Kathie's Korner April 2012 UPCToday

“They hurried away from the tomb in awe and great joy, and ran to tell the disciples.”     Matthew 28:8 NEB

What an amazing testimony and role model! On the Sunday morning following the crucifixion some of the women who had followed Jesus went to the tomb where his body had been laid. They took with them salves and oils for embalming his body. The burial on Friday had been temporary. The Sabbath was fast approaching and they didn’t have time to make complete preparations. Sunday morning they came back to finish. What they found came as a complete surprise to them. The body they came prepared to embalm was gone. The burial clothes were there, but the body itself was missing. On top of that, there was a young man there who told them that Jesus, whom they had seen die, was actually alive and waiting for them.

Imagine their surprise – their shock. Their world had already been turned upside down when Jesus was killed. And now it had taken another spin. Not dead? Raised? ALIVE!!!

Their reaction was amazing. Matthew tells us they RAN…no stumbling, no hiding…they RAN to tell the others – to proclaim this wonderful good news which they had been told. What an amazing testimony and role model for us. What do we do? On Easter Sunday we will hear this wonderful news proclaimed. Christ is Risen! What will you do? This year why don’t you step out in faith? RUN and TELL others that Christ is risen!

Shalom,

Kathie's Korner March 2012 UPCToday

Lent is the forty days before Easter not counting Sundays. Lent provides us an opportunity for reflection on our relationship with God. Good questions for reflection include “What exactly is my relationship with God?” and “Just what did Jesus do for me and how do I respond to that?” During March in worship we are going to reflect on our relationship with God through looking at four Biblical covenants or promises – four examples of the relationship between God and people. On March 4 in “A Boatload of Promises” we’ll look at the covenant that God made with all people through Noah. On March 11 we’ll look at the covenant that God made with Abraham and Sarah as we see how “God’s Promise Changes Things”. On March 18 we’ll consider the permanency of covenants as we look at Moses and the Ten Commandments in “Promises of Stone”. Finally, on March 25 we’ll look at the new covenant God promises the people in “The Promise Renewed”. Elsewhere in this newsletter you’ll find the scripture passages for each Sunday. I encourage you to read those before worship each week.

The idea of covenant between God and God’s people is a very ancient one. It runs throughout both Old and New Testaments and continues even today. As you reflect on your relationship with God during this Lenten season, join jus for worship and explore your part in this ancient covenant.

See you in church,

Kathie's Korner February 2012 UPCToday

Valentines Day is this month and, with that, many of our thoughts turn to love. When we think about love in the Bible we often turn to 1Corinthians 13, sometimes known as the love chapter. This chapter, a frequent favorite at weddings, ends with these words: “now faith, hope and love abide, and the greatest of these is love.” The chapter reminds us that love is all-powerful, all-forgiving, all-sufficient. Other scripture passages about love include Jesus’ reminder to “love one another as I have loved you” and, of course “For God so loved the world that he sent his only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but shall have eternal life.” God’s love for us is sacrificial. God’s love is costly. God loves us so much that Jesus went to the cross.

What does this mean for us? It means salvation. It means forgiveness. What does it require from us? Jesus told us: “love one another as I have loved you.” How do we love like that? How do we love like Jesus? When we love someone we share what we have with them. Sometimes that’s our money – sometimes it’s food or gifts or friendship. This month, during this season of love, share God with someone. If you’re comfortable with it, tell someone about a time that God made a difference in your life. If you’re not ready for that, you can share a devotional or inspirational book or perhaps a Bible. Invite them to church or to a church activity – better yet, bring them with you.

As you read through this newsletter check out what’s going on and ask God how you can demonstrate your love another this month.

See you in church,

Kathie's Korner January 2012 UPCToday

The session has approved a budget for 2012. At $222,558.84 it is about $8,000 less than the 2011 budget. This amounts to just about a 3.5% decrease. The budget will be reviewed by the session quarterly. The session teams worked long and hard on this budget and should be commended for their diligence and hard work.

One of the potential money-savers that has been proposed a couple of times would be to eliminate one of our secretarial positions. The session is unwilling to move in this direction and has asked me to explain to you just how much Bobbi and Melissa do.

Bobbi’s official title is Office Manager / Bookkeeper. She is responsible for all things financial. She pays our bills and makes out our payroll. She makes deposits and keeps track of special offerings and designated giving. She keeps all of our financial records and prepares all of our financial reports. These include government reports and keeping up with ever-changing laws and tax-codes and requirements as well as our monthly financial statement, annual financial report, and quarterly giving records. In addition to her financial responsibilities, Bobbi is the keeper of the official church calendar. Anyone wanting to schedule an event at the church goes through her. She also maintains our church records. These include membership lists and minutes of meetings. As Office Manager, Bobbi is also responsible for ordering equipment and supplies for the office and the church in general. And, the amazing part of all this is that she gets all of this done with great proficiency and professionalism, in twenty hours each week.

Melissa is our secretary / receptionist. For many people she is the face and voice of our church. Melissa is the first person people see when they walk in the office and she is the one who answers the phone and handles many of the questions people have. Melissa is responsible for the weekly bulletin and informational email we send out. She produces the monthly newsletter and the annual report. Soon she will be putting together an updated directory of members’ addresses and phone numbers. Melissa maintains our mailing lists and our attendance records. In addition to all of these things, Melissa has taken on the added responsibility of volunteer coordinator. She schedules volunteers to serve as liturgist, fellowship host, communion servers, welcomer, worship crew and meals-on-wheels. Melissa manages to get all of this done in fifteen hours each week.

As pastor, I want to thank both Bobbi and Melissa, along with the rest of our staff for all that they do and for their dedication to their jobs. Because of them our office operates very smoothly and I’m able to do what I do.

Kathie's Korner December 2011 UPCToday

“There were shepherds camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:8-12 (The Message)

The angel brought a new and radical message to the shepherds that night so long ago – so long ago that the message has become lost in the traditions that have surrounded it. Angels are messengers – that’s what the word ‘angel’ actually means – and that’s what the angels in the Bible did – they brought messages – messages from God to the people of God. The message this angel brought was a message of hope – a message of promise – at long last the promised Savior had been born. The shepherds went to see the baby and they, in turn, became messengers – sharing this good news with everyone they met.

We are to be messengers. It is up to us to continue to pass on this wonderful message. The need for this is increasingly important. While we may want to believe that we live in a Christian culture, the percentage of people who do not attend church is on the rise – even in Freeport. Even among churchgoers, we’ve often lost sight of the message. We come to church looking for a baby. We come on Christmas Eve and want to hear pretty music and see the church decorated. We come for us and we keep the message to ourselves. We forget that Jesus is Savior and we think of him as a helpless baby. We forget that Jesus wants to be Lord of our lives and we desire praise and respect for ourselves.

Come to church during Advent – this year our theme is “Sing to the Lord a New Song”. It is a privilege to sing the announcement of the birth of Jesus. When you hear Christmas music, imagine yourself proclaiming the birth of Jesus.

Come to church on Christmas Eve – come as the shepherds did to the manger that night – come to see this awesome Savior who has come to redeem us. Then go out, transformed as the shepherds were, transformed into messengers, sharing this wonderful GOOD NEWS with everyone you meet.