Rec Min Message | August 2021

August 2021 Newsletter

As we prepare for the upcoming fall and winter months when we normally see a surge in illnesses such as colds and flu, it seems as though this Delta variant, another strain of COVID-19, will be added to our precautions. Last year we were completely overtaken with COVID and the unbelievable experience that consumed us and the entire world.  The world shut down to prepare to battle and try to control this disease.  Slowly, we were able to open back up and start working towards more normalcy. But then, Delta variant…here we go again?  We could possibly see a repeat of shutting our doors again. What did we learn? Will we panic? Are we more experienced in how to deal with this – not only medically and physically but psychologically?

If you look back over history, viruses have never been a “one and done” type disease.  They too, become wiser each time and will change to meet their needs of spreading. We in turn learn how to treat and battle these diseases and become wiser with each one. This time around maybe we won’t have as much panic as before and we can calmly go through this with purpose.  We all know in emergencies that if we remain calm, we make less mistakes, avoiding creating more chaos during the chaos.  Maybe our own personal calm about dealing with this will spread as quickly and we can have less stress and chaos. I believe we will. My faith tells us we will.

Prov 9:9 says, “Give instruction to the wise, and they will become wiser still; teach the righteous and they will gain in learning.”  Long before COVID guidelines we had instruction on becoming better and wiser with each lesson in life. Just as in life, every experience we go through makes us wiser (we hope) and we are better prepared the next time we have a similar experience OR we are able to avoid it altogether. When we know better, we do better.

Take care, be safe, be a blessing, be blessed.

Marcia K. Gibney,
Director of Recreation Ministry

Rec Min Message | July 2021

When I open my news station’s website, almost all news articles are negative happenings - shootings, robberies, critical vehicle accidents, etc. The next are more or less “entertainment” articles which are usually about the wild lives of current social media people, actors, or athletes. When I get to the bottom of the page, I see the benign articles.  Why is it that the media chooses the negative over the positive? Is it because this is what entertains us, excites us, motivates us or even worse/better – influences us?

We are all attracted to shocking information and how we respond is usually on target with what the media probably expects. So, if we read an article about a fatal car accident, do we say, “I bet the driver was under the influence or texting…” or do we immediately stop and pray regardless of who did what?

It is important is how we respond to this type of information and what we do with it. Ephesians 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."  Also, Ephesians 4:29 tells us, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”  While the media may control what is put out there first and in abundance, don’t allow that influence to change your perspective on how you respond to the information.  Pray for the individuals and pray for the truth and pray God’s will to prevail over it all. When you are discussing the current events, do so in such a way that others are also first in prayer over the news. Let’s do our part to change the narrative in the negative. Tragic events bring us closer to God and from that relationship with Him, we must find the blessings and use that for His good moving forward.

 Blessings,

Marcia K. Gibney
Director of Recreation Ministry

Rec Min Message | June 2021

More than 4,000 years ago, the ancient Babylonians celebrated the New Year not in January, but in March. This is when they crowned a new king, or reaffirmed loyalty to the old king. Centuries later, the ancient Romans had similar traditions to ring in their new year, which also originally began in March and as they gradually became less warlike, the switch from celebrating the New Year during March (associated with Mars, the god of war) to January (associated with Janus, a god of home and hearth). In 1740, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, invented a new type of church service called Covenant Renewal Services or watch night services, held during the Christmas and New Year's season as an alternative to holiday partying. Worshippers sang, prayed, and reflected on the year and renewed their covenant with God.

As you can see, historically the New Year’s resolution gradually changed from March to January and from political/military purposes into healthy and wellness promises. So why do we currently limit ourselves to only once a year and only one resolution? Why can’t we make promises to become better in many ways more than once a year?  Many of those resolutions take time and many times, they need revamping. Maybe consider starting a new tradition of adding a June resolution - sort of a halfway point for the sought-after goals. A spiritual reset is the most important in setting and maintaining those goals. Our faith is our true strength and without it, the struggle to reach other goals can be misleading.  We can convince ourselves that our bodies or minds weren’t meant to be a certain way when in fact they can. Give yourself some grace and strengthen yourself in the word of God. Once our spiritual life is reset, we can focus our strength on the goals with a renewed sense of purpose. Evaluate your perspective to keep a focus on the living Christ and how He is always moving in your life.

Blessings,

Marcia K. Gibney
Director of Recreation Ministry

Rec Min Message | May 2021

During one of our staff devotions our Ministries Leader, Brad Boland, shared a devotion with scripture from Isaiah 43:19,

 “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

 When we have to change what we do because of things beyond our control or out our usual comfort level, blessings beyond our ability to perceive can come from that change.

 In our CUMC Recreation Ministry’s
C-Sports, each season our participants “do a new thing”. This is a great opportunity for change. Some of them find their love of a sport. Some find that they love being on any type of team that does something good together-even if they don’t like the sport. Some find a new friend.  Whole families connect where they normally wouldn’t have even met.  They learn about Jesus or they learn something new about Jesus through a shared experience.

 Our volunteer coaches are ministers to these participants and these families during the season and they are also the influencers to create change—beyond the actual sport—through the weekly devotion time. Unbeknownst to them, this time they spend coaching and teaching through that season can be life changing and produce blessings that will continue to flow even for many generations. These are our greatest ministers and we are all blessed by their willingness to be a part of our ministry.

 Don’t forget to find the blessings even in the hard parts of life. Forced change beyond our control can put us out of our comfort zone but it can sure teach us new things we never imagined would be blessings!

 Blessings,

Marcia Horn

Director of Recreation Ministry

Christ United Methodist Church

Rec Min Messge | April 2021

April is a month we all seem to love and despise all at the same time. The beautiful blooms that provide such an array of color that provokes smiles on all of our faces while at the same time, that yellow powdery stuff makes our eyes swell and our nose overreact and we are miserable. Then there are the on and off storms that come from the quickly changing temperatures of spring’s arrival. We love that the rain washes all of the pollen from our cars but we despise the terrifying experience of the storm’s torrential downpours and tornadic winds and damage, not to mention the lightening striking so frequently.  We quickly forget the beauty that April brought us when the storms come through.  It hammers down those azalea blooms and strips the new tender leaves blooming on the trees.  We forget the beauty while grimacing at the ugliness left behind. We have to remember the recovery process is quick and very soon new buds are forming and the beauty of renewal is blooming right before us again!

 “Let us know, let us strive to know the Lord; as certain as the dawn is his coming. He will come to us like rain, like spring rain that waters the earth.” -Hosea 6:3

We don’t always have the beauty of life without going through the harder parts first. There is hope in renewal and without those storms of life, we don’t seem to appreciate the beauty of that renewal. Even through these hard parts we should strive to find the blessings in them (the pollen was washed away).  Having faith and knowing we can “bloom” again is the greatest gift we have been given.  Have faith, embrace the storms, live in the beauty of that renewal.

 Marcia K. Horn,
Director of Recreation Ministry
Christ United Methodist Church

Rec Min Message | March 2021

You know the old saying, “In like a lion and out like a lamb.” This usually refers to the month of March. Winter is in full force at the beginning of the month and then on March 20th, we’re supposed to be in spring. How many times have we had below freezing temps in March and even in April?

Weather changes can be discouraging. We get our yards pretty with spring flowers, see green grass budding, put out our spring decorations and then brrr—28°hits us! We rush out to cover our plants to protect them from the freeze, watch the green budding grass brown over from the frost, and then we stay indoors another week or so. We will repeat this many times over the month of March.  Just like in our spiritual life, we have these “freezes” that make us back up and have to regroup. We cover our spirit in prayers to protect it from the bad, we watch new growth go stale, and we pull back into a place to sit in the quiet.

“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. “ Gen 8:22

Eventually, spring does come. The temperatures warm, the flowers bloom, and the grass grows. That process of growth takes over and becomes the most beautiful time in our year.  Just as in nature, we should allow our spirit to go into the quiet and regroup. This is when the true growth happens and the fruits of that will bloom just like the spring and become the most beautiful part of our spiritual growth. 

Marcia Horn,

Director of Recreation Ministry

Rec Min Message | Feb 2021

It is hard to believe we are already into the month of February in 2021. While 2020 seemed to last for years, 2021 is already going too fast!  The new year has brought new changes at the Rec Min. As you know, the Recreation Minister, Steve Ellisor, retired in October. I have been honored by receiving that position as Director of Recreation Ministry.  These are BIG shoes to fill so I will go ahead and tell you I will be working really hard and I pray that I will be able to serve as well!  Steve has been more than a supervisor to me, he has been a mentor and the finest example of how to be a great leader. He can never be replaced and his leadership will be greatly missed. 

Steve always shared the verse, Prov. 3:6 “In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.”  There is no other verse that truly speaks about how this ministry works. All we do is direct our efforts to honor God and what He has gifted us to do in our work for those who walk through the Rec Min doors.  My favorite verse has always been Phil 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” There is no work, no rest, no single thing do I ever attempt to do without seeking the strength from Him when my feet hit the floor each day. Sometimes I have to seek Him before I can move just so I can move (the back isn’t what it used to be).  These verses will certainly be my prayer for how I begin each day in my new role here at the Rec Min as I model my leadership in the footsteps of Steve.

There are several other big changes lined up for 2021, including adding new opportunities for new fitness programming. Stay informed by checking our website at christunitedcsports.com.

While I know I am not as gifted in the ways of Steve with his messages, I hope to give my best each month. I pray that whatever I am able to produce comes from the gifts He has given me and that it is received in the ways that honor Him and help others.  Looking forward to this new chapter in the Recreation Ministry and the year 2021! 

Marcia K. Horn,
Director of Recreation Ministry

From the Rec Min | Sept. 9, 2020

This was a tough week for many reasons, not just soccer! I hope you all survived with minimal damage. My soccer playing grandsons have helped me do a lot of cleaning since the storm and are probably looking forward to going back to school as soon as possible! This week isn’t looking that great, but hopefully we will still have some good practices and games in some cooler temperatures.

I’ve always felt it was important for coaches to encourage parents to participate, or at least be present, in the team devotions during each practice or game. The messages are for them, too! I want the coaches to include their own stories and add to the written materials; to personalize the experience as much as they feel led or feel comfortable doing. Let the children, and families, SEE the message as much as they HEAR it.

One of my favorite songs, and here I go getting teary eyed, is Some Things I Must Tell The Children by Gloria Gaither. I sang it to my kids at bed time when they were little. I’ve performed it at baptisms. The words remind us of the important things we must tell our children. Deuteronomy 6:5-7 says, “Love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them upon your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, and when you lie down and when you get up.” When you deliver the devotion, lead a prayer, or spiritually mentor children (with family members listening close by) you are planting seeds that you may never see bear fruit. This is our service to God. He does the rest. Our job is to first see that we, ourselves, are open and receptive to His Spirit and then to pray for His guidance as we deliver messages and interact with his people.

Prayer Partners are praying for you daily. I hope you are praying for your team and for this ministry as a whole. God is good and the Holy Spirit is at work because you committed to be His agent of love, grace, and instruction to your team. May He richly bless you for what you are doing for His kingdom!

Stay safe, healthy, and dry! Be tuned to our rec min Facebook & website for updates regarding practices and games.

In His Service,

Steve Ellisor, Recreation Minister

Christ United Methodist Church
251-706-3326

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:6

From the Rec Min | Steve Ellisor | 7-6-2020

Monday Sit and Get Fit Video by Hasfit: 

Recreation Ministry Update | Marcia Horn | 7-3-2020

Dear Recreation Ministry Participants,

Christ United Recreation Ministry’s Recreation facility will open on July 6th, 2020, with our normal operation hours - Monday through Friday, 6am-9pm and Saturday from 8am-6pm.

We have new procedures in how we will be operating. Each participant needs to make a reservation in order to use the facility. You can call the rec desk at 251-706-3326 to make these reservations. Please make sure you click on the links below to read about these new procedures so that you will be ready to participate when we open!

We will be closed Friday, July 3rd and Saturday, July 4th for the holiday.

We hope to see you next week - we are excited to have our ministry open to you again. Let us all be safe in our ways!

Have a safe, blessed holiday!

Marcia Horn
Recreation Coordinator
Christ United Methodist Church
T|251.706.3326
www.christunitedcsports.com

Friday Sit and Get Fit Video by Hasfit: