Advent devotional for November 30th

A poem for Christingle

The orange of Christingle
the world reminds us of,
And how our God created us,
And on us sheds his love.
O sing about Christingle,
Your voices loud employ.
Your praises bring to God our King;
For Jesus and his joy.

The candle of Christingle,
With shining flame so bright;
Reminds us of our loving Lord
Who is the world’s true light.

The red band of Christingle
Which plainly we can see;
Reminds us of how Jesus Christ
was killed upon that tree.

The four sticks of Christingle,
With which the orb we spear,
Remind us how God cares for us,
thro’ the seasons of the year.

The whole of the Christingle,
It is a joy to see;
It shines to show how our Father God,
Loves even you and me

To learn more about the customs surrounding Christingle, please visit this link.

Advent devotional for November 29th



“The Dream of St. Joseph” by Rembrandt
1650-55, Oil on canvas, 105 x 83 cm

Advent Evening Hymn (8th Century)

Come, Sun and Savior, to embrace
Our gloomy world, its weary race,
As groom to bride, as bride to groom:
The wedding chamber, Mary's womb.
At your great Name, O Jesus, now
All knees must bend, all hearts must bow;
All things on earth with one accord,
Like those in heaven, shall call you Lord.
Come in your holy might, we pray,
Redeem us for eternal day;
Defend us while we dwell below,
From all assaults of our dread foe

Advent Devotional for November 28th

In this season of expectation we prepare to welcome Christ Jesus, Messiah into the bustle of our lives and the hard to find moments of solitude. We prepare to welcome Christ Jesus, Messiah into our homes and situations along with friends and families.
We prepare to welcome Christ Jesus, Messiah into our hearts, and those often hidden parts of our lives.
We prepare to welcome Christ Jesus, Messiah for beneath the surface of your story is an inescapable fact You entered this world as vulnerable as any one of us in order to nail that vulnerability to the cross.
Our fears, our insecurities and our sins all that can separate us from God exchanged by your Grace for Love.
We cannot comprehend the reasoning only marvel that Salvation comes to us through a baby born in a stable, and reaches out to a world in need.

In this season of anticipation we prepare to welcome Christ Jesus, Messiah.

Today in McCamey

 
The first Sunday of Advent broke clear and cold in the Permian Basin today but that didn't stop the faithful from coming to the First UMC!  Sunday school classes were held, worship was offered in the sanctuary and at the Convalescent Center, and fellowship took place: all in all a great day to be alive! 
Thanks to Cytha Peters and Mike Sherrod for their special musical offerings in both worship services.

Joys: +The Phillip's family pew! +Roy K. had succesful procedure last week +Penny P. was visiting Theodora today +Pastor Charles had a good trip to Georgia and back.  +Birthdays: Rodney K. and Belinda A. +Anniversary: Pastor Charles & Belinda (14) 

Concerns: Cleo D. is now at the MCC +The families of Homer Ragland, Jr., Josephine Lyles, and Noel Locker.

First Sunday of Advent

Advent Prayer to Jesus

You are our eternal salvation, the unfailing light of the world. Light everlasting, You are truly our redemption.

Grieving that the human race was perishing through the tempter's power, without leaving the heights You came to the depths in Your loving kindness.

Readily taking our humanity by Your gracious will, You saved all earthly creatures, long since lost, restoring joy to the world.

Redeem our souls and bodies, O Christ, and so possess us as Your shining dwellings.

By Your first coming, make us righteous; At Your second coming, set us free: So that, when the world is filled with light and You judge all things, we may be clad in spotless robes and follow in Your steps, O King, into the heavenly hall.

Unknown Author, 10th century

Advent begins tomorrow

The season of Advent begins tomorrow at the First UMC in McCamey! Please come for fellowship at 9:30 a.m., Sunday school at 9:45 a.m. worship at 11:00 a.m. and the Convalescent Center at 1:00 p.m.
Advent is a wonderful time to invite a neighbor to experience the fellowship that is First UMC - Let's come together and make the journey that is Advent one to remember.

Advent Sermon Series



Virgin and Child with Sts Dominic and Catherine of Alexandria by Fra Angelico
c. 1435, Tempera with gilding on wood, Pinacoteca, Vatican

 Sunday (November 27th) marks the beginning of the season of Advent.  Pastor Charles will be preaching a series of sermons leading up to Christmas Eve, "The songs of Advent" based on readings from the gospel according to Luke. The series begins with Mary and continues with Zechariah, John the Baptist, the Angels, and concludes on Christmas morning with Simeon.

The first Sunday of Advent is the song of Mary (Luke 1:46-55):

The Magnificat

My soul doth magnify the Lord: And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour because He hath regarded the lowliness of His handmaid: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.  For He that is mighty hath done great things to me: and holy is His Name.  And His mercy is from generation until generations, to them that fear Him.  He hath showed might with His arm: He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.  He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the lowly.  He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.  He hath received Israel His servant, being mindful of His mercy:  As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

Prayer for Christ the King Sunday

Christ the King Sunday celebrates the all-embracing authority of Christ as King and Lord of the cosmos. It is celebrated on the final Sunday of Ordinary Time, the Sunday before Advent. In 2011, the date falls on November 20th.


Prayer for Christ the King Sunday (from the Book of Common Prayer):

"Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in Your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under His most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen."

Joys & Concerns from November 13th

Joys:+Marilyn Whitaker gave one of the hand-held crosses (which we gave out earlier this year) to a friend (named Eileen) in New Mexico whose husband had died.  Eileen found peace in this simple gesture.
+Birthdays: Nikki B., Jack G., Chris P., Jack P., T.J. (Gloria's grandson),
+Wonderful Veterans Day observance at McCamey High School.
+Anniversary: Jack & Sherry P. (46 years)

Concerns:
+Prayers for healing: Miley B., Sandy C., Cleo D., Luann E., Jane H., DeWayne L., Aurora L., Cadyn M., Jimmy P., Doug P., Jack P., Bill T., Colton W., and Henry W.

Prayer for November 13th

O God,
you have prepared for those who love you
such good things as surpass our understanding:
Pour into our hearts such love towards you,
that we, loving you in all things and above all things,
may obtain your promises,
which exceed all that we can desire;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

- Book of Common Prayer

Veteran's Day Prayer

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly.
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

"In Flanders Fields"
By Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae (1872-1918)
Canadian Armed Forces

Catching up at the MCC

We had a good time this morning at the McCamey Convalescent Center during the weekly coffee & donuts gathering.  Jean Myrick and Pastor Charles were on hand, representing the First UMC, sharing news of the day with the residents.

Scripture lesson for November 13th

This week's scripture lesson,1 Thessalonians 5:1–11, is an interesting account of what happens when believers pay attention to what Jesus said to do while he is away.

United Methodist Men tonight

The United Methodist Men at First UMC - McCamey are now meeting on the first Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m.  Tonight Jim Witcher provided the meal which was enjoyed by the eight men who attended.

The next meeting will be on December 5th at 6:00 p.m.  We'll be resuming the devotional study, "Bad Boys of the Bible" (chapter 3).

Today's Church Conference

The First UMC in McCamey gathered this morning for study, worship, and fellowship.  The children's Sunday school began this morning with six children gathering with Jennifer Aguilar and Connie Miles leading the way.

Our worship service began with a communion liturgy and a remembrance of those who have died in the past year.  Among the First UMC members, Billie Reaves was lifted up as taking her place in the communion of the saints.  Also remembered by the congregation today were Cleatus Brooks, Jack Fisher, Charles Harris, Effie Oneta (Moore) Hicks, Maxie Rowan, David Smith and Teresa Zwak.

Correction from yesterday's church conference reports: PPRC - Donny Wiley is in the class of 2012 and Luann Elliott is in the class of 2013.

We gathered in the fellowship hall following worship for a fantastic potluck meal.  Following lunch, the PPRC met in the parlor with our district superintendent, the Rev. Larry Altman.

Joys and Concerns:
Joys
+Six children in Sunday school!
+Earline T. doing well and she sends her greetings.
+Roy & Alice K. are back with us from New Mexico.
+Glen S. gave a great message last week.
+Forsan HS band
+Luann E.'s birthday today.
+Derek W. is with us today on leave from Fort Lewis, Washington.
+Many guests and our District Superintendent, Rev. Larry Altman and District Ministries Coordinator, Gini Christian, are with us today.

Concerns
+Josie H. (Dollie's aunt) has a stroke.
+Cleo D. was admitted to the hospital on Friday but is doing better now.

Prayer for All Saints Sunday

God of constant mercy, who sent your Son to save us: remind us of your goodness, increase your grace within us, that our thankfulness may grow, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

- source unknown

Prayer request

Grace M. has asked for prayers for a friend from Clovis, NM who has been diagnosed with lung cancer.  Please lift up Berry C. and his family in your prayers.

Peggy G. left a message at the church this afternoon that Joanne D.'s mother, Cleo D., has been taken to Odessa RMC.
Kirke M. (from FUMC-Iraan) is asking for prayers for himself as he recovers from a respiratory illness.  He also asks for prayers for his mother-in-law, Eva S., 79, (who lives in Monahans).  She fell eight days ago and suffered numerous injuries.

Convalescent Center this morning

There were some tasty treats on hand for the weekly "coffee & donuts" time with the residents of the Convalescent Center.  The cooler weather seemed to bring out the best in everyone!

Time change reminder

Sunday is going to be a great day at the First UMC in McCamey:

+We'll gather at 9:30 a.m. for fellowship.

+At 9:45 a.m., the faith formation classes will be meeting.  Our BIG news is that our children's Sunday school class will begin that morning!!!  The adult class will be meeting at the same time.

+We'll gather at 11:00 a.m. we'll gather for communion and then celebrate the life of the church with our church conference. 

+At noon, you are invited to share in a fellowship potluck.

+The PPRC will be meeting with the District Superintendent following the meal.

+The McCamey Convalescent Center worship will be held at 1:00 p.m.  If you are willing to lead this devotional service, please let Pastor Charles know as soon as possible.

Bishop Dorff has asked for comments regarding two questions. Please come with some thoughts to share during the service about these questions:

1) What is the First UMC in McCamey doing to reach out to our Hispanic neighbors (who are now the majority of the population in McCamey)?

2) What is the First UMC in McCamey doing to create a "culture of growth" in the congregation?

Prayer for All Saints Day



Albrecht Dürer - The Landauer Altarpiece (1511)

How shining and splendid are your gifts, O Lord
which you give us for our eternal well-being.  Your glory shines radiantly in your saints, O God in the honour and noble victory of the martyrs.

The white-robed company follow you, bright with their abundant faith; They scorned the wicked words of those with this world’s power.

For you they sustained fierce beatings, chains, and torments, they were drained by cruel punishments.

They bore their holy witness to you who were grounded deep within their hearts; they were sustained by patience and constancy.

Endowed with your everlasting grace, may we rejoice forever with the martyrs in our bright fatherland.

O Christ, in your goodness, grant to us the gracious heavenly realms of eternal life. Amen.

-10th century, author unknown