www.greenepublishing.com Church Friday, February 8, 2008 The Madison Enterprise-Recorder 9A Catch the Spirit At Madison First United Methodist Church By Lilla Howerton Isn't God magnificent? HE has been loving, protecting and serving us for all the years of our lives! This is so exciting and all we have to do is receive HIM as a gift, just like a child. We are no longer in charge, (not that we ever were) God is, oh how freeing... "The battle is not yours, Hapnig ms~uu'AtuFirs Bpisit Curch Ou f M adSJ~ FGisfon By Nell Dobbs "Love one another" as Jesus taught. Such beautiful flowers were placed in church Sunday by Jean and Buddy McWilliams in honor of the members of the Senior Adult Choir and in apprecia- tion for their nursing home ministry Amen! Thoughts of special people in our lives brighten our days and warm our hearts. We are so blessed to have so many loving, caring, giving, praying people in our lives - all Hospice people, all our family mem- bers who love and help us and friends. Debbie Bass blessed us, singing "How Great Thou Art" with the words on the screen. Will Rutherford, Deacon of the Week, read Scripture and then gave the of- fertory prayer. Lex Webb played "His Eye is On the Sparrow" on the organ and it brought to mind how Mother loved that song. It was sung at her funeral by our sis- ter Nancy's son, Stephen. Chancel Choir sang, "In Christ Alone." Mikenzi Plain became a member of the church Sunday Preacher's message was "Love One Another" from John 13:33-35. We are to reach out others, be gracious, be tena- cious, be near to help as we can, for people matter to God. Our lives do touch others. The reading, "The Touch of the Master's Hand" impresses us of the changes that are wrought by the touch of the Master and since He has no hands but ours, we are to touch others. We are so blessed to have our present preacher, while giving thanks for all those we have had. Wednesday, SAM group went to Jack- sonville to visit the Blount Island Seaport (the Seaman's Ministry), taking clothes and items of need. Tonight, the Youth Group will leave after school for a "Winter Jam" in Jack- sonville. Happy birthday and blessings to: Han- nah Zimmerly, February 1; Bill Raines, Febraury 3; Cathryn Carver, February 4; Datwan Siplin, February 7; A.J. Hudson (101), February 8; Lauren Ragans, Febru- ary 8; Evie Lamb, February 9; Paul Ra- gans, February 9; Chase Fico, February 10; Betty Jean McLeod, February 10; J.C. Price, February 11; Pearl Raines, Febru- ary 11; and Rhett Rutherford, February 11. Remember the baby shower Sunday at 2:30 p.m. for Lesley (Putnal) and Sis Bon- trager a boy! On Sunday, February 10, there's to be a special Sunday School teachers (and substitute teachers) meeting from 8:30- 9:30 a.m. '"Love one another." Love is shown by the Youth group as they sponsor the Valentine Friendship Banquet at 6 p.m. "Love one another." There are so many ill among us ;and we pray for God's will in their lives, in our lives... Sue Raines, still in Madison Hospital; Barbara Whittle, still in Shands, improv- ing; our brother, Lew, in Cantonment, having a pacemaker, put in today (as we talked one day about friends a special one to talk to in answer to my question, he said he talks to God and I said how great that is!) and all others. Bless all sad ones as Death has come among them the Louie Thompson fami- ly what a wonderful life he lived. Dear Lord, may our heart always be filled with the music of worship...the melody of praise...the message of love! Amen! but God's." II Chronicles 20:15 He is the Christ, the Son of our LIVING Lord. Let's listen to Him, worship Him and praise His name. "For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 It is hard to believe that Lent has al- ready begun. Lent began Wed. Feb. 6 and Lent means "spring." It is a season of 40 weekdays which prepare us for the cele- bration of Easter Sunday Sundays are always "Little Easters," and the spirit of Lent should be our joyous expectation of the Resurrection. Tonight you have the privilege of fel- lowship with our church family at our Adult Valentine Social at Divine Events from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. We invite all the men to our work day at the church on Sat. Feb. 9 from 9 a.m. until noon. Bring your yard tools and come help. Each Sunday is special because you can worship with us at 8:30 am, 11 am or by radio at 12:30 a.m. In addition to be- ing spiritually fed by our Shepherd, Pas- tor Bob Laidlaw, the music is wonderful as it prepares us to worship our Lord and Savior. We offer singing in the choir, gui- tar lessons, playing the handbells and be- ing a part of the Alpha Singers. Youth Pastor, Brian Sanderson, Chris Day, Caitlin Griffin and five others from the Madison Community will travel to Haiti from March 7th 15th to build a roof on a church. Please be in prayer for them. We invite you to the fundraiser dinner on Sunday, Feb. 10 at noon in the Fellowship Hall. All donations for the meal will go towards this mission trip. The 55 Plus Club invites you to their monthly luncheon and program on Wed. Feb. 13 at noon at the United Methodist Cooperative Ministries Center. This in- teresting program will be presented by David Abercrombie, the Madison Coun- ty Memorial Hospital Administrator and Dr. Daniel Perkins.. Exciting things are happening, so go hear about them. Please pray for Tommy Hardee, Steve Odiorne, Jenny Andrews, Jerry Borgert and Bob Odiorne. They leave on a mission trip to Brazil on Feb.14 for two weeks. SOn Saturday, Feb .16, the Pinetree Quilters invite you to their annual brunch at the United Methodist Cooper- ative Ministries Center from 9 am until 1 pm. Your donations go to help them in their mission to keep babies warm. The United Methodist Men provide a vital ministry for our church. We invite you to attend their breakfast and meet- ing Sun., Feb. 17, at 8 a.m. in the Fellow- ship hall. They have a delicious break- fast, excellent speaker and good fellow- ship. We invite all the teenages and their parents to our Sanctuary on Wed. Feb. 27 at 6:30 pm to hear Chris Deltano, Christ- ian Comedian, to talk on 'Abstinence" and peer pressure. Come fill our church and defy conformity. How about experiencing a "Weekend to Remember?" Many of our married couples are planning on attending this marriage conference on April 4 6 in Du- luth, Ga. This conference renews and restores marriages by clearly communi- cating God's plan and purpose for your marriage. Pick up your registration form before March 17 and experience God's truth. The Madison County Ministerial As- sociation will be reading the Bible pub- licly at the gazebo the week before the annual Four Freedoms Festival in April. The Bible reading will begin Mon. April 21 at 6:30 p.m. and continue until 6:30 a.m. Fri. April 25. Be a part of sharing His Word by praying and sign- ing up for a time period to read our Bible. "Thy Word is a lamp upon my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105 God is doing many magnificent things at Madison First United Methodist Church. This month we have five Bible Studies meeting weekly to learn more about following God's will for our lives and we invite you to come and "Catch the Spirit." Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sin delight [is] in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever ht Madison C nr h of God 771 NE Coin ly.Nadiso6, FL 850-971-5165 :' ovle-Glu,. Pastor Sunday School ,;.....;.10:00 a-.m. Morning Worship '11:00 aaIn. Evening Worship 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study 7-00 p.m. Barbara Memorial Church Of The Nazarene Highway 254 850-973-4160 Re\": obertAgner ' Sunday School........... 10:00 a.m. Morning Worship .................11M:00 amn. Evening Worship :30 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study 7:30 p.m. Reapers Of T' e Harvest Church 3 miles wesA;-_renvie. -.FL, ,Hwy. 90 3r -Pastor Sunday School....-' :i 10:00 anm. Morning Worship'.....',..... ........11:00 am. Evening orsp .-.. ,, ...........6:00 pn. Wednesday Night SeVe. ...;............,.7:30 p.m. nJ hlien the. cdy if Peeo tiwsfully co1e,. ihe\ ere allt with ne, accord in oin place." t, 2.:1 ...... I.....'. ... .: EVERYONE i ALWAYS WELCOME! St. Vinceo$ DePauil Roman Cathic Chcurch Meeting & SuYnterSt 850-973-2428 Rev. JoJl J Gordon, OMI Sunday. ............................. 9:00 a.m. Mon.. Tues., Wed. Mass 7:30 am. Thursday Mass 7:30 a.m. Saturday Mass .5:30 p.m. St. Mary's Episcopal Church 140 NE Horry A% MNadJion. FL- 850-973-8338 Tihe Rei Be.n Ptcil -icar Joe Bov'lei Senior Warden Sunday Church School ,.....;.10:00 ajn. Eucharist Mass 10:00 a.m. Mission Board 2nd Sunday 11:00 a.mn. Episcopal Church Women 3rd Sundnu.......11:00 a.m. isitor.'a (lit '. i\'itch