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Consider the Lilies

I recently came across a blog that said “Live each day like it’s your last, and one 2011
day you’ll be right.” Someone might counter, “I live each day like I have all the time in the
world, and so far, I’ve been right every time.” Both of these observations are correct, but
we recognize the wisdom in the first and the folly in the second. Time well spent is time WELCOME
cherished; time poorly spent leaves us with a stockpile of regret.
Time is valuable, whether spent in work, conversation, contemplation, or even S U N DA Y S C H O O L
waiting. But the value of time can be deceptive. Consider who in the following case was 9 : 45 A . M .
making the best and most use of their time. I once found myself sitting with a group of (E D . B L DG .)
men at a shopping mall. The common thread weaving among us was that we were all wait-
S U N DA Y W O R S H I P
ing for our female companions to finish shopping. One elderly man was napping; a
11: 00 A . M .
younger man was apparently transported to some virtual world displayed on his handheld ( S AN CT U AR Y )
electronic game. I was reading. Many of you would argue that it was obviously the
women shopping who were most productive. But we should not rush to judgment. Each of H AND B ELL
these activities could be a good or poor use of time, depending on the context. Maybe the P RA CT ICE
women were wasting their money on bad purchases. Maybe the younger man was testing a W E DNE S D A YS
new product and giving valuable feedback to the manufacturer. Maybe the napper was 6 : 3 0 P. M.
recharging so he would have the energy to spend with his grandchildren later. My reading
C HOIR PRACTICE
could be frivolous or profound, depending on what I was reading or how well I attended to
W E DNE S D A YS
it. It is all relative, as Einstein observed. 7 : 3 0 P. M.
My vote goes to a fourth man, who sat, hands in lap, watching the crowds. He
smiled at a little girl holding her mother’s hand. He offered his seat to a young woman R E STO RERS
struggling with packages and a stroller. When he noticed me watching him, he said, “Isn’t T HU RS D AY S 9 : 00 A . M .
this great? Look at all this stuff we have to choose from! When I was a kid, ninety percent (A CT I VI T Y R O OM )
of this had not been invented yet!” To my way of thinking, he was making excellent use of
his time for several reasons. He engaged the people around him with kindness and consid- * * * * * * * ** * * * * ** * * * *
eration. He shared his contagious positive attitude with me, and changed the way I was
observing things around me. He chose to relate to those around him, rather than isolate
himself, cocooned against a busy and hectic world. Mostly, though, he was in the moment, OUR MI SSION
present and alert, while the rest of us, even the shoppers, were gliding through life on auto-
pilot. A T A L L EN M EMO RIA L
One year our family vacation took us across a vast desert in Arizona. As I took in O UR MI SS IO N I S TO
the breathtaking beauty around me, I realized that I was alone in my appreciation of it.
Everyone else in the car was either reading or sleeping or occupied with a game. “Wake
 G A T HER A S T HE
up!”, I shouted. “Isn’t this beautiful?” From the back of the car came a sleepy reply: “Are
we there yet?” FA M IL Y O F C HRIS T ,
“Look at the birds of the air”, Jesus said. “They neither sow nor reap nor gather
into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. … Consider the lilies of the field, how  G RO W A S DI S CI PL ES
they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not O F C HRIST A ND
clothed like one of these” (Mt 6:26-29). Jesus was teaching us not to worry about things
that do not matter, but we should not rush to the moral and pass too quickly over the man-
 GO FO RT H T O S ERVE
ner of his teaching. “Look at the birds. Consider the lilies.” The lesson comes from being
A S T HE B OD Y O F
present in the moment, mindful of the things around us. Jesus was certainly a scholar of
CHRI ST
the scriptures, but many of his teachings came from simple observations of things that oth-
ers miss. In our efforts to be more like Jesus, perhaps we can start with today, awake to
every person and thing God places in our path.
Brian
P AG E 2

FROM THE WORSHIP COMMITTEE


FOUR WEDNESDAYS EVENINGS IN FEBRUARY

Sermon on the Mount A STUDY OF HAITI


Challenges and Hope
On January 30, 2011, in Sunday Morning
Worship, the pastor began a series of ser- Each Wednesday evening in February, the UMW will spon-
mons on the Sermon on the Mount. The se- sor a study on HAITI. Come learn what the United Method-
ries will continue through the month of Feb- ist Church is doing to meet the challenges and offer hope. A
ruary. Scripture Texts and Sermon Titles for meal will be provided for the usual donation at 6:00 p.m.,
the Series are: followed by a brief study period.
Selavi
That is life
January 30 … Yon sél nou feb, ansanm nou fo
Matthew 5:1-12/Are You Blessed? Alone we are weak, but together we are strong
February 6 …
Matthew 5:13-20/A City on a Hill *************************************
February 13 … NORTH GEORGIA ADVOCATE
Matthew 5:21-37/The Pure Heart Beginning Friday, Feb. 4, the official news source of the
February 20 … North Georgia Conference will be available at
www.ngumc.org/advocate.
Matthew 5:38-48/Love to the Next Level
February 27 … The print edition of the NG Advocate will continue to be
Matthew 6:24-34/Trust in the King published the first and third Friday of each month in con-
junction with the United Methodist Reporter. The online
edition of the Advocate will be free and will not require
Make your plans to be at registration, but you can receive each edition automati-
Allen Memorial UMC cally by signing up at www.ngumc.org/site/
stayconnected.The online version of the Advocate also
on Sunday Mornings in February will include a PDF of the corresponding issue of the UM
Reporter.“We realize, in the constantly evolving informa-
tion age, many people prefer to get their news electroni-
Harriett Jordan, Worship Committee Chairman cally,” said North Georgia Advocate editor Glenn Hanni-
770-786-8923 / stormy banks@bellsouth.net gan. “This is an important step for us to continue fulfilling
the mission of the newspaper. We are committed to do-
ing the best job we can to keep the 350,000 United
Methodists in our conference informed.”In addition to
making all news content available on the Internet, the
online edition of the North Georgia Advocate will allow
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS: archiving of all news, stories and features, such as
We welcome the Hall family who joined Allen Bishop Mike Watson’s column and Sunday school lessons.
Memorial January 9, 2011. It will also make all the content in the Advocate search-
able online.
*********************************************
INVITATION TO JOHN
BEGINNING FEBRUARY 6, REV. DALE WILL
BE LEADING A NEWSTUDY ON THE GOS-
PEL OF JOHN, ENTITLED
INVITATION TO JOHN. THIS ELEVEN WEEK
STUDY IS PART OF THE DISCIPLE SERIES
OF BIBLE SUTDIES. IT WILL BE HELD SUN-
DAY EVENINGS FROM 6-7:30 PM, BEGIN-
NING FEBRUARY 6 AND ENDING APRIL 17
Anthony and Amanda Hall with their (PALM SUNDAY). CHILDCARE WILL BE PROVIDED IF RE-
children Jessica, Nolan, Rebecca, and QUESTED. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER, CALL
Lucy.
THE CHURCH OFFICE. 770-786-7414.
P AG E 3

BY JOANNA HENRY
WE HAD A CHANCE TO ENJOY
The Music Score
THE SNOW AND ICE ON OUR By Harriett Jordan, Director of Music Ministry
WINTER FUN DAY! (770-786-8923 / stormybanks@bellsouth.net)

Lenten & EasterMusic


Music is now being rehearsed for the Season of Lent and
Easter Sunday.
The Two-Octave Handbell Choir rehearses on Wednesday
nights in the sanctuary at 6:30 p.m. Members of the Hand-
bell Choir are: Alexa DeVetter, Sue Dale, Nancy Henderson,
Paul Green, Karen Green and Jeannie Hall. There is a space
available for an additional ringer and sometimes need of an
eighth.
The Chancel Choir rehearses on Wednesday nights in the
choir loft in the sanctuary beginning at 7:30 p.m. High
school & college students and adults are always welcome.
If you would like to play in the Bell Choir or sing in the
Chancel Choir but need childcare, please let me (Harriett)
know.

Opportunities for Children and Youth


Children in Grades K – 5 and Youth
will begin preparing an Easter Musical
Celebration entitled Hallelujah, What a Savior!
during the month of February.
The New Sunday School Lesson is a hit! The musical consists of four
The kids enjoy learning about the Ten songs and narration for four
Commandments in a way that meets their needs. to sixteen speakers.
Bring your kids to join us at 9:45 on Sundays. The participants will also
be making props and
Souper Bowl Sunday! learning choreography for
the songs.
Contact me (Harriett) if
Souper Bowl you are interested in
participating. Look for
Sunday! rehearsal details in the
AM Kids and Youth will Sunday Worship
Bulletins and on the
be hosting a mission church website.
fundraiser on Younger Children will also be preparing music for the sea-
February 6th directly after son. Information will be in the Sunday Worship Bulletins
church in Lovern Hall. Various and on the church website.
************************************************
soups will be served
All proceeds will go to Feed the
LITTLE RED WAGON
Hungry.
Reverend Brian Dale
with children who
collected for the Food
Volunteer Training Day Pantry during the
Saturday Feb 19th morning service on
If you are interested in serving with the Nursery, Children January 16th.
or Youth, please join us for this training session. We will
cover the safe sanctuaries policy, CPR training, the
Rotational Model of teaching, and many other areas of
service. More information to come!
You Don’t Wanna Miss Out!
Anyone can count the seeds in an apple; but only God
Greeters - can count the apples in a seed.
January-May:
1st Sunday- Rob Gourlay, John
Burson, Andy Autry, David Dale
2nd Sunday- Anna and Chuck Silver, Chuck
Knarr, Dorothy Dimsdale
3rd Sunday- Steve Bowen, Tom Johnson, Elysse Snyder 3-Feb
JoAn Stone, Carlos Meyer, Richard White 5-Feb
4th Sunday- John Burson, Jim Patty, Adrian Lynda Ann Gossage 5-Feb
Whisnant, Lee Autry Matthew Taylor, Jr. 5-Feb
Elizabeth Hutto 8-Feb
Brian Hilley 8-Feb
Greeters, Please begin your responsibilities at 10:45 A.M. Wear Betsy Head 11-Feb
your Welcome Badge. Greet each person with a smile and a Renate Cowden 11-Feb
handshake. Give visitors an information card to fill out and put Cody Gillmore 21-Feb
in offering plate or give to the Pastor. After service, please pick Jeannie Pitts 22-Feb
up any papers left on pews and put in recycle bins. Please Richard Henderson 22-Feb
assist those who come in late also. Sue Dale 24-Feb
Leslynn Abbott 28-Feb
Susie B. Stone Circle meets Peggy Cobb 28-Feb
Thursday, February 10, at 2PM. Katherine Wilder 28-Feb

Bobbie Haynes Circle meets


Tuesday, February 15th, at 7:00 PM.
JOB BOARD NOW AVAILABLE:
Lynn Branham Circle meets Thursday, February
17th, at Noon at Thomas Restaurant. We now have a job board located in the Activity Room. Anyone who
Young at Heart meets Friday, February 18th, at has work that they need done can post a “Help Wanted” ad and
noon in Lovern Hall. place it on the board. Anyone looking for work can find odd jobs
that need to be done. Thanks to Loretta Patty for this great idea!

ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL MEETING: SUNDAY, **********************************************************


FEBRUARY 13th, 2011 AT 4PM. SUBSCRIPTION TO INTERPRETER
Reserve your subscription to Interpreter for
FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING : TUESDAY,
FEBRUARY 8TH, AT 7 PM. this year. The deadline is February 7th. Please
call in your subscription request to the church
UMM BREAKFAST: SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH, 8 AM. office so that we can send them in at the same
YOUNG AT HEART LUNCHEON—FRIDAY, time.
JANUAFEBRUARY 18TH, AT NOON IN LOVERN HALL. *************************************
55 Alive Saturday, March 19th 9:30 AM –4 PM
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING—TUESDAY,
MARCH 1ST AT 7 PM. In Lovern Hall. Bring own sack lunch. More info
next month…..

Allen Memorial United Methodist Church Non-Profit Permit


OUR STAFF 803 Whatcoat Street Permit No. 7
P.O. Box 117 Oxford, GA 30054
R EV. B RIAN DALE Oxford, Georgia 30054
P AS T OR
Return Service Requested
H ARRIET T J ORDA N
M U S I C D I RE CT O R

J O A N N A H E NR Y
D I RE CT O R OF
C HI L DRE N & Y OU T H
M I NI S T RI E S

W ILL IAM P RA TE R
P RI NCI PA L
A CCOM PANI S T

J EANNIE P ITT S
S E CRE T AR Y

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