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Jan. 8,2024 - Jan. 14,2024
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Hello Wesley,
Since the ideas we are sharing on Sundays build on one another, I thought it might be helpful to give a short summary of the idea we shared in church each week. We are looking at the fundamentals of faith through covenant theology. A covenant is God’s promise to us that carries an expectation of our participation and a consequence for disobedience. The Bible is actually a story of the layering of God’s promises to us and the fulfillment of the promises. Each promise is given to a people through a person:
Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus. Each promise is secure and permanent. One promise does not supersede or override an earlier promise.
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The covenant with Adam is often called the creation covenant. Here God promises to provide for us everything we will ever need. He is our provider. His expectation is for us to be stewards of creation and simply to be in relationship with Him. Adam and Eve choose to disobey and their disobedience will be consistent throughout history. They choose to be owners over being stewards. They choose knowledge over trust and give in to the lust for something to be theirs. The consequence for this disobedience is women will have pain in childbirth and men will have to work for the provisions of life.
Since they refuse to repent, God insists on the ultimate provision, death. Adam and Eve are banished from the garden as an act of protection, to ensure that they can no longer eat from the Tree of Life and so we all die.
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FYI. Tuesday mornings have been especially encouraging this year. You can listen on the church Facebook page or go to the website livestream page. There is also a link in this weekly newsletter that takes you directly to the most recent episode. Each devotion is five minutes or less and serves as a great way to start your day.
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I love being your pastor,
Ernie
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Please join us this Friday, Jan. 19th!
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As a Christian and as a church, we have two weapons to fight oppression:
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Please join us as we pray that our new future pastor is Godly
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and biblically grounded in the truth;
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for Pastor Ernie as he transitions into a new phase of his life;
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for new church leaders to answer God's call and
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lead us into the future in accordance with God's will;
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for Wesley to stand strong against the forces of culture
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that are tearing down Christianity;
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for the Wesley family to become true disciples of God's truth
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and have a lasting impact in our community;
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Personal prayer requests will be addressed at the close of the meeting.
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This year let us all vow to "do better".
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All are welcome to join us for an organizational meeting for our HOPE ministry at Wesley. We will focus on building relationships and preparing for our Spring events.
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Please join with the United Methodist Men and Promise Keepers of Wesley Memorial for an evening of uplifting, God-honoring, worship and encouragement in St. Petersburg on Feb. 23, 2024. We would like to take advantage of the group rates so please indicate your desire to attend as soon as possible to - Herman Small (813)927-1606 -
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Steve Hibbens (813) 601-0947 - Dan Parker (863) 581-4865. The event starts at 6:30pm and we can carpool from Wesley Memorial at 5:00pm sharp.
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HABANA MINISTRY
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We are collecting mini heart- shaped boxes of chocolates available at the Dollar Stores for our friends at Habana Health Care Center. We plan to bring them at our next art and music activity scheduled for Sat., Jan. 24th as we prepare our hearts for the upcoming Valentines Day. If you would like to contribute, please leave donations on marked shelf for Habana in the copy room across from the church office. Much gratitude to those who have supported this ministry!
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GOD GANG YOUTH MINISTRY
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GodGang had their Christmas celebration and last hooray with their fearless leader, Nadia Nunez. We appreciate Nadia's hard work with the youth the last three years! She will be missed but we wish her the best in her managerial position at Starbucks!
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CUBA MINISTRY
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THE NEW “WESLEY CLINIC AT DURANONA CHURCH” 01/06/24
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At last the 100 lb. box sent to Duranona church in September arrived with all the medical equipment, medicines and eyeglasses sent from Wesley sister church. Below is a translation of Pastora's email:
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“This last shipment has been a such an incredible blessing. It made us cry and jump for joy in thanksgiving. Wesley sister church is undoubtedly a divine gift. How many needed donations, my God! We were all stunned to see everything that was in that box. Thank you for the bicycle tires. We will send you photos soon. We are very grateful to you, pastor and Wesley brothers and sisters. We will give some of the syringes to other near by churches that are also in so much need. Wow, they were so many! We are setting up a place where those from the church and the community can avail themselves to have their sugar levels and blood pressure tested and get meds and we call it THE WESLEY CLINIC. We have started giving out the eyeglasses (as each person chooses the one with which they can see better) and giving out
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Honestly, I have to tell you, we are so amazed at the content of this shipment. We didn't have a single drop of milk here since the last time you sent us a package. When I saw the milk, I cried. Thank you, beloved family! God has greatly blessed us with our sister relationship. How not to cry, how not to pray daily, how not to live on our knees crying out to God for you if you are divine gift from Him!
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We have been able to help all the brothers and sisters in the church and the community, some with one thing or another. It is very gratifying to hear the testimonies. We have even been able to help other pastors and churches with eyeglasses, medicines and syringes. Wow what a beautiful work for His glory! I want you all to know that the image of the Duranona church has also changed. People now know where they can get God-help. Although, unfortunately, sometimes people only see God in the material, it is so rewarding and perplexing to listen to their grateful testimonies as they are given these mere necessities. Thank God for the blessings you send.
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I was planning to have an activity with the children on January 7th but had nothing to work with… Thanks be to God, everything you send was perfect for this activity. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing yourself to be used by God.
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Duranona church’s wish is that, in this new year, Wesley church will have a fruitful revival, that many souls will run there seeking to quench their thirst for God. We will pray for God to do WONDERFUL miracles with all the members so that God touches their hearts. We will be praying for the requests you sent us. May God multiply everything that you send us, with so much affection, to keep serving our good God and giving a joy that is so scarce in our material world, due to so many needs. God bless you always and reward you greatly.
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Thank you Manny and Ashley for your devotion and your hard word. Be sure that we remember you in our prayers and God to bless you for your faithful obedience in sacrificing your time and strength to gather and send us these wonderful packages. God bless you always and greatly.
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Revelation 3:8 “‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
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Deuteronomy 2:7 “For the LORD your God has blessed you in all ]that you have done
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We are collecting food items to restock our shelves.
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Here are a few items we are in need of:
Peanut Butter Crackers
Juice boxes or pouches
Applesauce or fruit cups – small individual cups
Nature’s bakery fig bars or Nutrigrain bars
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You can bring the items to the church during normal business hours or bring with you on Sunday to church. You can also call Jaime directly to have food donations picked up.
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We are also in need of monetary donations as we purchase some foods to balance out the food bags. Please put in marked envelope in offering or bring to church office. We couldn’t do this without each and every one of you and we are grateful for your continued support.
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Please be in prayer for all the Pack a Sack children and
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in prayer for our current needs.
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NURSERY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
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We need four volunteers, each available one Sunday a month during the worship service, to provide back up when the nursery has both infants and toddlers. Contact the church office if you are able to help. [email protected]
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Congratulations to Gloria Rocci
who celebrated her 70th birthday recently!
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Wesley, you are such a faithful church! We thank you for your generous and giving hearts! You can Text To Tithe your offerings for Wesley Memorial UMC at this contact number - 813-699-4304. Within a few minutes, you’ll be sent a text with a link to register. Click on the link and enter your cardholder name and credit or debit information. Once your registration is complete, you will receive a text verification and a receipt of your donation via email. You can even text “repeat” to make it a recurring donation. Give + Text is one of the fastest and easiest ways to give.
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Or by standard mail by sending cash or check to
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6100 Memorial Hwy, Tampa FL 33615
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Office hours are Monday - Thursday 9am-3pm.
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We are here to help you with any of your needs.
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Church Contact Information:
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This week Pastor Ernie talked about not staying stuck on yesterday and focus on what God is doing, as promised in Isaiah 43. You can listen to Coffee with Ernie every Tuesday morning on Facebook at 7:30am or you can watch later.
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Click link below for the most recent episode.
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Post your prayers and praise requests here and pray and comment for others!
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Please make visiting the prayer wall a daily practice!
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A Prayer for New Beginnings
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"Thank You, Lord, for the beginning of a new year and as we step out into the unknown future, we pray that You would be with us, leading and guiding us, teaching and drawing us ever closer to each other and to Yourself. Thank You that Your steadfast love never ceases and that Your mercies are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness, O Lord.
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Father, we know that these times in which we live are becoming fraught with difficulties and increasingly stressful, and yet Father our hope is in You, for You are our faithful God Who has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. Father, as we step onto the threshold of a new year, with it's inevitable problems and pain, I place my hand into Yours Lord, and trust You to lead me along the right way that I should go, for I know Father that there is no safer place to be than walking in fellowship with You.
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As we step out into the unknown future, I offer my life a living sacrifice to You. May I be used for Your praise and glory. In Jesus' name I pray,"
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“Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
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Author – Thomas Obediah Chisholm
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Thomas Obediah Chisholm was born in a log cabin in Kentucky. He came to Christ at age 27 under the ministry of evangelist H.C. Morrison. The writing of the poem for this great hymn came about through the reading of Lamentations 3: 22-23 and became precious to him: His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great Is Your Faithfulness.
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This hymn stayed relatively unknown but was popularized around the world by George Beverly Shea and the choirs at the Billy Graham Crusades.
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Be sure to subscribe to our You Tube channel!
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Jan. 14, 2024
10:00 am Worship Service
"Covenant of Noah"
Genesis 8:22
Pastor Ernie Post
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Please help the church save money on paper and printing by checking in virtually on Sunday Service and receiving a bulletin. The QR code will be posted on the outside and inside of sanctuary entries, in the pews, and at the coffee station. Give it a try and see if it works for you. Paper bulletins will still be available if preferred.
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*Please note: When registering for check in, it is only required to input one contact - cell phone OR email (although both are preferred.) All other requests are optional and can be bypassed by simply pressing the done button.
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