This is one busy church!! When announcements take up more than 10 minutes of our pre-worship time, you know there is a lot going on. It does my heart good to see us being so active.

Sometimes things miss getting put into the bulletin or on the newsletter calendar, so communication is crucial. Please don't forget to check our website calendar--whenever I schedule a meeting or some activity, I almost always immediately put it on the church calendar via my DROID. I sometimes forget to get the message to Sheila to include it in our printed announcements, so please keep checking the website calendar. And, of course, if you have questions call the office or me!

On a related topic, we are rapidly approaching our Church Conference (October 11). Don't forget we are hosting a chili supper that evening at 5 p.m. Chili and corn bread will be provided; you bring salad and/or dessert to share. At 6 pm the SPRC will consult with the District Superintendent, and then at 7 we'll have worship and our Church Conference. Everyone is invited and welcome to attend.

There are many many other activities going on as well, but this is not the venue to discuss them--it was just on my mind as I finish paperwork for Church Conference that I should promote that important time in the life of our church.

My hope and prayer is that you feel the Holy Spirit moving here, and will respond as you feel called. Each of us has important work to do for the Kingdom! I look forward to the coming days as we build disciples, grow in faith, and serve in Christ's name by reaching out in Christian love.

We are so blessed, here at CFUMC, for a number of reason, and this morning during both our chapel service and our sanctuary service, I was reminded of just one of our blessings. We have some gifted musicians in our family, and Suzanne Horvath, pictured here at the piano, and Sally Bricker, singing, are just two of them. Sally's selection reminded us that Jesus is our Cornerstone, and that message complemented the sermon quite nicely. I'd like to issue a BIG public thank you to both of you for so willingly sharing your musical gifts.

Today's sermon is titled "Satisfied," and the text is Matthew 14.13-21. (The text of the sermon may be found by clicking the Sermon and Scripture tab at the top of this page) This basket filled with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish (well, pictures of fish, since I didn't think real fish would lend themselves well to an attractive altar arrangement) was a visual aid I put together. It looks really nice--that basket is huge, and the loaves of fresh bread really filled it up! But, when you put it into the perspective of feeding 5,000 (plus women and children, of which there were surely MORE than 5,000), it is mind-boggling. Yes, and remember that there were 12 baskets of leftovers! Truly, a miracle. You'll have to read my sermon to see how God told the story through me today.

If anyone is following this blog, you are aware that it has been neglected for weeks. The author has such good intentions! But, sometimes life gets in the way, and priorities are re-arranged. I apologize to any of you followers who get excited about a new post here, because this is not going to contain any words of wisdom.

What it is, is a request for prayer. Our prayer group meets weekly on Tuesday morning at 9, and the timing excludes many folks, I realize. I set it up at that time for a selfish reason; it starts off my work week. (yes, Sunday is a work day, but Monday is my day of Sabbath, and so it seems like Tuesday starts my week) At any rate, these Tuesday morning prayer times are powerful and energizing. But the next two weeks I will miss being here around the table for prayer. Next week is Annual Conference, in Lakeside, and the week following Carl and I will be taking vacation.

So, I ask for your prayers. For Annual Conference and all the traveling going on around East Ohio Conference as pastors and lay members gather, for the decisions we'll be making there, for the worship services and all the other activities that take place there.

I also ask specifically for prayer for our church and our community. Times are changing, and we must discern where we need to change as well. God has a plan, and it is a most excellent one. Help me as we listen, together, to see where God is leading!
Blessings and JOY,
Pastor Paula

Aren't you glad God keeps God's promises?? I sure am. I know that I am not always able to follow through on promises I have made to my family, friends, or church members, and it is good to know that God always does. The bright sun today, the daffodils and crocuses poking through with their colorful blooms, and the birds making more noise remind me that SPRING is coming. And that is another reminder that God always follows through.

This morning during our worship services I was reminded yet again of the promise Jesus made before his crucifixion; that the Advocate would come and be with the disciples when Jesus himself could no longer be with them physically. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, is certainly present with us here at Columbiana First United Methodist Church! I am excited to see what the future brings as we plan new Christian Education activities, reach out with a more mission-oriented goal, and as new faces appear in our worship services.

Please join me in prayer for our church and our community as together, we "build disciples, grow in faith, and serve in Christ's name by reaching out in Christian love."

Today was Camping Sunday, when we learned about opportunities offered through the East Ohio Camps. Karen Culp did the children's message from inside a tent, using "finger flashlights" to talk about shining the light of Christ.

Once again, I sit in my church office pondering Sabbath activities. Since this is the first Sunday of the month, Eucharist was celebrated in both worship services this morning. I continue to be blessed every time I am privileged to preside over the Lord's Table, and this morning, for some reason, it was especially meaningful. Many times as I offer the elements to folks as they come forward, I am reminded of other times when I have been the one being served. It is a humbling experience, on both sides of the table--to be offered Christ's body, and to serve it to others. It reminds me of how much God loves me. It reminds me that I have a personal relationship with Christ, and it reminds me that my sins are forgiven. It reminds me that I am called, as a Christian, to build disciples, grow in faith, and serve in Christ's name.

Wednesday we'll receive ashes on our foreheads, as Lent begins. This can be, if we allow the Holy Spirit to come and move in us and through us, a time for deep spiritual reflection, introspection and growth. Moving from the Holy Table to receiving a cross on our foreheads--in ashes made from last year's Palm Sunday palm leaves--carries us into our most holy season. The weeks of Lent offer us time to think, ponder, wonder, and then, on Easter Sunday, to rejoice in the good news of Jesus' Resurrection.  I pray that you use this season to slow down, and savor the messages God gives you during your quiet times. And then, I invite you to witness to others as you share the light and love of Jesus Christ.

I would guess that most of us will be happy to see February leave, with the hopes that March will bring more spring-like weather! It seems like this winter has been longer than ever, or is it just because I'm getting older and cold and ice doesn't hold the romance it once did??

Whatever the reason, I will welcome March. March ushers in not only spring, but the season of Lent for us Christians. I will not "sermonize" on that here and now, but it may be a good subject for another blog post. With Ash Wednesday (March 9), we enter a season of reflection and penitence which can be a period of real growth if we open ourselves to the working of the Holy Spirit. I pray that you find some special devotional resources and use this time to build a deeper relationship with your Creator. God loves you, you know--more than you can begin to understand! And God wants to be your very best friend. Let me know if I can guide you in any way, or pray for you specifically.
Blessings and JOY in the coming week!
Pastor Paula

I am currently sitting in my church office, in an empty church. This is my usual Sunday night routine; sometimes when the youth group meets, I wander down the hall to talk with them and pray over them. Tonight, however, no one is around--evidently most people are caught up in the Super Bowl madness.

I am not a football fan. I know it must sound un-American or something. I did go to high school games when my children were in the band; in fact I rarely missed a game. But I went to socialize and to watch their performance, not because of the sport being played on the field. Baseball is my game--I am counting down the days till Opening Day!

At any rate, part of my Sunday evenings are usually spent here, filing my sermon notes, putting the sermon on the website, making a list of things to do for the upcoming week, and just sitting quietly and reflecting on the Lord's Day. And this evening, I am filled with a sense of love for this congregation, and a feeling that something big is about to happen. We have started the new year with a bang--a new Mission and Evangelism Team is meeting and already jumping into activities. The Christian Education Team has begun to formulate a safe sanctuary policy to protect our children and youth, and their leaders. Talk is circulating about the possibility of a monthly Kids Club, a one day VBS this summer, and other Christian Education opportunities. There have been several folks approach me with ideas of new things they would like to see us do here, to which I have given my whole-hearted blessing. And, of course, fund-raising for our new roof is an on-going activity, and there is a planning meeting this week as the women check their calendar of events.

I am encouraged and filled with hope at these signs of life. Columbiana First UMC is just beginning to get started, and I sense that in the next few months, we will definitely see signs that we are "building disciples, growing in faith, and serving in Christ's name by reaching out in Christian love." Please join us! If you have not yet found your niche, pray about it, come see me, and, together with God, we'll put your gifts and talents to use!
Happy Second Week of February!!
Blessings and JOY,
Pastor Paula