STARTING IN 'C'

"Although I never doubted the existence of God, I think like all people I've had some ups and downs in my faith.

When I first moved to California in 1981 to join the faculty at Stanford, there were a lot of years when I was not attending church regularly. I was traveling a lot. I was a specialist in international politics, so I was always traveling abroad. I was always in another time zone. One Sunday I was in the Lucky's Supermarket not very far from my house-I will never forget-among the spices, and an African-American man walked up to me and said he was buying some things for his church picnic. And he said, 'Do you play the piano by chance?'

"I said, 'Yes.' He said they were looking for someone to play the piano at church. It was a little African-American church right in the center of Palo Alto. A Baptist church. That got me regularly back into churchgoing. I don't play gospel very well-I play Brahms-and you know how black ministers will start a song and the musicians will pick it up? I had no idea what I was doing so I called my mother, who had played for Baptist churches.

"'Mother,' I said, 'they just start. How am I supposed to do this?' She said, 'Honey, play in C and they'll come back to you.' And that's true. If you play in C, people will come back. I tell that story because I thought to myself, 'My goodness, God has a long reach.' I mean, in Lucky's Supermarket on a Sunday morning!" (---Condoleeza Rice, "Walking in Faith," Dateline: Heaven, August 31, 2002)

I know very little about music and don't really understand what "play in C" means, but I think it has something to do with playing in a basic key and the resonance that comes from that. Apparently we can play sharps and flats, black keys and white, and even all over the keyboard, but "C" is basic and from wherever we happen to be, we can come back to that.

So let's remember that about worship and our lives together in the church. We come from all over the globe, from all political and ethnic persuasions. Perhaps we vote different and live our lives in different ways. But we come here looking for something that we don't find anywhere else. So we will start in "C" and go from there. "C" in the church, I think, is the very basic. God loves us and we try to love each other. All of us stand in the need of God's grace. And the presence of God in us is stronger than the evil that is in the world.

We'll start there. We'll start in "C", this week and every week.

And I'll see you this Sunday.

News

Lenten Lecture Series. Join us on Wednesdays, beginning on February 17, at 6:30 pm during Lent as our four ministers offer conversation on the questions people bring to Jesus in Scripture. Register online here or contact Erin Kimbrel at ext. 7813.

Help restock the MFUMC food pantry during the month of February. Collection bins will be located at each elevator. (Forrest Cate, ext. 8906)

Little Lambs Children's Consignment Sale returns March 10-12 here at MFUMC. Consignor registration is open now and volunteer registration begins Monday, February 1. Visit www.li-lambs.org for more information.
(Kelly Duncan, ext. 7812)

Smart Phone Instructional classes for senior adults begin each Monday in February in room 303. iPhone class meets at 10 a.m. Android class meets at 1 p.m. The cost is $48 for four weeks. RSVP to Rev. Lori Ethridge at ext.7835.

Fuse Soccer. Registration for our most popular sport is open. The season for ages 3K through 5th grade begins March 13 and ends on May 15. Click here to register. (Kelly Duncan, ext. 7812)

Celebration of the Negro Spiritual, directed by Dr. Oral Moses, will be performed at the Marietta Performing Arts Center at Marietta High School on Sunday, February 14 at 3 p.m. This is free and open to the public. To utilize the church transportation, please RSVP to Rev. Lori Ethridge. We will depart at 2:20 p.m. from the Polk Street lot. (Rev. Lori Ethridge, ext. 7835)

Handel's Messiah Study: Lent, Easter and Beyond. Fred Finzer will be leading a 4-week class beginning March 7 that looks at the music, themes, and use of scripture in Handel's Messiah. Contact the church office to register for the class. The class meets each Monday from 7-8:30 p.m. (Rev. Brian Smith, ext. 7840).

The 3rd-5th grade Bible study continues on Wednesday nights from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in Room 324. Fellowship with friends and explore the books of the Bible. For more information or to sign up, contact Kelly Duncan at ext. 7812. All are welcome, so invite friends!

Help prevent hunger in our community. Volunteer at the food pantry of our community development partner, the Center for Family Resources in the Mansour Building. Shifts are available on Thursdays and Fridays. To sign up or for more information, please contact Michelle Paracha at michelleparacha@mariettafumc.org or ext. 7803.

Wednesday Morning Women's Bible Study begins a new 7-week series on Wednesday, February 3 at 9:30 a.m. in room 201-b. The group will discuss "Seamless: Understanding the Bible as One Complete Story" by Angie Smith, All are welcome! (Rev. Elaine Wilder, ext. 7826)

Mark your calendars for the annual Daddy/Daughter Dance! On Friday, February 12, girls ages 3 years old to 5th grade dance the night away with their dad, or another special man in their lives. The dance will be in the Family Life Hall from 6-8 p.m. Cost is $10 per person which includes music from a DJ, photo booth, light appetizers, punch and a candy buffet! (Kelly Duncan, ext. 7812)

The AARP Safe Driving class will be offered at MFUMC on Thursday, February 4 at 9:30 a.m. in Room 322. The cost is $15 for AARP members, and $20 for non-members. (Rev. Lori Ethridge, ext. 7835).

We invite you to serve with our Parking Ministry on Sunday mornings in half-hour and one-hour shifts from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Help members who have difficulty walking getting to and from worship and Sunday School. Training is provided. (Forrest Cate, ext. 7806)

The Hospitality Ministry is looking for friendly, creative and energetic volunteers to help greet on Sundays, provide special event setup and décor and be helpers at Church Family Supper on Wednesdays. (Beth Dawson, ext. 7829)

Restore to Glory!

Want more information about Restore To Glory! and its progress? Visit its Website, which includes the latest news about projects with photos to show our progress. There, you will also find information about how to donate or make your pledge.

This Week

The Red Cross Blood is this Sunday from 8 a.m.until 1 pm. on the first floor of the Discipleship Center. No appointment necessary. (Forrest Cate, ext. 7806)

Coffee and Chocolates for Valentine's Day! The United Methodist Women will sell organic coffee and organic chocolate this Sunday, January 31 and next Sunday, February 7 on the Bridge and at the Reception Desk. All proceeds go to support UMW Mission projects. Purchasing these items also benefits the small farmers in Equal Exchange. For more information, please call Diana Waldrop at 770-429-0204.

Connect Through Table Fellowship

Church Family Supper

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

January 27
Meatballs with red sauce, Chicken Parmesan, penne pasta with pesto sauce, squash and zucchini with onions, salad bar, garlic bread sticks, and desserts

Kids- Hamburger, tater rounds, salad bar, and desserts

Save the Date

Sunday, January 31

-Blood Drive
-United Methodist Women
Coffee & Chocolate Sale

Monday, February 1
Senior Adult Ministry
Smart Phone Classes Begin

Thursday, February 4
-United Methodist Women Luncheon

-Senior Adult Ministry

AARP Safe Driving Course

February 5-7
Mid-High Discovery

Monday, February 8
Senior Adult Ministry Smart Phone Classes

Wednesday, February 10
Ash Wednesday (Homeless Offering)

Services at noon and 6:30 p.m.

Friday, February 12