes in Paragraph 164.V.A):

Basic Freedoms and Human Rights— We hold governments responsible for the protection of the rights of the people … the mistreatment or torture of persons by governments for any purpose violates Christian teaching and must be condemned and/or opposed by Christians and churches wherever and whenever it occurs.

The United Methodist Church adopted this position before the current crisis, but the logic still stands. Crucifixion was more than just a means of execution, it was a method of torture. As followers of a tortured savior we, of all people, must oppose torture under any circumstances.

Recently the wire that holds up the large picture in the entryway depicting Jesus as a young boy broke. While we had it down, we noticed that the frame is in disrepair. The Archives and History Committee is looking for someone to scrape off the loose paint and repaint the frame. Please let the church office know if you are willing.

I’ve now posted Jenny’s sermon from Sunday on the website at www.coffeyvillefirstumc.org. Just follow the link labeled “sermons.” We are also putting the sermons on CDs to be mailed out to shut-in’s. If you know of someone who can’t make it to church, but would like to hear the sermon each week, please let us know. If they don’t have a CD player, the church will provide one.

As some of you may know, both of my parents were raised Presbyterian. My immediate family became United Methodist when we moved to Council Grove in 1972 and there was no Presbyterian church. I hoping that I can do my Presbyterian grandma’s proud tomorrow when I fill the pulpit at First Presbyterian for the 11:00 a.m. service. Our own Mike Mason will be filling in during their 9:00 a.m. service.

The first gathering of the Aldersgate Experience group was held tonight. A good time was had by all. We had 10 adults and eight kids.

Our new heating and air conditioning is indeed saving us money. The bill for this August was $2,044.72, last year it was $3,171.12. That’s $1126.40 more available mission and ministry.

I received a letter from Bishop Jones and his colleagues in the Episcopal and Luthern churches. I’m posting it here. It will be available on our website in an easy to print .pdf format.

THE BISHOPS’ LETTER ON EDUCATION IN KANSAS

The Constitution of the State of Kansas provides, “The legislature shall provide for intellectual, educational, vocational and scientific improvement by establishing and maintaining public schools, educational institutions and related activities….”

As we begin a new school year we call attention to this constitutional provision of our state constitution. Additionally, we urge the respective members of our churches to show support for public education in Kansas by considering the following:

• There are currently a number of challenges facing public education in our State. We should take steps to ensure that we are doing all that we can to support and enhance public education and keep the needs of our children before our elected officials.
• As professional education staff and the general public come together; each needs to be prepared to tell the story of how public education has enhanced and supported their daily living.
• We care about public education because many of the participants are members of our congregations.
• The nurturing of our children begins in the home and the church, however, as the child grows education builds on and continues the nurturing which began in the home and the church.
• We believe general education is an integral part of God’s creation. It is through the coming together of the nurturing in the home and the church and the teaching in general education that we are able to demonstrate the uniting of faith and reason. As Bishops we don’t separate faith and reason.
• We praise God through using our minds.
• Spiritual values lead us to support both public and private education. It is through education that we join knowledge and vital piety.
• Education is the place where we play out the common good for all. All children are to have the opportunity of achieving their maximum potential.
• Public education makes it possible to build community across the social and economic lines and divisions created by our society.

Our desire is that this letter will stimulate thought and discussion among our congregants and others. Our hope is that through that stimulation individual lives will be elevated and valued. Our goal is that the members of our churches will be active participants in the providing of good, well-grounded, reasoned and civil education for the common good.

Bishop Scott Jones
Kansas Area, United Methodist Church

Bishop Dean Wolfe
Episcopal Diocese of Kansas

Bishop Gerald Mansholt
Central States Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America