Online Worship - 10:00 a.m. (Link Below)
In-person Worship - 10:00 a.m.
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August Sermon Series:
On the Journey with God
Friends, we are on a journey with God. Along the way on this journey, God will call us again and again into a deeper relationship and remind us that He is with us. We are called to a deeper knowledge, trust and love of the Lord.
God knows our potential, and God is ever calling us to live into that potential. For as we walk with our Lord, we learn from Him. “All things are possible with God.”
Sunday, August 14th – Joshua 1:6-9, “Joshua’s encouragement”
Three times in His commissioning of Joshua, God admonished him to have courage: necessary courage to complete the task of conquering the land and dividing it among the tribes, the courage required to keep the Law of Moses, disregarding all the pressures to compromise, and courage as the remedy for fear.
GOD has promised to be with Joshua and has just two things to press on him: in the first place, to be strong and of a good courage; and in the second place, to make the book of the law his continual study and guide! In this way he shall be able to achieve the specific purpose to which he is called, to divide the land for an inheritance to the people, as God had sworn to their fathers; and likewise, more generally, to fulfil the conditions of a successful life - "Then you will be prosperous and successful."
Joshua was commanded to be strong and courageous. He was to draw his strength from the Lord God and was not to be dependent on his own strength. Had Joshua or the people of Israel sought to conquer the Promised Land by means of their own courage and strength, they would fail. Instead, they were to place their trust in the Lord, their God Who had promised to be with them wherever they went.
Joshua simply had to trust the Word of the Lord and act upon it. And we too are to know the truth of God's Word and to meditate on the promises of God, to trust in the truth of God's Word, and to follow the instructions that have been laid out in Scripture. We are to trust the Lord, believe on His Word, and stand firm in faith so that we too can "be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power... for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go... and His grace is sufficient."
Pastor Kalamba
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A Prayer Minister will be available at the back corner of Dunlap Hall, for at least 15 minutes after the benediction. Masks will be worn when requested.
Prayer Minister for August 14: Susan DeNyse
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The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish. Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah…And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights. -Jonah 1:1-3,17 (NLT)
Have you ever found yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time? Or maybe you were in the right place, but it was the wrong time? Some of you might even say you were in the wrong place, but it was the right time.
Several years ago, I was returning from a business trip on a flight from Philadelphia. Upon arriving at the gate I realized the flight # and destination didn’t match. I started to get anxious because I didn’t want to miss my flight. After showing my ticket to the gate agent, I was a little embarrassed when she pointed out that I was in the wrong terminal; Wrong place, right time.
In 1973, a rhythm & blues artist by the name of Dr. John wrote these lyrics to a song that rose to number 9 on the Pop charts top 100:
I been in the right place, But it must have been the wrong time
I'd of said the right thing, But I must have used the wrong line
I been in the right trip, But I must have used the wrong car. (Right place, wrong time).
Last Saturday afternoon 69-year-old, Patricia Lauricella, was a passenger in a car travelling south on Hamilton Avenue. Just a mile from here at the intersection of Hamilton Avenue and I 275, it collided violently with a tractor trailer, destroying both vehicles just down the road. Police are still investigating the cause of the accident, but looking at the photos one can assume that one of the vehicles was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Three of the vehicle’s occupants were transported to University Hospital but Patricia died at the scene; Wrong place, wrong time.
In our scripture reading, Jonah finds himself in the belly of a whale or great fish; Wrong place, wrong time. But here’s the difference, Jonah found himself in the wrong place and the wrong time because he chose to disobey God. He was supposed to go to Nineveh and warn the people but instead he ran away to Tarshish. Patricia didn’t choose to die last Saturday. She was not driving, so she had no control over when the vehicle would be in the wrong place at the wrong time. And even though I arrived at the airport at the right time, I didn’t choose to be in the wrong concourse.
For the past few weeks, Pastor Kalamba has been reminding us that when we enter the Sanctuary, we are in the right place because God has come to be with us, to meet with us, to fellowship with us, to feed us and shepherd us. Recall how he says, “we are like an Apple watch, we have to be plugged in to be recharged.” That is true the other six days of the week as well.
Here’s what I’ve learned. If I want to be sure I never find myself in the wrong place at the wrong time, in the right place at the wrong time, or even the wrong place at the right time, then I better be sure that I obediently walk in the path of righteousness, where “each step I take, my Savior goes before me.” “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6.
Blessings in Christ,
Dave
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Thank you so much for your understanding regarding financial statements this year. Your 7-month statements are in your mail folders in Dunlap Hall. Please double check them as I have been known to make the occasional mistake.
Tavane
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SAVE THE DATE - CHURCH PICNIC - SEPTEMBER 18 |
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S.O.U.L. Pantry Needs Bags & School Supplies
Here’s an easy way to help the pantry. We’ve been running out of grocery bags. If you have some you don’t need, bring them to church and put them in the Missions Closet. That’s a door right off the narthex. We’ll deliver them. Great way to help our S.O.U.L. clients and help the environment too!
They could also use more school supplies. Those can go in the grocery cart next to the Missions Closet.
Thanks for your ongoing support of our community through S.O.U.L.!
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Caring for our Friends
The care bag ministry has been neglected this summer. Between VBS, Pastor RJ leaving, and Pastor Kalamba coming, the care bags have been pushed aside. However, the bags, cards, and pens will be in the Narthex this Sunday.
For those of you who do not know about the care bag ministry, here is a quick explanation. Each bag has the name of a member of our church or a loved one of a church member on it. They are unable to attend church anymore usually for health reasons. The purpose of the bags is to put in notes or cards to let them know we are thinking of them. About four times a year the cards are delivered by a member who visits with them.
Our care bag recipients love getting the cards. You do not have to know them. Just a card or note to say thinking of you. They especially like pictures or notes from children.
The 3C Committee (connections, care, and compassion) provides donated cards each Sunday. You can also use your own cards or take cards home and bring them back the next Sunday. Put the card in the bag. It is that easy!
If you know of anyone who needs a care bag, please let Nancy Shreve or Kim Hutchison know. Thanks!
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Matthew 25 Volunteer Opportunities
A friendly reminder that our next opportunity to volunteer is:
- Saturday August 13th 2022 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
This is open to everyone in the congregation along with friends and family. Please do not be reluctant to volunteer. Our group is generally small and a great way to get to know someone else in the congregation!
If you are interested in volunteering please contact Larissa Waldorf at email: [email protected] (home) or [email protected] (work), or both, or call my cell phone 513-488-9169. I need to know who is planning to attend so I can report that to M25M so that they know how many people to expect.
We will meet at Matthew 25 Ministries at 11:00 AM. For your GPS the address is: 11060 Kenwood Road, Cincinnati, OH 45242
If you have any questions you can call Larissa on her cell phone at 513-488-9169.
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Festival of Sharing Hygiene Kits
This year we are focusing on Hygiene Kits because they are needed in every emergency situation.
They are due on Sunday, August 21st.
Each Hygiene Kit needs:
One hand towel
One washcloth
10 band aids
$2 for shipping
One wide tooth comb (packaging removed)
One fingernail or toenail clipper (packaging removed)
One bath size bar of soap in its package
One toothbrush in the original package
Pack all items in a one-gallon Ziplock bag
Thank you for caring for others in their most stressful times.
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Festival of Sharing Hygiene Kits - How-To Video |
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JWUMC Church Council (Unofficial) Minute Minutes
July 19, 2022
Financial Status (Marilyn and Sherri): “Everything is looking good. The congregation has been very faithful fulfilling their pledges.”
Trustees (Tavane): New shower and bathroom update in parsonage to be completed by professional plumber.
SPRC (Bill): Meet-the-Pastor opportunities for groups in homes being organized.
Calendar Review (Christie): Blessing of Pets being scheduled in early October.
Connections/CareCompassion (Nancy S.): Care, support, and luncheons were recently provided to two church families of recently-deceased members.
ELC (Kim): Enrollment for 22-23 approaching pre-pandemic levels.
UMW (no report): It was announced the UMW has re-branded to “United Women in Faith.”
Worship (Barb reporting for Media): Motion approved to move forward to purchase new digital, FCC-compliant sound system to enhance and improve in-church and streaming services.
Historian (Don B): “The United Methodist Church has faced many challenges throughout they years, but when we keep our eyes on God - everything always works out.”
Family/Student Ministries (Jennifer): Reaching out to other church youth groups to co-sponsor a festival or Trunk or Treat. Family outing for “Grease” and dinner at Old Spaghetti Factory set.
Lay Leader (Dave C.): 2022 attendance = 112 (in-church), 60 (virtual). Increase from 2021. A motion was made (and passed) on behalf of the former pastor’s group to re-direct and expand church-wide goal setting and direction to the Church Council in support of the Book of Discipline.
Pastor Kalamba Report: Thanks to the congregation for a warm welcome. Pastor and family are settiing-in their new home “bit-by-bit.” Parsonage Open House to be scheduled when all is ready.
Pastor Kalamba discussed at-length the disaffiliation of some U.S. conservative-leaning United Methodist churches forming a new Global Methodist Church. The 2024 General Conference (UMC) will create specific guidelines surrounding property ownership, pastor pensions, and other issues related to disaffiliation.
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