The Beacon

Blue Mound UMC February 2025
One of God’s Wonders: The Snow Moon

The explanation behind February’s full Moon name is a fairly straightforward one:
it’s known as the Snow Moon due to the typically heavy snowfall that occurs
in February. On average, February is the United States’ snowiest month.
An important distinction of February’s Moon phases is that the month may not
have any full Moon at all. Because the lunar phase cycle is 29.5 days, when
there is a full Moon at the very end of January, there will be no full Moon
recorded that February. This is often called the “Black Moon”.
The term Snow Moon is used in both Northern America and Europe. However,
the Moon has multiple names, many Native American tribes have different
names for this moon. The Snow Moon means many things to many people and
cultures.
The spiritual meaning of the Snow Moon is deeply rooted in ancient traditions
and symbolism. This enchanting lunar event holds a special significance for
many cultures around the world. Personal Renewal and Purification, New
Beginnings, A Time for Deep Reflection and Introspection and Reminds Us of the
Strength and Resilience Needed to Endure Challenging Times.
February’s next full Snow Moon reaches peak illumination at 8:53 A.M. EST on
Wednesday, February 12, 2025. It will be below the horizon at this time, so for
the best view of this Moon, look for it starting the night before or later on
Wednesday; it will drift above the horizon in the east around sunset and reach its
highest point in the sky around midnight.

Beginning a new year always reminds me to recommit myself to being the best follower
of Christ I can be. John Wesley adapted his Covenant Prayer from the tradition that was
important to his parents, Samuel and Suzannah. This prayer informed his theology and
preaching. He expected the people called “Methodists” to pray this pray at the beginning
of each new year as a way of remembering and renewing their baptismal covenant.
The prayer describes the life of a participant with Christ in his mission. It is a practical
description of what Jesus was talking about when he said, “If any want to become my
followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke
9:23). Baptism marks the beginning of life in Christ and his ecclesia, a people who
“profess to pursue holiness of heart and life; universal love filling the heart and governing
the life.” The Covenant prayer helps us remember what this Jesus-way of life looks like
and what loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind and loving our neighbor as our self
requires of us.
When we pray this prayer, we remember that we are baptized. We renounce the spiritual
forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of our sin. We
accept the freedom and power God gives to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in
whatever forms they present themselves. We confess Jesus Christ as our Savior, trust
wholeheartedly in his grace, and promise to serve him as Lord, in union with the church.
And we renew our promise to live as faithful members of Christ’s church and serve as his
representatives in the world. The Covenant Prayer describes missional life devoted to
following Jesus and serving as Christ’s representative in the world he loves and is
working to redeem. It tells us that being a Christian is more a way of life than a system of
beliefs. The Covenant Prayer describes the Jesus way of self-giving and self-emptying
love. This way of living and loving is possible only in a community centered in the life
and mission of the crucified and risen Jesus Christ. The Covenant Prayer is an important
and powerful Wesleyan/Methodist tradition. It reminds us who and whose we are. This
makes it a great way to begin each new year as Christ’s representatives in the world that
needs to know and see his love and justice.

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The Wesleyan Covenant Prayer

“I am no longer my own, but thine.

Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thy wilt.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartedly yield all things
to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.”

Peace be with you, Buster

February Special Days

Birthday
02 Kolt Kraft
07 Nicole Hackett
08 John Hackett
11 Billy Wright (III)
12 Christina Stenger
13 Christopher Kelsey Lynn Digby
14 John Vanbuskirk
15 Sausley Kraft
16 Daralyn Woolworth
17 Alton Taylor
19 Kay Trietsch
22 Fred Hodge
Anniversary
26 Janet and Buster Noah

A Little Boy’s Special Request

After dinner one night, I asked my son Jimmy to fetch a broom from the back
porch so I could sweep the floor. Complaining, he said, “But it’s dark out
there. I’m afraid.”
I said to him, “It’s OK, God is with you.” Slowly Jimmy opened the porch
door and said, “God, if you’re out there, would you hand me the broom?”

Five Ways Skipping Worship is Killing Your Church
1) It makes the Worship Service less exciting for everyone.

2) It discourages your Pastor or Leaders.
3) You lose touch with the life of your Church.

4) It messes up your priorities.

5) It robs the Church of the resources it needs.

Summitted by Shirley Haisler

UR

Hello February Calendar
02 Holy Communion
09 Second Sunday Lunch, Noon
14 Valentine’s Day

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

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