Devotional for 2.28.2012 - Romans 4

20 No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 

Hear this again. "Abraham was fully convinnced that God was able to do what he had promised." Regardless of how difficult the circumstances became or how overwhelming the odds, Abraham held fast to the promise God gave him of becoming a father of nations. And it came to pass just as it was told him. 


I wonder how often we lose faith or become discouraged and give up on the promises God has placed in our hearts? Maybe you have been called to start something new that few understand? Maybe we are compelled to speak out against a troubling event at work? Perhaps you have been unfairly singled out or treated unjustly after standing up for something you knew was right? 


 When God gives a promise, that doesn't mean everything will go perfect and smooth from day one. As a matter of fact, the more sure you of God's will, don't be surprised that the level of courage and perseverance needed goes through your proverbial roof.  Remember, we are on a faith journey.  Hebrews 11:1 tells us that "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the convication of things not seen." Anything plainly seen does not require faith. Anything easily accomplished in your own strength does not require faith. Therefore, the things of God will be way beyond what we can do on our own power. 


 Hold onto your promises. Stand strong in your convictions. Be unwavering.

A Note from Manny

Hello Family and Friends,

Praises be to God in the highest realms for His mercies and grace forever endures.

It has been almost seven and half years since I last beheld the place of my birth. Because of your prayers and support, I will be going back to Ghana for the first time in 7+ years. I am very grateful to you all for everything that you have done for me. Below is a summary of my flight plan.

My plane leaves from Lexington's Bluegrass airport on Sunday (March 4) at 9:40am.

According to my itinerary I should arrive in Chicago (ohare) by 10:11am, leaving Ohare at 1pm to Washington Dulles airport (arriving at 4pm).

My plane for Accra leaves Dulles at 10:48pm and should arrive on Monday (March 5) by 1:50pm. I will then fly from Accra to Kumasi.

Once in Kumasi  I hope to spend some time with my parents and siblings until the rest of the team arrives on March 12.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we prepare to go into the field to spread the gospel of Jesus through the distribution of eye glasses.

You can keep up with what is/will be going on at andoveringhana.blogspot.com. We will have pictures and updates on this blog.

Thank you again and may the good Lord bless and replenish you for all that you have done for me, family and this mission.

Much Love

Manny.

Devotional for 2.27.2012 - Psalm 22

27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him.


28 For dominion belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.


29 To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and I shall live for him.


30 Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord,


31 and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying that he has done it.

We live in an in-between time of the already and the not yet.  Jesus has set up his Kingdom on earth and has invited us all to have a place in it (the already).  However, we also know that his Kingdom is not completed and there will come a day when Jesus returns and completes what he started (the not yet).

And here is my point this Monday.  How we live in the already matters!  The commitments we make matter.  The service we provide matter.  The things to which we say "no"matter.  I could go on and on, but it is important that on a Monday we clearly define who we live for this week.  I encourage you to not let this day go by without praying to God and trusting in His good and perfect will for your life.  And then begin to look for ways that God is bringing it about and quickly join in.

From the United Methodist Global Board of Discipleship
The early church developed Lent as a season to prepare those to be baptized at Easter to respond to the questions they will be asked and the vows they will take.


This gospel theme this week is "What It Takes to Be My Disciples." This may be a good time to review these questions:

• Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness?
• Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil? 
• Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior and promise to serve him as your Lord? 
• Will your remain faithful member/s of Christ's holy church and serve as Christ's representative/s in the world?

Rachel UMW Circle News

The Rachel Circle displaying the pillowcase dresses made for the children of Ghana.  Thank you ladies for all your hard work and love!  For more information about the Ghana trip go to www.andoveringhana.blogspot.com or click the link to the left that says "Journey to Ghana".

Promise of Patience

A sermon from FUMC's Andover Campus
2.26.2012
Todd Nelson, preaching

Weekend Preview - 2.26.2012

What to Watch for @ Andover - 2.24.2012

Sunday, February 26

          9:00    Youth / Children’s Choir Rehearsals

          9:40    Worship Service / Sunday School

        11:00    Worship Service / Sunday School

          5:00    Encounters with God: Romans Small Group Study

          5:00    Youth Group, Downtown campus

Monday - Thursday

9:00 - 12:00 Andover Office Hours

Tuesday, February 28

       10:00    Lenten Study - Last Seven Words

Wednesday, February 29

          6:00   Youth Group, Downtown campus

          6:00   Lenten Study Group - Last Seven Words 

Thursday, March 1

          6:00   Deep Dive - Our Ghana Mission trip

          7:00   Chancel Choir Rehearsal

Friday, March 2 

         7:00   Game Night

Sunday, March 4

         9:00   Youth / Children’s Choir Rehearsals

         9:40   Worship Service / Sunday School

       11:00   Worship Service / Sunday School

         5:00   Youth Group, Downtown campus

         5:00   Encounters with God: Romans Small Group Study

Music Ministry Month

We close the month of Music Ministry Recognition with a focus not only on our Chancel Choir but also with a recognition of the other facets of our Music Ministry.  Our Chancel Choir rehearses Thurs. evenings, 7:00 to 8:00.  We prepare music several weeks in advance which is presented in our 11:00 am Worship each Sunday.  This choir occasionally will sing for our 9:40 Worship and will present special music at Christmas, Easter and other seasonal times.  We are always searching for new choir members and would like to give you a special invitation.  No auditions, just come to rehearsal or talk with any choir member to find out more.  In addition, we are fortunate to have an increasing number of soloists and instrumentalists from our congregation contributing to our Music Ministry.  Also, our accompanists are an integral part of our Music Ministry, which you have met in previous weeks.  Especially, we want to thank Janell Hamilton who serves as church pianist and accompanist for our Chancel and Youth Choirs.  Richard Dwyer, our Music Minister and Organist, a position in which he has been since the beginning of Andover, directs the Chancel Chancel choir and coordinates our Music Ministry.  Take time today to express your thanks to any who are involved in our Music Ministry.

Faith Promise Supporting the Ghana Mission Trip

Through your contributions to Faith Promise (our mission giving emphasis) you have played an important part in supporting the trip.  If you haven’t had a chance but would like to add your monetary support, you may simply make your check out to FUMC and designate it as “FAITH PROMISE - GHANA TRIP”.   More information can be found at andoveringhana.blogspot.com.

Altar Flower Help

The altar flowers are a wonderful addition to Andover in three distinct ways. 1) You are able to remember or honor loved ones and special occasions, 2) the Sanctuary is filled with beautiful flowers, 3)after Sunday, people in nursing homes, hospitals, or who may be shut-in receive the flowers as a reminder of our love for them.  If you would like to help distribute the flowers during the week, please contact Nancy Spiggle (nspiggle@gmail.com).

Lenten Study - The Seven Last Words

Join us for a time of study during the season of Lent on Tuesday mornings at 10am (2/28 - start date) or Wednesday evenings at 6pm (2/29 start date) at Andover.  Todd will be leading the groups through the last seven words of Jesus as he hung from the cross. 

Devotional for 2.24.2012 - Luke 18:18-23

  Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’” The man replied, “I’ve carefully obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But when the man heard this he became sad, for he was very rich. ”

Devotional Thought
 The religious leader had a run in with Jesus and came away unchanged. The text indicates that his extreme wealth kept him from entering into a relationship with Jesus. His fear of not having enough kept him holding onto what he could see and not reaching for the greater and eternal gift of being a giver.

Prayer
 Lord Jesus, give me the courage to trust you in all areas of my life: health, family relationships, and finances. Help me to understand that you have given freely and that in return I should freely receive and give.

Ghana Vision Trip - Help Needed!

We made it to the half way point today. 1000 pairs of glasses down, 1000 more to go. The next box is scheduled to arrive tomorrow. Do you think we can finish the next 600 Friday afternoon? We can with your help! Meet at First United Methodist Church - Andover Campus at 1pm. Hope to see you there! 

Mary Aycock

Devotional for 2.23.2012 - Genesis 1:26-31

  Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like ourselves. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”
  So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.” Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground everything that has life.” And that is what happened.
 Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!

Devotional Thought
 God’s giving character can be seen from the very beginning of days. God gave humanity breath and more importantly an image that bears God’s own likeness. We have been given by God the ability to love and be loved; a purpose of life; creativity; a soul that is eternal; and so much more. God did not give in the beginning, nor today, because of some unmet need. God is complete and without need. But God’s giving character overflowed and the direct result is all that you and I can see and even more that we cannot. And so whether we admit it or not, we are dependent upon God for everything in life. Even our next breath is completely dependent upon the environment God created.

Prayer
 Gracious and merciful Creator God, help us to see your unmistakable hand at work all around us. Do not allow self-centeredness to shadow our eyes and darken our hearts from your loving manner of giving.

Ash Wednesday Service

Ash Wednesday Morning Prayer

from the Book of Common Prayer...

"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us, but if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
1 John 1:8-9

As we enter the season of Lent, a time of preparation, may we examine ourselves this day and confess our need for God's forgiveness. As the passage above promises, God is not looking to wag a finger at us but to forgive us and free us for joyful obedience.

See you tonight at 6:00 p.m. at our downtown Sanctuary for the Ash Wednesday service.

Lenten Fasting Thoughts - RePost

Having grown up in a denomination that did not focus upon the Lenten tradition, I am a late-adopter of the age old practice of giving something up for Lent or adopting a new spiritual practice. In a way, my late adoption has been a blessing because it continues to hold a great deal of mystery and freshness for me. As we prepare for Ash Wednesday and the beginning of this 40 days of preparation leading up to Easter, let me share a few thoughts on "fasting" for Lent.

1) Matthew 6:1 tells us to "not do our acts of righteousness before others in order to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." In Matthew 6:17, Jesus reminds us that when we fast we are to put oil on our head and wash our face. What Jesus is saying is don't be a martyr. Don't give up something just so you can go and tell everyone else about it and get either their sympathy or garner notoriety for yourself. Make it between you and God. For accountability, tell someone who you know will support you with prayer.

  Bottom line: Make this a private time rather than a public spectacle.

2) Do not use this time as an excuse for doing something you have wanted to do for a while and just didn't have the will power. Again, if we do it for external purposes, that will be our reward. Lent is about growing closer to God and not reshaping our bodies or cutting out bad habits. With that being said...if cutting a bad habit brings you closer to God and you feel God leading you to fast in this area, then by all means go for it.

  Bottom line: Do what you do for the right reasons. God reasons not Todd reasons is what I say to myself!

3) If you slip-up, don't beat yourself up and quit. Just start afresh and move forward.

  Bottom line: Sometimes we learn more in our slip-ups than we ever do in our own successes!

Hope this helps as you prepare for the journey of Lent. My prayers are with you and I covet yours for me!

Devotional for 2.20.2012 - Psalm 51

1 Have mercy on me, O God,

because of your unfailing love.

Because of your great compassion,

blot out the stain of my sins.

2 Wash me clean from my guilt.

Purify me from my sin.

3 For I recognize my rebellion;

it haunts me day and night.

4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;

I have done what is evil in your sight.

You will be proved right in what you say,

and your judgment against me is just.

5 For I was born a sinner—

yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.

6 But you desire honesty from the womb,

teaching me wisdom even there.

7 Purify me from my sins and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Psalm 51 is the traditional passage used for Ash Wednesday.  It is the Psalm of David's repentance for his actions toward Bathsheba and her husband Uriah.  Repentance (turning around) is the beginning of a new way of living.  Changing direction in our lives and moving from self-centeredness to God-centered is the key to becoming the people God wants us to be:  humble, willing, usable, change agents in this world.

Lent, which begins this Wednesday, is a focused time of introspection that begins with a time of remembrance of our need for God's forgiveness.  The beauty God brings from our ashes of repentance is a renewed sense of purity regardless of our past and a overwhelming sense of peace regardless of what we may face in the future.

And it all begins...by turning.

Read the above psalm again as a prayer.  Read it as your act of repentance and seeking of God's forgiveness.  Read the psalm as if you life depended upon it.  For it does.

God's Ultimate Yes

A sermon from FUMC's Andover Campus
2.19.2012
Todd Nelson, preaching

Weather Reminder

With the forecast for snow tonight, this is a good time to remind everyone that we do our best to have services each Sunday regardless of weather. Please use your best judgment on getting out in any in-climate weather however!

Weekend Preview

18 As surely as God is faithful, our word to you does not waver between “Yes” and “No.”19 For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas,t Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says.


20 For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.
21 It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us,


22 and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us. (2 Corinthians 1:18-22)


We begin our Lenten sermon series (a week early I know!) entitled, "God's Ultimate Yes".  We will look at many of the covenant's God made with humanity throughout history from Noah to Abraham to Jeremiah and the 10 Commandments.  All of these covenants (i.e. PROMISES) hold a key to answering the question,"How will God provide for our salvation?" \

What to Watch for @ Andover - 2.17.2012

Sunday, February 19
          9:00 Youth / Children’s Choir Rehearsals
 9:40 Worship Service / Sunday School
        11:00 Worship Service / Sunday School
  5:00 Encounters with God: Romans Small Group Study
          5:00       Youth Group, Downtown campus

Monday - Thursday
9:00 - 12:00 Andover Office Hours

Tuesday, February 21
 6:00 Administrative Council -called meeting, Downtown

Wednesday, February 22
          6:00 Youth Group, Downtown campus
  6:00 Ash Wednesday Service, Downtown campus

Thursday, February 23
 7:00 Chancel Choir Rehearsal

Sunday, February 26
 9:00 Youth / Children’s Choir Rehearsals
 9:40 Worship Service / Sunday School
        11:00 Worship Service / Sunday School
       5:00 Youth Group, Downtown campus
 5:00 Encounters with God: Romans Small Group Study

Music Ministry Month

This is the third Sunday of Music Ministry Recognition here at Andover.  Today we feature our Youth Choir that sings regularly during our worship services.  The choir sings traditional anthems and more contemporary arrangements of familiar hymns.  Occasionally, the choir will present an anthem featuring soloists, will sing in Latin or will join with the Chancel Choir in singing.  On Children’s Sabbath the choir will be in the choir loft as they lead the music portion of the worship.  The choir rehearses at 9:00 each Sunday morning under the direction of John Brown and accompanied by Janell Hamilton at the piano.  We welcome new youth to become a member of this choir.

Prayer Partners for Ghana Mission Trip

Consider becoming a prayer partner for the trip to Ghana.  Sign-up sheets are in the back of the Sanctuary.  As a prayer partner you will receive the latest updates and requests for prayer as they become available.  More information can be found at andoveringhana.blogspot.com.

Altar Flower Help

The altar flowers are a wonderful addition to Andover in three distinct ways. 1) You are able to remember or honor loved ones and special occasions, 2) the Sanctuary is filled with beautiful flowers, 3)after Sunday, people in nursing homes, hospitals, or who may be shut-in receive the flowers as a reminder of our love for them.  If you would like to help distribute the flowers during the week, please contact Nancy Spiggle (nspiggle@gmail.com).

Lenten Study - The Seven Last Words

Join us for a time of study during the season of Lent on Tuesday mornings at 10am (2/28 - start date) or Wednesday evenings at 6pm (2/29 start date) at Andover.  Todd will be leading the groups through the last seven words of Jesus as he hung from the cross as gathered from the four Gospels.  In Mark and Matthew, Jesus cries out to God. In Luke, he forgives his killers, reassures the good thief, and commends his spirit to the Father. In John, he speaks to his mother, says he thirsts, and declares the end of his earthly life.  The question we will be answering is what do Jesus' last words tell us about who God is and how we are to relate to God and each other on earth.

Devotional for 2.16.2012 - Philippians 3

12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead (Philippians 3:12-13 NLT)

"The power of a life, where Christ is exalted, would arrest and subdue those who are bored to tears by our thin version of Christianity and wholly uninterested in mere churchmanship."
from Discipline and Discovery by Albert Edward Day

Paul says he continually leans into the future while focusing on what it means for him to follow Christ completely.  Paul refuses to be distracted by his frailties, or his trials, or his past failures.  Paul refuses to get caught up in what the world says is important.  Paul refuses to look away from Christ and as a result lived a life that "arrested and subdued" the culture around him.

That is a high standard for us to live up to as 21st century Christians.  But that is the only standard which produces the type of light capable of brightening our world.  May we set aside all the things in our life that distract us and focus on the one and only thing that matters.

Thought on Discipleship

Mother Teresa of Calcutta said, "Pray for me that I not loosen my grip on the hands of Jesus even under the guise of ministering to the poor."  That is our first task; to grip the hands of Jesus with such tenacity that we are obliged to follow his lead, to seek first his Kingdom.

The next step is so simple I am almost embarrassed to mention it, and yet is is so important that I must.  Begin now to obey him in every way you can.

from Freedom of Simplicity by Richard J. Foster