Happy Birthday, John Wesley! |
Yesterday was John Wesley’s 319th birthday. The occasion of his birthday seemed like a good time to tell a little about his early years. John Wesley was born on June 28, 1703, in Epworth, England. He was the fifteenth child of Samuel Wesley and his wife, Susanna. Susanna gave birth to nineteen children, but only nine lived beyond infancy. Samuel Wesley, John’s father, was the pastor of the Epworth church, which was part of the Church of England.
As was the custom at the time, the children’s early education happened in the home. Susanna was a great teacher. All the children, including the girls, were taught to read as soon as they could walk and talk. They were expected to become proficient in Latin and Greek and to have learned major portions of the New Testament by heart. Susanna Wesley tested each child before lunch and before evening prayers. Susanna ran a very orderly home. The rules were very clear and obedience was not only expected but required. The children were not allowed to eat between meals. In addition to academic studies each week, Susanna gave each child some one-on-one time for Christian formation.
An event that would mark John Wesley for his entire life occurred when he was not yet six years old. Evidently, John’s father had upset some of his church members. When I say upset, I mean really upset! As in they set the parsonage on fire! It was February 9th of 1709. At about 11:00 p.m., sparks started falling on the children’s beds because the roof was on fire. The parents scrambled to get the kids and get out. They managed to get all of the children except for little John. He was left stranded upstairs. The stairs were on fire and the roof was about to collapse. Some men built a human ladder standing on each other’s shoulders and pulled him to safety. From then on, Susanna called John "a brand plucked out of the fire," quoting Zechariah 3:2 to describe the incident.
Given the fire, maybe candles are not in order for the celebration of John’s birthday! We give thanks that he was rescued and went on to be used by God to bring revival to the church and the good news of the gospel to countless millions. God has used this one plucked from the fire in amazing ways! Happy Birthday, John!
Peace,
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WORSHIP SERVICES
SUNDAY, JULY 3
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9:00 a.m. & 11:00 am
Christian Life Center
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"Prophet Margins:
Wash and Be Clean"
2 Kings 5:1-14
MUSIC
Praise Band (9am)
Elizabeth Morgan (11am)
Amanda Gay, soloist
ONLINE WORSHIP at 11:00 AM
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Portrait of John Wesley. Photo courtesy of United Methodist Collection, Drew University Libraries. |
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The Church will be closed on Monday, July 4. |
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In the elementary Summer Theatre Camp from July 18-22, our campers will learn songs and dialogue, build props and sets and perform the funny musical O Chicken of Little Faith. Great songs, fun dialogue, easy to learn, and impossible to forget! The cost for both of these camps is $75 each and you can sign up for them in Realm.
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COMBINED SUNDAY SCHOOL SIX WEEK SERIES |
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Beginning this Sunday, July 3rd, all adult Sunday School classes will meet together for our Summer Combined Sunday School series in the Allen Sanders Sunday School Class at 10:00 a.m. We have 6 fabulous teachers who will be leading us through a study on "The Sermon on the Mount."
The Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7, contains some of Jesus' most profound and most memorable teachings. What might these teachings have meant to his disciples and to the others who first heard them? How do they enhance our reading of the rest of the Gospel of Matthew, and how do they speak across the centuries to listeners today? How, if we pay careful attention to his words, does Jesus provide us a road map to living as God would have us live?
During this series, we will explore the major topics in the Sermon on the Mount, the historical and theological contexts, and how the words of Jesus echo his Jewish tradition and speak forward to reach hearts and minds today.
We hope you will be there to join us for this amazing study together.
- July 3- Ann Smith
- July 10- Bowen Shoemaker
- July 17- Will McCurry
- July 24- Travis Hall
- July 31- Matthew Jerles
- Aug. 7- Rev. Teresa Edwards
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OUR NEXT BLOOD DRIVE IS ON AUGUST 9 |
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We have two easy opportunities to serve. Take either or both of your hands and wiggle your index finger. If you just did that, you are qualified and have completed the first step in training.
We need several people who would be willing to sit in the sound booth and advance the slides for the service at 9:00 a.m. or for the live stream at 11:00 a.m. This ministry opportunity involves clicking a mouse to advance to the next slide. Without the words, the folks at 9:00 a.m. don’t know what to sing. Since our at-home worshippers don’t have hymnals, the words on the live stream allow them to sing along wherever they are. Since we have a need at both services, you can volunteer to help out at the service you usually attend. It is our hope to have a team of volunteers so that you would only be scheduled once every 4 to 6 weeks. We have volunteer greeters, volunteer coffee makers, and volunteer ushers, and now we need a team of clickers. If you are willing to help, please email me. (jasbell@vinevillemethodist.org.)
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Another team of volunteers that have been serving for some time is our sound board operators. We have had a dedicated team that has covered Sunday worship as well as special services like Christmas Eve and even some funerals. We are hoping to recruit a couple of additional folks to join this important team.
It doesn’t matter how pitch-perfect the musicians are or how profound the sermon is if you can’t hear it. When we move back into the sanctuary, the soundboard there will match the board in the CLC and the youth room. At least one of our current volunteers is going to have to give up his spot in August. This is the perfect time for new folks to take their place in the ministry. Don’t worry; training will be provided. Somebody will sit with you to make sure you feel comfortable and confident. If you are willing to help with sound, please email me. (jasbell@vinevillemethodist.org.)
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WEEKDAY WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES |
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COMMON PRAYER
IN-PERSON & ONLINE
Tuesdays at 7:45 a.m.
Prayer Center
TAIZE WORSHIP SERVICE
IN-PERSON
Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m.
Chapel
PRAYER BREAKFAST
Thursdays at 7:30 a.m.
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ATTENDANCE
Sunday, June 26
9:00: 87
11:00: 101
Online: 196
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HOSPITAL VISITATION
July 1-July 3
Rev. Jon Brown
478.765.2732
ALTAR FLOWERS & ALTAR GUILD
Sunday, July 3
In loving memory of my parents,
Relma and Clay McConnell, and my sister, Donna McConnell,
by Linda Padgett
Marilyn Allen, Harriett Durkee,
Murray Manocheo, Sharon Walker
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IN MEMORY
JIM HICKMAN
Carole & Larry Grant
Wimberly & Marc Treadwell
Mary Jo & Warren Plowden
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We have several ways to give to the church. You can mail a check to the church or click here to give online. Thank you for your generosity.
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478.745.3331
www.vinevillemethodist.com
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