12/4/2023 4:26:15 AM
December, 2023
December 2023
E-Navigator
Address: P.O. Box 9
Syracuse, IN 46567
Email: syrcalv@kcaccess.com
Website: www.syracusecalvaryumc.org
From Pastor Paul,
Luke 9:18-20 18 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?” 19 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets from long ago has come back to life.” 20 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 20 Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” (NIV)
As we go through the day we talk to the Lord and read his word. We are trying to get closer to him and allow him to work through us. We want his power and anointing, but do we really know him? In order for most people to get something from someone, the person doing the giving needs to know the person receiving. You say I know Jesus and have a personal relationship with him. I ask this question do you really know him? If someone walked up to you and started talking to you about Jesus, do you know enough about him to convince them that they need him in their lives? Not just as Hell insurance but as Lord and Savior. If you have a personal relationship with someone you know how they think, act, and what they would do in a particular situation.
I do not want an answer right now, but I do want you to think about these questions and answer them. No, we do not have to defend Jesus or the word of God, but we do need to be able to explain who Jesus is and what he is like. Make your answer personal, generic answers do not convince anyone about anything, but personal answers can.
Jesus asked his disciples in Luke 9:18b "Who do the crowds that I am?" and they answered him John the Baptist, Elijah, and one of the old Prophets. Then Jesus made it personal and asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" in verse 20. Then Peter answered from what he had seen, heard, and experienced from Christ himself that he was the "Christ of God". Peter could not have answered that question in that manner if he had not known Jesus on a personal basis.
So the first question is this who do you say that Jesus Christ is? And why do you answer in that way? In other words, explain your answer. The next question is a bit deeper. Other than Hell Insurance, why do I need to make Jesus my Lord and Savior? No, I am not going to answer these questions for you, you must answer them for yourself in a personal way. I must answer them for myself also. The next question is a bit tougher. The Bible says that Jesus lived, showed us what he expected from us through his life then was crucified and on the third day rose again. How do you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he lives today?
You may think that I am trying to place doubt in your mind and turn you away from God. I am not. I am trying to get you to dig in and really get to know Jesus Christ. Most Christians alive today cannot answer these questions or even the very basic questions. How are we to win people to Christ when we don't even know who he really is? If you cannot answer these questions, it is past time to get down and serious with the Lord and his word. When you get serious, he will show you and prove to you who he is. I believe that once we can answer this important question then our observance of the birth of the Christ child this Christmas season will take on a whole new meaning.
See you Sunday!
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 for the 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 to 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.
|
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.
|
May your will be done. Amen!
Thanks to all who filled Christmas shoe boxes and helped with the postage.
for all the children. Please keep these children in your prayers!
The Angel Tree helps families in Syracuse from Elementary School! Take an Angel buy the gift, wrap, and return to the tree in the Narthex. Place the angel on the gift. Thank you for caring for these families in need! Not only give a gift but keep these families in your prayers! Thank you for giving!
Mark your calendars for December 17 at 3 pm! Christmas Program come and Fellowship with others!
“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.
December is Chili Beans, Elbow Pasta, Hot Chocolate. 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 four times a year.
Lucy Rensberger
U.S.A., United States
March 2-9, 2024
TOTAL RAISED $281 of $700
About My Trip
M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I! Laurel, Mississippi is a charming southern town to visit. Your will partner with The Glory House to serve their neighbors in need all while sharing the love of Christ to their community by loving God and loving people. You will have the opportunity to sort, stock, fill and distribute food bags to hungry neighbors through their Bread of Life Food Pantry, assist in planning and preparing for their Kids Club Spring Break Camp, visiting, praying for and providing needed assistance to widows in their community, and lead an after school program in a Hispanic mobile home park.
About Campus Ministry @ Grand Valley State University
Campus Ministry @ GVSU is a community of Christ followers called to: Engage college students with the life-changing love of God, Disciple leaders who make disciples, and Be a bridge to Jesus Christ and his local church worldwide.
Quick Links
MONTHLY CALENDAR
December 2023
4 Mon. Trustees 6 pm
4 Mon. Bible Study 7:30 pm Life of Mary the mother of Jesus
5 Tues. Stewardship/Finance 5:30 pm
6 Wed. Lifeline Screening
7 Thur. Staff Parish 5 pm
8 Fri. Free Community Dinner 5:30-6:30 pm
12 Tues. Church Council 6 pm
17 Sun. Christmas Program “A Prayer for Peace” 3 pm
19 Tues. Afternoon Bible Study luncheon 11:30 am
21 Thurs. J.U.L.I.E.T.S. meet at 11:30 am Sleepy Owl
24 Sun. Christmas Eve Service 7 pm
25 Mon. Church Office Closed to Celebrate Jesus’s Birth
26 Tues. E-Navigator
27 Wed R.O.M.O.E.S meet at 11:30 am Sleepy Owl
27 Wed. Martha/Ruth Circle 1 pm
Calvary United Methodist Welcomes our community.
Our long-standing Free Community Dinner (2nd Friday of the month) is scheduled for Friday Dec. 8 from 5:30-6:30. Take-out or dine in options are available.
No Family Fun Night in December
Calvary Community Outreach due anytime
Mark your Calendar for Dec 17 Christmas Program at 3 pm. Enjoy and fellowship with your church family and invite someone 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 you were to describe in the most basic way what being a Christian call you to do, how would you describe it? One of the beautiful aspects of humanity is that we are all different. Even identical twins are not completely the same! Differences are wonderful and fruitful, but we run into problems when we allow those differences to define who we are or what our purpose is. 1 John 4:7-11 says, “7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.” When I think of what it means to be a Christian, the answer is always one word, love. The message to love one another is so simple, but so often it is the hardest thing for us to accomplish. We all struggle with our differences, but we cannot allow our differences to close us off to love. God made each individual with the capacity to love one another, to love ourselves, and most importantly, to love God. Go this week and love one another!