Memorial Day may mark the unofficial start of summer, but in the church we are nearing the end of Eastertide and approaching Pentecost.
This Sunday, May 28, will be the final week in our sermon series on the parables. Kerry Greenhill will preach on the Parable of the Sower and the Seeds, Matthew 13:1-9. All are welcome to join us for worship at 10:00, followed by fellowship hour. Hope to see you!
P.S. The good news that God does not take a vacation, but is with us wherever we are, does not always help us to remember that the work and needs of the Church also go on, even when we are not present! Please remember that if you will be out of town, the church still has bills to pay, and your offering may be sent in by mail!
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Monday, May 15, 2006
Barbeque to benefit the Mayor's Homeless Initiative
This Sunday, May 21, Pastor Betty will continue her sermon series on the parables of Jesus, and the Highlands UMC Worship Band will lead our music. Worship begins at 10:00 a.m.
After church (beginning around 11:15 a.m.), the Missions Committee is sponsoring a BBQ in the church parking lot (corner of 32nd Ave and Osceola), to which all are invited. Donations will go to support our participation the Mayor's Homeless Initiative for Denver, in which Highlands UMC has signed up to sponsor a homeless person or family, providing a month's rent and mentoring support over the course of a year. Come one, come all to enjoy some great food and fellowship and support a worthy cause!
After church (beginning around 11:15 a.m.), the Missions Committee is sponsoring a BBQ in the church parking lot (corner of 32nd Ave and Osceola), to which all are invited. Donations will go to support our participation the Mayor's Homeless Initiative for Denver, in which Highlands UMC has signed up to sponsor a homeless person or family, providing a month's rent and mentoring support over the course of a year. Come one, come all to enjoy some great food and fellowship and support a worthy cause!
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Parables, Communion, and the 50th Anniversary of Women's Full Clergy Rights
This Sunday, May 7, we will celebrate Holy Communion during our usual 10:00 worship service. All are welcome at Christ's Table. Pastor Betty will continue her sermon series on the Parables of Jesus.
Next week, May 14, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of full clergy rights for women in The United Methodist Church and its predecessor denominations. Today, May 4, is the exact anniversary.
On this day in 1956, the General Conference of The Methodist Church voted to affirm full clergy rights for women, ending a long history of baby steps and individual cases of recognizing women called to ministry with decisive action. The United Methodist Church has declared 2006 a year to recognize this 50th anniversary, and so here are a couple resources for those interested in exploring the issue further:
This month's issue of the Circuit Rider is full of articles on women in ministry.
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry sponsors a website by, for, and about UM Clergywomen.
And with no disrespect intended toward the many fine men who have served the church, I offer The Top 10 Reasons Why Men Should Not Be Ordained:
10. A man's place is in the army.
9. For men who have children, their duties might distract them from the responsibilities of being a parent.
8. Their physical build indicates that men are more suited to tasks such as chopping down trees and wrestling mountain lions. It would be "unnatural" for them to do other forms of work.
7. Man was created before woman. It is therefore obvious that man was a prototype. Thus, they represent an experiment, rather than the crowning achievement of creation.
6. Men are too emotional to be priests or pastors. This is easily demonstrated by their conduct at football games and watching basketball tournaments.
5. Some men are handsome; they will distract women worshipers.
4. To be ordained pastor is to nurture the congregation. But this is not a traditional male role. Rather, throughout history, women have been considered to be not only more skilled than men at nurturing, but also more frequently attracted to it. This makes them the obvious choice for ordination.
3. Men are overly prone to violence. No really manly man wants to settle disputes by any means other than by fighting about it. Thus, they would be poor role models, as well as being dangerously unstable in positions of leadership.
2. Men can still be involved in church activities, even without being ordained. They can sweep paths, repair the church roof, and maybe even lead the singing on Father's Day. By confining themselves to such traditional male roles, they can still be vitally important in the life of the Church.
1. In the New Testament account, the person who betrayed Jesus was a man. Thus, his lack of faith and ensuing punishment stands as a symbol of the subordinated position that all men should take.
Next week, May 14, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of full clergy rights for women in The United Methodist Church and its predecessor denominations. Today, May 4, is the exact anniversary.
On this day in 1956, the General Conference of The Methodist Church voted to affirm full clergy rights for women, ending a long history of baby steps and individual cases of recognizing women called to ministry with decisive action. The United Methodist Church has declared 2006 a year to recognize this 50th anniversary, and so here are a couple resources for those interested in exploring the issue further:
This month's issue of the Circuit Rider is full of articles on women in ministry.
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry sponsors a website by, for, and about UM Clergywomen.
And with no disrespect intended toward the many fine men who have served the church, I offer The Top 10 Reasons Why Men Should Not Be Ordained:
10. A man's place is in the army.
9. For men who have children, their duties might distract them from the responsibilities of being a parent.
8. Their physical build indicates that men are more suited to tasks such as chopping down trees and wrestling mountain lions. It would be "unnatural" for them to do other forms of work.
7. Man was created before woman. It is therefore obvious that man was a prototype. Thus, they represent an experiment, rather than the crowning achievement of creation.
6. Men are too emotional to be priests or pastors. This is easily demonstrated by their conduct at football games and watching basketball tournaments.
5. Some men are handsome; they will distract women worshipers.
4. To be ordained pastor is to nurture the congregation. But this is not a traditional male role. Rather, throughout history, women have been considered to be not only more skilled than men at nurturing, but also more frequently attracted to it. This makes them the obvious choice for ordination.
3. Men are overly prone to violence. No really manly man wants to settle disputes by any means other than by fighting about it. Thus, they would be poor role models, as well as being dangerously unstable in positions of leadership.
2. Men can still be involved in church activities, even without being ordained. They can sweep paths, repair the church roof, and maybe even lead the singing on Father's Day. By confining themselves to such traditional male roles, they can still be vitally important in the life of the Church.
1. In the New Testament account, the person who betrayed Jesus was a man. Thus, his lack of faith and ensuing punishment stands as a symbol of the subordinated position that all men should take.
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