Author: Edward Shirley

Brundidge United Methodist Church
May 2019 Newsletter
Don’t Be in the Dark About the Shark
A new study led by the Monterey Bay Aquarium and published in “Nature” found great white sharks leave their “preferred hunting ground” when orcas — also known as killer whales — enter it. In fact, researchers found the sharks won’t return to those areas for roughly a year — even if the orcas don’t stay that long.
When I think of “The Boss of the Sea” I visualize a large great white shark moving freely without any sense of a threat from others. They can be 20 feet in length and weigh more than 5000 pounds. Yet, an orca can send a great white shark running and scare them away. Perhaps we have given too much credit to the white shark as being the biggest bad beast in the sea.
However, I have always said “A shark would have to be part walking catfish to get me when I go to the beach.” I never get deeper than just above my ankles. The Christian church needs to renew their respectful fear for a predator that can rip us to shreds. We act as though he will never lurk in our waters at home, at work, or in the church. We fail to give him a passing thought which makes us perfect prey for him to devour.
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) When you don’t take something seriously then eventually you will not take it at all. The downfall of the Christian church today is “Satan is not considered a threat to the Christian life.” Without the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18), the Devil will take it all.
Make sure that the water of life where you swim has an orca nearby. That Orca is Jesus. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)
Pray that Jesus will keep your soul safe from Satan’s attacks. Be alert as you swim through the activities of the day, so that the Devil cannot catch you off guard and cause you harm. Satan is defeated by Christ, but he still is dangerous especially when you fail to keep up your guard and take him seriously. Keep choosing to be safe with the Savior always in all ways.
Think Eternal and Tend to Your Soul
Rev Ed
Our Redeemer Conquers Adversity

People Identified and the Year was 1962

From left to right, Allen Treadwell as Nathaniel (Bartholomew), Lamar Dickert as James the Lesser, Reynolds Wallace as Andrew, Merlin Bryant as Judas, Jack Brewster as Simon Peter, Jack Dickert as John, Rev. D.K. Christenberry as Jesus, Gene Rodgers as Thomas, Richard Lightfoot as James, Wilburn Howard as Philip, James Caldwell as Matthew, Joe Strother as Thaddeus, and James Howell as Simon the Zealot.

It was the third successive year for the Last Supper dramatization. Thank you Patsy Sutton for finding The Messenger newspaper that contained this information.
Now Help Us Identify the People in This Picture!
Now we know that is Pastor Bruce Fitzgerald on the far right apparently dressed as John Wesley. He served Brundidge UMC from 1981 to 1985. If you know who the woman and little girl might be call the church office 735-3180 or just let us know on a Sunday. Of course May is an important month in the history of Methodism, for it was on May 24, 1738, that John Wesley attended a Bible study on Aldersgate Street and his “heart was strangely warmed.”
Third Sunday in May a Major Day of Special Blessings!
7:30 a.m. Church-Wide Breakfast with Cathy Stockstill presenting a program with her singing and guitar playing talents.
8:00 a.m. LifeSouth Blood Mobile will be here seeking at least 14 donors from our church.
8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Services Children’s Home Director Blake Horne will be our guest speaker.

Pre-K Sunday School News
We may be small in number but we are big in learning.
The month of March found us making paper shamrocks and learning about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The month of April, we had fun making our wooly lambs using small cotton balls. We learned that God is our Shepherd and we are His lambs. Our lambs are on the bulletin board in the Pre-K room.
When Jesus asked, “Peter do you love me?”, we learned about the number 3 and that God loves us too.
During free play time the sand box and Play Doh are very popular. Why a sand box? We learn to share, sift sand, measure with measuring cups and learn 1 cup, ½ cup, and ¼ cup. We drive trucks and cars, make roads, and haul animals.
The Play Doh is a different color each month. For April, we had purple. It was fun making birds, nests, and eggs, as well as using different cookie cutters. To use the cutters, we learn to roll the dough flat to cut the shape we want. We enjoy forming objects on our own from a ball of Play Doh. This is small muscle play and using our imagination.
I pray these children have happy experiences in Sunday School and know that God loves them as they learn more each Sunday.
Remember they are people, little people, very important people, and above all, God’s little lambs.
~Mrs. Barb
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Missions Opportunity
UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) needs items for missions’ kits to replace many that have been sent out to help people, as in Lee County. The items have been divided among our various districts. We need to collect the following two items by May 26th:
Rulers for the school kits. Sturdy or flexible. 12” or 30cm long
Toothbrushes for the hygiene kits. Adult size only. Individually packaged. Do not remove from original packaging. No personal advertising (i.e. dental offices).
A basket will be in the vestibule for the rulers and toothbrushes. We appreciate your help!

Memorial Day Crosses
We are so thankful for those who work hard to place Memorial Day crosses in the front lawn of Brundidge United Methodist Church. Each cross bears the name of a church member who served in the military and died. This is a powerful and beautiful witness to our community.

Memorials and Honorariums
In Honor of Billy & Laura Hixon
Frank & Wynnette Fryer- Building Fund
In Memory of Max & Hettie Blackmon
Frank & Wynnette Fryer- Building Fund
In Memory of Gail Copeland
Vernon & Linda Jackson- Building Fund
May Birthdays
Hunter Hatfield-6th, Jimmy Ramage-8th, Margaret Ross-9th, Madelin Paez-11th, Amanda Keenan-14th, Stacey Hollis-14th, Robert Hudley-15th, Amy Ramage-16th, Riley Ramage-17th, Ann Webb-18th, Bettye Brooks-18th, Charles Adams-19th, Missy Strother-22nd, Linda Jackson-23rd, Erika Strother Moncrief-23rd, Judy Jackson-27th, Conners Minton-27th, Huck Treadwell-28th, Ty Tyson-28th, Cassidy Coppage-29th, Garrett Hatfield-31st

Brundidge United Methodist Church
140 North Main St.
Brundidge, AL 36010
Address Service Requested

Non-profit org
Us postage paid
Troy, Alabama
Permit#30

Smiles From Mrs. Sara
1.) Why did the spider crawl into the computer?
2.) Why is talking to cows a waste of time?
3.) Where did the turtle fill up his gas tank?
4.) What did the horse say when he tripped?
5.) If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring?

Genesis 21:6

Answers: 1.) To get to his website. 2.) Whatever you say goes in one ear and out the udder. 3.) At the Shell Station. 4.) “Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t giddy-up!” 5.) Pilgrims. :)