The Beacon
Blue Mound UMC MAY 2025
Serenity
God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace. Taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it. Trusting that You will make all things right, if I surrender to Your will. So that I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen
A prayer originally written by theologian Reinhold Niebuhr (late 1930s/early 40s). It is suggested that he wrote the prayer as part of a sermon he was giving.
Serenity Is Not the Freedom from The Storm, But Peace Within It. By S.A. Jefferson-Wright
He is risen! On Easter Sunday I preached about Mary Magdeleine. Here’s a little more about her from Heather Hahn with the UM News.
Few other followers of Jesus have been saddled with a more notorious reputation than Mary Magdalene.
She’s often portrayed as the former prostitute who is the polar opposite of the Virgin Mary. Or, thanks to the best-selling thriller “The Da Vinci Code,” she’s seen as Jesus’ secret love interest.
Lost in all the speculation about Mary Magdalene’s love life is the biblical record. Never once does Scripture identify her as a harlot, reformed or otherwise.
Instead, the Bible shows Mary Magdalene as an important disciple of Jesus – the one witness to the Crucifixion and Resurrection whose name appears in all four Gospels. All four note her presence at the empty tomb. In three Gospels, she encounters the risen Christ. In the Gospel of John, she is the first person to testify to the good news that Christ has conquered death.
This Easter Sunday, many United Methodists and other Christians around the world heard that account in John 20:1-18. The passage features Mary Magdalene’s tearful conversation with a man she first mistakes for a gardener but ultimately recognizes as the risen Savior. She then tells the other disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and shares what Jesus told her.
York Arnold, who served as the senior pastor at First United Methodist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, takes inspiration from Mary Magdalene.
The United Methodist leader points out that Mary Magdalene is more than a disciple, one who follows Jesus. She is also an apostle – one whom Jesus sends to minister in his name.
In fact, York Arnold uses a title for Mary Magdalene popularized in the medieval church: “Apostle to the Apostles.”
Pastor’s Corner Page 2 of 2
What the Bible says
The New Testament offers few clues about Mary Magdalene’s background before she followed Jesus.
Many scholars speculate that her last name refers to Magdala, a fishing village in Galilee where she might have grown up.
Luke first introduces Mary Magdalene with a group of women who support Jesus’ ministry “out of their means.”
The Gospels of Luke and Mark also identify her as a woman Jesus healed of seven demons, though neither specifies the nature of these unclean spirits. What the first-century world labeled demons could refer to spiritual, mental or physical maladies.
Luke’s listing of women who financially back Jesus is a strong clue that he had women disciples accompanying him.
The women’s gender did not necessarily spare them from danger. In Romans 16:7, Paul lists Junia among the Christian apostles imprisoned with him. A second-century Roman letter notes two female Christian deacons who were tortured.
When the scandal began
In the chapter before Mary Magdalene’s introduction, Luke’s Gospel tells the story of an unnamed penitent woman with an alabaster jar who anoints Christ’s feet with perfumed oil and wets them with her tears.
That may be where some confusion began.
Rehabilitating Magdalene
York Arnold said Mary Magdalene stands as testimony that all are called to proclaim the goodness of the Gospel.
Peace be with you, Buster
MAY Birthdays
05 Diane Langum
09 Wanda Graham
16 Kris Schertz
31 Mary Millar
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Just let me know your names, Birthday/Anniversary Dates (Month & Day only)
I understand some folks may not want to be on the List. Thanks, Linda Boyer
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
National Day of Prayer Thursday, May 1, 2025
Check for Your Local Event
HELPING HANDS COMMITTEE
The Helping Hands Committee was formed a long time ago by Dick Klein to be a hand up and not a hand out committee. The Committee helps a person/family once, and then if they need more assistance, we ask the congregation for a special donation. We have assisted two families from Blue Mound this year and have a current balance of $344.87. We get funds from several areas. People lay money on the communion rail during Communion Sunday for the Helping Hands Fund: Blue Mound Church treasurer transfers $ 200.00 to our account each year, and Blue Mound has approved a collection on the fifth Sunday to be put in a designated envelope to be collected for the Helping Hands Fund. This year, 5th Sundays will be June 29, August 31st, and November 30th, 2025. You can give money to the Helping Hands Fund anytime; Just be sure to note it on the check and the envelope.
Members of the 2025 Helping Hands Committee are Shirley Haisler, Lonnie
Roberson and Kay Trietsch, Chair 940-230-1543. If someone needs help or
if you want more information, check with one of these people. If you would like
to be on the Helping Hands committee, let the Pastor know.
The Traveler’s Fund is separate; refer a traveler to the Pastor for this special aid.
It is exciting to see committees reforming. Information is being given out on Committees that need leaders and members. We used to have all of these committees. It reminds me of the phrase Life Comes Full Circle, implying that experiences and events in life often repeat or return to a similar point as they began. We now have many new faces and young people with new ideas. You know everyone can come to the Leadership team meetings to help plan the activities.
So good to see you at Church. I hope this helps in sharing some of the activities we do at Blue Mound. — Kay Trietsch
04 Holy Communion
11 Mother’s Day
Second Sunday Lunch, Noon
18 Heritage Day
26 Memorial Day
24 Family Fellowship Night, 6:00 pm Fun, Games, and Food.
Two Special Days to Honor Our Military
Armed Forces Day, May 17, is the day to honor all of the military men and women who are currently serving, as well as those who have served and sacrificed to defend our Freedom.
Memorial Day is May 26, a time dedicated to honoring U.S. military men and women who died while serving in the Armed Forces for our nation.
BLUE MOUND UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
8421 N. Interstate 35, Denton, TX 76207-1537 (940) 382-0825
Midway between Denton and Sanger at Exit 473
Sunday School: 9:30 am, Sunday Worship: 10:45 am
Website: www.bluemoundumc.org
Linda Boyer, Newsletter Editor
Need to contact Pastor Buster Noah?
