Pastor’s Note
We are not where we want to be. I suppose that sentence could apply to many situations.
Those who are in assisted living homes are often comfortable where they are, but in
truthful moments they will say that they, “are not where they want to be.” Sometimes
you don’t have a choice, but often you do.
How many people have worked a job because they need a place to stay and food to eat
and it is the job her or she has found. They are not where they want to be and they sat to
themselves, “When all their conditions, expectations, and needs are perfectly fulfilled,”
they will make a move to begin to extract themselves from where they are to where they
want to be. Hmm…When was the last time all your conditions, expectations, and your
needs were fulfilled and you found the perfect step to take and the perfect place to be.
Most journeys have steps and you must take that first step. Most of the time that first
step doesn’t take you to the place you want to be, but it takes you closer. Sometimes that
step may seem out of order, but it is the one before you. It may be an opportunity that
once passed will not come around again. You must act, and yes, you do it thoughtfully,
but you do act. Taking that step or not taking that step are both acts each has its own
consequences.
We are not where we want to be, the conditions are not perfect, but a step is before us,
and we must act. The building across the street is for sale. The price has dropped. It is
an opportunity. One that may not come again or will be much more expensive in the
future.
Let’s covenant together to pray fervently, attend one of the information and listening
sessions and then come together in Holy Conference to decide together. Whatever we
do, let us do it with good sense and faith.
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope
for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended
for.” Hebrews 11:1-2
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Jay
Notes From Your Trustees: Chicken or Egg?
As we move into summer, and the busy time of vacations, DIY home projects, and this season of important future-planning for our church, we will continue to care for this church building we all love so much. Our major tasks this month go back to the engineer’s report we commissioned in December of 2023, regarding the deterioration of our sanctuary. While many of the suggestions from that report were implemented at that time, there are still a couple of items we need to address: first is the repair of the floor joist under the Northwest corner of the sanctuary, and second is the removal of all of the vegetation 10 feet from the north side of the building to keep water away from the foundation. The good news is that there have been no changes in the cracks since we started monitoring them in Sept of 2024.
The other thing we will be doing this month is the big decision regarding the future of our church. We are trying to make all information about the purchase of the building across the street available to everyone. There are fact sheets in everyone’s email as well as printed versions in the back of the sanctuary. There is also a question box in the back of the sanctuary. Our goal is to maintain complete transparency during this whole process. All questions will be answered at the Q&A/Listening Sessions as follows:
Sunday July 12th 3pm
Wednesday July 15th 3pm
Sunday July 19th 9am
It is important to remember that some of us will have different viewpoints than others and that we need to listen to each other. One of our major differences is whether we need to grow the Church before we grow the facility, or do we grow our facility in order to grow the Church?
Another important reminder: We can have all the opinions we want, but if we are not members of the Church, we do not have a vote. Pastor Jay will be hosting a membership class on July 12th at 9am for all of you interested in officially joining our fellowship.
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 |
Anniversaries
| 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 July:
- July 12: Membership Class @ 9:00am
- July 12: Leadership Team Meeting @ 11:00am
- July 12: Building Q&A / Listening Session @ 3:00pm
- July 15: Building Q&A / Listening Session @ 3:00pm
- July 19: Building Q&A / Listening Session @ 9:00am
- July 21: Finances @ 5:30pm & Trustees @ 6:30pm
Christian Anagrams
These are pretty easy, you should be able to finish them relatively quickly.
Unscramble each word using the clue.
RAEGC _ _ _ _ _ Clue: What we say before meals and in worship.
HITFA _ _ _ _ _ Clue: Trusting God even when we can’t see.
SUSEJ _ _ _ _ _ Clue: The Son of God.
REARPY _ _ _ _ _ _ Clue: Talking with God.
LPSAM _ _ _ _ _ Clue: A song or poem in the Old Testament.
HURCHC _ _ _ _ _ _ Clue: The gathering of God’s people.
LEBIB _ _ _ _ _ Clue: God’s Word.
VLOE _ _ _ _ Clue: The greatest commandment.
SACERIFC _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Clue: What Jesus made for us on the cross.
NHEAVE _ _ _ _ _ _ Clue: Our eternal home with God.
Answers to come in the next newsletter!
Finances & Attendance
| June 7 | June 14 | June 21 | June 28 | |
| Giving | $3296 | $1103 | $3787 | $5214 |
| Worship | 40 | 45 | 55 | ~43 |
| Sunday School | 9 | 8 | 11 | 13 |
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)
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