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God According to the Internet
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Dear Friends,
I googled "the popular perception of God" on the Internet and the "Yahoo Answers" bulletin board site appeared on my results list. The question thrown out to visitors that day was "What is your definition of God, how would you describe God?" Given the wild and wooly nature of the Internet, some of the answers were rather "interesting" to say the least. Here is a sampling:
"God is a loving, gracious, merciful spirt who does not have a body."
(Simple, but thoughtful.)
"God is a man-made construct which is made from the noosphere of human thought and defined by prejudicial expectations. God permeates everything and connects everything by some sort of mental beat frequency or wave. We are god."
(Woah, I think you've lost me there.)
"The 'concept' of God is defined by a lack of a definition. God is not a
concept at all because it subsumes no particulars. Unlike a real
concept, there is nothing in reality to which one can refer to and say,
'That is God.'"
(Hmm, could you please define "subsumes"?)
"To me God is Love - He loves me unconditionally....
He is the Alpha and Omega
He is the Way, Truth and Life
He is the Omnipotent, Omipresence God who has my name carved in the palm of His hand
To me, Definition of God - God the Father, God the Son, Jesus Christ and God the Holy Spirit."
(I like this one!)
In this time of Lenten reflection, how would YOU answer this question?
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WORSHIP THIS WEEK
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8:15 a.m. Casual Service in the Chapel
9:25 a.m. Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary
ANTHEM: "I Will Sing With The Spirit " -The Altar Choir WORSHIP THROUGH MUSIC: "Sweet, Sweet Spirit" -The Gospelaires THE SCRIPTURE LESSON: Revelation 4 PROCLAMATION: "A Vision of Worship"
-Dr. Ben Witherington III
Coffee and doughnuts available following the service in Fellowship Hall
10:45am Sunday School | |
CAEDMON'S CALL IS COMING TO GRACE CHURCH
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 Get Tickets for Caedmon's Call Sunday morning! Caedmon's Call, popular Christian band, is in concert at Grace United Methodist Church on April 18th at 7:00 pm. Caedmon's Call presently has one of the top CDs playing in the country and has sold over 14 million records to date. Tickets are $12.00 and the first 200 will be given a free copy of their latest CD (one per family please). Tickets may be purchased on Sunday mornings. Look for Phyllis Grant at the Welcome Center just outside of the Sanctuary. Don't miss out on this wonderful event!
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BEN WITHERINGTON DAY Sunday February 24
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9:25a.m. Dr. Ben Witherington III will be our guest preacher
2:00 P.M. Dr. Witherington will deliver a guest lecture.
Dr. Witherington is a professor of New Testament Interpretation at Asbury Theological Seminary, and is a featured religious correspondent for ABC News religious specials.
BenWitherington.com
Asbury Theological Seminary
Do you know someone who would appreciate an invitation to hear Dr. Witherington's intelligent and faithful response to some of today's troubling theological questions? Why not invite them to come with you to BEN WITHERINGTON DAY!.
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| CONCERNED ABOUT YOUTH AND INTERNET HAZARDS? |
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WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT?
Our youth's culture is rapidly changing! FYI TJ Knowland, our Youth Director, will be holding Sunday evening sessions on "Youth Culture" to help people learn more about issues that are huge in today's world.
TJ plans to hold "Youth Culture" programs each 4th Sunday from 6:30-8pm. The next session will be February 24.
This program is open to anyone.
Know anyone who is curious or concerned about this new technology world facing our youth? Why not give them an invitation right now! |
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OUR BISHOP USES E-MAIL!
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 Our Bishop writes an e-pistle. One of our Grace members found this week's e-pistle very meaningful and suggested we share it in EGTW. This week he tells about going to the IU-Purdue Basketball game.
"Last night I attended the IU/Purdue basketball game at Assembly Hall in Bloomington, thanks to the generosity of Rev. George Purnell and some members at Bloomington 1st Church. Our seats were great - right behind the scorer's bench. As a grad of Purdue it was hard to watch the Boilers lose, but it was fun to be at such an exciting game. It was actually not a well-played game by either team. IU had 24 turnovers, and Purdue missed 10 free throws which helped account for their 9-point loss. But there is always a lot of energy in these Big 10 games, and I am glad to see Purdue and IU back on top of their conference and ranked among the top teams in the nation."
"All of this got to me to thinking about how basketball games reflect some of our Christian faith journey, so here is my effort at "A Basketball Guide to Faith" To read his entire e-pistle, click here
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PASTOR CHRIS TO SPEAK TO UMM
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Check out Pastor Chris' blog: To Be Changed. Women are always welcome to attend Grace United Methodist Men meetings. Reservations are needed only for the 6:00 p.m. Catered meal.
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GRACE NIGHT OUT
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Sundays at 6:30 P.M. Topics "mirror" the sermon from the previous week, covering sections of the Apostles Creed.
Feb. 24: Grace Night Out does not meet.
Mar. 2: Pastor Steve speaks on "I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints.
Mar. 9: Pastor Steve covers the "forgiveness of sins."
Mar. 16: Grace Night Out climaxes with a look at the Resurection of the Body and the life everlasting.
May the knowledge of your roots stoke the coals of your soul, igniting your passion, opening your hearts, centering your being on Him... so you may fulfill His will... so you may take the Word to the world. |
ADDED GRACE MARCH MEETING
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 Added Grace's March meeting will be held in Fellowship Hall on March 4, 2008. John and Mary Lou Snead will be our hosts and our speakers will be Diana McGuire and Lise Thieke. Their topic will be "How to Maintain a Healthy Memory, Memory Loss - When to Worry." The lunch will be catered and there will be no cost for the meal. We will, however, need a very accurate count so we must have reservations. Reservations can be made with Peggy Hobbs before church on February 24th or March 4th, or by telephone at 452-4394.
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SWEET ROLLS FOR PALM SUNDAY
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Lois Hunkler will be making sweet rolls on Saturday, March 15th. They will be sold the following day after the Palm Sunday service. If you would like to help, please contact Lois. Donations of ingredients such as flour, sugar and butter are also needed. For more information, please call Lois at 865-9163.
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AFTER HOURS CHURH ENTRY CODE
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If you have a need to come into the church on a regular basis for meetings or special events after the office is closed, please come to the church office and receive the code number that will enable you to open the church building's internal doors.
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MARTIN METHODIST COLLEGE CONCERT CHOIR
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 The Martin Methdost College Concert Choir will sing at St. Lukes UMC on
Wednesday March 5th at 7:00pm. The choir makes a significant
contribution to the college community and to the middle Tennessee and
northern Alabama area. The choir appears in concerts presented in
cities throughout the area as well as having a major Christmas concert
and a spring concert in Pulaski. Please plan on attending and hearing
this amazing Choir.
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ALTAR CHOIR CANTATA
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The Altar Choir will sing "EMMANUEL HAS COME: PART II" on Palm Sunday, March 16, 2008 during the 9:26 service. The Program will be narrated by Steve Beutler. Solos will be sung by Dan Stout, Ron Harper, Gloria Everett, Liz Harper and Linda White.
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| LENTEN BREAKFAST SERIES "WALKING IN SERVICE FOR CHRIST" |
Saturday Feb 23 -8:00 a.m. at Shiloh UMC.
Guest speaker will be Rev. Mike Dominick, St. Luke's UMC.
Phone Reservations to Shiloh UMC at 457-3140 by 4:00 p.m. the Thursday prior.
Saturday March 1 -8:00 a.m. at St. Luke's UMC
Guest speaker will be Rev. Steve Beutler, Grace UMC
Phone Reservations to St. Luke's UMC at 453-0555 by 4:00 p.m. the Thursday prior.
Saturday March 8 -8:00 a.m. at Main St. UMC
Guest speaker will be Rev. Paul Rogers, Main St. UMC
Phone Reservations to Main St.UMC at 457-8248 by 4:00 p.m. the Thursday prior.
Saturday March 15 -8:00 a.m. at Grace UMC
Guest speaker will be Rev. Bud Probasco, Shiloh UMC
Phone Reservations to Grace UMC at 457-5329 by 4:00 p.m. the Thursday prior.
A free will offering will be taken to benefit:
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OPERATION CLASSROOM
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 Operation Classroom has a special opportunity. A team is scheduled to go to Bo Centenary School in Sierra Leone from June 19 to July 11. The country of Sierra Leone is now stable and the school has some real needs for rehabilitation. For more information, please contact one of the Pastors or a memeber of the Missions Committee.
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HELP NEEDED IN THESE AREAS
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Web Site Team needs help. If you are interested in writing articles and updating to www.kokomograce.org; if you have a feel for the design of websites and the kinds of information that will be helpful in speaking to our community about Grace Church, and the ways we seek to follow Jesus, then contact one of our team: Tim Garner, Val Harris, Randy Manning, Chris Hedges or Lee Flasche.
Master Teacher Tutoring is in need of Tutors, Substitute Tutors, Story Tellers and Snack Providers. Please call Dianne Waggaman at 459-4524 and let her know that you are willing to help.
The Shopping Cart: A container for collection of the following items will be in the Mulberry St. entrance during the remodelling project. Your support of these local ministries is greatly appreciated. Open Arms: Feminine products and condiments Kokomo Urban Outreach: Boxes of Valentines, Canned Soup, Easter Baskets, Candy and Small Toys, and Peanut Butter Nesting Doves: Newborn Diapers and Grocery Cards CAM: Toothpaste, Shampoo, TP, and Deodorant. |
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Your Editors for Experience Grace This Week:
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