Welcome to a new format for The Methodist Church of Aztec’s online newsletter. If you prefer to receive the newsletter in hard copy format, just let Caroline know to keep printing them up for you. They’ll likely always be available in the back of the sanctuary. It will be mailed to those that are home bound that want it.
Pastor’s Note
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Jay
Notes from the Trustees
Mariel’s article
Biblical Crossword – Answers
Last month we gave you a relatively easy crossword puzzle of the Bible. I know it was easy because Shannon got all but one of the answers. Which answer did he miss? The one about the Jewish queen, Esther!
ISAAC: Son of Abraham, nearly sacrificed on Mount Moriah
SAMSON: Judge whose great strength lay in his hair
REVELATION: Last book of the Bible, written by John
RUTH: Moabite woman devoted to her mother-in-law Naomi
GENESIS: First book of the Bible
DAVID: Shepherd boy who became king of Israel
PETER: Apostle who walked on water toward Jesus
ABRAHAM: Father of many nations, called by God from Ur
NOAH: Built the ark before the great flood
GALILEE: Sea where Jesus called His first disciples
ESTHER: Jewish queen who saved her people from Haman’s plot
MARY: Mother of Jesus
JACOB: Patriarch who wrestled with an angel
GOSPEL: The ‘good news’ of Jesus Christ
SINAI: Mountain where the Ten Commandments were given
MOSES: Prophet who led Israel out of Egypt
JONAH: Prophet swallowed by a great fish
LEVI: Priestly tribe of Israel
CROSS: Instrument of Christ’s sacrifice
MANNA: Bread from heaven that fed Israel in the wilderness
EXODUS: Book describing Israel’s departure from Egypt
PSALMS: Old Testament book of songs, hymns, and prayers
PROVERBS: Old Testament book of wisdom sayings
JERUSALEM: Holy city and capital of ancient Israel
BETHLEHEM: Birthplace of Jesus
NAZARETH: Hometown where Jesus grew up
FAITH: Substance of things hoped for (Hebrews 11:1)
JORDAN: River where Jesus was baptized by John
DANIEL: Prophet who survived the lions’ den
JERICHO: Canaanite city whose walls fell at a shout
PAUL: Apostle to the Gentiles, once called Saul
MATTHEW: Tax collector who became one of the twelve apostles
AARON: Brother of Moses and Israel’s first high priest
ARK: Vessel that kept Noah’s family safe in the flood
GIDEON: Judge who defeated the Midianites with 300 men
Christogram: ICHTHYS (Fish)
ICHTHYS is the transliteration of the Greek word for fish. The earliest known use of ichthys (ιχθύς or ΙΧΘΥΣ) dates to the 2nd century from the epitaph of Bishop Aberkios, the “fish” explicitly refers to Jesus Christ.
The fish gained increased prominence when early church leaders, with eyes and ears tuned to allegory, promoted other creative usages. Tertullian (c. 160—c. 225) taught that just as water sustains fish, “We, little fishes, after the image of our Ichthys, Jesus Christ, are born in the water.” This aquatic birth is baptism, God’s promise of new life and sustaining power.
Augustine of Hippo (354–430) believed the symbol suited Jesus well because “he was able to live . . . without sin in the abyss of this mortality as in the depth of waters.”
Tradition or not
According to one ancient story, when a Christian met a stranger in the road, the Christian sometimes drew one arc of the simple fish outline in the dirt. If the stranger drew the other arc, both believers knew they were in good company.
— Christianity Today, Elesha Coffman, “Ask The Expert”
Others refute this “tradition” and indicate that it likely came from a scene in the 1951 movie titled “Quo Vadis” which was a religious epic historical film during the time of Emperor Nero.
At some point, in the 1970s, it once again became a popular symbol for Christians to display showing their faith.
Acrostic
In Greek, the five-letter word for fish (ἰχθύς, ichthys) can be used to form the following acrostic related to Jesus: “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior.” Early Christian writings and art pieces include this imagery. This wordplay allowed Christians to compress their core theological confession into a single symbol—a fish shape that visually represented the very titles and identity of Christ.
Christian Wheel
Some historians believe the Christian Wheel preceded the fish symbol as the secret sign to followers of Christ. But what I’ve found is the earliest known uses of these occur after the “fish” symbol.
In a Roman villa you can see this:
There’s also a wagon wheel symbol in a house church in Laodicea dated to about the 4th century.
In Ephesus, you can find this was carved into some marble sometime around the 4th century as well.
Summary
No matter what symbol you use to announce your Christianity to the world, try to LIVE like Jesus would want you to
live. Having the ICHTHYS (fish symbol) on the back of your car telling the world you’re a Christian and then speeding down the highway and yelling at people that go too slow ISN’T the best way to show your love to God’s people!
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Birthdays
| Sandi Spencer | Jul 12 |
| Paul West | Jul 13 |
| Jay Armstrong | Jul 16 |
| Atticus Lightner | Jul 22 |
| Shannon Lynch | Jul 26 |
| Bob Pawley | Jul 27 |
| Carla Hemmerich | Jul 28 |
Anniversary
| Shannon & Mariel Lynch | Jul 6 |
| Rick & CanDee Brannan | Jul 10 |
Upcoming Meetings
You can find the AA and Al-Anon, men’s breakfast, and Sarah’s circle meetings schedule on the calendar page of the website: https://aztecmethodist.org/events/
Beyond that, we also have these meetings happening in June:
- July 12: Leadership Team Meeting @ 11:00am
- July 14: Finances @ 5:30pm & Trustees at 6:30pm
Finances & Attendance
| June 7 | June 14 | June 21 | June 28 | |
| Giving | $ | $ | $ | $ |
| Worship | ||||
| Sunday School |
6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
—2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (ESV)