2010

So You Have the Answer… Do You Have the Right Question?

In this information age, almost anything you want to know can be gleaned from WELCOME
the internet or some other source. The recent “Wiki Leak” of tens of thousands of war di-
ary entries from Afghanistan is only the most recent in the flood of data made available to S U N DA Y S C H O O L
us. The problem with data, though, is that it is up to the user to analyze it and draw conclu- 9 : 45 A . M .
(E D . B L DG .)
sions. While our knowledge has grown exponentially in one generation, it would be hard
to say that wisdom has gained much ground. I’m afraid the raw data from 91,000 pages of S U N DA Y W O R S H I P
journal entries can and will be used to support many, sometimes conflicting conclusions. 11: 00 A . M .
The 31,103 verses we find in the Bible are sometimes used the same way. The answers ( S AN CT U AR Y )
you get depends on the questions you ask.
Nobel prize winner Isador I. Rabi once gave his mother credit for making him a F E LL OWSHIP ME AL
scientist. He recalled that when he came home from school, his mother did not ask, “What F I RS T W E DNE S DA YS
B E G I NNI NG I N
did you learn in school today?” Instead she would inquire, “Did you ask a good question
S E PT E M B E R AT 6 PM
today?” The right question made all the difference.
Pablo Picasso once complained that “Computers are useless; they can only give H AND B ELL
you answers.” While I would not go as far as that, he exposes the profound reality that the P RA CT ICE
search for meaningful truth begins with determining the right question. Take for example W E DNE S D A YS
the wonderful story of the young lawyer confronting Jesus with the question, “What must I 6 : 3 0 P. M.
do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:29-37). Certainly a legitimate question, but the an-
swer could have been given by any young bar mitzvah, and indeed the lawyer answered it C HOIR PRACTICE
himself: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and W E DNE S D A YS
7 : 3 0 P. M.
with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”
Jesus agreed, and left it at that. But the young man, “wishing to justify himself”, R E STO RERS
pressed the issue further: “And who is my neighbor?” This question prompted the parable T HU RS D AY S 9 : 00 A . M .
of the Good Samaritan. Three men see a crime victim on the side of the road, but only one (A CT I VI T Y R O OM )
stops to help. It ends with Jesus posing a new question to the man: "Which of these three * * * * * * * ** * * * * ** * * * *
do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" OUR MI SSION
A different question leads us into a completely different direction. By rephrasing
A T A L L EN M EMO RIA L
the question, Jesus was able to cut through the legality of Jewish law to uphold the spirit of
O UR MI SS IO N I S TO
righteousness demanded by the law. The story does not tell us why the first two men failed
to stop, but we can imagine they asked themselves, “What might happen to me on this dan-  G A T HER A S T HE
gerous road if I stop and help?” The Samaritan posed a different question to himself: FA M IL Y O F C HRIS T ,
“What might happen to this man if I don’t stop and help?” It is the difference between
having a neighbor and being a neighbor. It is the difference between using the law to limit  G RO W A S DI S CI PL ES
our obligations, and using the law to guide us into right actions. O F C HRIST A ND
Before we search the scriptures for the right answers, we would do well to prayer-
fully search our hearts for the right questions. Questions born of the wrong motive may  GO FO RT H T O S ERVE
lead us into a position of selfishness, complacency, or callousness. At best they help us to A S T HE B OD Y O F
justify our current position, and do not challenge us to grow. Questions that seek to honor CHRI ST
God and promote his sovereignty will not always comfort us, but neither will they mislead
us. God stands ready to guide us into his truth, if only we ask the right questions.
P AG E 2

FROM THE WORSHIP COMMITTEE Do you know these

children?

The youth of
Allen Memorial
would like a
childhood
picture of you
for a
display they are
making for our
Centennial
Homecoming
service.

This banner, made by Mary Flemister, was a focal

point of Worship at ‘Allen’ on the Fourth of July.
If you have one you'd like to
share, please bring it by the
Guest Preachers in July church office. We'll scan it in our
computer and give you back the
original. Thanks!
While The Dale Family was away on Vacation
…

Rev. Katherine
Krumbach
preached on July 18th.

Dr. Florian Pohl

preached on July 25th.

Our own Rev. Tom and Emmie Johnson

were honored as the Grand Marshals of the
annual Lion's Club Oxford Independence Day
Parade. Mayor Jerry Roseberry, along with
Lion's Club president Nancy Henderson,
Homecoming – September 12 presented them with a plaque to
Plan to be at ‘Allen’ for this great day of commemorate the occasion. Congratulations,
celebration, worship, fellowship and Tom and Emmie!
memories.
Harriett Jordan, Worship Committee Chairman
770-786-8923 / stormy [email protected]
 P AG E 3

Kids’ Korner … Youth Led Worship The Music Score

JOANNA HENRY— By Harriett Jordan, Director of Music Ministry
We are delighted to have (770-786-8923 / [email protected])
Joanna Henry join us as
our new director of
Children and Youth Assisting in Musical Worship
Ministries, effective August
1st. Joanna, a native of
July 18:
Newton County, recently
graduated from Atlanta
Hannah Green,
Christian College with a granddaughter of Paul &
Bachelor's Degree in Karen Green, played a flute/piano
Biblical Studies. She lives with her husband, accompaniment with Harriett
Justin, in Conyers. Joanna loves working with Jordan.
children of all ages, and especially loves mu-
sic. She plays drums and guitar. Joanna looks She also played
forward to carrying on the good work done a piano solo and
faithfully by Dwayne and Missy Gillmore. accompanied
Welcome, Joanna! the Chancel
Choir with
VBS - guitarist Kevin
Gossage and
Our VBS was a huge success this year, with a drummer
Galactic Blast that brought over sixty children Charles Allen.
into our
church.
Cannon UMC
of Snellville
loaned us their
25 foot tall July 25: Ginny Morris,
rocket to former principal accompanist,
display on played two piano solos and
accompanied the congregation
in singing praise & worship
songs and favorite hymns.
Highway 81, and Ginny will play again in Worship
there were great in August 15.
props in the chapel
to make it interest-
ing.

Kudos to
Dwayne and Homecoming Choir
Missy
Allen Memorial UMC will celebrate a landmark in the
Gillmore, who
church’s history, the 100th Anniversary of the
worked
beautiful building where we worship, on Homecoming
tirelessly to
Sunday, September 12, 2010. Consider singing in
organize and
the choir on this great occasion. The anthem will be
pull off the
rehearsed on Wednesday nights, August 18 & 25 and
event. Thanks also to the many older youth and
September 1 & 8, from 7:15 to 7:45. Former
adults who volunteered to make it the best VBS
Chancel Choir members are particularly encouraged
ever! Our kids are still singing the songs they
to share your voices as we worship together.
learned!

.
 Kristen Sullivan 1-Aug
Greeters -
Ruby Ellis 1-Aug
June-October:
Ellin Knarr 2-Aug
1st Sunday- Rob Gourlay, Andy Dot Powell 2-Aug
Autry, Chuck Knarr, Brian Dale 2-Aug
Steve Bowen Christy Lee Bell 2-Aug
2nd Sunday- David Dale, Carlos Meyer, Dorothy Latrelle Oliver 3-Aug
Dimsdale, Alexa DeVetter Sherry Autry 4-Aug
3rd Sunday- John Burson, Tom Johnson, JoAn Stone, Marilyn Bates 7-Aug
Chuck Silver Gail McPhail 7-Aug
4th Sunday- Andy Autry, David Dale, Jim and Jo Ann Rain 6-Aug
Loretta Patty Matthew Taylor 6-Aug
5th Sunday- Chuck Knarr, David Dale, John Burson, Karen Green 8-Aug
Loretta Patty Ginny Morris 8-Aug
Loretta Patty 9-Aug
Greeters, Please begin your responsibilities at 10:45 A.M. Wear Mary C. Whisnant 10-Aug
your Welcome Badge. Greet each person with a smile and a Daniel C. Bailey 11-Aug
handshake. Give visitors an information card to fill out and put Henry & Betty McAdory 16-Aug
in offering plate or give to the Pastor. After service, please pick John & Ruth Burson's Anniversary 17-Aug
up any papers left on pews and put in recycle bins. Please Jonathan Eady 18-Aug
assist those who come in late also.
Jonathan Reynolds 16-Aug
Lee Atchison 19-Aug
Peggy Madden 19-Aug
Melanie Wilder 20-Aug
Carlos Meyer 21-Aug
Carlos and Bim Meyer Anniversary 21-Aug
Cary B. Allgood 22-Aug
Linda Johnson 23-Aug
Margie Cline 23-Aug
Curry Haynes, Jr. 25-Aug
ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL MEETING: SUNDAY, Judy Pettis 26-Aug
AUGUST 1ST AT 4 PM Judy Greer 28-Aug
Maridel Meyer Reynolds 28-Aug
UMM BREAKFAST - SUNDAY, AUGUST 8TH AT 8
AM
FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING : TUESDAY,
AUGUST 3RD AT 4 PM SUSIE B. STONE CIRCLE MEETS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 12TH AT
UMC DISTRICT MEETING : WEDNESDAY, AUGUST NOON - ELIZABETH TAYLOR
11TH LOVERN HALL AT 11:30 AM.
BOBBIE HAYNES CIRCLE WILL NOT MEET DURING THE
YOUNG AT HEART LUNCHEON—FRIDAY, AUGUST SUMMER MONTHS—JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST.
20TH AT NOON. LYNN BRANHAM CIRCLE MEETS THURSDAY, JULY 19TH AT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING: SUNDAY , NOON AT THOMAS’ RESTAURANT
AUGUST 22ND AT 4 PM.
UMW DISTRICT EXECUTIVE MEETING:
SATURDAY, AUGUST 14TH 9:00 AM.

OUR STAFF
Allen Memorial United Methodist Church Non-Profit Permit
R EV. BRIAN DALE 803 Whatcoat Street Permit No. 7
P AS T OR P.O. Box 117 Oxford, GA 30054
Oxford, Georgia 30054
H ARRIET T J ORDA N
M U S I C D I RE CT O R Return Service Requested
J O A N N A H E NR Y
D I RE CT O R OF
C HI L DRE N & Y OU T H
M I NI S T RI E S

W ILL IAM P RA TE R
P RI NCI PA L
A CCOM PANI S T

J EANNIE P ITT S
S E CRE T AR Y