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Jan. 29,2024 - Feb. 4,2024
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Hello Wesley,
Recap and summary of week 4, the covenant with Moses, the law.
The covenant with Adam promises provision.
The covenant with Noah promises God’s faithfulness in spite of our disobedience.
The covenant with Abraham promises blessing to those who bless.
The covenant with Moses promises order to those who obey
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God tells us the law exists as a test to see if we will be obedient. Immediately the lawyers get involved because people are always trying to find a way around accountability. By the time Jesus comes, there are at least sixteen volumes of laws written by priests and lawyers to circumvent responsibility to the original commandment. The example we used was the same one Jesus used in Matthew. He confronts the law that says if you were going to honor your father with a gift, you can just give that to the synagogue and count it good. This infuriated Jesus because the law is simply rewritten to bolster the pocketbooks of the priests and lawyers.
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In Romans 7, Paul proclaims that the law reveals that we are either slaves to sin or slaves to Christ. There is no middle ground, and he uses the phrase “body of death” to hammer home the point. “Body of death” is a reference to a Roman death sentence for someone convicted of murder. They would strap the dead victim to the murderer and both would literally rot together, from the inside out. Paul says we are shackled like that to our sin and only Jesus can set us free. To be free, though, we must proclaim complete obedience to our new master.
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When nation rises against nation, often it is over boundaries and very often boundaries disputed sometimes for centuries. In one sense, conquering nations are shackled to those they oppress and both rot from the inside out.
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This week we look at the covenant with David in 2 Samuel and begin asking why any of this is important.
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I love being your pastor,
Ernie
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Please join us this Friday, Feb. 2!
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From now until Feb 18th our prayer gathering will focus on God opening eyes and softening hearts so we, at Wesley, can start a new path of becoming more like Jesus in our individual walk.
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To this end, you are encouraged to write down your own prayer
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and share with the group on Friday.
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Please pray that more Wesley folks will come to realize how important personal and corporate prayer is to reach God’s throne.
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Our Habana activity for last week was rescheduled due to illness.
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Please join us this Saturday if you can!
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We will be preparing our hearts for the upcoming Valentines Day!
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Thank You to all who brought in small heart boxes of chocolates
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and Promiseland kids for the sweet cards they made!
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If you are able to join us Sat., please reply to this email or
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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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In Lent, the baptized are called to renew their baptismal commitment as others prepare to be baptized. To this end, we are offering a
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Covenant/Communion Service
Sunday, February 18
10am morning service
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Below is a sample of commitment cards that will be available.
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For those wanting to be baptized,
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Pastor Ernie will be offering water baptisms
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on Sat., May 11 at 10am. Details and location to follow.
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FEB.18 KICK OFF PARTY For RUAH YOUTH
5:30 - 8:00 FLC Youth Room
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Please join us as the Youth Group reboots as "Ruah" Youth!
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Ruah, (pronounced in Hebrew Ruach), is the Hebrew word translated as God’s Spirit. However, the word is also translated as breath, air, and wind in the Scriptures, reminding each of us of the physicalness of God’s presence in the world.
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At the Last Supper, Jesus told the apostles that He would send His Advocate: John 14:16 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always..” This spirit, RUAH, is alive in our world and in our own bodies. He is with us always. We can offer our very breath to Him and allow Him to transform our lives and the lives of those around us every day. We can dedicate every moment of our lives to His Glory by dedicating every breath to Him and His Will. Lord, let every breath, as I speak your name, praise you and bring me ever closer to you and your will and help us.
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This year the Youth Group will be lead by a group of dedicated volunteers, including Kristine Johnson, Jensen Senson, and Marilyn Preston, as well as others who will join in throughout the year. We are excited for a new year of deep spiritual growth, discipleship, and some fun! For more details of upcoming events, click here!
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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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CONFIRMATION CLASSES FOR BOTH YOUTH AND ADULTS!
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REGISTER NOW AND BRING A FRIEND!
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The Youth and Adult classes will meet together on April 28th for the last class at Upper Tampa Bay Park off Double Ranch Road. Please bring picnic stuff to share.
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Promiseland will have their Spring Festival in conjunction with the W.O.W. Spring Craft Fair. If you are able to help with the Spring Festival, please contact
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Silver Saints will celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a lunch, devotion, games and service project. Wear your green and come join in the food, fellowship and fun!
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This event is open to the community so bring a friend!
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Get your reservations in now! There is a limit of 50 people for the 6pm presentation.
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Carpooling from the church parking lot will be available. If you want to carpool, let us know when you RSVP if you are willing to drive or just want a ride. The church is offering this event to you free of charge but donations are welcomed to help defray the actual cost. You can put your donation in the Sunday offering in a marked envelope or bring by church office Mon. - Thurs. from 9am-3pm.
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WEDNESDAY NIGHT LIVE
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Wednesday Night Live had a great night last night. Their topic was "I am never lost." They meet every Wed. night from 6-8pm. They begin with a lite dinner and follow with a music and dance activity, a craft and some time in the gym. All activities are designed to develop Godly wisdom, behaviors and discipline.
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HOPE MINISTRY
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We had a good showing of 12 members last Monday for our first Hope Network meeting of the year. We received issue updates in the area of Criminal Justice, Affordable Housing as well as drainage issues in Hillsborough County. Wesley is a network member of HOPE and we unite with 25 other congregations from across Hillsborough County to tackle big problems. Our big event of the year is the HOPE Nehemiah Action on Tuesday, April 16th where getting numbers to this event is really important in influencing county commissioners to get things done. To that end, each of the members has committed to help get three additional people to attend this meeting with a total goal of 40 people from the Wesley congregation, family and friends. Our ultimate goal is to get everyone in the Wesley congregation involved. Please mark this date on your calendar and consider giving us a hand!
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RUTH CIRCLE
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The Ruth Circle is now collecting diapers, wipes, toiletries and educational supplies for their ministry to Children's Home Network. If you are able to help, please leave your donation in a marked container in the copy room. The Ruth Circle meets the first Thursday of each month at 10am in the Sewing Room.
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CUBA MINISTRY
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Happy to report that things are going smoothly this year and we are now at 209 children per week. With that, comes a lot more need for inventory. If you are able to help with a monetary donation or food donation, we would appreciate the support.
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 of course bring with you on Sunday to church. Monetary donations can be put in offering in a marked envelope specifying Pack- A- Sack . If needed, you can reach out to Jamie directly to arrange a pick up at 813-967-3800 or [email protected]
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We couldn’t do this without each and every one of you
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and we are grateful for your continued support.
Please be in prayer for all the Pack a Sack children
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and 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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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 being prepared. "You do this by being consistent in your spiritual development. Being prepared has more to do with what is going on now so you can be prepared for what is coming." 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 Commitment
Heavenly Father We humbly come to You to ask that You search us, O God, and know our hearts! Try us and know our thoughts! and see if there be any grievous way in us. Lead us in Your way everlasting. (Psalm 139: 23-24)
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This is a time of transition and renewal for Wesley church, as well as a time for each one of us who are united as one in You as brothers and sisters in the faith to search our hearts and once again dedicate our lives, in spirit and in truth, to seek Your will and purpose and commit to obey You wholeheartedly. We know that transformation and renewal only happens with a total surrender and submission of all we are and wish to become, as a living sacrifice unto You. Make each one of us own and commit to this.
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God Almighty, Your Word says in Jeremiah 33 verse 3 to call upon You and You will show us great and mighty things that we do not know. Please, Father, show us how to, first and foremost, surrender all our worldly desires and commitments at the foot of the cross. Show us how to share the fellowship of Your suffering by living and loving like Jesus did, as our example. Holy Spirit touch our spirits so that the eyes of our spirit may be opened and we can relinquish all in us to you, as a priority in our lives, for Your glory. You are the Author and the Finisher of our faith and we desperately need You. May Your Kingdom come, Your will be done! Amen
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Be sure to subscribe to our You Tube channel!
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Feb. 4, 2024
10:00 am Worship Service
"Covenant of David"
2 Samuel 7:16
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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Additional Note: The bulletin can also be found on the Church website (wesleymemorial.net) in the Connect drop down menu . It is updated every week by the end of Thursday for the following Sunday.
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If your phone is not pulling up current bulletin via the QR code on Sunday, it is likely you need to clear your cache (search history). To do this, open your search app, tap the three dot bar at bottom, tap history, then clear browsing data. Make sure cookies and site data has a check to the right as well as cached images and files. Then at bottom click "clear browsing data". Refer to google as some phones may differ. It is a good idea to clear the cache on your phone occasionally to keep your phone operating at its best.
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*******Even if you prefer a paper bulletin, you can still sign in online in lieu of using a connect card. That still helps the church with printing costs.*********
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FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
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