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The Messenger September, 2009 From the Pastor... : William Palmer As Christian people most of us know “the words” to use in prayer; after all we usually learn to say the Lord’s Prayer in Sunday school, and we might hear “Now I lay me down to sleep…” even earlier. Lots of folks say grace before meals-sometimes even when eating at a restaurant! One of my cherished memories is a time when Maggie, my mother, and I were at a restaurant together and the folks at the next table (total strangers!) asked if we would join them as they said grace before dinner. Lately, I’ve been thinking about “how” we pray, not so much “what” we pray. I preached a sermon recently on some of the attitudes we might bring to our prayer times, and I recently received some thoughts on prayer that I want to share with you. (I got these nuggets of prayer-wisdom as part of a church newsletter, so I can’t credit any one author.) How to pray Pray where you are. God is present everywhere and is ready to listen. Pray, when possible, in a quiet place where you can be alone. It is good to fix your mind deliberately on God, apart from confusing distractions. Pray to God simply and naturally, as to a friend. Tell God what is on your mind. Get help from the prayers of others. Pray, remembering the good things God has done for you. Give thanks for all your blessings. Pray for God’s forgiveness for the unworthy things you may have done. God is near to a humble and contrite heart. Pray especially for those things that will make your life more like Jesus’ life. Pray for others, remembering the help they need for the situations they face. Pray for the world in its need, and for God to guide you toward ways you can be of help. Pray that God’s will be done in you. God’s purposes are deeper and wiser than our own. Pray, and then allow God to answer your prayer. I ask each of you to hold me, and our church, in your prayers and I promise you that I will continue to hold each of you in mine. Jesus reminds us in the Gospels that the key to prayer is not eloquence, or status, or our worthiness. Jesus tells us that what is essential to prayer is persistence. Ask, seek, knock, Jesus tells us. Open, re-open, or continue your own talk with God. Today. Sincerely, Bill ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Important Dates September 2:
Auction Comm.Meeting at Greco’s, 6pm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thank You, Thank You to...
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A Special Thank you to...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ASAP UPDATE The Accessibility and Safety Achievement Project (ASAP) Committee extends their gratitude to all who made the August 8, Vine and Cheese Garden Party a grand success. The proceeds, all of which go toward the new handicap accessible elevator, exceeded $1,000. Special thanks to Marilyn Marks for leading the planning committee for this event. John Aldrich secured all bids for the handicap accessible restroom in the Fellowship Hall. He and the Trustees selected Woodruff Construction for the job, and construction will commence on October 5, with the expectation of completion of the restroom within two to three weeks following. Thank you to John and Carol Aldrich and committee for designing the restroom. As of August 11, 2009 the ASAP balance is $23,229.49. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Baked Goods Needed For all who enjoy the kitchen, the Annual Specialty Auction Committee welcomes donations to the bake sale on October 3. Thank you for baking! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WINDOWS FOR SALE ~ TO BENEFIT ASAP FOR SALE: Six, vinyl, single pane, windows that measure 3’ x 11 1/2” wide by 3’ x 11 1/2” high. All windows slide side to side and have screens. They are in excellent condition. The suggested donation for the windows is $50 or best offer. Please contact Connie Main at 963-7748 if you are interested. All proceeds will go to ASAP. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On Being Christians... “Suit up. Pray up. And stand up for the God that we love...” Reverend Bill Palmer, August 23, Sermon ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Recipe Corner: This month's recipe comes from our church cookbook "Treasures From Heaven", on page 15, where Bonnie Loforte shares her Traditional apple Butter - the perfect recipe for all of us living in Oswego County during apple season. Thank You Bonnie! Traditional Apple Butter 12 Large Cooking Apples
4 Cups Sugar Bring all ingredients to a boil in a large pot. Turn heat down and continue to simmer on low until desired spreading consistency. Stir often to avoid sticking. Jar contents, yields two quarts. The recipe works well in a crock pot. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ August Auction Donation Form
Name________________________________Address__________________________________
Phone________________________________Email____________________________________
Please describe or name the items (s) donated. Thank you.
o
Food_______________________________________________________________________
o Gift Card, Gift Certificates
(s)____________________________________________________
o Items(s)____________________________________________________________________
o Services(s)__________________________________________________________________
o Themed Basket
(s)____________________________________________________________
o
Other________________________________________________________
This form should be sent to be sent to First United
Methodist Church, Attn: Auction Committee, PO Box 255,
Mexico, NY 13114.Or it may be placed in the August
Auction Early Bird Box in the narthex.
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