January Happenings
Pastor's Note
I am used to learning many new lessons about life from my dog, Max. He has faithfully taught me for the past 5 years and continues to teach me up to today. But now, I have another wise teacher in my life – 7-month-old Lucy. She has already taught me several great lessons from how to make coffee with one hand (while holding her in the other) to the importance of being more present with the people in my life.
Children have a remarkable ability to teach us lessons, and I believe there are many children in the Bible who do just that. For three weeks in February, we will look at some of these stories, including what young Samuel teaches us and his mentor Eli about listening for God’s voice, what Jesus as an adult child teaches us in a pretty uncomfortable interaction with his mother and brothers, and what young David teaches us about inner character. Just like children, these stories can be as challenging as they are life-giving.
I hope you will come and learn from these biblical children in worship this month, and I hope that you find other ways to learn from children – whether it is in strengthening our connection to Rogers Elementary as a volunteer there or in striking up a conversation with a child in your life. God speaks in big ways even through smaller mouths!
Coming Up...
Sunday, February 3
4:30 p.m. Meet at Oak Lawn UMC to serve Sunday supper to the homeless
Tuesday, February 5
6:00 p.m. Young Lives
Monday, February 11
9:00 a.m. District Committee on Ordained Ministry
7:00 p.m. Finance Committee
Monday, February 18
6:00 p.m. Trustees
7:00 p.m. Administrative Council
Tuesday, February 19
6:00 p.m. Young Lives
Save these dates in March:
March 2 Choir Fundraiser Dinner
March 6 Ash Wednesday worship service
Messy Change
What do you do with your spare change? Mary Ann Macsisak tells a story: "In the past, my spare change just weighed down my purse and built up with no particular use in mind for it. Now, a couple of times a month, my purse and selected pockets get cleaned out and I put those loose pennies, nickels, and dimes into a plastic bag in a drawer. Cashing them in every couple months has given me an extra $25 to spend!"
She looked at all her extra change and had a great idea to help our church!
IDEA!
Let’s all pitch in and put our spare change into a jar located in the church office (when we can). The money will be used to help with supplies for our new children’s ministry here at Lakewood UMC, Messy Church, which is always in need of supplies. Activities such as interactive Bible stories, puppets with reader’s theater, puzzles, crafts, and writing projects are all included for a fun busy hour. The program centers around Bible scriptures which come alive and become personal with Patrick leading the way.
So… what do you think? Do you have a little spare "Messy Change?"
General Conference
The 2019 Special Session of General Conference will take place from February 23-26. Please be in prayer for our denomination and its leadership as they discuss the Way Forward regarding the inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in our church. If you would like more information, you can get it from the United Methodist Church, and we will keep you updated as the conference gets closer.
Lent Study
What does the Bible teach us about how humans should treat the earth? Could the land itself be an important character in the Bible? How can we better see God reflected in all of nature? Join us for a special 6-week study during the season of Lent, Sundays March 10-April 14 at 1:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. This year we will explore biblical stories including the creation story in Genesis, the Israelite’s time in the wilderness, the prophets who speak out for the land with agrarian images, and Jesus’s interaction with the land and nature-based parables, among others. In doing so, we will learn more deeply how all of creation is God’s good work and how we are called to live in covenant with our earthly home. Not only will these stories prepare us to better understand the salvation of all creation that we celebrate at Easter, but they will also prepare us for Earth Day, which is the day after Easter this year!
Happy Birthday to...
Augustus Agnew 2/2
Sally Hoover 2/3
Mary Ann Finley 2/9
Wes Larroca 2/25
Andrew Venable 2/26
This Month, We Pray for...
Kathryn Bagley; Gail Baldwin; Lynn Bruce; Carole Bryde; Linda Castor; the family of Wayne Croy; Shirley Dunn; Wilma Elrod; Mary Ann Finley; Jean Fowler; Leck and Cynthia Heflin; Michael Hilley; Harold Logan; Jan Logan; Carolyn Miracle; Marie Miranda; Mike Miranda; Tim Miranda; Pat Norvell; Jorge Ortiz; Brandon Owen; Tracy Penfield; Pontis Ministries; Susan Price; Kathy Purvis; David Rentz; Michelle Ried; Shelly Robertson; Elizabeth Robbins; Robin Robbins; Dillon Rosten; Ginny Salinas; Beth Saxton; Debbie Schwartz; Jeanne Scroppo; Linda Simmons; Alan Smith; Kelly Smith; Travis Smith; Chris Venable; Betty Watson; Louise Williams