“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
Sunday, November 15, 2020
Don’t Overload Your Wagon
Bill Floyd will be our CUC Speaker on Sunday. Bill is the Associate Pastor of Congregational Care. The title of his lesson is “Don’t overload your wagon”. His scripture is:
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42.
CUC Sunday School Class on Zoom and Back to RUMC
Thank goodness for Zoom! This Sunday will be the 33nd Sunday we have met on Zoom. There were 14 CUC members in the classroom and 77 joining on line for a total socially-distanced attendance of 91.
Sunday we will again have the Zoom meeting in the CUC classroom. It will be displayed on the TV screens in class so it’s really a hybrid meeting. There is a capacity for 47 in the classroom.
Be sure that you register your attendance – either Zooming or on-site participation online using your personal cell phone or tablet. Class members will initially go online to: www.rumc.com/connect-card to register within Ministry Platform. After that, each time you sign-on you will just need to select the event that you are attending to register. If you are attending CUC on Zoom you will do the same to register your attendance. The system will allow you to choose between “Sunday School – 9:30 am” OR “Sunday School – 11:00 am.” When you choose the time that your class normally meets, the system will then automatically connect your attendance to the CUC class.
A Note from CUC President
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher and World Series Most Valuable Player award winner Orel Hershiser is competitive and states there is no excuse for mediocrity. Even so, he has discovered that failure need not be devastating.
He wrote,” I don’t like to fail but I can handle it. That hasn’t always been true, but as a Christian of ten years, I know where my strength comes from. I know that even if I give up a home run that makes me a goat, I’ll survive. My wife and kids will still love me. God is still in his heaven. The world will not come to an end, regardless of my performance.
It is the same faith, though, that makes me determined to be a good steward of the mind and body I’ve been blessed with. If my faith merely made me accept defeat and failure, it would be a crutch-a weak, sad alibi. …. It is my faith that lifts me up when I’ve failed. It is my faith that reminds me of my true insignificance when the world has been laid at my feet because of my success at throwing a ball. To call myself a Christian and then not to strive to be the best I can be and do the most I can with what has been given to me would be the height of hypocrisy. Being a Christian is no excuse for mediocrity or for passive acceptance of defeat. If anything, Christianity demands a higher standard, more devotion to the task.
“Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12
I look forward to being back with you Sunday.
Be safe and God bless,
Fred Brown
Walk through the Bible
As a part of Dave Mueller’s lesson last week, he offered CUC an opportunity to participate in a Walk Through the Bible year-long session. During the year, participants would read the Bible and participate in monthly discussion of the scriptures. He has done this for other groups with very positive feedback. Interested CUC members are asked to contact either Fred Brown or Bob Moore.
Pop-up Lunch a Success
Thanks to Garlinn and Mike Storey and our social committee and a nice warm day our first CUC “pop-up lunch” on the RUMC Commons was a success. It was attended by about 17 CUC members who all agreed it was really nice to see one another face-to-face.
Since we had a great time safely seeing one another outside at Monday’s Pop up lunch on the Commons, we are thinking we will take advantage of the predicted good weather and do this again this coming Monday, November 16th at 12:30 PM p.m. on the Commons. Hope you will plan to attend with your chairs, mask, food, drink and if need be a blanket for your lap. Looking forward to seeing you,
Fellowship Committee
CUC Plans Christmas Party!
From Patsy Lanham – SAVE THE DATE –
Tuesday, December 15th 5:30-7:00PM for our CUC virtual Christmas Party.
Christmas Gifts for Murphy Harpst Children
The CUC Class has the opportunity again in 2020 to help make Christmas a happy time for the residential, specialized foster care, and community services children at Murphy-Harpst Children’s Center. Pam Kramer, our contact there, writes, “For many children in care, this is an emotional time, for some it will be their first real Christmas experience! Last year we provided a record breaking 146 children with gifts, and we hope to meet or exceed that record again this year. We would certainly appreciate any monetary support the class could provide this year. The pandemic has changed the way we handle gifts, but I am hopeful it will all work out.”
In 2019 our class contributed $4000 toward Christmas gifts for Murphy-Harpst children. Thank you very much for that generous support. Since we won’t be passing around a decorated basket in our classroom on Sundays, the committee asks that you consider writing checks made out to CUC with Murphy-Harpst Christmas on the notation line. Send the checks to Charles Mason. He will mail one check for the total amount to M-H by December 8, the deadline for all donations to be received there. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THIS CLASS MISSION. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
From Charlie Mason: I have already received four checks totaling $350 for the Murphy-Harpst Christmas collection.
- Jim Adcock -As he returns home this Friday to continue recovery from successful partial hip replacement
- Myra Belote – She reports successful surgery and recovery. Thankful for the support and prayers from this incredible CUC class.
- Jeannie Ehlers – as she recovers from latest chemo treatment
- Beth Hamilton – for a quick recovery from Covid-19
- Pat Phillips is scheduled for surgery on December 7, at Piedmont, for a lumpectomy, and would appreciate prayers.
- Vince and Donna Grosse appreciate all your prayers for his sister, Deidra Morrison, who is facing chemotherapy, and for the Grosse’s friend Susan Ouzts completing new chemo treatment and hopefully will begin radiation at Mayo on Dec.14th.
Continuing Prayers
- Dick Anthony – as he continues to deal with health problems.
- Sister Backus – as she has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease
- Pat (Mrs.) Cooney and (Mr.) Pat as she continues to battle multiple myeloma
- Pat Deaton and her daughter Lara who is caring for her
- Malone Dodson – recovering following aortic valve replacement
- Betty and Don Gay– at home with daily help of caregiver
- Bob Hamilton recovering well from partial hip replacement surgery says “Please give my thanks for all the wonderful cards & prayers to those who offer their thoughts in my behalf”.
- Shirley May still recovering with post-shingles neuropathy
- Mary Kay Mills – as she continues treatment of leukemia
- Edna Smith as she deals with increasing problems with Parkinson’s Disease
- Stan & Virginia Thomason – Virginia has palliative Hospice Care. Stan looks forward to calls from CUC members.
Please pray for needs expressed and unexpressed for CUC members, and for friends and relatives of CUC class members who are facing illnesses, loss of loved ones, and important decisions to be made, especially at this difficult time with the Corona virus!
Special prayers for CUC members who have had severely limited outside contacts for these past few months due to Covid 19 risk.
Prayers also for our nation and its people and for the reopening of churches.
RUMC Weekly “To Go” Menu
Week of November 17th – November 19th
- Tuesday: Turkey Pot Pie, Herbed Stuffing, Green Beans
- Wednesday: Chicken Parmesan w/ Spaghetti Marinara, Vegetable Medley, Garlic Bread
- Thursday: Country Fried Steak w/ Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Seasoned Corn on the Cob, Honey Butter Biscuit
From Jacob Crane:
We will not have hot lunches the week of Thanksgiving, but we will pick back up on December 1st.
I have a menu for Thanksgiving Meal Pre-Orders. These will be fully cooked ready to heat and serve traditional Thanksgiving dishes available to purchase through pre-orders.
Please feel free to start spreading the word so that we can start to get an idea of how many to prepare for.
Birthdays
- Judy Hoogstraal – November 15
- Jim Taylor – November 15
- Lynn Roberts – November 18
- Ron Peterson – November 18
- Sandy Griffin – November 19
Anniversaries
- Wanda and Terry Taylor– Nov 16, 1991 – Roswell GA, 29 years
- Marlene and Don MacLeod – Nov 16, 1962 – Watertown,MA, 58 years!
- Brenda & Bob Burrell – November 17, 1990 – Roswell, GA, 30 years
Support for Our Missions:
Continue to save those flip tops for Ronald McDonald Houses!
You can continue to contribute support to Murphy Harpst using Amazon Smile. Also register at Publix.com with M-H’s school as the one to receive a portion of your receipts at Publix.
Save the Date
- November 16 – CUC Pop-Up Lunch 12:30
- December 15 – CUC Virtual Christmas Party
Ed. Note: If you have a prayer request or an announcement to be included in the Friday email to the CUC members, please forward it to Sue Waite by Thursday evening. If there is an urgent request, we can distribute it also. There are many announcements that come from RUMC weekly. If you feel any specifically should be included in this CUC newsletter please let Sue know.
CUC 