APRIL 12,

2016

FAILURE AND HUMILITY

Students in the engineering school at Northwestern University are required to take an unusual class and face an unusual challenge. The purpose of the class is to confront the students, working in teams, with practically unsolvable problems (equipping a stroke

survivor to crochet with one hand, or a partially paralyzed patient to don tight support hose). So many students come to that campus having never failed at anything, under constant pressure to make A's and have perfect grade point averages. This class, says the University, can help them deal with failure and, along the way, learn something about resilience and humility. Many of the students "have been leaders of this and that, and they've had a very high profile. They have to get used to being knocked down a little because (we think that's how you learn)," according to a professor on campus.

Peggy Noonan wrote a while back about John Profumo, British Secretary of War during the early 60's. He was undone by a sex scandal and his untruth about it, and was forced to resign. Noonan recounts that Profumo, then, simply went away from public life. He worked for forty years at a rundown settlement house called Toynbee Hall, doing the grunt portion of social work-washing dishes, cleaning toilets, and visiting hospitals. He worked ceaselessly for education and housing for the poor. For forty years. In 1995, at the celebration of Margaret Thatcher's 75th birthday, Profumo was invited, escorted through the banquet hall, and seated beside the queen. His nation honored him. When asked what he had learned about his ordeal, Profumo answered simply, "humility."

Unlike the Northwestern students and more like Profumo, most of us don't need constructed lessons in failure. "Life its ownself" teaches us enough. We fail. Sometimes because of factors that we can't control, sometimes by our own hand, we fail. But we also have learned that God's spirit is with us in our failure and that we are never outside God's umbrella of care and hope. And perhaps we learn to help others in their failures.

To a casual observer, the death of Jesus on the cross probably appeared to be a failure. He lost the support of his friends and he lost the power of public support. Only to the keenly observant was the truth made clear. Jesus, in the words of St. Paul, "... humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death" (Philippians 2:8). Humbled. Humility. John Profumo, perhaps, read the New Testament. The engineering students at Northwestern, who arrive on campus having never failed at anything, need to read it. As do you and I.

And I'll see you this Sunday.

News

Membership Sunday is April 24. If you would like to make Marietta FUMC your church home, consider joining the church with others on Membership Sunday. To learn more, contact Rev. Brian Smith at briansmith@mariettafumc.org or ext. 7840.

Graduation Sunday is May 15. Graduating High School seniors will be recognized during both worship services and a luncheon will follow the 11:15 a.m. worship service. Families are invited to attend the luncheon. To participate, contact Josh Sweeney at ext. 7808 or by e-mail at joshsweeney@mariettafumc.org by May 1.

The Bereavement Support Group will meet next Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Hospitality Room. This group meets the third Wednesday of each month to offer ongoing support to anyone grieving the loss of a loved one. (Rev. Elaine Wilder, ext. 7826)

The Senior Adult Luncheon, along with healthy brain games provided by Aloha to Aging, will be held next Wednesday, April 20 at 11:30 a.m. in the Reception Hall. The cost is $8. Please RSVP to Rev Lori Ethridge at ext. 7835.

Angels Among Us. The Beth Berman Circle will be selling sterling silver angel charms on the bridge Sundays, April 24 and May 1. Purchase a charm for a special girl or woman. They make great Mother's Day gifts! Charms come with a keepsake card and names in honor or memory will be in the bulletin on Sunday, May 8.

The Senior Adults are returning to Gibbs Garden on Wednesday, May 4, to see the rhododendron and roses. We will depart at 10:30 a.m. from the Polk Street lot. The cost is $23 plus lunch in the garden. Please RSVP to Rev. Lori Ethridge at ext. 7835.

Cornerstone, a gathering of Young Adults in their mid-20s to mid-30s, meets Sundays at 10:10 a.m. in room 255 in the Discipleship Building. (Rev. Brian Smith, ext. 7840)

Support Groups are available here at the church for a variety of concerns: grief, caring for a loved one with dementia, addiction, or other needs. Visit www.mariettafumc.org/support for meeting times and details. (Rev. Elaine Wilder, ext. 7826)

The Mid High Youth mission trip is June 17-22. We'll be traveling to Tampa, Orlando and St. Simons. Visit www.mariettafumc.org/midhighmissiontrip for more information (Josh Sweeney, ext. 7808)

The next Homebound Worship and Dinner will be Sunday, May 15, at 5 p.m. This service is specifically for those who cannot come to church on a regular basis because of mobility or other concerns. To RSVP, contact Rev. Elaine Wilder at ext. 7826.

Join our fall Peru Mission Team for travel and service to Chimbote, Peru, September 17-25. You can help as a team member, prayer partner, or through providing project supplies. Projects include a medical clinic, construction and fellowship events. There will be an information session about the trip on Sunday, June 12 at 12:30 p.m. in the library. (Nancy O'Donnell, nancyodonnell@bellsouth.net or Forrest Cate, ext. 7806)

Register now for Vacation Bible School! Catch the Wave of God's Amazing Love with Surf Shack at Vacation Bible School, June 13-16 from 6-8:30 p.m. Learn more about the Bible's water stories...creation, Moses, Jesus' baptism, fish and loaves at the beach and more! VBS is open to children ages 3 (by 9/1/15) through 5th grade; younger children of volunteers are welcome in the nursery. Visit www.mariettafumc.org for more information. (Kelly Duncan, ext. 7812)

May 20: Save the date for the MFUMC Sporting Clay Tournament. Enjoy a day with your church family at historic Burge Plantation shooting clays while supporting great causes. Proceeds of this event support transportation for children's activities of the Marietta Police Athletic League and our ministry for children in Ecuador. For more information and to register, please click here. (Forrest Cate, ext. 7806)

Save the date for the 2016 Global Great Day of Service: Saturday, April 30, with breakfast at 8 a.m. followed by Communion. This service project is perfect for all age groups and a great way for our church family to serve together. We will pack meals from 9 a.m. until noon through Stop Hunger Now, which provides food and life-changing aid to the world's most vulnerable communities. To sign up, please click here. (Forrest Cate, ext. 7806)

Interested in MFUMC's history? Helping in our Archives is a great way to learn (and help preserve our past). Please contact Milli Robinson at millirobinson@mariettafumc.org or ext. 7857 to volunteer.

Registration for Glisson Grow Day Camp at FUMC is open! Dates are June 6-10 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The camp is for children who have completed K-5th grade. Register at www.growdaycamps.org. (Kelly Duncan, ext. 7812)

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 restore lives impacted by human trafficking in our area. Volunteer at the Marietta Treasure Store, a consignment store which benefits Wellspring Living located at 800 Whitlock Avenue, Marietta 30064. Wellspring Living helps victims of Human Trafficking move forward with their lives through group resident and independent living programs. For more information, contact Forrest Cate. To sign up to volunteer, click here.

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 d�cor 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 Web site, 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

This Sunday, April 17, at 7 p.m. the Music Ministry will present a Sacred Spring Concert featuring the music of J.S. Bach with orchestra, choir and soloists. No tickets are required. (Bryan Black, ext. 7815)

The Dementia Caregivers Support Group will meet next tomorrow, Wednesday, April 13, at 6:30 p.m. in the Hospitality Room. This group offers support to anyone caring for a loved one with Dementia. (Rev. Elaine Wilder, ext. 7826)

The AARP Safe Driving Course will be offered this Thursday, April 14, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.. The cost is $15 for AARP members and $20 for non-AARP members. Please RSVP to Rev. Ethridge at ext. 7835 or by e-mail at loriethridge@mariettafumc.org.

Connect Through Table Fellowship

Church Family Supper

is served on Wednesdays at 5:15 p.m.
in the Family Life Hall.

$6 (adults) and $4 (children from 3 to 11)

$20 family cap.

April 13

Salisbury steak or grilled tilapia, white rice, vegetables, salad bar, rolls and desserts

Kids- Chicken nuggets, rice, green beans, salad bar, rolls and desserts

Save the Date

For more information about events

at First United Methodist Church of Marietta,

visit www.mariettafumc.org/events.

Dementia Caregivers Support Group
Wednesday, April 13
Hospitality Room
6:30 p.m.
Rev. Elaine Wilder, ext. 7826
elainewilder@mariettafumc.org

AARP Safe Driving Class

Thursday, April 14

Room 322

9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Rev. Lori Ethridge, ext. 7835

loriethridge@mariettafumc.org

Youth Mission Trip

To Birmingham

Friday, April 15
to Sunday, April 17

Josh Sweeney, ext. 7808

joshsweeney@mariettafumc.org

Usher Appreciation Sunday

Sunday, April 17