by John Collins on December 30, 2006
The following “Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition” is found as number 607 in The United Methodist Hymnal. (I’ve updated the language somewhat, for example, using your for thine, you for thou, will for wilt, etc.)
“I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed for you or laid aside for you,
exalted for you or brought low by you.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
to you pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You are mine, and I am yours. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.”
This prayer had its beginnings in a 1755 Covenant Renewal Service. The early Methodist often held Covenant Renewal Services on New Year’s Eve. If you’re like me, casting around for a New Year’s resolution, this prayer might be a good place to start. It reminds us that we are not our own, we are God’s, all our time, abilities, and wealth ultimately belong to God. Being willing to go where God sends us, to do or to suffer what God asks of us; to be used or left fallow depending upon the needs of God’s kingdom; to be exalted or brought low for the common good; to willingly be full or empty; to have all things or to be content with nothing (except God); to freely and heartily give all that we have over to God;’ these are the marks of greatness in the Kingdom of God. And to be great in the Kingdom of God is a truly worthy New Year’s resolution.
by John Collins on December 29, 2006
Folks gave generously Christmas Eve for a total of 1303.04. This will be split three ways between Genesis, The Salvation Army, and our church’s own community emergency assistance fund.
by John Collins on December 27, 2006
Jenny, Elizabeth, and I are out of town visiting family this week. But we’re still available. We’re keeping in touch with Linda at the office and the church’s telephone answering service.
by John Collins on December 22, 2006
‘Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
—Martin Luther King Jr. via Sojourners
by John Collins on December 20, 2006
We’re trying to have cookies after the Christmas Eve service at 7:00 p.m. Any volunteers?
by John Collins on December 18, 2006
We’ll be putting Christmas baskets together today at 5:00 p.m. at the church.
by John Collins on December 18, 2006
Thanks to all the folks who came and helped make the parsonage open house a success. We had a great time.
by John Collins on December 13, 2006
From Pam Jones:
“We have adopted 25 families to share our blessings with this Christmas season. The baskets will contain non-perishable food items and we will give the families a voucher from Save-A-Lot for perishable items.
I’m sure you are asking yourself, what can I do to help? Well, of course, we need food items and if it would be easier for you; donate money instead and we will do the shopping for you.
We also need volunteers to help prepare the baskets Monday evening, December 18, 2006 (starting at 5:00 p.m.) and help when the baskets are picked up from 9:00 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, December 20, 2006.”
We need: cans of chili, crackers, stuffing, broth, mixes, peanut butter, evaporated milk, pumpkin, jiffy mix, noodles, mac and cheese, sweet potatoes, tuna helper, tuna, cans of icing, spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, cranberry sauce, toilet paper and oats.
by John Collins on December 12, 2006
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction….The chain reaction of evil – hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars – must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.”
— Martin Luther King Jr. via Sojourners
by John Collins on December 11, 2006
We have tickets to a Saturday afternoon showing of “The Nativity Story” movie. The vision team is buying the tickets, we would like this to be an event for the entire church community. The showing is at 3:00 p.m. this coming Saturday (December 16, 2006) at the Coffeyville Family Theater. After the movie, everyone is invited (but not required to go) back to the church for discussion. I’m told the theater seats 135. Call (620-251-3240) or email (johnandjenny@gmail.com) to make reservations.
