Friday, October 26, 2007

Is Something On Fire?

Yes, I watched the Indians end their season in the American League Championship Series. As frustrating as that was, I can still remember the days in Cleveland Municipal Stadium when there were so few people there that it was almost embarrassing to yell anything because the players could actually hear your voice.

I’m also old enough to remember (and I imagine a few others in our congregation are also) the days when both the Cuyahoga River and former Cleveland mayor Ralph Perk’s hair caught on fire, and later when the city of Cleveland actually went into default. Unfortunately, much of the rest of the country is still associating these events with Cleveland, and they’re just beginning to wake up to the fact that we’ve come a long way.

Now take a look at our church. We’ve been through a few rough times also, and there are others who still look at us in those terms. Through it all though, we’ve remained faithful. I hope that our members realize what an amazing time it is to be a part of this church—the Lord’s church.


Think just for a moment about the many ways we’re blessed. I’ll name just a few:

  • First of all, I don’t know if you realize this, but it’s the first time since I’ve been a member that we actually are in position to pay all of our apportionments. That is truly remarkable to go from nearly 0% a few years ago to 100%. That’s stewardship.
  • Think about the mission and service that the UMW provides year after year.
  • Have you noticed the appearance of the sanctuary and building, thanks to Jim, the trustees, and other volunteers?
  • We’ve got new programs underway, with two adult bible studies – one continuing on Monday nights and one on Tuesday morning.
  • Children’s sermons are back!
  • The Membership and Evangelism Team has been resurrected, and we’re looking for others to help-- maybe you? Do you have ideas that you’d like to share?
  • We’re looking for ways to have more of a presence in the neighborhood and community, and we’ll be investigating ways to secure some grants.
  • We even have a presence now on the Internet, with the church’s website and this blog. Would you would like share some inspirational words on the blog? You don’t need to know anything about computers-- just write something down, get it to me and I’ll do it for you.
  • We’re certainly blessed by our more-than-fulltime pastor who is working for a half-time salary. We need to always realize and respect this, make sure not to burn her out-- and just take some time to thank her.


Folks, the river’s not on fire here anymore, but the Holy Spirit is on fire!

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Laity - by Leonard T

The dictionary defines 'laity' as people who do not belong to the clergy. Lay people make up the community (the non-exclusive, all inclusive body) that makes up the church (the followers of Christ Jesus).

It has been my observation that many lay people feel that they are insignificant because they lack talents, gifts and abilities when they compare themselves to other individuals. Be careful when you compare yourself to someone else, because you may find yourself unworthy. Instead, remember that God made you who you are.

Every little bit counts. To God, you are important. Remember that one of the gifts that we are given is the ability to be a helper. We as individual lay people can help to enhance the tasks that others perform to the glory of God, so don't think that because you are not 'certified' that you have nothing to offer.

As laity, we all have our own specific gifts, and God will help us to use them, because God loves all of those that he created.

Leonard T

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Rev-Elations October 2007

It is an amazing thing—the money and the church. I hardly ever talk about money, yet you will hear people say, “All the church ever talks about is money!” You can mention it once in a while, and some think they are hearing it every Sunday.

I checked it out. When Jesus was training His first disciples He talked a whole lot more about money than I do. George Buttrick, in his book, The Parables of Jesus, reminds us that of Jesus’ 43 parables recorded in the Gospels, 27 of them (that is 62%) refer to money and possessions. Buttrick continues: “One out of every ten verses in the Gospels deals with money and, while the Bible includes 500 verses on prayer and fewer than 500 verses on faith, more than 2,000 verses address money and what it buys.”

Now why would that be? Why would Jesus spend so much time talking about money and what it buys? Here is my answer. Jesus knew that one thing we’d hold onto and refuse to let go, the one thing we just have to call “mine,” is money. To take hold of life means taking hold of a whole new way of looking at life. When you grab hold of the new life Jesus has in store for you, you let go of everything else. You can not grab hold of His hand if your hands are still clinging to “your” money! Jesus put it this way, “You can not serve both God and Money” (Luke 16:13).

There is more. Once you take hold of the new life Jesus gives you, you still have money, at least I hope so. Some of us have more of it than others. It has always been that way. Only now the money you have is the Lord’s, not your. Now it is not yours to spend at will; it is yours to manage in a way that truly brings God honor. How you spend it—the mortgage, clothes, food, the car(s), the vacation—it all ends up an act of worship, honoring God and bringing Him glory.

What’s more, God expects to be honored first with our money. After all, it is His, and His cause needs to be preeminent in our priorities. The Bible calls this “first fruits” giving, honoring God off the top with a percentage of our income designated ahead of time as a pledge toward His work of making disciples. (See Malachi 3:10; I Corinthians 16:2).

At Maple Heights United Methodist Church, we excel in so many aspects of discipleship-serving, Bible study, caring, outreach, worship and more! When it comes to giving, though, we are, well, average. The national average for giving by members of American churches is 2 ½ % of their household income. That is about our average, too. We have a way to go toward the Biblical goal of a tithe, 10 %.

One of my favorite seasons is autumn. The beauty of tress dressed in their fall colors is awesome. I look out in awe and think; oh, how good and generous is our God. May God help us to give more generously than ever. The motivation? That is easy. We remember the One who became poor that we might be rich (2Corinthians 8-9).

Happy Giving. Rev. Julianne Gebbie, Pastor

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