The text this week

This week, we'll continue our reading from Mark's account of the Gospel, looking at Mark 1:29-39. In this passage, Jesus heals many people and then, in the early morning hours, goes off to pray. Why He does this is the subject of the sermon. 

Come, and bring someone with you to share in the Good News!

Blessings abounding in McCamey!

Joys from this morning:
+Cole W. had a great report from the doctor's recently.  He has one more round of chemo still to go.
+We had RAIN!
+Pam S. walked into the sanctuary today!
+Glen & Pam had a nice visit with family.
+Sandy C. has gained eight pounds (which is great news!).
+Treats on the fellowship table.
+Donations to the community food pantry.
+Birthdays - Andrew D. (33), Branson (1), Grace M., and Phil M.

Concerns from this morning:
+Those absent from worship today.
+Simone W. (Gloria's sister) is facing health issues.
+Long-time member, Nadine A. (now living in Kerrville) is dealing with health issues.
+Cory S. was in a car accident but came away with minor injuries.
+Kenny S. had his car broken into twice recently.
+Larry Miles' uncle, Gene Ashinhurst, passed away last Tuesday.
+Tony Aguilar's cousin, Joseph Hernandez, passed away on Thursday.
+Former FUMC treasurer, Betty McClure, passed away on Friday, January 20th in Lewisville.
Prayers for healing:
Nadine A., Elena B., Sandy C., Billy C., Samantha F., Louisa G., Terri G., Julie L., Cory S., Colton W., Henry W., and Simone W.

Continued prayers:
+Our church  +Our community youth  +Our Schools - including athletes, coaches, teachers & students  +Our Military members and their families +the homeless +the unemployed +Our nation and our government & leaders +Victims of natural disasters +Countries fighting for freedom +Unspoken requests .

Prayer request

From Connie Elliott Miles:

Larry's Uncle, Rodney Ashinhurst, was killed Tuesday in Jacksboro in a very freak oilfield accident. Services are tomorrow in Jacksboro. Please add Larry, as well as Rodney's wife, Sherry to your prayers.

The Coker Funeral Home website has more information.

Coffee, donuts and fellowship!

God bless the residents of the McCamey Convalescent Center and the visitors from the community who came together this morning for coffee, donuts and fellowship!

The text this coming Sunday!

This coming Sunday (January 29) we'll be looking at Mark 1:21-28.  In this passage, Jesus is found in the synagogue in Capernaum where the people are amazed at the authority with which He deals with the demonic forces arrayed against one of God's children.


Please invite someone to share what God is doing with the people of faith at First UMC - McCamey.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

St. Paul Shrine - Cleveland, Ohio

Come, Holy Spirit, fill my heart with Your holy gifts.

Let my weakness be penetrated with Your strength this very day that I may fulfill the duties of my state in life conscientiously, that I may do what is right and just.

Let my charity be such as to offend no one and hurt no one's feelings; so generous as to pardon sincerely any wrong done to me.

Assist me in all the trials of life, enlighten me in my ignorance, advise me in my doubts, strengthen my weakness, help me in all needs and embarrassment, protect me in temptations and console me in all afflictions.

Graciously hear me, O Holy Spirit, and pour Your light into my heart, my soul and my mind. Assist me to live a holy life and to grow in goodness and grace. Amen.

Apostles of the Holy Spirit
Cincinnati, Ohio

Blessings this morning!

We were blessed this morning during our worship service!  Forty-one were on hand to share in the worship of our awesome God!

Joys from this morning:
+Billy C. received the thoughtful donations from the congregation on Wednesday.  He was very happy to receive the McCamey Badger clothing and ball cap that was donated by the McCamey News' new Badger clothing store.
+We were blessed with moisture this past week.
+Tommie Luckenbach was with us this morning, visiting with her daughter, Carla Campbell.
+The Wiley family had a wonderful visit with their brother/son, Ryan, on leave from the Army.  Ryan is stationed in the Persian Gulf area.
+Gloria O. was proud of her grandchildren - granddaughter did very well at the Upton County 4-H stock show yesterday - her grandson had fantastic results in the calf scramble at the Sandhills Rodeo.
+Sara H. was proud that two of her students were awarded All-State status - one with clarinet and the other with trumpet.
+Brinlee H. was back with us this morning and she brought her parents!
+Coy C. took his familiar place as greeter, filling in for the absent Debbie White.
+Gary E. and Bradyn M. were our ushers today.

Concerns from this morning:+Those traveling this weekend.
+Henry W. is home and being cared for by hospice.
Prayers for healing:
Sandy C., Billy C., Samantha F., Colton W., and Henry W.
Continued prayers:
+Our church +Our community youth +Our Schools, including
Athletes & Coaches and Teachers & Students +Our Military
+Homeless +Unemployed +Our Nation and our government & leaders +Unspoken requests +Victims of natural disasters +Countries fighting for freedom.

A prayer for discernment

O Lord,

I do not know what to ask You. You alone know my real needs, and You love me more than I even know how to love. Enable me to discern my true needs which are hidden from me. I ask for neither cross nor consolation; I wait in patience for You.

My heart is open to You. For Your great mercy's sake, come to me and help me. Put Your mark on me and heal me, cast me down and raise me up. Silently I adore Your holy will and Your inscrutable ways.

I offer myself in sacrifice to You and put all my trust in You. I desire only to do Your will. Teach me how to pray and pray in me, Yourself.

--Vasily Drosdov Philaret, c. 1780 - 1867

Meeting reminder

There will be an Ad Board meeting this coming Sunday, January 15th, at 6:00 p.m.  All are welcomed to attend.

Hello from the MCC

There was a lot of warmth and laughter at the McCamey Convalescent Center (MCC) this morning! On a very chilly and cloudy day in the Permian Basin, the place to feel the warmth that comes with living in a small community was in evidence on the faces of one and all!!!

Sunday's sermon texas

The young prophet Samuel and the priest Eli by Burne-Jones from the Vyner Memorial Window
in Oxford Cathedral, c.1872

The scripture text for this coming Sunday (Jan. 15) comes from I Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20). We'll be looking at the call God issues to me, to you, to us ...

Today's worship in McCamey

Atlanta B. makes her first public appearance today in Iraan!

What a blessing today was!  There were clouds in the sky over McCamey and the promise of rain was enough to bring smiles to our faces. 

Joys:
+Peggy & Jack Garner's great-granddaughter, Atlanta B., made her first appearance at the First UMC in Iraan this morning!  + Glen Smart's great-niece, Samantha F., is doing much better and is back home.  +Lou Ann Watson's family is visiting this weekend.
Birthday: Lou Ann's birthday was yesterday.

Concerns:
+Those traveling this weekend. +Henry W. is in a hospital in Odessa.  +Joan & Coy C.'s daughter-in-law, Sandy, is on her way to Florida for more medical care.

Prayers for healing:
Sandy C., Billy C., Samantha F., Colton W., and Henry W.

Continued prayers:
+Our church +Our community youth +Our Schools
+Athletes/Coaches + Teachers/Students +Our Military
+Homeless +Unemployed +Our Nation
+Our government/Leaders +Unspoken requests
+Victims of natural disasters +Countries fighting for freedom

Renewal of our Baptismal vows

As part of our service today we'll be given the opportunity to renew our baptismal vows:

INTRODUCTION TO THE SERVICE
Brothers and sisters in Christ: Through the Sacrament of Baptism we are initiated into Christ's holy church. We are incorporated into God's mighty acts of salvation and given new birth through water and the Spirit. All this is God's gift, offered to us without price. Through the reaffirmation of our faith we renew the covenant declared at our baptism, acknowledge what God is doing for us, and affirm our commitment to Christ's holy church.

RENUNCIATION OF SIN AND PROFESSION OF FAITH
On behalf of the whole church, I ask you: Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sin? I do.
Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves? I do.
Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace,
and promise to serve him as your Lord, in union with the church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races? I do.
According to the grace given to you, will you remain faithful members of Christ's holy church and serve as Christ's representatives in the world? I will.

Let us join together in professing the Christian faith as contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.
Do you believe in God the Father? I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ? I believe in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead.
Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

THANKSGIVING OVER THE WATER
Eternal Father, your mighty acts of salvation have been made known through water—from the moving of your Spirit upon the waters of creation, to the deliverance of your people through the flood and through the Red Sea. In the fullness of time you sent Jesus, nurtured in the water of a womb, baptized by John, and anointed by your Spirit. He called his disciples to share in the baptism of his death and resurrection and to make disciples of all nations.

Pour out your Holy Spirit, and by this gift of water call to our remembrance the grace declared to us in our baptism. For you have washed away our sins, and you cloth us with righteousness throughout our lives, that dying and rising with Christ we may share in his final victory. Amen.

REAFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Remember your baptism and be thankful. Amen.
The Holy Spirit work within you, that having been born through water and the Spirit, you may live as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. Amen.

THANKSGIVING
Let us rejoice in the faithfulness of our covenant God. We give thanks for all that God has already given us. As members of the body of Christ and in this congregation of The United Methodist Church, we will faithfully participate in the ministries of the church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness, that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.

The God of all grace, who has called us to eternal glory in Christ, establish and strengthen you by the power of the Holy Spirit, that you may live in grace and peace.

(Taken from the Hermeneutic website)

Epiphany Day Hymn

Epiphany window, The Taizé Community, France

Epiphany Hymn of St. Ambrose

Most High God! Thou that enkindlest the fires of the shining stars!
O Jesus! Thou that art peace and life and light and truth, hear and grant our prayers.

This present day has been made holy by thy mystic baptism, whereby thou didst sanctify those waters of the Jordan, which of old were thrice turned back.

It is holy by the star shining in the heavens, whereby thou didst announce thy Virginal Mother's delivery and didst, on the same day, lead the Magi to adore thee in thy crib.

It is holy too, by thy changing the water of the pitchers into wine; which the steward of the feast, knowing that he had not so filled them, drew forth for the guests.

Glory be to thee, O Lord Jesus, that didst appear on this Day!
And to the Father and to the Holy Spirit, for everlasting ages. Amen.

- St. Ambrose of Milan (338-397)

Coffee & Donuts

Alice Kephart and Jean Myrick were among the many community members on-hand this morning at the McCamey Convalescent Center for the weekly coffee & donuts gathering with the residents.  It is always an enjoyable time to share with the residents, see you next week! 

Twelfth Day of Christmas

Today marks the twelfth and final day of Christmas. Tomorrow begins the Season of Epiphany which continues six weeks until Ash Wednesday (February 22) and the start of Lent.

In celebration of Twelfth Night, join in the singing of this well-loved song (with Tennessee Ernie Ford):

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Twelve Lords a-leaping
Eleven Ladies dancing
Ten Drummers drumming
Nine Pipers Piping
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden (sometimes gold) rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree

Baptism of the Lord Sunday

Clermont Cathedral (Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne, France)

This Sunday, January 8th, is Baptism of the Lord Sunday. The text for this week's sermon comes from Mark 1:4-11 which describes the baptism by John of Jesus at the River Jordan.

United Methodist Men @ FUMC

The United Methodist Men (UMM) got the 2012 program underway tonight with a supper and study in the church fellowship hall.  Roy Kephart and Randy Brown (with significant help from Alice Kephart) provided the supper - turkey casserole, salad, and cheesecake.

Pastor Charles led the discussion of Lot from Genesis 19 with questions from Bad Boys of the Bible.

Next month's meeting will be on February 6th at 6:00 p.m.

New Year's Resolutions

Making New Year's resolutions is a long-standing tradition. As Christians we should always be looking to renew ourselves and to grow in the faith we hold so dear.

If you are still looking for a resoultion, consider reading the Bible! At Biblegateway.com you can read the Bible by choosing one of seven reading plans.

Click on this link and get started today!

Happy New Year

The sunny start to 2012 beckoned the faithful to worship this morning at First UMC in McCamey.  There were a lot of our members out of town (school is out for another week) and while attendance was down that didn't stop us from celebrating the goodness of our awesome God!

The e-newsletter for January is available here.  Debbie White reminds everyone to come by the church this week to claim their poinsettia from the sanctuary.

Joys and Concerns from this morning:
Joys:
+Peggy Garner reports that granddaughter, Cherokee B. had a beautiful baby girl, Atlanta, on Christmas Day.
+Glen & Pam S. celebrated their 41st anniversary on New Year's Eve.
+The Smart's great-niece, Samantha F., has improving health to report.
+Randy Brown reports that Liz and Paul are expecting their first child.
+The choir, led by Cytha Peters, lent a lovely touch to the worship service.

Concerns:
+Prayers are asked for the families of Opal Stark and Ramon Zamora, Sr.
+Those traveling this holiday period.
+The continued need for rain.

Continued prayer needs:
+Our church  +Our community youth +Our Schools
+Athletes/Coaches  +Teachers/Students   +Our Military
+Homeless  +Unemployed  +Our Nation +Our government/Leaders +Unspoken requests +Victims of natural disasters  +Countries fighting for freedom