The United Church of Los Alamos
 
 
 

United Chimes:  Vol. 39, No. 9, September 2003

Table of Contents
Front Page News
  Fall Sunday Morning Educational Opportunities
  Contemporary Christian Music 
  Please Take Note
For Our Children & Youth
  Childrens's Worship
  Children’s Worship Begins September 7th
  KAC for 3rd through 6th graders
  Rainbow Reading Program
  Upcomming Events and Help Wanted
  Nursery Coordinator Needed
  Not to be served, but to serve…
  Some AWESOME STUFF Coming Soon to a Youth Sunday School Class Near You!
  Youth Groups Off and Racing!
  Save the Date for Sonlight…
  Youth Pastor Search Committee
Church News and Announcements
  United Church Library News
  United Church Pictorial Directory
  Women's Retreat 2003
  September Sunday Worship Themes
  Chimes Newsletter on the Web
  Church Attendance
  Art and Sprituality
  Fall Music Programs Begin
  Long Range Planning Committee
  2nd Annual Fall Men’s Retreat
  Moms & More
  Reminders!
  September 2003 Lunch Bunch
  Coffee Hosts for September
Prayers, Praises, Thanks and More
  Sympathy
  Prayer Concerns
  Prayer Letter Telephone Prayer Chain
  Thank you, dear friends
  Anniversaries
  Congratulations
  Five Values of Hymn Singing
From Our Interim Pastor
  Grant's Corner
 
 

The Word of God for You 
Is it hard for you to read and understand scripture?  Do you want to explore ways of reading scripture and applying it to your life?  Do you want to learn resources and techniques to make scripture more understandable?  This class will help you in all these areas.  Taught by Kathleen Logan.  Class will meet in Pastor Logan’s office.

The God We Never Knew, by Marcus Borg
Marcus Borg will be our guest speaker for a lecture series on January 23-25, 2004.  Last year, Kathleen Logan led a discussion of one his most popular books, Meeting Jesus Again For the First Time.  This class will offer another opportunity to explore more of Marcus Borg’s ideas in contemporary theology in his clearly written book, The God We Never Knew. 

Borg makes an important point as the theme of the book: How we think about God affects how we think about Jesus and Christianity, and how we experience the religious life.  How we think about God can make Christianity credible or incredible.  If someone asks the question, “Do you believe in God?”  you cannot begin to answer without asking another question:  “What do you mean by God?”  How would you answer that question?  Borg describes the various ways in which we image God, and their implications for our spiritual devotion, personal transformation, relationship with others, and our role in transforming the world. Come and join in the discussion.  The group will be led by Mary and Ken Freese.  This class will meet in the CE Building Lounge.

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Contemporary Christian Music
Music is the language of the heart.  There are many ways and styles to worship the Lord.  Experience Christian praise and worship music in the Contemporary/Rock format.  For six Sundays we’ll explore various groups and single artists by listening to several songs each meeting (lyrics in hand) and then discussing the song.  All ages are welcome.  This class will be led by Shelly Wageman and will meet in Sangre Chapel.

We invite you to become part of Companions in Christ, a twenty-eight-week, small-group journey that focuses on deepening your relationship with God.  Through daily readings, reflection, and weekly meetings, you will be guided in exploring prayer, scripture, vocation, and spiritual friendship as avenues to deepen your faith.

We promise that it will make a difference in your life.
 

Information Session will be held on September 7th 
At 12:00 noon in the CE Lounge 
 

For more information, or to receive a registration form, contact
Pastor Kathleen Logan or stop by the church office

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Please Take Note
The next CHIMES  deadline is Sunday, September 21st at 12:00 noon for the October 2003 issue.  Articles may be sent via email to:  UCChimes@hotmail.com (note new email address) or put in the CHIMES Editor’s mail box in the Church Annex (room just outside the Church Office).

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Who Will Stand with This Child?

The following have chosen to stand with our children and help them develop spiritually. 

How can you help?

Sunday School Begins September 7th

9:30 Nursery: Hallie Bare
(room 113)

Preschool: Laura Parker (coordinator)
(room 109)   Volunteers and Parents rotate.

11:00 Nursery and Preschool: Hallie Bare

Kindergarten: Steve and Sandy Paglieri
(room 111-a)

1st & 2nd Grades: Karen Edwards
(room 101)

3rd and 4th Grades: Verlene Stam
(room 101)

5th and 6th Grades: Rick and Teddie Sue Mooday
(room 309)

****Helpers and substitutes are needed.

Children’s Worship: Cathy Renfro
Children’s Worship meets in room 105 during the 9:30 Service after the Children’s Moment so children in grades K-2 can worship in their own space.
**** Storytellers and greeters are needed

Special Adults Ministry: Barbara Seeger
**** Barbara could use an assistant to help with this ministry.

Teacher and Volunteer Training will be held Sunday September 7 from 5-7 pm in Graves Hall.

We’d like to hear from YOU!!! Contact Jean Picard at 662-2971.

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Children’s Worship Begins September 7th
Children in grades Kindergarten through second are invited to leave church after the children’s moment and go to room 101 for their own worship time. Special stories will be presented.

September 7th:   The Light

September 14th: The Good Shepherd

September 21st:  Creation

September 28th:  Noah

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KAC for 3rd through 6th graders
You’re invited to a Beach Party at Urban Park Friday, September 5 at 6:00 PM.  Bring a BEACH TOWEL and $ 3.00  Be prepared to get wet.  A special dinner will be prepared.  RSVP to the church office by Thursday September 4th at 3 PM.  Questions? Contact Jean Picard at 662-2971.

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Rainbow Reading Program
Kids! Your reading logs need to be turned in to Jean Picard by Saturday, September 6th.  The drawing for the Otowi Station gift certificate will be Sunday, September 7th. A special thank you  to Betsy Comly for setting up the program and getting the cool patches.  Thanks are also in order for Jan Sinclair who got the gift certificate for the drawing.  Please visit our church library.

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Upcomming Events and Help Wanted
Fall Festival Sunday, October 26th at 12:00 noon.

Help wanted to plan and carry out the 4TH Annual Harry Potter Night on Friday, October 17th. Contact Jean Picard, 662-2971. 

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Nursery Coordinator Needed
We are looking for that special person to nurture the youngest members of our church family.  The nursery coordinator needs to be available to coordinate the nursery staff (paid and volunteer) on Sunday mornings and for special events.  Applications are available in the church office.  Question? Contact Jean Picard at 662-2971. 

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Not to be served, but to serve…
Did you know that a group of 10 children, youth, and adults of our congregation spent most of the day Saturday, August 16, volunteering at the Habitat For Humanity Re-Store in Espanola?

We sorted and emptied and cleaned and organized and moved and loaded and…and then took a well-deserved break for lunch (thanks for the pizza, Habitat!)…and then sorted and moved and organized some more!

The group gathered at the church at 8:30 that morning, piled into the church van and a couple of other cars, and headed down the hill to work and work and work some more.  We finished up around 2:30 and headed back home as a pretty quiet group—I think some might have dozed off and the rest of us were just worn out!

Thanks to everyone who helped out that day, and for all of you who have been involved with any of our three local service projects this summer.  If you’ve wanted to join us but haven’t been able to yet, fear not—the monthly service opportunities will continue this fall.  See the article about the Mid High Sunday School class for more details!

“The Son of man came not to be served, but to serve…” (Matthew 20:28)

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Some AWESOME STUFF Coming Soon to a Youth Sunday School Class Near You!
For those of you entering 7th and 8th grade:  The “Second Greatest” Class!

“What’s the first greatest class??” you might ask. 
I’m not sure, but for a clue about what the “Second Greatest” class will be, check out Mark 12:28-31. 

 IF…
…the Mexico Mission trip sounds cool but you’re not quite old enough yet, or
…you helped us do work in people’s yards or at the Santa Fe Youth Shelter or at the
  Habitat Re-Store this summer and had a blast, or
…you enjoy helping others and feeling good about it, or
…you want to have fun and hang out with your friends on Sunday morning, or
…you want to hang out with Deb and Brad Meyer on Sunday morning, or
…your parents make you go to Sunday School!! 

Then have you got something cool in store for you!  The Mid High Sunday School class this year is going to be oriented around the theme of, well, the second greatest something or other….  We will spend time talking about it and what it means and why we do it…but we will also spend time doing it…whatever “it” is….  It’s going to be awesome!  So grab a friend or two and come on over to the Mid High room in the CE Building from 11:00 AM until noon on Sundays.  We’ll be there waiting for you, and I promise you won’t regret it!

And for those of you entering 9th-12th grade:  “The Ways We Worship and Believe”

You, too, will have the opportunity to do some “hands-on” learning.  We will be studying and learning about other faith communities, both Christian and non-Christian, and what they believe, and after learning some about them, we’ll go worship with them so we can experience first-hand some of their beliefs put into action.

Adult help is still being sought for this class, so if the topic and/or age group is of 
interest to you, please contact Deb (662-2971 or youth@losalamos.org).

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Youth Groups Off and Racing!
For the  Mid High:  “Lights, Camera, ACTION!”

Now that summer is over, the Friday afternoon Mid High Youth Group will get off to a roaring start again on Friday, September 5!  The big white church van will be at the middle school to pick you up and bring you to the church, where there will be an exciting afternoon of movie-making ahead of you!  “What kind of movies?” you ask.  Well, I will only say that it will be wild and crazy and lots of fun!  Bring a friend or two…and a video camera, if your parents will let you (they can drop it off at the church if they’d rather, but we will need to find a few to borrow…)…and get ready for stardom! 

For the Senior High

Every Sunday night grab your friends and come to Craig Hall from 6:30 – 8:00 for a rockin’ Senior High Youth Group!  There will be snacks, games, a devotional, and other fun stuff—all centered around a different theme each week.  Watch your mail for details, but in the meantime, just get your homework done early and plan to be there! 

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Save the Date for Sonlight…
For Mid High AND Senior High:  Sonlight Retreat!

Details will be forthcoming, but for now save the weekend of October 17-19 for Sonlight.  We will be sharing the weekend--sort of--with some men from the church and may be challenging them to a volleyball competition and/or soccer and/or Capture the Flag (!)…but we’ll be spending the bulk of the time doing our own thing while they do theirs.

It’s bound to be a gorgeous weekend, though, and as always, an awesome time at Sonlight.  So save the date and plan to join us!

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Youth Pastor Search Committee
The Youth Pastor Search Committee met twice in August to embark on our assignment to bring a full-time youth ministries associate to our congregation.  Our first two meetings have been devoted to team building as well as orienting ourselves to the complex task before us.  The Committee believes that it is critical that our search for the best qualified candidate be founded on an understanding of models of effective youth ministries, as well as a sound grasp of the needs, goals, and vision for the United Church.  One method the group has employed to build a conceptual framework on the subject of youth ministry is to read and discuss the book Four Views of Youth Ministry and the Church by Mark H. Senter.

As the Youth Ministry Search Committee moves forward, your active involvement will be a vital part of our success.  First and foremost, we would ask that each of you pray for enlightenment and wisdom as we strive to further the cause of youth ministries in our church.  You may also wish to peruse the Four Views of Youth Ministry, which is available from Kathleen Logan.  We encourage any who have input or suggestions for the Committee to contact us.  Members are: Karen Edwards (chair), Mary Lu Breshears (secretary),  Arnie Sierk, Roger Smith, Kay Swadener, Danny Wageman, and Hallie Bare.  And finally, prayerfully consider how you might become involved in furthering a vibrant youth ministry today.  Call the church office to learn about practical ways you can support our youth now as well as in the future.

Submitted by: Karen Edwards, chair, Youth Ministry Search Committee

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The books are:

                    CAPE LIGHT...........HOME SONG..........A GATHERING PLACE

              We have two books on dealing with teenagers:

                    "I'm On Your Side" by Jane Nelsen

                    "Ten Mistakes Parents Make with Teenagers" by Jay Kessler

                                            NEW CHILDREN'S BOOKS

                   "In the Beginning there was no Sky" by Walter Wangerin, Jr.
                   "Benjamin's Box": a Resurrection Story by Melody Carlson
                   "Saint Francis" by Brian Wildsmith
                   "Joseph" by Brian Wildsmith

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United Church Pictorial Directory
The 2003 pictorial directory is scheduled for October 14th through the 18th.  This will be a great time to order holiday photos for yourself, family and friends.  Please mark the dates on your calendar.  We will begin to sign families up in mid to late September.   Volunteers are needed to staff the sign up table for the photo session dates. If you have one hour or several that you could spare, please call Bernadette Lauritzen. 

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Women's Retreat 2003
This year's women's retreat will be led by Barbara Moser, who is a graduate of Phillips Theological Seminary and was ordained in 1995.  Over the weekend, we will look at the many types of friendships we have and the important role they play in our lives.  We will be sharing "friendship" stories and rituals, learning what friends are, and as usual making lots of music and new friends!

Put October 10th, 11th, and 12th on your calendar and plan to join your friends--old and new--at Sonlight Christian Camp in beautiful Pagosa Springs. Sign-up sheets are in the Church office.

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September Sunday Worship Themes
 

September 7th	My sermon for September 7th is titled, “Can Faith Save You?” and my text is James 2:1-5, 14-17. What we say we believe isn’t as important as what we do in and with our lives.
September 14th	My sermon for September 14th is titled, “Taming of the Tongue,” and my text is James 3:1-12. My goal here is to help us who worship to be more careful in how we express our feelings and more charitable in how we view other people whom God has created.
September 21st	My sermon for September 21st is titled “The Faith of a Child,” and my text is Mark 9:33-37. Whoever can receive and love a child can also have the faith that leads toward establishing the kingdom of God.
September 28th	My sermon for September 28th is titled “The Power of Faithful Prayer,” and my text is James 5:13-20. My aim here is to help worshipers more faithfully engage in prayer, singing, and other close relationships to God.

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Chimes Newsletter on the Web
Now available on our WEB site!  If you prefer not to have a hard copy sent to you, opting to read the CHIMES on the web monthly, please e-mail us your request at ucoffice@losalamos.org or call the church office at 662-2971.

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Church Attendance
 

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Art and Sprituality
According to Robert Wuthnow, a social scientist at Princeton University, spirituality (the quest to know God and to experience the sacred) is deeply significant to most Americans, yet the search for spirituality is confusing.

Many people sense a difference between belief, which is concerned more with the rational intellect, and faith, which is intensely personal and revolves around struggles to overcome brokenness and the desire to lead a fulfilling life. 

Spirituality is much more about the heart than the head and very often drama, music, poetry, and visual imagery are closely wedded to spiritual experience. 

Wuthnow’s research shows that, contrary to popular opinion, American religion has maintained a remarkable stability and vitality during the last decades of the twentieth century.  And, he says, a strong contributing factor to this vitality is that new attention is being given to the religious imagination; with many people experimenting with the arts in their devotional lives, at their houses of worship and in their efforts to serve others. 

Do any of these words resonate with you?  Are you interested in further exploration of these concepts within a group context?  If so, call Kathleen Logan or Marilyn Robbins.

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Fall Music Programs Begin
Sanctuary Choir

• Meets for rehearsal Wednesdays 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the sanctuary choir loft 
• Sings approximately 3 Sundays a month for 9:30 a.m. worship
• Is open to all adults and high school youth who enjoy singing traditional choral literature from Renaissance to Gospel and who feel a strong commitment towards serving as musical leadership in worship 

Praise Choir

• Meets for rehearsal Sunday evenings 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. in the sanctuary choir loft 
• Sings one Sunday a month
• Is open to all mid-high and high school youth and Adults who enjoy singing more contemporary choral music—praise songs, spirituals and gospel songs, world music
• Accompanied by a praise team instrumental ensemble and geared towards more contemporary styles of worship

Junior Choir

• Meets Thursday afternoons from 4:15 – 5:15 p.m. in the sanctuary choir loft
• Sings one Sunday a month for the 9:30 a.m. worship
• Is open to children in grades 3 – 6
• Sings a variety of choral styles as well as learning basic principles of singing, musicianship and our role as choristers in worship

Joy Singers

• Meets Sunday mornings in Room 101 from 10:30 – 11:00 am
• Sings one Sunday each month for 9:30 a.m. worship
• Is open to all children in grades K – 2 who have a strong interest in music
• This program is based on Stepping Stones (an ecumenical children’s choir curriculum) which helps the children develop their singing voices, discover natural rhythms and musical concepts, and learn how we use our voices to praise God in worship.

Beginning Dates:

Sanctuary Choir  September 3rd 
Praise Choir        September 7th 
Junior Choir        September 11th
Joy Singers        September 14th

All groups directed by:       Suzanne Johnson, Director of Music Ministries
                                     (with help from accompanists and assistants)
                                      Please call her at the church for more information

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Long Range Planning Committee

As reported in past Bulletins, the Long Range Planning Committee has been working through a process to update the Vision and Goals for the United Church.  The committee has now completed their work and prepared their report with the proposed Vision and Goals of the United Church for the next 4-5 years.  This report will be presented to the Executive Board on August 26, a few days after the deadline for this issue of the Bulletin.  It is anticipated that the Executive Board will approve the proposed Vision and Goals and agree that they should be presented to the congregation for consideration and endorsement.   Following the Executive Board meeting, the committee’s report and the proposed Vision and Goals will be mailed to the congregation.  At this writing, September 21, 2003 is the tentative date for a congregational meeting to be held right after the morning worship to consider and hopefully endorse the Vision and Goals.  We look forward to presenting and discussing our proposal with the congregation.
 

John Puckett, Chair
Rilla Baxter
Jeff Whicker
Ann Cooke
Tom Christofferson
Bernadette Lauritzen

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2nd Annual Fall Men’s Retreat

October 17-19
Rev. Howard E. Grant, Jr.
Location: Sonlight Camp, Pagosa Springs, Colorado. The camp has hiking, horseshoes, volleyball, a Teams Course, ping-pong, a pool table, hot tub, and the food is excellent. 
See http://www.sonlightcamp.org/ for more information.

Speaker: Rev. Howard E. Grant, Jr., D. Min.
This will be a great opportunity to get to better know our interim pastor!  The theme will be Mark 12:28-33 (Loving one's self, Loving our neighbor, Loving God).

Cost: $110 (lodging  + Friday dinner through Sunday lunch)
Partial scholarships available & donations accepted for scholarship fund (contact Steve Paglieri)

More Info: This year we will also be sharing Sonlight Camp with the Jr. and Sr. High of United Church. Our programs won’t overlap but there will definitely be some time for some intergenerational activities and probably some shared meals.

Bring your favorite game, or a friend!
 
 

Please return this form by September 30th with your check made out to United Church (Men’s Retreat).  Please mail or deliver to: United Church
       2525 Canyon Rd.
       Los Alamos, NM  87544
       Phone:  662-2971
 

Name__________________________________________ 

Phone Number___________________________________ 

Address________________________________________ 

Access Needs____________________________________ 

Dietary Needs___________________________________ 

Email Address___________________________________ 

Emergency Contact_______________________________ 

Phone Number___________________________________ 

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Moms & More
After a hiatus this summer from our weekly Moms and More gatherings, we’re happy to announce that they will be resuming beginning on FRIDAY, September 5th.  We will meet at the same time (9-11 AM) and in the same place (the Lounge of the Christian Education Building), but on a different day this fall:  FRIDAY!

Join us if you are able, with your pre-school or older age kids, on Friday mornings in September.  We guarantee a fun morning and time well-spent.  Contact Deb Worley or Leslie Wallstrom  for more information.

Leslie is currently trying to recruit a caring, responsible teenager or adult to care for the children who attend the meetings with their Moms. If you know of anyone who might be interested in this paid position (friend, neighbor, mother-in-law, etc.) please call Leslie right away. The job lasts for about 2 ½ hours every Friday morning (8:45 am to 11:15 am) with the possibility of additional hours at the church, if the person is interested.

Also, please come to our first meeting with any program ideas you may have for the Fall. Refreshments will be served, of course!

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Reminders!
Greeters for September:  Betsy & Jack Comly, Janet Cowan, Youth, Christa Manning

Liturgists for September:  Pat Slentz, Karen Boebinger, Youth and Ken Sinclair.

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September 2003 Lunch Bunch
Lunch Bunch Callers for September are:  Ione Ross, Wilma Durham, Marlene Henins, MJ Nilsson, Sandie Berner, Rosie Shalek, Faith Schell and Karen Boebinger.

Janet Tallman, Lunch Bunch Coordinator

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Coffee Hosts for September
Sept 7th: Sandra and Steve Paglieri
Sept 14th: Betsy and Jack Comly
Sept 21st: Gerry and Georgia Strickfaden
Sept 28th: Tom and Janice Christofferson

Please call Irene Powell if you would like to make coffee on a Sunday morning. 

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Sympathy
Prayers for the family of Paul Argo whose father, Harold V. Argo passed away.

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Prayer Concerns
Barbara Jean Wilson
Betty Wilson
Florence Harlow

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Prayer Letter Telephone Prayer Chain
If you want prayer for yourself or someone close to you, don’t hesitate to call the coordinator, Shelly Wageman.

To receive the Prayer Letter, contact the Church Office at 662-2971 or email at UCoffice@losalamos.org

It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.
Acts 3:16b

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Thank you, dear friends
We rejoice in the way you all pitched in and furnished and pounded the manse for us. We don’t know who many of you are to thank personally, but please receive our deep thank you. You are dear friends to us.

                             Howard & Joyce Grant 

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Anniversaries
This year, Joyce and Howard Grant hope to bring anniversary cards to homes of couples near (before or after), but not on the day of their anniversaries. If we don’t have the date of your wedding in church records, you might want to give us a call at 662-2971.

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Congratulations
Bunnie & Herb Newman celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.  They were married in Grant, Nebraska, at the Grant Methodist Church on August 23, 1953

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Five Values of Hymn Singing
Through hymn singing, Christians express their feelings and ideas.
Through hymn singing, Christians can tell others what they believe.
Through hymn singing, Christians are bound in closer fellowship.
Through hymn singing, Christians are instructed in the fundamentals of their faith.
Through hymn singing, Christians are sustained in daily life.

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 Soon afterwards he (Jesus) went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.

Notice that Jesus’ power to bring good news and healing to the cities and villages heavily depended on his followers providing for him from their resources.
      The same is true today, Jesus can do no mighty work in our city, unless we provide for his ministry through our resources of money, talents, and time.
      May we learn the joy of bringing our tithes and offerings for Christ’s work.
 

 In the spirit of Christ’s love,

 Howard

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