The Beacon

    Blue Mound UMC JULY 2023

GOD BLESS THE USA

If tomorrow all my things were gone, I’d worked for all my life.
And I had to start again, With just my children and my wife.

I’d thank my lucky stars, To be livin’ here today.
‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom, And they can’t take that away.

And I’m proud to be an American, Where at least I know I’m free.
And I won’t forget the men who died, Who gave that right to me.
And I gladly stand up, Next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA.

From the lakes of Minnesota, To the hills of Tennessee.
Across the plains of Texas, From sea to shining sea.

From Detroit down to Houston, And New York to L.A.
Well there’s pride in every American heart, And it’s time we stand and say.

That I’m proud to be an American, Where at least I know I’m free.
And I won’t forget the men who died, Who gave that right to me.
And I gladly stand up, Next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA.

“God Bless The USA” a song by Lee Greenwood was 1st released in 1984

 

 

Pastor ‘s Corner     What Is the Church? (Part One)

Church life should be like that of a family with warm fellowship. In the early days of Methodism to be a member meant to be a member of a small society of about a dozen mixed gender people. And then to also be a member of a small band of six or seven people of the same gender, where you could be open and honest with each other. Small groups were a part of Methodism from the beginning. In these small groups people learned to pray, to sing, to listen, to speak, to encourage, to respect others, and to lead. Belonging to a small group helped a person understand that they mattered individually as a person. Being part of the larger church helped a person understand that they were a part of something grander and even global.

There are churches, and then there is the Church. Churches (with a lower case ‘c’) are individual communities of Christians or buildings where people worship. When we talk about the Church (with a capital ‘C”) we are talking about the community of all Christians everywhere, throughout the world and through all time. Previous generations of Christians carried the faith forward so that we might receive it, and current Christians carry the faith forward so that future generations might receive it. We have a great responsibility laid upon us, to proclaim the gospel message to the future generations who will come after us.

The Nicene Creed has been an important statement of faith for Christians ever since it was written in the 4th century. We see in the Nicene Creed that the Church has four distinct marks: it is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. What does it mean for the Church to be one? Over the centuries, people in the Church have fought over many things, sometimes causing splits and new denominations. Though we may disagree on matters of faith, we all have one Lord, Jesus Christ. All Christians stand under the lordship of Jesus. So, in that sense we are all one.

The Church is also holy. We are holy because God makes us holy. Jesus said where two or three are gathered I am there. On the day of Pentecost, the birthday of the Church, God poured out the Holy Spirit on the people gathered in Jerusalem. From the first day of the Church the Holy Spirit has been with us, empowering us to be able to do the work to which we are called by Christ. Because of the Holy Spirit within us, we too are holy.

The term catholic can be a bit confusing. When we use the word Catholic (with a capital ‘C’) we are usually referring to the Roman Catholic Church, the world’s largest Christian denomination. But when we use the word catholic (with a little ‘c’) it means “universal.” The Church is for all people. The catholic nature of the Church is related to its oneness. Once we succeed in reaching other people, regardless of how different they are from us, we unite with them in Christ. Another way of saying this is that all Christians are a part of the “body of Christ.”

When we say that the Church is apostolic, we mean that the faith which we proclaim stretches back to the earliest followers of Jesus. The Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed are ways that we continue to affirm the early teachings of the Church.

Next month we’ll continue our discussion of What Is the Church? I pray that you may come to understand and believe more and more with each passing day, just how special and loved by God you are!

Peace be with you, Buster

  

A DECK OF CARDS

(As recorded by Tex Ritter in 1948)

Friends, this is Tex Ritter with a strange story about a soldier boy and a deck of cards:  During a North African campaign a bunch of soldier boys had been on a long hike, and they arrived in a little town called Casino. The next morning being Sunday several of the boys went to church.  A Sergeant commanded the boys in church, and after the Chaplain had read the prayer the text was taken up next. Those of the boys who had a prayer book took them out, but this one boy only had a deck of cards, and so he spread them out.  The Sergeant saw the cards and said, “Soldier, put away those cards.”  After the services were over the soldier was taken prisoner and brought before the Provost Marshall.

 

The Marshall said, “Sergeant, why have you brought this man here?”

For playing cards in church, Sir.

And what have you to say for yourself, son?

“Much, sir.” replied the soldier.  The Marshall said, I hope so, for if not, I shall punish you more than any man was ever punished.

 

The soldier said, “Sir, I have been on a march for about six days, and I had neither Bible nor Prayer Book, but I hope to satisfy you, Sir, with the purity of my intentions.”  And with that the boy started his story: “You see, Sir, when I look at the Ace it reminds me that there is but one God, God the Father.  The Deuce reminds me that the Bible is divided into two parts; the Old and New Testaments. And when I see the Trey I think of The Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

 

“When I see the Four I think of the four evangelists who preached the Gospel. There was

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. And when I see the Five it reminds me of the five wise virgins who trimmed their lamps. Ten of ’em: five who were wise and were saved; five were foolish and were shut out. And when I see the Six it reminds me that in six days God made this great heaven and earth. And when I see the Seven it reminds me that on the seventh day God rested from His great work. “When I see the Eight I think of the eight righteous persons God saved when he destroyed this earth. There was Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their wives; And when I see the Nine I think of the lepers our Savior cleansed , and nine of the ten didn’t even thank Him.  And when I see the Ten I think of the Ten Commandments God handed down to Moses on a  tablet of stone.

 

A DECK OF CARDS, (as recorded by Tex Ritter in 1948)     Page 2 of 2

 

“When I see the King it reminds me that there is but one King of Heaven, God Almighty;

And when I see the Queen I think of the Blessed Virgin Mary who is Queen of Heaven.

The Jack (or Knave) …… it’s the Devil.”

 

He folded up the deck of cards, shuffled them once, and fanned them out before him. Then he continued:  “When I count the number of spots on a deck of cards I find three hundred sixty-five, the number of days in a year;  There’s fifty-two cards, the number of weeks in a year; Four suits, the number of weeks in a month, and also for the four seasons – Summer, Winter, Spring and Fall. Twelve picture cards, the number of months in a year;  Thirteen tricks, the number of weeks in a quarter, and the number of lunar months in a year.

 

And lastly, Sir, this deck of cards has two colors, red and black:  the RED stands for the daylight and the Black for the night.

So you see, Sir, my deck of cards serves me as a Bible, almanac, and prayer book.”

With that, the Marshall said, “Case dismissed!”

Friends, I know this story is true, because I KNEW that soldier.

 

* Presented by Judy Klein, Memorial Day Sunday Worship Service, May 2023

 

 

Do all the good you can,

by all the means you can,

in all the ways you can,

in all the places you can,

at all the times you can,

to all the people you can,

as long as ever you can.

John Wesley

 

JULY

Birthdays

03 Hunter Klein

08 Chris Hardin

07 Calder Thompson

09 Janet Noah

12 Roxanne Haug

14 Cecil Hokamp

15 Wally Trietsch

18 James Lockridge

20 Aubrey Teeter

22 Misao Hokamp

Anniversarys

18 Kris and Stacy Schertz

30 Robert and Alyse Hokamp

 

 

Happy July!

 02 Holy Communion

Fourth of July Church Picnic, 5 p.m.

04 Independence Day *

09 Second Sunday Lunch, Noon

 29 Family Fellowship Night, 6:00 pm Fun, Games, and Food.

* Tuesday July 4 – We will not have a Prayer Team and Bible Study.

 

Fourth of July “Picnic”

Join us in the Fellowship Hall Sunday, July 2, at 5 p.m. For an indoor Fourth of July picnic celebration.  Sam is grilling for us, so be sure to say thanks! You can bring any kind of picnic food or desert to share! And Don’t Forget To Bring A Friend!

Special Volunteer Opportunity

 

Join the Outreach Team>

During the Christmas season we reach out with Cheer Baskets for people who may not be able to attend church.  Let’s do an Outreach to help cheer someone throughout the year. The Outreach Team needs volunteers to sign up for this church ministry. Some of the ideas includes giving each volunteer a list of people to send cards on their birthdays or on a holiday. Christmas baskets and cards are great but what about the rest of the year. Maybe a phone call, text or email to “Just say Hello, How are you?”

If you are interested, Please see Shirley Haisler for details or contact Karan Muns at (940-390-5487) or email office@bluemoundumc.org). Can’t reach Karan? Leave message and she’ll get back to you ASAP.

 

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?   Email:  pastor@bluemoundumc.org