MAYFLOWER MESSENGER
|
This month’s message is quite a bit different from my usual focus. However, it addresses what I consider to be an extremely important area. One of the worst things that we face in life is the prolonged illness or death of a loved one. As a pastor, I have noticed that the one area that greatly compounds a very negative situation is not having or being able to find the paperwork that is needed. I wrote a book called “Finishing Touches" toward that end. Let me suggest you put the following finishing touches in "ONE" secure location, perhaps a metal security box.
All of the above take a lot of pressure off your loved ones and ensures that your desires are carried out. Now is the time to get this done and then you don’t have to worry about it in the future. I hope this was helpful.
- Write a WILL - only one-third of Americans have one. Try legalzoom.com for $70 or your lawyer for $300.
- Establish END OF LIVE documents - durable power of attorney, living will, release of protected health care information form ( Try Legacy Writer).
- PROOF OF OWNERSHIP documents
- LIFE INSURANCE / RETIREMENT Accounts
- Set up TRUSTS - revocable living trust (avoids probate)
- BANK Accounts / SAVINGS Accounts
- DIVIDE up your assets on paper
- MARRIAGE, DIVORCE, MILITARY Papers
- Plan your MEMORIAL SERVICE / FUNERAL - pre need is a fraction of at—need costs.
- Choose BURIAL / CREMATION - Sign form in advance for cremation with each chid’s consent. 2009 - funerals $6,500 avg - direct cremation $1,000 - $1,800 - 60-65% are now cremation.
- Design a LETTER OF INSTRUCTION - no legal value
Agape,
Jeff
NEW BIBLE STUDY
You will not want to miss Ray VanderLaan’s brand new "WALKING WITH GOD IN THE DESERT" series. Studies will begin June 12st and conclude July l7th. It is a seven session series. Each session is filmed on location at biblically significant sites. The sessions are as follows.
Are you going through a diliicult period of life? The loss of a loved one? A crisis of faith? During there “desert times," it is easy to think that God has disappeared. Instead. discover that it’s only when we are totally dependent on Him that we can find Him closer than ever and can experience God’s amazing grace and provision. Sessions will be on Tuesdays from 10 to 11 AM.
- Join the Journey
- Its Hot Here and There’s No Way Out
- Help Is Here
- When Your Heart Cries Out
- They Were Not Wandering
- Ears To Hear
- There’s Hope In The Desert
MAY SUPPER/MURDER MYSTERY
Be sure and put May l9th on your calendar! The meal will be a complete ham supper. The murder mystery will be EASTSIDE STORY . . . the poor man’s version of Westside story. All of this for only $10. Buy your tickets invite your friends and get ready for a really fun evening that you do not want to miss.
SUMMER SUPPERS
Not to be confused with our 3rd Saturday Suppers.
This summer we will cut our suppers down to once a month. The evening will include a catered meal, a DVD on our big screen, and some great fellowship. Meals run $7 - $8. Your options are the catered meal, bring your own supper, or join us for the DVD portion at 6:30 pm. Options 2 and 3 are at no charge. All suppers start at 6 PM. The events are as follows:
- June 20 - BELIEVE - New Celtic Women’s Show
- July 11 — RAGUS - A unique Irish experience
- Aug 22 - BOW FIRE — violins
M/ul>
MISCELLANEOUS
- A warm welcome to Donna Carpenter, who joined the church on April 1st. Her address and phone number are; 1680 W Evergreen Dr., Citrus Springs, FL 34465; 489-4683
- Ladies, be sure and put May l7th on your calendar for our annual luncheon at Bently’s. See the sign-up sheet in the foyer.
- A big thanks to Ric Hewes for the beautiful Easter flowers on the crosses he designed.
- Have you noticed the new signage on our property?
- The marker from the Finger family has arrived and was installed at the entrance to the Chapel in the Pines.
- Thanks to June, Clyde, Jerry, Dave, Slim, Craig, and Karen for the great job they did with reading our Seven Last Words Good Friday service.
- Thanks to Carolyn and Jerry for hosting our Easter breakfast.
- Thanks to Frank Evans for putting up and taking down the chairs for our Easter Sunrise service.
- Thanks to Dave George for providing the recorded music and PA support for our sunrise service.
- Boy were we blessed by the beautiful music that the choir provided during Lent. Well done thou good and faithful servants,
- The choir will be taking the summer months off. A variety of special arrangements will enhance our summer worship services.
- Our dishwasher died! We are collecting above and beyond funds to help us purchase a $4,000-$5,000 replacement unit. The purchase is outside of our budgeted funds. Can you I help?
- Directories are in... did you get yours?
- Fellowship Sunday will now be the last Sunday of each month immediately following the 10 AM worship service.
THINKING ABOUT JOINING THE CHURCH?
We have three ways to join the church:
Interested? Call Jeff at 352-897-4520 and he will complete a membership form/introduction sheet and put your joining into motion.
- By TRANSFER from another church
- By AFFIRMATION of faith
- By ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP - Here you can keep your membership in your home church and here.
PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY
Thank you to all who gave their time to knit shawls and lap robes for our supply. Some smaller lap robes or cuddle blankets were given to Gloria Duttweiler for her involvement in "Jessie’s House". Some yarn is available or we will be grateful if you purchased some to your liking to use. Let us remember that this is the way of sharing our prayers and love to those in need of comfort and caring.
With God’s Blessing to all,
Ellie Kennedy, Coordinator
PRAYERS
Please remember to pray for Marion Corbin; Glenda Johnston; Jane MacKenzie; Lou Speakman; Stephen Beckwith; Brad Driggers; Laura Allison; Jim Eldridge; Joyce Hendricks; Adam Vaughn; Gordon Ratcliff and the men and women serving our country in the military.
THANK YOU
I want to extend my sincere appreciation for the thoughtfulness shown during Francis’ illness as well as to me in my recuperation. I thank you for all the cards and kindly expressions.
Thelma M. Kinter
Please thank my church family for all their prayers and all the lovely cards that were sent my way during my convalescence. I am doing very well and hope to come back to church soon. I miss you all.
Gods Blessing and Love. Annie Beckwith
A MOTHERS PRAYER
Lord give me wisdom in raising my child
Give me the strength to be firm and yet mild.
Show me each day with each challenge I face
When to discipline-when to show grace.
Help me be wise when I plan my day
To leave time for children who just want to play.
For when they are grown up and on their own way
I want them to have many good things to say
About their mother who loved them so much
She took time for tow trucks, dollies, and such.
Help me to show them the best things in life:
Like how to become or to choose the right wife.
How to resist temptation, avoid friends who are wild
Keep themselves pure - by the world undefiled.
To teach how you've promised along life’s road
To help them carry their heavy load.
And Lord, when they’ve grown up and I’ve done my best
Help me still show love-but not be a pest.
Let me give them their freedom as they leave the nest
Give me the willpower to sit back and rest.
And thank you dear Father for hearing my plea
And helping my children see your love through me.
by Kathy Vandervoort
NOTES FROM OUR LIBRARY
FOR MAY 2012
MAY DAY - FALLS EXACTLY HALF A YEAR FROM NOVEMBER 1st. MAY DAY MARKS THE END OF WINTER IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE, AND HAS AN OCCASION FOR POPULAR CELEBRATIONS. (MAY 1st)
AS EUROPE BECAME CHRISTIANIZED, THE PAGAN HOLIDAYS LOST THEIR RELIGIOUS CHARACTER, AND MERGED WITH OR REPLACED BY NEW CHRISTIAN HOLIDAYS AS EASTER, PENTECOST AND ALLSAINTS DAY
ORIGINS---
THE EARLIEST MAY DAY CELEBRATIONS APPEARED IN PRE-CHRISTIAN TIMES, WITH THE FESITVAL OF FLORA, A ROMAN GODDESS OF FLOWERS, AND THE WALPURGIS NIGHT CELEBRATIONS OF GERMANIC COUNTRIES, ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH THE GAELIC BALTANE. MAY DAY CONTINUES TO BE OBSERVED IN EUROPE AND AMERICA. MAY DAY IS BEST KNOWN FOR ITS TRADITION OF DANCING THE MAYPOLE DANCE, AND CROWNING THE QUEEN OF MAY. FADING IN POPULARITY SINCE THE 20th CENTURY IS THE GIVING OF "MAY BASKETS", SMALL BASKETS OF SWEETS OR FLOWERS, USUALLY LEFT ON NEIGHBORS DOORSTEPS. THE GIVER WOULD RING THE BELL AND RUN AWAY
MOTHERS DAY (U.S.)
HISTORY
MOTHERS DAY WAS MARKED BY WOMENS PEACE GROUPS, TO REUNITE FAMILIES, AND MOTHERS WHO FOUGHT AND DIED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR. FROM 1870-1880, WITH NO ACHIEVEMENT.
IN ITS PRESENT FORM, MOTHERS DAY WAS ESTABLISHED BY ANNE MARIE JARVIS, WITH THE HELP OF JOHN WANAMAKER, FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF HER MOTHER ANN JARVIS 0N MAY 9,1905. A SMALL SERVICE WAS HELD ON 5/12/1907 IN GRAFTON, W. VIRGINIA, WHERE ANNE'S MOTHER TAUGHT SUNDAY SCHOOL.
ON MAY 9,1914 PRES. WOODROW WILSON ISSUED A PROCLAMMATION DECLARING THE FIRST NATIONAL MOTHERS DAY, ASKING AMERICAN CITIZENS TO SHOW A FLAG IN HONOR OF THOSE MOTHERS WHOSE SONS DIED IN WAR.
IN 1934 PRES. FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT APPROVED A STAMP FOR THIS HOLIDAY.
CARNATIONS HAVE COME TO REPRESENT MOTHERS DAY, BY WEARING A CARNATION, A WHITE ONE IF YOUR MOTHER PASSED AWAY, A RED ONE IF SHE LIVES.
CHOSEN THIS MONTH FOR A DISPLAY IN THE NARTHEX, ARE NOVELS WRITTEN BY WOMEN AUTHORS, COMMEMORATING MOTHERS DAY.
FROM A MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER AND GREAT—GRANDMOTHER WITH LOVE ---——
Ellie
For Youe Health
May Birthdays
| 5 | Max Timm |
| 6 | Bill Beckwith |
| 7 | Henrierra Armstrong |
| 7 | Fran Thomas |
| 11 | Gin Farris |
| 14 | Nancy Castro |
| 15 | Karen Timm |
| 20 | Anita Owen |
| 20 | Barbara Schmidt |
| 21 | Gerry Banta |
| 22 | Mac MacKenzie |
| 24 | Fred Gaumann |
Happy Birthday!
| 1 | Gloria & Ralph Duttweiler |
| 13 | Garnet & Ed Midgett |
| 15 | Betty & Dave George |