New Ministry Founders: Carolyn Beavers, left, and Linda Stevens, center, are shown visiting with Mollie Stanton. Beavers and Stevens, along with husbands Dick Beavers and Bill Stevens (neither shown here), founded the newest ministry at Tinney Chapel, a fellowship group for senior adults. A contest is underway to name the new ministry group. Photo by David Stanton.

CHAPEL NEWS

A CONTEST TO NAME NEW SENIORS GROUP MINISTRY

“A prize will be awarded to the winner of a recently announced contest to name the new Seniors Fellowship Ministry, kicked off on Feb. 15 by the Beavers and the Stevens.

Names already submitted include Lifelight and Primetimers (by Joe Dan Boyd), Wise Ones After Hours (by members of the Sunday School Class) and The Swingers (by Emmaline Hallman). Pass on your contest submissions to either of the four founders: Caroline, Linda, Dick or Bill.

To help you a bit, here are some of the activities now under consideration by this new Seniors Fellowship Ministry, either collectively or individually by some participants: Speakers on a variety of subjects, various games, support each other and those outside the group or even outside the church, gospel singing events, trips (Arkansas and Alaska are at the top of the current list), skydiving, pan for gold. Well, you get the idea.

The new group’s next meeting is March 17 at Vaughan’s Catfish Place. To participate, be at the church parking lot by 4:00 p.m.Don’t forget the contest (and PRIZE) to NAME this new group!

CONGRATULATIONS TO:

Wanda Hardin and Betty Asbill, both recipients of Tinney Chapel Building Committee Service Jackets this morning. (Betty’s jacket bears both her name and that of her late husband, Jim.)

Tinney Chapel Children, who are soon to start a fundraiser drive by selling cannas*, obtained for Tinney Chapel UMC by Bill Knoop. Go for it, kids! Thanx, Bill! * Canna. Any of various perennial tropical herbs of the genus Canna, having clusters of large, showy flowers and including an edible variety (Latin canna, cane).

SUNDAY WORSHIP TODAY:

MORNING SERVICE, 9:00 A.M.

Greeters: Danny Lake & Roger Schneider.

Soundman: Bob Deitering.

Ushers: Roger Schneider & Danny Lake.

MUSIC

Pianist: Pat Hollingsworth.

Songleader for hymns: Angela Wylie.

Songs:

Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee; Freely Freely; God Is So Good; Great Is Thy Faithfulness.

Call to Worship & Opening Prayer: Rev. Gene Miller.

Morning Prayer & Lord’s Prayer: Pastor Duncan Graham

LITURGY BY ASSOCIATE PASTOR GENE MILLER:

Offertory Prayer

Doxology

Gloria Patri

Apostles Creed

KIDS SERMON TODAY:

Today, Senior Pastor Rev. Duncan Graham passed out pictures and puzzles to the children after he had engaged them in some evangelistic butterfly banter: “Butterflies are pretty,” he declared. “But caterpillars are hairy, bristly and not so pretty, as I view them. Still, keep in mind that a caterpillar spins a cocoon in which it remains for several weeks, then breaks the shell to emerge as a beautiful butterfly, a different creature.”

The pastor related this portion of the butterfly life cycle to the story in Chapter 3 of John’s Gospel. There, Jesus told Nicodemus that, to see the Kingdom of God, he must be born again:

John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God..." --- New King James Translation

“When Jesus is the Lord of our life, we become a new creation in Christ Jesus,” added Pastor Graham. “Some days you may feel like a caterpillar, inching along, trying to do your best. But Jesus can make a butterfly of you, a new creation, in short order.”

In his closing prayer, the Pastor said: “May each of our lives be like that of the beautiful butterfly, a new Creation in Christ Jesus, each and every day. Amen.”

ADULT SERMON:

Senior Pastor Rev. Duncan Graham’s sermon topic today was The Shaking Of Jerusalem. It was a continuation of his series on the last days of the life of Jesus. This sermon dealt with The Triumphal Entry, an event recorded in all four of the Gospels, reminded Pastor Graham, who said this suggests to him that this is an event of tremendous importance, which shook Jerusalem to its foundational core, although not in the sense of war or an earthquake. Today’s sermon was based on John 12:12-19:

12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: "Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' The King of Israel!" 14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: 15 "Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey's colt." 16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him. 17 Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. 18 For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!" ---New King James Translation

“In the Scripture, we see some important things,” added Pastor Graham. “This was a shaking that attacked the religious power of all Israel. Jesus riding on the colt of a donkey was prophecy fulfilled. Those who were in the know realized it was a prophecy from the ninth chapter of the Book of Zechariah:

9 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey. ---New King James Translation

“We see the meekness of Jesus in this Scripture,” said Pastor Graham. “He is a King of the people who is for and with the people, a radical departure from anything the world had seen about Kings and Kingdoms. But, this all started back in Bethlehem when Jesus was born in a manger. The story of Jesus would be kind of like saying to us: See, the President of the United States is driving up! We would think something was wrong. Presidents don’t do that! And, if they did, would be covered by Secret Service agents, and we could not get near him.

“It’s the same with Kings and Queens, except in fairy tales and nursery rhymes,” added the Pastor. “Their guards do what they can to protect the Kings and Queens. But, Jesus did not need or require protection from the people. Rather, Jesus desired to be with them. It’s why He came down to where we are, to be a part of our lives, assure our salvation. Never before had a King like this been seen, and never since: One who really wants to be with you and be a part of your life.

“Jesus once said, ‘Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.’ In this case, the meek are not the weak. The word refers more to a kind of humility. Jesus did not think He was better than others, and He served others. He lived out that lifestyle before us, so we could see for ourselves that the King of the World does not isolate or tax us. Rather, He desires to share the daily fare that you and I enjoy. That speaks volumes to those who have faith in Jesus. All this in today’s Scripture, took place just a few days after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Many came to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to see Him, hoping that maybe he would do something.

“They were curious, and came to be part of the event,” added the Pastor. “Many believed, and waved their palm branches, shouted Hosanna, the King comes, Hosanna! But the religious leaders were shaken and nervous, probably thinking: We’ve got to do something. The whole world is going after Jesus! They see Him as the Messiah. But the religious leaders were jealous, envious. So Jesus sent a message, loud and clear: The King of Glory has power to raise the dead and so He will raise you in a time to come, some to judgment, some to rewards.

“When we live in Jesus Christ, we have assurances of that,” emphasized Pastor Graham. “That’s why we want all to know that He has the power to raise to Eternal Life. His desire is that all be saved and live with Him forever to enjoy the best that He has. But, the choice He leaves to us. We can be like the Pharisees: Get upset, and bring and end to a precious life. Or, we can be like those on the road, and wave palms, paving the way for the King to enter the Temple.

“The most of the Holy Spirit you will ever experience is Jesus through your heart,” said the Pastor. “Your heart fills to overflowing. We do not serve a Lord who does not care about the difficulties of our lives. He is not distant from us, but comes in the most humble of circumstances, to live with us, to offer us life. In one of the other Gospels, Chapter 19 of Luke’s, we are told that Jesus was asked to quiet the crowd:

37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 38 saying: "'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" 39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." 40 But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out." ---New King James Translation

“I don’t want a rock to take my place in praising God,” declared Pastor Graham. “I want to Praise God for myself. Meanwhile, Jesus said that, if the crowd kept silent, then the stones would cry out. Jesus also had other things to say about Jerusalem: That He would like to gather them as a mother hen gathers her brood, and He even spoke prophetically about the coming destruction of Jerusalem, which did not occur until 70 A.D. when thousands were killed.

“What a difference it makes for those who believe and accept Jesus Christ as Savior,” added the Pastor. “What a wonderful future they have assured. You have to be overwhelmed with the greatness and the humility of it. His Life, so precious, so divine, and yet He came to be a part of the suffering and misery of mankind. All that to offer the opportunity that we might become sacred. This needs to shake the foundation of every person born into this world, to accept the King.

“If you have not done so, seek His faith until you have one,” said the Pastor. Nothing is more precious in this life than having an encounter with Jesus Christ. Changing our lives is what He is all about! He changes us, looks upon us, evokes a promise from our mouth, eyes, lives. My prayer is that this Triumphal Entry happen all over again, with as great an impact as then in Jerusalem. The day will come when the Temple Gate will open and Jesus will enter: A King who is of the people, Son of Man, with people along the way, assessable. What a joy. What a mystery. But all Glory!”

In his closing prayer, Pastor Graham said, “Oh, gracious Lord, there is no way we can adequately grasp all that You are or are about, but we know you require something extra-special to you. Grant that we may re-live a Triumphal Entry into our lives, refreshed, renewed. You are exalted above all. If there is one here today who has not found Eternal Life in You, may they do so. All to your praise and glory forever and ever. Amen.”

CLASSES TODAY:

SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS TOPICS:

WISE ONES, Frankie Brewer: Overcoming Uncertainty.

LADIES BYKOTA CLASS, Peggy Boyd: The Crucifixion.

TINNEY CHAPEL MEN, Bill Knoop: The Case For Christ, a study by Lee Strobel.

OVERCOMERS: Jenna Nelson: The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren.

YOUTH: Ronny Ellison: Fellowship.

CHILDREN: Linda Hallman: The Love & Healing of Jesus.

THE REMNANT CLASS, Joe Dan Boyd: Healthy Churches Transforming The World, Part 3.

The Renmant handout is below:

REMNANT RIGHTEOUSNESS

Life Lessons # 255 from the recent “first nationwide Healthy Churches training” for the United Methodist Church, held in Houston, Texas.

Quotes from the Rev. Juanita Rasmus, wife of Rev. Rudy Rasmus, both of St. John UMC, Houston.

1. Healthy churches need leaders that are healthy: mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

2. Being mentally healthy refers to a psychological state of well-being: You need to build your well-being!

3. Always be learning something.

4. Seek purpose and meaning (God’s Will) in your life.

5. Achieve a sense of personal independence.

6. Ask what you most want to do, then consider doing it.

7. Physical health is the ability to function with vigor and alertness.

8. Drink plenty of water. Most of us are often dehydrated much of the time (our bodies are 70% water).

9. Eat well-balanced meals & walk for exercise. (Walking was good for Jesus and His Disciples!)

10. Endurance, not speed, is your goal: It’s Scriptural!

11.Emotional health involves a sense of well-being. Have you checked your emotional health?

12. Always ask for what you need.

13.Pursue tasks to completion.

14. Adapt to handle stress.

15. Always value family relationships.

16.Keep anger at bay or under control.

17.Spiritual health involves a sense of knowing God and being known by God.

18.Crucify the false self that we present to the world: the mask, the one we pretend to be!

19. Christ, who lives & dwells in us, invites the false self to die.

20. When you get to know God, you get to know you!

21. Who I am is revealed in God.

TODAY’S DATE: 02-20-05

The Remnant

Sunday School Class

Tinney Chapel UMC

Winnsboro, Texas

ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT SUNDAY: 02-27-05

Healthy Churches, Part 4.

READ, RE-READ OR REFLECT ON ANY PREVIOUS ASSIGNMENTS IN THIS SERIES.

IN ADDITION, GO TO:

http://mediawarehouse.ignitingministry.org

http://www.ccel.org/contrib/exec_outlines/top/prescrip.htm

http://www.familylife.com/resources/diagnose_survey.asp

http://www.learnwell.org/spirit.htm

Afterwards, reflect upon thoughts from the above link:

*How do I experience the presence of God in my daily life? Isa 6:1-8, Ps 51, 100, Acts 7:30-34.

*How does God answer my questions through the Bible? Ps 119:97-105, 2 Tim 3:14-17.

*What is the meaning and purpose of my life? Esther 4:13-16, Ps 28:12-18, Mat 5:13-16, Acts 26:12-18.

*How do I relate to God in prayer? Dan 9:17-21, Mat 6:5-15.

*In what ways do I love, respect and help my neighbors? Lev 19:11-18, I Cor 13:1-13.

*How does God heal my anger, fears and disappointments? Isa 41: 8-14, Eph 4:25-32.

*What shows that I have joy and inner peace in my life? Isa 26:1-4, Phil 4:4-9 and other sources.

BIBLE READINGS TODAY:

Readings for Second Sunday in Lent: Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalm 121; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17.