Newnan Fumc

Matthew 5:33-37   Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, "Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made." But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply "Yes" or "No"; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

John 13:1-17   Pastor Appreciation Sunday was October 13, 2024 THANK YOU to Reverends Andrew Chappell and Connor Bell, who are the most visible as our preachers yet are on-call 24/7, standing with congregants and others to offer spiritual and other support in times of confusion and transition, times of heart-wrenching sorrow and times of overwhelming joy. They laugh, cry and pray with those whom they shepherd and serve. Pastor Appreciation Month was established as a worldwide recognition time in 1992. The call to honor the contributions of pastoral leaders can be traced back to Paul, who advised congregations to give “double honor” to the elders who managed the affairs of the church well, “especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.” (1 Timothy 5:17, NIV).

Imitating Christ’s Humility - Philippians 2:1-11 2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,     did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing     by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,     being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man,     he humbled himself     by becoming obedient to death—         even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place     an

Matthew 26:36-44 Gethsemane 36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” 43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were hea

Scripture Reading: Exodus 20:8-11   Call to worship: Genesis 2:2-3 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing So on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, Because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. Amen.

Psalm 146

James 5:13-16

Matthew 6:5-15

John 6:27-38

The Gospel reading comes from Mark 6:30-31 - The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” When was the last time you were intentionally silent & alone? When did you last practice solitude? Rev. Andrew Chappell talks about solitude being the "intentional and regaining of the soul," and how practicing solitude without distraction is necessary for our spiritual selves.

Mark 10:46-52

This week's scripture reading came from John 6:1-21. Tabgha, on the slopes of the Mount of Beatitudes just off the shores of the Sea of Galilee, is the site of several significant events in the life of Jesus. There stands a modern church, which protects the remains of a 4th-century AD mosaic that depicts the bread loaves and two fish that Jesus multiplied to feed the 5,000. Under the church’s altar is a rock that is believed to be the rock on which Jesus laid the loaves and fish while blessing them. The special mosaic can be seen in the photo on the bulletin cover.

This week's scripture reading is from Jonah 4:1-11, and the scripture response was the full song of Jonah and The Whale.   Verse 1 In the Bible we are told Of a prophet who was called To a city that was steeped in awful sin All the people in that place Were devoid of saving grace And the prophet seemed afraid to enter in   Verse 2 Then ol’ Jonah forth was sent That old Ninevah might repent But instead of that to Tarshish he set sail Oh the sailors, they were kind But Jonah had a stubborn mind So off the ship he went and into the belly of a whale.   Chorus Over there, In that land bright and fair Oh he’ll tell me all about it over there On the hallelujah strand God will take me by the hand And he’ll tell me all about it over there!   Verse 3 In the cold and briny deep Tears of grief did Jonah weep, And prayed a prayer that God his skin might save; Three long days and three long nights Jonah bargained for his life. God delivered him to shore from a watery grave!   Verse 4 Toward the Ninevites he still felt mean

This week's service featured quite a bit of special music, so that has been included in this episode of the podcast for all the enjoy!   We started with a special Opening Voluntary, with Marian Steed, soprano, singing “O Gracious Light” in an arrangement by Dorothy Papadakos that features a Whale Recording by Dr. Roger Payne. The unpublished music setting by Dorothy Papadakos offers us the opportunity hear the voice of the whale in the vastness of the ocean. The text (Phos Hilaron) from Ancient Greek praises the light that shines on all creation. Biologist and environmentalist Dr. Roger Payne (1935-2023) is famous for his discovery of whale songs while researching and recording humpback whales. The Phos Hilaron, Gladdening Light, is a Greek song of devotion and prayer. Dorothy Papadakos, Juilliard trained, has served as organist of St. John the Divine in New York City and also worked with Paul Winter. “O Gracious Light” was commissioned for the 60th Anniversary of the Alston Memorial Organ at St. Luke’s Episc

Scripture Reading from Jonah 1:17-2:10   Scripture response is a song played on guitar and sung by Rev. Bell “Jonah and the Whale,” vs. 2 and 3   Verse 2 Then ol’ Jonah forth was sent That old Nineveh might repent But instead of that to Tarshish he set sail Oh the sailors, they were kind But Jonah had a stubborn mind So off the ship he went into the belly of a whale.   Chorus Over there, In that land bright bright and fair Oh he’ll tell me all about it over there On the hallelujah strand God will take me by the hand And he’ll tell me all about it over there!   Verse 3 In the cold and briny deep Tears of grief did Jonah weep And a prayed a prayer that God his skin might save Three long days and three long nights Jonah bargained for his life God delivered him to shore from a watery grave   Chorus

Scripture Reading from Jonah 1:1-6   As a Scripture Response, Rev. Bell played guitar and sang “Jonah and the Whale," vs. 1 and 2   Verse 1 In the Bible we are told Of a prophet who was called To a city that was steeped in awful sin All the people in that place Were devoid of saving grace And the prophet seemed afraid to enter in   Chorus Over there, In that land bright bright and fair Oh he’ll tell me all about it over there On the hallelujah strand God will take me by the hand And he’ll tell me all about it over there!   Verse 2 Then ol’ Jonah forth was sent That old Ninevah might repent But instead of that to Tarshish he set sail Oh the sailors, they were kind But Jonah had a stubborn mind So off the ship he went and into the belly of a whale.   Chorus

Romans 2:29 Circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter.

Philippians 2:12-12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Colossians 3:9b-10 (CEB)  Take off the old human nature with its practices and put on the new nature, which is renewed in knowledge by conforming to the image of the one who created it.

Romans 8:12-17