MessengerTHEC O L B E R T U N I T E DM E T H O D I S T C H U R C H

A P R I L 2 0 1 9 • V O L U M E 5 , I S S U E 4 w w w. c o l b e r t - u m c . o r g

From the Pastor’s Desk

The Second Commandment from the law given to Moses says, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the

water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me.” Exodus 20:4-5

In Old Testament times, images of other gods were commonly made for the purpose of worship and sacrifice, evidenced in existing hieroglyphics and other artifacts.

Misinterpretation of the second commandment and other verses led to the ancient heresy known as iconoclasm—the deliberate destruction of religious icons or monuments within a culture, usually for religious or political motives. People who engage in or support iconoclasm are called iconoclasts, a term that has come to be applied to anyone who breaks or disdains established dogmata or conventions. This led to the tragic destruction and loss of many sacred works of art during the eighth and ninth centuries. There are traditions, even today, that do not condone use of any art or symbols in worship. Personally, I have no problem with the use of images as long as we are worshiping God and not the image or the artist. I believe sacred art is a gift and blessing from God.

Many heresies, apostasies, and schisms exist throughout the history of the Christian church. Marcionism, adoptionism, and docetism, to name a few, all led to the excommunication of many, and even death. We're currently involved in another heresy within the Christian church that’s causing great schisms in our congregations that hopefully won’t result in such tragic consequences. Through the grace of God, we will get through the controversy and disagreements over something that we now see every Easter: CHOCOLATE CROSSES!!

What a theological conundrum. Are we supposed to enjoy a symbol of suffering, a device for execution, by dipping it in peanut butter? What part body of Christ on the crucifix do I break off and eat first? The head? The parts with the chocolate nails? Did a priest bless chocolate Jesus so that transubstantiation can occur?

I enjoy Easter candy as much as anyone, but who came up with this idea? There’s something about a CHOCOLATE CROSS that makes me cringe. It misrepresents what the cross really means, and it turns Lent into a sprint toward an Easter basket. Who can eat a Chocolate Cross? Why would one indulge in a delicacy that represents the ultimate symbol of sacrifice and salvation?

Blessings,

Michael

“But what is God's reply to him? I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” Romans 11:4

Upcoming Meetings & Events(All meetings take place in the Family Life Center.)UMW - Mon., Apr. 1, 6pmVBS Planning - Thurs., Apr. 4, 6pmSPR Meeting - Sun., Apr. 7, 5pmMOE & Children’s Ministry - Mon., Apr. 8, 6pmTrustees - Tues., Apr. 16, 6pmFood Bank - Thurs., Apr. 18, 10am-noonMaunday Thursday Service - Thurs., Apr. 18, 7pmEaster Egg Hunt - Sat., Apr. 20, 2-4pmSunrise Service - Sun., Apr. 21, 7amSoup Kitchen - Thurs., Apr. 25, 10:30am-1pmWorship Committee - Mon., Apr. 29, 6pm

Wednesday Night RechargeWednesday Night Recharge WILL NOT meet on April 3 due to Spring Break. We will resume on the 10th at 5:30 for good food, wonderful fellow-ship, and enlightening Bible study. Please make plans to join us!!

Easter Egg HuntAll elementary age children are invited to join us on Saturday, April 20, 2-4pm, for a wonderful time of games, crafts, food and, of course, Easter egg hunting!

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G E N E R A L N E W S

Soup Kitchen Our Daily Bread at Athens FBC

Our wonderful volunteers served 105 plates of food to our appreciative guests on Mar. 28 at Athens First Baptist Church. Greg Palmer, Shirley McClure, Steve and Franki Horrocks, Wanda Co-ley, Roger and Kaye Suddeth, and Dave English prepared and served green beans, cheesy sliced white potatoes, sausage, ham, bread, canned fruit, and fresh oranges and bananas.

Those of us who serve are so blessed that our church family is behind us financially. This is also a huge blessing to the guests who attend. Thank you, Colbert UMC, for your financial and prayer-ful gifts that make this ministry possible.

If you would like to participate in this ministry see Brenda Abdel-Hafez. We will serve again Apr. 25. We arrive at 10:30am, prepare and serve food. We leave promptly at 1:00pm. We do not have to clean up.

WANTED: Filled plastic Easter eggs for our Easter Egg Hunt on the 20th. Please help us by bringing plastic eggs filled with small trinkets, stickers, or candy and putting them in the basket in the Narthex. THANK YOU!!

Food BankWe are so privileged to be able to hold a Food Bank day on the third Thursday of each month. We are allowed two food shoppers at a time for one hour in one day to in the Northeast Georgia Food Bank in Athens. One of the shoppers needs a membership card, and shopping needs to be done once or twice every week. Dave English and Greg Palmer are our current shoppers, but we need more people to help shop. If you are available to help, please contact Dave or Greg.

The Colbert UMC Food Bank also needs baggers to prepare bags for the day of the Food Bank. Please contact Mariann Branson if you are interested in helping. This is a great ministry to be a part of.On Mar. 21, the Colbert UMC Food Bank served 43 families—135 people total. Much thanks to Greg Palmer, Wanda Coley, Shirley McClure, Dave English, Steve Horrocks, Pastor Michael Ferguson, Bill Ashley and Allen Harris for their help. Thanks also to Mariann Branson and Colbert UMYF for bagging the food. The Food Bank still needs shoppers and baggers. Please consider helping a couple times a year. The next distribution will be on Apr. 18, 9-11am.

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G E N E R A L N E W S

Church CouncilFollowing are the minutes from the March Church Council meeting: Finances are in excel-lent standing. Chuck Branson reported that we have $90,451.04 at end of February in checking and savings accounts. The Finance Committee is still working on technical upgrades in FLC offices and continuing to work on needs in FLC kitchen. The Trustees are looking into several projects in which the first is to repair lighting on church marquee. MOE gave printed report in last month’s Messenger. The Worship Committee has set dates for Easter services as follows: Palm Sunday service is April 14 during morning wor-ship, Maundy Thursday service will be at 7pm at Colbert April 18, Sunrise Easter service is April 21 at 7am followed by fellowship breakfast, Easter Worship April 21 at 11am. The Education Committee reports that VBS planning meeting is April 4 at 6pm in FLC. SPR reports that our youth director Leslie Bacastow resigned Feb. 12. Neal McGinnis and Pastor Michael are keeping things together. Tracy Coley has accepted Youth Direc-tor position beginning Sept. 1. We are all very excited about that. Safe Sanctuary Committee is updating our church Safe Sanctuary Policy. Pas-tor Michael reported that the most recent infor-mation from the Special Conference of United Methodist Church is that the Traditional Plan passed and now will be going to Judicial Council to check for constitutionality of the plan.

Mission-Outreach-EvangelismDuring the month of April the MOE Committee is requesting small stuffed animals for Christmas shoeboxes and breakfast bars for IMM. Poptarts are not good to pack because they crumble too easily. If possible, we are asking each family to bring one small stuffed animal and one box of breakfast bars. Thank you so much.

TrusteesThe trustees met on the third Tuesday of March for their monthly meeting. Since the weather during the first three months of the year has caused some projects to be delayed, the trust-ees plan several upgrades as soon as possible. Upgrades include getting the church marquee lighted since it has not been a bright spot in a while. Hopefully, bids will be obtained to extend the sidewalk in front of the church. Upgrades at the parsonage are on tap for completion. Other projects are in the discussion stage with possible completion this year or to be budgeted for next year. If any member sees an immediate concern, please inform Pastor Michael or any trustee.

Mission-Outreach-EvangelismDuring the month of April the MOE Committee is requesting small stuffed animals for Christmas shoeboxes and breakfast bars for IMM. Poptarts are not good to pack because they crumble too easily. If possible, we are asking each family to bring one small stuffed animal and one box of breakfast bars. Thank you so much.

Easter Week ServicesMaunday Thursday Service will be on April 18 at 7pm at Colbert UMC. Please join us as we commemorate this special day of Holy Week. Sunrise Service will be on April 21 at 7am in front of Colbert UMC. A fellowship breakfast will immediately follow in the Family Life Center. We hope you can join us for this special service. We will also have an Easter service at 11am in the sanctuary.

Brookshire Class"Those who find their lives will lose them," Jesus said, "and those who lose their lives because of me will find them." This is a puzzling statement that we will discuss in our next series of lessons titled, "Call to Ministry." Did you know that each Christian has been called? Our answer may be the most important one we make in our lifetime.We will not have Sunday School on Easter morn-ing, as we will participate in the early morning worship service and help provide the breakfast that follows.

GAP ClassThe recent chapter in “The Story” by Randy

Frazee is titled “The Darkest Hour.” God never wanted to be separated from his people, so he promised to provide a way to get us back, to reunite with his people in a perfect community. He put a plan in place—a plan that has been unfolding throughout history. It appeared to the Jewish people who lined the streets of Jerusalem waving palm branches that this plan had culmi-nated in a triumphal entry by Jesus. But what next? What is Jesus, the Son of God, going to do to provide a pathway back to God? He is going to die. Not fight the Romans. Not set up a power base from which to rule as David or Solomon did. Not create a kingdom like they expected. . . They crucified Him. . . And now he was gone. In the Lower Story, this was a disaster—colossal failure. In the Upper Story, it is the beginning of a major victory that had been planned from the beginning of time. How do we know? —Excerpt from Randy Frazee’s book “The Heart of the Story.”

Join us on Sundays at 10am in the FLC to con-tinue this discussion.

JAM and KFCThe JAM (Jesus and Me) Sunday school class is studying "Jesus, My Example " in Sunday school

this month. We will be learning through the stories of the four friends, the good Samaritan, Mary and Martha, Zaccheus, and the woman at the well.

In KFC, we are learning the books of the Bible and our memory verses. We will hear stories about Gideon, The Widow's Mite, Jesus' resurrec-tion, and Jesus’ first miracle. We are also learning about and how to have a daily quiet time.

Parents, please encourage your children in what they are learning! Please remember our kids in your prayers as they are learning and growing in Christ!

"I was in prison and you visited me." Matt. 25:36 Thank you for being a part of this ministry car-

rying God’s agape love into Whitworth Women’s Prison. A special thanks to UMW for the financial sponsorship of an inmate at the prison. Thanks to the youth and craft group for coloring place-mats.Thanks to the Wednesday Night Recharge Bible study groups for posters of God’s amazing love and forgiveness. Most of all, thanks to all the members of Colbert UMC for your prayers! “God’s Special Time” God bless everyone, Georgia Phillips

To my church family: Thank you so much for your love, support, prayers and good wishes as I go through this round of chemo and healing. The sunshine basket was so much fun, and I am still using and enjoying the items included in it. The cards always bring a smile to my day. I am responding well to treatment and hope to be back with you soon. Please know that I miss and appreciate each of you. With love, Cleo Ward

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S U N D AY S C H O O L N E W S

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UMWThanks to all who participated in the Lenten Day Apart Service on March 24. We enjoyed an afternoon of worship and "A Jewish Midrash" by Sue Raymond, National Board of Dixie of United Methodist Women, who por-trayed Mary Mother of Jesus.

Special thanks to Cleo Ward, Colbert UMW president, for arranging the meeting with the Ath-ens-Elberton District officers and to local members for support. Special appreciation goes to Pastor Michael for his time and eagerness to serve at this special event, as well as sound operater David Rutledge, song leader Neal McGinnis, pianist Anna Chou, singer Lydia Joiner, communion organizer Debby Rogers, and program assistants Barbara Dix-on and Tracy Coley. Hats off to Georgia Phillips and Franki Hottocks for registering the attendees and extra efforts in welcoming guests. Nancy Goss and Sue English, thank you both for working behind the scenes to portray our church as a warm and friendly place to others in the district. Most of all, thank you, all women of the church!

UMW meets the first Monday of the month at 6pm in the FLC—ALL women are welcome.

UMYFTo my church family and parents of youth:Thank you for your prayers and encouragement over the last couple of years while I’ve worked on my graduate degree in writing. I’m finishing up in August and plan to resume my position as youth director on Sept. 1! I am beyond thrilled to be working with the youth again and am looking forward to the year ahead at a super-charged pace. Special thanks to Pastor Michael, Neal McGinnis, and Mariann Branson for filling in the gaps, and to Leslie Bacastow for loving our youth as her own.

We’re planning lots of activities, including service and mission work both locally and outside of Georgia (Summer 2020 Mission Trip!!), a spring 2020 confirmation retreat, and lots of fun events and FUNdraisers to afford our mission projects. In the meantime, I will volunteer as my time permits until we are rejoined full-time in the fall. I look forward to opportunities to reconnect with the youth this spring through Wednesday Night Recharge and this summer with some fun fellowship events.

In His service, Tracy

S M A L L G R O U P N E W S

Upcoming Youth Events:June 8 Ziplining and Picnic at Unicoi State Park June 23-26 Vacation Bible School July 17 Tubing or KayakingAugust ? Youth Event (Movie, Bowling or Music)Sept. 1 Welcome Back Pool PartyOctober ? FUNdraiserNov. 1-3 Weekend Mission Retreat

*Pending Youth Council Review

Children's MinistriesThe Jesus and Me (JaM) Sunday school class will study the crucifixion and resur-rection of Jesus during April. Come dig deeper into this special time with us.

Kids for Christ (KFC) will learn mem-ory verses, key passages, and books of the Bible on Wednesdays. We've begun learning the major and minor

prophets and will move to the New Testament soon. Some of our children helped pack bags for the Food Bank in March and learned a lot about this minitry. We'll begin mission projects in April, collecting spices and baby food items for our Food Bank. Children should bring these collected items to class.

APR. 7 APR. 14 APR. 21 APR. 28USHERS Barbara Clack Rose Branson Georgia Phillips Mariann Branson

Barry Clack Chuck Branson Travis Phillips Delores KennedyACOLYTE Olivia Wooten Natalie Ferguson Mary Grace Watson Lorali HardegreeLITURGIST Tracy Coley Brenda Abdel-Hafez Dave English Trudy WardNURSERY Katherine Phelps Keri McGinnis Mariann Branson Nancy Goss

Will Parham Lorali Hardegree Trudy Ward Kaylee PhelpsFLOWERS Communion Suzanne Sack Judy Martin Brenda Abdel-HafezCOMMUNION ASST. Barbara Dixon

MAY. 5USHERS Terri Christian

Cleo WardACOLYTE Danielle WootenLITURGIST Nancy GossNURSERY Delores Kennedy

Brayden HardegreeFLOWERS CommunionCOMMUNION ASST. Brenda Abdel-Hafez

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G O D ’ S S U N D AY S E R V A N T S

Official Church CalendarNeed to reserve church spaces or van for an event? The Official Church Calendar is maintained by Pastor Michael. If you need to use the old fellowship hall, Family Life Center, Sunday School rooms, sanctuary, or church van, please follow these easy steps:

1. Check the Official Church Calendar (located in the church office in the FLC) to see if the room(s) or van is available for the day(s) you want to reserve and use them. Please note that the church maintains a list of approved drivers; please see Pastor Michael for more information.

2. Read the building usage policy located on the bulletin board outside the church office and on the bulletin board in the back hall of the church.

3. Fill out a Reservation Form located online or in the church office, and return it to Pastor Michael.4. Pay any necessary deposit or usage fee (preferably by check) to the church. Trustees will determine

and assess any damage fees as necessary.5. After receipt of payment (if necessary), Pastor Michael will confirm your reservation and write your

reservation on the Official Church Calendar.

This policy was adopted by the Church Council on Jan. 9, 2011.

If you are unable to be there for your scheduled Sunday, please try to switch with someone or call Rose Branson @ 706-227-2571.

UMW April Hostesses:Rose Branson and Jerrie TeetProgram/Devotion: Georgia Phillips

UMW May Hostesses:TBDProgram/Devotion: Brenda Abdel-Hafez

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68 North Second StreetP.O. Box 317

Colbert, Georgia 30628

Pastor Michael Ferguson(706) 788-3372 (office)michael.ferguson@ngumc.net

www.colbert-umc.org Colbert United Methodist Church

Our Mission: Colbert United Methodist Church exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world!

Easter Activities at Colbert UMCMaunday Thursday Service – April 18, 7pm

Easter Egg Hunt – April 20, 2-4pmEaster Sunrise Service – April 21, 7am

Easter Morning Service – April 21, 11am