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.
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
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. Â Â 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.
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/
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.
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.
Congratulations to all our awesome couples who have celebrated their 50th Plus Wedding Anniversaries! What a wonderful accomplishment!