Cedartown First United Methodist Church

As I stood looking out the window of my study last Sunday morning, I suddenly noticed a feeling of discomfort in the region of my heart. Naturally, I was concerned. Someone sick cannot do his best. Then, there was a knock at the door, and I greeted this dear friend. I didn’t want to be alone. He noticed my condition immediately and asked, “What’s wrong? Can I help?” I replied, “Friend, my heart hurts. Stand here and I’ll show you what makes my heart hurt.”

He walked to the window, and I pointed to a couple and their two small children leaving Sunday School and going home before the Worship Service. Then we saw a Sunday School teacher who seldom stays for church also walking toward his automobile. Following this Sunday School teacher were some of his Sunday School class members and they too were leaving before the Worship. Others from various age groups in Sunday School were quickly making their way to the parking lot without so much as looking back at the Sanctuary. To my friend in the study, I asked, “Do you see what I mean? It causes my heart to ache.”

Every pastor can identify with the pathos of what the Lord Jesus meant when He said, “Will you also go and leave me alone?” (John 6:67). Indeed, every clergy person worth his/her salt works diligently week after week to prepare his sermons and to design the Worship experience in the Sanctuary to be engaging, positive, and inspiriting. He/she constantly serves and ministers under the conviction that people need that divine-human encounter of worship and communion for the personal nurture and spiritual well-being of their soul. Therefore, Sunday morning corporate worship is the most important appointment and activity of the entire week. Worship is not optional but absolutely essential in the practice and witness of our faith and our relationship with God Himself.

Sadly, those who habitually leave after Sunday School without participating in the Worship experience rob themselves of the inspiration, the fellowship of fellow believers, and a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit upon their souls. Our souls and spirits need both the in-depth study of Holy Scripture in Sunday School and the spiritual renewal and resolve of public worship with the Body of Christ.

Oh, that every parishioner on the Lord’s Day would cheerfully come to the House of God for both the study of His Word and the Worship of the Living God! God grant that we shall be keenly conscious of our example and our influence on the behaviour of others, and especially on our children and grandchildren. Do you now understand why the pastor’s heart hurts? As you can already perceive, there is a certain remedy for it.

As always, I certainly hope that you will be in your place this Lord’s Day as we gather in the Father’s House for Bible Study and Worship. The Reverend Wayne Helms will be preaching in both Worship Services as Debra and I enjoy this week-end with our daughters and their families in the mountains of North Georgia .

In His Service,

Bob

There has never been a time when the Christian Church has been so analyzed and criticized as it is today. In fact, some people are boldly saying that we are in the last days of the Church. Others who aren’t willing to be that radical do suggest that the organized Church is almost totally irrelevant to today’s world. A far larger number of persons, however, simply live their lives as though the Church is no longer significant or important to them and their families.

The real issue/challenge facing us concerned Christians and parishioners is what are we going to do. In order to meet the increasing secularism of this twenty-first century, the Christian Church must embrace a higher degree of flexibility and adaptability. Indeed, we must be willing to make necessary changes in organization, programs, and methods of communication. Nevertheless, the Church must always continue to be the Church and constantly endowed and possessed with a sense of divine mission. Lest we forget, the Church of our Lord Jesus will surely lose its sense of mission and its urgency if we carelessly abandon everything we have held holy and sacred. Tragically, if our primary objective as the Church is merely to be socially congenial and to accommodate our culture, then the Church also becomes secularized and worldly, ceasing to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth.

Agrowing conviction of mine is that it has never been more imperative than now for the Church of Christ to stand fast in Christian faith and faithfulness. It is absolutely imperative that we consistently maintain the Holy Bible at the center of our teaching curriculum, our corporate worship, and our preaching content. But also, it is essential that we cultivate a deeper appreciation for Christian fellowship, that we devote ourselves to private and public prayer, that we undergird the evangelistic witness and outreach of the Church to make disciples, and that we effectively minister in the name of our Lord Jesus to the whole person in our whole world. Toward these worthy aspirations, God help all of us as Kingdom persons to exercise faith and faithfulness today and tomorrow and always!

In the midst of our changing times thank you for your continuing faithfulness to the Lord’s work through the life and witness of our beloved Church. As always, I shall be delighted to greet you and all who will join us for Bible Study and Worship this Sunday in the Father’s House. Be good, do well, and stay in touch!

In His Service,

Bob

Our Lay Leadership Committee (the Nominating Committee) has just recently begun its essential work to enlist individuals for leadership roles and to assign ecclesiastical responsibilities for the 2012 Church Year. Lest we forget, it is always a great honor to be asked to serve on a committee or in any leadership position in the Church. Such a request usually carries with it the observation and belief of the Nominating Committee that this person is talented, capable, willing, dutiful, and responsible. Ordinarily, this Committee will not ask someone to serve with the mere hope that this individual will perhaps become more faithful or involved in the life of the Church. Indeed, it is far too risky to ask someone to serve in an important position when he/she has never expressed any strong or serious interest in the Church.

Typically, the means by which our Nominating Committee discovers individuals for church leadership is by purposely praying for God’s direction and by carefully observing how supportive, loyal, and involved they are to our Church and its several ministries. For instance, does this person faithfully attend the Worship Services? Is he/she involved in Sunday School? Is the Church a priority in his/her life? What talents, gifts, and abilities does this person possess? Do they habitually support the Budget of the Church with their tithes and offerings? Do they have leadership skills? Do they enjoy the trust and respect of their fellow parishioners? These and similar questions are carefully considered by your Nominating Committee in their charge to enlist our Church leadership for the new year.

Therefore, when you are asked to serve our Lord and His Church for 2012, you may rest assured that you already enjoy the respect, confidence, and trust of the Nominating Committee and others in our congregation. Indeed, our Committee certainly hopes that you will prayerfully consider their request as we prepare for the greatest year yet in the life and history of our beloved Church. As you pray and sense the Holy Spirit leading you to accept the opportunity of service, please know that our entire Congregation is grateful to you for your willingness and desire to serve and minister in such a valuable way.

The Lord bless you for your support, cooperation, and involvement in the life and work of our Congregation. Thank you for the blessing you are to Debra and me in our personal lives and in our practice of ministry with you. As always, I shall be delighted to greet you and all who will join us for Bible Study and Worship this Sunday in the Father’s House. Be well, do good, and stay in touch!

In His Service,

Bob

Our conversations about the Church reveal much about ourselves and others, perhaps more than we intend. Therefore, we ought to speak with love and gratitude about the Church and its unique blessing in our lives. At times, however, we hear the Church referred to as “them,” or “those people down there,” or the Church is “cold and unfriendly,” and other such critical or negative comments.

According to Holy Scripture, the Church is none other than the “Body of Christ.” As followers of the Lord Jesus, we are wonderfully privileged to be a participant and member of His continuing incarnation in our community and world. Indeed, as Christians we, each and all, should be growing and maturing spiritually and thus becoming more and more conformed to the image of Christ.

Consequently, as a Church Member, we should know how and why we are believers, and also why we are a member of the United Methodist Church. People who are equally at home in all denominations and religious persuasions and can belong to one church as well as another are usually of little value to any.

As a Kingdom person and as a member of our FUMC, we should daily strive to be obedient and loyal to the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, His Lordship should be evident in our daily lifestyle both within and without the Church. But also, we should be loyal and devoted to our beloved Church as we attempt to follow the teachings of Christ and Holy Writ. As Christian disciples, we shall not put convenience and comfort before conviction and commitment.

Please note that while we are true to our Church, we shall not assume a “holier-than-thou” attitude toward others. Consequently, we shall never demean or belittle other church groups who are equally sincere in their religious convictions. Furthermore, as members of the United Methodist Church, we shall pray for and cooperate with other Christian churches to evangelize our world and to advance the Kingdom of God. With John Wesley we recognize that “the world is our parish.”

As an active, participating member of our local Congregation, we should daily pray and read the Bible to stay in touch with God. But also, we should read our church newsletter “The Messenger” to keep in touch with all that’s happening in our own church family. We should also subscribe to and read our “North Georgia Advocate” to stay well-informed about our denomination and other world and national church news.

As a member of FUMC, each of us should strive to be regular in our attendance at Sunday School, Worship, and other services unless providentially hindered. We should be ready to share the work and ministry of our Church cheerfully. Indeed, we should count it a privilege to give and even to sacrifice for our Church and most especially for our Savior. Moreover, without making a lot of noise, we should always do good for others, especially the “least and last” of our fellow-strugglers. In the priestly exercise of our faith, we should daily bear many in the arms of our prayers and petitions to God’s throne of grace.

Grateful to God for our Church, I am thankful for our partnership in the Gospel. As always, I shall be blessed to greet you and all who will join us for Bible Study and Worship this Sunday in the Father’s House.

In His Service,

Bob

Alarge industrial conglomerate reported that 9 out of 10 cases of insufficiency among workers are typically caused by worry and anxiety. Indeed, people worry about job insecurity, their health, the family budget, children and grandchildren, retirement issues, world conditions, and scores of other concerns about the future. A life insurance company has suggested that 4 out of 5 nervous breakdowns are due to worry, and a medical clinic announced that 35% of all illnesses begin with the problem of worry.

The Lord Jesus, however, has offered us a sound, healthy prescription for worry and anxiety when He says, “Therefore, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on, for your Heavenly Father knows that you need them all; but seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.” (Matthew 7:25 FF.) We also hear the Savior say to us, “Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me.” (John 14:1). When we take Christ at His Word and implement His divine counsel, there are at least three ways we can guard ourselves against worrying:

1. Think Affirmatively! Learn to set the dial indicator of your mind and perspective on your assets and not your liabilities; on your blessings and not your losses; on your friends and not your enemies.
2. Believe Diligently! Believe with all your heart and soul that God cares for you and yours; Believe and claim each and all of God’s promises to His children and the Church of our Lord Jesus.
3. Live Prayerfully! Develop an attitude and practice of constant, fervent prayer to our Father God in Heaven. Indeed, prayer unloads our burdens on the Lord and His grace. In the words of I Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxieties, worries, burdens on God for He cares about you.” Yea, the more we pray to our Heavenly Father, the less heavy will be our burdens, problems, and pressures of life.

As always, I shall be blessed to greet you and all who will join us for Bible Study and Worship this Sunday in the Father’s House. Be well, do good, and stay in touch!

In His Service,

Bob

I’m sure that at one time or another you’ve received in the mail or seen in some magazine the advertisement of an insurance company. That company claims to be the very best in its coverage for a person’s health, life, and protection. So confident is the company of its product that it invites comparison with any of its competitors. And so, when you compare its coverage with other insurance companies, you soon discover that all such businesses claim to be the best and “number one” in various benefits for their policy holders.

According to my research, the very best insurance company for any and all of us mortals is the “Eternal Life Insurance Company.” Its extensive coverage consists of life, health and medical, daily necessities, and a full protection plan. But also, please note that the Eternal Life Insurance Company insures “Whoever will may come.” Furthermore, the premium is paid in full for eternity, ”For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourself; it is the gift of God, not of works lest any person should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Personal coverage begins the very moment a person accepts and embraces Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, for “Now is the acceptable time, and now is the Day of Salvation.” (II Cor. 6:2)

This Eternal Life Insurance Company guarantees to us its members and holders that it will perform the following provisions and covenants: 1) Life: “I give them eternal life and they shall never perish.” (John 10:28). 2) Health: “Who heals all your diseases.” (Psalm 103:3). 3) Daily Needs: “But seek first God’s Kingdom and His Righteousness, and all these things (daily necessities) shall be yours as well.” (Matthew 6:33). 4) Food and Drink: “I am the Bread of Life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35). 5) Clothes: “If God so clothes the grass of the field which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you?” (Matthew 6:30). 6) Peace: “Have no anxiety about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7).

For additional information concerning The Eternal Life Insurance Company, you may consult the Holy Bible, the Company’s Guide and Rate Book. Should there be any questions or concerns relative to your coverage and/or eligibility, you may contact directly the Company’s Owner, our Heavenly Father, in prayer, or you may talk with me or any “field representative”. It would certainly be my greatest pleasure to be of any assistance for the eternal health and well-being of your soul.

If you or someone you know isn’t already a member of the Eternal Life Insurance Company, I prayerfully encourage you to consider this most extraordinary policy with its many beneficial provisions for both here and hereafter. As always, I shall be blessed to greet you and all who will join us for Bible Study and Worship this Sunday in the Father’s House.

In His Service,

Bob

From the Pastor...

   On that first Christmas while the shepherds were out in the field keeping watch over their flock by night, an angel of the Lord appeared to them and said, "Be not afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people, for to you is born this day in the City of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord."  (Luke 2:10-11)  Please note that when the shepherds responded to that revelation in faith, when they ventured forth because God had spoken to them, they then discovered the reward of faith.  They found that God's promise is true.  Indeed, what our Heavenly Father promises us shall always be done as we believe and respond obediently to Him and His Word.

     However, the weakness of our flesh, the frailty of our human frame, and the distractions of our secular culture are constantly diverting our attention and affection for God who is continually wanting to do more for us than we will permit Him to do.  If we would only take God at His word and trust His promises, then, like those shepherds of old, we, too, would find the reward and fulfillment of faith.  "And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger."  (Luke 2:16)

     And not only did they find, but so great was the joy that welled up in their hearts and spirits, that they had to tell others about it.  The good news about the birth of the Savior could not be casually contained.  Rather, it erupted and bubbled over!  Good tidings had been announced to them.  A wealth of good news was theirs, and they felt compelled to share it with other people.  Thus, when they had seen the Baby Jesus lying in the manger and Mary and Joseph in the stable, then they instinctively made known everywhere the wonderful news that had come to them concerning this new-born infant.  This Baby lying in the manger is none other than the Savior of the world whose coming is good news for all humanity.

     This Biblical commission has not come to an end.  Nor is it lacking for us today.  Yea, if we do have good news, let us share it eagerly.  If we do believe that Christ was born a Babe in Bethlehem, let us tell it lovingly.  If we are happy in our faith, let others see and know it.  If we think that fellowship with the Lord Jesus is a grand and glorious blessing, let's make known to all that our Savior has come and we love Him with all we are and all we have!  This divine charge is certainly yours and mine today as followers of Jesus Christ just as it was 2000 years ago with those early shepherds.

     As we gather together in the Father's House this Third Sunday of Advent for Bible Study and Worship, I shall be delighted to greet you and your family.  We shall be blessed and inspired in our combined Worship Service at 11:00 a.m. as our Chancel Choir presents a Program of Christmas Music.

                                                                                In His Service,

                                    Bob

From the Pastor...

Believing that personal evaluation precedes personal growth, that good intentions precede worthy deeds, that commitment precedes spiritual achievement, and that our Church can only fulfill the mandate of the Lord Jesus from such earnest dedication, I do hereby call upon our Community of Faith to renew covenant with Christ and each other.

      As we finalize our preparations for our annual Charge/Church Conference for next Sunday, October 31, during our Combined Worship at 11:00 a.m., and as we look ahead to the new year of 2011, the renewal of our covenant as the First United Methodist Church of Cedartown will enable us to give to the Lord Jesus and to our Congregation the very best of who we are and what we have as the Body of Christ.  As the Apostle Paul stated in Philippians 1:5-6, I am "thankful for your partnership in the Gospel from the first day until now, and I am sure that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

      Therefore, I challenge you to become a more faithful Christian, a more committed believer and follower of Jesus Christ, a more active member and participant within the life and work of our beloved Church.  I pray for many in our Congregation to move beyond a casual acquaintance with Christ and His Church to that of a personal relationship based on conviction and commitment that "Jesus is Lord" of all we are and all we have.  Our basic mission as the Church must always be to make disciples of Jesus Christ.  We are to grow and mature from being a Christian convert to that of becoming and being a Jesus disciple.  In the words of Paul to the Corinthian Congregation, we are to grow and develop from being just "babes in Christ" to become fully grown spiritual men and women in the faith.

      As we continually seek to become the Church Christ calls us to be, we should prayerfully embrace the wonderful privilege of serving God through our Church and in our daily lives.  Consider the following opportunities for such ministry and service:  Visitation of prospective members, newcomers, and seekers; working in the church kitchen and social hall; teaching a Sunday School class; singing in a choir; working with children or youth; being a mission volunteer; being a greeter or usher on Sunday morning; helping in the church office as a volunteer; visitation of nursing home residents and the home-bound; working in the church library and media center; and assisting as a volunteer in our Learning Center.

      We all certainly love and appreciate our Church, and we desire for our Church to become all that Christ wants us to be.  But, what exactly makes a Church truly great?  It is not padded pews and chandeliers, but strong, effective leadership.  It is not the sweet, majestic tones of the organ, but sweet, thoughtful personalities which reflect the Lord Jesus.  It is not tall towers and steeples with chimes and bells, but the lofty, courageous vision of its people.  It is not big budgets, but a big heart.  It is not the amount of finance received, but the amount of service rendered.  It is not the large membership but God's presence and power and direction.  It is not the Pastor but the Congregation who love the Lord God with all their hearts, minds, souls, and strength.

      As we renew our faith covenant for the coming months and years ahead, God will continually bless and anoint our Church to be a blessing to His Kingdom and to our local community.  As your minister, I shall be delighted to greet you and all our church family this Sunday as we gather for Bible Study and Worship in the Father's House.

                                                                                In His Service,

                                    Bob

      This coming Lord's Day, October 17, is Laity Sunday throughout United Methodism and much of Protestant Christianity.  In our Christian theology and practice we readily recognize and affirm that lay people, both men and women, are the Church.  Indeed, we fervently believe and teach that every Lay Person is, in fact, a minister of the Church.  Lest we forget, ordination only sets an individual apart to devote most of his/her time and energy to the work and ministry of the Church.  It does not place a clergy person on a pedestal or make him/her more privileged or deserving than other Christians.

      The "Priesthood of Believers" is certainly one of our most cherished tenets of Christian faith, and it subsequently claims every believer for the service of the Word.  Yea, this doctrinal statement charges every Christian with the proclamation by lip and life of the Good News of our Lord Jesus.  Moreover, this major Protestant belief abolishes any ultimate distinctions between pulpit and pew, and between pastors and parishioners, and makes all of us as followers of Christ responsible and accountable for the handling of the holy and hallowed.

      Therefore, since all people in Christ are priests and ministers, then every vocational distinction within the Church is only functional and instrumental!  As the Apostle Paul reminded the Church in Philippi, we all share profoundly a "partnership in the Gospel."  All who confess faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God and the Savior of the world, are called and commissioned to a common ministry within the life of our Church and our community and world.

      Theological considerations for the Laity concerning their practice of Christianity should necessarily involve the following concerns.  Is my daily life and employment the kind that I can perform as before the altar of God?  Am I honest in all ways to my employers, customers, or clients, living by the Golden Rule?  What are the moral and social implications of my investments of time and money?  Do my life and work bless my Church and community, build better lives, and advance the Kingdom of God?

      As a Christian Lay Person, you inherently possess a tremendously potent influence on the lives of others.  This influence is inevitably multiplied in the context of our Church and community as you meet and interact with people of all walks of life.  In fact, your influence for Christ and His Church is far greater than the influence of your pastor.  Whereas a clergy person has his/her position in the Church and community and it is important, it's not nearly as significant as that of the Christian lay person.  The truth is there are many unchurched people in our community and culture that the pastor cannot reach just because he is clergy.  These people are deeply impressed, however, by Christian behaviour and the quiet, undeniable testimony of the Jesus Way when spoken and lived out by a godly neighbor, friend, or fellow worker.

      As we gather this Sunday to honor and celebrate the Laity of our beloved Church, we shall be wonderfully blessed to hear from our own Paul Redgate who will preach our morning message.  As always, I am eager to greet you and all who will join us for Bible Study and Worship in the Father's House.

                                                                                In His Service,

                                    Bob

From the Pastor…

      Our Lay Leadership Committee (the Nominating Committee) will soon begin its work to enlist individuals for leadership roles and to assign ecclesiastical responsibilities for the 2011 Church Year.  Lest we forget, it is always a great honor to be asked to serve on a committee or in any leadership position in the Church.  Such a request usually carries with it the observation and belief of the Nominating Committee that this person is talented, capable, willing, dutiful, and responsible.  Ordinarily, this Committee will not ask someone to serve with the mere hope that this individual will perhaps become more faithful or involved in the life of the Church.  Indeed, it is far too risky to ask someone to serve in an important position when he/she has never expressed any strong or serious interest in the Church.

      Typically, the means by which our Nominating Committee discovers individuals for church leadership is by purposely praying for God’s direction and by carefully observing how supportive, loyal, and involved they are to our Church and its several ministries.  For instance, does this person faithfully attend the Worship Services?  Is he/she involved in Sunday School?  Is the Church a priority in his/her life?  What talents, gifts, and abilities does this person possess?  Do they habitually support the Budget of the Church with their tithes and offerings?  Do they have leadership skills?  Do they enjoy the trust and respect of their fellow parishioners?  These and similar questions are carefully considered by your Nominating Committee in their charge to enlist our Church leadership for the new year.

      Therefore, when you are asked to serve our Lord and His Church for 2011, you may rest assured that you already enjoy the respect, confidence, and trust of the Nominating Committee and others in our congregation.  Indeed, our Committee certainly hopes that you will prayerfully consider their request as we prepare for the greatest year yet in the life and history of our beloved Church.  As you pray and sense the Holy Spirit leading you to accept the opportunity of service, please know that our entire Congregation is grateful to you for your willingness and desire to serve and minister in such a valuable way.

      The Lord bless you for your support, cooperation, and involvement in the life and work of our Congregation.  Thank you for the blessing you are to Debra and me in our personal lives and in our practice of ministry with you.  As always, I shall be delighted to greet you and all who will join us for Bible Study and Worship this Sunday in the Father’s House.  Be well, do good, and stay in touch!

                                                                                In His Service,

                                    Bob