|
From the Pastor's Desk:
I encourage you to read Matthew 6:25-34.
Francis Chan, Author of the Book Crazy Love, says, “Worry implies that we don’t quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what is happening in our lives. Stress says the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace towards others, or our tight grip of control. Basically, these two behaviors communicate that it’s okay to sin and not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional. Both worry and stress reek of arrogance. They declare our tendency to forget that we’ve been forgiven, that our lives are brief… and that in the context of God’s strength, our problems are small, indeed.”
Worry can be debilitating. It is like walking on a treadmill – you expend a lot of energy but never go anywhere. Worry never eliminates tomorrow of its sorrows – it only zaps today of its strength. The great philosopher Linus said, “Worrying won’t stop the bad things from happening; it just stops you from enjoying the good things.”
Worrying about small things can create significant problems for us. A meteorologist studied fog that is so dense that you cannot see 6 feet in front of you, and it covers an area 7 blocks square, 100 feet from the ground up. That fog will be made up of only one large glass of water. If you break down that one glass of water, you will find millions of tiny drops. That one large glass of water all by itself causes no problem, but when it’s fog, it can paralyze a city and create many accidents. Worrying converts a glass of water into a dangerous, dense fog.
Fog can also have a different meaning. One day, I saw a friend and asked, “How are you doing?” I expected some stock answer. I was amazed when my friend replied, “I’m living in the fog.” My first reaction was surprise, and the thought occurred to me that the response was rather odd. It sounded negative. Who wants to live in the fog? It sounds like they were depressed, grieving, or confused. Then my friend said, “Living in the fog means I’m living in the Favor Of God.” Wow! What an answer! Living in the Favor Of God is a beautiful way to live every day.
To worry or not to worry is a choice. We had more time to think during the pandemic. We found lots to worry about, and we found lots to be grateful for, such as more time with our family, time to read, and learning new ways to reach out. We may have discovered a new hobby or a new recipe. Maybe now is the time for us to share all the good things that have happened with each other. We can drive our lives through this dangerous fog or live in the FOG in the Favor Of God. It is your choice! I personally believe God is with us; He is bringing us together, and as we have been saying and I pray, we will continue to say, we are in this together, and together, we will make it through whatever comes our way. We are family.
Blessings,
Misty
|
|
|
|
Hamburgers/Hot Dogs, Baked Beans, Cole Slaw, Chips, Brownies
Served By: Crosswalk
Please check the Midweek Dinner page on our website for additional upcoming menus.
|
|
|
|
Worship Arts Notes ♫
The worshipful text of the hymn “Crown Him With Many Crowns” is the combined effort of two distinguished Anglican clergymen, each of whom desired to write a hymn of exaltation to our suffering but now victorious Lord.
Matthew Bridges’ version first appeared in 1851 with six stanzas. Twenty-three years later Godfrey Thring wrote six additional stanzas, which appeared in his collection Hymns and Sacred Lyrics. The hymn’s present form includes stanzas one, two, and four by Bridges and the third verse by Thring.
Each crown in this hymn text exalts Christ for some specific aspect of His person or ministry
(1) Stanza one for His eternal Kingship;
(2) stanza two for His love demonstrated in redemptive suffering;
(3) stanza three for His victorious resurrection and ascension, and
(4) stanza four as a member of the Triune Godhead ever worthy of worship and praise.
The tune, Diadernata (the Greek word for crowns), was composed especially for this text by George Elvey, a noted organist at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, England, where British royalty often attend.
|
|
|
|
The GO Lead Team is pleased to announce the release of a total of $19,050 this month to our mission partners deemed highest priority. These partners would personally struggle significantly without our support and include Cam & Anne Gongwer, Neal & Shirley Hicks, Szabolcs Kerekes, our church planters in Central Asia, and Reality and Truth Ministries. The Faith Promise fiscal year began April 1. Thanks to your generous donations since January, this is the earliest in the 10 years of Faith Promise that we have been able to release money to our partners.
In response to a request, the GO Lead Team recently developed a document entitled Instructions for Direct Donations in Addition to Faith Promise for Missionaries and Their Projects. Copies are available in the Sunday School roll books and at the welcome center, or you may contact the church office by phone (334-272-6152) or email (office@aldersgateumc.org) to have a copy sent to you.
|
|
|
ANNOUNCEMENTS
_________________________
The website now has a page for the church calendar under resources.
The church calendar is available for all church ministries and organizations to post meetings and events as needed. We welcome your events! All events need to be submitted ASAP for next month’s calendar. All ministry leaders are responsible for submitting their events annually even if they are reoccurring.
|
|
|
Weekly Scripture
1 John 5:1-6
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
6 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
|
|
|
|
Join our Aldersgate Prayer and Praise email list! Prayer requests, the weekly prayer list, and notes of praise are sent several times a week to our more than 140 different current and former Aldersgate members. You can join our email list by sending an email to
office@aldersgateumc.org
or call the church office at 334-272-6152.
|
|
Please click to contact a specific member of our staff.
|
|
|
|
|
|
