MEETING THE ENEMY

   Lorraine Murray, a writer with the AJC, wrote recently about being interrupted in worship by a cellphone. You've heard them at inopportune times and I have too. We've heard them in worship, restaurants, funerals, weddings, concerts, and any number of inappropriate settings. Murray, who writes a "Grace Notes" column dealing with faith issues, was in a small church in Florida during Christmas Eve worship. The priest's homily was interrupted by "some idiot's cellphone." The congregation laughed, she said, but "...the red-faced idiot who had neglected to turn off her phone was so chagrined she wanted to crawl away and disappear." And then the next line: "Did I mention that the idiot was me?"

    Now stay with me here. There's a lot that I can say about cell phone courtesy. I don't like the public interruptions or the loud private conversations (and it appears that most airlines, even though the technology exists, will not allow them on planes because of discourteous users and the short fuses of many travelers), and I'll talk about those things, but on another day. Today my thoughts are on Ms. Murray's realization that she, too, is a perpetrator of the abuse which so annoys her.

    We often are. I turned my phone to "vibrate" during Chairman Tim Lee's "State of the County"address this week, but toward the end of his message my phone pinged with a text message. Somehow in my squirming around, I had inadvertently flipped back to "sound." Thank you for not calling me just as he was talking about the county's tax digest. Years ago in Fayette County, I lived near a four-way stop in front of our church. People often did not stop and I thought they were endangering the children and other members of the church, so I called the county police to report the problem. Twice. Surely enough, early one morning as I eased through the stop, a patrolman pulled me over, gave me a ticket, and told me, "We've been getting some complaints about people not stopping here." Yes, sir, I know. I am the one complaining, but about all those other people!

    Ms. Murray's thoughts, as they often are for me, are an opportunity once again to examine ourselves. I like to have phone calls returned and I will try to return them more promptly. I like to have emails answered and I will try to answer them more promptly. I like generous people and I will try to be more generous. I appreciate "thank you" notes and sympathy notes, and I will try to send more of them. And Jesus probably thought about this when he instructed the disciples to pray, "forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors."

    What did Walt Kelly's Pogo say years ago? "We have met the enemy, and he is us." He often is.

    We talk about forgiving others and forgiving ourselves every week here, and you're invited. I'll see you this Sunday.

News

Save the Date: The United Methodist Women will host its Mission Extravaganza on Thursday, Feb. 27 in the Family Life Hall. Rev. Jasmine Smothers, Associate Director of Connectional Ministries for the North Georgia Conference, will be the speaker. (Beverly McCrary, ext. 7835)

Weekday Ministry Preschool and Kindergarten is hosting tours on Wednesday, January 22 from 5-7 p.m., Monday through Wednesday, January 27-29 at 9:15 a.m. and Thursday, January 30 at 6:30 p.m. (Nancy Tatnall, ext. 7842)   

The Drama Ministry Team announces auditions for "Swing Out Saturday Night," an exciting new production coming to the Family Life Hall on March 22.  Auditions for singers, actors and dancers are set for Sunday and Monday, February 9-10 at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Contact Chris DeJarnett for more information.

Art From the Heart to benefit Weekday Ministry will be held Saturday, March 1 from 6-9 p.m. at the Strand Theatre, 117 North Park Square, on the Marietta Square. Join our preschool and kindergarten at this annual fundraiser that is centered around art created by Weekday Ministry children as well as adult artists. (Nancy Tatnall, ext. 7842)  

The Thursday Ladies Bible Study resumes this Thursday, January 16 at 9:30 a.m. in Rooms 253, 254, 255, 259 and 261/262. (Rev. Elaine Wilder, ext. 7826)

The Church office will be closed Monday, January 20 in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.

Ladies Bible Study Resumes

Thursday, January 16

Senior Youth Bonfire

Sunday, January 19

Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

(Church Office Closed)

Monday, January 20

Women's Bible Study Resumes

Wednesday, January 22

Weekday Ministry Preschool
and Kindergarten Tours

Wednesday, January 22

Monday through Thursday, January 27-30

Along the Amazon River

Sunday, February 2

through Sunday, February 9 

Women's Retreat at Serenbe Inn

Friday and Saturday, February 7-8   

Drama Ministry Team Auditions

for "Swing Out Saturday Night"

Sunday and Monday, February 9-10   

UMW Missions Extravaganza

Thursday, February 27 

Art From the Heart

Saturday, March 1 

News Links