Heritage Connection Volume VI Issue 5 May 2016 Where Everybody is Somebody and Jesus is Lord! HUMC STAFF: Pastor: Matt Albritton Youth Pastor: Jamie Farquhar Nursery Director: Nikki Hagler Children’s Director: Shannon Nelson Office Manager: Charlotte Paul Weekly Opportunities For Fellowship & Growth: SUNDAY MORNING Sunday School……...............…9:30 a.m. Children’s Choir…………….….10:30 a.m. Worship Service…..……….....10:45 a.m. SUNDAY EVENING ABLAZE Youth……………..……..6:00 p.m. Evening Worship…………….….6:00 p.m. TUESDAY MORNING Men for the Master Breakfast 7:30 a.m. at Burger King WEDNESDAY EVENING Meal & Fellowship……..5:15-6:15 p.m. Kids For Christ …………..……….6:30 p.m. ABLAZE Youth…………….…..….6:30 p.m. Bible Study……………...…...……6:30 p.m. *Nursery is provided for all services* Whose Side Are You On? Joshua and his army were nearing Jericho, when he looked up and saw a man holding a sword. “Joshua stepped up to him and said, ‘Whose side are you on— ours or our enemies?’ He said, ‘Neither. I’m commander of God’s army. I’ve just arrived.’ Joshua fell, face to the ground, and worshiped. He asked, ‘What orders does my Master have for his servant?’ God’s army commander ordered Joshua, ‘Take your sandals off your feet. The place you are standing is holy.’ And Joshua did it.” (Joshua 5:13-15). Abraham Lincoln was asked if he believed that God was on the Union Army’s side. He responded by saying, “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.” We are reminded that God is sovereign over our lives and this world. He also honors those who honor him and he judges those who dishonor him. People who do not live for the Lord should not think that he will bless them. Blessings always follow obedience. This does not mean that God is not involved in their lives. Sinners are just as much under God’s ultimate control as the righteous. However, we don’t usually think about sinners being in the hands of God when we sing, “He’s got the whole world in his hands.” Matthew Henry suggests that God “tantalizes” sinners by giving them wealth only to take it away later and give it to the righteous. God does it by an “overruling providence” so that the ungodly are compelled to yield their riches to the children of God. He offers as an example how the Canaanites kept the good land until God gave it to the children of Israel. We might also think of Mordecai receiving the king’s signet ring after the death of Haman. Mordecai ends up receiving the estate of wicked Haman, who plotted against the Lord’s people. So why doesn’t this happen all the time? The truth is we really don’t know, however, we may find comfort in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “The arm of the universe is long but it bends toward justice.” While evil may do well in the short run, in the end, good always wins. If life were a 100-yard dash, you would bet on evil. But life is a marathon, and because it is, good will win out in the end. It might not win out in the course of one lifetime, or in one generation, but eventually, God does move to bring justice into the world. And if justice doesn’t come in this life, it will definitely come in heaven. Evildoers will be punished. And those who follow the way of Jesus will be rewarded. That’s the promise of God. God does honor those who honor Him. He judges sinners and rewards the righteous. The reward often comes in this life, but if not God has an eternity to set right what has gone wrong. In the end no one will ever regret serving the Lord. Therefore our prayer should be, “Lord, I do not ask that you be on my side only that I am on yours. Amen.” May God continue to bless you and your family during the month of May, as we endeavor to do His will and serve him faithfully. In Christ’s arms, Brother Matt
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Marsha Routley (334) 464-7071 Jerry Rhine (334) 393-3565
Matt Albritton (334) 399-7091
Stained Glass Windows
ONLY 2 WINDOWS REMAIN! If you are interested in buying a
stained glass window for a loved one to be displayed here at
Heritage UMC Worship Center, please contact Brother Matt or
the church office @ 334-347-1991.
Service Members
& Their Families:
BasilKane-Evans Danny Verdin Ray Illman James Betsill Brian Stoops Zack Griffin
Please help us keep our prayer list updated.
*Andrea & John Harper *Bill & Jackie James
*Louis Mangiacapra *Bob Mathis
Lois Bauer Janice McIntosh
Marjorie Charles Rob McNamara
Robert Dunn Marilyn McNulty
Lindsey Fomby Bobby Meredith
Greg Fuller Robin Morse
Rick Franklin Krystal Mulholland
Pat Garrey Mary Nordstrom
Danielle Guiou Dianne Nunn
Laura Hysmith Natalie Preston
Bob Jordan Bob Smithson
Brad Langford Larry Tyson
Lopez Family Jerry Victor
Brandi Malloy Millie Walden
Lomax Martin Danny Ware
All military families Butch Wright
*Most recent requests
Prayer Concerns:
You’re Invited…
to the Wedding
of
Amy Free and Gary Weeks
on Saturday, May 21, 2016,
at 6 p.m.
Piney Grove Farmhouse
793 Holley Mill Road
Samson, Alabama 36477
Casual Dress
Reception to follow
HUMC Current
Goals:
To purchase video
equipment so Brother
Matt’s sermons can be
broadcast with audio and
visual elements. Estimated
costs: $1,400-1,700.
Donations to date: $340.
To purchase a digital
church sign. Estimated
costs: around $9,650.
Donated to date: $520
(Pledged $4,700).
Congratulations
Seniors!!!
Senior Sunday—May 15
Bring your covered dishes and
take a moment to celebrate our
seniors, Hannah Stidley and
Ryan Thomas. Also, be sure to
check out their tables showcasing
their many high school
accomplishments.
EHS Baccalaureate—May 22
4 pm—Hillcrest Baptist Church
EHS Graduation—May 26
7 pm Wildcat Stadium
Ablaze Student Ministry
ABLAZE Youth- Sunday School Youth Worship Center 9:30-10:30 a.m. Sunday mornings
ABLAZE Meeting Youth Worship Center 6 p.m.-7 p.m. Sunday nights
ABLAZE Meeting Youth Worship Center 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Wednesday nights
What Where When
As school draws to a close, lots of changes are on the horizon. Some chapters of life are closing, like the past school year; but others are just beginning!
It's strange. There always seems to be something safe and comfortable about the past. Despite containing all our failures, what has been often still seems preferable to what is to come simply because of familiarity. As humans we cannot see the future, or know what it has in store. The coming moments and years could hold blistering, terrible storms and all types of calamity, which is terrifying, and who would want to venture into those?! In the midst of those powerful fears, though, it is easy to forget a simple truth; the future could also hold incredible joys never imagined possible!
M. S. Lowndes based a great quote off of Isaiah 43:18-19, and it sums up, as the Bible passage does, how we as Christians should approach both the times to come and any emotions that result from thinking about them. It reads, "Don't be afraid to keep moving on, for what was before, now is gone, God wants to accomplish so much more, But we need to move forward in the Lord."
How awesome is it that God has such bright and marvelous things waiting in each of our futures?!We must keep in constant communication and trust His timing while moving forward into each uncharted moment, though; because, unlike us, only He knows what lies ahead. Trusting in His unfathomable love for us, combined with His foresight and supernatural aid, is the only truly peaceful and confident way to flip through the unwritten chapters ahead and experience His unfathomable blessings!
A few of our youth are venturing into their own, new chapters of life right now and are definitely in need of both God's loving guidance and our support and prayers: our graduating seniors! They are Hannah Stidley and Ryan Thomas. If you see either of them, make sure to congratulate them on this milestone achievement, and let them know you are, and will be, praying for them in this very important season of life! Our love and support as a church family, whether they move away or not, is so crucial now, because lots of discernment will be needed to navigate the increasingly loud voice of the world in their ears as they journey forward.
We are so blessed to have such incredible seniors, and Andrea and I are personally heartbroken, but excited, to see them move forward with both their lives and walk with God. If you would like to celebrate them even more amidst the rest of the church family, Senior Sunday is May 15th! I know they would love to see you there! Do not forget to bring a dish for after the service to share, fellowship over, and to continue celebrate the graduating seniors' achievement with!
Events:
Singing at the Nursing Home May 2nd
Double Dog Dare-a-thon Awards May 4th
Landscaping at church May 7th
Senior Sunday & Luncheon May 15th
Wednesday Night Dinner Fundraiser May 18th
EHS Baccalaureate May 22nd
The Bellows (Dinner & Devo) May 24th
EHS Graduation May 26th
May Birthdays: 1 Sara Slawson 2 Sandra Tate 5 Dennis Roberts 18 Nikki Hagler 21 David Hataway 26 Lisa Crumpler 26 Suzette Jones 27 Jimmy Roebuck 28 Sara Wright 29 Jerry Wright
May Anniversaries: 9 David & Katherine Rowe 17 Lance & Ashley Meredith
26 Steve & Angie Parker
If we are missing any birthdays or anniversaries,
please call the office at 347-1991 and let us know so