Highland United Methodist Church

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Thought for the week by Pastor Mary Cyrus

Click on the triangle to hear a voice message from webmaster, George

Here we are Christmas/Advent is winding down another Year past.   We look to New Year!  A blessed New year.  I wish that you and your families have a wonderful New Year.

We Look to more ministry and excitement shared in our charge.  So, keep coming back to visit our site, often to see what we are up to.

Here are some writings that others have to say about New years:

It's the first day of the year, a time when we remember the year that's past, make resolutions, plan for the year ahead, and just have fun! Writers have said a lot about the New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Celebrate the start of a whole new year--with these quotes from famous authors like Charles Lamb and Benjamin Franklin

"One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: To rise above the little things."
- John Burroughs

"The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. Unless a particular man made New Year resolutions, he would make no resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective."
- G.K. Chesterton

For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning."
- T.S. Eliot, "Little Gidding"
 

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man."
- Benjamin Franklin
 

"But can one still make resolutions when one is over forty? I live according to twenty-year-old habits."
- Andre Gide

"We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential."
- Ellen Goodman
 

"A happy New Year! grant  that I
May bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I've played the friend,
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year."
- Edgar Guest
 

"And ye, who have met with Adversity's blast,
And been bow'd to the earth by its fury;
To whom the Twelve Months, that have recently pass'd
Were as harsh as a prejudiced jury -
Still, fill to the Future! and join in our chime,
The regrets of remembrance to cozen,
And having obtained a New Trial of Time,
Shout in hopes of a kindlier dozen."
- Thomas Hood
 

"No one ever regarded the First of January with indifference. It is that from which all date their time, and count upon what is left. It is the nativity of our common Adam."
- Charles Lamb
 

"Of all sound of all bells... most solemn and touching is the peal which rings out the Old Year."
- Charles Lamb

God Bless you all, Happy New Year!
 
 

--
Walk in Christ Shadow,

Pastor Mary

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Linda Hamilton Highland church pianist

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Highalnd Open House 12/22/09

Notices and other church information

Sunday School --10:00 A.M.
Worship--11:00 A.M.

United Methodist Women meetings for Highland UMC are the 3rd Wednesday, monthly

Web Master George L Shaffer, click here to email me

noun
1.   a divine manifestation
2.   twelve days after Christmas; celebrates the visit of the three wise men to the infant Jesus

We have just been celebrating as a church Advent Season. The next weeks are Epiphany Season. These last until Lent/Ash Wedneday.
We have probably heard the word epiphany used in our times.  Like to mean a pinnacle idea! excitment goes hand in hand with it.
So, in the next weeks we can mediate on the the travels of those Wise men from the east and how they followed the star and found Him and immediately, bowed and gave gifts. However, when they left. They were transformed. they left by another way. (because of Herod)

So, as you reflect on this, Like the Wise men, did you follow something? Did you Search? Did you find Jesus? Did you bring Him the Gift of yourself?  Now, it doesn't end there...does it?  You like the wise Men, were changed...when you bowed and left your gifts you had to leave another way also.

------------------------------------------------

Message for the other one:

Wise Men Still Seek Him!

"The fear of the LORD
Is the beginning of wisdom"
 
 

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem
of Judea in the days of Herod the king,
behold, there came wise men from the
east to Jerusalem.

Saying, Where is he that is born King
of the Jews? for we have seen his star
in the east, and are come to worship him.

When Herod the king had heard these
things, he was troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him.

And when he had gathered all the chief
priests and scribes of the people
together, he demanded of them where
Christ should be born.

And they said unto him,
In Bethlehem of Judea:
for thus it is written by the prophet;

And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda,
art not the least among the princes of Juda:
for out of thee shall come a Governor,
that shall rule my people of Israel.

Then Herod, when he had privily called
the wise men, inquired of them diligently
what time the star appeared.

And he sent them to Bethlehem; and said,
Go and search diligently for the young child;
and when ye have found him, bring me word
again, that I may come and worship him also.

When they had heard the king, they departed:
and lo, the star, which they saw in the east,
went before them, till it came and stood
over where the young child was.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced
with exceeding great joy.

And when they were come into the house,
they saw the young child with Mary his
mother, and fell down and worshipped him:
and when they had opened their treasures,
they presented unto him gifts; gold,
frankincense, and myrrh.

And being warned of God in a dream
that they should not return to Herod
they departed into their own country another way.

Matthew 2 : 1 - 12 KJV
 
 

--
Walk in Christ Shadow,

Pastor Mary

The tradition of Valentine's Day is believed to have originated from the pagan customs of the Third Century or Fourth Century B.C., when the Parentalia and Feralia Festivals of Purification were celebrated in Ancient Rome between February 13 and February 18. This was also the time of a Fertility Festival which celebrated a young man's rite of passage and involved animal sacrifices and fertility rituals. February 13, the opening day of the festivals, was dedicated to peace, love and household goods. February 14, the second day of Parentalia was called the Lupercalia...a day some sources believe was dedicated to Juno-Lupa, the She-Wolf. Priests known as luperci from two colleges (Quintillii and Fabii) would meet at the Cave of Lupercal in the Palatine Hill, where a she-wolf was said to have nursed Romulus and Remus, the twin founders of Rome. Vestal Virgins would offer holy salt cakes and the priests would sacrifice a dog and a goat, smearing the animal blood onto the foreheads of youths of noble birth who, clad only in a goatskin thong, later led a band of revelers known as the luperci in the performance of such antics as whipping fields of crops and bystanders with a goatskin strip (known as the februa). Women gently lashed in such a fashion were thought to become fertile...even those known to be barren. The act of such lashings or whippings was known as februatio...both this word and the word februa come from the Latin meaning "to purify." The naming of the month of February is believed to have originated from this meaning. February 15 (the Ides of February) was the second day of Lupercal and the third day of Parentalia...a day some sources believe was dedicated to Juno Februata or Juno the Fructifier, Roman Goddess of Women and Marriage. During the Luperci, the names of willing young women were placed into a box or urn and drawn by lot by every young, unmarried man. The youths and maidens who were thus matched would be considered partners during the course of the coming year, which began in March. Although such matches were generally for sexual gratification, it was not unusual for the pairings to eventaully culminate in marriage.
According to other sources, the tradition of Valentine's Day is derived from a time when hordes of ravenous wolves roamed the immense wilderness area outside Rome where shepherds (the city's earliest inhabitants) kept their flocks. The God Lupercus (from the Latin lupus meaning "wolf") was believed to watch over the herdsmen and their animals and keep them safe from the hungry predators. Every February, in this scenario, the Romans celebrated a feast (also known as Lupercalia) to honor Lupercus in order that no harm would come to the shepherds and their flocks. This celebration continued to be held long after wolves no longer presented a problem to the Roman countryside. Yet another theory on the ceremonial source of this day is that the festival was actually held to honor Faunus who, like the Greek God Pan, was a God of Herds and Crops. As is apparent, the true origin of this festival is so ancient, that even scholars of the Last Century B.C. were unable to officially determine its roots with any degree of certainty. However, there is no question about the importance of the ceremony. Records show that Mark Anthony was Master of the Luperci Colleges of Priests and chose the Lupercalia festival of the year 44 B.C. as the proper time for the offering of the crown to Julius Caesar.
With the advent of Christianity, priests attempted to replace such ancient heathen practices. In the Fifth Century A.D., the Church resolved to abolish this pagan celebration by creating its own holiday around the same date and selecting a saint who was remembered for his devotion to love. In A.D. 496, Pope Gelasius outlawed the Lupercian Festival, but cleverly retained the Juno Februata lottery. However, in order to lend the festivities Christian meaning and eliminate the pagan overtones, the drawing of saints' names were substituted for the names of unmarried girls. The names were placed into an urn or box and then young people (both male and female) drew a name from the container. During year which followed, the youths and maidens were supposed to emulate the life of the Saint whose name they had drawn. It took some time for this new tradition to garner popularity, but eventually more and more Romans relinquished the Lupercian ceremonies. Nonetheless, young Roman males, who had been hoping to meet potential mates during the time of the Festival, were not totally satisfied with now having a lottery of saints' names instead, and insituted their own custom of offering women whom they admired and wished to court handwritten greetings of affection on February 14. By the Fourteenth Century, the Church had reverted back to the use of of girls' names. During the Sixteenth Century, Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop of Geveva, made another attempt was made to institute Saintly Valentines, but it proved equally (of not more) unsuccessful as the first and was certainly shorter-lived. Eventually, the Church looked for a suitable Patron Saint of Love to take the place of the heathen Lupercus. They found an appropriate choice in Saint Valentine.
During the medieval era of chivalry, the names of English maidens and bachelors were put into boxes and drawn out in pairs. Each couple exchanged gifts and the girl became the man's sweetheart for a year. He wore her name on his sleeve and was bound by duty to attend and protect her (the accepted origin of the phrase, "to wear one's heart on one's sleeve"). This old custom of drawing names was considered a good omen for love and often foretold a wedding. In 1537, King Henry VIII declared, by Royal Charter, that all England would celebrate February 14 as "Saint Valentine's Day" and with the passage of time, February 14 became the traditional date for exchanging love messages and simple gifts (such as flowers or candy), with Saint Valentine becoming the accepted Patron Saint of Lovers.

Approximately one billion Valentine cards are exchanged each year...the largest seasonal card-selling occasion of the year next to Christmas.
Most Valentine's Day cards (83%) are purchased by women. However, the number of cards purchased by men (currently 17%) is gradually rising, thought by some sources to be due to the fact that men often purchase two cards for their siginificant others...an amusing one and the obligatory romantic one which they believe is expected of them.
Half of all consumers prefer to receive a humorous Valentine, followed by a romantic greeting (31%) and then a more risque form of card (8.2%). More than one-third of women (36%) and 26% of males prefer to receive a romantic Valentine. 13% of males prefer a more sexy Valentine, whereas only 3.5% of women prefer this variety of card.
February 14 is the most important holiday for florists, accounting for 32% of annual sales.
73% of people who buy flowers to send on Valentine's Day are male...only 27% are female.
California produces 60% of American roses, but the vast majority sold on Valentine's Day in the United States are imported...mostly from South America.
Approximately 110 million roses...the majority of them being red...will be sold and delivered within a three-day time period during the Valentine's Day celebrations.
36% of males and 28% of females put off their Valentine's Day shopping until February 14 or the day before...64% of consumers will plan to do their shopping a week or more prior to the date.
Males tend to spend more money on Valentine's Day gifts than do females and are more likely to buy big-ticket items...the average amount spent being $95.00.
Approximately 3% of pet owners will give a Valentine's Day gift to their pet.
Alexander Graham Bell applied for his patent on the telephone on Valentine's Day in 1876.
The chief colors associated with Valentine's Day are pink, red and white. Pink is a delicate, almost innocent shade of red and is also connected with Saint Valentine, whose burial was said to have caused the pink almond tree to blossom. Red is a symbol of warmth and feeling...the color of the heart, while white represents purity and faith...a faith between two who love each other.
 

--
Walk in Christ Shadow,

Pastor Mary

Easter is a festival of overwhelming joy.
The joy that celebrates life. Or, rather, the victory of life over death.
But does it have any historic background. Did life really overcame death?
Most important, why Jesus is so remembered on Easter?
And why those funny stuffs like eggs, and bunnies
came to be mixed up with those ideas?
Also who brought all those customs
on the soil of America?

Easter and Spring
Come March. And the world around you gets geared up to go ga ga on a festive spree. Some skeptics might shrug off the March madness fray, but can't beat the freak it rolls out of its season of rejuvenation, rejoice and renewal that ushers in with a basketful of new promises and gifts in galore. The nature discards its weary look to don a brand new outfit. The shining sun showers its blissful warmth, as if, to thwart the frosted blanket which the winter wraps around us. The brook turns bubbly. The blooming tulips, the crocuses and the daffodils - all swayed by the cool southie breeze, bring back the vibe on earth.

What else can be a better day for fun and fiesta? To have your family reunited? Friendship and love renewed? And feelings shared?
Perhaps all these traits have made spring and celebrations almost synonymous. That too from the dawn of human history.

Even in the Greek mythology, Demeter and Persephone, convey the idea of a goddess returning seasonally from the nether regions to the light of the day. This is in conjunction with the vernal equinox, March 21, when nature is in resurrection after the winter.
Even Easter - the grand occasion that reminds you of the golden and crimson eggs and chocolate bunnies, the ho'cross buns, is also a spring time festival. As if the Almighty had chosen this glorious season for the death-resurrection and exaltation of Jesus Christ, the son of God.

History Of Easter

Easter, the principal festival of the Christian church year, celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his Crucifixion. The origins of Easter date to the beginnings of Christianity, and it is probably the oldest Christian observance after the Sabbath (observed on Saturday). Later, the Sabbath subsequently came to be regarded as the weekly celebration of the Resurrection.

Meanwhile, many of the cultural historians find, in the celebration of Easter, a convergence of the three traditions - Pagan, Hebrew and Christian.

According to St. Bede, an English historian of the early 8th century, Easter owes its origin to the old Teutonic mythology. It was derived from the name Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, to whom the month of April was dedicated. The festival of Eostre was celebrated at the vernal equinox, when the day and night gets an equal share of the day.

The English name "Easter" is much newer. When the early English Christians wanted others to accept Christianity, they decided to use the name Easter for this holiday so that it would match the name of the old spring celebration. This made it more comfortable for other people to accept Christianity.

But it is pointed out by some that the Easter festival, as celebrated today, is related with the Hebrew tradition, the Jewish Passover. This is being celebrated during Nisan, the first month of the Hebrew lunar year. The Jewish Passover under Moses commemorates Israel's deliverance from about 300 years of bondage in Egypt.

It was in during this Passover in 30 AD Christ was crucified under the order of the Roman governor Pontius Pilate as the then Jewish high priests accused Jesus of "blasphemy". The resurrection came three days later, on the Easter Sunday. The early Christians, many of them being brought up in Jewish tradition regarded Easter as a new feature of the Pascha (Passover). It was observed in memory of the advent of the Messiah, as foretold by the prophets. And it is equanimous with the proclamation of the resurrection. Thus the early Christian Passover turned out to be a unitive celebration in memory of the passion-death-resurrection of Jesus. However, by the 4th century, Good Friday came to be observed as a separate occasion. And the Pascha Sunday had been devoted exclusively to the honor of the glorious resurrection.

Throughout the Christendom the Sunday of Pascha had become a holiday to honor Christ. At the same time many of the pagan spring rites came to be a part of its celebration. May be it was the increasing number of new converts who could not totally break free of the influence of pagan culture of their forefathers.

But despite all the influence there was an important shift in the spirit. No more glorification of the physical return of the Sun God. Instead the emphasis was shifted to the Sun of Righteousness who had won banishing the horrors of death for ever.

The Feast of Easter was well established by the second century. But there had been dispute over the exact date of the Easter observance between the Eastern and Western Churches. The East wanted to have it on a weekday because early Christians observed Passover every year on the 14th of Nisan, the month based on the lunar calendar. But, the West wanted that Easter should always be a Sunday regardless of the date.

To solve this problem the emperor Constantine called the Council of Nicaea in 325. The question of the date of Easter was one of its main concerns. The council decided that Easter should fall on Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox. But fixing up the date of the Equinox was still a problem. The Alexandrians, noted for their rich knowledge in astronomical calculations were given the task. And March 21 was made out to be the perfect date for spring equinox.

The dating of Easter today follows the same. Accordingly, churches in the West observe it on the first day of the full moon that occurs on or following the Spring equinox on March 21., it became a movable feast between March 21 and April 25.

Still some churches in the East observe Easter according to the date of the Passover festival.
The preparation takes off as early as on the Ash Wednesday from which the period of penitence in the Lent begins. The Lent and the Holy week end on the Easter Sunday, the day of resurrection.

If you would like to click on Highland UMC's website to continue this learning experience on Easter in America and it's roots.

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The roots of Easter in America:

Today, with all its joyous customs,
Easter is indeed a major popular festival across the United States.

A festival that has become more of secular in spirit, though it has religious background.

However, this was not the case all along the history of United States.

Easter did not enjoy the status of a popular festival among the early settlers in America. Because most of them were Puritans or members of Protestant Churches who had little use for the ceremonies of any religious festivals. Even the Puritans in Massachusetts tried their best to play down the celebration of Easter as far as possible. While various rites are said to be associated with the celebration of Easter, most of them have come as part of the ancient spring rites in the Northern hemisphere.
 

Not until the period of the Civil War did the message and meaning of Easter begin to be expressed as it had been in Europe. It was the initiative of the Presbyterians. The scars of death and destruction which led people back to the Easter season. They found the story of resurrection as a great source of inspiration and renewed hope.

Since then, of course, its joyous customs delight children and adults alike.

I hope you all have a blessed Eastertide.

Remember we are Easter People, Not sitting in the room behind closed doors, Jesus is Alive!

What will you do about it?

....................................................

April Showers bring May flowers....

As a child I wondered if a girl named April brought a girl named May flowers to cheer her up?

Also, did all that rain in April bring a Mayflower (ship).

O.k. That's my attempt at comedy.  As you can see God called me to preach not to be a
"Mary, the cable girl".

This lesson in Eastertide , John 20:19-31  The disciples were behind closed doors twice in verse 19 and 26.
We have lots of doors effect our lives also.

Thought for the week:  Are you still sitting behind closed doors?

In the brief lesson of my "attempt" at comedy- shows that not my calling!
That door didn't open, haha.

But, God did give me a calling...Jesus knocked ( opportunity knocks , you know) I answered.

Jesus knocks on your door this Eastertide to give you opportunity.  However, you have to answer.  He cannot come on in.

God Bless you all...
 Walk in Christ Shadow,
Pastor Mary

--
Walk in Christ Shadow,
Pastor Mary

June is a busy month for pastors. West Ohio Annual Conference is June 8-12th so keep all those voting at Lakeside, OH in your prayers, a time for Holy Conferencing.  Barbara Bates is our conference lay delegate.

We want to Honor Three High School Graduates in our Charge.  Andrew McKay Graduating from Fairfield Local June 1, 2008.  Andrew is planning on pursuing College at Wilmington College.  Robbie Garringer also graduating from Fairfield Local June 1, 2008. He is pursuing working in Minnesota after graduation.  And Jessica Chamblin graduating from Hillsboro High School May 25, 2008. She is pursuing an Education Degree at Southern States College in Hillsboro.  Congratulations!!!  May God Bless each of you in your Pursuits, adventures, and goals.

Father's Day is coming soon. God Bless our fathers!

We will be planning our summer activities for our children as Last year. So, keep watching for those!
 
 

--
Walk in Christ Shadow,

Pastor Mary

Well, Summer is waning. It's August Already!  But, we have had a busy summer as the photos have shown on this website. We have been blessed this summer!

A few words about a wonderful experience I got to "have" a couple of weeks ago.  School of Christian Missions- Which I have attended before here in West Ohio and West Virginia as a student.  But,  this year I had a wondeful opportunity to help with the children's school.
We arrived Friday afternoon to ready ourselves for the coming children.  Grades 1-8 - 12  the weekend school.  We did have one come on Saturday for the Day School. So, 13 Children in all that weekend.  Rev. Jane Beatty was the leader, Ruth Ann was the other helper.

We met our children in the auditorium then we had dinner.  Our first session was Friday Night.  With Lessons on native American history, facts, and language.  Some crafts were made, Children made a name tag with Symbols of what name they wanted to have. An activity interview asking them what they like to do.  Followed in naming them in a Native American fashion. For Example.  If Jane Doe like to swim.  "She who swims" was her name.  The Children were given a snack then we walked to meet their parents as we tied prayer ties in the bushes and trees outside the auditorim.

Saturday was a big day.  Lots of lessons, crafts, tasting of native american foods...an afternoon of Swimming at the water park/pool there in  Ada.  Sunday was busy too as we finished up.  A closing worship included a singing performance of a native hymn as Rev. Fred Shaw led and close this time together with communion.

We had a evening of down time before our own adult SOCM began on Monday.  Linda Hamilton and myself attended.  Both of us had a busy week, with lots of studying, learning.  I believe in Jesus was a great class.  What we stand for in this apparent post modern world.  The Native American classes were great.  They had Palesitne and Israel also, I attened that last year.  From the Presentation of the "Gameshow" on the last night.  It sounded great also.

I would highly recommend the School of Christian Mission to all who want to attend!  Women, men, Young Adults, youth and kids.  It's a wonderful retreat and learning experience to bring back home and to your churches.  There are scholarships available for anyone who has never attended.  "first timers"  on all levels.  And scholarships for both the weekend school and weekday one.

Well, I close this thought, now...until next thought...next month!  God Bless!
--
Walk in Christ Shadow,

--
Walk in Christ Shadow,

Pastor Mary

--

Walk in Christ Shadow,

Pastor Mary

This Month as our celebration to prepare room for Him, We celebrate Advent in our Charge.  We have already celebrated one Family Night with Highland UMC November 30.  We have other celebrations such as,  December 5th- Holiday UMW Party at noon;  December 6th - we will be participating with a bake sale in the New Vienna Celebration.  December 7th- will be Auburn UMC's family night at 5:30pm;   December 7th The Highland Church will be making Love Plates and delivering them to our shut-ins,  December 10th- the Highland UMW will be celebrating Christmas with a gathering and food at 7pm;  December 23rd- Parsonage Open House at 6pm (Probably Christmas Carolling before in New Vienna) ;  The Christmas Eve service will be 11pm at Highland UMC.  And On New Years Eve At Highland UMC A Watch Night Service  (Games and snacks before it) 9pm.

So, we do have alot to be thankful for and celebrate as a charge.  I hope to see you at our events this month! God Bless you and your family in the coming year!

Walk in Christ Shadow,
Pastor Mary

New year traditions?  Making Resolulions and keeping them.   The New Years Meal.  Depending on your upbringing and local, some cook Silver coins in their cabbage, which is supposed to bring fortune in the New Year.  Some Eat Black Eyed Peas.  Some eat Pork and Saurkraut.  Other Traditions we may do are Sitting down and watching the Rose parade and the "Bowl Games"   GO BEARCATS!

We all have our traditions. But, an important tradition. To make New Tradtions, goals.  One Being to to be open to the Holy Spirit to move in our lives so we may grow to be better servants and disciples for Christ!   So, as you reflect upon this New Year and ponder changes, the past, even the economic conditions.  Let us all move to be more open to the Holy Spirit and God Will in our lives in 2009.

Walk in Christ's Shadow
Pastor Mary

Weekly Lent Meditation:

"Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall declare your praise."
Alternate Opening Prayer:

Let us pray,
at the beginning of Lent for the spirit of repentance.
Lord our God,

you formed us from the clay of the earth
and breathed into us the spirit of life,
but we turned from your face and sinned.
In this time of repentance

we call out for your mercy.
Bring us back to you
and to the life your Son won for us
by his death on the cross,
for he lives and reigns for ever and ever.

The Readings: Genesis 9:8-15; Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:12-15
Daily Meditation:
Bring us back to you.

This week we pray for a renewal of our lives.
We are beginning to be more attentive and alert.
We are trying new patterns.
The difficulties we encounter keep us humble.
Our desire is clear.

We want the "self-sacrificing love of Christ" -
which brings us mercy and healing - to be "reproduced in our lives."
In our journey, we seek to savor the meaning of Jesus' self-less love,
that we might reflect that love to others.
At the end of our journey, we will renew our baptismal promises.
Dying with Jesus in baptism, we have a new life in him.
Today, we desire nothing less than God's re-creating us -
breathing new life into us.
Today's Daily Reflection

Intercessions:
Let us pray to our loving Redeemer, who gained for us this season of grace.
Let us pray to him, saying:
Lord, create a new spirit in us.

Christ, our life, through baptism we were buried with you and rose to life with you,
- may we walk today in newness of life.
Lord, you have brought blessings to all mankind,
- bring us to share your concern for the good of all.
May we work together to build up the earthly city,
- with our eyes fixed on the city that lasts forever.
Healer of body and soul, cure the sickness of our spirit,
- so that we may grow in holiness through your constant care.
Closing Prayer:
Lord God,

you who breathed the spirit of life within me.
Draw out of me the light and life you created.
Help me to find my way back to you.
Help me to use my life to reflect your glory
and to serve others
as your son Jesus did.
May the Lord bless us,

protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
--
Walk in Christ Shadow,

Pastor Mary

Yes, Holy week is over. However, Let us remember that we are Easter People!  Peopl of the Resurrection!  Let us keep that spirit, that feeling, the action all year around.
We have been truly blessed at Auburn and Highland Churches. And the Year isn't even close to being over!  We stand here expectant of God's abundant blessings to cause our cups to overflow.

Let us in the next 40 days until ascension day  Concentrate on what is really means to be and Easter Person.  As we even perhaps use the biblical examples  of Peter, John, Thomas, and the two disciples on the way to Emmaus; to guide us.  Just as each experienced face to face the risen Lord with their own personal encounter. so do we all.

Let us grow in the next 40 days, and keep looking up and be prayer as we can catch the pentacost spirit.

Sharing with you who read our website, The past lenten and Holy Week season has truly been a blessing and growing season. Symbolically, as Winter gave way to spring.
With our youth confirmation class with graduated 5 girls from this Charge.  They entered into their baptism and membership in the churches here on this charge.  We also, were privileged and blessed to also add 3 adults in baptism and 7 adults to the membership roll at Auburn UMC.   ( Total of 11 with the young women).  We had the other confirmand enter into Membership at Highland.   Also, at Highland we will be finishing Adult Confirmation with a family and three with be entering into baptism and Membership soon.

We are keeping looking forward to the wonders Christ is doing in this charge.

--
Walk in Christ Shadow,

Pastor Mary

Pentecost is the great festival that marks the birth of the Christian church by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Pentecost means "fiftieth day" and is celebrated fifty days after Easter.

WHAT HAPPENED ON PENTECOST?

Ten days after Jesus ascended into heaven, the twelve apostles, Jesus' mother and family, and many other of His disciples gathered together in Jerusalem for the Jewish harvest festival that was celebrated on the fiftieth day of Passover.  While they were indoors praying, a sound like that of a rushing wind filled the house and tongues of fire descended and rested over each of their heads.  This was the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on human flesh promised by God through the prophet Joel (Joel 2:28-29).  The disciples were suddenly empowered to proclaim the gospel of the risen Christ.  They went out into the streets of Jerusalem and began preaching to the crowds gathered for the festival.  Not only did the disciples preach with boldness and vigor, but by a miracle of the Holy Spirit they spoke in the native languages of the people present, many who had come from all corners of the Roman Empire.  This created a sensation.  The apostle Peter seized the moment and addressed the crowd, preaching to them about Jesus' death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins.  The result was that about three thousand converts were baptized that day.  (You can read the Biblical account of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-41).

WHAT IS THE LITURGICAL COLOR FOR PENTECOST?

Red is the liturgical color for this day.  Red recalls the tongues of flame in which the Holy Spirit descended on the first Pentecost.  The color red also reminds us of the blood of the martyrs.  These are the believers of every generation who by the power of the Holy Spirit hold firm to the true faith even at the cost of their lives.

WHY IS PENTECOST SOMETIMES CALLED "WHITSUNDAY"?

A tradition of some churches in ancient times was to baptize adult converts to the faith on Pentecost.  The newly baptized catechumens would wear white robes on that day, so Pentecost was often called "Whitsunday" or "White Sunday" after these white baptismal garments.  Many Christian calendars, liturgies, and hymnals (particularly those from the Episcopal/Anglican tradition) still use this term.

WHAT IS THE SEASON AFTER PENTECOST?

Because Pentecost is the day that God poured out His Holy Spirit on Christ's disciples, the Season after Pentecost is centered on sanctification, the work of the Holy Spirit in the day to day life of the Christian.  This is reflected in the liturgical color for this season:  green, the color of life and growth.  Through the gift of faith that comes only from the Holy Spirit, Christians are enabled to trust in Christ and proclaim Him in their daily lives by service to their neighbors.  The season after Pentecost is the longest season of the church year -- it lasts from Trinity Sunday until the first Sunday of Advent.  This is the non-festival portion of the liturgical calendar during which the church stresses vocation, evangelism, missions, stewardship, almsgiving, and other works of mercy and charity as ways in which Christ empowers us by His grace to share the Gospel with others.

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Walk in Christ Shadow,

Pastor Mary

Summer is here!   Aren't we happy to see it?   Yes, sometimes it does get very hot and humid.  But, I think, it beats the snow. (haha)  So, ready or not Summer is here.
Have you been gardening?  I have.  I like the metaphor of gardening to creation, God's love and how He nurtures us like gardens.   He even weeds us. Gets the bad stuff out.
You see from the Photo on my small garden, I use strips of newspaper.  They will keep the weeds out, so you don't have to weed. And it's really a "green" thing to do also.  The newspaper dissolves and makes the garden moist and good for next year.  We can think about that as to God. He weeds us...and makes us good to be used for the future of His Ministry.

The next Picture os on Lakeside, Ohio where our West Ohio Conference takes place.  The UMC Hymn, "Lord you have come to the lakeshore comes to my mind here.  The Holy Conferencing that takes place is awesome!  I come back refreshed with the great preaching and teaching that takes place.  I believe, Midge also enjoyed it too.

God Bless you all.  Have a great Summer in the Lord.

Also, our youth programming for summer will be happening again, here's is the schedule:

Time:  11:30am-1:30pm
Place: Highland UMC fellowship hall and parsonage yard
Dates:  July 6 Maniac Monday, July 14th Terrific Tuesday, July 22 Wacky Wednesday, July 30 Thumpin' Thursday and August 7 Freaky Friday

We will be doing the theme of TREASURE Hunting, Laying treasures in heaven...a pirate theme.

So, bring your kids out for a Lesson, craft, refreshment and fun with water.  Come dressed prepared to get wet, bring towel, water guns, and leave bad attitudes behind.
Come and join us in godly Play.
 
 

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Walk in Christ Shadow,

Pastor Mary

Well, September begins the fall season.  County Fair is over.  Fall is always a busy time in the UMC.   Nomination committee meetings, Pastor Parish relations committee, Charge Conference in November- in Portsmouth.  Pastor and Laity training  with Charge conference.  The business of the church always keeps us busy.

We have had a summer of activity and blessing.  We just celebrated the new rooms with Auburn UMC.  The Hallelujah Party on October 31st for youth and all will be coming up.  The harvest dinner that Highland UMC provides will be a time to share again.

Look around to all the ministry opportunity that we have.  We are truly blessed.  As fall comes, we see harvesting and bounty around us.  Let us see the bounty of the harvest for us to experience.
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Walk in Christ Shadow,

Pastor Mary