Scribble That

My Weekly Pastor’s Email… Need a better title than that…

Thought I’d post my weekly email to my congregation. I’ve taken off the prayer requests just because I haven’t asked if it would be OK to post them out here for all the world to see. I will start add the requests once I find out if its OK.  

Enjoy ———————————————-

How are things this week? Enjoying today’s rain? I know I am. All this rain got me thinking about that weather phenomenon called the dry line… all Oklahomans should know about it. We hear about it all the time on the weather reports. Gary England tells us right where it is and “keeps us advised” of where its going and what its about to cause - a storm. For those of us who might not be as weather savvy: the dry line is an invisible “line” in the sky where the cold dry air from the northwest collides with the warm dry air from the southwest and the warm moist air from the Gulf of Mexico all mixing together to make us some good ol’ stormy Oklahoma weather. 

I remember as a kid hearing the weathermen talk about the dry line and the thunderstorms but I never really noticed the storms forming. You see, out in Tulsa the storms would usually form to the west and then move in, rarely would they form right over us, or even within viewing distance. But out here… wow… what a spectacular show. I can actually see the dry line in action. I can see this invisible collision point where warm and cold air crash into each other, pushing, pulling and creating a new entity from the two forming a tremendously glorious thunderhead. 

Last week, as I watched a storm form just to the southeast of town, I thought about how the dry line and the resulting thunderheads can often parallels our lives. That collision of cold, dry, warm and moist air can echo the everyday chaos of our lives where schedules, school, work, commitments and family time all crash into one another each demanding a fair shake of our time. 

Sometimes the collision happens when the unexpected occurs - a sudden death, a job promotion, a kid getting sick, an emergency at work, etc. - and our lives feel turned upside down as we make the adjustments to deal with the change. 

These storms of life can often be difficult to deal with, so much so sometimes we just wish they wouldn’t occur. But as we all know, when we see that storm building on the horizon, we need the rain. We need that cleansing of the earth, that rejuvenating of the soil, that generative moisture soaking the ground and giving us life once again. But as we all know, the only way to get this rain is by different forces chaotically colliding and creating a powerful thunderstorm. Without the wind, we wouldn’t have the rain. Without the storm, we wouldn’t have the healing. 

The storms of life happen. Chaos occurs. Dramatic changes and events happen in our lives that bring about emotional and spiritual challenges. But God uses these storms to shape us, develop us, mold us, heal us and make us stronger. He uses these storms to bring us His much needed rain. After all storm has passed we are left with His living, generative water that heals and molds us into all He has made us to be. 

Romans 8:28 it says that God works all things to His good, even the storms of life (read it in this version here or the Message version here at biblegateway.com). So, the next time you look up to the skies and see the thunderheads forming, think about the storms of life we face and remember that these storms can bring us His living water. 

Grateful for rain,  

Pastor Becky

ORIENTEERING

This week is third and final planned week of our Orienteering Sessions. For the last few weeks we’ve been assessing ourselves by first, “getting our bearings” by looking at our current situation so as to figuring out where we are as a church and community right now. Second, we’ve “gathered our gear” by looking at who we are as a people, what are our strengths and weaknesses, where we need to stretch ourselves and where we can capitalize on our strengths to go further into our future. THIS WEEK, its time to start “charting our course” by taking these assessments and asking ourselves, where do we go next, what are the needs of our community and where can we as NHUMC meet these needs. We will use a brief demographical study of the region as a springboard to get us thinking about where God is calling us as a church for this next stage in our journey and how are we going to get there. Hope to see you there! Oh, and bring some more yummy snacks! 

Childcare provided upon request. If you are coming and will need child care, please let us know ASAP so we can contact our nursery staff. Contact either Sonya Brooks or Pastor Becky.

WORSHIP VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!! 

Wanna Help in Worship? Feel like reading scripture, leading the Apostle’s Creed, serving communion, or helping in another way? Then let Pastor Becky or Carol Bradley know and we will find a place for you. Sunday morning worship is a communal experience where everyone is welcome to play a part. If you feel led to help with the service in some form, email the church (newhorizonumc@yahoo.com), Pastor Becky directly (beckers1976@hotmail.com) or sign up on the sheet on the name tag table.

LADIES TEA - SEPTEMBER 30, 6 PM @ THE CHURCH

Join the Women’s Group as we share in a wonderful time of fellowship, faith and community with our young ladies in our Annual Ladies Tea. This is a traditional “tea” complete with Tea Sets and Finger Foods. So mark your calenders and sign up to bring your Tea Set or help with food and join us for a great time together! Email the church is you have any questions or want to sign up (newhorizonumc@yahoo.com). 

STUDY GUIDES

Want to take this week’s sermon deeper? Each week I’ll provide a study guide to the Sunday Sermon with questions and passages to deepen your journey with God. Forget to pick it up on Sunday? They will be on the name-tag table all week. 

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL

There are just 4 more weeks in the Christian Character series we are currently studying, lead by Jenni Miller. Its a wonderful discussion on living healthy and spiritually maturing lives following Christ. Join us as we deepen our faith and explore what it means to live out of our Christian Character. 

Our next study, lead by David Shore, will take us through the best-selling book The Shack by William P. Young. This book is a fantastic journey through some of life’s toughest questions and biggest struggles with God. Join David and the class as they wrestle with the timeless question, “Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?”  If you are interested in the class and need to buy a copy of the book, sign up on the sheet at the church on the name tag table or email the church (newhorizonumc@yahoo.com) and we will order you a copy. 

YOUTH AND CHILDREN’S SUNDAY SCHOOL

Don’t forget that we also offer youth and children’s Sunday School each week at 9:30 AM. We have a great set of teachers and a wonderful curriculum guiding our kids towards a deeper and active relationship with Jesus Christ. Find your class and teacher and join us this week: 

Infants - 4 yr olds - Daniella Castor and Joan Friman

Pre K - 2nd Grade - Sonya Brooks 

3rd - 5th Grade - Ingrid Meinders

6th - 8th Grade (Jr. High) - Terry Brooks

9th - 12th Grade (Sr. High) - Dave Hughes