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Pastoral Care Response Line: 999-4887 For current news go to www.canterburyumc.orgTo comment on this article, go to Dr. Bill Morgan’s Blog at http://billmorgancanterbury.wordpress.com.
Bill Morgan, Senior Minister
Sunday, March 29
weekly words from bill morgan
8:15 a.m. New Traditions • Rev. Julie Holly10:30 a.m. Traditional • Dr. Bill Morgan
10:30 a.m. Contemporary • Rev. Drew ClaytonThe WAY will not meet due to Spring Break.
BETWEEN FIRST AND LAST BREATHS
God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7
Somewhere amid the melee of our books is The Relatives Came, a children’s story about relatives who come to stay a few days with the boy and his family. Cousins, aunts, uncles, and other sundry relatives gather in the small house. They eat, laugh, and talk together. The kids romp outside together. Maybe there are some slurpy aunt kisses to be endured. Far more family than beds, each night there are pallets galore all over the house. All the sleep sounds, snoring and sighing, the boy listens and enjoys what he calls “all that breathing”.
Friday and Saturday last week encapsulated for me our lives together as people, family, and church. Early Friday morning, Anjali Ella Clayton, daughter of Joanna and Drew, took her first earth breath. Forgive me for taking the liberty of picturing 9-hour old Anjali with me, many breaths and hours older. Takes my breath and causes me to take a deep breath to imagine all in store for Anjali in her human, church, and home family life. (This was reinforced Sunday in the wonderful get-to of baptizing three baby girls.)
Saturday morning, after seventy-eight years, Rev. Bill Gunn completed his earth breathing. This is undeniably the end of something, but our faith is it is more the beginning of something. Paul says “eye cannot see, ear cannot hear, nor mind comprehend, what God has prepared for those who love him.” Still, the loss of the teacher, preacher, parson, person Bill among us is palpable. Yet through the mystery of the Communion of Saints, Bill is far from through with us or we with him. Through mysterious channels we experience but cannot explain, AND through Betty and his family who live and breathe and move among us, Bill abides here.
On a personal note, also on Friday, there was a family graveside service for my brother Bobby, though he preferred Robert. I have not had much occasion to speak about my brother here at Canterbury. Not because it is a secret but because it is such a long, complicated story. Good at heart, Bobby had an up and down, in and out of troubles, life. Well, a flood of memories of his 56 years intertwine with a host of family members he has joined. Within a couple of days of his death, I sighed and chuckled, “Darn and bless him. He drove me crazy, but I already miss him.”
Whatever else a church is, it is a community of people who breathe together, sometimes laugh, other times cry and sigh together. Not a one of us fails to drive someone, sometime crazy. And they us. Yet we live and breathe and move in a mystery from whom we come and return. That mystery is made known to us through Jesus, who never gives up and is never through with us.
Thanksgiving for the life ofWilliam l. gunn 3/11/1937 – 3/21/2015
Canterbury to host new york times best-selling author, bob goff — Wednesday, April 1, 6 p.m., Wesley Hall — Free!
beginnings: make Canterbury your ChurCh home! At “Beginnings,” you will learn about and experience the vibrant worship, learning, and service opportunities available at Canterbury for your spiritual growth. We will kick-off this session with a complimentary lunch for the whole family on April 12 at 11:30 a.m. in the Dining Room. Classes will be held at 9:15 a.m. on 4/19, 4/26, 5/3 & 5/17 in the Dining Room. To RSVP for lunch and register for classes, please contact [email protected] by 4/7/15.
human traffiCking: what it is & what we Can Do about it — A series of lectures to address this very real and present danger in Birmingham will be held in Wesley Hall from 6-7:15 p.m., Wednesdays, April 8 through 29. Featured speakers include General Charles Krulak, Linda Flaherty-Goldsmith, Tajuan McCarty, Dr. David Smolin, and Scotty Loveless. All sessions are open tothe public. For information, contact Dr. Oliver Clark at [email protected].
stePhen ministry training— You can be part of Canterbury’s compassionate Congregational Care Ministry, providing much needed listening and a conduit for Christ to those experiencing life’s troubles. Classes begin Friday, April 17. For information and to sign up, contact Bob Rentschler at [email protected] or Sam Williamson at [email protected].
umw tea anD tablesCaPes funDraiser: Join us on Sunday, April 19, 2-4:30 p.m. in Canterbury Hall for this annual event. Silent auction from 2-3:15 p.m. with iced tea served at 3:30 p.m. Contact event co-chairs Clayton Walton, 602-1135 or Shannon Wadlington, 410-7731. Tickets may be purchased at the receptionist desk.
sCheDuling rooms anD events —If you would like to reserve a room for a Bible study, ministry activity, community event, etc. for the 2015-2016 academic year (through May 2016) now is the time! Please contact Ellen Thomas at [email protected] or 874-1533 for all Bible studies and Laura Dabbs at [email protected] or 874-1561 for all other events. No Bible study, meeting or event automatically renews. Please contact Ellen or Laura at your earliest convenience.
eviDenCe for the resurreCtion of Christ— presented in a compelling visual presentation by popular speaker, Warren Lightfoot on Tuesday, March 31st at noon in Wesley Hall. A legal expert, Mr. Lightfoot will examine the historical evidence that Christ was raised from the dead. As we approach Easter Sunday, let us gather to hear those things which will encourage our intrinsically Christian hope in The Resurrection of the Son of God. A light lunch will be served. Please call Lauren @ 871-4695 or email [email protected] for a lunch reservation.
the brown bag ProJeCt at Canterbury Brown Bag is closed this week for Holy Week/Spring Break. We will resume our regular schedule on Wednesday, April 8th. For more information, please contact Susan Dowdey at 874-1569 or [email protected].
avonDale brown bag at samaritan PlaCe Pick up: (No pick up on the 4/3) Pick up on 4/10, 17 & 24
Pack: 3/29, (No pack on the 5th EASTER), Pack on 4/12, 19 & 26(Palm Sunday packing for April 6th Distribution.)
Distribute: (No distribution on 30th) 4/6, 13, 20, and 27
on sunDay, marCh 22, a rose was on the sanCtuary leCtern ... In honor of Anjali Ella Clayton born March 20th to Drew and Joanna Clayton.
flowers on the sanCtuary altar are PlaCeD in honor of... Lucy Baldwin Johnston & Richard Nolan Sanders who were united in Holy Matrimony in the Sanctuary on March 28.
our symPathy... • To Lou Ann Sherling in the death of her brother, Jesse Perry McLeod of Quitman, Georgia.
in the hosPital as of 3/24/15...• St. Vincents Lindsey Norman• Shelby Baptist Marianne Fuhrmeister• UAB Ted Doster• Brookdale Rehab Charles Peay, Barbara Harper• Lakeshore John Lovin• MD Anderson Walter Berry
STATIONS OF THE CROSS AT CANTERBURYFor centuries, the fourteen Stations of the Cross have helped guide Christians on a spiritual pilgrimage through prayer and meditation at scenes of Christ’s suffering and death. Experience that spiritual journey of prayer at Canterbury. Throughout Holy Week, Palm Sunday, March 29th — Holy Saturday, April 4, Stations of the Cross will be located along our Upper Commons hallway leading to the Sanctuary. Art panels and special prayers at each station are inspired by sites along the Via Dolorosa as it winds through the streets of Jerusalem.
For a complete listing of this year’s Holy Week events and Easter Worship times, visit our website at http://www.canterburyumc.org/easter2015.
Sunday, March 29thAA Sunday Morning Group, M208 8:00 a.m.Transportation from Brookdale Place 9:00 a.m.New Traditions, Chapel, Rev. Julie Holly 8:15 a.m.Combined Adult Sunday School, M226 9:15 a.m. Adult Sunday School, Various Locations 9:15 a.m.Children & Youth Sunday School, Various Locations 9:15 a.m.Traditional Worship, Dr. Bill Morgan 10:30 a.m.Contemporary Worship, Rev. Drew Clayton 10:30 a.m.
Monday, March 30Mother’s Prayer Group, A127 8:00 a.m.Carpenter’s Hands (M-Th), Meet lower level parking deck, Offsite 8:15 a.m.Playcare, C121 (by reservation Mon-Th) 9:00 a.m.AA Women’s Acceptance, M142 (M, W & F) 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 31Men’s Bible Study, A123 6:30 a.m.Mom’s Prayer Group w/Susan Yarbro, M136 8:00 a.m.Canterbury Fitness (T, Th, F), M129 8:30 a.m.Mali’s Prayer Group, Chapel 8:30 a.m.Bible Study with Laura Sisson, A123 9:00 a.m.Evidence of the Resurrection of Christ, M209 Noon
Holy Week Wednesday, April 1Core Disciples, A127 6:30 a.m.Bill Morgan’s Bible Study, A122 7:30 a.m.Brown Bag Project, CLOSED Service of Healing and Reconciliation, Rev. Sheri Ferguson, Chapel Noon
Stephen Ingram’s Lenten Bible Study, M200 12:00 p.m.Lent Study with Annie Skinner, A123 1:00 p.m.Bob Goff, Wesley Hall 6:00 p.m.We Make the Road by Walking, M200 6:00 p.m.The WAY Small Group, M142 6:00 p.m.Bells of Canterbury, M119 6:00 p.m.CrossRoads Rehearsal, Canterbury Center 7:00 p.m.Choir Rehearsal, M128 7:00 p.m.
Maundy Thursday, April 2The Wilderness Bible Study Group, A122 6:30 a.m.Thursday Morning Men’s Group, A123 7:00 a.m.Living Bible Study, A123 8:00 a.m.Bible Study with Temple, A127 9:30 a.m.Women at the Well, M226 10:00 a.m.Sandwich Generation, A127 11:30 a.m.Communion Service, Rev. Warren Nash, Chapel NoonCommunion Service, Rev. Julie Holly, Chapel 6:00 p.m.
Good Friday, April 3Church Offices Close at NoonGood Friday Service, Dr. Oliver Clark, Sanctuary NoonBrown Bag Project, CLOSEDTenebrae Service, Rev. Drew Clayton, Chapel 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 4AA Saturday Morning Group, M204 8:00 a.m.Al-Anon Saturday Morning Meeting, M209 8:00 a.m.
THiS WEEk AT CAnTERBURy
His Encouraging word - Incline your ear and come unto me. Hear and your soul shall live. – Isaiah 55:3
CAnTERBURy DAy SCHooL opEninGS FoR FALL 2015 3’s (M/T/Th) — Your child must be 3 years old by September 1, 2015. 4’s (M-Th) — Your child must be 4 years old by September 1, 2015. 5k (M-F) — Your child must by 5 years old by September 1, 2015.
Please call Linda Wingo (874-1541) for more information.
houses for Change (Benefiting the Family Promise Network) — Help your child help the homeless this Lenten Season: Canterbury Children ages 2 years through 6th Grade will be helping others this Lenten Season by collecting loose change in boxes they decorate to look like tiny houses. All houses due by Sunday, April 12th. For more information, contact [email protected].
