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Review 12-9.Indd THE MISSOURI CONFERENCE REVIEW an edition of the United Methodist Reporter Leading congregations to lead people to actively follow Jesus Christ See-worthy New Chapel Dinner? l Congregation per- 024000 Volume 158 The ark at Shelbina UMCOM encourages Number 32 l December 9, 2011 UMC is quite a sight severes through to conversation before to behold. 4A completion. 6A MLK Day. 6A Two Sections, Section A After-school ministry growth surpasses expectations Rev. Marty Blakey had a prob- lem this fall with the 72-passenger bus that he uses for Ava UMC’s after-school children’s program. “It wasn’t big enough,” he said. “I had to make two trips.” Frogs Club, the church’s after- school program from children from pre-school to fourth grade, had reached 96 children, and was averaging 87. That’s approximately one-fourth of the children that age in the school district. Frogs Club meets every The Frogs Club sings at a local nursing home. Wednesday after school. It is set up like a Vacation Bible School, Blakey’s been at Ava for five They’ve all been successful, but with a story time, crafts, praise years, but he been doing Frog’s have never grown this big before. and worship. Frogs is an acronym Club much longer. When he started out implement- that stands for forgive, respect, “I’ve done one of these every ing the program at Moorehouse Science helps children obey, give thanks and serve. place I’ve been pastor,” he said. See Frogs, pg. 4A relate to scripture When Heno Head started based talks for children a regular serving as a supply pastor at part of worship. Carterville, Oronogo and Union “I noticed that they really held Chapel United Methodist the interest and attention of the Churches in the Southwest adults as well,” he said. District, there was something After several years of prepar- about the usual children’s time ing these talks, Head had been routine that didn’t work for him. through a lot of work, had devel- “It occurred to me that this oped a lot material, and was inter- was ‘children’s time,’ and it didn’t ested in sharing. So he sent his have to be ‘children’s sermon.’ A manuscripts to several publishers. sermon is not something a child “My replies ranged from no wants right on top of another ser- reply at all, to thanks but no mon,” he said. thanks,” Head said. He then turned to his other Persistence paid off, though. knowledge base – science. Head’s When he was down to the last profession was teaching middle- publisher that he was going to try, school science. So rather than he got a yes, and they wanted to talking through a children’s ser- publish not just one book of his mon, he gave object-based sci- science talks, but two. ence talks, and tied them back to After four of the small books, scripture. Head published a larger book, 4,000 show up for Trunk or Treat “It was the first time I had ever with 104 science talks in it, or Trunk or Treat activities have 4,000 people show up, espe- couple of hundred people,” said done a science demonstration two-years worth of Sundays. This around Halloween are becoming cially if you’re in a town of fewer Rev. Charlene Dart. outside of class,” he said. past summer he came out with fairly common place at United than 9,000 residents. That’s what What she got was about 2,000. That was about 20 years ago. another book called “Super Fun Methodist Churches. People deco- happened this year at First UMC The volunteers had to scramble Head went on to serve as supply Science,” in which he focuses on rate their cars in the church park- in Monett. They we’re ready for to manage the crowds. They must pastor in about a dozen different doing science experiments with ing lot, and provide a safe place it, though. It was the second year have done a pretty good job, United Methodist Churches in the ordinary household items. In this for kids in costume to go trick-or- in a row that the event had drawn because the next year those 2,000 area, and he made the science- See Science, pg. 4A treating. What isn’t common is to that kind of crowd. people came back. That time the The church did its first Trunk church volunteers were ready. The United Methodist Reporter (USPS 954-500) is published weekly by UMR Communications, 1221 Profi t, Dallas, TX 75247-3919. Periodicals or Treat four years ago. Postage Paid at Dallas. Postmaster: Send address changes to The United Methodist Reporter, PO Box 660275, Dallas, TX 75266-0275. “We were expecting maybe a See Thousands, pg. 6A 2A Opinions and Insights December 9, 2011 A season of hope Will we sing with Mary? By Shane Stanford Of the 16 people who lived in It is easy to say we have hope Oh, how my soul praises the the three houses on Mary's cul-de- when our world is bathed in carols Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God sac, 11 of them were injured. None and lights. It seems simple to offer my Savior! died. But, they all knew those who gratitude when the world sings in Luke 1:47-48, New Living did. In the first moments after the one melody. But, when your world Translation storm, Mary stood in the center of is gone, and the lights no longer Mary faced an uncertain what had been her life and felt like shine and carols no longer sing, morning. Her world seemed a stranger. and still we talk of hope for each irreparable and unredeemable. If anyone had the right to feel new day – that is expectation. That Just yesterday, everything was very hopeless, it was Mary. is Immanuel – God with us. did Mary of Joplin. Do we? flying object. different – simple, normal, com- But, Mary is far from hopeless. Both Mary of Nazareth and Like a mosaic formed by bro- Such is the nature of life – mon. However, within a matter She is sad at times. Who Mary of Joplin knew more about ken pieces established into one praised in one place and attacked of moments, everything changed. wouldn't be? And, like so many, Immanuel than any scholar or beautiful image, our expectations in another. Nothing was certain. Nothing was she is stunned by the magnitude of theologian. Such expectation possess our possibilities. Sure, at Life is about perspective for the the same. While others would her new reality. transformed the world. And, it still times, the pieces are made jagged details, decisions and demons that point fingers at God to say how But, her spirit and faithfulness does. That is more than "holiday and difficult to handle – by fear, blow our way. The key is whether unfair the previous hours felt, remind us that life is more than cheer." It is holy. It is Advent. broken hearts, wicked rulers and our expectations sailing heaven- Mary wrote a song. And, it was the sum of what we survive. Advent is more than preparing by even more ruthless storms. Yet, ward are something to celebrate or magnificent. Advent is a season of incredible for what comes next; it is knowing the beauty of any mosaic is that something to fear. The day is not And, by the way, this is not the realities. In this wonderful time that, no matter what else comes, its real image is only appreciated just what you make of it; in Christ, Mary you think. of the year, we dress our sanc- Christ is already there. once the whole image is formed in it can become all you would This Mary worked in the local tuaries with garland, lights and Mary from Nazareth knew this. place. expect of it – hopeful, thankful ... shelter, feeding the hungry and beautiful decorations. We prepare Mary from Joplin knows it, too. Mary of Nazareth saw it. Mary magnificent. Advent is the season bandaging the wounds. She is a our churches for the coming of Do we? of Joplin did, too. Do we? for such things. Mary of Nazareth mom, who just days ago ran the Christmas. But, are we equally There are 106 occasions in In 1792, a small team of scien- sang about it. Mary of Joplin did, neighborhood carpool and tutored prepared for the coming of the Scripture where God encourages tists unveiled the world's first hot too. Do we? at her church's afterschool pro- Messiah? us to "be not afraid." Eleven of air balloon. They launched it from The Rev. Shane Stanford is gram. She had no idea that, on a There is a difference. them happen with the announce- a small village, where the inhabit- senior pastor of Christ United rather ordinary day, her life would Christmas arrives with spec- ment of the birth of the Messiah. ants cheered as humanity first Methodist Church in Memphis, change. tacular sensation. The Messiah, From Joseph to Mary to Zechariah broke the bonds of earth. Tenn. Author of nine books, he Mary lives in Joplin, Mo. though, arrives quietly in a broken to the shepherds, sometimes "good Several miles away, in another hosts a weekly radio program and Miraculously, her home was not world, looking through the rubble news" unnerves us. Even good small village, others looked to the travels across the nation sharing damaged by the EF-5 tornado that and the storms.
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