Newsletter of Archer United Methodist Church March 2015 -Volume 3 Lent!Rumors? Rumors! I am often amazed at how quickly rumors can spread, and how wrong they can be! Sometimes I think about how do they get started in the first place, is someone really meaning well, or are we just wanting to share the latest of what we have heard with a little embellishment regardless of whether or not what we heard was ac- tually true. It is so easy to share something that we have heard, without checking to see if it actually is true. I would also question what our motive behind s haring the information in t he first place. If it is not encourage- ment, and it is not con structive criticism (note that in order for it to be constructive it at least has to be said to the person themselves), then what is our purpose in sharing it? We are currently in the season of Lent. Lent is a time to self-reflect, to focus on living simpler lives, praying, and reading Scripture in order to draw closer to God. Lent represents the 40 days that Jesus spent in the wilderness praying. During this time he was tempted by Satan, and found clarity and strength to resis t temptation. It is so easy to get caught up in our d aily lives and we can be filled with distractions that prevent us from living a lif e with Christ. Lent is a time when we repent, r eturn to God and re - focus our lives to be more in line with Jesus. It’s a way for us to change our lifestyle 40 days at a time. Some people have been known to give up something like candy, tv, carbonated drinks, meat, to name a few. What do you ne ed to let go of or ‘fast’ from in order to focus on God? What clutters your calendar and your life? How can you simplify your life in terms of what you eat, wear or do? Other Christians will take something on during Lent, perhaps collecting food, volunteering an hour a week, commit to helping someone each week. Serving others is one way we serve God. Lent is also a time to spend in intentional prayer. You can pray while you walk, create music or art as a prayer to God, or savor a time of quiet li stening. All can be ways of becoming mor e in tune with God. This Lent I would encourage all of us to think about what we share with others, and be mindful of what our motives are about sharing in an effort to be more Christ-like. ~Pastor CoryMARCHGREETERS LITURGISTS FELLOWSHIP 1st: De an & Lissa John sonSean LaneJim & Pam Thornton8th : Dar & Mar y Rusche Carol McDowellBarry & Linda Nieuwenhuis 15th:Stan & Ja ne Schwar tz Steve Landhuis Vernon & Vione Nieuwenhuis 22nd:Leo & Sheryl KuiperLinda PorterMark & Wendy Lane29th: Roxann Baker Pam ThorntonStan & Jane Schwartz
Newsletter of Archer United Methodist Church March 2015
- Volume 3
Lent! Rumors? Rumors! I am often amazed at how quickly
rumors can spread, and
how wrong they can be! Sometimes I think about how do they get
started in the first place, is someone really meaning well,
or are we just wanting to share the
latest of what we have heard with a little embellishment regardless
of whether or not what we heard was ac-
tually true. It is so easy to share something that we have heard,
without checking to see if it actually is true. I would also
question what our motive behind sharing the information in the
first place. If it is not encourage-
ment, and it is not constructive criticism (note that in order for
it to be constructive it at least has to be said to
the person themselves), then what is our purpose in sharing
it?
We are currently in the season of Lent. Lent is a time to
self -reflect, to focus on living simpler lives,
praying, and reading Scripture in order to draw closer to
God. Lent represents the 40 days that Jesus spent in the wilderness
praying. During this time he was tempted by Satan, and found
clarity and strength to resist
temptation. It is so easy to get caught up in our daily lives and
we can be filled with distractions that prevent
us from living a life with Christ. Lent is a time when we repent,
return to God and re- focus our lives to be more in line with
Jesus. It’s a way for us to change our lifestyle 40 days at a
time.
Some people have been known to give up something like candy, tv,
carbonated drinks, meat, to name a
few. What do you need to let go of or ‘fast’ from in order to
focus on God? What clutters your calendar and your life? How
can you simplify your life in terms of what you eat, wear or
do?
Other Christians will take something on during Lent, perhaps
collecting food, volunteering an hour a
week, commit to helping someone each week. Serving others is one
way we serve God.
Lent is also a time to spend in intentional prayer. You can
pray while you walk, create music or art as a prayer to God, or
savor a time of quiet listening. All can be ways of becoming more
in tune with God.
This Lent I would encourage all of us to think about what we share
with others, and be mindful of
what our motives are about sharing in an effort to be more
Christ -like.
~Pastor Cory
8th : Dar & Mar y Rusche Carol McDowell Barry &
Linda Nieuwenhuis
15th: Stan & Jane Schwar tz Steve Landhuis
Vernon & Vione Nieuwenhuis
22nd: Leo & Sheryl Kuiper Linda
Porter Mark & Wendy Lane
29th: Roxann Baker Pam Thornton Stan & Jane
Schwartz