Sunday, September 26, 2004
TODAY: Rural Life Sunday, September 26, 2004
RURAL LIFE SUNDAY MAKES US ALL FEEL YOUNG AGAIN. THREE YOUNG LADIES, ABOVE, OF TINNEY CHAPEL UMC, COMPETE FOR TOP HONORS IN THE EVENT'S APPLE BITING CONTEST, ADULT DIVISION. Photo by Angela Wylie.
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CHAPEL NEWS TODAY:
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RURAL LIFE SUNDAY WAS ALSO DENIM DAY!
We wore our jeans! That goes for at least some of our preachers, too! Pastor Duncan wore his overalls while he led today's singing and preached the children's sermon.
Sinners challenged saints to a contest to fill up both sides of the sanctuary today! Losers buy the hamburgers, winners fry the hamburgers, someone said. Zonnie Griffin and Charles Brewer led the challenge, and the final tally may still be up for grabs!
Guest preacher was Rev. Fred Durham, District Superintendent at Sherman, former pastor of Tinney Chapel UMC and former Mayor of Winnsboro. His message: "Always Talk to Strangers," with a caveat for kids who are told not to talk to strangers.
The Men's Group served smoked brisket and sausage, cooked by master chef Bob Deitering, for lunch today. Tinney Chapel Ladies provided side dishes and desserts.
Jenna Nelson coordinated the event, and made it a great success, with the help of a cast of thousands (well, quite a few) who volunteered their help. Thanx to all!
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METHODIST STUDIES TO START ON WEDNESDAY NIGHTS AT 6:30
Senior Pastor Duncan Graham has announced that Methodist Studies will be the next topic of his Wednesday evening programs, beginning this week, September 29, at 6:30 p.m. This class will be especially helpful for newcomers to Methodism, but is highly recommended for veterans as well.
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THE PASSING OF BRET LENIUS & HIS GIFT OF LIFE TO OTHERS.
Bret Lenius, 43, passed away after a tragic motorcycle accident in Arizona, where he was traveling on business. At Saturday's Tinney Chapel Men's breakfast, Bret's grandfather, Harold Lenius, spoke of how proud he was that four people have received the gift of life from the donation of Bret's precious organs. Today, at Rural Life Sunday, Harold said he has since learned that all four organ transplants were successful, and that all four recipients are recovering on schedule. Our prayers continue for all of Bret Lenius's wonderful extended family, which is such a close-knit, loving group.
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WANT TO HELP VICTIMS OF RECENT HURRICANES?
Donations for flood and hurricane victims may be made to The United Methodist Committee on Relief, (UMCOR). This committee is supported by Methodist church apportionments, so all the money that is donated goes to help victims.
To make an ONLINE donation, go to: http://www.umc.org/
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SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS TOPICS TODAY
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WISE ONES, Frankie Brewer: Becoming God's Children.
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LADIES BYKOTA, Peggy Boyd: Encouraged By Knowing God.
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OVERCOMERS: Jenna Nelson: CHARLES STANLEY STUDY: FEELING SECURE IN A TROUBLED WORLD! (This is a multiple-week study.)
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YOUTH: Stephen Graham: Journey Through The Bible (Quiz) Continued.
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CHILDREN: Linda Hallman: A Study of the Psalms.
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PAIRS & SPARES, Joe Dan Boyd: 2 Timothy 3: SCRIPTURE IS GOD-BREATHED & USEFUL.
Pairs & Spares Class Handout is below:
MOMENTS OF TRUTH (Life lessons # 236)
Take home lessons from studying 2 Timothy 3 and related Scripture:
1. The Apostle Paul reminds us that, in the last days, dangerous times shall come when men will be self-absorbed, money hungry, and disobedient. Our challenge is to remember that no knows when the last days will come to an end.
2. Paul warns of hypocrites professing a phony Christianity, but who are unchanged inside with no spiritual power to deal with evil. Our challenge is not to be deceived by them.
3. Paul cautions us to be wary of smooth talkers, the "new Gnostics" of our day, who are convincing with their careless talk. Our challenge is to remain steadfast in the unchanging Truth of the Gospel.
4. When confronted with confusing choices, each claiming to represent Truth, Paul says our challenge is to recall that events tend to coalesce for the good of those who love God & are called according to His purpose.
5. Paul's experience demonstrates the truth of his admonition that living a Christ-centered life invites both admiration and antagonism. Our challenge is to be aware of the price for obedience & loyalty.
6. Paul emphasizes that all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for exposing false doctrine and affirming Truth. Our challenge is to set Scripture as our moral compass and roadmap for a righteous life.
ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT SUNDAY: 10-03-04
READ 2 TIMOTHY 4
Afterwards, reflect upon these things:
1. Our charge: Preach the Word!
2. Be prepared, in & out of season!
3. Endure hardship & discharge duties.
4. Poured out like a drink offering.
5. Paul's departure.
6. A believer's crown of righteousness.
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SUNDAY WORSHIP TODAY, MORNING SERVICE, 9:00 A.M.
Greeters: Charles Brewer & L.R. Kemp.
Soundman: Bob Deitering
Ushers: L. R. Kemp & Charles Brewer.
MUSIC
Pianist: Pat Hollingsworth.
Songleader: Senior Pastor Rev. Duncan Graham.
Songs: When We All Get To Heaven; Let's Just Praise The Lord; We Worship & Adore Thee; Thank You Lord; He Is Lord; When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder; Dwelling In Beulah Land; Sanctuary; Leaning On The Everlasting Arms.
SPECIAL MUSIC BY TINNEY CHAPEL CHILDREN'S CHOIR (we counted young 11 singers today, directed by Gabrielle Mattox):
My God Is So Big & Standing On The Promises.
Morning Prayer & Lord's Prayer: Pastor Duncan Graham
LITURGY BY ASSOCIATE PASTOR GENE MILLER:
Call To Worship
Offertory Prayer
Doxology
Gloria Patri
Apostles Creed
CHILDREN'S SERMON TODAY:
Pastor Duncan Graham's sermon today was on honesty, and he used references about handling money to make his points. His first question was intended to find out what the kids would do if they found money and did not know who it belonged to. He was pleased with the first answer: Try to find out who the money does belong to!
The Pastor then told stories about real people, including some kids, who had done just that, and mentioned some of their stated reasons for doing so. One was afraid that the person who lost the found money might lose his job if it was not returned. Another said it was just the "right thing" to do.
God wants us to be faithful and honest, emphasized Pastor Graham. If we are faithful in the small things, we will be trusted with large things.
At the conclusion, Pastor Graham passed out two pictures for each child. In his closing prayer, the Pastor thanked God and asked Him to help us all be faithful in both the large and small events of life, to help us always give God the glory, to help us serve and share, to help us be honest with God and with each other, all in the Name of Jesus.
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TODAY'S ADULT SERMON:
"Always Talk To Strangers."
Guest preacher, Rev. Fred Durham, began by introducing his wife, Teresa, then reminded the congregation of his affection for this church:
"Theres no place on earth I love more than Tinney Chapel and Winnsboro," said Rev. Durham. "It's where we feel welcome. Its where we feel like we are coming home. I was very pleased when Tinney Chapel won the Marvin T. Judy award at Annual Conference this year as the standout Rural Church in the North Texas Conference."
Rev. Durham's beginning Scripture was Deuteronomy 10:12-19:
Deuteronomy 10: 12 And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good? 14 Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it. 15 The Lord delighted only in your fathers, to love them; and He chose their descendants after them, you above all peoples, as it is this day. 16 Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer. 17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. 18 He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing. 19 Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. ---New King James Version of The Bible
"There's a lot in that passage," said Rev. Durham, "but I will emphasize only the part about welcoming, embracing, and loving strangers (with a caveat that my message is intended for adults, and that children should obey their parents when told not to talk to strangers).
"I am convinced that if the Lord says the same thing more than once, and has different writers say that same thing, then the Lord must really want us to get that message," added Rev. Durham. "The message I get is that we are to treat strangers like family until they become family.
"Today, I will mention three reasons why you and I and the church of God should not only love each other, but also reach out and love strangers until they become family," he said. "By now, it's clear that this is a sermon on evangelism, but embracing strangers is not what I see in most churches. Yet it is what God would have us do.
"I serve 60 churches in the Sherman-McKinney District, and I am in them all the time," declared Rev. Durham. "I see a lot of churches where they love each other well. They describe themselves as friendly churches, but the truth is that, unless they embrace strangers, they are either stagnant or dying churches. They have turned inward on themselves, but their outward reach has disappeared. They are proud of themselves, and they think God is proud of them.
"We are not to be proud when we only take care of each other," he added. "And, we can only take a small, humble pride if we do both: love each other and strangers, too. So, the first of the three reasons is this: (1) Deuteronomy 10:19 tells us to embrace the stranger, love the stranger, and take in the stranger because we were strangers ourselves. We are, as Jesus said, to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Put ourselves in their shoes! You all know what it feels like to be a stranger in a new group or class that's forming. You know what it takes for you to overcome that and start to feel a part of the group. If we love others, we want them to feel a part of the group. We want to help them feel loved.
"The second reason comes from Matthew 25:31-46," he explained:
Matthew 25: 31 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' 40 And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' 41 Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.' 44 Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?' 45 Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
---New King James Version of The Bible
"Inasmuch as you have done it to the least of these, you have done it to Me," Rev. Durham repeated to emphasize the Scripture. "And, if you have not done it to the least of these, you have not done it to Me. I go to very few churches that are good at embracing strangers, but Jesus said that doing so was the same as doing it to Him and to ignore strangers is to ignore Him. I don't think I ever understood this Scripture fully until I had children of my own. If you have done it to my kids, you have done it to me. Each time I have gone into a new church, I am always asked what they can do for me, and my answer is always the same: Take care of my family. We have two daughters who have moved away, and our number one interest is that they find someone there to take them in as family. I would virtually lay down my life for those people who made my family their family. And because of those who don't: I'm hurt!
"Each of us should remember who every little boy or girl is," declared Rev. Durham. "It's Jesus' little boy and girl away from home. He wants your arms wrapped around them. He's serious about that. And the third reason comes from Hebrews 13:2:
Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
---New King James Version of The Bible
"We all know about God's angels, the created beings of God, different from us, God's messengers, glorious creatures, but in a metaphorical sense, you and I are God's everyday angels who do His work, who bring His gifts," explained Rev. Durham.
"From this Scripture, I take it we should embrace strangers because a stranger may be the person who brings what this church needs," added Rev. Durham. "When you pray for resources for your church, what if God sends those resources by a stranger? We should invite strangers. What if God is preparing them, and will send them to you as strangers?
"The next person who comes through the door may not act or look like an angel, but it may be in God's plan for that person to become an angel," declared Rev. Durham. ."You will not know unless you take them in and bring them home. We are to embrace strangers because in doing so we may entertain angels unawares. We know that the resources are in the harvest, and the harvest is out there! Our job is to embrace it and bring it in.
"All this is a message from God," concluded Rev. Durham. "It is communicated to us by Moses, by Jesus and by the writer of Hebrews, and it is also communicated to us a hundred other times in a hundred other ways. He wants us to embrace strangers like family until they are family."
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BIBLE READINGS TODAY:
Readings for seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost: Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15; Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16; 1 Timothy 6:6-19; Luke 16:19-31.
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ABOUT US TODAY:
CORE VALUES OF TINNEY CHAPEL UMC:
We are an extended family of God.
We are an open door church to all persons.
We value our traditions as building blocks to the future.
We are a Bible-based, Christian community.
We believe in an empowered laity.
We are a conservative congregation, theologically and politically, and our beliefs are generally consistent with the Methodist doctrine.
MISSION STATEMENT OF TINNEY CHAPEL UMC:
To welcome people to Jesus and fellowship within His family, complete them in Christ, provide for their ministries, enrich their lives and glorify God.
VISION OF TINNEY CHAPEL UMC:
To be a growing Christian church where anyone can become a disciple for Jesus Christ.
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