Pine Bluff Special Hearts Valentines Banquet

Everyone is invited to our annual Pine Bluff Special Hearts Valentine Banquet! It will take place on Saturday February 11, 2012 starting at 5PM. There will be a meal served with soup, salad, and the most delicious dessert this side of the Rocky River. Enjoy Bingo, a cake walk, The Legendary Newlywed Game featuring our version of Monty Hall(we promise he is better looking!), and other fun. It is a great time every year and it gets better and better. All are invited for fun, laughs, and fellowship! Remember make a friend, be a friend, bring a friend to Christ! P.S. VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED AS WELL AS CAKES FOR THE CAKEWALK! (The administrator of this blog would love to see a sundrop poundcake in the cakewalk.)

The Way I Heard The Word: Jesus, Figs, and Us??

This is the beginning of a new section of the blog about the Bible. It is the way I have read the word and what it means to me. Therefore it is titled: The Way I Heard The Word. Feel free to comment or offer some wisdom!

Luke 13:6-9

Good News Translation (GNT)

The Parable of the Unfruitful Fig Tree

⁶ Then Jesus told them this parable:
         There was once a man who had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. He went looking for figs on it but found none.⁷ So he said to his gardener,
         Look, for three years I have been coming here looking for figs on this fig tree, and I haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it go on using up the soil?⁸ But the gardener answered,
         Leave it alone, sir, just one more year; I will dig around it and put in some fertilizer.⁹ Then if the tree bears figs next year, so much the better; if not, then you can have it cut down.

When I read this I can't help but think of Jesus referring to his church. We are his body, his hands and feet here on Earth to reflect his love. What does Jesus think when He looks at His church? Do we bear the fruit that the Bible tells us to be about? Paul said in Galatians, "But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self control." Or are we at the point that we are using up the soil, or using up too many resources here on Earth for everything but the uplifting of His kingdom? To me I feel like the Holy Spirit intercedes in saying, "Leave it alone, just one more year; I will dig around it and put in some fertilizer." I think about myself during this passage asking myself if I do bear the "figs" Jesus would like me to bear. Am I really all about love, peace, and patience all the time, not to mention all the others. I think it is a good time for us to dig deep and find out where we are. There is no better time than now to take an honest look at the fruit we bear and ask Jesus to help us bear the right "figs" that we are told to bear. I certainly don't want to be in the position of the fig tree not producing and being cut down. In this passage it is mentioned to "dig around and put some in fertilizer." This tells me it starts with prayer asking God to have his spirit help us and nudge us even. We have to dig deep and work hard, consistently to bear the right fruit!

YOUTH MISSION TRIP SCHEDULED FOR JULY

Do you love helping people? Do you enjoy the Outer Banks? Do you want to help hurricane victims? What is the number one drink for girls in the US? If you answered yes, yes, yes, and Diet Coke then this trip is for you! (The Diet Coke part was just for comic relief!!) The youth will be going to Wanchese, NC to help the victims of last year's hurricane. They will be leaving on July 15 and coming back on July 21st. The trip is OPEN TO EVERYONE, not just youth members. We will need at least 1 adult for every 4 youth that attend in order to comply with Safe Sanctuary regulations.  If you can attend it would be much appreciated. We will also need two people to cook meals for the group. The mission team will be staying at a methodist church in Manteo, NC. Please be in prayer about being on this mission team. If you are interested please contact Pastor Bird or let us know on facebook!

Announcements For The Week Of 1/15/2012

Here are the announcements for Pine Bluff UMC:
-Bible Study Tuesday Morning 930AM & Thursday Night 7PM
-Tuesday Night Small Group 7PM
-Wednesday Night 1/18/12 PPRC Meeting at 7PM
-In order to have the Valentine Banquet we need help. Let Kathy, Marlene, Libby, Crystal, or Vickie know if you would be willing to help
-The Third Sunday offering has been brought back this year. This offering helps defray the cost of our treat bags given at Christmas
"MAKE A FRIEND, BE A FRIEND, BRING A FRIEND TO CHRIST!"

Welcome To The New Pine Bluff UMC Blog

We want to welcome everybody to the new blog of Pine Bluff United Methodist Church! It is our goal to provide updates of the church life each and every week. Check here for announcements, get togethers, events, small groups, and anything else that may happen in the life of the church. We want to remind everybody to tell your friends about this site as well. You know our motto, "Make A Friend, Be A Friend, Bring A Friend to Christ!" Please remember that the Traditional Worship service is at 9AM every Sunday, with Sunday School following after. If you like a more contemporary service the WIFI service is at 11:10AM. Check back each week for updates!!