WE are the CHURCH

When I was growing up one of my favorite hymns was "We Are The Church" (in fact it is still one of my favorites).  I love the words.  It really hammers home the idea that we are the church.  We don't just go to church, we ARE the church.

In his first letter to the Corinthians Paul writes, "For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body..." (1 Cor. 12:13).  We, as Christians, are the body of Christ.  All of us all together make up Jesus here on earth.  So when we are at the grocery store or the movie theater or out with friends for dinner we represent Jesus on earth.

Similarly all Christians make up the church.  No matter where we go, we are the church, wherever we are. We at Grange Hall have a sign outside our building that says, "Grange Hall United Methodist Church."  That sign isn't referring to the building, it's referring to the people to come together in that building.  The people in our church family make up Grange Hall United Methodist Church, we don't go to Grange Hall United Methodist Church. 

Following you'll find the lyrics to, "We Are The Church."  What do you think of them?  Do they challenge you in any way?  Do you think of yourself as the church or as someone who goes to church?

We Are The Church

I am the church! You are the church! We are the church together! All who follow Jesus, all around the world, yes, we're the church together!

The church is not a building, the church is not a steeple,  the church is not a resting place; the church is a people!

We're many kinds of people, with many kinds of faces, all colors and all age, too, from all times and places.

And when the people gather, there's singing and there's praying; there's laughing and there's crying sometimes, all of it saying,

At Pentecost some people received the Holy Spirit and told the good news through the world
to all who would hear it.

I am the church! You are the church! We are the church together! All who follow Jesus, all around the world, yes, we're the church together!

Welcoming Families with Children

One of my favorite websites, Ministry Matters, recently had an article about welcoming families with small children.

Click here to read the article. 

What do you think about the Tips this pastor shared?
Which of his tips do we already do well? Which ones do we need to work on?

Were you ever in the situation that the pastor describes, trying to get your kids ready while trying to find a place to worship?

When you found a church you connected with, what made you stay?

Here is the last word from the author of the article: "Remember that there is a deep longing within parents of young children to connect with God and for their kids to connect with God. This is a critical time for the parents and the children. Let’s do everything we can to create a place for them to connect with God."

Amen!

What is a Methodist?

Maybe you've had a conversation with friend or a new acquaintance about church.  You say, "I worship at Grange Hall United Methodist," and they respond, "Hmmm... What EXACTLY is a Methodist?"

What is your response? How do you define Methodist? Have you thought much about it?

Your response is important!

I came across this article recently about a person trying to define "Methodist."  Click here to read it. The author writes, "A Methodist is a Christian who is in training to love God with all his or her heart, soul, and mind and to love his or her neighbor as himself or herself."

This comes from the Gospel according to Matthew.  Someone asks Jesus,“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a  second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” -Matthew 22:36-40

What do you think of that definition?  How do you define "Methodist" for yourself?

Announcement for the Week of April 28th

Stay tuned for Baptism Service Info.  Check here or our facebook page: facebook.com/GrangeHallUMC for breaking news!

The parsonage has a new phone number: (423) 256-2465.

Proctors!

Carters Valley Elementary is looking for folks to help Proctor tests coming up this week. 

Monday, April 29th-Thursday, May 2nd everyday 8:00-11:00am

You can pick and choose dates, you don't have to commit to the whole week, or to both weeks.  Let Nancy know if you are interested in helping out and she will get you signed up.

Visioning Meeting

Tonight. 6:30. Here.

Anyone who is interested in the future of our church, please attend.  We will pray for the guiding of the Holy Spirit and ask questions about who we are and who God is calling us to serve.  You won’t want to miss it!

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

Day 43: March 31^st Resurrection Sunday!

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”

The Tomb Is Sealed

Day 42: March 30^th Holy Saturday

Scripture: Matthew 27:57-66

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away.

It Is Finished

Day 41: March 29^th Good Friday

Scripture: John 18:1-19:42

After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, “Whom are you looking for?”