etidings January 22 2008

Lift Every Voice and Sing

I am embarrassed to tell you that I had never sung “Lift Every Voice and Sing” until I was a seminary student. Known by many as the ‘Black National Anthem’, I had heard of it only tangentially. I suppose I could argue that I was never exposed to it in school and that would be true. I suppose I could argue that my church had probably never heard of it nor knew of its significance. I suppose I could argue that the Civil Rights era had passed by the time I came of age. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated when I was barely a toddler. I suppose I could offer many excuses but they would be just excuses. The truth is that I hadn’t sung the song because it didn’t belong to me and I didn’t consider it important. That changed one day in a seminary classroom when I stood and sung for the first time. As I sung it, I heard a richness that only struggle can produce and a joy that only God’s presence through struggle can inspire. I recognized in it an experience that was not mine by social or historical designation but with which I longed to relate because of its spiritual depth. I also came to realize that the struggle identified in the song was ongoing and I was a part of it.

As I write this article it is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This day is not only a remembrance of one man’s life, but of all for whom he stands. Unfortunately, the dream he articulated has yet to be realized. Divisions not only of race but also of age, gender, class, region and faith still divide us in ways both known and unknown. The good news is that God is with us in the struggle and can bring us joy as we come through it. Perhaps I should just let these words by James Weldon Johnson speak for themselves:

Lift ev'ry voice and sing,
Till earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the list'ning skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.

God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who hast by Thy might,
Led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,
Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee;
Shadowed beneath Thy hand,
May we forever stand,
True to our God,
True to our native land.

Blessings,
Monty

Worship Ministry
The Joyful Singers will meet January 24 at 10:00 AM for rehearsal. All ages are invited to join us as we prepare to go into the world for Christ. The Joyful Singers will lead a service at Roman Court on January 31 at 10:30 AM followed by our Luncheon Club. Come and join us this week.

The Youth Choir is rehearsing Wednesday nights at 5:30 PM this month.
We are currently discussing our trip this summer to Orlando, Florida. We continue our rehearsals for worship and drama events. Come join us!

The Drama Ministry Team met last Sunday and made plans for the next few months. Let us know if you would like to take part in the drama ministry.

The Chancel Choir has open enrollment at this time. Come and join us on Wednesday nights, 7:00-8:00 PM, in the Choir Room. We will be organizing our praise teams and other ensembles very soon.

   FEBRUARY 22-24

          7:00 PM

Make your plans to join us
each evening of this
production.
Your enthusiasm will
attract others to
our church and God.

top

February First Thursday Lunch
(NOTE TIME CHANGE)
Please join us for lunch on Thursday, February 7 at 12:00 noon in the Fellowship Hall. Claudia Oaks, from the Chieftain Museum, will be our guest speaker—following a Chick-Fil-A lunch. We will have January and February birthday celebrations, door prizes, good fellowship, and lots of fun.
Make reservations by calling the church office at 706-232-3663 by Tuesday, February 5, please.

Mark Your Calendar
Fun and Fellowship announces: Winter Festival Banquet, 6:30 PM, February 28
SABC Fellowship Hall. Tickets are $15.00. Purchase tickets by February 26.

"Showtime in the Smokies"

Fun and Fellowship's annual trip to Pigeon Forge will be April 14-16. More details coming up soon.

Ash Wednesday Devotional Books
Ash Wednesday devotionals entitled, The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas à Kempis, will be available Sunday, February 3. Pick one up from the table outside the church office.

Family Ministry
Family Ministry Team Meetings Scheduled
Children's Ministry Team Meeting
Thursday, January 24—7:00 PM Fellowship Hall

Student Ministry Team Meeting
Thursday, January 31—7:00 PM Youth Suite

Super Bowl XLII Party
Sunday, February 3 at 5:30 PM

Join us for fun in the FellowshipHall where we’ll watch the
game on the big screens.

Bring your best chili, dip, anddesserts to be judged DURING
HALF-TIME for PRIZES

At half-time, we’ll kick-off Family 2 Family for 2008
with some “special guests”.
It will be great fun. See you there!

Join the Team—Sunday, January 27
Come and join one of our ministry teams during a special luncheon following worship on Sunday, January 27.

You can be a part of ministry through one of our four teams:

Prayer, Ministry, Outreach, and New Member.

Lunch is on us and will include a brief presentation on the work of each team. Following lunch all four teams will meet to organize for the year. Get involved and join the team!

top

SABC is The Pasta Church
You may not know it, but that is what we are at least to the folks at the Rome Action Ministry Crisis Food Pantry. We are responsible for keeping their pantry stocked with spaghetti, sauce, and macaroni and cheese throughout the year. So, next time you are in the grocery store (or every time for that matter) pick up a box or two of spaghetti and a can or two of sauce (cans are preferred over jars) and some boxed mac and cheese and bring it to the brightly colored collection bins on the first floor hallway outside of Fellowship Hall. Let’s keep up our job to keep them stocked with pasta. The Pantry will also accept donations of any nonperishable food item you would like to add to the bin.

The Crisis Food Pantry at South Rome U M C is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM. Volunteers are also needed to help sort and distribute food. If you would like to volunteer you may call the Rome Action Ministry office directly at 706-291-7731.

Volunteers are also needed to take the food from SABC to the Pantry.

Mark your calendar with these Important Upcoming Events:

January 27 at Noon Join the Team Luncheon

February 3 at 5:30 pm Super Bowl XLII Party/Family 2 Family Kick-Off

February 6 at 6:15 pm Ash Wednesday Service

February 22-24 at 7:00 pm Cotton Patch Gospel

February 28 at 6:30 pm Winter Festival Banquet

Homebound Members
January 27:
Lavonia McLarty

February 3
Frank & Dorothea Parker

Giving for the Week of 1/13/08
Budget Goal to Date $ 27,100.
Budget Gift to Date 31,039.
Weekly Budget Goal 13,550.
Weekly Budget Gifts 20,234.
Total Gifts to Date $ 27,288.

Attendance for 1/13/08
Sunday School 186
Morning Worship 207

Giving for the Week of 1/20/08
Budget Goal to Date $ 40,650.
Budget Gift to Date 55,830.
Weekly Budget Goal 13,550.
Weekly Budget Gifts 24,791.
Total Gifts to Date $ 38,723.

Attendance for 1/20/08
Sunday School 172
Morning Worship 166

Total giving as of 1/20/08 for Second Century Campaign:
$306,875.45

Weekly Schedule
Sunday, January 27
9:00 am Women’s Prayer Time
9:00 am Instrumental Ensemble
9:45 am Sunday School
11:00 am Morning Worship
Following Worship: Join the Team Luncheon
4:00 pm Cotton Patch rehearsal
No Evening Activities

Monday, January 28
6:30 pm Cotton Patch rehearsal

Tuesday, January 29
6:30 pm Cotton Patch rehearsal

Wednesday, January 30
5:15 pm Family Night Supper
5:30 pm Youth Choir rehearsal
6:00 pm Prayer Time—
Fellowship Hall
6:00 pm Preschool Choir
6:00 pm Children’s Choir
6:15 pm Adult Bible Study—Fellowship Hall
6:15 pm The Foundry—Youth
6:15 pm Illuminate—College/Career
6:30 pm Chancel Bell Choir
6:45 pm Children’s Mission Groups
7:00 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal

Thursday, January 31
7:00 am Men’s Prayer Breakfast
10:30 am Joyful Singers Choir to Roman Court
7:00 pm Student Ministry Team meeting—Youth Suite

Friday, February 1
9:30 am Women's Bible Study

Saturday, February 2
9:00 am—Noon Habitat for Humanity Mentor Orientation
3:00 pm Cotton Patch rehearsal