Pender United Methodist Church Council Agenda Jan. 16, 2013
Worship and Reflection Kevin Havens
Holy Spirit Moment
Celebration Minutes
Prayerful Consideration of Church Matters:
Review of upcoming ministry events (6/3/1) Beth Dougherty
Closing and Benediction Pastor Kenny
Kevin Havens preaches: Full, But Still Hungry.
Have you ever eaten so much, that you thought you might pop, only to realize that you were still hungry? Often times, Christmas is just like that, so lets look at some means of moving past that feeling, for the coming year.
A Note from the Pender Pastors: Pender United Methodist Church
Dear Pender Faith Community,
In light of the events in Connecticut yesterday, we want to join together in this difficult time, to pray for the victims of that tragedy.
So many are questioning what they know to be true, yet it causes people to wonder where God is at a time such as this. While it does not lessen the pain or justify the results, we must believe that God will see us through, that He is and will always be by our side. Let us attempt to turn our disbelief into prayer and our hopes for healing into really making Jesus the center of this Christmas.
We are to worship and honor our God, we are called to pray for those who are hurting, so let us begin to do that. In lieu of watching news programs that repeat the same sad story over and again, make it a point to turn off the noise and turn to God. We will do far more in the healing process if we lift up those who were impacted in such a personal way, opposed to just getting caught up in the commentaries on how and why it happened.
We encourage you to hold the parents, the fellow students, the brothers and sisters, along with friends and family members in your heart. Again, there is no sense to be made of this, but we must ask God to lessen the hurt and enable us to be a source of comfort and authentic faith beginning today. In a season normally filled with children and joy, make your prayer count as a means of filling those empty hearts and let us do it ceaselessly. While we might have suffered a loss in our spirit, by lifting others up, we will renew and petition God on behalf of all who grieve.
The Pastors
December 9, 2012: Joseph of Bethlehem: Journey of Trust – Matthew. 1:18-24
The Night Before Christmas says that the dreams were of “sugarplums that danced in their heads.” Don’t know about you but during the rush of Christmas my dreams are more nightmares and not sugarplums. For Joseph I think it was the same. Mary pregnant and it wasn’t his! His life over and dreams crushed! Now he is told “Don’t be afraid!” Trust is the word that Joseph had to learn so that there would be a Christmas.
I wonder do we TRUST that Christmas is love, peace and hope? Do we put our trust in the one who does the Impossible at Christmas? Let’s see how we can Trust Christmas!
Advent Sermon Series ~ Journeying to Bethlehem
Each Christmas is a journey! We make it from wherever we are to the manger. Mary and Joseph journeyed from Nazareth to Bethlehem on the First Christmas. What will our journey be like? Are there helps along the way? How do we really prepare to receive the King? Let’s see how we might journey together so that this Christmas we find the true reason for the season — the child Jesus!
Dec. 2 Sermon – Mary of Nazareth: Journey of Faith – Luke 1:26-38
Christmas is about miracles, love, giving, family, friends, presents. But the first Christmas didn’t have any of these but a miracle and love. For Mary, Christmas was a surprise that required of her a lot of FAITH. How many of us would believe an angel? How could we even know what an angel is and looks like? And the message, a virgin will birth a baby? Now that does take FAITH! Let’s learn from Mary about how FAITH is needed and helps to bring about a holy Christmas for each of us.
This sermon is now available on the Pender Sermon Podcast series and on the home page of PenderUMC.org
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