Valley Parish T-Shirt Prices

I just spoke with Kathy Litle, our Valley Parish Shirt Order-er and she let me know the final prices for our shirts. She ordered the shirts this week and they should be in two weeks from now. All prices do not include tax.

T-Shirt Prices:
S-XL: $7.73
XXL: 9.48
3XL: 10.48
4XL: 11.48
5XL: 12.48
6XL: 13.48

Golf Shirt Prices:

S-XL: $10.35
XXL: 12.10
3XL: 13.10
4XL: 14.10
5XL: 15.10
6XL: 16.10

WE are the CHURCH

When I was growing up one of my favorite hymns was "We Are The Church" (in fact it is still one of my favorites).  I love the words.  It really hammers home the idea that we are the church.  We don't just go to church, we ARE the church.

In his first letter to the Corinthians Paul writes, "For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body..." (1 Cor. 12:13).  We, as Christians, are the body of Christ.  All of us all together make up Jesus here on earth.  So when we are at the grocery store or the movie theater or out with friends for dinner we represent Jesus on earth.

Similarly all Christians make up the church.  No matter where we go, we are the church, wherever we are. We at Lebanon have a sign outside our building that says, "Lebanon United Methodist Church."  That sign isn't referring to the building, it's referring to the people to come together in that building.  The people in our church family make up Lebanon United Methodist Church, we don't go to Lebanon United Methodist Church.

Following you'll find the lyrics to, "We Are The Church."  What do you think of them?  Do they challenge you in any way?  Do you think of yourself as the church or as someone who goes to church?

We Are The Church

I am the church! You are the church! We are the church together! All who follow Jesus, all around the world, yes, we're the church together!

The church is not a building, the church is not a steeple,  the church is not a resting place; the church is a people!

We're many kinds of people, with many kinds of faces, all colors and all age, too, from all times and places.

And when the people gather, there's singing and there's praying; there's laughing and there's crying sometimes, all of it saying,

At Pentecost some people received the Holy Spirit and told the good news through the world
to all who would hear it.

I am the church! You are the church! We are the church together! All who follow Jesus, all around the world, yes, we're the church together!

What is a Methodist?

Maybe you've had a conversation with friend or a new acquaintance about church.  You say, "I worship at Lebanon United Methodist," and they respond, "Hmmm... What EXACTLY is a Methodist?"

What is your response? How do you define Methodist? Have you thought much about it? 

Your response is important! 

I came across this article recently about a person trying to define "Methodist."  Click here to read it. The author writes, "A Methodist is a Christian who is in training to love God with all his or her heart, soul, and mind and to love his or her neighbor as himself or herself." 

This comes from the Gospel according to Matthew.  Someone asks Jesus,“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a  second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” -Matthew 22:36-40

What do you think of that definition?  How do you define "Methodist" for yourself?

Announcements for the Week of April 28th

The parsonage has a new phone number: (423) 256-2465.

Youth & Children Team!

First Meeting: Thursday, May 2nd. 7:00pm. Church Hill McDonalds (in same Parking Lot as Food City, off 11W)

We will discuss ways to reach children and youth: VBS, Youth Group, Sunday School, etc.

Specifically at this meeting we will form a team of folks who will rotate responsibility for leading programing for the Elementary School Kids on Wednesday Nights from 6:30-7:30pm. Nora Barton and Michelle Snodgrass have volunteered to create/prepare programing.  We’ll form this rotating team so that we can pour into the Elementary Kids and still each have time for Adult Bible Study and Spiritual Growth.

We will also brainstorm ideas for upcoming Vacation Bible School and how to offer Sunday School in a small membership church.

This is an exciting time.  Come be a part of this mission!

Bible Study

Join us this Tuesday for our Bible Study. Sunday School Room. 6:30pm. You won’t want to miss it!

Valley Parish Baptism Service

Next Sunday April 28th. 12:30pm. Chalybeate Springs. Meet at Parking Lot to caravan/carpool to Baptism spot

Confirmation (or joining the church) Dessert Buffet Celebration!

On May 5th the youth of the Valley Parish will join their churches. We will celebrate their membership at a dessert reception before the Spring Revival Kicks Off at Chalybeate Springs at 6:00pm. Please bring a dessert to share.

Spring Revival!

Rev. Will Shewey will be the guest preacher at our Spring Revival.

Kick-off night: Sunday, May 5th, 7:00pm, Chalybeate Springs

Other nights: Monday May 6th and Tuesday May 7th, 7:00pm, Ross Campground

Welcoming Families with Children

One of my favorite websites, Ministry Matters, recently had an article about welcoming families with small children.

Click here to read the article. 

What do you think about the Tips this pastor shared?
Which of his tips do we already do well? Which ones do we need to work on?

Were you ever in the situation that the pastor describes, trying to get your kids ready while trying to find a place to worship?

When you found a church you connected with, what made you stay?

Here is the last word from the author of the article: "Remember that there is a deep longing within parents of young children to connect with God and for their kids to connect with God. This is a critical time for the parents and the children. Let’s do everything we can to create a place for them to connect with God."

Amen!

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

Day 43: March 31^st Resurrection Sunday!

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

Today is Resurrection Sunday! Easter Morning! 

Re-read the story we told in worship today.  What phrases stick out at you?  Ask God to guide your reading. 

Notice what Mary does with her knowledge of Jesus’ resurrection.  She listens to what Jesus tells her to do and then she goes and does it!

Jesus tells her to say to the disciples that he is ascending to the Father.   Matthew tells the story of Jesus’ ascension—Matthew 28: 18-20.  The disciples meet Jesus on a mountain and Jesus says to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 

This part of scripture is called the Great Commission.

Read that part of Matthew again.  As Christians we are all called to follow this Great Commission.  Ask God to show you what you might do today and in the days to come to follow these words of Jesus. Tell a friend or family member what God has shown you.  Ask them how they live out this Great Commission.  

In our print prayer journals we have a space for Notes, Ideas, Drawings, and Observations.  Feel free to keep your own journal.  Or share your ideas, prayers, and observations in the comments section below.

The Tomb Is Sealed

Day 42: March 30^th Holy Saturday

Scripture: Matthew 27:57-66

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception would be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.

Sit quietly.  Reflect on the Good Friday worship service you attended yesterday.

What did you hear? What did you see?  What did you feel?

Read the scripture for today.  What do you feel?

Write about it.

Imagine the guards sealing up the tomb. What does that feel like?  Watch them in your mind roll a large stone over the opening to the cave.  As they shut up the tomb imagine the glory and joy of tomorrow. 

What does it mean that the tomb didn’t stay shut?  What does the Resurrection mean to you? 

Ask God for insight into the Resurrection.  Ask God to reveal to you the meaning of victory over death.  Ask God how this makes a difference in your life.

Now take time to listen for the answers.

In our print prayer journals we have a space for Notes, Ideas, Drawings, and Observations.  Feel free to keep your own journal.  Or share your ideas, prayers, and observations in the comments section below.