Pastor’s Walk

I have been reading this book entitled “The Marks of Hope.” One of the three authors, Pastor Juan Carlos Huertas, writes: “Congregations that are hopeful are learning to practice surrender as they work toward God’s mission by giving of themselves to the power of the Holy Spirit, a Spirit who then calls them and sends them to serve.” It is the word “surrender” that really caught my attention and gave me need to pause. I have known for a good while now that one of my constant struggles in my walk will be the act of letting go…letting go and letting God. I am a control freak, that is, I like to think I am in control of most aspects that surround my life. So I knew that letting go would always be a challenge. However, I have never thought of this act of letting go as surrender.

When one thinks of surrender, one thinks of defeat or giving up or quitting or throwing in the towel for self preservation. Surrender is a negative term…at least in my book. I don’t like to surrender…on those rare occasions that I have had to surrender they have often been followed by periods of pouting and sulking. Surrendering leaves me in a bad mood. Yet here is Pastor Huertas telling us that God’s voice was telling him to surrender as he walked in the woods on at a retreat in Minnesota…speaking the word to him as clearly as he was hearing the birds sing and wind blow. God was telling this pastor to surrender and telling him to let the world know that they too should surrender. Telling us in writing that hopeful congregations are ones that learn to practice the art of surrender…surrendering so that they can truly serve. “The Marks of Hope” book is something like 140 pages and that one page, page 128, made me stop and consider my walk with God like no other page I have read in a long time. I would even dare to say that between those lines on the page, I was hearing…reading…seeing God telling me I too needed to surrender. Perhaps we all need to surrender. No scratch that, I know we all need to practice surrender when it comes to our faith walks.

You see, “surrender” the way Pastor Huertas explains it or the way God asks us to do it means “letting go of anything that might keep us from living fully into God’s way of life.” When we surrender to God, we are not giving-up or admitting defeat…we are actually winning. We are finding a prize. We are coming into the realization of just why we were created by God…to serve and be set free in that service. God is asking us all to surrender to our desire to hold on so tightly to the ways and values and riches of this world and discover in that surrender something so much more. To discover in that surrender that special something God has created just for us…God’s blessing. And to receive that blessing we must surrender…surrender all that we hold as true and valuable and worthy and instead discover in our surrender all that is truly true and valuable and worthy. So I will pray for surrender. I will look for surrender. And I will struggle with surrender because my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, asked me to surrender and implores me to not be like the rich man who walked away from Him because he had so much.

Will you become willing to practice surrender with me?

Grace….Pastor Steve

Worship Schedule

October 21st 22nd Sunday after Pentecost Laity Sunday

Scripture: Psalm 104: 1-9, 24, 35Sermon: “Manifold”

October 28th 23rd Sunday after PentecostReformation Sunday

Scripture: Psalm 34: 1-8, 19-22 Sermon: “Rescue, Redeem, Refuge”

November 4th 24th Sunday after PentecostAll Saints SundayCommunion

Scripture: Hebrews 9: 11-14Sermon: “Sacrifice”

November 11th 25th Sunday after PentecostScripture: Hebrews 9: 24-28Sermon: “Waiting”

Administrative Council MeetingSunday, December 9th

12noon - Fellowship Hall

Our Prayer List

Sheila Coppala, Jack Harwell (brother of Ruby Agnew), Alma Horne, Pat Inman (sister of Jackie Samuels), Martha Lee, Donna Pruitt, Charles Stephenson, Carl and Frances Stinson

Nursing/Assisted Living Care

Maxine Kincaid, Hazel Lands, Anne Lever, Sarah Lever, Jean Stoneman

Prayer GroupWednesday’s at 6pmMary Pearre’s house

Prayer box located in the Narthex

T’ai Chi Chih ClassesFellowship Hall

Monday mornings at 10:30am andTuesday evenings at 6pm

November Birthdays

7 Elyse McMillion10 Connie Lewis12 Phyllis Batts12 Samuel Ingold13 Rosemary Lands16 Ashley Ingold21 Trish Borchert24 Bob Samuels24 Misty Scott25 Vera O’Pry28 Nancy Stacey

Alma Horne3600 Park Road

Merrywood Apt 217-WCharlotte, NC 28209

Telephone: (704) 334-0168

DON’T FORGET

Daylight Saving Time EndsNovember 4th

Remember to turn your clocks back one hour before going to sleep on November 3rd.

Wesleyan CircleTuesday, November 6th

12:30pmChurch Office

Charge ConferenceThursday, November 8th

7pm – Location: TBD

We will be collecting food in November and December for our food drive. Please bring your non-perishable food items to the church and place them in the narthex. Thank you so much.

Stewardship SundayOctober 21, 2018

Finance,

The old saying “you don’t miss what you have until you lose it,” came to mind as I was thinking about our church and our love for it.

It’s that time of year when our church budget is prepared for the next year. Stewardship is important for each of us, along with our devotion to Commonwealth.

Whether you title or not, give with all your heart. We all should do what we can to save our wonderful Church.

As we approach Stewardship Sunday, October 21, won’t you take time to pray and consider what you can give in the next year.

Alice ShepherdFinance Chairman

Thanks You

Dear Church Family,

Thank you to all those who have supported my Eagle project by giving money and/or buying BBQ. Thanks to your efforts, I'm well on my way to funding and completing my Eagle project.

Thank you again,Robert

Thank You

We want to thank everyone for the wonderful delicious food and the support to our latest coverdish sponsored by the UMW for the Stewardship Kickoff. We also want to thank you for the very nice love offering taken up for Rebecca Kurt rounding off to one hundred fifty dollars. It is so great to be part of a loving, caring church. Don’t forget to sign your pledge cards and bring them to church this Stewardship Sunday.

Sandra Pearre UMW President

Trunk or TreatWednesday, October 31

6-8pm in the Upper Parking Lot

Please consider donating a bag of candy. Come out and decorate your car trunk with spooky themes. Happy Halloween!

Thanksgiving BreakfastThursday, November 22nd

Time - TBDFellowship Hall

Memorial Gifts

In Memory of: Frances PridgenBy: Sarah and James Rook

In Memory of: Ec LittleBy: Leonard and Shirley Laye

Christmas Poinsettias

If you would like to purchase a Poinsettia to be placed in the Chancel area during the Advent/Christmas season “In Honor Of” or “In Memory Of” a loved one, please place your order and payment in an envelope marked “Poinsettias” and place it in the offering plate on Sunday morning. You may also mail it to the church office at 2434 Commonwealth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205. Please make checks payable to Commonwealth UMC. The cost of each poinsettia is $9.00.

Orders must be received by10am on Monday, December 3, 2018.

Number of poinsettias ordered ___________

Amount enclosed ______________________

In Memory Of: ____________________________________

In Honor Of: ____________________________________

Placed By: ____________________________________

All Kinds

A lot of members are like wheelbarrows -- not good unless pushed.

Some are like canoes -- need to be paddled.

Some are like kites -- if a string isn’t kept on them, they’ll fly away.

Some are like kittens -- they are more content when petted.

Some are like footballs -- you can’t tell which way they’ll bounce next.

Some are like balloons -- full of wind and ready to blow up.

Some are like trailers -- they have to be pulled.

Some are like lights -- they keep going on and off.

Many, thank God, are like the North Star -- there when you need them, dependable, ever loyal, and a guide to all people.

Which Are You?

Our Stewardship

September 23, 2018Sunday school - 10

Church Attendance - 28Offering - $860.00

September 30, 2018Sunday school - 10

Church Attendance – 33Offering - $9,077.00

October 7, 2018Sunday school - 11

Church Attendance - 34Offering - $1,891.00

October 14, 2018Sunday school - 11

Church Attendance - 35Offering - $734.00

CommonwealthUnited Methodist Church

2434 Commonwealth Ave.Charlotte, NC 28205-5132

704-376-4924

October 16, 2018

Steve Kurt - PastorPatience Brumley - Pastoral Care

Sunday School - 10:00amWorship Service - 11:00am

Office HoursMon. - Thurs. 9am to 1pm