Church Conference Date and Time

We will have our church conference on Sunday, December 9, 2007 at 6:30 pm. The SPRC committee will meet just before that at 5:30 pm.

Newsletter Up

The latest edition of the Parish Visitor (the church newsletter) is up on the newsletter page of our website: www.coffeyvillefirstumc.org/Newsletter.html

Newsletter Article

Well, it’s been a long month for the Collins family. As many of you know, Elizabeth had been sick for several weeks in late October and early November. On Friday, November 9th, Elizabeth was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. We spent the weekend with her in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at St. Francis hospital in Tulsa, followed by two days of instruction in the care of Type 1 Diabetes. One of the things we learned was that we did not know much at all about Type 1 Diabetes. Our main experience had been talking with people with Type 2 Diabetes (which isn’t surprising when we found out that 90-95% of persons who have Diabetes have Type 2). And we discovered through our training that while both types of Diabetes result in high blood sugar, they are very different diseases. We learned that Type 1 is an autoimmune disease. It is often caused by a virus that attacks the pancreas, resulting in an autoimmune reaction that kills the insulin producing islet cells, which stops the production of insulin. Without insulin, the body cannot get the sugar from food into the cells where it is needed to produce energy. So, insulin must be given to enable the body to digest the food that is eaten.

One of our initial misconceptions was that Elizabeth would never be able to eat sugar. Those with Type 1 need to avoid high sugar drinks, like regular pop, kool-aid, and more than 1⁄2 cup of regular juice at a time. But other than that, those with Type 1 are simply encouraged to eat healthy meals, like anyone else. The treatment that Elizabeth is on is called MDI (Multiple Daily Injections) in which she receives a shot of long-acting insulin at bedtime and then receives shots of short-acting insulin with every meal or snack that contains carbohydrates, since all carbohydrates turn to sugar in the body. There are a few “free” foods that can be used for snacks between meals that do not require a shot, like cheese, some peanuts, sugar free jello, sugar free popsicles, etc. Elizabeth learned these quickly (before she even left the hospital)!

I’ve been pretty occupied caring for Elizabeth over the past month, but am now beginning to get back to normal. Granted, it is a new normal, but Elizabeth is doing great. Insulin is a wonderful thing that has brought Elizabeth back to her happy, cheerful, playful, active self. She’s back in school and doing well. And after only two weeks, she has already gotten used to the blood sugar checks and shots that she gets several times a day.

We are encouraged by the many stories we have already heard about people who have led very active, healthy lives with Type 1 Diabetes, and we know that we are going to a good treatment facility in Tulsa. I thank God every day for all the people who worked to help us figure out what was wrong with Elizabeth and worked to get her the help she needed. And I thank all of you for your understanding as we live into our new routines.

May know the presence of God and experience Emmanuel, “God with us,” in the coming Advent and Christmas seasons. Look for those miracles all around us and know God is here.

Upcoming Meetings

The meetings I announced this Morning are next Monday, December 3, 2007. They are scheduled as follows:
5:30 pm: SPRC Committee
6:30 pm: Lay Leadership Committee
7:30 pm: Church Council

Thomas Merton on Nonviolence

Via Sojourners:

Very often people object that nonviolence seems to imply passive acceptance of injustice and evil and therefore that it is a kind of cooperation with evil. Not at all. The genuine concept of nonviolence implies not only active and effective resistance to evil but in fact a more effective resistance... But the resistance which is taught in the Gospel is aimed not at the evil-doer but at evil in its source.

—Thomas Merton, Passion For Peace

Nonviolence goes to the root of the problem. I'm to immersed in the world to be able to see how this would work clearly, but every now and then God gives me a glimpse.

Mike Mason to Preach this Sunday

Mike Mason will be filling the pulpit for Jenny and I this Sunday. We'll still be around though.

A New Fugitive Slave Act?

Is Oklahoma House Bill 1804 a modern equivalent of the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act? Jim Wallis asks that question in an article at beliefnet.com. I share Wallis' concerns (I'm glad that the assistance we provide to those in need occurs in Kansas) and highly recommend the article, but I want to make it clear that comments that follow the post do not necessarily reflect my views.

The article can be found here: http://blog.beliefnet.com/godspolitics/2007/11/a-new-fugitive-slave-act-by-ji.html

Raven Holiday

Ashley and Kendra have asked us to announce that a Raven Holiday will be held November 16, 2007 from 5:00 to 9:00 pm. The Raven Holiday is a way to get to know the clubs at CCC. The CCC Aggie Club (of which Ashley and Kendra are members) will have a Live Nativity and Santa Claus.

No U2 Eucharist Tonight

The Wednesday gathering tonight will follow our regular pattern. Because of time constraints, I haven't been able to prepare for a U2 Eucharist.

Elizabeth Update

Elizabeth has been dismissed from St. Francis in Tulsa. We will be spending today and tomorrow in training to learn about her condition.

Eliabeth continues to improve ...

thanks for all your prayers.

Prayer Concern Update

Elizabeth's condition is greatly improved today. I'll give an update tomorrow. Thanks for all your prayers.

Prayer Concern

Elizabeth has been diagnosed with Pediatric diabetes and is in the pediatric intensive care unit at St. Francis Medical Center in Tulsa. Please keep her in your prayers.

The organ is being tuned, carpet is being glued,

both girls are sick ... and I'm working from home.

Taize Service Tomorrow

Tomorrow's Wednesday Gathering will be a Taize service.

You Can Sing

For all of you who feel that you don't sing well enough to sing in church (via Sojourners):

If you can walk
You can dance.
If you can talk
You can sing.

—A saying from Zimbabwe

Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie

A VeggieTales movie event is planned for 4:00 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2007. We'll be watching Jonah. Big Idea provides the following description:

"Get ready as Bob the Tomato, Larry the Cucumber and the rest of the Veggie gang set sail on a whale of an adventure in Jonah, Big Idea's first full-length, 3-D animated, feature film. Filled with music, laughs and some of the silliest adventurers ever to be swallowed whole, this is the story of Jonah and the whale as you've never seen it before—a story where everyone learns that one of the best gifts you can give—or get—is a second chance."

As always you're encouraged to bring camp chairs, sleeping bags, etc. to make yourselves comfortable. You're also more than welcome to bring friends and invite others to join us. We look forward to seeing you November 11.

Movie Brightness

I noticed that the movie wasn't very bright during the second service. I think some adjustments to the settings should correct this problem.

Newsletter Up

In all the rush for Trunk-or-Treat, I forgot to post the newsletter online. It's now up on this page.

Trunk-or-Treat and Toothbrushes

After Trunk-or-Treat last year, it occurred to us that we should try to hand out tooth brushes this year. This morning it occurred to me again. Please help me remember to look into that next year.