CHANGING TIDES February 2011 - morrobayumc.org · CHANGING TIDES February 2020 Estero Bay United...
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CHANGING TIDES February 2020 Estero Bay United Methodist Church, 3000 Hemlock Ave. Morro Bay, CA 93442 Why Should Today Be Different? Sunrise, sunset. Sunrise, sunset. Yes, it comes out of a musical. You may remember it. So easily one day turns into another and we cycle from one day to another, and too often succumb to a dissatisfying sameness. Once in a while we wake up and realize that there could be more to life if we added more to the cycle or took something useless or mundane out of the cycle. Actually if the cycle could be changed or stopped to allow something new to excite us or inspire us then life could become more. Yet, I cycle as a sport and activity… For those of us who are serious about our spiritual development, even the day to day ironies of our existence add to the meaning and value of our lives. After all, we religious folks created ritual as a way of reminding and developing us into who we want to be. Cycles can be quite valuable. In the wonder of our lives we can have cycles of ritual, but also go beyond that into creative acts that are beyond our rituals and cycles. Sunday is a ritual cycle that, when used and nurtured, becomes the central day of our week which sustains our week. I have added Wednesday night to my ritual because I want more. It’s like putting a turbo on Sunday and flooring the accelerator. Sunday is delightfully predictable in a lot of ways. Wednesday night is the opposite: I love not knowing what will happen when you get people together and let them talk. Both sustain and nurture our individual spirits and shared spirituality. Our worship is supplemented by Wednesday bible study. Depending on who is there and how much coffee they’ve had, that can be delightfully unpredictable as well. Yet our congregation deserves more and needs more. This is a time when I am looking to create and present groups and gatherings that will treat some of the areas in our lives that need to be touched. As importantly, this is a time to do some of the activities we design and participate in that are apart from our church campus. We used to do this thing called evangelism. Now, that smacks of opening the door and finding a Jehovah’s Witness looking at us with missionary zeal and intent. We don’t want to coerce or show up uninvited or undesired. But we need to show up with what we can offer to our towns. This is an act of hospitality and care. If what we do is important to us, and we can feel it in the doing of it, then others can feel the importance of it and make a choice about engaging us spiritually. This church is very good about providing what it can for the community, generally to those in our community who have less rather than more. Providing a spiritual lift and cycle of hope is at least equally important as the other things we provide. My vision is real and practical. We can share days built upon cycles of crucial spiritual stability and intense times of creative spiritual nurture. It seems to me that both are of essential importance. Think about what you need spiritually. Then tell me so we can design it and make it happen. And then take it out to our community. Why should today be different? Because we are blessed to have every day: in its ritual depth and creative difference. Stephen
Transcript of CHANGING TIDES February 2011 - morrobayumc.org · CHANGING TIDES February 2020 Estero Bay United...
CHANGING TIDES February 2020
Estero Bay United Methodist Church, 3000 Hemlock Ave. Morro Bay, CA 93442
Why Should Today Be Different?
Sunrise, sunset. Sunrise, sunset. Yes, it comes out of a musical. You may remember it. So easily one day turns into another and we cycle from one day to another, and too often succumb to a dissatisfying sameness. Once in a while we wake up and realize that there could be more to life if we added more to the cycle or took something useless or mundane out of the cycle. Actually if the cycle could be changed or stopped to allow something new to excite us or inspire us then life could become more. Yet, I cycle as a sport and activity… For those of us who are serious about our spiritual development, even the day to day ironies of our existence add to the meaning and value of our lives. After all, we religious folks created ritual as a way of reminding and developing us into who we want to be. Cycles can be quite valuable. In the wonder of our lives we can have cycles of ritual, but also go beyond that into creative acts that are beyond our rituals and cycles. Sunday is a ritual cycle that, when used and nurtured, becomes the central day of our week which sustains our week. I have added Wednesday night to my ritual because I want more. It’s like putting a turbo on Sunday and flooring the accelerator. Sunday is delightfully predictable in a lot of ways. Wednesday night is the opposite: I love not knowing what will happen when you get people together and let them talk. Both sustain and nurture our individual spirits and shared spirituality. Our worship is supplemented by Wednesday bible study. Depending on who is there and how much coffee they’ve had, that can be delightfully unpredictable as well. Yet our congregation deserves more and needs more. This is a time when I am looking to create and present groups and gatherings that will treat some of the areas in our lives that need to be touched. As importantly, this is a time to do some of the activities we design and participate in that are apart from our church campus. We used to do this thing called evangelism. Now, that smacks of opening the door and finding a Jehovah’s Witness looking at us with missionary zeal and intent. We don’t want to coerce or show up uninvited or undesired. But we need to show up with what we can offer to our towns. This is an act of hospitality and care. If what we do is important to us, and we can feel it in the doing of it, then others can feel the importance of it and make a choice about engaging us spiritually. This church is very good about providing what it can for the community, generally to those in our community who have less rather than more. Providing a spiritual lift and cycle of hope is at least equally important as the other things we provide. My vision is real and practical. We can share days built upon cycles of crucial spiritual stability and intense times of creative spiritual nurture. It seems to me that both are of essential importance. Think about what you need spiritually. Then tell me so we can design it and make it happen. And then take it out to our community. Why should today be different? Because we are blessed to have every day: in its ritual depth and creative difference. Stephen
All Are Invited to Our
Annual Spaghetti Dinner Tuesday, February 25, 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Live Music and Sing A Long
Adults $12.00, Kids 4 - 13 $5.00, Kids under 4 – Free
Purchase tickets at the church office, from church members, UMCC Preschool or at the door.
Estero Bay United Methodist Church 3000 Hemlock Ave. Morro Bay
Fundraiser proceeds support Global Missions of the United Methodist Church.
Esther Sisters We’re Moving Our Date!
Esther Sisters will be moving our monthly
meeting date to Wednesday of each month
beginning with the February meeting, which
will be Wednesday February 12th.
The group is open to all ladies of the church
and their friends.
Our lesson focus will be Isaiah 40:25-31
“What does it mean to hope in the Lord”?
Come at Noon, bring a sack lunch and your Bible.
Soup-er-Bowl Sunday
February 2
We are giving a nod to the big game by
celebrating soup! Bring in one or two of your
favorite soups to be donated to the Salvation
Army. Monetary donations are also being
accepted into our large soup pot to put
toward our Vet’s Hall Dinner Ministry.
Our Church News
Sunday, February 9 at 11:15 am Finance Committee Meeting
Wednesday, February 12, Noon Esther Sisters Lunch and Bible Study
Sunday, February 23 Church Council Meeting 11:15 am
Fat Tuesday Spaghetti Dinner
Tuesday, February 25, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm What you can do - Sign up to serve, sell tickets,
distribute posters, invite friends. See the signup sheet posted in the Narthex.
February Lectionary February 2 Micah 6:1-8, Psalm 15
1 Corinthians 1:18-31 Matthew 5:1-12
February 9 Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12) Psalm 112:1-9 (10) 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-6) Matthew 5:13-20
February 16 Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Psalm 119:1-8 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 Matthew 5:21-37
February 23 Exodus 24:12-18, Psalm 2 or Psalm 99, 2 Peter 1:16-21 Matthew 17:1-9
Please check out the Worship Assistance Signup Calendars
as there is a new addition! We need one person to volunteer for Communion
Stewardship on the first Sunday of each month, to bring grape juice and bread. The bread and juice are prepared and
placed upon the Altar. Any questions please ask Pastor Stephen or check in at the office.
Many thanks!
Children’s Center
February News & Happenings
Community Heart Program
This month are celebrating the season of love with our Community Heart Program and
Prosocial development. Join us in this great and empowering lesson of life and love.
We will be giving Community Hearts to friends who are being good community helpers. This
lesson of love helps each child understand they play an important role in day to day life and that
they are active and valuable members of our community.
Please take a heart from your child’s class, share an observation and return heart to your child’s teacher. These hearts will be shared in class and hung on our Community Heart Tree.
Here are a few examples: Sara Age 3- Sara ate all her dinner and helped wash dishes. Great job
Sara! Thank you for helping your family.
Ben Age 4- When visiting the park, Ben and Mommy picked up some trash that was left at the park.
Thanks for helping keep our parks clean.
We hold these Friends and Members in Prayer
Diana Darby & Family Theresa MacKinnon Jeff Derbas Alexandra McClintock Gretchen Foran Carolyn Neuman Joyce Fox Gary Reddish Brian Hillenburg Jane Rhine Nancy Hillenburg Arlene Stone Mickie Hooks Greg Stone
To all of our friends and members for the generosity and support shown to staff and
clergy for gifts at Christmas.
i
Prayer for the New Year
Gracious God, giver of new beginnings,
we come to you today, confessing our need.
As we face this coming year,
help us through each day.
As we leave the year behind,
help us look to you.
When we face birth or death;
when we confront a time to plant or to
uproot, help us put our faith in you.
When we see a time to tear down or build up;
When we face a time to weep or laugh;
When we meet a time to be silent or a time to
speak, help us rely on you.
You alone know what the coming year
holds.
You alone know of our small triumphs and
our grand failures.
Gracious God, assure us once again that there
is forgiveness in your love.
Heal us with the knowledge
That our sins may be left with you, through
our savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Estero Bay United Methodist Church Mailing Address: PO Box 234, Morro Bay, CA 93443 3000 Hemlock Avenue, Morro Bay, CA 93442 Website: http://www.morrobayumc.org 805 772-7644 email: [email protected]
Changing Tides Newsletter February 2020
Estero Bay United Methodist Church
Please join us for Sunday Worship 9:45 am. Joyful Noise Singing 9:00 am
All are Welcome!
February 2020 Calendar
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1
2 Joyful Noise 9:00 am Sunday Worship 9:45am Communion Souper Sunday
3 4 AA Men’s 8:00 pm
5 Bible Study 10 am Evening Worship 6:30 pm
6
7
8
9 Joyful Noise 9:00 am Sunday Worship 9:45am Finance Meeting 11:15 am
10
11
AA Men’s 8:00 pm
12 Bible Study 10 am Esther Sisters Lunch & Meeting Noon Evening Worship 6:30 pm
13 Esther Sisters Lunch & Meeting Noon
14
15
16 Joyful Noise 9:00 am Sunday Worship 9:45am
17
18 AA Men’s 8:00 pm
19
Bible Study 10 am Evening Worship 6:30 pm
20
21
Articles & announcements due for March newsletter
22
23 Joyful Noise 9:00 am Sunday Worship 9:45am
Council Meeting 11:15am
24 25 Spaghetti Dinner 5:00-7:00pm AA Men’s 8:00 pm
26 Ash Wednesday Bible Study 10 am Evening Worship 6:30pm
27 28 29
1 The Abingdon Worship Annual 2020
