Ash Wednesday

Homer UMC observed the beginning of the Lenten Season with an Ash Wednesday service. Lent is the 40 days before Easter Sunday, when the Christian Church is called to a time of repentance, prayer and fasting in preparation for the joy of Easter--the day The Church celebrates Christ's Resurrection.

In Pastor Steve's Ash Wednesday message, he reminded us that the Season of Lent is a time of forgiveness, both seeking and giving; prayer and reflection, confession of sin and self-denial or fasting. Lent is a time when God gives us a "Do Over"-- another chance to get it right. The service ended with the Imposition of Ashes--receiving a sign of the cross made from the ashes of burned palm leaves, placed on the forehead as a symbol of repentance and a reminder that we are God's creation.

"For you are dust, and to dust you shall return." Genesis 3:19

Church Library/New Books/February

The following books have been added to the church library and are ready for check out.
Bible Dictionary Zondervan NIV version
The Complete Book of Christian Heroes by Dave and Neta Jackson
Encyclopedia of Bible Words Zondervan NIV version
Harry Bentley's Second Chance by Dave Jackson
Webster's All-In-One Dictionary and Thesaurus
Webster's New College Dictionary
Where Do I Go by Neta Jackson
The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Decked Out by Neta Jackson
The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Rolling by Neta Jackson

Health Kits for Haiti

This morning, the Missions Committee organized an effort to assemble Health Kits from donations received over the past week (see the list of items in last week's post).  Adults and kids came together around the table at Fellowship Time following Worship to pack about twenty Kits, which will be sent to UMCOR and will make their way to Haiti or another area as the need arises.

For more information on United Methodist efforts in Haiti, see Earthquake in Haiti: The Church Responds.

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
     - 2 Corinthians 9:7

Special Offering for Haiti

This Sunday, during worship, the congregation joined worldwide prayers for the people of Haiti and for the relief efforts underway following the disastrous earthquake last week.  The HUMC Missions Committe presented information on UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) and how we can contribute to their efforts which are already underway.  Monetary donations are still being accepted at the church as are items for care packets. There is a box in the foyer to collect items which will be assembled into packets next Sunday (January 24).  If you can contribute one or more items (limited to list items below) please bring them to the church by Sunday.

Health kits provide basic necessities to people who have been forced to leave their homes because of human conflict or natural disaster and are also used as learning tools in personal hygiene, literacy, nutrition and cooking classes.  Kits include the following items:
1 hand towel (15" x 25" up to 17" x 27", No kitchen towels)
1 washcloth
1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)
1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)
1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up)
1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, No child-size brushes)
6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages
$1.00 to purchase toothpaste

NOTE: UMCOR is now purchasing toothpaste in bulk to be added to health kits before shipping to ensure that the product does not expire before they are sent.
Please be sure all items are new!

Church Library/New Materials/January

The following materials have been added to the church library and are ready for check out. They can be found on the recent acquisition table located just outside the door to the Senior Adult Sunday School classroom.

Fearless by Max Lucado
Heaven by Randy Alcorn
Holding on to Hope by Nancy Guthrie
How to Prepare Sermons by William Evans
Into the Den of Infidels by Living Sacrifice Book Company
Iran Desperate for God by Living Sacrifice Book Company
The Purpose of Christmas DVD Study Guide by Rick Warren
Transforming Evangelism by Henry Knight
DVD's
The Eric Liddell Story Torchlighters Heroes of the Faith
The Gladys Aylward Story Torchlighters Heroes of the Faith
The Jim Elliot Story Torchlighters Heroes of the Faith
The John Bunyan Story Torchlighters Heroes of the Faith
The Perpetua Story Torchlighters Heroes of the Faith
The William Tyndale Story Torchlighters Heroes of the Faith
The Purpose of Christmas DVD Bible Study by Rick Warren

KIC Christmas Party

Kids In Christ (KIC) celebrated the Christmas season with a birthday party for Jesus on Wednesday, December 16 complete with silly hats, birthday cake and party favors. Every participant frosted and decorated their own cupcake and made a wish as they blew out the candle on top. There were party games in which teams unwrapped many layers of colored paper searching for baby Jesus. They sang favorite Christmas songs and made their own wooden nativity scene. The afternoon concluded with a lesson/skit reminding us to remember the reason for the season.

Recycling Cans for Missions

Recently, the Homer United Methodist Church missions committee was granted guardianship of the community aluminum can recycling repository in town next to the recycling bins. We praise God for His blessings and provision for this committee! Our fledgling missions committee has been meeting, talking with others in the community, and praying about how and where God would have us focus our attention in the coming days and years. We will continue to work with Homer Churches Cooperating to help those in need in our community and also look forward to projects and opportunities that will help us as we continue to serve God beyond the boundaries of Homer. Please join us in prayer and praise as we consider how God wants us to serve and to bring the Good News to others. Thank you to all who are recycling your aluminum cans for missions!

And while I am on the subject of recycling, I want to thank everyone for their efforts to recycle other materials as well. Recycling is one way we can be good stewards of God's wonderful creation. We are so blessed to have a recycling program in our community due to the efforts of our local governments. Both the village and township pitch in to finance and oversee the dumpsters that accept paper, cardboard, glass, and plastics. Your efforts to recycle reduce the amount of waste in landfills so we do not have to keep digging new ones. And by not burning our garbage we reduce pollutants in the air we breath.

"Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries."

I Corinthians 4:1

- Submitted by Sue