A Good Work Out at the Church

I was able to make my first trip to the "Y" for a work out last night. There were probably twenty or so people doing cardio and lifting weights while I was there.

Earlier in the day, I had a spiritual work out at the church as well. It began with a staff worship exercise in the chapel. Pastor Cheryl Foulk led an inspiring service which included holy communion. When you work out in church, it's always good to stay replenished!

From that work out, I went to another room to focus on another exercise...a program staff meeting to help strengthen the ministries of the church. We talked a lot about our fall programing, new member classes, and ministry initiatives which will be coming our way in 2010.
From there, I worked out with a worship planning team and together, we planned future Sunday worship services. Another exercise group called Staff/Parish Relations gathered to see how we can best support our staff leadership to continue to lead us in making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Before I left the church work-out, I came across one more group of folks breaking a sweat and that was our global missions team. They wanted to show me what their new Lithuania/Latvia workout machine looks like which will be coming to our church this April.

It was great to see so many people getting a work out in church. These folks motivate me to stay in shape in my personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Gotta go...I have another church work out this morning.
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Labor Day Statistics & Prayer

After some research, here are the 2009 unemployment rates for the US, for Ohio, and for Fairfield County, Ohio. Together, let's say the following prayer as we observe Labor Day today.

2009 January & July Unemployment Rates

January & July

US - 5.4% & 9.7%

Ohio - 6.4% & 11.1%

Fairfield County, Ohio - 7.9% & 9.3%

Labor Day Prayer

Heavenly Father, we remember before you those who suffer want and anxiety from lack of work. Guide the people of this land so to use our public and private wealth that all may find suitable and fulfilling employment, and receive just payment for their labor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sunday Worship Preview - September 13

Sunday, September 13 - (8:15 A.M. & 11:00 A.M. Traditional & 9:45 A.M. Contemporary)

Sermon - "The Tongue is a Fire"

Features - 15th Sunday After Pentecost

Scripture - Proverbs 1:20-33 & James 3:1-12

For All of Us Dog Lovers...

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A big thank you to Pastor Terry Heck of Bellbrook United Methodist Church, Bellbrook, Ohio for sharing this God & Dog video.

Is this Guy Really 82 Years Old?

August 23 Sermon - "The United Methodist Way - A Methodical Growth Plan"

Sermon by Pastor Robert McDowell

Proper Dating of United Methodist Church Bicentennials

This is an historical marker in front of Moore's Chapel located in southern, Ohio indicating that it was on this site that the first Methodist Episcopal Church building (a log cabin) was built in Ohio and the Northwest Territory in 1800.

I took the above picture of this marker during my visit to Moore's Chapel as part of last week's annual sermon planning retreat.

There's some "splitting of hairs" with Methodist history as to the oldest Methodist church since this is referring to the first Methodist church building and not to the first Methodist congregation or class meeting. I believe that distinction belongs to Francis McCormick in Milford, Ohio.

Those of you who are Ohio Methodist history buffs can sort this all out!

This does raise a question regarding the proper dating for church bicentennials. I would say that the official beginning of a congregation is when it became an organized "society" which is a specific early Methodist term rather than when a church structure was built. The only problem is that it's often easier to date a building than to find a date for a decision to become a society.

Just think how many West Ohio United Methodist churches have or will be celebrating their bicentennials! I wonder how many of our conference churches have celebrated this milestone already.

Lancaster First UMC in Lancaster, Ohio will be celebrating a bicentennial in 2012.