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THE JOURNAL, Thursday, February 12, 2015 - C3
Perkins First United Methodist Church
By Pastor Laura Glover
"I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.
Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By
this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have
love for one another." John 13:34-35
Valentine's Day is just around the comer. Few other holidays
bring with it so many varied reactions and create so much anxiety.
According to CNN, Americans spent $18.6 billion on Valentine' s
gifts in 2013 with the average person spending just over $130. It
is estimated that 151 million Valentine's cards are exchanged.
Wow, that is a lot of money spent on flowers ($1.9 billion) and
candy ($1.6 billion), not to mention a lot of trees lost to make all
those cards!
At First United Methodist Church of Perkins, I am encouraging
folks to try something new for Valentine's Day this year. What
if among those we celebrated our love for this year we put God at
the very top of the list? After all, God loves us-every single one
of us- with a perfect and unconditional love. A love so great that
God gave us Christ as a living sacrifice for our sins that we would
be brought back into right relationship with our Creator. That is
a love worth celebrating!
And what better way to celebrate God's love for us, than to show
our love to others - not just to family, friends and sweethearts,
but to all of God's children. Is there someone that you know
that will be alone or who is mourning the loss of a loved one this
Valentine's Day? Give GOd the perfect Valentine's Day gift by
calling that person and sharing some kindness and caring with
them. Is there a relationship in your life that broken? Give God
the gift of extending healing grace and forgiveness to help repair
that brokenness.
Even with those you love most, consider ways that you can
give thanks to God for the gift of that special person in your life.
: How about taking the amount you would spend on cards, candy
and flowers and chose instead to make a gift to a non-profit that
supports a cause important to your loved one? Instead of worrying
over reservations at a restaurant, plan a time when you and your
loved ones can volunteer together to share GOd' s love with others.
Above all, remember that we are blessed to receive the greatest
love of all, God's love for us. GOd expresses that love not just
on Valentine's Day, but every moment of every day. If you are
searching for unconditional love and acceptance, I invite you to
join us at First United Methodist Church of Perkins. We are a
community of believers who love God, love each other and seek
to share God's love and grace with the world. God is with us in
worship and fellowship each Sunday, and we would enjoy wel-
coming you as well. Sunday school begins at 9:30 with fellowship
time at 10:30 and worship at 10:55. Join us, and experience to joy
of living in God's love!
Eden Chapel United Methodist
By Rev. John K. Curds
Welcome to Eden Chapel a United Methodist Family Fellow-
ship experience. We do Sundays a little different at Eden Chapel
and I believe you will enjoy it as much as we do. We begin every
Sunday moming at 9am with a very personal Communion Expe-
rience in our Prayer Chapel. Then we prepare for our Sunday
Morning Worship at 9:30am which leads us into our Gathering
Time (visiting and snacks) at 10: 30am. Then we are off to Sunday
School at 1 lain to share Christ, our lives and experiences with
each other. Later on each Sunday evening at 5pm we have Youth
and Children activities starting with a family style meal and then
Bible lessons and games. If you like to sing, then come and join
us on Wednesday evening at 6pm for choir practice and enjoy
the music. If you are interested in Bible Studies, we gather at 8am
every Thursday moming for prayer time with Bible Talk and then
at 9am we continue our Bible Study as we travel though the "Acts
of the Apostles".
This is Transfiguration Sunday at Eden Chapel as we prepare
for Ash Wednesday and the Lenten Season Pastor John will be
leaching from the book of 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 with a sermon
entitled "The Heart of Jesus".
The major attribute of Christ was simply this: His heart was
spiritual. His thoughts reflected his intimate relationship with
the Father. "I am in the Father and the Father is in me" as Christ
told his disciples (John 14:11). Jesus took his instructions (yes all
of them) from God. It was his habit to go to worship and it was
his practice to memorize Scripture. We are told that "often Jesus
slipped away to be alone so he could pray". His times of prayer
guided him always. He once retumed from prayer and announced
it was time to move to another city and another time of prayer
resulted in the selection of the disciples. Christ was always led by
an "unseen" hand! The heart of Jesus was, is and will always be
spiritual. How is your heart, turned toward the world and all that
is in it? Or is your heart like 'q-he Heart of Jesus" always seeking
what is right, good, and best for others? I tell you this; you can
never obtain the heart of Jesus if your focus everyday is on yourself,
only when you give up yourself, then you can find this spiritual
heart living within you. The Lenten Season is when you begin to
"self-realize" and evaluate why you do the things that you do. Some
will give up chocolate, or snickers or Dr Pepper, but I challenge
you to give up something much more important, yourself! Find
Christ and you will begin to have a spiritual heart.
Eden Chapel (as many other churches in our community) will
have their "Ash Wednesday Worship" on February 18th, at 6pm.
Come join us on that evening to begin our "Lenten" journey
toward Easter or any Sunday and find out why "Eden Chapel"
people seem to be so dam happy! Eden Chapel is located at the
comer of 92nd Street and S. Fairgrounds Road. Come and enjoy
a Family Fellowship experience with us! We hope to see you this
Sunday and for Ash Wednesday.
Lost Creek United Methodist Church
This is an exciting time to be a part of Lost Creek! Many good
things are taking place each Sunday and throughout the week.
Last Sunday, the congregation was challenged to do "Whatever It
Takes". The call was to listen to God's voice and find out where
He is calling and leading.
The Belize Mission team is hosting "Till Death Do Us Part", a
mystery dinner theatre at the church Saturday night, Valentine's
Day. Although participants are expecting a lovelY wedding rep-
tion, it quickly turns into a night of mystery and mayhem-- leaving
one of the guests murdered! Guests will be required to solve the
mystery and enjoy a great meal and fellowship as well.
Our youth will be busy working on Friday night and Saturday
at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in Stillwaterl A generous
donation from this company will go to the Lost Creek Youth Fnnd.
Our youth are led by Jake Ehrlich and meet on Sunday evenings
at 5:30 at the church.
Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University begin on Sunday,
February 22, at 5:30. Dave Ramsey Hill show how to get out of
debt and work towards a bright financial future. The class is open
to new people as well as those who have taken it before, but need
a refresher course. Aaron and Charley Box Hill be leading this
valuable course. Sign-up for this course on the Lost Creek website.
Check out Lost Creek's website, lostcreekumc.org, to find out
more details about all the events mentioned above,hear a podcast
of past Sunday's services, participate in online giving and much
more. Lost Creek United Methodist Church can also be found
on Facebook.
Worship times are 8:30 and 11:00 on Sunday mornings with
Sunday School classes for all ages at 9:45. Lost Creek is located
between Sfillwater and Perkins at 8002 S. Washington on 80th
Street between Hwy. 177 and Western Street. Come be a part of
this exciting congregation of believers!
Immanuel Baptist Church
By Claudia Andrews
Roses everywhere and the gallery in the House of Representa-
fives Chamber was full of people standing for the unborn child
at the 24th annual Rose Day event last Wednesday. We heard a
speaker sharing about the lies that led to her abortion and the child
she now has because she chose life in the midst of difficulty. The
keynote speaker shared how she should have died after five days
in the saline abortion attempt by her mother. God had other plans
for her and she now speaks out for life. Over 56 million unborn
humans have been aborted since this holocaust count began. There
are other options.
Linda Riley played the organ with Jon & Judy Bartram playing
guitar and bass the hymn 'q3ae Way of the Cross leads Home"
for the offertory. Jim Bickell sang "On the Wings of a Dove"
before the sermon for those who came to celebrate Jesus as Lord
on foggy Sunday last.
In the absence of our very sick pastor, Brother Ed Anderson
brought the messages today. His moming message "Jesus, God's
Final Revelation" was taken from Hebrews 1:1-5 and other pas-
sages. God's messengers of revelation in the past was brought
by the Prophets and in the present by the Son of God. Who is the
Son? He is the Heir of all things, He i s the Creator of the world, He
is Divine: God in the flesh, and He is the powerful Sustainer of all
things. He is the Savior: the One who paid the penalty of our sin
and our Advocate seated at the right hand of God. He is superior
to the angels: the Name above all names, the Only Begotten of
God. God is His Father and He is God's Son. I Corinthians 15:1-4.
Member Daniel Loma shared his life testimony and Tracey Payne
sang "Your Grace Still Amazes Me" before the evening sermon.
Bro. Ed's message "Jesus Christ The Bridegroom" was taken
from several passages as he compared the Church being the Bride
of Christ in like fashion to the marriage of a husband and wife.
The believer submits their life to Christ and the relationship is one
of love based upon His agape love as He nourishes and cherishes
the church. Believers are one with Christ and Hill share that per-
fect bonding throughout eternity. (A further explanation of this
comparison is available.)
Financial Peace University begins Thurs.,Feb. 12,6:30-9pm; reg-
istration online. Our youth Hill attend Planet Wisdom Feb. 20-21.
Come visit us at 2415 E 104, just a mile north of Perkins. Irtfo:
547-1222 or wwwJmmanuelbaptistperkins.org
See CHURCH, page C4
HARRIS
PaynYOU Bank
PERKINS BUILDERS SUPPLY
Open Mon.-Fri. 7:30-5:30 p.m.
& Sat. 8-Noon .
Sadler Read & Hwy. 33 Perkins
................................. 547-5333
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