Chandler F.U.M.C.
by Linda G. Keeling

Sermon: Feb. 10 - "Seven Deadly Sins #1." Scripture: I Peter 5:1-11

Ash Wednesday Service: Feb. 6 at 7 p.m.

"Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. I Corinthians 1:4-7.

We are going to be celebrating St. Valentine's Day this week. While it is doubtful that there was a real Saint associated with this day, it nevertheless has been around since the year 270. During the Roman Empire, it was a time to recognize their pagan gods and for matchmaking. The Early Christian Church endeavored to change the festival from paganism to the recognition that it has today, a celebration of love.

C.W. Lewis wrote that "agape" is the closest to defining love as expressed by Christians. For agape is love that brings forth caring regardless of circumstance. It is not dependable on loveable qualities, but is an intentional act of unselfish sympathetic response to others. Think of the new commandment given to us in John 13:34 by Jesus, "Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. " For Christians then, love should be an "intentional act" of which we would give our love to another, not as we love ourselves, but more than self, as our Christ does.

SOCKS: the 3rd to 5th graders Sunday school classes will be collecting socks as part of their mission project. Please make your contribution next Sunday. A collection box will be located in Fellowship Hall. The socks will be given to Gods Open Hands.

Preparations for the Love, Laugh & Lasagna evening is underway, so remember to get your tickets ($15 for singles and $25 for couples) this week! There will be a humorous video, from Pastor Dennis Swanberg, fun games, and a lot of laughter to be had by all. So remember Sunday, February 17th at 6:00 p.m. All proceeds to go to the Africa Mission team.

We would like to honor marriages by presenting a pictorial video of wedding pictures of our members. This would be for all couples, newlyweds to the golden years, for those still with us and those who we have lost. Please bring a picture to the church office before Feb 10th. It should be fun guessing who the couples are at the LLL evening.

Next Sunday, Feb. 10th the United Methodist Men's Annual Bar-B-Que Dinner offered in support of the Boy Scouts of America, will follow the morning service. The UMM have a number of projects and/or activities during the year, but one of their favorite efforts is the annual Bar-B-Que. At least it is the congregation's favorite activity.

The UMW are inviting the congregation to join them and their very special musical guest, Mrs. Sylvia Gossett, Wednesday, February 20th at 6 p.m. in the church sanctuary. Mrs. Gossett's program will consist of hymn arrangements, some of which are paired with classical melodies, and some of which the group will sing together. What a wonderful way to celebrate this season!

Next Sunday at 5:00 p.m. the Membership class will have their first session of a four-week program. Dr. Munch will direct the study of what it means to be a Methodist.

The Confirmation class for our youth will begin next Sunday during the Sunday school hour and will last for the next 12 weeks. If you believe your child is ready to address the topic of confirmation, please inform the church office. Dr. Munch will lead this program.

The family of Juanita Reagan wishes to express their gratitude for the many acts of kindness during their time of grief. From: Judge Winston Reagan, Don and Martha Copeland and Drs. Roy and Alice Wilson. Juanita was a wonderful Christian friend and loved one, who will be missed.

Happy Anniversary to: Charles and Dee Curtis, and Dan and Dolores Mourgos.

Happy Birthday to: Shirley Cherry, Edie Young, Norman Lay, Barbara Alexander, Lori Reelfs, Shirley Murray, and Tammy Kidd.

Thought for the Week: "Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God." I John 4:7