What’s Happening at CG?
A Note From Our Associate Pastor:
Rev. Ruth J. Smith
He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
Ezekiel 37:3
This past Sunday I listened to Pastor Waymond Smith preach a sermon on this chapter and I thought to myself “what an on-time message for this past year and also this year – 2021. January last year we were warned of this coming pandemic, but the “powers that be” downplayed it. After citizens started to become very ill and were losing their lives, we were told it was true; therefore, causing us to be behind the curveball. All of a sudden, businesses were shutting down; we were told to stay home; vacations and business trips came to a sudden halt. People were now finding themselves out of work; losing businesses, and on top of that our black males were losing their lives daily to police shootings. Racism and hatred were running rapidly in the hearts of men, women, and children.
Looking at the television and reading social media provided nothing but gloom and doom. Because of this many people lost their faith; their hope; their peace; their joy and fell into a state of deep despair feeling there was no way out. Many of them were asking this same question: can these dry bones live again. To contemporize it – will we be able to recover from this; and where is God in all of this?
When God asked Ezekiel “can these bones live,” Ezekiel replied, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” He was right! Just as God knew then – He knows now. God told Ezekiel to prophesy to these bones and say to them “Dry bones; hear the word of the Lord. God spoke to those dry bones and told them that He would make breath enter them and they will come back to life again. Today, prophesy to the dry bones in your life – be it finances, health problems, marital problems; joblessness, homelessness – whatever it is, speak life into your situations. Pastor Donald Smith taught us to learn some “switch scriptures” that you can go to in times of trouble and stand on those scriptures. I remember when I was first diagnosed with cancer, I made the scripture that said “I shall live and not die.” my scripture to go to when I started feeling scared. We need to keep our eyes looking toward the hills because that is where our strength lies.
My friends, yes, these dry bones can live again if we stop magnifying the problem and magnify God! Remember, God is bigger than your finances, cancer and other diseases, marital problems, racial issues, and hatred; and yes, He’s even bigger than COVID-19. So I challenge you to leave your fears and anxieties in 2020. This is a brand new year and God wants to do a new thing. He will make breath enter into your situations if you believe.
Happy New Year!
Your Associate Pastor
Rev. Ruth J. Smith
Sunday Morning Worship
January 10, 2021
Join us for Sunday Morning Worship at 11:00 a.m. via Facebook Live on the Center Grove United Methodist Church Facebook page.
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Here are Four Ways to Give:
1.) Visit the Center Grove website (www.centergroveumc.org), click on GIVE, and then click the “Ready to Give” tab.
2.) If you prefer to mail your donation, you may send it to:
Center Grove United Methodist Church
P.O. Box 5957
Huntsville, AL 35814
3.) UMCgo is available for your Smartphone through Google Play, or IPhone through the App Store.
*Download the app; search for Center Grove (2969 State Rte 53, Huntsville, AL 35806); press the heart to Give!
4.) Text-To-Give. Text your donation amount to 844-944-2817
Remember The Sick & Home-bound
Mrs. Evelyn Roberson
Mrs. Gladys Jacobs
Mrs. Madgie Jamar
Ms. Marjorie Ewing
Mrs. Cora King
Ms. Theresa Hope
Mrs. Zena Love Hill
Mr. Carl Bradley
Mrs. Barbara Baker
Mr. Bobby Readus
Mrs. Ollie Gilliam
Pastor Ruth J. Smith
Mrs. Cynthia Jackson
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