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23 Jan

January 23, 2008 |

For a long time I have tried to read a lot of good books. It must have been from my years in book publishing. Anyway, 2007 was no exception for me. Here are several book I read in 2007, and which I recommend. The links take you to the Amazon store entry for that book. However, you can order any of these from the UB bookstore by calling 888.622.3019 and asking for Marilyn.

George W. Bullard, Jr., Pursuing the Full Kingdom Potential of Your Congregation (Chalice Press, 2006; 226 pages). For congregations who thrive in the midst of great challenge; Vision Plus Intentionality.

Jim Collins, Good To Great and the Social Sectors: Why business Thinking Is Not The Answer (HarperCollins, 2005; 42 pages). A small booklet that describes how the principles of Good To Great can apply to organizations that are not profit-making businesses.

Thom S. Rainer & Eric Geiger, Simple Church: Returning to God’s Process for Making Disciples (B &H Publishing Group, 2006; 272 page). Describes how a church must organize to have effective spiritual transformation of its people.
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17 Jan

January 17, 2008 |

Tom Brodbeck, former Central Conference superintendent, alerted us to news about his son, Tom, a student at Huntington University. “My son is about to be famous! About a year ago, he had to fill in as the sports anchor for HTV (HU’s TV station). He hates being on camera, and was really nervous. His ‘friends’ kept his goof-ups and posted a blooper video on YouTube. Some website has picked it up and it is now nationally popular. He is being interviewed by a radio station in Alabama today. The video will be aired on Best D*** Sports Show (Fox Sports) next week. And another website has contacted him about doing a weekly sports video for them.”

The YouTube video has had about 40,000 hits since Christmas.

Here’s the direct link. There are other HTV news videos on YouTube, which you can find by putting “HTV News” in the search box.

17 Jan

January 17, 2008 |

Lester Smith (right), senior pastor of Hillsdale UB (Hillsdale, Mich.), sent this report about their January 6 service. “January 6, 2008, the Day of Epiphany, fell on a Sunday. Epiphany recalls the wise men following a great light to come to Christ. So the Hillsdale UB Church celebrated the 12th day of Christmas by lighting a candle for each of the 12 people who came to Christ in December through our church’s outreach ministries. The congregation at the HUB gave the Lord an ovation for all those born-again in 2007, which was double the number of the previous year.”

17 Jan

January 17, 2008 |

Fonda Cassidy of Mt. Olivet UB in Mt. Solon, Va., sent this report: “This past year was a great outreach for our church in missions. We shared in opportunities with local missions for building a complete house in our community. We cut and carried wood as was needed. We had a large group travel to Kentucky to work on projects directed by Titus Boggs. Other individuals traveled to Belize, Honduras, and Bolivia for medical and construction assistance. Five young people attend Rhodes Grove Camp, and two received Christ as Savior! Opportunities come and go, but it’s what we do with them that could count for Him.”

17 Jan

January 17, 2008 |

We received word that in early December, Gary Brooks was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Gary and his wife, Diane, served as missionaries in Honduras for many years, and later pastored UB churches in Michigan and Florida. Gary has continued his involvement in UB missions, frequently serving as an interpreter on trips to Spanish-speaking countries. Gary and Diane now live in Palmetto, Fla., at 2608 87th Court East, Palmett, FL 34221.

16 Jan

January 16, 2008 |

Jennie Bishop, a member of the praise team at Daytona UB church (Holly Hill, Fla.), sent this report about Christmas at First UB church:
 
“The Daytona UB church honored our Lord and Savior this Christmas season during each Sunday morning of Advent with a special song, a special music selection, and a narrative presentation. During the first three Sundays of Advent, our Praise Team sang a special song called ‘Messiah,’ and they also sang a special music selection. The song ‘Messiah’ was written by one of our church members who also wrote and coordinated the narrative readings. During the singing of ‘Messiah,’ four ladies wore robes of righteousness and walked down the main sanctuary aisle toward the front of the church where an adorned crown was placed at the manger in the nativity scene. After the singing, a narrative reading was done by several members of the Praise Team.
 
“Each Sunday during the singing of ‘Messiah,’ the congregation was instructed to write in a crown-shaped image on a piece of paper what they were willing to do for Christ this Advent season. The emphasis was on our willingness to serve Christ, and all written cards were kept anonymous as each church member placed their ‘Crown of Willingness’ on the alter. Prayer requests were also written on crown-shaped pieces of paper and placed on the altar. After each service, the willingness cards were collected and placed into the adorned crown that was laid at the manger.
 
“During the last Sunday of Advent, while singing ‘Messiah’ the cards of willingness were collected and placed into a crown of thorns which was placed before baby Jesus in the manger. Laying a crown of thorns signified that without the birth of Christ, there would be no salvation for mankind. In closing the service on that last Sunday of Advent, the congregation held lit candles while the Praise Team sang ‘There is Peace in the World Tonight,’ after which a flute and guitar duet played ‘Silent Night.’
 
Below is a music MP3 file for the song “Messiah” (Lyrics written by DJ Muller, performed by Edie Shadle, and recorded and produced by Matt McKeown of Sound Mind Productions).

15 Jan

January 15, 2008 |

The 2007 Pastors and Local Church reports are ready. The one-page Pastor’s Report must be submitted by every licensed minister. Each senior pastor must take responsibility for submitting the Local Church Annual Report, which provides statistics and other information about the church’s ministry in 2007. A packet containing the reports is being sent to each church. The 2007 UB annual reports can also be downloaded from the UB website. You’ll find fillable forms in MS Word format which you can submit to Bishop Ramsey as email attachments.

14 Jan

January 14, 2008 |

Annette Sites, pastor’s wife at Jerusalem Chapel UB (Churchville, Va.) and a member of the denominational Women’s Ministry Team, is the keynote speaker at the annual Ladies Breakaway Retreat. The retreat will be held March 14-15 at Rhodes Grove Camp in Chambersburg, Pa. This inter-denominational retreat has been happening for over ten years. This year’s theme is “A Balancing Act,” based on the verses in Galatians about carrying each other’s burdens.

Registration begins on Friday, March 14, at 4:30 p.m. The retreat concludes at 6 p.m. on Saturday. The cost is $90 per person for a full room (4 persons). If interested, contact Jeanie Helman for a brochure by email or by phone at 717.263.0659. The registration deadline is March 7.

11 Jan

January 11, 2008 |

Nativity Shelter

Lancaster UB Nativity

Sharon Lucas, secretary at Lancaster UB (Lancaster, Ohio), sent this Christmas report: “Lancaster United Brethren Church held a Live Nativity this year for the first time in several years. It had been a fixture in the community for several years.

The Theme was “Follow the Light.” With a large billboard and a rented spotlight, folks from miles away were drawn to the presentation. The Nativity featured a new shelter house, many live animals (including two camels), and most importantly featured the Gospel message presented with live acting to many in the community who otherwise may not hear it any other way.

“God blessed us with the opportunity to meet with hundreds of folks from the community, many of whom are unchurched. The show ran for fifteen minutes, three times an hour, and played to an audience of 40-80 at each showing throughout the weekend. Refreshments were served in the Merillat Center between shows, and connections were made with families looking for a church home.”