The Beacon
Blue Mound UMC November 2022
ThanksGiving
Thanks to the American Warriors
From the colonists, who rebelled, to the soldier of today.
My thanks, be to you, I know not what to else to say.
Since the words I do not have, to give the tribute that is due,
So, a simple heartfelt thanks, sincerely I give to you.
Thanks to our America heroes, whose devotion is second to none,
Whose courage and bravery alone caused many battles to be won.
Only because of you and the price you willingly did pay,
Only because of you, Old Glory still flies today!
– Author Unknown
Remember Veteran’s Day – November 11th
What Are Human Beings? (Part Two)
What does it mean to take seriously the fact that we are created by God in the image of God? What does it mean that God loves us enough, even in the midst of our sin, to come to us in Jesus Christ and die for us upon the cross? Sometimes Christianity is presented as a list of “don’ts”: don’t smoke, don’t drink, don’t have extramarital sex, and so on. These “don’ts,” however, are really only the negative side of saying something much more positive. Do live like you are a being of sacred worth, and like other people are too.
If we are of sacred worth as human beings, if we are created in the image of God, then what we put into our bodies and how we take care of our bodies really does matter. Our bodies are sacred places. We did not build them. Rather, God gave them to us, and like a church building, they are given to us to honor and serve God. Self-care, however, is only a part of what’s at stake in realizing the value of human beings. Being a Christian is not just about the care of the self, or even only about loving God, but the care of others. As we read in 1 John 4:21, “those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.” Again, human beings really do matter. They matter enough for Christ to die for us.
How we treat ourselves and other people really does matter. Human beings are creatures of sacred worth, and if we believe this, then we need to live like it. It is crucial for Christians to keep in mind that a person’s humanity is determined entirely by his or her being created by God in the image of God. To assign people an identity that categorizes them within a larger group but does not account for their individual identity is profoundly unchristian.
Today we face complex ethical debates. What we must always remember is that all people are equally human. Our humanity, like our salvation, is a gift from God.
Following are some answers to some basic questions about our humanity.
>What are we by nature? We are a part of God’s creation, made in the image of God.
>What does it mean to be created in the image of God? It means that we are free to make choices: to love, to create, to reason, and to live in harmony with creation and with God.
>Why then do we live apart from God and out of harmony with creation? Human beings have free will, and from the beginning we have misused our freedom and made wrong choices.
>What is this misuse of our freedom and making of wrong choices called? It is called sin.
>What help is there for us? Our help is in God.
How has God helped us? By Jesus Christ, who reconciles us to the Father; and by the Holy Spirit, who abides with us and helps us to know the Son and the Father.
Next month we’ll begin to look a little deeper at sin.
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
Things I’ve learned….
Written by Andy Rooney, a man who has the gift of saying so much with so few words
– That it’s those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.
– That we should be glad God doesn’t give us everything we ask for
– That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.
– That just one person saying to me, ‘You’ve made my day!’ makes my day
– That being kind is more important than being right
– That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.
– That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.
– That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.
– That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.
– That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks
Get An Instant Face Lift
November Celebrations
Birthday
02 Bonnie Mika
05 Brenda Minnis
Richard Kovacs
Velma McMaine
07 Dustin Fleming
08 Chaunsey Digby
14 Miriam Klein
16 Shayne Wright Miller
Theresa Spurgeon
21 Joe Ewing
22 Karan Muns
24 Stephanie Hutson
25 Jeannie Hardin
27 Gayland Fleming
28 Robert Hokamp
30 Billy Wright
Ryder Norton
Anniversary
11 Jesse and Shayne Miller
17 James and Heather Cox
Jeremy and Sausley Kraft
21 Billy and Dana Wright
Janell Shelton
March 31, 1941 – September 20, 2022
On September 28, We Gathered Together with Family and Friends,
In Memory of Janell Shelton, to Celebrate Her Life.
Good Bye, Janell
November Calendar
06 Holy Communion, All Saints Day
Daylight Saving Time Ends, Fall Back
11 Veterans Day
13 NO Second Sunday Lunch, Noon
20 Thanksgiving Day Lunch, Noon
26 Advent Decorating Party, 5 p.m.
Family Fellowship Night, 6:00 pm Fun, Games, and Food.
27 First Day of Advent
29 Denton Association of Christian Women 9:30 a.m., Fellowship Hall
All Saints’ Day
All Saints Sunday is a day of remembrance for the saints, with the New Testament meaning of all Christian people of every time and place. At Blue Mound, during worship on November 6, we’ll remember and celebrate the lives of our brothers and sister who went home to our Lord this year.
May You and Yours Have a Very Happy Thanksgiving!
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
