Author: John Collins

We’ve started a "Links Page" over at the website. Let us know if you have anything you would like to suggest.

Just a reminder that there will be no posting tomorrow. It’s our Sabbath.

Coffeyville First United Methodist Church now has a new website: www.coffeyvillefirstumc.org. A shoutout to Tony Wood and his company, Midwest Computer Solutions, for all his help.
Clarification: The website looks the same as it did yesterday. It is the location that has changed from http://www.firstumc.us to http://www.coffeyvillefirstumc.org.

We just finished reading an opinion article titled: “How churches are
harboring criminals,” by Kathryn Lopez in Wednesday’s edition of The
Coffeyville Journal. We were not able to follow her argument and we do
not know of what “proposed federal law” she was writing.

With those disclaimers we want to share some of our thoughts on the
article with you. While faithful Christians have differing
perspectives on immigration, Ms. Lopez’s opinion is not from a faith
perspective. Her reasoning is secular in nature. We kept thinking of a
scripture she did not quote from Paul’s letter to the Philippians:
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are
expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3.20, NRSV).
It is our heavenly citizenship to which Christians owe ultimate
allegiance.

The Vision Team met today and approved a final design for church t-shirts. Everyone agreed the design looks good. Hope to have pictures soon and t-shirts soon thereafter.

If you enjoy reading this blog (or even if you don’t) you might want to check out Bishop Jones’ blog at the Kansas East Conference website. It’s on the “Bishop’s Page.”

A gentle reminder to First UMC youth: to go bowling with the youth group on April 7, you’ll need to pick up a permission slip at Sunday school, worship, or youth group, take it home to get it signed and then bring it back to Sunday school, worship, or youth group by April 2.

It doesn’t look like there will be a Parish Visitor this week, but if you would like to receive future copies of our church newsletter by email instead of or in addition to the hard copy via the USPS; send an email to johnandjenny@gmail.com. You’ll get it quicker this way and save the church postage.

Yesterday evening the youth met and worked to better understand the Lord’s Prayer by putting it into contemporary language. Here’s what they came up with:

God in heaven,
reveal your holiness, your kingdom come.
Set the world right, the same way it is in heaven.
Let us have enough to eat.
Forgive us our debts, as we forgive those who are in debt to us.
Do not bring us to the time of trial,
but keep us away from evil,
for this is your kingdom.
From you comes the power and the glory. You are ablaze always.
So be it.
Amen.

They put a great deal of work into this, looking at and taking the best from numerous translations of the Bible. We’ll be using their work this coming Sunday.

Topeka First UMC also has two screens. In this case the screen comes up out of the wood case and covers almost all of the wall hanging.

Topeka Grace UMC has two screens for projection in their sanctuary. Above is a picture of the screen to the right of the altar, the screen to the left of the altar matches this one. Above it is deployed and ready for projection. Below is what it looks like when it is not in use. You can’t tell from these pictures, but the beam that the screen rolls up into when not in use very much matches the architecture of the sanctuary. Thanks to Wesley Gately for helping me get these pictures.

I’ll post a picture from Topeka First UMC soon.

Daily devotions are a wonderful way to be shaped by God’s Word.  We currently have print versions of The Upper Room Daily Devotionals and Devo’zine, a devotional magazine for youth, in the office at the church.  In addition, The Upper Room Daily Devotionals are available by e-mail.  If you would like to sign up for this free E-Mail Devotional please visit: http://www.upperroom.org/devotional/email/.

The Upper Room site has many things to assist you in your daily walk with God.  There are resources for all ages.  Check out:   http://www.upperroom.org/pockets/  for the Pockets section for children which has activities for children and their families.  Youth–check out the Devo’zine section to access the magazine and other resources on line.