Month: March 2016

A Time Set Apart to Pray

by laurelhillumcMissions / Upcoming Event

2016gclogopraySunday, April 10th is a day set apart to pray for the United Methodist General Conference 2016 gathering in Portland, Oregon. It is a pivotal time for our church in its struggle for orthodoxy and vitality and you are asked to intercede for divine favor and direction for the whole of the conference which is scheduled for May 10th through 20th, 2016.

We are asking you to join a prayer vigil in the sanctuary that will begin immediately following the 11:00 AM  worship service at high noon and run through midnight. We will have a sign up sheet divided into 15 minute intervals available Sunday, April 3rd or you can call the office or Norman and let us know the time(s) for which you will be responsible.

Prayer guides will be provided to assist you in this focused time of intercession. Come and let the zeal of the Lord of hosts bring forth a fervent and effective time of prayer through you for our General Conference.

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Is This a Holy Week for You?

by laurelhillumcUpcoming Event

holy weekToday is Maundy Thursday, a day historically to remember the night when Jesus gathered in an upper room with his disciples, washed his disciples’ feet, shared the bread and the wine, and then went out to the garden to make a final surrender in prayer. This is the night when Jesus was betrayed, denied, and taken by the authorities to a mock trial that rushes the whole generation towards judgment.

This was supposed to be a holy week for all of Israel. Daniel had prophesied as to the time when Messiah would come. This was the time of God’s visitation. The loud hosannas had been shouted on the street at the beginning of the week as the people “made a highway for their King”.  But, now it seemed that evil and wickedness had stepped in to steal, kill, and destroy the hope that many held in their hearts.

What continued to make this a holy week was the willingness for the Messiah to suffer for us. What made this a holy week was Jesus. As John the Baptist had proclaimed, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” So, it was that “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.  By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished.” (Isaiah 53: 7 – 8)

Yes, this is a holy week for God says, through the prophet Isaiah, that the Lord will suffer all these things to make a people who are holy unto Him. Is this a holy week for you? As my friend Dr. Jim Lavender asks, “Is the life you’re living worth Jesus dying for?”

We give thanks together for the Lord’s sacrifice for us beginning this evening at 7:00 PM through a focused time of prayer, devotion, and Holy Communion.  Tomorrow night, we will worship in our Good Friday service at 7:00 PM and Sunday our schedule is:

Sunrise Service 6:30 AM

Breakfast, following the service

Early Service 8:45 AM

Sunday School 9:45 AM

Traditional Worship 11:00 AM

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A Good Report

by laurelhillumcMissions

The Bible tells us we can rejoice in the Lord and we certainly can at Laurel Hill United Methodist Church. So many have helped us share our love for the mission and ministries to which God has called us, especially recently through our Mission Dinner and Auction. From those who donated items, to those who prepared them for display and auction, to those who served our meal, to those who decorated our tables, to those who auctioned the items, to those who gave without getting anything in return, we are so blessed and thankful for every soul.

In that same passage that encourages us to rejoice in the Lord, it also speaks about what we need to be thinking. So, I want to help you think about what is true, lovely, and brings forth a good report: after subtracting our expenses from all the proceeds and donations we received, we raised almost $7,500 for our mission and ministries!

Again, I say thanks to all who helped and a big, shout out of praise to the Lord from whom all blessings flow.MissionDinner2016

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