Free Methodist Church Weekly Newletter

This week we are studying the final verses of the Gospel as told by John. (We will return to the 4th chapter next week as resume the life of Jesus.) In these verses we face the reality that human language is inadequate to describe the truth about God. This reality has caused many, especially those who live in the world of language and thought, to struggle with the existence of God.

I recently came across another author who returned to faith in Jesus Christ after years of being away. (You will remember we studied Anne Rice a few Sundays ago in this same way.) The writer is A.N. Wilson, who has been a self-declared atheist and has returned to faith. If you would like to read his entire article "Why I Returned to Faith, Again" go to: http://www.newstatesman.com/religion/2009/04/conversion-experience-atheism

For this Sunday, I appreciated a paragraph he wrote that describes the larger reality of who we are as human beings, noting that the problem for the atheist is not so much their struggle with God but their struggle with their own identity. Wilson writes:
"When I think about atheist friends, including my father, they seem to me like people who have no ear for music, or who have never been in love. It is not that (as they believe) they have rumbled the tremendous fraud of religion - prophets do that in every generation. Rather, these unbelievers are simply missing out on something that is not difficult to grasp. Perhaps it is too obvious to understand; obvious, as lovers feel it was obvious that they should have come together, or obvious as the final resolution of a fugue."

And then he ends the article with:

"My departure from the Faith was like a conversion on the road to Damascus. My return was slow, hesitant, doubting. So it will always be; but I know I shall never make the same mistake again. Gilbert Ryle, with donnish absurdity, called God "a category mistake". Yet the real category mistake made by atheists is not about God, but about human beings. Turn to the Table Talk of Samuel Taylor Coleridge - "Read the first chapter of Genesis without prejudice and you will be convinced at once . . . 'The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life'." And then Coleridge adds: "'And man became a living soul.' Materialism will never explain those last words."

The entire article is about a 10 minute read and is worthy of your mind and time: http://www.newstatesman.com/religion/2009/04/conversion-experience-atheism

Denny

Baptismal Service: Pentecost Sunday May 31st @ 2pm

Join us as we celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism on this special Holy Day of Pentecost. The traditional day of baptism for over one thousand years, we will be gathering to baptize youth and adults who have decided to follow Jesus with their whole lives. If you have made that choice and have not yet been baptized please contact a pastor so we can prepare you for this service:

805-965-1338
Denny - Ext. 223
Doug - Ext. 224
Colleen - Ext. 225

Pastor Denny

Opportunities to Serve

How can you become an active part of Santa Barbara Free Methodist Church's ministries? By using your spiritual gifts! If you are unsure what your spiritual gifts are, please click HERE or visit: http://elmertowns.com/spiritual_gifts_test/index.cfm?action=SPQ_instructions Then, pick up a blue form in the church lobby and check the box beside the ministry team(s) you want to be involved in.

Church Finances

In this time of financial struggle, please remember your church family:

Offerings Needed YTD: $233,393.55
Offerings Receive YTD: $219,126.48 (93.89%)
Still Needed YTD: $14,267.07

Spring Clean-Up

Saturday, May 30th @ Eastside Park(Corner of Yanonali & Soledad Streets) 9am-12pm Lunch following event

In 2003, local churches started working with Looking Good Santa Barbara to improve neighborhoods throughout Santa Barbara. To date, 1,700 volunteers from churches, including FMCSB, have participated and provided 5,100 hours of service and much needed work through events like this one. We hope you can make it this year and help us increase these incredible numbers!

Join us in partnership with other Santa Barbara Churches for this yearly clean-up. This year the clean-up will continue in Santa Barbara's Eastside neighborhood.

Join us for:
-Litter & Graffiti Clean-up
-Tree Planting
-Park & Creek Restoration
-E-Waste Collection
-Children's Reading Circle After Clean-up
-Opportunity for students to earn community service credits

There will be a table on the deck between services where you can pick up at waiver form and sign up for this event. For more information or to sign-up, contact the church office 965-1338

Vacation Bible School

When: June 22-27, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
What: Rome: Paul and the Underground Church (Go to www.group.com/vbs and click on Rome for an overview)
Who: Preschool-adult (ages 3 & up)
Where: FMC & CDCC
Contact: Nelda Nutter (mcshead@mcssb.org or leave a message at 964-2612)
We Need:1) Prayer support 2) A legion of adult & youth volunteers (shopkeepers, actors, game leaders, music leaders, teachers, set-up & take-down workers, crafters, snack preparers, scenic background painters...& more) 3) Donations (see below)

Ready to travel back in time? Join us in Rome!
We'll explore the caves of the Underground Church, meet the Apostle Paul, create cool Bible-times projects, experience thrilling dramas, play high-energy games, sample tasty snacks, hear unforgettable music and meet new friends. The days of the early Christian Church will come to life as we sneak away from Roman guards, play games like first century Roman kids did, work in the shops at the marketplace, and visit with Paul during his house arrest.

Items you can save/purchase/make/lend/donate now-June 15:
carpet rolls/cylinders (to make into Roman columns)
refrigerator/large furniture boxes (for scenery cut-outs)
paper grocery bags
newspapers
toilet tissue rolls
paper towel rolls
pizza cardboard/rounds
aluminum vegetable/fruit/soup cans (clean & w/o labels)
"Simply Orange"-style plastic juice containers
frozen juice can lids
broken tiles or mosaic tiles
wide aluminum foil
foam pool "noodles"
beeswax sheets
candle wicking
elastic headbands
green silk leaves (for laurel wreaths)
silk floral garlands (or flowers we can make into garlands)
black spray paint
faux stone paper

brown vinyl
jute or heavy brown twine
wooden fence slats or shipping pallet slats (to make shop signs)
d�cor (Roman urns/vases/pedestals/fountains/statues, baskets, sheer fabric & draping, silk trees & potted plants)

ABF - Adult Bible Fellowship

"Life Lessons: Continuing to Learn Through Loss and Grace"

Presented by Russell Smelley
9:30 am
May 3, 10, 17, and 31 (not 5/24)

SHIFCO Recreation Room
418 Santa Fe Place: across Cliff Dr. from the church

May 3     "Life and Loss-How do we grieve?"
May 10   "Life and Community-How do we help one another?"
May 17   "Life and Hope-How do we have peace in spite of life's
                 struggles?"
May 31   "Life and Heroes-What do we learn from those who have
                  survived loss?"

During these weeks we will discuss and reflect upon the life-lessons learned and the questions that arise from an experience of loss. How do we face the pain and disappointment in our lives with a contentment that reflects our Christian hope? This series is intended to bring a sense of hope and encouragement to those who have endured emotional, physical or spiritual loss. We will discuss biblical truths while seeking an honest approach to following God during times of loss and confusion.

Since 1979 Russell Smelley has taught Kinesiology at Westmont College while also coaching the track and cross-country teams. He and wife, Allison, have faced great personal losses including the death of their daughter, Alyssa, and the destruction of their home during the Tea Fire. They have been members of the FMC for over 27 years.

The presentation on May 24 by Warren Simandle will be an introduction to his series on "The Seven Feasts of the Messiah," continued during the month of June.

Memory Verse

John 3:16 & 17
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

John 1:1-18
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

6There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,[d] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " 16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only,who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

About Free Methodist Church
Our Mission is to win people to Christ, establish them in the faith, and equip them for ministry.

Free Methodist Church
1435 Cliff Drive
Santa Barbara, California 93109
805-965-1338
www.fmcsb.org