Archive for "2018"

From the Pastor’s Desk – December

From the Pastor’s Desk – December
 
Christmas provides a unique opportunity each year for us all to re-focus. Not only are we reminded of the life-changing gift that is Jesus; but we are also reminded of our need for Jesus to heal us in our brokenness. That is indeed why he came, wasn’t it? To bring peace between God and man. This is why the angels declared triumphantly “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14).
 
As we celebrate Advent let us remember it is a time of preparation for Christmas. This Christmas let’s focus in the understanding that the greatest gift we receive is the love of Jesus. And the greatest gift we can give is Jesus’ love to our neighbor.
 
As a new year approaches, I want to challenge us, the church, to impact this world for good. People are in great
need, and more than ever, we need to come alive! We need to be people of prayer, faith, righteousness, and kindness. We need to love each other and love God above all else. We simply need to focus, in 2019, to do everything we can for a closer relationship with God.
 
This year brought some changes. I became your pastor, (an honor) and we said good-bye to spouses, to loved ones, to our precious summer family, friends who move to new places or to their eternal home. We said hello to new faces, welcoming new neighbors, new births, and new members to the church. God our provider, creator of all, is with us always.
 
May the time we have spent together with Christ in months past be a good foundation for us to build upon as we worship and serve him together in the year to come.
I like to close with a benediction I read recently:
 
“May you be filled with the wonder of Mary, the obedience of Joseph, the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the determination of the magi, and the peace of the Christ Child. God bless you now and forever.”
 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.
 
Pastor Frances
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Special Event – A Christmas Cantata

Special Event – A Christmas Cantata
 
The importance of the Christian holy days inspired many composers, to write cantatas for the occasion. Some were designed to be performed in church services, others for concerts or secular celebrations. The telling of the Christmas story, through angels, shepherds, and the cradle song invited musical treatment. The term is called Weihnachtskantate in German, Cantate de Noël in French. Christmas cantatas have been written in several other languages, such as Czech, Italian, Romanian, and Spanish.
 
Many Christmas cantatas were written in the Baroque era for church services, related to the prescribed readings of the liturgical year. Cantata texts frequently incorporated bible quotations and chorale. Chorale cantatas rely on the text of one chorale only. Later composers also used free text, poems and carols.
We are blessed to have a wonderfully talented choir director in Mrs. Judy Gillett. She does not only bring her musical gift to our church every Sunday, but diligently works every year to make our cantata better than the last. She would be the first one to tell you that she would not be able to do this without the support and faithful dedication of the CCUMC choir.
 
The Christmas cantata is our gift to the community and surrounding areas and our very special offering to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
To all our church families, those near and far, may you have the best Thanksgiving holiday as you gather together with a thankful heart.
 
God Bless You.
Pastor Frances
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Prayers for November

Prayer for the Morning:
Good morning, God.
Before this day takes hold of me and I am spread too thin to care,
I come to you to sit quietly, for you are good to those who wait for you, to the soul that seeks your peace.
Fill me with your life-giving presence;
May all that I do this day be done with calm attention, for you are my strength and peace.
Amen.

Household Prayer: Evening
Thank you for helping me to become a more generous and attentive person this day.
As I let go of all the things done and left undone this day, make me mindful that it is your strength and steadfast loving presence that keeps my faith whole and fills me with a quiet confidence.
Amen.

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From the Pastor’s Desk – November

A few days ago, I was having a conversation about how church used to be. We used to have all our doors open early morning to late evening, if we were at church. There was nothing to fear. We could get busy any day of the week, but Sunday was for church and the whole family came to church. Then one person said, “Remember when we always brought our bible to church?” We all smiled and with no answer, we went on our way.

Then I started thinking. We want and should be safe in church, but we really are not. The last church shooting took place November 2017, in Sutherland Springs, TX, population six hundred. A gunman opened fire on parishioners at a Sunday service killing twenty-six people and turning this tiny town east of San Antonio into the scene of the country’s newest mass horror. There is no safe place any more.

What seems to be a life time ago, church was a priority. Young families came regularly because they knew the value of a spiritual education and church partnership in the up-bringing of their children. The elders were the example of what a Christian life was like. Yes; ups and downs, tragedies, losses and illnesses, the local church was a member of our family, and we a member of theirs. We held on to each other and worked together to support and maintain the church for the next generation.

I would like to have a solution for this question, but sadly I don’t. As your pastor, I can tell you that these questions are always in my prayers and on my mind. There is one thing that maybe we could do something about.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if we treated our bible like we treat our cell phone? What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets? What if we flipped through it several times a day? What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it? What if we used it to receive messages from the bibles text? What if we treated it like we couldn’t live without it? What if we gave it to kids as gifts? What if we used it when we travel? What if we used it in case of emergency?

By now I am hoping you are thinking hmm…where is my bible?

Oh, and one more thing…

What if we spent as much time in it as we do Facebook?

Unlike our cell phone, we don’t have to worry about our bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.

Some things are out of our control, and some we are not all going to agree on a solution. The saddest is what will become of the church when you are not here?

I hope this makes you stop and think I might not be able to make the big changes, but I will start by carrying my bible today.

Remember when Jesus died on the cross, he was thinking of you!

Peace,
Pastor Frances

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From Pastor’s Desk – October

My Dear Church Family,

I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now.   Philippians 1:3-5

There are just no words to express how incredibly honored I have felt over the last few months to know each one of you.

Each precious hug and conversation will be treasured in my heart always. I already miss every person from our summer church family.

The rest of us continue our faith walk among the clouds, our prayers to God of thanksgiving for his faithfulness and grace, continuing to grow as we gather together every Sunday to worship.

Fall has arrived, and the mountains are full of colors, and we are planning and working on new things for the new year.

As we go forth in faith, we are working to answer the question, “What is God calling Cloudcroft United Methodist Church to be in the Cloudcroft Community?”

Please keep our church in your prayers as we discern Gods’ perfect plan for us.

In order to keep in touch and up-to-date with the happenings of our church, we will be sharing with you a monthly newsletter. My prayer is that it will be informative, inspiring, and keep us connected as we move through the seasons.

I’m looking forward to doing ministry together,

Your Pastor Frances

PS. Please don’t hesitate to reach out, I would love to hear from you.  Click here to contact me.

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Live Streaming!

We are now video broadcasting via Facebook Live for Sunday Worship Services and other special events!

Christ commands us to “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15). Live streaming allows us to fulfill the great commission and reach people we’ve never reached before. During the month of September, we reached over 400 people via streaming.

Today most people start their search for a church on Google instead of walking through the church doors. Broadcasting our services online shows seekers a glimpse of the community they can join.   It also allows our members who are home sick, their caregivers, vacationers, or those gone for the winter, to stay connected and be a part of what’s happening despite their distance.

Showcasing our sermons and services online makes new families more comfortable with who we are, what we’re about, and what they should expect from our ministry. We record each service so they are now available online (24×7) at cloudcroftumc.org & facebook.cloudcroftumc.org.

We need help to provide this ministry weekly, To help with this important ministry, please contact us https://cloudcroftumc.org/contact/

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United Methodist Men

United Methodist Men is a ministry of our church whose mission is:
– To meet the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of our church and community.
– To disciple others, to teach others and to offer Christian fellowship.
– To increase our lines of communications, especially to the youth, elderly and community through our group.
– To offer
Christian fellowship to the community.

United Methodist Men is open to men in our church and community who love to serve God and spread his love.  We meet every third Saturday at 8:00 am.  We hold several activities through the year to support the needs of our community.

We have a joint fundraiser with Women in Ministry every year and we also help support the Thanksgiving baskets, Christmas food, and toys for the children.

The United Methodist Men also support the Sacramento Camp building fund and help the Trustees with maintenance and upkeep of the church and parsonage.

The United Methodist Men are always looking for opportunities to do God’s work for the church and community.

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Prayers for October

Household Prayer: Morning

Help us, God, as we rise this day, to seek out your will as we enjoy the good and suffer through the bad.

Prove us, O God, and try us so that we can learn the steps we need to take to follow your ways.

Amen.

Household Prayer: Evening

When I felt like a dejected child, rejected and lost, your comfort surrounded me, and I felt as if I was home.

Thank you for your embracing heart, for making me feel special and loved, for helping me up, and for saying that you are my brother, my Savior, my friend.

Thank you, Jesus.

Amen.

 

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