Friday, January 30, 2009

Worship for Sunday

This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany. In our worship we will hear Paul's discussion with the Corinthian church about some of their eating practices in 1 Corinthians 8.1-6, and also we will remember that Jesus is our authority for eating, listening and everything else; see Mark 1.21-22. Do those things we do, therefore, glorify God and give witness to our acceptance of the Lordship of Christ, or do we pursue our own agendas?

A prayer for this week:

Almighty God, great are your works for you are gracious and merciful, even to providing us food. Grant us wise and thankful hearts for your power and greatness. Guide us by the Spirit to study the ways of him who is our ultimate and final authority: your Incarnate Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit: One God. Amen.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Worship for Sunday

This week is the Third Sunday after Epiphany. Our scripture for the week includes Jonah 3.15-, 10: Jonah's second call by God to preach to Nineveh, and the Nenevites' response--and God's response to their repentance; Psalm 62; about trusting our God who is for us refuge and salvation; and Mark 1.14-20, the call Jesus issues to James, John, Peter and Andrew: 'follow me,' as he begins the proclamation of the Kingdom of God.

A Prayer for the Day:

Almighty God, to you belong power and steadfast love with you there is refuge and salvation. By the Spirit, help us to hear your call to share the message of Jesus Christ who calls us to follow the way of the Kingdom and proclaim the good news. Through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit: One God. Amen.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Church Web Site

We have a new webmaster and he is at work on our web site. Jeremy has done a great job in rearranging and planning out how the site will look. The link to the church site has been added to the list of links on the side, or, go to it here: http://www.colonialheightsumc.org/

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

YAM

The Young Adult Ministry (YAM) of Colonial Heights UMC will be attending the annual retreat for young adults (18-35), Divine Rhythm, conducted by Holston Conference annually in Pigeon Forge. Last year the group from Colonial Heights was the largest registered group in the entire conference. A link on this page may be found to YAM's own site. More information about Divine Rhythm may be found at http://holstonconference.org/divinerhythm/

Church Bell Noted

The edition of the Knoxville newspaper that came out today included an article by writer Barbara Asbury featuring our church bell. The Eternity Bell, named by donor Jean Reynolds, was installed in October and we have been enjoying its ringing calling us to worship and dismissing the service. The article may be found at: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/jan/21/good-things-get-done-in-this-neighborhood/

Monday, January 19, 2009

Our youth attend Resurrection 09


A prayer for the Second Sunday after Epiphany

Here is a prayer based on this scripture:

1 Corinthians 6.12-14, John 1.43-48a, Psalm 139

Almighty God, who searches our hearts and thoughts and knows us thoroughly, guide us by the Spirit to know the things that are beneficial for us and our lives in the Kingdom so that we may be raised into the Body of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit: One God. Amen.

This week

This week is the week of the Second Sunday after Epiphany. I didn't take the time to post an entry last week because of getting ready to attend Resurrection '09, the annual youth event that our conference puts on each January. The Resurrection series is celebrating 25 years of ministry, which means that today's youth are the children in some cases of original Resurrection attendees from the mid-80s. This retreat over the years has contributed to Holston Conference having the youngest average age of pastors in the United Methodist Church as well as making our conference youth program one of the most vital in the connection. The over 12,000 youth and leaders who attend are the largest yearly event for youth in the UMC. To read more about the event, follow this link: http://holston.org/events/2009/jan/23/resurrection-09/

Friday, January 9, 2009

Worship for Sunday

Sunday, January 11, 2009 is the First Sunday after Epiphany or 'Baptism of the Lord,' when we recognize the baptism of Jesus by John in the Jordan River. However, more than the baptism itself, our attention is drawn to the identification of who Jesus is by God and the descent of the Holy Spirit. The account of this is found in Mark 1.9-12. We will also look at Acts 19.1-7, where the baptism of John is contrasted with Christian baptism.

The prayer for the day:
Almighty God, as your voice came over the waters of creation, come over us and fill us with your glory for you are enthroned forever as our King. Overshadow us with the power of your Holy Spirit so that we may follow the way of Christ our Lord and give honor to your name. All honor and glory is yours Almighty God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our service at 10.45 will include a time of baptsimal renewal. The Lord's Supper will be served at the 9 am service this week. Our youth are leaving later in the week for the Holston Conference Spiritual retreat for youth, Resurrection 09 in Gatlinburg.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

A New Year

After taking a bit of a break in posting, now that it is 2009, I am happy to note that my schedule is settled down a bit and things are back to normal.


One of the weekly events at Colonial Heights during normal times is the weekly preparation that takes place for our services. Some of the folk who make that possible are the folks who spend time getting the music ready.














Here are a few folks who form the SpiritLed Band which leads the music for our 9 am service.



Weekly practice takes time and talent! Most of all, it takes a willingness to use the time we have and the talent we are given for the glory of God in worship. It doesn't matter whether the takent is in some sense great or not, it just takes a willingness to use what we have.