Thursday Thoughts, January 30, 2025
Kay Martin
Thursday Thoughts January 30, 2025
Dear EMC: This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany. Last Sunday, Mark Moser preached on “Obey the Law” based on a passage in Nehemiah 8. This Sunday, Paul Campbell will lead Lectio Divina based on Jeremiah 1:4-10. Other readings are Psalm 71:1-6, I Corinthians 13 and Luke 4:21-30. We will also celebrate Communion. Come and let’s celebrate this time together!
The wifi network at Emmanuel is named "Emmanuel," and the password is Menno321!
This week's bulletin is attached.
Our web page is updating. Link: https://gainesvillemennonites.org
Looking Ahead
Registration for Mennonite Church USA’s Follow Jesus ’25 convention will open Jan. 6, 2025, for early-bird pricing. The denomination’s biennial faith formation gathering will take place at Koury Convention Center, in Greensboro, North Carolina, July 8-12, 2025. Learn more here: mennoniteusa.org/news/registration-jan6 Register here: convention.mennoniteusa.org/ View the PDF here: mennoniteusa.org/follow-jesus-early-bird-pdf View the PowerPoint slide here: mennoniteusa.org/follow-jesus-early-bird-slide
Jan. 15 – April 30, at 9 a.m., PT/noon ET: AMBS and Mennonite Action, “Peace Theology in Movement online weekly colloquium series”. Learn more here.
Jan. 16 - Feb. 13 from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. PT/7:30 to 8:45 p.m. ET on Zoom: MC USA, Climate Justice book study. Register here.
Feb. 17-20, 2025, Pastors and Leaders Conference. Join in person at AMBS in Elkhart, Indiana, or watch via livestream! Register here.
Feb 27 - Women’s Group at 12:30 p.m. at Ginny Campbell’s house
Feb. 28 – March 2, 2025, at Goshen College, Celebrating 30 Years of Damascus Road and Its Legacy, Enlightened By God’s Hope: A Hope for the Future Event. Register here.
March 29 - Church Retreat at the Moser’s, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Thanks be to God for the people who visited our church last Sunday.
Thanks be to God for the doctor's good news on the pastor's health.
Pray for the Pastor and Patricia, who will deal with different personal and family issues in Colombia.
Pray for Mark Lee, who is now receiving palliative care for the recurrence of his neck cancer. Pray that recent procedures will alleviate his swallowing problems and that his pain can be managed..
Pray that EMC members be encouraged to invite others to become Jesus' disciples.
Pray for the people of California who have lost their houses because of fire. Pray that the fire can be extinguished soon.
Pray that the Israel-Hamas ceasefire will remain in place.
Pray for the population in Gaza, especially for the victims of the war.
Pray for brothers and sisters absent from EMC for several months. Pray they are doing well and continue firm in Christ's way.
Pray for good relationships between spouses and between parents and children.
Pray for Juan, who is looking for a new job.
Pray for the new people who are attending EMC.
Pray for people who want to attend worship services but must work on Sundays.
Pray for immigrants looking for jobs that permit them to fund their family budget.
Pray for Mennonite churches' actions in favor of immigrant people who are at risk of deportation.
Pray for immigrants who need an ID that permits them to work.
Pray for the process that EMC will start to define its mission and vision and update the constitution.
Get involved
You are welcome to get involved in our EMC community and serve with your gifts. Talk with the pastor or Elders about areas of the church or worship service where you would like to serve. Also, if you would like to become part of the Peace and Justice Committee of our Church, please, talk with Miriam Elliott. In addition, please talk with the pastor if you want to participate as an English teacher some Saturdays.
EMC is an inclusive church and is delighted when people decide to become members. Becoming an associate member is another option. If you are considering becoming a member of EMC, please talk with the pastor or Elders.
Pastor office hours at the church
I will be out of the pastoral office for three weeks. However, if you need urgent pastoral support, please call me at 352-377-6577 or Kay Martin at 352-284-3486. Also, you can email me: pas...@Gainesvillemennonites.org
Interesting reads and videos
Book: Prodigal Gospel: Getting Lost and Found Again in the Good News by Jonny Morrison.
Book: Tending Tomorrow: Courageous Change for People and Planet by Leah Reesor-Keller.
News and Beyond, here.
Anabaptist World here.
Central District Conference News, here.
PeaceMail USA, here.
Merienda menonita, here.
Human Rights Coalition (para inmigrantes) here.
English Language Institute (para inmigrantes) here.
Lecturas en español: Biblioteca Digital Anabautista aquí.
Emmanuel Mennonite Church Webpage
Juan Moya has been updating the church’s webpage. If you have some recommendations for the webpage, please, talk with him. Link: https://gainesvillemennonites.org
For your attention
If you have reflections, feedback, or questions about the sermon, please talk with the pastor and others who are also interested after the Worship service. Thank you! We hope to meet on a Sunday once a month to discuss the sermon further after worship service.
If you are the last people leaving the Meeting House after some activity, please, make sure the front and back doors are locked. Thank you!
We try to have our worship service conclude by 12:15 P.M. We can share more details about our joys and concerns and announcements with each other after the worship service. Thank you!
Vicit Agnus Noster, eum sequamur.
César.