VIENNA UMC SUNDAY SERVICES

SUNDAY SCHOOL …………….9:45AM

WORSHIP SERVICE………….11:00 AM

WORSHIP with US

SHILOH UMC SUNDAY SERVICES

WORSHIP SERVICE…………...10:00 AM

SUNDAY SCHOOL…………….11:00 AM

The Beacon “Shining Forth the Glory of God”

January 2013

Rev. Chris Ramsey, Pastor

NON PROFIT ORG.

POSTAGE PAID

VIENNA, GA 31092

PERMIT NO. 20

VIENNA— SHILOH

UNITED METHODIST CHARGE

313 CHURCH STREET

VIENNA, GA 31092

Return Service Requested

James R. King, Jr.

Resident Bishop, South GA Conference

Connectional Ministry Team

Dr. Wayne Moseley District Superintendent

Church Ministry Team

Rev. R. Christopher Ramsey Senior Pastor

Cathy Thompson Administrative Assistant

Dr. Jim Sides Minister of Music

Lisa Ramsey Children’s Ministry

Stacey Peavy Financial Secretary

Barbara Woods Church Organist

Jane Mason/ Janice Turner Church Pianists

Sunday Worship Shiloh UMC @ 10:00 am

and/or

Sunday Worship Vienna UMC @11am

The “Courtyard” Praise & Worship Service

2nd and 4th Sundays 9:00.m. VUMC

Come worship with us!

A Publication of the Vienna United Methodist Church

313 Church Street Vienna, GA 31092 Phone# 229-268-4207

Email: viennaumc@sowega.net Web Site: www.viennaumc.org

Rev. Chris Ramsey, Pastor Vienna UMC & Shiloh UMC

Pastor’s Article…………………....page 2 Vienna Calendar …………………page 5

Opportunities to Serve ………….page 3 Music Minister …………………..page 6

Celebrations & Lord’s Pantry …… page 4 Shiloh Calendar………………….. page 7

The

January 2013

For the New Year

H old fast to your faith (Hebrews 4:14)

A ssemble with the saints (Hebrews 10:25)

P ray earnestly every day (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18)

P ray for great blessings (Malachi 3:10)

Y ield not to temptation (1 Thessalonians 5:22)

N eglect not your talents and opportunities (Galatians 6:10)

E xamine yourself daily (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Work diligently for the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Y ield your members to righteousness (Romans 6:11, 16)

E xercise yourself in godliness (1 Timothy 4:7)

A im for a perfect, mature faith (Hebrews 6:1)

R edeem the time (Ephesians 5:15-16)

—Gus Nichols

The Bucket List

I noticed that December 21st, 2012 came and went just like any other December 21st, in spite of all the

doomsday prepers and those who gave the Mayan Calendar any credit. I don’t think many people around

South or Central Georgia bought into the doomsday prophecies predicted by a Mayan civilization that, them-

selves, died out 1100 years ago. Over the past week, I’ve noticed however, that many of the informational

channels, such as the History and Learning Channels, are still running the same doomsday programs that pre-

dict an immense asteroid is going to hit the earth, a super earthquake is going to re-sculpt the west coast, or

global warming is going to lead to an ice age that will end life as we know it on planet Earth. Some of these

programs even incorrectly attempt to quote biblical references to support their theories. Since none of this has

come about, the question that now remains is, “What are we going to do with the time so many didn’t think

we were going to have?”

There was a movie that came out in 2007 called Bucket List. In this movie, two terminally ill men es-

cape from a cancer ward and head off on a road trip with a wish list of things they want to do before they die.

Basically it addresses the question, “What am I going to do with the time I have left?” If you had bought into

the 2012 doomsday prophecies, what might you have placed on your bucket list of things you would want to

do with the time you have left?

Jesus tells us a parable in Luke 12:16-20 about this very thing. "The ground of a certain rich man pro-

duced a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' "Then he

said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain

and my goods. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy;

eat, drink and be merry." "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from

you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'

Many people think that Jesus is talking about stewardship here, and in a sense He is. But even to a

greater degree, He is talking about a bucket list. The farmer in Jesus’ parable decided his bucket list was to

include taking life easy, eating, drinking, and being merry; in other words... doing what he wanted. However,

that very next night, his life on earth ended, bucket list unfulfilled. Jesus’ meaning is clear, each morning we

wake up is a gift from God; therefore, decide each morning what you will do with the gift He’s given you.

That’s where our real bucket list comes in, the bucket list that makes an eternal impact.

Jonathan Edwards, who is widely acknowledged as America's most important and original phil-

osophical theologian, and author of the book The End For Which God Created the World, developed the fol-

lowing bucket list for life:

Live with all my might, while I do Live.

Never lose one moment of time, to improve it in the most profitable way I can.

Never to do anything which I should despise or think meanly of in another.

Never do anything out of revenge.

Never do anything which I would be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.

In the spirit of New Year’s resolutions we would do well to adopt this same bucket list for our lives.

In Psalm 118:24 God begins, “This is a day that the Lord has made...” let’s include, “Let us rejoice and be

glad in it!” as part of our daily bucket list.

Happy New Year,

Brother Chris

Page 7 The Beacon

Sunday Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

Mike Forehand

2 3 4 5

6 Communion Ralph Cason

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

Courtyard VUMC 9am Flowers: MM Tim Kinard

14

15 Lord’s Pantry Foodbank ViennaUMC

16

17

18

19

20 Flowers: MM Clay Mercer

21 Family Night 7:00 P.M.

22

23

24

25

26

27 Courtyard VUMC 9 A.M. Flowers: Betty O’Neal

28

29

30

31

2013

Remember our Shut-ins

Dot Morgan, , Virginia Rose Cannon, Rhona Smith,

Lillian Harris, and Catheryn Green

Allen Bagwell Dana Gambrell

Trella Etheridge Donny Taunton

Dottie Forehand David Lee

Magalene Baggett Gary Peavy

Prayer List

John F. Morgan

January 5, 1926 - December 24, 2012

Member of Vienna UMC

The best angle from which to approach

any problem is the try - angle.

- Author unknown

The Old Rugged Cross (an anniversary)

One of the numbers we’re planning for the Sanctuary Choir to present for the Easter musical is “The Power of

the Cross,” in which the words are married to the music in an unforgettable way: “This the power of the cross;

Son of God - slain for us. What a love, what a cost! We stand forgiven at the cross.” I’ll never forget the first

time I rehearsed that song, I could hardly sing past the lump in my throat!

In a similar way, the flowing melody and simple rhythm of a hymn titled “The Old Rugged Cross” was new to

the listeners’ ears in 1913. Not only did it tug at people’s hearts but it became one of the most beloved hymns

of the twentieth century. A man named George Bennard very likely composed this hymn while strumming the

chords on his guitar.

While reflecting on Galatians 6:14 to gain a fuller understanding of the cross, Bennard, a full-time evangelist,

wrote, “I read and studied and prayed. The Christ of the Cross became more than a symbol...It was like seeing

John 3:16 leave the printed page, take form, and act out the meaning of redemption. While watching this sce-

ne with my mind’s eye, the theme of the song came to me.” Writing the words took him several weeks, during

a two-week revival in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, in late December 1912 and early January, 1913. He and mu-

sic evangelist Ed Mieras sang the finished song to a full house on the final night of the meeting. A few months

later, after help on the harmonies by fellow-composer Charles H. Gabriel, the completed version was sung by a

small choir accompanied by a guitar.

“The Old Rugged Cross” quickly became a cherished hymn. Early recordings by Homer Rodeheaver were

often played on the fiery evangelist Billy Sunday’s radio programs, which only added to its popularity.

George Beverly Shea, long-time soloist with the Billy Graham crusades, saw Bennard many times at the

Winona Lake Bible conferences in Indiana, and often spoke of how moved he was the first time he heard him

sing “The Old Rugged Cross.”

It’s been translated into many languages by now, and tour groups from around the world come to the small Old

Rugged Cross Museum and Historical Society in Reed City, Michigan, where an impressive twelve-foot cross

can be seen from the highway. “Sometimes they have their own worship services,” the museum director says.

"We just let them sing.”

“On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

The emblem of suffering and shame.

And I love that old cross where the dearest and best

For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross

Til my trophies at last I lay down.

I will cling to the old rugged cross

And exchange it someday for a crown.

Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world

Has a wondrous attraction for me.

For the Dear Lamb of God left His glory above

To bear it to dark Calvary.

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,

A wondrous beauty I see.

For ‘twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died, Dr. Jim Sides

To pardon and sanctify me.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;

Its shame and reproach gladly bear;

Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,

Where His glory forever I’ll share.

We now celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of this beloved hymn. It has stood the test of time well.

Many people who work in nursing homes say it is the most requested song from senior residents. There is the

story of one woman, for instance, whose son wheeled her into the service in a Geri-chair, head slumped for-

ward, eyes unfocused, her body shutting down. Although she was unresponsive to her surroundings, when

they sang “The Old Rugged Cross,” she mouthed every word. Its message never grows old!

Lay Leader for January: Rooney Bowen, III

Lead Usher for January: TBA

Greeters for January: TBA

Joy Junction for January: TBA

Sunday School Assembly& Family Night Supper: CIA Class

Homebound Communion Jan. 6: Melanie & David Lee

Dooly Messengers ( Jr. High) Sundays @ 4:30

Dooly Disciples (Sr. High) Sundays @ 5:30

January Flower List

Jan 6 - Mrs. Jane Mason

Jan 13 - Ms. Diane Couch

Jan 20 - Dot Morgan Family

Jan 27 - Mr. & Mrs. J.R. Evans

Page 3

Wonderful Wednesdays Start Jan 9

Sunshine Gang Choir 10:00 AM

Children’s Choir 4:30 PM—5:30 PM

Family Night Supper 6:30 PM

Bible Study 7:00 PM

Sanctuary Choir 7:30 PM

The “Courtyard” Praise and Worship Service

Sunday Morning January 13th & 27th

Circles

Joy Circle, Monday, January 7 @ 7 p.m.

@ office/annex

Morning Glories, Monday, Jan. 14 @ 10 a.m.

Office/Annex with Sharon Wilkin

Squares , Monday, Jan 21 @ 7 p.m.

home of Laura Woodward

Acolyte

Jan 6 - Katie Hayes & Scout Weesner

Jan 13 - Aaron & David Lee Shurley

Jan 20 - Dylan Bloss & Benjamin Peavy

Jan 27 - Sam Evans & Braxton Warren

@ 9:00 A.M.

Vienna United Methodist Church

Come and be filled!

Page 4

January BirthdaysJanuary BirthdaysJanuary Birthdays

5 Allison Bowen & Bailee Thompson5 Allison Bowen & Bailee Thompson5 Allison Bowen & Bailee Thompson

666 Joyce HarrisJoyce HarrisJoyce Harris

777 Heidi HayesHeidi HayesHeidi Hayes

999 Dan SpeightDan SpeightDan Speight

101010 Jean McAnally & Chris CumbusJean McAnally & Chris CumbusJean McAnally & Chris Cumbus

111111 A.J. JarvisA.J. JarvisA.J. Jarvis

131313 Marsha PullenMarsha PullenMarsha Pullen

141414 Jane Ramsey & Shan AkinJane Ramsey & Shan AkinJane Ramsey & Shan Akin

151515 Donnie LaneDonnie LaneDonnie Lane

171717 Janice WardJanice WardJanice Ward

181818 Steve MorganSteve MorganSteve Morgan

20 Elaine Taunton & Wayne Ward20 Elaine Taunton & Wayne Ward20 Elaine Taunton & Wayne Ward

212121 Jim Warbington, Dot Morgan, & Lori WoodwardJim Warbington, Dot Morgan, & Lori WoodwardJim Warbington, Dot Morgan, & Lori Woodward

222222 Luanne SewellLuanne SewellLuanne Sewell

25 John Morgan25 John Morgan25 John Morgan

27 Jennifer Britt27 Jennifer Britt27 Jennifer Britt

28 Evelyn Ramsey28 Evelyn Ramsey28 Evelyn Ramsey

29 Bobby Lamb29 Bobby Lamb29 Bobby Lamb

Happy Anniversary

Kathie and Gary Peavy

January 7th

Bible Verse of the Month

Romans 5:5

And hope does not put us to shame, because

God’s love has been poured out into our

hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been

given to us.

The Lord’s Pantry – January 2013

The Lord’s Pantry served 62 households/124 family members in December. Thanks to the December team of Cathy

Jones, Pat Newby, June Johnston, Beth English, Blakely Humber and Ethel Jones.

We held the food distribution in our new location and it was GREAT! Moving is never an easy task and many helped

make this move possible. A special thanks to Cathy Jones and Raymond King – without their help, I could not have got-

ten us moved in! Thanks to Rooney Bowen, Phillip Warren and Keith Evans for moving the freezers. The day before

distribution, just when I thought everyone would have to stand, the chairs were delivered at 12:00 in the pouring rain –

God is good! Thanks to Cathy Jones and Pat Newby for helping with the “chair project”. And on distribution day – I

find that an “angel” had hung some of the blinds. I know that God has been with us throughout this endeavor – I knew it

each time I entered the building.

We received many other blessings during Dec.; a generous donation of hygiene and cleaning products and a donation of

foods from another family. We were able to distribute turkeys for Christmas – thanks Sally Sangster for handling this!

The January 14-15 team includes Blakely Humber, Jenny Brown, Sharon Wilkin and Laura Woodward. The January

Goody Basket sponsor is the Squares Circle/ VUMC.

I am working on the 2013 schedule – if you presently volunteer and want a change, or if you would like to begin volunteer-

ing, please contact me at Sharon.wilkin@yahoo.com or 268-4857.

Please continue to pray for this worthy mission.

The Beacon

2013

Homebound Communion Sunday, January 2:

Linda West, Jane Ramsey, & Sherry Evans

Page 5

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 New Year’s Day

2

3 4

5

6 Communion

Epiphany Sunday

Flowers: Mrs. Jane Mason Acolyte: Scout W & Katie Hayes

7 JOY Circle 7p.m.

8 Men’s Bible Study 12:00 Noon

9 Sunshine Gang 10am Children’s Choir 4:30 Handbell Choir 5:30 Family Night Supper 6:30 Bible Study 7:00 pm Sanctuary Choir 7:30pm

10 “Young at Heart” Lunch 12 Noon

11 12

13 Courtyard 9:00 am Baptism of the Lord Sunday

Flowers: Diane Couch

Acolyte: Aaron & David Lee Shurley

14 Morning Glories 10:00 a.m. @ Annex with Sharon Wilkin

15 Food Bank Men’s Bible Study 12:00 Noon

16 Sunshine Gang 10am Children’s Choir 4:30 Handbell Choir 5:30 Family Night Supper 6:30 Bible Study 7:00 pm Sanctuary Choir 7:30pm

17

18 19

20 Flowers: Dot Morgan Family Acolyte: Benjamin Peavy & Dylan Bloss

21 Squares 7 p.m. Home of Laura Woodward

22 Men’s Bible Study 12:00 Noon

23

Sunshine Gang 10am Children’s Choir 4:30 Handbell Choir 5:30 Family Night Supper 6:30 Bible Study 7:00 pm Sanctuary Choir 7:30pm

24

25

26

27 Courtyard 9:00 am

Flowers: Mr.& Mrs. J.R. Evans Acolyte: Braxton Warren & Sam Evans

28

29

30

Flower: Carnation Birthstone: Garnet

Homebound Communion Volunteers:

Sunday, January 6th

Melanie & David Lee

Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University class will be held in Vienna starting January 13th. You can sign up and purchase your kit online. It is a 9 week course and the kit is $95.00 - a small price to pay for such valuable information. Contact Michael Ramsey, Class Coordinator, at 229-322-1656. Class Page URL: http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/locations/org/21179/class/219334

Financial Peace University Class

January 13th Vienna UMC

Get moving! !! Faith is the word that de-

scribes the direction our feet start moving

when we find that we are loved. Faith is

stepping out into the unknown with noth-

ing to guide us but a hand just beyond our

grasp.

—Frederick Buechner