The November 2009 edition of The Parish Visitor, the church’s newsletter, is available on the newsletter page of http://www.coffeyvillefirstumc.org.
Coffeyville First UMC Choir Concert
On Sunday, November 22, 2009, the choir here at First UMC will be having a concert at 1:00 p.m., immediately after our Great Thanksgiving dinner on Consecration Sunday. You are invited to stay after our wonderful dinner together to hear a variety of music from our choir. The concert will feature many of the favorites done by the choir this year, plus a new one or two, including several with different instruments such as drums, guitar, string bass, violin and brass. Please join us up in the sanctuary after our Great Thanksgiving dinner and let your food settle as you sit back and enjoy some beautiful music as we give thanks for all that God has given us.
L3 Incubator
I had a question about the L3 Incubator event that now be found once a month on the church calendar. The shortest explanation is probably that this is an intense year-long continuing education event. For a longer description, I’m going to excerpt an article on the Kansas East Conference website:
The L3 Leadership Incubator system, key to the Kansas Area’s plan to strengthen existing congregations, is a sustainable, peer-group-based, mission-driven, leadership development programs that will include 212 congregations across the state over the next three years.
L3 Leadership Incubator creates an environment where spiritual leaders and ideas are born, nurtured, and developed by using cutting-edge technology and prayerful dialogue. L3 stands for three levels of development: love, learn and lead. L1, loving God and neighbor; L2, learning personal gifts and abilities for the future through investigation of current context and congregation; and L3, implementing an Incubator Ministry Action Plan with others in the church setting.
The Incubator meetings are led by our District Superintendent Janet Maxwell and are being held in Parsons from 9 am to 4 pm. Attendance is a high priority, in fact, Janet has asked that we not even schedule funerals on these days. Because Jenny is not taking the Incubator, she will be available for pastoral care (and funerals) on those days when I’m in attendance.
Links:
http://blog.coffeyvillefirstumc.org/calendar
http://www.kansaseast.org/page.asp?PKValue=847
The Heat is On!
Many thanks to the guys from Hartley Sheet Metal who made it over today and turned on the boiler.
Bonus Trivia Question: How many furnace filters does the church HVAC system use? Answer: 32
We Need Soap
No, not Jenny and I personally, not the church in general, but rather the food pantry in particular needs soap. At one point someone gave us a large number of bottles of shampoo/body wash, but now all of those have been given away. My thought was that if members and friends of the church could donate (unopened) soap or shampoo samples from a hotel or motel stay we could give those away. I’ll take this opportunity to thank you in advance.
Food Pantry Diversifies
With the support of the Witness Committee our food pantry ministry is being expanded to include the distribution of Bibles to those who don’t have one. I’m especially excited about this because the Bibles we’re handing out are The Faith-Sharing New Testament with the Psalms. I’m especially excited for two reasons: 1. the translation is the NRSV, which is the most literal translation and 2. this edition is sponsored by the World Evangelism World Methodist Council and The Foundation for Evangelism which means that the materials on the “Basics of Christian Conversion and Discipleship” included in this edition are fully compatible with United Methodist beliefs and doctrines.
New Windows
New windows are being installed on the west side of the 1963 addition. This is being done because the seals on the old windows had broken and they were leaking both water and air. Because the new windows are tinted, the awnings are no longer needed and are being removed.
Voice of the Day: Martin Luther King, Jr.
Via Sojourners:
“I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states … Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.”
— Martin Luther King Jr., “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”
Apologies
I’m sorry that it was so cold in the church building this morning. I’m even more sorry that, last Sunday, I promised that it would be warmer this Sunday. (Technically that promise wasn’t broken. The temperature in the Sanctuary this Sunday was 64 degrees as compared to 63 degrees last Sunday). Hopefully, one of the technicians from Hartley Sheet Metal will be able to make it over and start up the boiler this week. However, I’ve learned my lesson and I make no promises.
The Difficulties by Following Jesus
Bishop Will Willimon has a great post on his blog, A Peculiar Prophet, reminding us that “sometimes we find ourselves in a painful, conflicted and difficult mess not because we’re not faithful to Jesus but because we’re following Jesus!” Willimon’s post was a word on target for me today and I encourage you to read it in full.
Link: http://willimon.blogspot.com/2009/10/if-this-were-real-church.html
Trunk-or-Treat
Trunk-or-Treat has been scheduled for October 31, 2009 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. We’ll be handing out toothbrushes and toothpaste in addition to hot dogs, popcorn, juice boxes and—of course—candy. If you can’t make it in person but want to make a contribution (in cash, or in kind) that would be very much appreciated, as we always seem to run out. We’re looking for volunteers to had out the toothbrushes and toothpaste, cook the hot dogs, etc. Let the church office know if you are willing to help. If you know some little ones who would enjoy this event please let them know.
Sermon — October 11, 2009
The sermon of October 11, 2009 is now online. It’s available at: http://blog.coffeyvillefirstumc.org/podcasts.
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