REGULAR WORSHIP

The Georgia State University men's basketball team is on a good roll right now. After a rocky start, the Panthers won f Sam's Picture ourteen games in a row, are 17-7 for the season, and are in first place in their Sun Belt Conference.

Streaks like that are impressive. I played on a Little League team a short fifty-three years ago that won thirty-three games in a row over two seasons (and we were mentioned by Horace Crowe in the Marietta Daily Journal!). In grammar school, I went four years in a row at one point with perfect attendance. Except for a good number of consecutive Sundays in church and a significant number of golf rounds over par, apparently I peaked early where impressive streaks are concerned.

Streaks get a lot of attention, especially in the sports world, and they all have at least one common characteristic. They all end. The Panthers' streak ended Saturday night. Joe DiMaggio got a base hit in fifty-six consecutive games, but not fifty-seven. Greg Maddux won at least fifteen games each year for seventeen consecutive seasons, but not eighteen. The streaks end.

Knowledgeable sports people will tell you that they had rather have a player who is not a "streak" hitter or "streak" player, but a consistent, regular performer. Streaks get the attention and the headlines, but streaks end and the athlete can grow cold. Steady progress wins
championships.

I know that some of us attend church in streaks. We attend at the start of a new year or in moments of crisis, and that's okay. I'll never criticize someone's attendance at church, for whatever reason. But I also encourage you to be more steady in attendance. Steady worshipers here hear a variety of music from a variety of composers played on a variety of instruments (including Bryan Black's hand saw). You'll hear sermons on a variety of subjects and hopefully spend some time ruminating on them. You'll meet a cross-section of people who make up our community. Your soul will be fed from a variety of sources.

But more importantly, regular attendance means that worship, prayer, mission, and giving are all a part of your routine. The "things" of worship and faith become a part of you and me, and we are a step closer to being the person whom God has created us to be. The church can help you with that. Regularly.

I'll see you this Sunday.

News

Our Ash Wednesday Services will be March 5 at noon and 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Church Family Supper will be at 5:15 p.m. in the Family Life Hall.

The United Methodist Women will host the Mission Extravaganza on Thursday, February 27 at 6:30 p.m. in the Family Life Hall. Rev. Jasmine Smothers, Associate Director of Connectional Ministries for the North Georgia Conference, will be the speaker. Click here for more information. (Beverly McCrary, ext. 7835)

Dr. Oral Moses, Babbie Mason and the Georgia Spiritual Ensemble will perform Friday, February 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. No tickets required; donations accepted. Proceeds will benefit the Oral Moses Scholarship at Kennesaw State University. (Bryan Black, ext. 7815)

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)

Our semi-annual Lil' Lambs preview sale is Thursday, March 6, 6-8 p.m. in the Family Life Hall. A $5 admission fee gets you in early to this popular children's consignment sale. The regular sale-with no admission fee-is Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8, beginning at 9 a.m. on both days. (Beverly McCrary, ext. 7835)

Tutors are needed for Project Light, our English as second language and G.E.D. Training program. (Forrest Cate, ext. 7806)

The Florida State University Singers will perform a free concert Monday, March 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

MFUMC's Middle High Youth meet for Bible study and fellowship twice each week: Café 4:12 on Monday mornings at 7:45 a.m. at the Starbucks across the street from the church and Biscuits and Bibles on Wednesday mornings at 7:45 a.m. at Chick-fil-A on Dallas Highway. (Emily Kirby, ext. 7822)

The Senior High Bible Study meets every Sunday in the Parlor and Room 57 at 6:30 p.m. (Josh Sweeney, ext. 7808)

This Week

A Grief Support Group will begin this Wednesday, February 19.

The group will meet from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for six weeks. To register or for more information, contact Rev. Elaine Wilder at ext. 7826.

Join us this Sunday to learn more about Marietta First's mission trip to Ecuador in June. The meeting will be held in Room 201B at 12:30 p.m. During the trip, we will teach Bible school and help kick off the construction of a new church. (Ed Payne, 678-852-4205, evenings, or huskered40@aol.com).

A preview of Art from the Heart, a benefit for the Weekday Ministry Preschool and Kindergarten, will be held this Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon in the Hospitality Room. (Nancy Tatnall, ext. 7842)

Connect Through Table Fellowship

Family Night Supper is served at 5:15 p.m. on Wednesdays in the Family Life Hall. $6 (adults) and $4 (children from 3 to 11). $20 family cap.

February 19: Chicken and dumplings or grilled chicken, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, corn on the cob, mixed vegetables, salad bar, rolls and desserts. Kids: Corn dogs, corn on the cob, salad bar and desserts

Save the Date

Grief Support Group

Wednesday, February 19

Art from the Heart Preview

Sunday, February 23

UMW Missions Extravaganza

Thursday, February 27

Dr. Oral Moses, Babbie Mason

and The Georgia Spiritual Ensemble

Friday, February 28

Art From the Heart

Saturday, March 1