Ask the UMC: Has The always had an official symbol like the cross and flame?

The official insignia of The United Methodist Church has been the Cross and Flame since its founding in 1968, Prior to that, the Evangelical United Brethren Church, one of our predecessors, adopted an

insignia with the church name encircling clasped hands in front of a Latin cross. The symbols and seals

for other predecessor denominations were generally varied in form and use.

In 1966, a commission on church union, representing The Methodist Church and The Evangelical

United Brethren, was authorized to develop an official insignia. Edward J. Mikula (art director) and Edwin H. Maynard (editorial director) were appointed to develop the design. Volume VI – Issue XI November 2018

Artist Edward J. Mikula poses with the Cross and Flame emblem he had designed in 1968. This photo is from the book Keeping Up With The Revolution by Edwin Maynard. covenant life with God, and sanctifying Archived Photo, United Methodist Communications. Volume V – Issue 4 grace is the grace by which we grow in our #5 “ and April 2017 2017 Christ-likeness. However, it’s important to Early on they established principles for the design: that it Grace” should be simple, bold, instantly recognizable, obviously note here that Wesley taught that we can Christian and uniquely Wesleyan. They determined that it Rev. David Madden “backslide.” We could be justified and on our

should have official colors, but also be capable of way toward when we and reproduction in black and white. Grace was a hallmark of the early Methodist continually do things that move us farther One of their designs, the one officially adopted, was the Cross and Flame. Following more than two movement, and one of the distinguishing away from God. We are in effect moving dozen conceptualizations, a traditional symbol of the cross was linked with a single flame with dual features of Wesley’s teaching about grace is ourselves away from God. This is tongues of fire. The resulting insignia is rich in meaning. It relates The United Methodist Church to God that it can be divided into three distinct backsliding. Or, some people may even through Christ (cross) and the Holy Spirit (flame). The flame is a reminder of Pentecost when witnesses parts; prevenient grace, justifying grace, and renounce their faith and find themselves were unified by the power of the Holy Spirit and saw “tongues, as of fire” (Acts 2:3). sanctifying grace. standing once again on the front porch; no Bryn & Dan The elements of the emblem also recall a transforming moment in the life of ’s founder, I heard an example once that I think makes Barbara J. Karen & Grace John Wesley, when he sensed God’s presence and felt his heart “strangely warmed.” The two tongues longer in a covenant relationship with God. Wesley’s teachings on grace easy to can also represent the two bodies that united in 1968 to form The United Methodist Church. So, if we make the decision to never enter understand. If you think of grace like a house, The 1968 Uniting Conference adopted this design as the official insignia of the new denomination, and that door, or we backslide to such a degree prevenient grace is the porch on the outside. so it has been to this day. that we find ourselves back on the front Here’s the thing about prevenient grace.

Everybody is already on the front porch. porch, what we are missing out on is the Excerpted from “The Cross and Flame: A Personal Memoir” by Edwin H. Maynard abundant life possible through a covenant God’s prevenient grace is available for all Have questions? As the UMC @ umc.org or call 800-841-1235 people no matter what; this is God’s grace at relationship with God. work in our lives before we are even aware of This content was produced by Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications. First published whom God is. To continue the house analogy, 10-16-2018 justifying grace is like the door that leads from the porch to the inside of the house. Office Though all people can walk up onto a front 605 H St. – P. O. Box 804 porch, not all people will enter the house. So Rupert, ID 83350 justifying grace is the grace that changes us #1 #14 208.436.3354

[email protected] when we make a decision to commit our lives

http://www.youtube.com/userRUMC83350 at: music special and sermons Sunday Access http://rupertidumc.org to God through Christ Jesus. We make a Beginning Wednesday, November 7th @ 6:30 pm, conscious decision to walk through the front you are invited to join

Office Hours: Mon, Tues, door. Some people like to call this the “born Pastor David in taking an Wed., 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. again” experience. Finally, there is objective view, from a Food Pantry: Mon. & Wed., sanctifying grace, which is the grace Wesleyan understanding, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Good to the last drop constantly at work in our lives, helping us to of the major stories in the Bible.

ID Rupert,

Open air church - the best grow in our relationship with God. Sanctifying No lecture, no right or wrong answers,

Rev. David Madden is in the 14 No. Permit

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office on Mon. thru Thurs. UMC Rupert Search grace is like the stairway leading up to a No reading homework – just an open

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9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and by facebook.com on us Follow closer relationship with God in Christ Jesus. discussion among friends.

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83350 ID Rupert,

appointment. 436-3354 So, to review, prevenient grace is the grace No commitment – a class you can just

804 Box O. P.

[email protected] that goes before us, and is available to all drop into, or make every week. Street H 605

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United Methodist Church Methodist United people. Justifying grace is the grace that Bring your friend(s). Search Rupert UMC SPOTLIGHT moves us from our old selves into a new Pastor David will be here each week.

David & Melissa Medicare Insurance Benefits Guidance Provided by Oregon-Idaho United PLEASE JOIN IN THE FESTIVITIES Methodist Abundant Health Ministries SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1 – 4 TO 7 P.M. The Trustees met on October 7, 2018 10 If you know someone on Medicare, then  New LED light tubes are being CRAFTS – SINGING – GAMES – please introduce them to SHIBA: Senior Health installed in the existing fluorescent DECORATING THE FELLOWSHIIP HALL Insurance Benefits Assistance available in fixtures as the tubes need to be HANGING OF THE GREENS Idaho and Oregon. replaced CHILI AND ALL THE FIXINS’ Medicare participants need to complete their Carson Mason  Pastor David and Tim have bids NANETTE & JENNIFER ARE PLANNING A annual Medicare Advantage and Part D check-up that they are satisfied with for the FUN EVENING – EVEN IF YOU ARE UNABLE during the Open Enrollment Period, October 15 patio repair at the parsonage. Cost TO HELP DECORATE – COME FOR THE FUN through December 7. will be covered by a grant Overwhelmed by Medicare Advantage approved by the Foundation. There advertisements? Trained SHIBA Volunteers can should be enough to cover that An invitation to members of the Oregon- help you pick a plan that meets your health repair and the repair/replacement Idaho Annual Conference, from Bishop needs, without the sales hype. of the gate as well with what is in Elaine Stanovsky, to join in a year-long Among other services, SHIBA volunteers can the maintenance budget. study: help Medicare beneficiaries navigate the maze  Curbing and sidewalk repair are Jesus said that he came so people “could of options, costs, and benefits including: still on the list of projects to be live life to the fullest.” - John 10:10 (CEB)  Find out if you’re eligible for benefits you done this fall. Come with me on a year of Crossing Over are not receiving  Sanctuary East Wall Team will to LIFE, beginning with Advent, December  Compare medical and prescription meet Sunday, Oct. 28th after 2, 2018 insurance policies church. We plan to fill 100 Christmas Food Boxes In We Make the Road by Walking, Brian  File claims  We have bids for a Sprinkler on Dec. 14, and distribute them on Sat., McLaren introduces us afresh to the  Make appeals and complaints when system to be installed at the Dec. 15. They will be distributed on a first principles of Christian faith and bible necessary church . .cost is in the range of come first served basis. Most of the items teachings. Each week, in 3-4 pages, he Here’s how to find a SHIBA program near you. $7,500 for the system, sand point we will be filling the boxes with, have invites us to revisit biblical principles and  In IDAHO call 1-800-247-4422 and pump . . work to be done next either already been donated, or we have our lives of faith. We’ll create a blog to go  In OREGON call 1-800-722-4134 spring with a grant, which has been able to get through the Idaho Food alongside the study, with reflections and

Bank Shopping List. Here is a short list of been approved, by the Foundation. prayers by leaders of our Conferences, and  The Trustees have decided to items we have yet to get. a place for comments and conversation. I want to thank the many remove and replace the arborvitae  Box Dressing Mix, Canned Olives, The CrossOver Year begins December 2,

in the front lawn because they are Canned Sweet Potatoes, Canned 2018 and ends November 24, 2019. people who helped make our Cranberries VBS a success. Jennifer Hieb starting to die and seem to be You may order the book through decorated, led the music, and harboring a vast quantity of Anything you can do to help would be much Cokesbury, or Amazon. undesirable insects. Jim Rodgers is appreciated. doing research on replacement

possibilities. Our long time

Jack & Mary Zarybnisky member and

do an outstanding job friend, Clara

doing what they can for Shelton THANKSGIVING DINNER at risk children and celebrated her November 21, 2018 th adults. They have 99 birthday on st 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. placed a box in our October 21 . (or until we run out of food) foyer that we may No, there are not participate in collecting 99 candles on Golden Heritage Senior Center underwear for orphanednew children, socks abused and the cake, but 2421 Overland Ave. Burley, ID 83318 Free Will Giving adults and abused underwea children. ItR is not a big she blew out all FOR 208-878-8646 Give what you can box. Let’s fill it. Jack & Mary will distribute that were there. BRYAN BRUNS, JOHN PAULSON afford

where needed. The amazing Clara & her CLIFF HIEB & NICK HALLETT son-in-law, Mike.