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from Rev. C. Nels Ledwell

 

 

During the past few weeks I have been working on our proposed by-laws and doctrines as we seek to become an independent Church. As we approach Trinity Sunday, I share with you one of the Creeds that I have included in our proposed doctrinal statement.

 

The Nicene Creed is a statement of belief widely used in Christian liturgy. It is called Nicene because it was originally adopted in the city of Nicaea (present day İznik, Turkey) by the First Council of Nicaea in 325.

 

We believe in one God,
   the Father almighty,
   maker of heaven and earth,
   of all things visible and invisible.

 

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
   the only Son of God,
   begotten from the Father before all ages,
      God from God,
      Light from Light,
      true God from true God,
   begotten, not made;
   of the same essence as the Father.
   Through him all things were made.
   For us and for our salvation
      he came down from heaven;
      he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,
      and was made human.
      He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;
      he suffered and was buried.
      The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures.
      He ascended to heaven
      and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
      He will come again with glory
      to judge the living and the dead.
      His kingdom will never end.

 

And we believe in the Holy Spirit,
   the Lord, the giver of life.
   He proceeds from the Father and the Son,
   and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.
   He spoke through the prophets.
   We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.
   We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
   We look forward to the resurrection of the dead,
   and to life in the world to come. Amen.

________________________________________

 

The Nicene Creed (325-381 A.D.) provides a fuller explanation of the Christian faith. It is called Nicene because a general council of the church, similar to Vatican II held in the 1960s, met in the city of Nicaea in Asia Minor. The Council was called to deal with the heresy of Arianism, which was a denial of the Trinity. The Nicene Creed goes into more detail than the Apostles’ Creed on the Trinity and the person of Jesus.

 

A final version of the creed was formulated by another Council which met in Constantinople in 381 A.D. The creed is and has been from the start a topic of contention. In 598 a provincial church council meeting in Toledo, Spain, added the “filioque clause” which says that the Holy Spirit proceeded from the Father “and the Son.” This added clause was accepted by the Western but not the Eastern church. It became one of the causes of the schism between East and West in 1064 A.D. Today the clause is still proving to be a stumbling block to closer relations with the Eastern Orthodox church. The Nicene Creed is familiar to most churchgoers in liturgical churches, because it is used in the worship service on festivals and certain seasons such as Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter.

 

Next week I will show you another ancient creed.

 

See you in church this Sunday or online. We will recite the Nicene Creed.
Nels

 

Trinity Sunday and Holy Communion

Scripture Lesson: Matthew 28: 16-20

Message: “The Commissioned Pentecostal Church”

 

Jimmy Fortune, one of my favorite singer/songwriters, sang tenor with the Statler Brothers until they disbanded in 2002. He has written and recorded many good songs, but one that is so appropriate as we just observed Memorial Day is “More Than a Name on a Wall”. Jimmy says he does not take credit for writing such a powerful song. He credits the Good Lord above for allowing him to be the catalyst for His message. “It’s a song that I felt – it’s from God – it just happened to pass through me,” Jimmy says. “I really feel it’s a message from God to the people that He means to hear it.”

 

“I had seen where there was a lot of controversy about The Wall, the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC,” he said. So, he made a trip to Washington to see all of the war memorials. When he got to the Vietnam Memorial, he said you couldn’t help but be amazed at how the more than 58,000 names on that wall seemed to go on forever.

 

As he got closer, he began to listen to the stories being shared, one especially from a mother caught his attention. She was tracing a name on the wall and her tears were coming down as she left a little note there. “I just listened to her talk into the wall and that just struck me as I stood there.” He returned home and within an hour he and fellow songwriter John Rimel had written the song. Twenty-seven years after its release, the song has stood the test of time – it has healed, honored, and reminded us of the sacrifices made by many. The powerful words of the song follow, but if you would like to listen to it, just click on the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FayaORYB9dg

 

I saw her from a distance, as she walked up to the wall
In her hand she held some flowers, as her tears began to fall
She took out pen and paper as to trace her memories
She looked up to heaven, and the words she said were these

 

She said, “He really missed the family, being home on Christmas day
And he died for God and country in a place so far away
I remember just a little boy, playing war since he was three
And Lord this time I know, he’s not coming home to me”

 

She said, “Lord my boy was special, and he meant so much to me
And Oh, I’d love to see him just one more time you see
All I have are the memories and the moments to recall
So Lord could you tell him he’s more than a name on a wall!”

 

Sometimes, kindness produces a surprise, as was the case with this week’s entry: While sitting in the waiting room at the Skin Clinic, I overheard the receptionist say to a patient who was checking out, “We have a young lady with us today who will be graduating this afternoon”. The patient was not visible from where I sat as there was a door separating the waiting area. I looked at the lady across from me and said, “we should clap when she comes through the door!” Ohers in the waiting area joined in to applaud as the door opened – out walked a beautiful young kindergarten graduate who was shocked, but she and her mom gave us a smile!

 

 

1) Be a blessing to others by sharing your Act of Kindness (no names please) on our website, or use this link! Then check back each week to learn how others are passing on acts of kindness! The link is https://www.mccormickmc.org/acts-of-kindness

 

2) There is a Kindness box in the library on the window sill, along with paper and pencil. Share your God-Wink, perhaps someone else will be inspired!

 

Many thanks to Brad Meyers, Rich Jackson, Harry Shelley and Dan Staples for dividing up the nursery (new wall in the middle) to allow for the new home of our food bank. Lindy Stahlman helped Tina Sims get the pantry re-organized and ready to receive more food.

 

They take your donations and bag them in shopping bags so they are ready for those who need food for their families. Stop by and see the way they organized the new room!

 

     Fruits: Canned or individual serving size

     Cereal: Individual packets work best (oatmeal, grits, Cream                     of Wheat)

     Toilet paper

     Jam or Jelly

 

Note: there is a blue shelf marked “food drop off” in the pantry in front of the window.

 

The scholarship committee is currently accepting applications for this year‘s Creighton scholarship. Applications are available at the church office. The criteria for the selection of the scholarship winner are as follows: the candidate must be a graduating high school senior, who has been accepted at an institution of higher learning, and displays the traits of good character, service to others and academic excellence.

Questions?- call Lindy Stahlman

 

Plenty of room for volunteers to host! You can ask a partner to join you as host. Goodies do not have to be home-made, store-bought are just fine! There is a sign-up sheet in the Fellowship Hall, Also, if you have not done it before, Carol Myers will be happy to work with you!

 

The Congregational Care Committee wants you to know they are there to help you if you ever need transportation, meals or a visitor! Please contact Kim Jackson if you or someone you know needs help or if you would like to be added to the list of volunteers.

 

 

 

 

Thank you for being such a special Christian and caring congregation and for your generosity. We collected $2,185 for the Epworth Children’s Home Mother Days offering. Our children are a blessing from God and our donation makes it possible for Epworth to care for children and youth who have no place to turn. Epworth Children’s Home provides independent living for youth after they graduate so they can continue their education. Some other programs they offer are Foster Families Care and a Family Care Center which provides for mothers and children so they can remain together.

 

Thank you for caring and your love.

 

Mission Team

 

Save the dates for the next “The Chosen” Bible Study beginning Monday, June 5th at 5:30. We will gather together for dinner each Monday during the study, then view an episode of The Chosen. After each episode we will break into small groups and study the scripture from that particular episode. All are welcome to attend! The study begins June 5th and runs until July 31st. We will not meet on July 3rd.

 

For those who haven’t seen season 1 yet, a link to the series is provided below. It’s free to watch and you’re encouraged to “Binge Jesus” although, you don’t have to have watched season 1 to attend the study but we’re sure you’ll go back to watch it after you’ve seen season 2!

 

Sign up sheets will be in Fellowship Hall at the church or you can email Kim Jackson.

 

The Chosen – click this link for The Chosen then select season 1 from the drop down menu.

 

The Men N Ministry will be serving pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee after church on Sunday, June 11. John Yerdon will be mixing his own pancake batter for the event. A $ 5.00 donation will get you the works. The men will be donating proceeds to the church kitchen renovation project. We will be using our new warming oven to keep sausages and pancakes heated. This will offer faster service and warm food. Please plan on attending this fun and enjoyable church breakfast.

 

Thanks – Bob Rennie

 

NOTE: If you can help John prepare, cook, or serve the pancakes, there is a sign-up sheet in the fellowship hall.

 

 

 

 

Fabulous Fun Sisters in Faith Retreat—1st EVER/Education Committee & Maxine Dunn

 

Our retreat foundation is based on Mark 6:31 “Let us go off by ourselves to some place where we will be alone, and you can rest a while”. Well, ok Hickory Knob isn’t in the wilderness, it’s just across the street, but how many of us take the time to relax and just enjoy ourselves with our Christian sisters? Thinking it would be fun to re-group and get to know one another…let the fun begin!!

 

The retreat (details forthcoming in another BLAST) will be Friday night August 4th and Saturday August 5th. The rooms are for one night only and are double occupancy, so grab a roomy or just sign up and be surprised!

 

What you need to do now is check your calendar, if you’re available write a commitment check to McCormick United Methodist Church for $25 and put EDUCATION COMMITTEE on it. This is holding your half of a room, the park is crowded in the summer and if we don’t fill the rooms we’ll need to give them back.

 

Activities will be Friday night and Saturday morning through lunch. Details will be worked out as we find out how many women will be involved.

 

Those women who would like to join us for Saturday morning activities only please call one of us and let us know you’re interested so we can plan. All are welcome and you can be a part of the program, or a participant! Let the Holy Spirit direct you!!!

 

Questions? Please call Maxine Dunn, or Kim Jackson or Wendy Kvale.

 

Mark your calendars… Sept 24 at 10am.. service, followed by picnic at Baker Creek!

 

More details when we get closer.