BRIGHT HOPE LAUREL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

DEDICATED TO SHARING GOD’S LOVE AND FORGIVENESS WITH THE WORLD

Volume 3, Issue 5 May, 2011

From the Pastor’s Desk - Getting Ready for Summer

Special points of
Interest

 Special Offering “Givings

Estates” on Mother’s Day
 Construction continues … for
more information, please check
out the bulletin board.
 Pre-Conference Briefing in
Asheville.

Last Sunday, Rich said As we continue

that each Sunday should through this Easter
be “Easter Sunday.” On season and await
this point, I can not Pentecost, it is my
argue except to add that prayer that we lift one
it should also always be another up and show
“Palm Sunday.” love to all so that even
when broken, they can Inside this issue:
Each time we come fill God’s love gluing
together, we should them back together MAY SERMONS 2
humbly come in prayer, again.
in praise, and in worship FINANCIAL REPORT 2
to our Living God. No that even though we
THOSE SERVING IN 3
often feel alone, we are WORSHIP (MAY)
Yet that is not always never alone. Our friends
so. Many times, we and family will be there
“JUDGEMENT AND THE LOVE 4
come not as a New to support us and GOD OF GOD”
Body, but as broken IS ALWAYS WITH US
bones. We want to come … even until the end of MONTHLY CALENDAR
INSERT
whole, but know that the the age!!!
world knocks us down
 Scripture and Sermons
May 1 HOLY COMMUNION - “Hunger Pot” Offering
Scripture Lesson: 1 Peter 1:3-9
Sermon: “This Might Hurt”

May 8 Scripture Lesson: Luke 24:13-35

Sermon: “The Long Walk”

May 15 Scripture Lesson: Acts 2:42-47

Sermon: “The Zone”

May 22 Scripture Lesson: John 14:1-14

Sermon: “Feed the Heart”

May 22 Scripture Lesson: John 14:15-21

Sermon: “The Nine-Word Mission”

ATTENDANCE AND FINANCIAL GIVING

April 2011

Average Attendance: 55

Maundy Thursday Service Attendance: 15

Regular Giving : $ 5334.64

Average Regular Giving: $ 1333.66 (per week)

Designated Giving: $ 906.58

($39.00 - Hunger Pot; $35.00 - One Great Hour of Sharing; $607.58 - Equitable

Compensation; $225.00 - Easter Lilies)

($ 2,078.15 per week is needed to meet our church budget.)

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Rich Ashley, Lay Leader

GREETERS: USHERS:

1 Mike and Jenny Miller 1 Danny Burnette and Marsha Boyd

8 Mike and Jenny Miller 8 Harold and Dixie Tipton
15 Judy Womble and Liz Benjamin 15 Angela Fox and Sherry Lesley
22 Don and Sheri Mathis 22 Mark and Lisa Anderson
29 Bonnie English and Danny Burnette 29 Ed and Sylvia Brantley

OFFERTORY PRAYER: Rich Ashley, Lay Leader

SCRIPTURE READERS: NURSERY/PRE-SCHOOL:

1 Nicole Johnson 1 Jenny Miller

8 Rich Ashley 8 J. B. Wallin
15 Tom Wrenn 15 Deborah White
22 Rich Ashley 22 Dot Cody
29 Bonnie English 29 Jenny Miller

CHILDREN’S TIME: Jenny Miller, Dixie Tipton, Rev. Johnson, and Cammie Monroe

CHILDREN’S CHURCH: Carolyn Ponder; Lisa Anderson

“TWEENS CLASS”: Kathy Wrenn, Lois Lynn Bellemare, & Cammie Monroe

COMMUNION STEWARDS: Dr. Ernie and Frances Powell

COUNTERS:

1 Rich Ashley and Bonnie English

8 John Hamrick and Assistant
15 Tom Wrenn and Assistant
22 Don Mathis and Assistant
29 John Hamrick and Bonnie English

AUDIO VISUAL: Danny Burnette and Brian Dodge

If you are unable to serve when indicated, please ask someone to take your place .
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SERVE IN ANY CAPACITY, please tell the Pastor.
THANK YOU for your service and dedication to Bright Hope Laurel United Methodist Church!
The Christian servant must never forget that salvation is God’s idea, begin at the house
not man’s; therefore, it has an unfathomable depth. Salvation is the of God . . .
great thought of God, not an experience. Experience is simply the 1 Peter 4:17
door through which salvation comes into the conscious level of our
life so that we are aware of what has taken place on a much deeper
level. Never preach the experience— preach the great thought of God behind the
experience. When we preach, we are not simply proclaiming how people can be saved
from hell and be made moral and pure; we are conveying good news about God.
In the teachings of Jesus Christ the element of judgment is always brought out— it is
the sign of the love of God. Never sympathize with someone who finds it difficult to get
to God; God is not to blame. It is not for us to figure out the reason for the difficulty,
but only to present the truth of God so that the Spirit of God will reveal what is wrong.
The greatest test of the quality of our preaching is whether or not it brings everyone to
judgment. When the truth is preached, the Spirit of God brings each person face to face
with God Himself.
If Jesus ever commanded us to do something that He was unable to equip us to
accomplish, He would be a liar. And if we make our own inability a stumbling block or
an excuse not to be obedient, it means that we are telling God that there is something
which He has not yet taken into account. Every element of our own self-reliance must
be put to death by the power of God. The moment we recognize our complete
weakness and our dependence upon Him will be the very moment that the Spirit of God
will exhibit His power.
-- Oswald Chambers
Taken from My Utmost for His Highest online. Used with permission.