Worship News June 10, 2009

Know Your Clergy: Payson Methodist Church, By Carole Mathewson, CCN reporter

Photo by Carole Mathewson: Rev. David Rennick of Payson United Methodist Church welcomes those in the community to his services. He says, "Our church is a community that is open to people who have different faith experiences ...": Come summer, Rev. David Rennick will have served Payson United Methodist Church for a period of four years. Prior to locating in Payson, Rev. Rennick was campus minister and associate pastor at Tempe First United Methodist Church. His campus ministry was to the Wesley Foundation at Arizona State University. A native of Mesa, he received his theological education at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. Rev. Rennick, has two sons, Phillip and Dustin. Dustin will enter the seventh grade at Payson Middle School in the fall semester. The minister welcomes those in the Payson area to his services. "Our church is a community that is open to people who have different faith experiences within the Christian tradition," he said. "I try to be open and welcoming to all people, in all walks of life." Rev. Rennick cited Hebrews 13:2 as a favorite passage: "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that, some have entertained angels without knowing it." Of the verse, he said, "That's what carries me in my work and prayer." He referred to it as his own personal mission statement. "We're a diverse community of believers here," the minister said—“politically, socially and spiritually. We welcome all sorts of ministries—the Sonshine Club (children’s after-school ministry), motorcycle ministry and more traditional church programs with Bible studies, and men's and women’s circles." Payson United Methodist Church is located at 414 N. Easy Street in Payson. Sunday morning services are at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Telephone (928) 474-0485.

Conference in Mesa is Open to All

Pastor Terry Crist will host Awake Arizona '09 at City of Grace Church in Mesa: Bridgebuilders International will present a three-day Christian leadership seminar at City of Grace Church at 655 E. University Drive in Mesa, on June 25 - 27. Registration before June 15 is $15, or $25 onsite. Register online at www.Bridgebuilders.net, or by phone at 1-800-296-0659. (Sorry, no childcare or cancellation refunds are available.) Speakers will include Dutch Sheets, author and senior pastor of Freedom Church in Colorado Springs; worldwide speaker and author Cindy Jacobs: and Terry Crist, senior pastor of City of Grace Church in Mesa, author, international traveler and speaker to churches, conferences, and universities. Bridgebuilders' founders Hal and Cheryl Sacks say, "Arizona and the nation are in crisis! It's time to ... cry out to God to heal our land. We invite you to join us for Awake Arizona '09, a conference like no other. Come for three days of awakening, equipping, empowering ..." The Bridgebuilders’ prayer seminar in Globe last month was called "historic" by local church members Gary and Chiryl Cole of Living Waters. The Sacks and another couple spoke to an audience in Globe, and the Coles were impressed with their background information: America's motto is, "In God We Trust." "If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?" asked Benjamin Franklin, and the Constitutional Convention of 1787 resolved to begin each session in prayer. The Coles say, "God was a part of this country in the beginning and he still is on the throne and still governs in the affairs of men." In the same way, Arizona was established with lots of prayer, and its motto is "Ditat Deus," or "God enriches." The Coles encourage everyone, "Pray for wisdom for all Arizona leaders ... the President, and all those in office, regardless of party politics." The Coles obviously received not just information but a lot of motivation and encouragement to actually pray and expect results.

Jacobs Predicts Change

Cindy Jacobs, an international speaker, says, "America and the world are going through an extreme transition, which is likely to last more than a decade. New methods of business, investments, evangelism and ministry must be developed." Her prayer is that God's people will be alert to what God is doing and "how to navigate through this season." Is Jacobs really a "prophetic voice"? The Bible says to "Try [test] all things; hold fast to that which is good." Its simple test of a prophet: "If it comes to pass .."

Timeless, by Dan Morton,Co-Pastor, First Christian Church(Disciples of Christ

Lena Woodden Nelson wrote recently of a great-grandmother in New Mexico who often visited her great grandson. During her visits he wanted her to go outside and play with him when he rode his bike and played basketball. His mother told him not to play so hard because great-grandmother was getting older. During one visit he looked up at her and said, "Grandmother, I wish I had known you before you got old." Perhaps we all have had such moments when we wish it were possible to turn back the clock. There may have been moments we would like to recall, or people we wish we had gotten to know better. We cherish those memories and they become timeless. Hebrews 13:7-8 gives us a bit of wisdom for today: "Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. "

Her Prayer Was Answered, By Ed Kuehneman

Lora Gilbert prayed for her son. Rustin "Tiger" Dewey, 2008: Lora Gilbert went to a church run boarding school in Holbrook, then to a Lutheran school in Peridot, and she learned to pray. Her broken home left her hungry for love and she married at age 17. She had a son, Rustin Dewey Jr., then two girls. Rustin, or "Tiger," was a fearless little guy who was always with the other boys going to the river, or catching and riding horses. Lora didn't like alcohol, because she'd seen it break up homes, but she gradually began to drink with her husband. When she found herself on her own and didn't think she could provide for her kids, her mother-in-law raised them and Lora visited. It didn't feel right. When Tiger was 12, he tried climbing the tallest, skinniest tree by Rice School. Someone told Lora, "Your son's over there! The ambulance is coming." Lora hurried to her son to see blood running from his mouth, ears and eyes. He was flown to St. Joseph's to relieve the skull chips pressing on his brain. It had been a long time since Lora had prayed, but alone in the waiting room, she kept crying and praying, "Lord, let him live!" The surgeon finally came out and said Tiger would be fine. When Tiger was 16, he was with some boys drinking and swimming at the river. "Yeah, it's deep. You can dive," someone told him. He dived in, hitting his head on a rock and breaking his neck. Once again he was flown to the the Valley and surgeons gave him a 50-50 chance of living through the operation. "I cried to the Lord," says Lora. "I felt guilty because I wasn't there for him. I was on my knees all night, praying, 'Spare him again! Please help him make it through!'" Finally the doctors said, "He'll be paralyzed on one side, but he’s going to make it." "The Lord answered my prayer," says Lora. "I'd ask for help, even in my sin." Now she prayed, "Help me find a good man. Help me settle down. I'm tired of sinning." She met Lindon Gilbert. They laughed when he said he'd prayed, "Lord, send me a good woman. I need to settle down." They married, and Tiger liked visiting their home, and the new sisters. Lindon's brother Franklin joined the Gilson Wash Baptist Church, and Bill and Joyce Jones invited Lindon and Lora to come, too. Lindon frowned but the couple kept coming and talking to them. Finally Lora went to church and was saved and baptized. What a relief! God had always been there for her, and now she was his! She was so happy, especially when Lindon began to go too. Lora invited Tiger, but he’d say, "I'll go some day, but not now." Although he was handicapped, Tiger could walk somehow, and he even built campsites, and became well-known. He was drinking a lot, though, and Lora could see he was getting weaker. She prayed for him and begged him to come to church, but he'd just say, "Mom, don't worry." A year ago, he fell and hurt his knees, and Lora and Linden were barely able to get him back and forth to the clinic, his house, their house... Lindon was bringing him back from the hospital (still couldn't walk, still no wheelchair) when Tiger said, "Look at that in the sky!" Lindon couldn't see a thing, but Tiger had a big smile. At home, they managed to get Tiger to the couch, and Lindon left. Lora turned the TV on for Tiger and went into the kitchen to wash dishes. "Go!" Lora looked around - no one was there. She felt like "Go" meant, "Go pray with Tiger and get him saved right now!" "Oh, he always refuses me," she thought, and continued with the dishes, but a Presence was by her. "Go now!" Lora went to the couch and said firmly, "Tiger, can you do what I tell you to do?" “Yeah,” he said, struggling to get his breath. "Give me your hand. Now pray this after me. Dear Lord ..." "Dear Lord," said Tiger. She continued to lead him in prayer, line by line. "Forgive my sin ... I'm sorry for what I've done ... Save me ... In Jesus' name ... Amen." "Amen," said Tiger, and Lora began crying for joy. "Tiger, do you know what you've done?" "Yeah." He smiled, but then he slumped, barely breathing. Frantic, Lora called for an ambulance. It finally came and they worked on Tiger for a long time in the driveway and at the ER, but they finally said, "Your son is gone." Lora was in shock; everything was a "blur," but when she got home, she realized what had happened and she prayed, "Thank you for giving me and my son the chance to pray." What she'd been asking for years ... Even when she had said no, God had made her go to deal with him. To her, it was a miracle. A year has passed. Lora's girls "keep her going." They go to the Baptist Church with her and three went to the Academy there last year. Lora is sad that the Academy is closing. She worries about the girls. She knows the heartache they'll face if they stray from God, but even if they do, like her, "They'll always know he's there."

Vacation Bible Schools

Next week's Copper Country News will include information on several free Vacation Bible Schools, less-than-a-week sessions that are a great opportunity for our area kids. If you have VBS infromation for us, e-mail it "Attention Ed" to globeccn@ yahoo.com with a contact phone number, or call 928-701-2128.

Payson Kids VBS

Calvary Chapel (off Beeline at Sherwood in Payson) will host a safari theme "Kingdom of the Son" Vacation Bible School for age 3 through 6th grade, July 13 through 17, from 8 a.m. to noon. All children are welcome. Sign up by phone, 968-468-0901.