Prayer for the New Year

Spanish cross, needlepoint

Oh Thou, who art ever the same,
Grant us so to pass through
the coming year with faithful hearts,
that we may be able in all things
to please Thy loving eyes.

Amen.

Mozarabic, 700 A.D.

(Mozarab is the term for the Christian population living under Muslim rulers in

Al-Andalus in what is now Spain and Portugal)

Recognition as a Welcoming Congregation for the third year!

December 30, 2011

First United Methodist Church of McCamey
Attn: Dr. Charles J. Alkula
P.O. Box 964
McCamey, TX, 79752

Dear Pastor Alkula and church members:

United Methodist Communications is pleased to award First United Methodist Church of McCamey a renewal certification as an official Welcoming Congregation for 2011.  Because The United Methodist Church places a high value on radical hospitality as a vital ministry, we know you will want to celebrate this important achievement in your congregation by continuing to embrace newcomers and provide opportunities for discipleship through your welcoming lifestyle.

Enclosed is a new seal to add to your plaque. In addition, we have renewed your designation as a certified Welcoming Congregation on the denomination’s Find-A-Church.org website, and your church’s profile displays this certification.

We encourage you to visit Find-A-Church.org to update your church information with pictures, worship times, ministry listing and a word of welcome!

We hope you will continue to participate in annual renewal of the welcoming certification program so every member of your congregation can embrace welcoming as a lifestyle, and your church can maintain a dynamic welcoming ministry for all people.  Details concerning the annual renewal process will be sent to you.

To help you strengthen and maintain a dynamic welcoming ministry in your congregation and to help you extend your welcome into the community and the world, we invite you to visit umcom.org/rethinkchurch and review the information and resources available. If you have not already done so, please share a church email address with us so you can receive email updates about Welcoming Certification and welcoming ministry training and resources.

On behalf of United Methodist Communications, we thank you for ensuring newcomers know the people of The United Methodist Church have open hearts, open minds and open doors.

Sincerely,

Anthony M. Gooding
Coordinator, Welcoming Certification Program
United Methodist Communications

cc: District Superintendent, Rev. Larry Altman

Devotional for St. Stephen's Day

Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs:

Lord God, in this glad season we praise you for the birth of your Son among us. On this day we remember that your Son and those who follow him are called to die in faith. Give us grace to be faithful servants and courage to trust you in life and in death. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer. Lord God, your Son commands us to pray for our enemies. Give us the vision to see that you created all people, and that all are in need of our prayer. Provide us with mediators who can help us settle our differences without violence. Lord, in your mercy...hear our prayer. Lord God, we see your love shine in the glory of the child in the manger. As Mary and Joseph cared for this child, so may we grow to hold dear those in our families. Teach us also to love those who are different from us, and those who are in special need of human care, Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer. Lord God, your servant Stephen was called to be a deacon and a preacher. Guide your servants today to be courageous and effective communicators of your Gospel. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer. Lord God, you granted Stephen at his death a vision of your glory and of your Son at your right hand. Give to the dying such a sense of peace, and to the sick the assurance of your healing power. (We remember especially…) Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer. Lord God, you prepare a table before us in the presence of our enemies. Prepare us now to greet them in love as you bring them with us and with all your saints to the heavenly feast. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer. Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Christmas morning in McCamey

 Christmas morning in McCamey was a low-key gathering on a chilly, damp morning in west Texas.  It was nice to have guests with us to share in the celebration of the Messiah's birth!

Roy Kephart was presented a pin and Special Mission Recogition certificate from the United Methodist Women in appreciation for all of hard work he has given over the years.

Devotional for Christmas Day

"We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life - this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare it you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us - we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete." - First John 1:1

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"Quick now, here now, always - A condition of complete simplicity (costing not less that everything) and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well..."

- T S Eliot, Little Gidding)

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We do not worship an idea, a law, a system, or a holy book. Astonishingly our meeting with God takes place within humanity, with the human flesh. We find God there, among us; A God seen, touched, heard, felt: A child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

We have travelled through and arrived at a place of light. Perhaps we were expecting something very different, for our Saviour looks as though he needs saving, he is a vulnerable child, struggling against the odds. Yet when we look into the face of this child it is like looking into the face of God.

"And now we have found where [Christ was born] what then? It is neither in seeking or finding, the end of all, the cause of all is in the last words 'to worship Him'. That is all in all, and without it all our seeing, coming, seeking and finding is to no purpose."
- from a sermon given on Christmas Day in 1622 by Lancelot Andrewes

Lord, we have been changed in this Christmas meeting. Truth revealed cannot be unrevealed. Although we have not yet fully understood, nor lived out all its implications, for that will take a lifetime and beyond, we will carry your truth with us, like a new born child. May the love and nurturing of this life we carry be our salvation.

(St. Martin-in-the Fields, Advent Devotional for 2005)

Christmas Eve at First UMC

The community gathered on a damp, chilly evening in McCamey and we heard the Christmas story as told by Mary, Joseph, a magi, a shepherd boy, and the inn keeper. Thanks to Jonah Adams, Taylor Adams, Randy Brown, Mike Sherrod, and Donny Wiley for helping as our readers tonight.  Thanks also to Cytha Peters for her gift of music for the service.

Christmas Eve at the Convalescent Center

 
The light dusting of snow we enjoyed today was the perfect backdrop to the Christmas Eve service this afternoon at the McCamey Convalescent Center.
The multi-purpose room was nicely decorated for the season and was a far cry from this time last year when our service was held in the hallway in front of the nurses' station!

Thanks to Jonah Adams, Tandy Adams, Alice Kephart, Cytha Peters and Mike Sherrod for sharing this time with the residents.