2010

A Thanksgiving Tradition That Does Not Require Alka-Seltzer

It would not surprise any of you to learn that I am often called upon to pray at fam-
ily gatherings. At Thanksgiving, there is usually a pretty large crowd gathered WELCOME
around the table, and as someone asks me to say a prayer, someone else usually
rolls their eyes, because they know they are in for a long one. The long Thanks- S U N DA Y S C H O O L
9 : 45 A . M .
giving prayer, and the rolling of eyes, are both family traditions we treasure. (E D . B L DG .)

I’m sorry, but I’m not going to shorten the prayer just because you want to get S U N DA Y W O R S H I P
down to business while the potatoes are still hot. As I look around the table, I 11: 00 A . M .
( S AN CT U AR Y )
don’t see anyone in danger of passing out from lack of food. The cooks and the
carvers have already sampled more food than they usually eat for lunch anyway. F E LL OWSHIP ME AL
F I RS T W E DNE S DA YS
Thanksgiving is more about giving thanks than food or family or football. It is our B E G I NNI NG I N
S E PT E M B E R AT 6 PM
official National Day of Prayer. I suppose one can be thankful in a general sense
without considering who to be thankful to, but most of us know what giving thanks H AND B ELL
means. Even the most ardent proponents of taking prayer out of the public arena P RA CT ICE
have not dared to take this one head on. They chip away at it by trying to de- W E DNE S D A YS
6 : 3 0 P. M.
mythologize the Thanksgiving lore (“They didn’t really eat turkey; it wasn’t really
a religious gathering; blah, blah, blah”), but I’m not aware of anyone who has yet C HOIR PRACTICE
found the nerve to suggest we do away with the holiday because it forces religion W E DNE S D A YS
down their throats. 7 : 3 0 P. M.

R E STO RERS
Arguably, the prayer before the dinner is better for you than the dinner itself. I T HU RS D AY S 9 : 00 A . M .
don’t need to remind anyone that the average calorie count for that one meal is (A CT I VI T Y R O OM )
5000 to 6000. But don’t worry; you can burn those calories by walking vigorously * * * * * * * ** * * * * ** * * * *
for about fourteen hours, or by sitting on the couch and clicking the remote 3.27 X
OUR MI SSION
1023 times. By contrast, prayer has been associated with several health benefits,
including lower blood pressure, greater resistance to disease, higher reported life A T A L L EN M EMO RIA L
satisfaction, and longer lifespan. In this sense, prayer is more like exercise than O UR MI SS IO N I S TO
Thanksgiving dinner; the more you practice it, the greater is the benefit. And no
matter how long I pray, no one has asked for an Alka-Seltzer when I finally say  G A T HER A S T HE
FA M IL Y O F C HRIS T ,
“Amen.”
 G RO W A S DI S CI PL ES
G.K. Chesterton once wrote, “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of O F C HRIST A ND
thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” Now there is food
for thought. Who can object to raising our forms of thought, and doubling our  GO FO RT H T O S ERVE
A S T HE B OD Y O F
happiness? So when it comes down to Thanksgiving dinner, relax and settle in for CHRI ST
a good long prayer. You have much to be thankful for. Besides, the food will still
be there when you are done—most of it anyway.

Brian Dale
P AG E 2

FROM THE WORSHIP COMMITTEE Strength for Service to God and Country

WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

In the years since September 11, 2001, a
new generation of American military per-
Artifacts from countries around the world were displayed: sonnel has been deployed to war zones
Children and Youth wore clothing from Ireland, Israel and Rus- around the world. In a time of war, those
sia. called into the service of
others often turn to spiritual resources for perspective
and the strength to persevere. As individuals standing in
harm’s way consider their eternal destiny, spiritual guid-
ance to answer life’s tough questions is urgently needed
and remains in especially high demand.

Strength for Service to God and Country was a

Words of Institution
Reverend Brian Dale (English)
Dr. Eve Mullen (German)
Dr. Florian Pohl (Bahasa Indonesian)
with the Celebration at the Lord ’ s Supper
Laity Sunday Highlights
Lay Leader Virgil Eady prayed the Morning Prayer with
leaders and chairman of ministries and committees of-
fering prayers for specific programs and ministries of the
church.
popular devotional given to soldiers during WWII and
the Korean conflict. Over one million copies of Strength
for Service were published and distributed by the Abing-
don-Cokesbury Press before the book fell out of print in
the 1950s. Many soldiers of that era can recall how
much it meant to them, some even claiming that it saved
their lives or brought them to a saving faith.
In 2002, Eagle Scout Evan Hunsberger
discovered a worn copy of the volume that
had belonged to his grandfather, and de-
voted himself to the republishing of
Strength for Service. With some new de-
votions from contemporary religious lead-
ers, and slight changes in older devotions to reflect
contemporary language and culture, the newly
republished volume remains true to its original spirit.
Today, Strength for Service has found an audience in
military personnel deployed throughout the world in a
time of war; more than 300,000 copies have been
distributed since Hunsberger’s original goal was
achieved.
The goal of the General Commission on
United Methodist Men (GCUMM) is to raise
awareness and financial support to supply a
copy to every man and woman serving in the
U.S. armed forces worldwide. As steward of
the project, the organization has begun
developing plans for subsequent versions of
Strength for Service that would appeal to
public servants and other civilians.
On Sunday, November 7, we will have a special
worship service to honor our veterans. We will have
books available for purchase, and will take up a
special offering to promote this cause. We invite your
support and encourage you to purchase a copy of
Strength for Service for a friend or relative, or donate to
the fund.

BY JOANNA HENRY
FALL FUN!!!
We enjoyed a wonderful trip
to the Corn Dawgs Corn Maze,
where we all got to be… well, November 7: Veterans will be honored. If you are a
veteran. Please call the church office (770-786-7414)
kids!
to submit information about your military service.
We also had a blast at the Fall Bazaar!
The kids enjoyed getting their faces painted, try-
ing their hand at pumpkin painting, and racing
on the Inflatable Obstacle Course! It was a big
community outreach and a fun place for the
neighborhood to come and play!
Special Thanks to all of the volunteers who
helped make the Fall Bazaar a blast!
Coming Up in November:
Sunday November 21st Thanksgiving
Outreach Fundraiser. This will be a lunch di-
rectly after church in which the kids will serve
food and put on a talent show for the entire
church family.
P AG E 3
The Music Score
By Harriett Jordan, Director of Music Ministry
(770-786-8923 / stormybanks@bellsouth.net)
November 21: Thanksgiving Sunday & Christ the King
Sunday.
November 28: First Sunday in Advent
Hanging of the Greens
This has become a wonderful service of celebration
and worship at Allen Memorial. Contact Harriett ASAP
if you would like to assist in decorating the sanctuary
during this service.
Advent ~ Chirstmas Music
To be presented by The Chancel Choir
A Ceremony of Lessons and Carols
By Anna Laura Page and Jean Anne Shafferman
November 28th @ 11:00 AM
Messiah Christmas Trilogy
(from Handel’s Messiah /arranged by Hal H. Hopson)
December 5th @ 11:00 AM
(during Morning Worship)
Sunday, October 24th we welcomed:
New Members: Stuart and Alice McCanless
Baptism: Mary Lindsey Whisnant
Mary Lindsey Whisnant with parents Adrian and
Catherine Whisnant
Greeters - “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds
November & December: discuss people.”
1st Sunday- Rob Gourlay, David
Dale, Andy Autry,
Chuck Knarr
2nd Sunday- Anna and Chuck Silver, Alexa DeVetter, Nancy Henderson 1-Nov
Steve Bowen Bill Womack 2-Nov
3rd Sunday- Dorothy Dimsdale, Tom Johnson, JoAn Erica Taylor 3-Nov
Stone, Rob Gourlay Fran Elizer 9-Nov
4th Sunday- Andy Autry, Carlos Meyer, Brandon McDonald 13-Nov
Alexa DeVetter, John Burson Harriett Jordan 13-Nov
5th Sunday- Charles Cline, Tom Johnson, Chuck Knarr, Herbert White 19-Nov
David Dale Andrea McDonald 20-Nov
Tristan Taylor 20-Nov
Greeters, Please begin your responsibilities at 10:45 A.M. Wear Jackie Ellis 21-Nov
your Welcome Badge. Greet each person with a smile and a Dorothy Dimsdale 23-Nov
handshake. Give visitors an information card to fill out and put Luke Gillmore 23-Nov
in offering plate or give to the Pastor. After service, please pick Judy Sams 25-Nov
up any papers left on pews and put in recycle bins. Please Justin Sullivan 28-Nov
assist those who come in late also. Emilia Mae Jenkins 28-Nov

SAVE THE DATE!!!

SUSIE B. STONE CIRCLE MEETS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH AT 2 PM Sunday, November 3rd - Charge Conference at 3 PM.
AT HOME OF ELIZABETH ELLIS.
BOBBIE HAYNES CIRCLE MEETS Wednesday, November 10th - Fellowship Dinner at 6PM
TUESDAY , NOVMEBER 16TH AT 7 PM. - Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes to be filled
LYNN BRANHAM CIRCLE MEETS THURSDAY,
NOVEMBER 18TH AT NOON THOMAS RESTAURANT. Sunday, November 21st - Thanksgiving lunch after
church. A Fundraiser for outreach.
UMW CHRISTMAS PARTY— DECEMBER 7TH AT 7 PM
IN LOVERN HALL.
Tuesday, November 23rd at 7 PM - Community
Thanksgiving Service at Episcopal Church of the Good
CHARGE CONFERENCE—SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH Shepherd in Covington.
AT 3 PM.

ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL MEETING: SUNDAY, Thursday, November 25th - Thanksgiving Day.

NOVEMBER 7, AT 4 PM .
Sunday, November 28th - First Sunday of Advent -
FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING : TUESDAY, Hanging of the Greens.
NOVEMBER 9, 4 PM.

YOUNG AT HEART LUNCHEON—FRIDAY,

NOVEMBER 19, AT NOON. THANKS!~ Thanks for the help with the events of October 16th and
23rd! The bake sales made $578.75, the craft vendors provided $100,
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING: SUNDAY , and the flea market brought in $1001.47 for a total of $1680.22.
NOVEMBER 28, AT 4:00 PM.

Allen Memorial United Methodist Church

OUR STAFF 803 Whatcoat Street Non-Profit Permit
P.O. Box 117 Permit No. 7
R EV. B RIAN DALE Oxford, Georgia 30054 Oxford, GA 30054
P AS T OR
Return Service Requested
H ARRIET T J ORDA N
M U S I C D I RE CT O R

J O A N N A H E NR Y
D I RE CT O R OF
C HI L DRE N & Y OU T H
M I NI S T RI E S

W ILL IAM P RA TE R
P RI NCI PA L
A CCOM PANI S T

J EANNIE P ITT S
S E CRE T AR Y