5th Sunday Celebration of Music and the Arts! July 31, 2016

Tai Chi at St. Paul UMC, Fountain City

On July 13^th there will be a presentation on Tai Chi and its benefits.  This introduction to Tai Chi will be from 6:30 to 7:30 and there will be no charge.

On July 20^th, a beginner’s class will be held at the following times: 

1.    Seated Tai Chi (also called Tai Chi for Back Pain) from 6:30 to 7:00 at No Charge.

2.    Standing Tai Chi from 7:15 to 8:00 with a charge of $3.00 per class.

The Class will be every Wednesday ending on Sept. 14^th.  The basic 21 movements are learned, along with proper breathing.  There are also a few exercises to strengthen the legs.   No prior experience is necessary to enjoy the benefits of these ancient and gentle exercises.  Students for Tai Chi will be accepted up to and including August 3rd.  It is advised that you consult your personal physician prior to any exercise class.  Students may want to keep a chair handy, if needed, for stability.   The health benefits include improved balance, strength, and flexibility.  The introduction session and the classes will be held in the downstairs activities room, which is accessed from the back parking lot.

VBS 2016: Barnyard Bible Tales

4 Things We Should Learn from Jonah

A segment from Sunday's Sermon...   Posted due to popular demand.

Jonah ran from God's call, spent 3 days and nights in the belly of a big fish, went to preach to his enemies at Ninevah and the entire city repents. His odds are better than the most convicting preacher! Jonah should be ecstatic, but Jonah is mad. Mad as a June bug tied to a piece of string. He'll pull his own leg off flying away before he'll join this party.

This story is meant to be humorous, poking fun at a certain perspective of the world-- that there are good people and bad people and God loves the good and hates the bad. That there are categories so simplified, like an old Western movie, where the good guys wear white shirts and the bad guys wear black shirts and masks. But life and the world and people are more complex than that. And it is only God who knows just how complex.

What can we learn from Jonah today?

4 Things We Should Learn from Jonah 
   Themes borrowed from the words of A.A. Milne, author of Winnie the Pooh.

1.  You are braver than you believe.  Its never about the task itself. When we focus on how big the thing in front of us is, we forget to see how God has equipped us to tackle it.  Like the little girl who climbed a ladder one rung at a time, never looking down to see how high-- instead she shook from the top when she looked out at the view and down at all she accomplished.  It easy to stand at the bottom and shake in our boots.  Jonah could not stomach the thought of facing his enemies and chose instead to flea across the Mediterranean Sea.  Facing in the right direction, no matter the climb, it can all be boiled down to one foot in front of the other. 

2.  You are stronger than you look.  If, like Jonah, you can run in the opposite direction with every ounce of your being from what you should do or who you should be, you are strong enough to run full force in the direction of God's future for your life.  Stop wasting so much energy saying "no" to that tug on your heart.  Stop wasting so much time and breath telling God who you are and who you are not. If anyone knows what you are capable of, its God, the one who fearfully and wonderfully knit you together in your Mother's womb.

3. You are smarter than you think.   Too often we spend our time comparing ourselves to everyone around us-- they are so much smarter, they know more than we do, they are better liked by others, they always get a break.  You are who you are for a reason, and your life has purpose.  God used Jonah, even though the smart thing would have been to find someone more obedient (the first time).  God spared the Ninevites, even though the smart thing in Jonah's estimation was to destroy them.  God promises to equip us and give us the tools we need for our life's journey, smart is not our issue, as the phrase goes, "work smarter not harder."  It is time to look down and see what God has placed in your hands and on your heart.

4. You are loved more than you know. God's love and grace is always bigger than we imagine.  And God doesn't always follow the rules.  This was Jonah's big beef with God, God should have hated the Ninevites for all that reasons he hated them, and Jonah spent a lot of effort hating. There is no group of people, and no place, not even Nineveh, can properly be called God-forsaken. Thanks be to God that we are loved more than we can earn or deserve.

Now Hiring! Positions to be filled...

St. Paul UMC, Fountain City is seeking a part-time Music Director to lead the music program and direct the Chancel Choir, experience with Handbells is preferred but not required. Please submit a cover letter and resume to stpaulinfo@bellsouth.net, or call the office for additional details at 865-687-2952.

St. Paul UMC, Fountain City is seeking a part-time pianist/organist.  Responsibilities include accompanying the Chancel Adult Choir, and being the primary instrumental musician during Sunday morning worship.  Please send a cover letter and resume tostpaulinfo@bellsouth.net, or call the office for additional details at 865-687-2952.

 St. Paul UMC, Fountain City is seeking a nursery worker.  Responsibilities include: caring for children Sunday mornings from 9:00am-12:00pm.  Additional opportunities for work may be available with notification. Background check required and First Aid training preferred, but can be provided.  If you are interested, please contact the church office for more information: (865) 687-2952 or email: stpaulinfo@bellsouth.net

For more information, see our website: www.stpaulftncity.org or see our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/StPaulUMCFountainCity/

From a Choir Member's Perspective...

       Sitting in the choir is the best seat in the house.  One can see all the members of the congregation. There are long-time friends and new members.  There are visitors and previous members sitting with their parents.  Each one special and each one loved, old friends and new members and some waiting to become friends.

      Communion is a very special time.  From the choir one can silently name and pray for each St. Paul family member.  As each individual comes down the aisle and kneels at the rail, a prayer is lifted to God for the ones receiving the gift of His Son.  We thank God for each one.  And we can't help by remember the ones no longer with us. 

Sentiment aside: From the choir we see and enjoy the children and babies of St. Paul.  What a blessing! 

      Does it matter that one little redhead runs up the aisle while Sarah is speaking?  Does it matter that Sarah's own girls interrupt her children's time?  Does it matter if a baby fusses?  "Don't take them out!" They are part of the family too.  Seeing young children in their father's arms puts an "ahh" in each heart of those watching.  Seeing mothers touch their daughters and sons with gentleness is an added joy in the heart of the beholder.

Sitting in the choir means singing and praising God.  And we do this with pleasure and commitment.  Everything said above is an additional blessing. 

 

                                 --From the heart of Dot Conner, St. Paul Historian

 

 

Current Sermon Series!

Stories from Sunday School (Uncensored)

 

April 3         Trouble in Paradise: Cain and Abel

"I'm not my brother's keeper," words spoken by Cain to God when God asked about Abel's whereabouts.  So, the question is, are we one another's keeper?  What is there to learn from this story of family rivalry and violence? 

 

April 10       Sheep Patrol: Psalm 23

     These words are recited and most every Christian funeral, so often that even people

     Who do not have a connection with a faith community can recite portions of it...      

    "The Lord is my Shepherd."  Why is this passage so meaningful? 

 

April 17       Parenthood and Modern Family: Abraham and Sarah

     Parenthood, family  and marriage can be difficult at any age.  Infant loss and  

     fertility is a silent grief. The drama behind closed doors is not usually the story we

    know.  Can you relate? 

 

April 24       Warrior Nation: Story of Gideon

     God is with you!  Then why is there so much trouble?  God will see you

     through!  Then why hasn't God already done something?

     God can use you! Haha... who, me? 

 

May 1         Beauty is More than Skin Deep: Esther

     Body image issues, women's liberation, identity, low expectations, feminism, female

     leadership...need I say more? 

 

May 8         A Whale of a Story (or is it big fish?): Jonah

     I love this story!  Jonah in the belly of the whale because he wouldn't go where God

    was sending him!  Wait, the belly of a whale?  That's a horrible place to be... and the    

    people God wants Jonah to speak truth and repentance to are not good   

   people.  What is the point of this story again? 

 

May 15     Special Worship Celebration of Pentecost!

     Pentecost is the birthday of God's church!  In honor of this very momentous occasion, we will have as our guest, John Purifoy, a local composer and musician.  The sanctuary will be specially adorned in celebration of Pentecost, and much of the liturgy and music will be composed specifically for the worship service. You won't want to miss this very meaningful time of worship and community.