February 28, 6:30 p.m. at Rick's Theater
- The Faith Singers (Bluegrass Gospel Band)
- Joe Rigney (60's and 70's cover)
- Scott Gregory (Stand-up Comedian)
Put it on your calendars now!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Fundraiser for Kenneth Butler Memorial Soup Kitchen
As promised, here is the updated information regarding the upcoming Community Fundraiser for the Soup Kitchen in Greenfield!
February 28, 6:30 p.m. at Rick's Theater
Put it on your calendars now!
February 28, 6:30 p.m. at Rick's Theater
Put it on your calendars now!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Kenneth Butler SOUP KITCHEN
The Kenneth Butler Memorial Soup Kitchen, Inc. is seeking some specific help. If you are not familiar with this new group, they have come together with a mission and vision statement that I have available if you e-mail me your request. They are also in process and have applied as a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization. Their newly formed Board of Directors consists of:
Allen Corely (President), C. Ann Beard, Tom Williams and Donnie Couch
Donnie and the Board are very encouraged by the support of individuals and churches in the community so far. There is currently a need for an Architect/Engineer who would be willing to volunteer time and expertise to assess the work to be done with the ceiling & electrical. Help is already being coordinated in other areas but this need takes priority before the next steps can be taken. Please take a moment to consider if there is someone you know that would be blessed by helping with the efforts of this project. Thank you.
Though there are many interested in volunteering at the soup kitchen, individuals are still needed to fill the Board of Directors positions. For more information about the renovation or the Board, please contact:
Kenneth Butler Memorial Soup Kitchen Inc.
202 East Main Street
Greenfield, IN 46140
(317) 462-9900 business
(317) 468-5314 cell
donniecouch@att.net
Those interested in assisting with the cost of materials, may give to the Kenneth Butler Memorial Soup Kitchen Inc. at Greenfield Banking Co. or contact Floyd Agee 462-3319, ageefk@sbcglobal.net for details.
Currently, one church has been coordinating and supplying lunches for the 7 volunteers daily from noon to 1pm. They would welcome the help and support of other churches. Please contact Cann Beard at 861-8247 or cannbeard@yahoo.com if you are interested.
A Fundraiser is also being planned for 2/28/09, 6:30pm at the Ricks Theater. This will be one night only; no ticket prices, a good will offering will be accepted. More details to follow.
Allen Corely (President), C. Ann Beard, Tom Williams and Donnie Couch
Donnie and the Board are very encouraged by the support of individuals and churches in the community so far. There is currently a need for an Architect/Engineer who would be willing to volunteer time and expertise to assess the work to be done with the ceiling & electrical. Help is already being coordinated in other areas but this need takes priority before the next steps can be taken. Please take a moment to consider if there is someone you know that would be blessed by helping with the efforts of this project. Thank you.
Though there are many interested in volunteering at the soup kitchen, individuals are still needed to fill the Board of Directors positions. For more information about the renovation or the Board, please contact:
Kenneth Butler Memorial Soup Kitchen Inc.
202 East Main Street
Greenfield, IN 46140
(317) 462-9900 business
(317) 468-5314 cell
donniecouch@att.net
Those interested in assisting with the cost of materials, may give to the Kenneth Butler Memorial Soup Kitchen Inc. at Greenfield Banking Co. or contact Floyd Agee 462-3319, ageefk@sbcglobal.net for details.
Currently, one church has been coordinating and supplying lunches for the 7 volunteers daily from noon to 1pm. They would welcome the help and support of other churches. Please contact Cann Beard at 861-8247 or cannbeard@yahoo.com if you are interested.
A Fundraiser is also being planned for 2/28/09, 6:30pm at the Ricks Theater. This will be one night only; no ticket prices, a good will offering will be accepted. More details to follow.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Obama: 45th President...er, 44th President
Again, in Confirmation...a side discussion ensued. The end result, is this post:
David Rice Atchison was born in 1807 and died in 1886. In 1843, Atchison was elected to the Senate, where he would remain until 1854. During this time, Atchison held the distinct honor of being named President Pro Tempore of the Senate – meaning that, apart from the Vice President of the United States (who is the tie-breaking vote on any close issue), he was the most powerful man in the senate.
Perhaps the most important part of the life of Atchison has become merely an amusing footnote in American History.
This is the fact that David Rice Atchison, despite the fact that his name has become almost unrecognizable, was, technically speaking, the acting President of the United States for a single day. The laws of Presidential Succession at that point in history named President Pro Tempore to be the third in the line to the Presidency (after, of course, the President and the Vice President; though this fact changed with the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, which placed the Speaker of the House of Representatives ahead of the President Pro Tempore).
On that fateful day, Sunday, March 4th, 1849, James K. Polk's presidential Term officially expired, making him merely a private citizen for the first time in four years. His successor, Zachary Taylor of Virginia, refused to be sworn in on that day, on account of it being the Sabbath (he was one of 4 Presidents to have their Inauguration fall on a Sunday, as Jan. 20, 2013 will), and so, for the remainder of that day, there was neither a President of the United States, nor Vice President (for Millard Filmore, the new Vice President elect, had also not yet been sworn in). The duties, therefore, technically fell to the next in the line of succession.
That's right. David Rice Atchison.
The real twelfth president of the United States.
BUT, was he really President? Atchison’s presidency his has always been a disputed fact. And in reality, the fact is that it really wasn't considered to be very remarkable at the time, nor is it now. No big fuss was made, and Atchison performed no official duties (and he wasn’t exactly officially sworn in by the statutes set forth in the Constitution), besides remarking later that his had been by far the most honest Presidential Administration up until this point – a fact which few could deny (especially given the fact that all historians agree Atchison and his friends were drunk the entire 24-hour period).
And if we follow through with this little piece of trivia, assuming Atchison to truly have been president for a day, this would also make him the youngest president this nation has ever seen, beating out John F. Kennedy by more than a year.
AND, let's say for example Atchison was a "technical" president. Obama would still be #44 in terms of actual people BECAUSE, remember, Grover Cleveland was our 22nd and 24th President and because he wasn't elected to consecutive terms, he gets counted twice...
So, there you have a nugget of Presidential history that would make my high school history teacher proud!
The Methodist Family Tree
I have posted a print-out of the family tree. It can be found here.
The Methodist Movement began in England under John Wesley. It was officially birthed in America in 1784 under the name The Methodist Episcopal (M.E.) Church. In 1816 and 1820, two African-American congregations (African Methodist Episcopal and African Methodist Episcopal Zion) split off from The M.E. Today, they remain "separated" in what is referred to as Pan-Methodist churches. These denominations were formed over disputes that arose from issues related to race within particular churches.
In 1830, The Methodist Protestant (M.P.) Church split from The M.E. out of a debate over the power of bishops to make decisions, and the lack of power for lay people.
In 1844, The M.E. further split into The Methodist Episcopal Church and The Methodist Episcopal Church, South. This was a split over the issues concerning slavery and was sparked at the General Conference when concern was brought forth because of a slave-owning Bishop. in 1870, the M.E. South held a meeting to help its own black members establish a separate denomination. It was called the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church (C.M.E.) later to be renamed The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (C.M.E.) that it remains today. The C.M.E. joins the A.M.E. and A.M.E.Z. in the Pan-Methodist church category.
In 1939, The Methodist Protestant Church, The Methodist Episcopal Church and The Methodist Episcopal Church South all reunited (remember, these were all "united" up until 1830) to form The Methodist Church.
NOW, let's back up with another denomination in our country's history. In 1800, the German-speaking followers of Philip William Otterbein and Martin Boehm organized as the United Brethren in Christ. In many ways, the United Brethren shared a heritage and a kinship with John Wesley and his Methodist Movement. In 1803, Jacob Albright (with a background in a Methodist Class Meeting) formed the Evangelical Association, also in kinship with the Methodist Movement, and also formed to minister to German-speaking Americans. In 1946, these two denominations merged to form the Evangelical United Brethren (E.U.B.) Church.
FINALLY, in 1968, The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church merged to form the modern-day denomination, The United Methodist Church.
In a non-family tree representation, but a chronological timeline of important dates (there is more than just these):
1784 - Methodist Episcopal Church Formation (Christmas Conference)
1800 - United Brethren Church Formation
1803 - Evangelical Association Formation
1816 - African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church Split
1820 - African Methodist Episcopal Zion (A.M.E.Z.) Church Split
1830 - Methodist Protestant Church Split
1844 - Methodist Episcopal Church, South Split
1870 - Christian (formerly "Colored") Methodist Episcopal Church Split
1939 - The Methodist Church Reuniting
1946 - Evangelical United Brethren Church Merge
1968 - The United Methodist Church Merge
For much more on The United Methodist Church, I highly recommend visiting our many resources on the web.
The Methodist Movement began in England under John Wesley. It was officially birthed in America in 1784 under the name The Methodist Episcopal (M.E.) Church. In 1816 and 1820, two African-American congregations (African Methodist Episcopal and African Methodist Episcopal Zion) split off from The M.E. Today, they remain "separated" in what is referred to as Pan-Methodist churches. These denominations were formed over disputes that arose from issues related to race within particular churches.
In 1830, The Methodist Protestant (M.P.) Church split from The M.E. out of a debate over the power of bishops to make decisions, and the lack of power for lay people.
In 1844, The M.E. further split into The Methodist Episcopal Church and The Methodist Episcopal Church, South. This was a split over the issues concerning slavery and was sparked at the General Conference when concern was brought forth because of a slave-owning Bishop. in 1870, the M.E. South held a meeting to help its own black members establish a separate denomination. It was called the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church (C.M.E.) later to be renamed The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (C.M.E.) that it remains today. The C.M.E. joins the A.M.E. and A.M.E.Z. in the Pan-Methodist church category.
In 1939, The Methodist Protestant Church, The Methodist Episcopal Church and The Methodist Episcopal Church South all reunited (remember, these were all "united" up until 1830) to form The Methodist Church.
NOW, let's back up with another denomination in our country's history. In 1800, the German-speaking followers of Philip William Otterbein and Martin Boehm organized as the United Brethren in Christ. In many ways, the United Brethren shared a heritage and a kinship with John Wesley and his Methodist Movement. In 1803, Jacob Albright (with a background in a Methodist Class Meeting) formed the Evangelical Association, also in kinship with the Methodist Movement, and also formed to minister to German-speaking Americans. In 1946, these two denominations merged to form the Evangelical United Brethren (E.U.B.) Church.
FINALLY, in 1968, The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church merged to form the modern-day denomination, The United Methodist Church.
In a non-family tree representation, but a chronological timeline of important dates (there is more than just these):
1784 - Methodist Episcopal Church Formation (Christmas Conference)
1800 - United Brethren Church Formation
1803 - Evangelical Association Formation
1816 - African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church Split
1820 - African Methodist Episcopal Zion (A.M.E.Z.) Church Split
1830 - Methodist Protestant Church Split
1844 - Methodist Episcopal Church, South Split
1870 - Christian (formerly "Colored") Methodist Episcopal Church Split
1939 - The Methodist Church Reuniting
1946 - Evangelical United Brethren Church Merge
1968 - The United Methodist Church Merge
For much more on The United Methodist Church, I highly recommend visiting our many resources on the web.
My Call to Ministry
In an attempt to side-track discussion for the umpteenth time tonight in Confirmation Class, I was asked, "Are any of your brothers or sisters in the ministry?" Followed by, "Are your parents pastors?" Followed by, "Why did you become a pastor?" As much as this is a valid conversation, at this particular point in the evenings - after fielding a myriad of other questions - enough was enough. So, I promised the students I would post my "call to ministry" on the blog. So, here it is:
I was a “churched” kid growing up in the sense I was in attendance at Sunday School and Worship every Sunday (give or take), youth group and VBS – and even though I never had a say in the matter, I never terribly detested my involvement. I can vividly recall my first reception (perhaps, vision) of my call to ministry. It was at the age of 14 when I was in a regular, run-of-the-mill church service. The hymn “Pass It On” was being sung and I remember feeling – not necessarily hearing – God speak to me that I needed to be a pastor and really push people to “pass it on” (at the time, however, what I had to ‘pass on’ was NOT really worth passing on! Plus I felt my own delusions were just convoluted moreso by a song that I really liked...). I saw the image of me baptizing people! I remember exploding on the inside, “NO! NEVER!!!” and it wasn’t because I thought myself unworthy or a great sinner – which perhaps should have been my response. I thought, “There’s no money to be had being a baptizer!” (I was also very clear on the fact that women weren’t preachers or significant church leaders.)
The next years passed quickly with high school activities coming and going with varying degrees of importance. As my college years passed, God’s call was silenced. I’d finally won! But, it was here, at a university church, I was able to experience a whole new God from what I had known as a child and adolescent. My faith was able to grow by leaps and bounds – a combination of the church environment, as well as, my friendship circle and academic pursuits at DePauw. I didn’t listen to God’s call until I was a senior. Then, in my senior year a conflict developed between the Dean of the Chapel (also the Associate Pastor at the local United Methodist Church) and the Senior Pastor of the local UMC. This was the church I’d attended throughout college and I was determined to “fix” these two grown men’s issues. In the process, both of them, on separate occasion, asked me if I’d ever considered ministry. I laughed and replied, “No. I can’t because I’m a woman.” (Oh, to have grown up in such a misunderstood Pauline household!) After this, I could no longer rebel against God. The call became louder and louder. I remember one particular night when the call was so strong I could not sleep. I paced the floor and typed up various thoughts that were in my head (it’s how I journal) including, “I will not serve like that. I will not serve. Can I not be a good church member and serve that way? I will not submit to the authority of a bishop.” After that night, once I finally went back to bed, I had to explain to my roommates what I was doing up in the middle of the night like that (we weren’t your typical partying-type college kids) and in that process, I realized that I could be a pastor; that I could be ‘good at it’; and that I was ready to accept God’s call! The next several months consisted of reading, studying, writing and working through the early stages of the Candidacy Process in The United Methodist Church. In that time, I began to turn a complete one-eighty from everything I’d been taught growing up and the value system instilled in me by my family was completely put into question.
So, there is the beginning...
I was a “churched” kid growing up in the sense I was in attendance at Sunday School and Worship every Sunday (give or take), youth group and VBS – and even though I never had a say in the matter, I never terribly detested my involvement. I can vividly recall my first reception (perhaps, vision) of my call to ministry. It was at the age of 14 when I was in a regular, run-of-the-mill church service. The hymn “Pass It On” was being sung and I remember feeling – not necessarily hearing – God speak to me that I needed to be a pastor and really push people to “pass it on” (at the time, however, what I had to ‘pass on’ was NOT really worth passing on! Plus I felt my own delusions were just convoluted moreso by a song that I really liked...). I saw the image of me baptizing people! I remember exploding on the inside, “NO! NEVER!!!” and it wasn’t because I thought myself unworthy or a great sinner – which perhaps should have been my response. I thought, “There’s no money to be had being a baptizer!” (I was also very clear on the fact that women weren’t preachers or significant church leaders.)
The next years passed quickly with high school activities coming and going with varying degrees of importance. As my college years passed, God’s call was silenced. I’d finally won! But, it was here, at a university church, I was able to experience a whole new God from what I had known as a child and adolescent. My faith was able to grow by leaps and bounds – a combination of the church environment, as well as, my friendship circle and academic pursuits at DePauw. I didn’t listen to God’s call until I was a senior. Then, in my senior year a conflict developed between the Dean of the Chapel (also the Associate Pastor at the local United Methodist Church) and the Senior Pastor of the local UMC. This was the church I’d attended throughout college and I was determined to “fix” these two grown men’s issues. In the process, both of them, on separate occasion, asked me if I’d ever considered ministry. I laughed and replied, “No. I can’t because I’m a woman.” (Oh, to have grown up in such a misunderstood Pauline household!) After this, I could no longer rebel against God. The call became louder and louder. I remember one particular night when the call was so strong I could not sleep. I paced the floor and typed up various thoughts that were in my head (it’s how I journal) including, “I will not serve like that. I will not serve. Can I not be a good church member and serve that way? I will not submit to the authority of a bishop.” After that night, once I finally went back to bed, I had to explain to my roommates what I was doing up in the middle of the night like that (we weren’t your typical partying-type college kids) and in that process, I realized that I could be a pastor; that I could be ‘good at it’; and that I was ready to accept God’s call! The next several months consisted of reading, studying, writing and working through the early stages of the Candidacy Process in The United Methodist Church. In that time, I began to turn a complete one-eighty from everything I’d been taught growing up and the value system instilled in me by my family was completely put into question.
So, there is the beginning...
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Souper Bowl of Caring
The Souper Bowl of Caring is the result of thousands of young people joining together to fight hunger and poverty in their local communities. This unique, youth-led movement of caring is transforming the nation's biggest weekend of football into its largest weekend of giving. Since the program started in 1990, over $41 million has been raised for local charities across the country. Join the team at www.souperbowl.org.
On Sunday, February 1, join us at Bradley UMC at any worship service (8:30, 10, 11) to recognize, learn and pray for ways to end world hunger. Holy Communion will be celebrated as a unique time for us to remember how we are fed and in what ways God calls us, through Jesus, to act as agents of Caring in a hungry world. If you attend, you are encouraged to bring a canned good with you as youth will be standing at the entrances and exits of the Sanctuary to collect canned goods and financial support to go directly to the Hancock County Food Pantry.
On Sunday, February 1, join us at Bradley UMC at any worship service (8:30, 10, 11) to recognize, learn and pray for ways to end world hunger. Holy Communion will be celebrated as a unique time for us to remember how we are fed and in what ways God calls us, through Jesus, to act as agents of Caring in a hungry world. If you attend, you are encouraged to bring a canned good with you as youth will be standing at the entrances and exits of the Sanctuary to collect canned goods and financial support to go directly to the Hancock County Food Pantry.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Soup Kitchen Renovation Volunteers
The Kenneth Butler Memorial Soup Kitchen is currently undergoing building renovation in hopes of a July 2009 beginning in feeding the homeless and hungry in the area (numbers that are on the rise in this broken economy). If you are interested in volunteering some manual labor hours to this project, please contact: Deb Chambers at the Greenfield Christian Church by e-mail or phone (317-462-6348). The soup kitchen is located in Thomas Williams law office building at 202 E. Main St. in Greenfield. It you do any work, please snap some pictures and send them to me (via MMS or e-mail).
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Upcoming Events
First of all, I'm open to receiving help on CSS website design! I'm about as clueless as possible. If you can point me to some resources, I'm open! I am TRYING to use Expression Web (Microsoft) - OH, how I miss the dummy software, "FrontPage." With that said, if you click on the link below to get the tubing forms, please don't try to go elsewhere around that currently disastrous website!! *smile!*
- Sunday, Feb. 1 (8:30, 10 and 11 a.m.) - Souper Bowl Sunday: special worship planning and assistance; Soup Pot holders at both entrances of the church to help collect canned goods and monetary donations.
- Sunday, Feb. 15 (evening) - There will be regular youth groups that evening, but there may be a need for some youth to help the Mission Team with the Valentine's Day Dinner in the form of kitchen help or Child Care.
- Saturday, Feb. 21 - Snow Tubing (forms available here*)
- Sunday, Mar. 1 - Game Night
- Saturday, Mar. 7 - Confirmation Rally with Bishop Coyner
- Sunday, Mar. 8 - Evolution Sunday (special worship planning and assistance)
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Martin Luther King, Jr. Journal for Young Children
In trying to keep up with requests and get information available, in a timely manner, I have loaded the MLK, Jr. Journal (for children) onto a website, so you can have access to the .pdf version. It seems as far as blogs and Facebook as come, you can do document attachments. SO, click above or here and you can download the booklet. Cheerio!
Now on Twitter...
Do you have a Twitter account? Look for me! MuddlingParadox is now on Twitter (MuddlingParadox) and this will be an excellent way to stay up-to-date with Bradley Information via SMS! If you have an unlimited texting plan, make sure you include your mobile phone in receiving updates. I will use this Twitter account -- not for "crazy fun" but for actual information: "Youth cancelled tonight because of weather." OR "Today is the last day to sign-up for the snow-tubing trip." OR "I'll be at Subway tonight at 6 p.m. if anyone wishes to join me for a sandwich and conversation." So, don't look for me to say things like "MuddlingParadox is tired and is going to take a nap now!" This will be for information only. MySpace has all the other "fun" and "trivial" updates. FINALLY, this Twitter account is not in the Public Timeline. Only those I approve will receive my updates, so make sure you get approved to be a Follower!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
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