10/25/2023 11:10:27 AM
November, 2023
November 2023
E-Navigator
Address: P.O. Box 9,
Syracuse, IN 46567
Email:syrcalv@kcaccess.com
Website: www.syracusecalvaryumc.org
From Pastor Paul
I've heard a lot of droopy prayers in my life. Hey, I've prayed a lot of them, too.
Prayers of desperation -- God, you've got to help me!
Prayers of self-pity -- God, things are so awful!
Prayers of resignation -- God, if you want to leave me unemployed, then I can't stop you!
But I'm learning how to pray a different kind of prayer -- prayer said with thanksgiving. I learned it from Paul who, writing from prison, taught me a most powerful lesson. He said,
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."1
Strange. Here he is suffering himself, yet he's telling me to pray with thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is the seasoning that makes our prayers edible to God. After all, who wants to hear people whine all the time? I've learned that you can't whine and give thanks in the same breath. Self-pity and thankfulness don't mix any better than oil and water.
In fact, mixing thanks with prayer somehow changes it. When we remember what God has done for us in the past and think about who he is in the present -- and express that in thankfulness -- our prayers become more gentle, more trusting somehow. Thankful prayers are offered with faith. And faith is an essential ingredient for prayers that God chooses to answer.
We remember the Pilgrims on Thanksgiving Day, not so much for their turkey dinner, but for the sheer faith that inspired them to give thanks in a year that saw nearly half their number die of sickness. Yet they prayed with thanksgiving.
When your annual day of feasting is over, you may bemoan your extra helpings of dressing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. But if you can hang on to the "thanks" part of Thanksgiving, you'll be a different person. Because when you learn to talk to God about your needs -- mixed with a healthy dose of heartfelt thanks -- then you have crossed the divide from whining at God to real prayer.
Happy Thanks-giving!
Pastor Paul
Pastor Paul Burris Weekly Office Hours
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Church: 574-457-3778 Pastor’s cell phone: 260-609-9260
Church Office Hours Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
Breakthrough Prayer Initiative
Calvary United Methodist Church
Join us in prayer renewal of our own hearts and of Calvary’s life together and ministries for our community and world. Please devote 5 to 10 minutes two or three times per week, offering this prayer and then listening for Spirit-nudges for any area of Calvary’s life.
God, please break through and open doors to new
hopes, dreams and possibilities for our church and
in our own lives…and we will surrender and faith-
fully follow Christ onto the open road adventure of
Your new and unknown future.
May your will be done. Amen!
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Upper Room The November/December issues are available in the narthex for your free copy. Issue is available in the literature rack. These are offered at no cost to you; please take one and another for a friend.
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Thanks to all who are helping with our community dinners each 2nd Friday of the month from 5:30 to 6:30. Kudos to UMW Hannah Circle and all those who provide volunteer help and donations. We are serving anywhere from 100 to 140 people each month, and more are joining us for fellowship. We will make announcements in church if any specific items are needed. Or feel free to reach out to a Hannah Circle member if you are interested in helping.
Our 4th Friday game night from 5:30 – 7:30 pm so mark your calendars, bring a friend, and come ready to play!
Nov 26 and 27 Come help and fellowship in Hanging of the Greens!
“One person can make a difference!
NURSERY NEEDS YOUR HELP!
NURSERY! Needs your help to take care of the little ones for an hour during Worship! If the Lord lays it on your heart to help guide these little ones to know Jesus please sign up for Nursery time on one Sunday a month!
Food Pantry
Food Pantry Sunday is the first Sunday of each month. Specific items you can bring for November are corn, instant potatoes, and saltines crackers. These items can be placed in the narthex and a volunteer from our church will take it to the Syracuse Food Pantry.
The Outreach Missions; continue to support the food pantry will be Pack the Pantry with food 4 times a year.
Please keep the ones in need in your prayer!
MONTHLY CALENDAR
November 2023
2 Thurs. Red Cross 12 – 6 pm
2 Thurs. Staff Parish 5 pm
5 Sun. Poinsettia order forms in bulletins
6 Mon. Trustees 6 pm
6 Mon. Bible Study 7:30 pm bible study will is Life of Mary the Mother of Jesus
10 Fri. Free Community Dinner 5:30-6:30 pm
11 Sat. Baby Shower for Baby Ponsler at 11:30 am with a Luncheon
14 Tues. Church Council 5 pm
16 Thurs. J.U.L.I.E.T.S. meet at 11:30 am Chubbie’s
19 Sun. Deadline for ordering Poinsettias
19 Sun. Thanksgiving Lunch 11:30 am
19 Sun. The SWAMA Thanksgiving Community Service will be at Calvary on 19th at 6 pm
22 Wed. Martha/Ruth Circle 1 pm
22 Wed. R.O.M.O.E.S meet at 11:30 am Boondocks
24 Fri. Family Fun Night 5:30 - 7:30 pm
26 Sun. Mon. 27 Hanging of the Greens!
28 Tues. E – Navigator
28 Tues. Gideon’s
Calvary United Methodist Welcomes our Community
Shoe Boxes are due this Sunday October 29th!
Our long-standing Free Community Dinner (2nd Friday of the month) is scheduled for Friday Nov10 from 5:30-6:30. Take out or dine in options are available.
THANKSGIVING MEAL Nov.19 at 11:30 am traditional dinner if you would like to bring your favorite thanksgiving dish please do. Table service will be provided by church.
SWAMA Thanksgiving Community Service will be on November 19th at 6 p.m. The Syracuse and North Webster Elementary Choirs will be preforming at the service. Come join us and bring a friend.
Our Family Fun Night is Nov 24 mark your calendars and come ready to play, bring a friend, and Fellowship with others!
Calvary Community Outreach due anytime
Poinsettias: It’s that time of year to order your Poinsettias! Order forms will be in bulletin Nov. 5 and deadline for orders is Nov19. Let’s decorate the Sanctuary in memory or in honor of our love one!
Mark your Calendar for Dec 17 Christmas Program at 3 pm. Come and enjoy and fellowship with your church family and invite some to come with you!
Altar Flowers Needed
Every Sunday
If you would like to contribute altar flowers, sign your name on the date of the hallway calendar at the north end of the building, or call the church office at (457-3778) or email the church at syrcalv@kcaccess.com. You may deliver or we will have someone deliver for you. Some ideas are flowers for anniversaries, birthdays, our children and grandchildren and to God’s glory. NOTE: If you have silk flowers you no longer need, consider donating them to the church. Mary Hursh will use them to create altar arrangements with them.
Thoughts from Bashor Home
If I am talking to you, hear this word from God in Psalm 107:1, “O give thanks to the LORD for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever.” God does not lose hope, God does not forget about you, and most importantly, God loves forever. I encourage anyone reading this week to take a few minutes out of your day, and name all the things you are thankful for. Develop a habit of giving thanks so that your relationship with God will be fruitful.