February 2017
Shepherd's Voice
A Monthly Newsletter
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Worship with us each Sunday,
8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary and
11:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship in the Family Life Center.
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From Our Associate Pastor
We are continuing to embrace our 2017 goal of growing stronger as a community of faith. Our current sermon series, "Songs of My Soul" asks us to let go of things that prevent us from stepping forward into what God's desires for each of us individually and together as a church. We are learning to open ourselves to the newness and freedom that God is orchestrating in our midst and invites us to participate!
One of Mountain Park UMC's strengths is our growing Children's Ministry. Children are the future of the church and we want to acknowledge that as well as celebrate this fact. That's why on Sunday, February 26 we are going to have a combined worship service at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary to come together as one church to show our support to the children of our community of faith. We are looking forward to how will they teach us and lead us in our worship time together.
In addition, we will begin to embrace the season of Lent beginning with Ash Wednesday on March 1. We recognize that Lent is often known as a time of giving something up in order to make room in our lives for spiritual pursuits. But, rather than just "giving up" in Lent, this season, the scriptures ask us to consider all that Jesus is "up to" and all that he asks us to be up to in his name. Our Lenten sermon series, "What Are You Up To?" challenges us to ask ourselves what pursuits are we up to in our lives that call us to be our best selves, and our best selves as the church?
We look forward to carrying the momentum that God is drawing us into here at Mountain Park UMC and we hope you'll share that experience over the weeks to come!
Grace and Peace,
Tyler
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ONE UNITED WORSHIP SERVICE SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26
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Cross Crew Choir presents
Are We There Yet
by Tom Long and Allen Pote
Sunday, February 26, at the 11:00 worship service
(We will have the 8:30 am Traditional Service as scheduled)
There are 21 kids grades 2-5, bringing us the story of Moses. Join us for this wonderful annual musical directed by Nancy Parker and Karin Payne.
Rebel Leader, prophet, lawgiver-Moses is a towering figure in the history of Israel. In one transcendent moment in the desert, God calls him from the life of a shepherd to life of a nation builder, sending him to confront the Pharaoh and free God's people from slavery in Egypt. And Moses' first response? A very human fear of failure. "Who am I to do this?" he asks. "I'm slow to speech and I don't know what to say. Please Lord, send someone else." Like so many accounts in the Bible, at the heart of a great spiritual event we find some people a lot like ourselves.
THE SEASON OF LENT BEGINS
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Ash Wednesday Worship Service
Wednesday March 1, at 7:00 pm in our Sanctuary.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline.
Ash Wednesday emphasizes two themes: our sinfulness before God and our human mortality. The service focuses on both themes, helping us to realize that both have been triumphed through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
During our Ash Wednesday service, the minister will make a sign of the cross with ashes onto the foreheads of worshipers. The use of ashes as a sign of mortality and repentance has a long history in Jewish and Christian worship. Historically, ashes signified purification and sorrow for sins. We use the ashes from the palm branches from the previous Palm Sunday service to burn to produce ashes for this service. The ash cross on the forehead is an outward sign of our sorrow and repentance for sins.
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Lenten Season - Save the Date
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March 1
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Ash Wednesday Service 7:00 pm |
| March 1-3 |
Winter Wonderland Villages/Preschool |
| March 5 |
First Sunday of Lent |
| March 12 |
Mission Auction 5:00 pm |
| March 16 |
Volunteer Luncheon 11:00 am |
| March 16-17 |
St. Patrick's Day Fun/Preschool |
| March 18 |
Children's Ministry Training 8:30 am |
| March 21 |
First Day of Spring - Waking Up Mr. Bear/Preschool |
| March 24-25 |
Children's Camp-In 6:00 pm |
| April 3-7 |
Spring Break |
| April 9 |
Palm Sunday Service 11:00 |
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Confirmation Sunday 11:00 |
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Holy Week Begins |
| April 13 |
Holy Thursday Service 7:00 pm |
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Foot Washing and Last Supper/Preschool |
| April 14 |
Good Friday |
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Community Service 7:00 pm |
| April 15 |
Easter Egg Hunt 10:00 am |
| April 16 |
Easter Day |
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Need Is Great Following Tornadoes
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South Georgia Begins Recovery From Storms
Nearly a week after devastating storms ripped through South Georgia, United Methodists in the affected areas are working on plans for immediate relief and long-term recovery. UMCOR Early Response Teams and interested individuals should contact Luis Morales, South Georgia Conference Disaster Coordinator, at
(478) 216-7729 or
[email protected].
Teams Needed in Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Miss. and Petal, Miss. were severely impacted by tornadoes the weekend of January 21. They have requested trained Early Response Teams (ERT), trained chain saw teams, and heavy equipment teams. ERTs need to be self-sustainable.
UMCOR Health Kits Needed
In the midst of the Disaster Response across the south, UMCOR Health Kits are in great need. This is an immediate and impactful way you and your church can help.mortality. The service focuses on both themes, helping us to realize that both have been triumphed through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Instructions for these kits can be found here.
First UMC Albany - Disaster Relief
First UMC has 25 families living in their family life center after losing everything due to the recent severe weather. Thy desperately need help. Gift cards in $25.00 amounts will help during this time of need. Send cards to:
FUMC Albany
Attn: Becky Herndon
Disaster Relief
307 Flint Avenue
Albany, GA 31701
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Kenya Mission Team Planning
Sunday, February 26 from 2 - 5 p.m. in the Upper Education Hall, E203-205
Interested in learning more about our Kenya Mission and what's coming up for this year? Join us for the first planning meeting of the year to learn more!
Contact
Ann Kennedy with any questions prior to the meeting!
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SAVE THE DATE: Trinity Table
Sunday, March 5, at 10 am - 3 pm
Mark you calendars to help donate home-cooked chili to be served to the homeless. Please bring your chili the morning of the event to be transported and served.
In addition, we need ham and cheese (no condiments) or PB&J sandwiches. Please package each sandwich in its own ziplock bag!
Interested in serving and building relationships with those that come hungry? Reach out to
Dan Settle to let him know you'd like to help!
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Save the Date: 2017 Mission Auction
Sunday, March 12 from 5 - 8 p.m. in the Family Life Center
Mark you calendars for our annual Mission Auction that raises funds to support local and international mission opportunities throughout the year.
Ticket are $15 per person and will be available for purchase starting this Sunday, February 12 after each service. In addition, if you're interested in donating an item or service to be bid on for the auction, then please submit a donation card. Donation cards will be available starting this Sunday as well.
The evening of the Mission Auction, we will have both silent and live auction opportunities along with entertainment and dinner!
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Discipleship Opportunities
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Additional Support Needed to Send our Children and Youth to Camp Glisson this Summer!
Last summer, 22 of our children and youth attended Camp Glisson's Summer Camp through our first "10 for 10" campership fundraiser. (A campership is a full or partial scholarship for individuals who wish to attend camp). As of right now, we have raised about half of the funds that we did last year. We are h
oping to raise the other half before April so that we can send just as many of our students to camp again this summer! Won't you please prayerfully considergiving? For more information, you may contact Rachel Hockman:
[email protected]. (When you participate, please clearly mark your donation with "10 for 10", so we know exactly where to designate it. Thank you!)
Spring Small Group, Beginning March 2
For the spring semester, we are going to start with one small group that will meet from March-May, and then break for the summer. We will make plans to form more groups in the fall.
Our Spring Small Group will meet every Thursday evening from 6:00-7:30 PM at the home of Tyler & Natalie Jackson (starting March 2 and ending on May 18).
There will be some sort of shared meal each week, along with time for fellowship and discussion based around the sermon topic of the week (Possibility of childcare if needed; please specify when you sign up).
If you would like to be a part of this group, please sign up in the Gathering Room or Family Life Center, or contact Rachel Hockman: [email protected].
New Adult Study, Beginning March 8
The Attributes of God: A Journey Into the Father's Heart
A worthy concept of God is crucial, because He is the cause behind all things and the only One who can give meaning to our existence. This truth gave A. W. Tozer the desire to know God deeper and more intimately and led him to record his thoughts on what we can know about God. In this study, we will examine ten attributes that pertain uniquely to God's character. Using Tozer's book as a guide and the Bible as our final authority, the study will be structured around reading and group discussion. All are welcome, regardless of what you think your level of Bible knowledge is!
Cost: $12 Leaders: Eric and Chris Tweedy
4-week study begins March 8 Wednesdays 6:15 - 7:15 pm Room: E212
(There will be a short introduction meeting on Wednesday, March 1 before the Ash Wednesday service begins, at 6:30 PM in Room E212)
If you would like to be a part of this class, please sign up in the Gathering Room or Family Life Center, or contact Rachel Hockman: [email protected].
New Opportunity to Promote Your Local Business!
We are looking for fresh and creative ways to raise more funds for our annual Fall Festival fundraiser this year, and we need your help!
If you own your own business, or are a part of a company that is looking for advertising opportunities, please reach out to Rachel Hockman ([email protected]) about sponsoring a game booth or activity at our Fall Festival in October! Your business will be advertised the day of the event, as well as in our monthly newsletter. We hope you will consider this mutually-beneficial partnership with us!
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Youth Ministry Opportunities
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During the month of February we have some exciting things going on in youth ministry!
"Relationship Goals"
We are starting a series called "Relationship Goals," on Sunday nights. We meet in the Youth Room from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Weekly Bible Studies
We still have our weekly Bible studies going: middle school on Wednesdays from 6:15pm - 7:00pm and high school on Thursdays from 6:30pm - 7:30pm.
Spring Retreat Registration
Our Spring Retreat registration has opened up, and we'll be headed to Camp Glisson the weekend of April 28th - 30th. For questions or more information please contact Josh Henley at
[email protected].
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Children's Ministry Opportunities
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The children's ministry is off to a great start for the year! We are really looking forward to what God is bringing to us this winter. Here is some information to keep your February running smoothly!
INDOOR CAMP-IN
Join us for "Walk the Wild!" Registration has begun for our spring event! Grades 2 - 5 are invited to join us for an indoor camp-in. We will meet at the church on Friday, March 24 at 6 PM, and pick-up will be at 11 AM on Saturday, March 25. Talks and worship will be led by Trey Hockman! Hot dogs and s'mores and breakfast foods will be provided for our two meals. The cost is only $25!
Click here for the registration form; it is due in with your $25 by Sunday, March 5. Invite your friends for an unforgettable weekend full of fun and discipleship!
SURGE
Our next SURGE meeting is on Sunday, February 26, from 12:15 - 2:00.
This is a ministry for grades 3 - 5, and is specially designed for this age group to focus on service, unity, reverence, growth, and evangelism. A pizza lunch will be provided for everyone! If you haven't signed up to serve as an acolyte, actor, or Assistant Park Ranger for Worship in the Park, please contact Courtney or Rachel.
CHILDREN'S MINISTRY TRAINING
The North Georgia Conference is hosting "Done in a Day", a training opportunity offered in 12 sites across the conference, on Saturday, March 18. The cost is only $10 if you pre-register ($15 at the door), but if we get a group of 5 or more, it's only $5 per person! The gathering will begin at 8:30 at Covington First UMC and will release at lunch time. Whether your forte is worship, missions, or Sunday School, there is a place for you! The deadline to register as a group is Sunday, March 12. If you would like to sign up, please e-mail Courtney at
[email protected] or Rachel at
[email protected].
SAVE THE DATE
Saturday, April 15: Easter Egg Hunt
June 12 - 16: Vacation Bible School
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2016 Ministry Accomplishments
Dear MPUMC family,
Thank you for participating in our 2016 Cooperative Christmas Program. Once again the members of Mountain Park UMC provided for the needs of our community by:
- Adopting 34 families from the Lilburn Cooperative
- Sunday School Classes, a Women's Circle and an individual family adopted 7 families this year. Gifts were provided for all the children and Christmas meals were provide by the adopting group
- 214 gifts were provided as a combined effort of the Sunday School classes and two Angel Trees
Gateway Classic Cars
Gateway Classic Cars is the world's largest classic/exotic car sales company with fourteen locations. The Atlanta showroom currently houses 132 of their consignment vehicles.
I have made arrangements for us to tour their Atlanta showroom on Saturday, March 4, 2017 starting at 1:00PM. Bring your cameras.
This event is open to both men and women and is
free of charge
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We will also have an optional lunch (
lunch menu only
) at Steak and Shake:
2355 Northpoint Court
Alpharetta, Ga. 30022
(770-751-1101)
Each person will be responsible for paying for their own meal.
(Steak and Shake is approximately 5 miles from Gateway Classic Cars)
You can R.S.V.P. by calling me (Robert Kopp)
and leaving a voicemail at 770-564-2296 or email me at
[email protected].
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Dear MPUMC family,
Thank you so much for the beautiful altar flowers that were delivered to Bob. We feel so special to be part of MPUMC. Thanks for Charlene Steverson for delivering the flowers. I enjoyed meeting her and enjoyed her visit.
Love from
Elaine & Bob Lantz
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