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“The Reason for God”

We just completed one of the best Bible studies that I

have been a part of in our Wednesday night small

group. I highly recommend you see the videos in our

“RightNow” media Library. You can access for free

over 4000 studies for people of all ages by simply

sending us your Email and we will send you an invite.

“The Reason for God” was facilitated by Rev,

Timothy Keller. In the video Rev. Keller and a

number of non-believers tackle many of the questions

that you and I have about God. Here is a quote from

Rev. Keller about the resurrection that might peak

your interest:

“In his 800-page book, “The Resurrection of the Son

of God”, historian N.T Write says that there is no

historical possible alternative explanation for the birth

of the Christian Church than the bodily resurrection of

Jesus. There is a tremendous amount of evidence. The Greeks, the Romans, the Jews in Jesus’

day all had different worldviews, but the bodily resurrection of Jesus would have been as

absolutely inconceivable to all of them as it is for us, just for different reasons.” He goes on to

say, “Whatever it would take for us (to believe in the resurrection of Jesus), something just as

overwhelming must have happened to them.”

“We know what it was for them because the Gospel writers tell us: at least 11 times Jesus

actually appeared, and hundreds of witnesses believed in the risen Christ because they saw him,

heard him, and touched him, and thousands more believed because they believed the

The Key West United Methodist Church Newsletter

Our Vision Statement:

People alive in Jesus Christ, growing through dynamic worship,

nurturing programs and loving service to others."

February 2015

Email: keywestumc@bellsouth.net Website: http://keywestumchurch.org/

PHONE NUMBERS: 305-296-2392, 305-296-PRAY FAX NUMBER: 305-296-4702

eyewitnesses testimony of their friends and neighbors. It overwhelmed them, and it changed

their world. We have the same eyewitness testimony available to us.”

Rev. Keller concludes, “How can you be totally sure when you look at all the horrible stuff that

has happened in your life and out in the world that someday God is going to make it all right?

How can you not just hope so, but be absolutely sure that in spite of your own failures, God

loves you and will never let go of you? How can you know that when you face death it is not

the end? Only if you know that Jesus rose from the dead and therefore so will you.”

In His Grace,

Pastor Ruben

GENERAL PRAYER CONCERNS: The Archer Family, Connie Losley, June Young, Lois Griffin, Bart Francis, Jean Chandler, Mike Gallogly, Connie Costlow, Tamma Wells, Judy Greene, Larisa Ritchie, friends and family of Jan Wallace, Francine Stange, Wayne Goldstein, Debo Dingler, Wilma LeRoy, Rose Sedely, Rachelle Diaz, Jerry Williams, Lacie Maninga, Jack & Noreen Collins, Meggan Meggs, Bernie Klem, Peggy Cornell, Greg Smith, Kirsten Cote, Ron Cherry, Vickie

Hughes, Kaylee Ortueta, George Rowland, Betsi Marsh-Mardeusz, Pam Szolga, Mark Adams, Amanda Siglin, Liam Reddy , Steve Dickey, David Carone, Ally Sonstein, friends and family of Rosie Jones, Catherine Duncan, Brian Belanger, Cathy Jackson, Tom Love, Joyce Papaycik, Wayne Rankan, Verna Marble, Thea Hyde, Marilyn Romeo, Candace Seizer, Bob Lytikainen, Daniel McLeod, Caridad Beavers, Mary Anne Matchett, Brad Eggebraaten, Katherine Brown, Zona Harman, Linda Rysman, Katherine Doughty, Pat Wells, (NOTE: If you would like someone put on the list, please contact the church office.) MILITARY AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL IN HARMS WAY: Michael Kopitzke (Army), Stephen Hill (Marines); OUR SISTER CHURCH IN CUBA: Entronque d Herradura, La Iglesia Methodista NURSING HOMES: Dorothy Edwards Miami, FL)

OUR MISSIONARIES SUPPORTED BY SECOND MILE MISSION GIVING: Rev. Fletcher Anderson.

A donation has been made to the Organ Fund in memory of Marilyn Johnson by Herb and Fran Kebschull.

2nd Pat Hilson

3rd Neal Birmingham

4th Megan Monsalvatge Patti McMackin Elizabeth Blount

6th Derek Epperly

8th Phillip Foster Don Taylor

9th Nico Velasco Terrance Moore

11th Jean Foster

12th Dick George Shirley Hill

14th Carl McMackin

11th James and Molly Gibson 14th Todd Klem and Maj Johnson

Fred and Mary Michaels

22nd Dick and Shirley George

16th Clarence Hunt, Elizabeth Kerns

17th Mary Ann Causley William Atwell Audrey Allison

18th Shannon Matthews

20th John Vidal

21st Mary Russell Sheila Miklos Michelle Wilson

23rd Laila Griffin, Chris Mullins

26th Jean Greene, Virginia Schoneck

27th Lorraine Tacke

The church has been given a very colorful “Certificate of Appreciation” by Kids Come First in response to the donation of half of our Christmas Eve offerings. It will be hung in the Education Building across from the drinking fountain for all to enjoy! The mission of Kids Come First is ‘to provide clothing, personal and school supplies to every child experiencing financial adversity in Monroe County’. We are thankful for the ability to help support this mission!

A letter was received in the office from General Board of Global Missions thanking us for a year end donation of $300 to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), which is on the front lines providing

humanitarian relief when war, conflict, or natural disaster disrupt life to such an extent that communities are unable to recover on their own. They let us know that 100% of our contribution will go to providing infrastructure in agriculture, health and nutrition and equipping surrounding communities in Angola. He have helped to provide comfort to those impacted by disasters like earthquakes and storms, food for the hungry, and healthcare to those who otherwise would have none. If you would like more information, please visit the website at: www.umcor.org. A letter from Florida United Methodist Children’s Home has come thanking us for our year end donation. Becky Dotson, the President and CEO points out that the beginning of the new year is a time to put the past aside and look to the future and all that God holds in store for us. At the Children’s Home they have a mission to replace a child’s painful memories with the warmth, love and stability of Jesus Christ; to let them know that they are loved and special no matter what has happened in their past. Our continued support enables them to give our children what they need to move forward with love and stability. She asks that we continue to keep our children in your thoughts and prayers.

United Methodist Women will meet on February 24 at Chomi Oropeza’s home at 1600 Rose Street. The March meeting on the 17th is the annual “Call to Prayer and Self-Denial” meeting which will be held at the Wesley House Family Services office (1304 Truman Ave.) Meetings begin at 7pm. All women are welcome!!

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR YOUTH AS THEY HOST “SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY” FUNDRAISER!! All funds collected will be split between:

Rock of Escape Food PantryOur group went on mission to serve with this group last summer. They are the largest food pantry in the Tampa Bay area, serving over 300 families on a weekly basis. They do this work with 5-10 people from a congregation of approximately 50 people. They model the call to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Douglass Gym After School Program This is a City run program that offers homework help, recreation and supervision to the youth of our community. They provide snacks to the boys and girls that go there on a daily basis, but do not receive funds for those snacks. They depend on the generosity of the community.

PLEASE REMEMBER, EVEN IF YOU DO NOT PLAN TO ENJOY THE CHILI LUNCHEON FEB. 1, DONATIONS WILL BE COLLECTED IN THE SOUP POTS AT THE DOORS OF THE SANCTUARY. USE YOUR DONATION TO “VOTE” FOR THE TEAM YOU’D LIKE TO WIN THE SUPERBOWL GAME!

Something to think about… “Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing Him more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to do this attend strictly to the sense of what you sing, and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve here, and reward you when he comes in the clouds of heaven.” John Wesley

Come support the KWUMC “RELAY FOR LIFE” FUNDRAISER

and Yard Sale in Jones Hall

SATURDAY, February 7th 8 AM TO 1 PM

SAVE THE DATE!

There is a dynamic concert planned for Sunday, March 1st at

2pm to raise money for Relay for Life. Maj Johnson and an 8

piece band will perform songs from the Great American

Songbook (songs everyone knows) and some jazz

standards. Donations will be accepted at the door (suggested

price of $20 but we'll take whatever you can afford). Maj is seeking volunteers to usher, make bake goods to sell at intermission, or host a luncheon to increase the funds for the event. Please see Maj, Ann, or Dr. George if you can help.

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 9 AM – 3 PM

Located in Jones Hall building. (Please ring bell by mailbox!)

WEEKLY EVENTS Tuesday

9:30 am Happy Hearts Sewers

Wednesday 6pm Wonderful Wednesday Potluck Dinner 7pm Old Stone Bible Study

7pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal

Thursday 6:30 am Men’s Prayer Breakfast 6:30 am Women’s Bible Study & Prayer

Friday 7 pm KWESST Youth Group

Sunday 9:30 am Children’s Choir Practice 9:45 am Sunday School

USHERS: 8:30: Roger Miklos (Head), Lisa Yongue, J.W.

Yongue Substitutes: Jo Pine, Larry Thompson, Carlos Perez

11:00: Herb Kebschull (Head), George Lindner, Bill Anderson, Pat Gibson

WHAT ABOUT PRAYER? Many people wish they could spend more time in prayer but are concerned about squeezing it in

to an already crowded calendar. This advice from United Methodist pastors and church

leaders will help you move toward a deeper prayer life.

Make prayer a priority Those hoping to find time for prayer will likely fail. You have to make

time. “I like to compare it to exercise,” said Jan Reed, leader of the Centering Prayer Group at

University United Methodist Church in Austin, Texas. “We need exercise to keep our bodies

healthy,” she continued. “We need prayer to keep our souls healthy.”

Make an appointment with God Set aside a specific time to pray. It may be first thing in the

morning, in the evening, during your lunch break, your commute, or time spent waiting for the

kids. Be creative. Then put the appointment in your calendar and keep it.

Find a sacred place The Rev. Joseph Kim of Manlius United Methodist Church in New York

encourages us to have a place to pray as well. “My closet,” as Kim calls his prayer space, “is the

front of the altar in the sanctuary.” But not all of us have daily access to our church buildings.

“Wherever this would be,” Kim continued, “whether it is home, work, or in the car, finding your

closet and time are important to deepen your prayer life.”

Turn off the television Remove distractions and pray. Reed reminds us, “We often spend at least

20 min a day doing insignificant things – checking emails, puttering around the house, watching

TV, surfing the internet, etc.” We could replace that time with 20 minutes of deep communion

with God. The Reverend Olinda Salazar-Veliz, Pastor of Hispanic Ministries at White Plains

United Methodist Church and pastor of Luz del Pueblo in Cary, North Carolina, encourages us to

pray through this struggle. She offers this example, “I want to grow more to follow you in

better ways... Please, forgive my distractions, putting as excuses my daily chores. Allow me to

approach more actively in your teachings and in the practice of them.”

Pray with a group Being part of a group may help motivate you to pray. Hixson United Methodist

Church in Tennessee saw a group of moms come together to pray for their school-age children

and the schools they attended. Years later, though most of their children have graduated, the

moms still pray together every Friday morning. If you cannot find a group to join, start one by

inviting some friends to pray with you.

Pray as a family Another group to pray with is your family. Send the children off to school with

a moment of prayer. Give God thanks in the evening for all the blessings of the day. Pray with

your spouse as you read the morning paper over breakfast. Pause to pray as you watch the

evening news.

Keep your Bible and prayer journal handy Many people miss exercise classes because they cannot

find their yoga mat or car keys in time. We can also significantly cut into our prayer time while

looking for what we need. Keep your Bible, journal, and other tools where you can quickly

locate them.

Keep the conversation going all day The Rev. Ginger Pudenz, Associate Pastor at Platte Woods

United Methodist Church in Missouri, encourages people to pray throughout the day with

Twitter prayers. “I occasionally use Twitter to send a reminder to pray,” she reports. “A few

faithful followers have shared that it is a pleasant interruption to see that tweet and know that

they are being called to pray with others in real time.” Short prayers throughout the day are a

great way to increase your prayer life.

Pray your calendar If you are concerned about having time, pray for it. Pray through what the

day ahead will bring – your meetings, children’s events, doctor’s appointments, and the like. A

few moments in prayer may be just the right medicine to still your spirit despite a hectic

schedule.

Use resources Getting a time of prayer started can be challenging. The Upper Room provide

helpful resources like their wonderful daily devotions , an online Living Prayer Center, and print

resources on prayer.

J.D. Walt who writes another daily devotional called The Daily Text for Asbury Theological

Seminary’s Seedbed.com says his daily posts are a “way of sowing the seeds of Scripture into

the people of God in ways that are sprouting up into all sorts of creative prayer and work in the

Kingdom.” Experiment with some helps to find what works for you.

Experiment with different methods

There is no right way to pray, as there is no right way to have a conversation with your best

friend. The Upper Room Living Prayer Center offers examples of several different methods.

Experiment with fresh ways to connect with God.

Enjoy it Kim warns against viewing prayer time as just another box to check on a spiritual to-do

list. “When you approach prayer as your Christian duty, you would not enjoy its time,” he said.

“You need to see prayer life as special time for dating with God.” He continued, “God who loves

you dearly wants to spend time with you and to hear everything about your life.” Change your

mindset from having to spend time with God, toward getting to.

Keep going Change takes time. There will be days when you will fall short. When that happens,

forgive yourself and keep going. Remember the benefits of the deeper prayer life you seek. As

Reed pondered her prayer group she said, “I think [its popularity] reflects the need for us in

our hectic and busy society, to slow down, let go of frustrations, anxieties, and any of the crises

we might be facing in our lives, and reconnect to God.” Setting aside more time for prayer will

change the rest of our day, making it a good year indeed. (A UMC.org feature by Joe Iovino)