By Susan Passi-Klaus,
United Methodist Communications
Special to the ShowMe Times
Editor's Note: This report is from the United Methodist General Conference currently meeting in Tampa, Fla. The General Conference is the denomination's top legislative body for all matters affecting the United Methodist connection. More than 1,000 United Methodist from across the country and world are participating.
TAMPA, Fla. - She loves her United Methodist Church. And her United Methodist Church loves her. There was no doubt of that when 106-year-old Louise Short was introduced and greeted by a standing ovation at the morning plenary May 1.
Some might assume Short, widow of Bishop Roy Short, was applauded because of the number of digits in her age and that certainly may have been part of the reason. However, what really garnered admiration was the announcement that the centenarian has attended every General Conference since 1939.
“I just can’t understand all the attention given me,” Short said. “I don’t know what I’ve ever done to deserve anything. Methodist people are just wonderful people.”
“I love The United Methodist Church because of their deep interest in people having an abundant life through Christ and because of the peace and comfort they offer others who face hard times.”
Bombarded with requests for photographs and interviews, Short expressed concern that she would miss the “action” on the plenary floor.
“If I don’t watch it, I’ll just get in there in time for the benediction!”
Battling a bad case of shingles that she admitted was sapping her strength, Short said her interest in church business is still strong. She keeps a close watch on United Methodist issues and is aware that change is definitely in the air at General Conference 2012.
“As we do our legal work,” she said, “we should also remember to help our spiritual life.”
Why keep coming back?
“My husband was very active and very productive in his ideas in the conduct of The United Methodist Church,” she explained. “It overflowed into me. Of course, my main interest is to tell the citizens of the world to follow Jesus Christ.
Short, who lives at a retirement home in Hermitage, Tenn., is the oldest of eight brothers and sisters. Five are still living, including a 100-year-old brother. Both her parents lived beyond their 100th birthdays.
“In our family, we don’t believe in dying,” she laughed. “It’s been marvelous for me to live this long.”
Nevertheless, as she continues to lose generations of friends and loved ones, she said it gets harder to say goodbye. Her recent turn of health has left her weakened, and she isn’t the spry young thing she was at her 105th birthday party.
“But I’m not afraid of dying,” Short said. “He, who has kept me all this time will keep me the rest of the time. I’m blessed.”
What do a baseball legend, a Hall of Fame rocker and thousands of Sikeston area volunteers have in common? They will all be a part of the 2012 Hope Epidemic that is set to spread throughout the area on Saturday, May 19.
Beginning at 8:30 a.m., in excess of 1,000 volunteers will perform creative acts of hope throughout the southeast Missouri area.
At noon, the area will be invited to the MarketPlace in Sikeston for the celebration known as HopeFest. During this celebration, former Major League baseball player Darryl Strawberry will share his message of hope, along with legendary musician Brian "Head" Welch (Korn founder) will perform along with his band Love & Death.
Also appearing will be rapper JSon, and The Walker Bros., of Bernie. Attendees will be offered food, blood drive, haircuts, groceries, medical/dental/vision screenings, along with many other services. There will also be a KidsZone. HopeFest is free and open to everyone.
"Our goal is to go out and serve during the morning with these acts of hope (Hope Epidemic). We will then all come together at a neutral site at noon and provide more opportunities for assistance and inspiration, to everyone (HopeFest)," says one of the coordinators, Brad Aycock.
The event had great impact last year amid the worst flood in the history of the area. Not only did people come together to help flood victims, but people from all races and social classes untied for a common cause - to create a hope epidemic and watch it spread.
Sikeston Mayor Jerry Pullen said that the Hope Epidemic broke down more barriers in one day than have been broken down in years. This year, expect even more acts of kindness, more smiles and more reminders that anything is possible through hope.
Volunteers will be dispatched throughout the area to complete hundreds of acts of hope including community clean up, food drives, nursing home visits, surprising people with coupons and giveaways, retrieving shopping carts at stores, cemetery clean up, providing treats for vendors and emergency response teams, visiting families and patients at the hospital and more.Last year over 1000 volunteers served.
"These thousand-plus people want to make an impact and leave a legacy by being part of this movement. We are choosing to be part of the solution. We are choosing to make a difference," says Aycock.
Persons interested may visit hopeepidemic.org or call 573.421.1824. The first 1000 volunteers to register will receive a free Hope Epidemic t-shirt.
By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor
Beginning Thursday evening, Christians in Dexter and Southeast Missouri will join Believers throughout the world in marking the final days of Jesus’ life on earth.
With Maundy Thursday services, Good Friday’s solemnity, and the joy of Easter morning, Easter is a celebration of the eternal life that awaits his followers.
Maundy Thursday marks the beginning of the three-day Easter celebration, and you may also be referred to as Holy Thursday, Sheer Thursday, or, intriguingly, Thursday of Mysteries.
The meaning is less of a mystery — it’s the Christian holy day that falls before the commemoration of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection that occurs from Good Friday through Easter Sunday. The liturgy is held in the evening, and initiates this Easter period as a tribute to the day of the Last Supper.
Why “Maundy”? It comes from the Latin word mandatum, which means “commandment.” This specifically refers to the commandment Jesus gave to his disciples at the Last Supper, once Judas had scuttled off, which was “That you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”
Friday marks Good Friday It is the day when Christians commemorate Jesus Christ's crucifixion, which plays an important part in the Christian faith. Many churches observe the day with a Tenebrae service –a service of light and dark where all light is extinguished, symbolizing Jesus’ death on the cross.
Sunday is Easter Sunday – when Christians exclaim “up from the grave He arose!” Many churches continue the tradition of a Sunrise Service, to greet the glorious day at first dawn. Other services and observances will feature special music and messages.
A number of area churches have special services planned:
Bernie United Methodist
Bernie UMC will hold a Maundy Thursday service at 7 p.m., Thursday evening with communion, and the readings of Christ's last days. After each reading, a candle is extinguished, until finally the Christ candle itself is extinguished.
Easter morning Sunday School will begin at 9:30 for all ages and Easter Worship at 10:30.
The church is located at 307 Main Street in Bernie and Sue Welborn is the pastor.
Dexter First United Methodist
Dexter’s First United Methodist Church will observe Maundy Thursday with a service at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 5. Debbie Fisher will offer the special music in this service marking Jesus’ last evening with His Disciples.
On Saturday, April 7, the church will host an Easter Egg Hunt for all children in the community beginning at 11a.m. Fun, games for children will be held at the church until 2 p.m.
Two services of worship will be held Easter Sunday, April 8, at 8:15 a.m. and again at 10:30 a.m. The Chancel Choir under the direction of MaryRuth Boone will present “The Dawn of Resurrection” at both services. A fellowship time in Wesley Hall will be held from 9 until 10 :15 a.m.
The church is located at 501 South Walnut in Dexter. Contact the church at 624-3344 for more information or a ride to services.
Dexter First Baptist Church
The First Baptist Church will celebrate Easter with worship at the Bearcat Event Center on Grant Street in Dexter.
Worship will be held at 10:30 a.m. Sunday with the theme "How can I know GOD personally?" and will be An Easter Experience featuring music, drama and video! Childcare will be provided for children ages birth through pre-kindergarten
Dexter First Christian Church (Disciple of Christ)
Dexter’s First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), will celebrate the events of Easter weekend with a trio of special Services.
Maundy Thursday will be observed with a service t 6 p.m. Thursday evening, April 5. Services for Good Friday will be held at 6 p.m., Friday, April 6. Easter Sunday Services will be held beginning at 10 a.m., Sunday, April 8.
The community is invited to participate in these special services. The church is located at 224 East Stoddard Street in Downtown Dexter.
Sikeston First Methodist Church
First United Methodist Church, 1307 N. Main St. in Sikeston, has added an extra service on Easter Sunday, April 8, and will host special worship services during Holy Week, the week preceding Easter.
On Thursday, April 5, the Maundy Thursday service at 7 p.m. in the chapel will center on prayer. (The chapel is located on the north end of the campus.) The message, “He Is With You,” will be followed by prayer and communion as worshipers remember the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his disciples.
Good Friday is a day that recalls the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The worship service at 7 p.m. April 6 in the chapel will emphasize the depth of Jesus’ passion for us.
For Easter Sunday, April 8, an extra service has been added to the morning worship opportunities to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. The day begins with the Traditions service at 9 a.m. in the sanctuary, featuring the choir and traditional elements of worship. A service has been added beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the Family Life Center. That Journey service will be repeated again at the usual time of 11 a.m. in the Family Life Center. The Journey services feature a praise band, prayer and message.
Rev. Geoff Posegate will deliver the message “Who’ll Move the Rock?” at all three Easter worship services.
During the Easter Sunday services, the new children’s program called GraceLand, located in the east wing of the building, will be open with a nursery, as well as activities and learning opportunities for older children.
The church family of First United Methodist Church invites all to attend any or all of the services
To learn more about the church go to www.thefunchurch.org .
Liberty Hill General Baptist Church
Liberty Hill Church begin preparation for Easter with a Maundy Thursday service at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 5. In this service, we will have a time of worship and prayer, and we will then be observing communion and feetwashing: the last two things Jesus did with His disciples before His arrest and crucifixion.
On Easter Sunday, Pastor Joe Payne be speaking at a 6:30 a.m. sunrise service. Pastor Preston Owens will be leading in a time of worship
At the10:30 a.m. service, Pastor Phil Warren will address the question, “How Do I Know Jesus is Real?” In this message, Phil will be explaining why belief in Christ is a rational choice, and how the resurrection of Jesus is the pivotal moment of our faith. This will also be the first message in a new series, “Beyond Opinion.”
Liberty Hill General Baptist Church is located at 12760 County Road 420, Dexter, Missouri, 63841.
Area churches are always invited to submit news of
services and activities to the
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By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times editor
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells His followers “I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.”
Jesus’ followers were puzzled and asked when they had seen Him hungry or thirsty, needed clothing or was sick.
Jesus’ reply was simple: ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Matthew 25:31-45, (NIV)
Folks at Dexter’s First Baptist Church are taking this story to heart as we begin Easter Week, and are pitching in to help folks in the community.
Monday evening (April 2) from 6 until 8:30 p.m., the church is hosting a Clothing Giveaway for the community. Men’s, women’s and children’s clothing and shoes will be available for free. The giveaway will be held in the church Fellowship Hall – Walnut Street entrance.
“Come and be blessed,” organizers of the event say. The clothing items have all been donated by members of the First Baptist Church family for this project. “The church has been blessed with a large donation of clothing and we want to pass it on.”
The Thursday Bible Study group came up with a wonderful idea as a result of a study of the book of James.
In the book of James, Jesus’ brother admonishes believer that “you can learn all the right words” yet never do anything – that talking about faith is not a sure indicator of deep faith.
“Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense? I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, "Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I'll handle the works department." Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove. James 5:17-18 (The Message)
