Newspaper Page Text
October 12, 2022
Page 7C
lEeporter
Spotlight on Local Churches
PASTOR S CORNER by Rev. Pamela Johnston
What the heck is a
'living sacrifice?'
Don’t be conformed to the patterns of this
world but be transformed by the renewing
of your minds so that you configure out
what God’s will is—what is good and pleas
ing and mature.
- Romans 12:2
e often use oxymorons—con
tradictory words or phrases
placed together—to describe
the ironies of
life. They make us stop and
think: My grandmothers
sour cream pound cake is
awful good. I’m sorry, but
you clearly misunderstood
what I was trying to say.
Graduating from UGA last
year was definitely a bitter
sweet day in my life.
When Paul wrote in his
letter to the Romans to pres
ent their bodies as a ‘living
sacrifice’ to God (12:1),
people likely had no idea
what he meant. That is because they were ac
customed to the idea of sacrificing animals’
bodies as an act of worship. The Israelites,
Greeks and Romans all practiced killing
animals. The gift being offered was placed
and burnt on an altar, and the climax to the
sacrificial ritual came when the blood, the
life force of the animal, was sprinkled over it.
In exchange, they hoped to receive security,
health and prosperity from their gods for
themselves and their faith community.
But Paul had been confronted by the living
God, had accepted Christ, and understood a
different way to show honor. His message to
the new Christians in Rome was to live every
day in a way that showed real transforma
tion. He goes on in his letter to give several
examples: Love people sincerely without pre
tending. Contribute to the needs of others.
When possible, welcome strangers into your
home—as if they were part of your family.
Consider all people as equal. Don’t think
you’re better than everyone else but instead
associate with people who have no status.
Don’t try to get revenge when someone
wrongs you; instead try to show kindness
and live in peace, even with your enemies.
I don’t know about you, but these instruc
tions don’t sound like what most of us follow
in 2022. Stop for a minute and consider what
qualities people attribute to you. How would
someone describe you to a person who had
just moved into town? Would you like to be
known as a successful business person? A
humorous and jovial dude? A smart and tal
ented teacher? An outspoken but fair leader?
Someone who can be trusted with sensitive
information? Each of these sounds like a nice
way to be identified. But they pale in com
parison to someone whose entire life is lived
as an offering of gratitude to God.
Hold on a minute, you might say. That
sounds like a task for pastors or missionar
ies. That’s definitely not for me.
But the truth is we can choose
to do anything in a way that
wholly honors God. This week,
the Georgia Council on Devel
opmental Disabilities released a
video on their Youtube channel
highlighting several local Geor
gians who have faced challenges
in their adult life and how they
have chosen to respond to those
challenges. It’s titled "Treasure
Maps Macon 2022," and I
encourage you to take 30 minutes
to look it up and watch it. You
will be so inspired by the stories these people
tell.
One gentleman shares how he uses his gift
of good comedic timing, something others
have envied in him, to bring laughter and
love to other people, just as God has gifted
it to him. Each person interviewed shares
how their disabilities do not define or limit
them, but instead empower them to make
the world a better place. If you, like me, have
spent any time lately being upset because
your savings have dropped, as an example,
then watching this short film will make you
stop and think about your priorities.
Paul wanted the Roman Christians to
know that following Jesus would not be
easy—it would require them to live different
ly than others around them. But that kind of
life is the only proper response to the grace
each of us has been given. And as believers,
it is what we are called to do. Commit each
day as a living sacrifice to God, and you’ll be
richly blessed. The Beatles may not agree, but
scripture promises us the best things in life
are free—not cheap, but free.
Rev. Pamela Johnston is pastor ofEbenezer
United Methodist Church, 1671 Dames Ferry
Road, Forsyth. The Pastors Corner is sponsored
by the Monroe County Ministerial Association.
The Ministerial Association will meet on Thurs
days Oct. 20 and Dec. 1 at 9 a.m. at Christ
UMC, 417 N. Frontage Road, Forsyth.
Rev. Pamela Johnston
CALENDAR
Continued from Page 5C
years old and up to be guests
at the 32nd Annual Birthday
Celebration. It will be in person
at the Monroe County Senior
Center Rubye J. Watts Building,
515 Highway 83 South, Forsyth
on Wednesday, Oct. 19 from
10 a.m.-12 noon. Anyone who
knows of 90-100 year old
residents of Monroe County
who should receive a special
invitation to the event, please
contact Juronia Evans, Senior
Center Director, at 478-994-
1701. Other seniors and
friends are also welcome.
Oct. 20
M. C. Farm Bureau Annual
Meeting
Monroe County Farm Bu
reau Annual Meeting will be
Thursday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. at
the Mary Persons High School
cafeteria in Forsyth.
Oct. 21
Fall Festival & Chili Cook-off
K.B. Sutton Elementary will
have a Fall Festival and Chili
Cook-off on Friday, Oct. 21
from 6-8 p.m. Admission is $5/
person for ages 4 and up. It in
cludes inflatables, one token for
chili voting, tattoos and games.
There will also be concessions,
face painting, a dunking booth,
cake walk and hay ride. The
festival is open to the public.
Boys & Girls Club Thriller
5K Run
Boys & Girls Clubs of Centra
Georgia (BGCCG) will host a
5K run on Friday, Oct. 21 at
6:30 p.m. beginning at Luther
Williams Field, Macon in Caro
lyn Crayton (Central City) Park.
Awards will be given to the
best M/F costumes, judged by
a panel of Club Kids pre-race.
Several community leaders are
running the 5K as ambassadors.
Online registration is available.
$20 for all entries received by
Sept. 30, $25 for entries re
ceived Oct. 1 -20, $30 on race
day with limited t-shirt avail
ability. Thriller Run 5K is still
open to sponsorships, as well
as volunteers. For information,
contact special events coordi
nator DeMarcus Beckham at
dbeckham@bgccg.org.
Oct. 22
Boy Scout Troop 51 Ham
burger Plate Fundraiser
Monroe County Boy Scout
Troop 51 will have a Hamburg
er Plate Fundraiser on Satur
day, Oct. 22 from 4-7 p.m.
at Old Mill Market, 94 East
Adams Street, Forsyth. Plates
are $10 and include Sleepy
Creek Farms beef hamburger
and fixings, chips, and an Old
Mill Market cookie. Tickets
must be purchased in advance.
Call 478-258-1453 to pur
chase tickets.
Fox City Witches Ride
The Fox City Witches Ride/
Walk to benefit United in Pink
with be Saturday, Oct. 22 at
5:30 p.m.with check-in at 4:45
p.m. at the Farmers Market on
North Jackson Street. Cost is
$25/person. Register online or
in-person at Monroe County
Tag Office, A Girl & A Goat
or Old Mill Market by oct. 6
to guarantee a t-shirt.
CHURCH CALENDAR
Email church calendar news to Diane Glidewell at news'-mymcr.net by Mon
day at 10 a.m. Church information is published free of charge as space
permits.
Oct. 12
Food Distribution at
Christ UMC
The Circle of Care Mobile
Food Distribution at Christ
United Methodist Church,
417 N. Frontage Road, For
syth will be on Wednesday,
Oct. 12, 10 am-12 noon.
Oct. 15
St. Peters Rock Mis
sionary Baptist has
Women's Conference
St. Peter's Rock Missionary
Baptist Church, 10496 Hwy
87 Juliette will present a
Women's Conference on
Saturday, Oct 15 at 10 a.m.
The Guest Speaker will be
Pastor Jennifer Carver of
House of Hope Atlanta.
Oct. 16
Garden Hill Baptist
celebrates 61st anni
versary
Garden Hill Baptist Church,
88 Vining Street, Forsyth
will celebrate Homecoming
and its 61st Anniversary on
Sunday, Oct.16 at 10:30
a.m. Mike McMullan will
bring the message, and there
will be special music and din
ner on the grounds. All are
welcome.
St. Peters Rock Mis
sionary Baptist has
Breast Cancer Aware
ness Sunday
St. Peter's Rock Missionary
Baptist Church, 10496 Hwy
87 Juliette will hold Breast
Cancer Awareness Sunday
on Oct. 16 at 9:30 a.m. The
Guest Speaker is Minister
Juanita Hogan of Greater
Friendship MBC. Hosts are
Ruth Middlebrooks and Lady
Jacinta Johnson.
Dog Leg Classic Charity
Golf Tournament
The 2nd Annual Dog Leg
Classic Charity Golf Tourna
ment will at Forsyth Golf
Club on Saturday, Oct. 22
with registration at 7:15
a.m., shot gun start at 8 a.m.
Proceeds benefit Monroe
County Band programs. Reg
istration is $50/player, $200/
foursome.
Oct 22
Bolingbroke Community
Cleanup
Volunteers are needed for
Bolingbroke’s fall cleanup
on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 9
a.m. Volunteers will meet at
Mount Zion Baptist, 179 Mt.
Zion Church Road, Boling
broke. Gloves are suggested.
Oct. 29
Save-A-Pet Yard Sale
Save-A-Pet will hold a yard
sale on Saturday, Oct. 29
from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at its
shelter at 430 Maynard
Church Road, Forsyth. Dona
tions are appreciated. For
more information, call 478-
994-5223.
Oct. 30
Trunk or Treat at the
Sheriffs Office
The Monroe County Sheriff's
Office will host a free and
safe Trunk-or-Treat for the
whole family on Sunday,
Oct. 30 from 2-4 p.m. Wear
costumes, bring trick-or-treat
bags and collect goodies
from decorated trunks.
Those who would like to
participate in giving out
treats should contact 478-
957-3795.
Oct. 20, Dec.l
Monroe Co. Ministerial
Association
The Monroe County Ministe
rial Association meets monthly
at Christ United Methodist
Church, 417 N. Frontage
Road, Forsyth. There are
two meetings scheduled for
the remainder of 2022. The
Ministerial Association will
meet at 9 a.m. on Thursday,
Oct. 20 and at 9 a.m. on
Thursday, Dec. 1 (combining
the November and Decem
ber meetings). Ministers at
all churches in the Monroe
County area are welcome.
The Ministerial Association
meetings are an opportunity
for ministers to share informa
tion about opportunities in
the community and to work
together on projects that
benefit the community, like
aiding travelers who need
assistance, sponsoring the
Mary Persons baccalaure
ate, organizing the an
nual National Day of Prayer
program, contributing weekly
articles to the Reporters
Pastor’s Corner and working
with Kingdom Builders to as
sist with home repairs.
Oct. 25
St. James Baptist hosts
Food Distribution
St. James Baptist Church,
110 James Street, Forsyth
will host a Mobile Food
Distribution on Tuesday, Oct.
25 at 10 a.m.
Ongoing
First Baptist Forsyth
has Lunch & Learn
First Baptist Forsyth, 95 West
Morse Street will begin a
Lunch & Learn program on
Thursday, Sept. 1 that will
Oct. 31
Trick or Treat on the
Square
Forsyth Main Street will
sponsor Trick-or-Treat on the
Sguare on Monday, Oct. 31
from 5-7 p.m.
Nov. 4
Citizen's Firearms
Course
Monroe County Sheriff’s
Office will host a Citizen's
Firearms Course on Satur
day, Nov. 12 starting at 8
a.m. It will cover firearm use,
proficiency and safety. There
is no cost, but participants
must provide their own legal
handgun, belt, holster, eye
& ear safety equipment and
at least 100-150 rounds of
ammunition. The course is
imbed to 30 participants,
age 21 and older, who live
or work in Monroe County.
Applications are available
at Monroe County Sheriff’s
Office; the deadline is Nov.
4. Applicants must provide
two forms of identification
and submit to a background
check. For more information,
contact Sgt. Kevin Williams at
478-994-7048.
Nov. 5
3rd Annual Celebra
tion of Angels on Earth
recognizes caregivers
Wings and Words of Hope
will recognize caregivers at
its 3rd Annual Celebration of
Angels on Earth on Saturday,
Nov. 5 at The Pond Restau
rant, 2407 Moody Road,
Warner Robins. Nomina
tions for caregivers to be
recognized are now being
accepted by the Joseph A.
Finney Sr. Foundation, which
meet in the Fellowship Hall
every 1st & 3rd Thursday.
All ages are welcome. Pas
tor Dr. Hambric Brooks will
lead Bible Study. Gather
for coffee and fellowship at
11:30 a.m. Bible study and
lunch will begin at 12 noon.
Participants are encouraged
to bring a sack lunch. It will
be an interactive study where
dialogue is encouraged, and
discussion and questions are
welcomed. Bring your Bible.
Bread & Blessings
food pantry is open at
Bethany Baptist
The Bread & Blessing food
pantry is open at the fellow
ship hall of Bethany Baptist
Church, 365 Pea Ridge
Road, Bolingbroke every
Monday from 10 a.m.-12
noon. There are a variety of
shelf stable items available
for families who need them.
For more information, cal
478-974-0002.
Rocky Creek Bapt.
Church Motorcycle
Ministry Community
Breakfast
The Rocky Creek Motorcycle
Ministry hosts a community
breakfast every 2nd Satur
day of the month, and all
are invited to attend. Rocky
Creek Baptist Church 225
Rocky Creek Rd„ Forsyth.
Rock Springs Clinic
The Rock Springs Church
Health Clinic in Forsyth is
open every Wednesday from
8:30 a.m.-noon. New patient
consultations are available at
1 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th
Wednesday of each month.
The clinic is near Monroe
County Hospital at 100 MLK
Jr. Drive; the phone number
is 478-992-9581.
is based in Monroe County.
For more information, contact
Cheryl Finney at 478-394-
3831.
Nov. 12
1st Annual Fall Back
Folk Festival
The 1st Annual Fall Back Folk
Festival will be Saturday,
Nov. 12 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
at 5047 High Falls State
Park Rd. In High Falls. There
will be folk art, food and
friends.
Until Nov. 18
4-H Poinsettia Fund
raiser
The Annual Monroe County
4-H Poinsettia Fundraiser will
be Oct. 3-Nov. 18. Poinset-
tias come in red, pink and
white. Large are $20 and
medium are $15. Order
through a 4-H'er or through
the M.C. Extension/4-H of
fice, 484 Hwy 83 S, Forsyth.
All orders are due by Nov.
18. Pick-up is first week of
December at the office. All
proceeds go to support the
4-H program.
Dec. 11
Wings & Words of Hope
holds benefit dinner
Wings and Words of Hope
will have a benefit dinner
on Sunday, Dec. 11 from 5-9
p.m. at the Harriet Tubman
Museum in Macon to raise
money to help caregivers
and their loved ones. The
benefit will also honor the
founder, the late Joseph A.
Finney Sr of Juliette. There
will be resources to help
other foundations continue
their work in blessing others.
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Freeman Funeral home
A name that can be trusted for funeral and burial arrangements
26 Brentwood Place • Forsyth
994-6483 • 994-6576
“Servicing Each Family With Equal Respect”
Lee’s Haircutting
Lee Smith
994-1666
Mon - Fri 10 to 7
...Unless Playing Golf
WBIB-FM 89.1
Forsyth-based Christian Radio
Believers in Broadcasting
478-957-9164
www.wbibfm.com
We are here to serve the
local church and community.
Sunday morning local sermon schedule:
9 a.m. Dayspring Presbyterian Church
10 a.m. Rock Springs Church
11 a.m. New Providence Baptist Church
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• Boarding • Bathing
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60 S. Jackson St, * Forsyth, GA ♦ 478-994-4986
Voted 2014 Best Veterinarian by readers of the Reporter
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jerraff@bellsouth.net 478-256-0253
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