JUNE NEWSLETTER
“WE MUST BELIEVE FOR WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US”
Thank you Jesus for all the many blessings you have given to us this past year. As June arrives, we look back in time to realize we moved in on June 28th last year. As I reflect on this time, I just want to Praise the LORD!!! God has given us wonderful experiences together to document our journey here at Linden UMC. I want to thank everyone who has stepped up to lead this year, as far as, in leadership positions and getting things done for the Lord at the church. Many people have helped make great things happen in our church.
I would like to highlight just a few events. Our welcoming party was fabulous! You all opened your arms and invited us into your community with love to make my family feel included and I want you to know how much we appreciated it. One project was remodeling our bathrooms in the fellowship hall. Thank you for all who participated in getting it done either by financing it or laboring with love to complete the project. The bathrooms turned out beautiful! Our BBQ fundraiser was held in November and what a great experience it was for the church family. We raised $2,529.77! Praise the LORD!! Next, the selection of our leadership for 2014 and the necessary meetings to accomplish Charge Conference went so well. I appreciate all your work and effort to complete the task. Then the Christmas and Easter Cantatas - what a difference when you have good leadership and participants to sing praises to the LORD! Thank you one and all for your participation to make our church full of HIS Glory through song! Next, we have removed the old insulation in the educational building to be replaced with new foam insulation. In addition, we are remodeling our nursery. Fresh paint, new carpeting, less clutter and new items. Thank You JESUS for providing for our church! And on a spiritual note, we had revival. It was a blessing to host our community revival and see the hunger for the LORD! I thank all of you for making these and many more things happen in our church and community of faith. I know special things stand out to you that happened this year and I am sorry if I did not mention them. However, I only have so much room. Please just rejoice with us as we celebrate this year at Linden UMC!
Here is a scripture to reflect upon in Mark 11:22-24 "So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. 23. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, "Be removed and be cast into the sea, " and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says, 24. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." (NKJV).
John Wesley had a thought about this in one of my devotional books. Having faith for entire sanctification is believing the Word of God to be the Truth concerning heart holiness. When John Wesley was asked , "What is that faith whereby we are sanctified?" he answered: "First believe that God has promised to save you from all sin, and to fill you with all holiness; secondly, believe that He is able thus to save to the uttermost all that come unto God through Him; thirdly, believe that He is willing, as well as able, to save you to the uttermost; to purify you from all sin, and fill up all your heart with love. Believe fourthly, that He is not only able, but willing to do it now! Not when you come to die; not at any distant time; not tomorrow, but today. He will then enable you to believe, it is done, according to His Word."
Wesley even wrote this in a hymn "Tis done: Thou dost this moment save, With full salvation bless; Redemption through Thy blood I have, And spotless love and peace. (Holiness and High Country, A.F. Harper. p.141)
I am so grateful there are people in this church and community of faith who believe and want to see mountains moved! Plus, the fact that we can live in full assurance of our faith and in the power of God who gave us the Holy Spirit to have the power to overcome sin in our lives. Thank you JESUS for what you have given us!
Please remember to check out our monthly calendar. There is much going on this month starting off with Annual Conference at Frazer UMC, then the Youth Missions Trip to Mississippi. Plug in and help our church make a difference in someone's life. Share what you believe with someone this month and invite them to church. May God bless your ministry this month!
In Christ Jesus,
Bro. Tony Antonelli