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Jan. 15,2024 - Jan. 21,2024
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This past Sunday we learned about the time between God’s covenant with Adam and then the covenant with Noah. God establishes that we are to bring an offering from the first fruit of our labor. He does this not because He is hungry. He does not need the offering, we do. We need to be reminded that we do not own anything, not even the things we work to acquire. Abel submits to this. Cain does not. The still quiet voice of our Lord tells him to master this sin. He does not and is banished. The next pages of
the story list generation after generation as tribes and nations begin to form. It seems no one can get it right and God is grieved he made humanity and sends a flood to start over. Only Noah and his family have favor and are spared.
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God’s covenant with Noah is a promise to never again destroy the earth thru a flood, and he makes the promise because of the plants and animals, not because of humans. Sunrise and sunset, seedtime and harvest are permanent as long as the earth endures, NO MATTER WHAT WE DO!
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Again, our participation is expected and there are consequences for disobedience. We were introduced to the voices of the final covenant, the roar of the lion and the whisper of the lamb, and we closed with this thought: if you will not listen to the whisper of God as He directs you, you will hear the roar of the lion at judgment. The final covenant is both justice and mercy.
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I love being your pastor,
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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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Lent will begin on Ash Wednesday, February 14 at 7 pm. We all have ashes
created from last year’s Palm Sunday branches placed on our foreheads to
help us remember the significance of the cross.
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Lent is a 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash
Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It's a period of
preparation to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter. During Lent, we
seek the Lord in prayer by reading our Bibles; we serve by giving an offering;
and we practice self-control through fasting. We are called not only to abstain
from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to
follow Christ's will more faithfully. We recall the waters of baptism in which
we were also baptized into Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began new
life in Christ.
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We are also called to practice self-discipline and fast in other ways throughout
the season. In addition, the giving of alms is one way to share God's gifts—not
only through the distribution of money, but through the sharing of our time
and talents.
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In Lent, the baptized are called to renew their baptismal commitment as
others prepare to be baptized. To this end, we are offering a covenant service
Sunday, February 18 at the 10am morning service, which will include communion. This is a service designed to allow us all to rededicate our hearts and lives to the work of our Lord. We are also going to offer a baptism by immersion
service right after Easter for those who are seeking baptism. Lent is a
traditional time of preparation for those wishing to be baptized.
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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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Promiseland will be having a Spring Festival in conjunction with the W.O.W. Spring Craft Fair on 3/2 from 10:00 - 2:00 pm. We need lots of helping hands. If you can assist please attend the
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Spring planning meeting
Sunday Morning at 9:00 am 1/21/24
Breakfast provided!
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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. 27th 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.
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Much gratitude to those who have supported this ministry!
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CUBA MINISTRY
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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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Jamie Winship spent nearly 30 years living and working in conflict zones, and during that time he has learned an important truth: all human conflict originates from fear, and fear originates from a false view of God, ourselves, and others. Click button below for a very interesting podcast on finding your true identity in God. Pay particular attention to the conversation about the identity of a Christian as it is in line with what Pastor Ernie will be teaching us this spring. Listen to the end, it is well worth it.
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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 seeking God with your whole heart as commanded in Jeremiah 29:13. Most of the time, many of us just glance. We need to slow down, really see and listen, and be intentional in our search. 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 to be Intentional
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Dear Lord, I ask that you open our eyes and hearts , to slow down and really see and listen to you, to be intentional in our relationship. Help us to stay on track and keep praying , no matter how hard or hectic life gets. Don’t let the enemy’s lies distract us. Let us know how you see us, not what the world says. Let us see your goodness and mercy and love each day as we pray to become the person and the church you called us to be. Help keep our hearts hopeful in you as we pray and believe that you are doing big things in our lives and in our church. Let us stay positive even if we can’t see them just yet. I ask that you reveal yourself to us when we seek you Lord. Protect our hearts and minds every day. Reveal your purpose for us and let us be bold and live it each and every day. I pray this in Jesus name, Amen.
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Be sure to subscribe to our You Tube channel!
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Jan. 21, 2024
10:00 am Worship Service
"Covenant of Abraham"
Genesis 12:2-3
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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FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
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