INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

CALENDER 2

THE POWER OF

INVITATION

3

BOOK CLUB, MDO 4

STEWARDSHIP 5

CAROLING, YEARLY

PLANNING RETREAT, BIBLE BABES

6

YOUTH 7

PASTOR’S PRATTLE 8

JANUARY 2014

WELCOME…

To our new Parish Council who, over the next year offer their

wisdom, leadership and enthusiasm to our church and ministries! Those new members

are: Jerry Mower, Tina Mower, Mitchell Davenport, Karen Davenport, Clint

Strickland, Martha Salmon, Rod Hammond, and Bob Maddox.

To our new Elders for 2014-2015 who provide spiritual leadership and remain in

fervent prayer for our church and each person in our church as well as those God

wishes us to embrace: Martha Salmon, Jerry Mower, and Tina Mower.

To our new Deacons/Junior Deacons for 2014-2015 who willingly give of their

time through service to the church and caring for the physical needs of our ministry:

Brian Davenport, Debbie Colbert, Roxanna Maddox, Tom Loftin, Wanda West, Mary

Ellen Cooper, Anita Hackley, Reuben Gonzales, and Caleb Martin.

To our new trustee of 2014-2016 who oversees the financial care of our the MCC

church: John Hackley.

To Our 2014 MCC Board who give their gifts and talents to the care of MCC:

Moderator, Martha Salmon; Vice Moderator, Wanda West; Treasurer, Tom Loftin; As-

sistant Treasurer, Tina Mower; Clerk, Pat Loftin; and Assistant Clerk, Debbie Colbert.

To our 2014 FPC Session members who give their time and talents to the care of

FPC: Mitchell Davenport, Clerk of Session; Anne Dyer, Treasurer; and Liz Spears and

Edwina Swan Session Members.

WELCOME to each and every one of you and thank you for giving your time to

the various ministries of Jacksboro Parish. You help lead our congregation into a

bright future with God! May our Lord bless us in the new year—where we see a need,

may we meet that need; where we see hurt, may we offer healing; where we see joy, may

we join exuberantly in praising God, and where we see the lost, may we welcome them

home!

The Jacksboro Parish

January 2014

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

Office Closed

2 3 4

5 6 7 8

6:30 MCC Mtg

9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16

6:30 Parish Council

Mtg

17 18 Planning Retreat

9:30-3pm

19

6:30pm Book Club

20 21 22

Noon Bible Babes

23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31

THE JACKSBORO PARISH PAGE 2

(Rev. Paul Ganther adapted

this article from an on-line

blog by Matthew Porter of

England on Discipleship.

Blog-applies here, too!)

Most people love receiving

invitations. To a party. A

meal. Wedding. A

celebration. A special event.

It’s nice to be included-to

feel part of something. It’s

good to know that you

belong.

But many don’t feel like they

belong. They feel lonely. In

fact we live in a lonely

society. That’s why Mother

Theresa is right when she

famously said: ‘The greatest

disease today is not

starvation but loneliness.”

Loneliness is one of the

greatest ills of 21st Century

Britain, and we’re not

immune to it here in York,

or the North of England.

Recent published research

by the Mental Health

Foundation shows that over

1 in 10 UK residents often

feel lonely; just 1 in 5 people

say they never feel lonely

and half think that people in

the UK are, in general,

getting more lonely.

People want to be included.

They want to be invited.

That’s because we’re made

by God to live in

community, in families, in

homes, with a network of

friends. That’s a massive

part of what church is about.

And that’s why all the

evidence shows that most

people today belong before

they believe. They want to

see what kind of community

we are, before they commit

to the head of the

community, Jesus Christ.

But how are they going to

find out, unless they come?

And how are they going to

come unless someone invites

them? You see, invitation is

crucial. That’s the power

invitation.

In John chapter 1, Philip

meets Jesus and decides to

follow him. He then wants

his friend, Nathaniel to meet

Jesus too—maybe like you

want your friend, or your

family member, or your

work colleague, to meet

Jesus. So what does Phillip

do? He tells his friend that

he’s found someone

amazing-Jesus Christ. But

Nathaniel isn’t sure and so

Phillip replies: ‘Come and

see.’ He invites him.

Simple as that. And

Nathaniel agrees and meets

Jesus and his life is

transformed. But it

wouldn’t have happened

unless Phillip had invited

him. Take out the

invitation and Nathaniel

would not have met Jesus.

That’s the power of

invitation.

But how does God normally

invite people? On occasions

he just intervenes and

sovereignly does it himself.

But normally he does it

through his hands and his

feet-his body. The church.

That’s how he operates.

Through you and me.

I was speaking with a man at

the weekend who’d become

a believer in the last two

weeks. He was very excited

as he told me about his

journey to faith! One crucial

part included a friend

inviting him on a Christian

skiing holiday which opened

up all sorts of conversations

and opportunities for him to

discover who Jesus is. Take

out the invitation and this

man would not have met

Jesus. That’s the power of

invitation.

So, who are you inviting?

Have you got your

invitations? Are you giving

them away? Are you

praying for invitation

opportunities this week?

Because this is the time to be

inviting. This is the time to

be maximizing the power of

invitation.

NEWSLETTER TITLE

The Power of Invitation

PAGE 3

BOOK CLUB

Book Club meets monthly and

discusses a book we’ve all been

reading. We visit each month at

6:30pm and we discuss a new book

that makes us think and contemplate

God, our relationship with God and

one another.

Join us January 9th for “The Great

Emergence” by Phyllis Tickle. Tickle

is the founding editor of the Religion

Department for Publishers Weekly.

She is a respected scholar and this

book is praised by the likes of Diana

Butler Bass and Katharine Jefferts

Schori. Upcoming books for the rest

of the school year include:

PAGE 4 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1

January Book: “The Great Emergence” by

Phyllis Tickle

MDO Clos-

ings Reminder: MDO will be

closed the first

week in January

and we will re-

open on Tuesday

MDO

Xtreme

greatly ap-

preciates

everyone

who helped

provide re-

freshments

for our

Christmas

February Book:

“Amistad” by

Alexs Pate

March Book: “Mended: Pieces of a

Life Made Whole” by

Angie Smith

May Book: “The Wedding Planners of

Butternut Creek” by Jane

Myers Perrine

April Book: “The Case for Christ” by

Lee Stobel

SAVE THE DATE--Year ly Plann ing Ret reat

Every year w e com e t oget her as a congregat ion t o

p lan f o r t he New Year . Mo re d et ails are com ing, but

p lease p ut on your calendars t o be in at t endance on

January 18, 2014 f rom 930am t o 3p m . Lunch w ill b e

p rovid ed , b r ing snacks f o r shar ing if you’d like f o r a

m orn ing snack. Your voice needs t o

be par t of t hose

discussions, your idea

s needs t o be par t of

t hose

discussions, and YOU n

eed t o be par t of p lan

ning

t he New Year ! See you in 2014!

THE JACKSBORO PARISH

UNWAVERING CONFORMITUNWAVERING CONFORMITUNWAVERING CONFORMITUNWAVERING CONFORMITY: A Y: A Y: A Y: A

PAGE 5

Equitable Distribution of Resources:

God told Moses that the promised land was to be distributed according to the relative size

and needs of the various tribes: ‘To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller

group a smaller one’ (Nu 126:54). In this way, socioeconomic equity was ingrained in the

DNA of Israel’s agrarian economy. Biblical scholar Craig L. Blomberg observes, ‘The ideal

contrasts markedly with arrangements in other feudal kingdoms near Canaan in that day, in

which by far the more common pattern was the concentration of vast tracts of land among

the royal and aristocratic elites, leaving a majority of the people in considerable poverty.’

Similarly, when we look to the New Testament, the book of Acts provides an outstanding

example of how the equitable distribution of resources became an important characteristic of

the early church (see Ac 2:42-47; 4:32-37). Today the same principle should govern our

financial decisions. Second Corinthians 9:11 tells us that God makes us rich in every way so

that we can be generous on every occasion. Thus, distributing resources equitably means

recognizing the fact that in God’s economy he equips some with more so that they can bless

others who have less.

Based on 2 Corinthians 8:13-14:

Paul warns, however, that equality in giving should not cause the saints in one area to be eased

while givers become burdened. The Jerusalem saints were not to enjoy plush seats while the

Corinthian Christians sat on hard benches. On the contrary, there should be wisdom and a

sense of balance in the matter of sharing the resources of a local church.

We are also to be gracious receivers when it becomes necessary:

Some people will not accept gifts lest they should be obligated to the donors. This, in Paul’s

view, is unethical (see 2 Co 8:13). We should gratefully receive all that God gives us through

our brethren because the time may come when we must reciprocate. This truth was not for

Corinth only; it is relevant today! Today we may have abundance and tomorrow we may be in

want. Today we may live in luxury and tomorrow we may suffer need. Today we may have the

privilege of giving and tomorrow we may have the equal privilege of receiving.

As you read through today’s Scripture please reflect on the following questions: what is one

way in which you are rich, and how do you share your riches with others?

Number 26:52-56

January 2014

SAVE THE DATE--Year ly Plann ing Ret reat

Every year w e com e t oget her as a congregat ion t o

p lan f o r t he New Year . Mo re d et ails are com ing, but

p lease p ut on your calendars t o be in at t endance on

January 18, 2014 f rom 930am t o 3p m . Lunch w ill b e

p rovid ed , b r ing snacks f o r shar ing if you’d like f o r a

m orn ing snack. Your voice needs t o

be par t of t hose

discussions, your idea

s needs t o be par t of

t hose

discussions, and YOU n

eed t o be par t of p lan

ning

t he New Year ! See you in 2014!

Many joined in joyful

singing if nothing more

than a joyful noise! We

were like the reindeer

Dasher going from place

to place,

Prancing and dancing with

a smile on our face. Cupid

came along with hugs all

around, and one little

vixen even hit the ground!

Donning our Christmas

festive gear, we were like a

comet spreading cheer!

After spreading the light

of Christ like Rudolph the

red nose reindeer we

blitzed back to the fellow-

ship meal and carried on

with

THE JACKSBORO PARISH

CAROLING 2013CAROLING 2013CAROLING 2013CAROLING 2013

PAGE 6

Bible Babes

SAVE THE DATE—Yearly Planning Retreat

Every year we come together as a congregation to plan for the New Year.

More details are coming, but please put on your

calendars to be in attendance on January 18, 2014 from 9:30am to 3pm.

Lunch will be provided, bring snacks for sharing if you’d like for a morning

snack. Your voice needs to be part of those discussions, your ideas

needs to be part of those discussions, and YOU need to be part of

planning the New Year! See you in 2014!

RETURNS for another great year of “womanshipping”! It is a true blessing

gathering as women with no concerns but building relationship with one another.

It warms our hearts as we share laughter and tears, a nice meal and devotion. Join

us January 22nd at noon. Drop your kids off at the MDO hall and then meet us at

the activity center! Can’t wait to see what God brings us in the New Year!

Youth Group

There is nothing like opening your gift to find a

THE JACKSBORO PARISH PAGE 7

Youth Group is always up for

new & different

challenges. Even singing some

carols that are not familiar.

Never see this m

uch concen-

tration

on the

ir faces during

our lessons on

Wedn

esday

Singing to Loyce

Ingram at Greystone

He had a hard time

deciding what gift to open.

“Joy to the World”

What a great meal for our Christ-

mas Dinner!

We were a little off key but no

one seemed to mind

Youth had a blast singing ca

rols

to the residents of Jacksboro

Health Care Center

PASTOR’S PRATTLE

Dear Church Family,

I’m sitting here

pondering what 2014

will be like. This time

of year we say such

things as “out with the

old and in with the

new”, “can’t wait for

this year to be over”,

“looking forward to a

new year”, and “I’m so

glad that 2013 is

done”!

We relish looking

toward new and

exciting time, but we

neglect remembering

the good times that

have just past. For

instance, this past year

was not the easiest for

me and my family.

However, we had a

church family that

surrounded us in love,

that were here for us,

that offered us grace,

that cheered us on, that

extended a helpful

hand, compassion, and

most importantly

prayers. 2013 would

have been completely

unbearable if we did

not have the church.

So for me, I am thank-

ful for the gifts of this

church and I will treas-

ure every memory and

every kindness that you

extended to me and my

family in 2013.

As we usher in 2014,

may we also reflect

deeply on the past year

and genuinely

appreciate 2013...A

year that offered

laughter, tears, tender

moments, family,

friends, and a lifetime

of experience. Just as

every Sunday we come

to the table in

remembrance, may we

also remember the

lessons of 2013 as we

welcome in 2014 and

the lessons that this

new year holds for us.

God bless each and

everyone of us in our

remembering and in

our expectations.

Love and prayers,

Pastor Ana

Dear Church Family,

Thank you for the gift

you gave me and my

family this Christmas.

It truly is appreciated

and we look forward to

some special family

time that this gift

makes possible. Again

thank you all!

Much Love,

Ana

THE JACKSBORO PARISH PAGE 8

PAGE 11 THE JACKSBORO PARISH

Memories from 2013

PAGE 10 THE JACKSBORO PARISH

Memories from 2013

Memories from 2013 PAGE 9 THE JACKSBORO PARISH

Memories from 2013 PAGE 12 THE JACKSBORO PARISH