For better or worse
Union Grove and Sylvester UMC are preparing for Spring Revival. Sylvester’s Spring Revival will start on March 1, 2020. The afternoon service will start at 1:00 p.m. Pastor Willie J. Flowers of New Friendship MBC of Walnut Grove will conduct the afternoon service. Monday night and Tuesday night services will start at 7:00 p.m. each night. Pastor Arthur Maples of Wesley Chapel UMC will conduct Monday night service and Pastor Curtis Laster Jr. of Mt. Carmel MBC will conduct Tuesday night service.
Union Grove UMC will host its Spring Revival starting Sunday, March 8, 2020 thru Tuesday, March 10, 2020. The afternoon service on March 8 will be conducted by Pastor Timothy Croft of Lone Pilgrim. Monday night service will be conducted by Pastor Haywood Hannah of Greer Chapel of Flowood and Tuesday night will be conducted by Pastor Rocket of Hopewell MBC of Goodman. We pray that you come out and join us.
The Steele Community Great American Cleanup is coming up. This is cleanup time for Patrick Drive, Oliver Dr. King Rd., Water Tank Rd., Old Jackson Rd., Beulah Rd., Boss Hogg Rd., Burks Circle and Edna Dr. During March 7 thru March 9, the volunteer participants of the community take the time to clean up the community if the weather permits. On Monday, March 09, the participants will gather at Union Grove UMC for a fellowship meal. If you would like to participate or donate, please contact Brenda Bobbitt at 601-507-9567.
Shu-Wonna Gregory-Burkes who is providing a graduation gift to a senior of Scott Central H. S. Shu-Wonna works for the MS Department of Corrections and witnesses on a daily basis some of the problems lack of education and positive encouragement can cause. She states the following: “there are many reasons high school students drop out and I want to be a part of the system that promotes change and positivity in the lives of these students. I want them to know that they are not alone and that they have a support system that not only cares for them but will cheer them on. These students are facing issues of abandonment, death, pregnancy, drugs, single parent homes, low income, and the list goes on. But they need to know there is a support system and a way out of all of this dysfunction. They are able to rise above their pitfalls and can achieve all their dreams despite their hardships.
“My giveaway will give them the necessary encouragement to keep pushing forward to achieve their dreams. I hope to inspire the students because I am a product of graduation and I’ve achieved my dreams and became a business owner. They are able to do the same through hard work and dedication. The community cares and by giving the students this type of incentive this will show them that hard work and diligence along with good academics can and will be rewarded.”
A word from Pastor Marcus Mann: All marriages begin with an exchange of vows: for better or worse; richer or poorer; in sickness and in health, etc. Every couple who stands before one another making such vows stands there all starry eyed and so in love that they don’t really give a whole lot of thought to what they are saying. They are so in love that when they say those words, they don’t fully comprehend the meaning of worse, poorer and sickness. Then when “worse” happens and the reality of what it means sets in, they start trying to get out of the marriage.
People often go into a relationship with the Lord the same way. Like marriage salvation is a covenant, it involves a vow, it is a relationship and it is meant to last our whole lifetime. Most people enter it for heaven, for blessings, for the peace Jesus gives, for all the good things He bestows on them. But, like marriage, there is a worse part of our relationship that will come. At that point many give up and turn from Him — they want a “divorce.”
They entered into a relationship with Him because they wanted to go to heaven. They fell in love with Jesus. They looked forward to the blessings and good times, but He didn’t promise all “good times.” He said we would have tribulations. He said we would have affliction. He said that by having a relationship with Him, we would be hated by all men. We would be rejected, mocked, attacked, persecuted, imprisoned and our own families and friends would turn on us.
In any relationship there is a cost that should be counted. Every relationship will cost us something. Every relationship won’t always be full of the “better” — even our relationship with the Lord. When you enter into it with Him, be aware of the cost and realize too that it is worth it. “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)
