MARSHVILLE
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

From Marshville to Managua

June 18th, 2010

From Tuesday, June 22nd through Wednesday, June 30th, 23 members of Marshville UMC will be traveling and working with brothers and sisters in the Loma Linda community of Managua, Nicaragua.  The following is an excerpt from the web page which gives some good information on the church with whom we will be serving.  Thanks to Patricia Medina for the translation.

Vision and Mission:

The reduction of men and women that have not met with God, Savior through Jesus in the Country of Nicaragua.

Mission:

To reach people in Nicaragua to announce the salvation and make them become Christians, disciples of Jesus Christ and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Before, Now and in the Future:

Since the beginning this congregation has been working on becoming a Methodist Church.  Its’ pastor has been involved in developing the program nation wide. In 2001 it was established as a church.  Now this congregation is starting the beginning steps for a new local church, located first in a neighborhood in Sacctera, Managua, but now located in the neighborhood of Villa Roma.  Worship is celebrated on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m.  Sunday is Sunday School at 9:30 a.m.  There is a dining area where they serve food to 70-100 children three times a week.  Thanks to God, the Church and the Fellowship Hall are built.

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Block Party Follow-up

May 27th, 2010

Wow, now that was a party! Thanks to everyone who attended and helped to make last week’s block party a great success.  Estimates are that we had over 150 people and a good number of them were  neighbors from around our church.  We were able to formally dedicate Hope House and ask God’s continued blessing upon the ministries housed there.  As the story of the mustard seed reminded us, great blessings can grow from small beginnings.  When Ralph shared the list of those we needed to thank, the Trustees, the UMM, the UMW, the UMY, the membership of Marshville UMC, persons from the community such as Charlie Boyce, and agencies such as Senior Nutrition Services, I was reminded of the importance of relationships and why God created each of us with different skills and talents.  When we offer what we have in response and in gratitude to God’s grace, amazing things can be accomplished.  Plans are already underway for next year’s party.  If you have any suggestions or feedback, please tell members of the Nurture Committee.  Thanks for your continued support of Hope House.  I believe it will continue to make a BIG difference in our little corner of the kingdom.      Pastor Sherri

IMPACT

May 13th, 2010

IMPACT

On June 5, United Methodists across our Conference will make and IMPACT on our communities with the
love of Jesus Christ as we become the hands and feet of Christ seeking to meet the needs of others. In the
Albemarle District, projects are being planned by local churches; in Anson, Stanly, and Union Counties; and
through a “Mobilepack” event at Mineral Springs UMC, coordinated through Feed My Starving Children, to
package meals for the people of Haiti.
Our goal is for people from each congregation in the district to be in ministry on June 5. Then in worship on
Sunday, June 6, we invite you to celebrate the lives that were touched and the ways God worked through
you to make a difference in our world. We will further celebrate our impact on western North Carolina at
Annual Conference which begins the following week.

For MUMC’s part, our youth will travel to Mineral Springs UMC on Friday, June 4 to pack meals with other youth across the area.  On Saturday, June 5 other members of our church and community are invited to pack meals.  We will also be packing health kits at our Block Party on May 23rd to replenish those sent to the people in Haiti and to the flood and tornado ravaged parts of Tennessee, Mississippi and Oklahahoma.

A Litany of Resurrection Life

April 18th, 2010

In our most recent district newsletter, our District Superintendent shared this Litany of Resurrection Life which was written by Mary John Dye, another Superintendent in our conference.  It’s worth sharing . . . .

Litany of Resurrection Life

We have just had the amazing opportunity to experience the Holy Mystery through which we journey from crucifixion to resurrection.

We give thanks that once again, we lived the depths of Christ’s sacrifice. We now offer ourselves to Christ’s great gift of resurrection.

Jesus, our Savior, who rose from the dead,

May your life rise within us in resurrected power.

Jesus, who came to Mary in tenderness and compassion in the early morning,

Speak our names. Come to us personally today.

Jesus, who knew the stone had been rolled away when the women were perplexed about how they would conquer that obstacle,

Remind us that you are already at work in the challenges that face us.

Jesus, who sent women with the message of resurrection which was met by skepticism an ridicule,

Keep us faithful to your call no matter what the response.

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Triumphal Entry

March 27th, 2010

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week when we are invited to travel with Jesus to Jerusalem.  Our District Superitntendent, Amy Coles shared this poem by Steve Garnaas-Holmes with us.  I pray that it blesses you as it did me.

Pastor Sherri

His “triumphal entry,” they call it,

riding into the city on a donkey.

Listen, you can tell where this is going

just by looking at him.

Dust of the roads on his feet, Read More

A Lesson on Disciplines

February 25th, 2010

When Lent began on Ash Wednesday those gathered were issued an Invitation to Lenten Discipline.  For many, discipline is a harsh word, carrying with it feelings of dread and punishment.  But the word discipline actually means “to teach.”  Disciplines help teach, train and strengthen.  Imagine what the Olympics would be like if the athletes didn’t practice, learn, make progress, fail and practice some more.  The same can be said for spiritual disciplines in a life of faith.

John Wesley suggested that to “stay in love with God” we need to be disciplined.  What he recommended for us was to attend worship, to read Scripture, to pray, to receive Holy Communion, to engage in conversation with our brothers and sisters in the faith community and to fast.

I would suggest that most Christians attempt the first five things in the list.  We go to church on Sunday morning, we read our Bibles as part of our daily devotions, we talk to God (and sometimes listen), we go the table and receive the bread and juice when its offered, we engage our friends in conversation about our faith (in addition to what’s going on in college basketball and American Idol).  Fasting, however, is not something that we practice often.

But it may be helpful to remember that both the Old Testament and New Testament teach fasting.  Actually, the Scriptures talk a lot about fasting and feasting.  One way to look at it is that fasting allows us to put down the things of earth, so that we might receive the things of heaven.  St. Augustine  is to have once said that God is always trying to give good things to us, but our hands are too full to receive them.

Most often we think of fasting as it relates to food.  And I would suggest that if you are considering an extended fast from food that you consult your doctor and a spiritual director.  But a fast doesn’t have to be complete or prolonged.  If you were to give up one meal a week, you might consider donating the time and the resources that you would have used to someone who has need. The cost of lunch at Wendy’s or a several cans of soup could go a long way in helping someone who doesn’t know where there next meal is going to come from.

Other types of fasting could include abstaining from media overload – yep, that means put down that cell phone, turn off the TV, drive-in silence.  Or maybe we could fast from over-packed schedules for ourselves and our families that leave us exhausted, depressed and short-tempered.  Marjorie Thompson the author of Soul Feast asks “what would it mean to fast from judging other, or even judging ourselves too harshly?

Ultimately, the question to be asked with any discipline is what does God want to accomplish in me through this practice?   Is my need to be connected 24/7 a sign of issues with control or fear. In my fast food life, could it be that what I’m consuming is actually consuming me?   Are there places in my overcrowded life where God is unable to find room?

As Marjorie Thompson writes, “It may help to understand that spiritual disciplines are not ends in themselves.  Rather, they are simply means of grace — by themselves the Spiritual disciplines can do nothing, they can only get us to the place where something can be done . . . They are the means by which we place ourselves where God can bless us.” (also quoting Richard Foster, Soul Feast, p. 10).

During this season of Lent may we continue to seek ways to be blessed and blessing.

Pastor Sherri

Why Are We Eating Pancakes?

February 15th, 2010

Across the world folks are celebrating.  In New Orleans, the annual festival of Mardi Gras has been supercharged this year by the Super Bowl win of the Saints, and Fat Tuesday is the biggest day of the festival.  Fat or Shrove Tuesday as it is also called has many traditions attached to it.  One of these traditions is eating pancakes.  Our Nicaragua Missions Team will be hosting a pancake supper at 6:30 p.m. to raise money for the trip (just in case you’re looking for good food and fellowship).

In years past making pancakes and eating pancakes was a way in which households prepared for the season of Lent which begins the following day, also known as Ash Wednesday.  On Tuesday, families would eat up all of the rich foods left in their pantries.  Those foods included eggs, milk, oil, sugar and meat.  Add some flour, and you’ve got the makings of a wonderful pancake supper.

By emptying the cupboards, people entered into a period of self-discipline and denial.  Giving up rich foods would serve as a reminder of all that Jesus gave up for them.  Today many of us continue to practice the Lenten discipline of giving something up.  The hope is that making a small sacrifice during the forty days of Lent will help to prepare our hearts, mind and bodies to more fully receive and appreciate the gift of Easter.

So enjoy the pancakes, and check out the calendar and worship tabs for ways to continue preparations for the journey of Lent.

Blessings,

Pastor Sherri

God’s Valentine

February 13th, 2010

It’s time once again for the annual ritual of hearts and candy.  Valentine’s Day has such a rich tradition, but have you ever wondered that if God was going to send a Valentine what would it look like,

Well, consider the words of St. Paul  in Romans 8

“What then are we to say about these things?  If God is forus, who can be against us?  He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?

Or consider John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his only Begottn Son, so that whosoever believes in him shall have everlasting life.

Or the words we hear following our Prayer of Confession – This is the Good news that Christ died while we were yet sinners that proves God’s love for us. (Romans 5:8)

Or 1 John 3:1 – See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God.

As we celebrate this day of red and pink and white, I hope that we will take a minute to remember what “True Love” really looks like.  God’s love is available to all, through the power of the Son and the Spirit.  It’s a Valentine gift, you don’t want to miss!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Pastor Sherri

And now a word from our Bishop

January 23rd, 2010

The Tragedy in Haiti has captured hearts and headlines over the two weeks.  Everyone is trying to figure out ways in which they might offer assistance to countless numbers in need.  The United Methodist Church has a long standing practice of being the hands and feet of Jesus in difficult situations through the work of UMCOR, volunteers on location and local congregation.  Here’s the recent letter from Bishop Goodpaster which provides good information on where we are in our response.

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Out with the Old . . .

January 7th, 2010

Ringing out the old, ringing in the new . . .

Many of us have been busy this week, tying up loose ends as the old year ends, planning parties to ring in the New Year.  The holiday decorations are beginning to look a bit tarnished, and they will soon, for most of us, be safely tucked away until next year.  Throughout the seasons of Advent and Christmas I have read once again from Ann Weems’ work entitled Kneeling in Bethlehem.  As we go forward into the new year and as those in church planning look towards the coming of Lent and Easter,  I have found this poem to be most fitting.  May it help to guide us in the days ahead.

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Marshville United Methodist Church © 2009, by Chet Helms.