Su nday, Nov e m ber 16
8:15 a.m. New Traditions • Rev. Drew Clayton
10:30 a.m. Traditional • Dr. Bill Morgan
10:30 a.m. Contemporary • Rev. Julie Holly
5:00 p.m. The WAY • Rev. Drew Clayton
weekly words from bill morgan
OF TIME, WORMHOLES, AND ETERNITY
“When I look at the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars…
What are human beings that you are mindful of them, that you care about them?” —Psalm 8: 3-4
Saturday afternoon, my two sons and I spent three hours traveling to a distant
galaxy and back. INTERSTELLAR features Matthew McConaughey as
Coop, an astronaut from a time not too distant in the future. Earth is wearing
out. A desperate space probe is launched by a remnant NASA team to find a
habitable place for humankind before it’s too late. Coop, a single father, has
a heart wrenching goodbye with Murph, his 10-year old daughter, vowing
to return. Among his travel companions is Brand, played by Ann Hathaway,
daughter of aging NASA scientist visionary played in his last role by
Michael Cain.
Well, special effects galore. My meagre knowledge of physics, time, gravity, and other various dimensions of
relativity and reality was sorely tested. My sons coached me a bit about where science and fiction merged and
diverged. The space ship travels through time and space to a “wormhole” near Saturn. A wormhole, unlike
a black hole, can be our friend. In one scene, a piece of paper with two points on opposite ends is folded so
those points overlay to depict how a wormhole can “bend” time and space closer and accelerate forward.
Somehow this depicts how gravity and relativity make it possible for Coop and company to travel far in time
and distance and back in search of a new home for humans. Good news and bad news. Coop returns to be
reunited with Murph. Through the space-time conundrum, he’s a few years older and she’s 100.
Space travel aside, there was some bending of time on Saturday. I recall the chilly Saturday when my
now 40-something son and his now 60-something dad were 20-something and 7, seeing Star Wars for
the first time. Not quite as far back, I remember using a clip from the 1997 movie CONTACT in an early
contemporary worship service at Tuscaloosa 1st called NewSong. That time, Matthew McConaughey was
doing the connecting with outer space thing with “scientist” Jodie Foster.
It may be over simplistic, but here is the big truth of most all such 2001 Space Odyssey type movies. We
need to be kinder to each other on earth and take way better care of terra firma than we have done previously
before time runs out.
Whatever else worship is, it is an experience of bending time, to pay better attention to each other and take
better care of our world now, as we live from here to eternity.
Bill Morgan, Senior Minister
To comment on this article, go to Dr. Bill Morgan’s blog at http://billmorgancanterbury.wordpress.com.
Pastoral Care Response Line: 999-4887 For current news go to www.canterburyumc.org
Family Night Holiday Events for November
11/19 – Fall and Christmas Home Decorating: Join Flowerbuds’ expert Ray Jordan as he demonstrates
Christmas Decorating on Wednesday evening, Nov. 19 in Wesley Hall.
11/19 – A Family ADVENTure: All are invited to come and create special memories to prepare your homes for
Advent. For more information or to register, go to www.canterburyumc.org/familynight.
Little Brown Bag Thanksgiving Packing
Event this sunday ­— Bring your family for the fun
packing of 1,500 food bags for hungry Birmingham school
children this Sunday, November 16th in Canterbury Hall
immediately following the worship services. The bags will be
delivered in time to be enjoyed during Thanksgiving holidays.
RACHEL HELD EVANS — sunday, NOVEMBER 16
One of the most dynamic, young voices of the church today,
best-selling author Rachel Held Evans has emerged as a
clear and meaningful voice to those who say the church is
on the decline or that it is no longer relevant to them. Free to
the public in Canterbury Center, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m.
BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS — At Thanksgiving, we
celebrate all of God’s great gifts – including our animals!
Bring your pet for this special time of blessing, prayer and
fellowship. Outside Canterbury Chapel, Sunday afternoon,
November 23, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
EVENSONG SERVICE, next Sunday, NOVember
23rd — The Canterbury Choir & Orchestra will present
the majestic cantata for Christ the King
Sunday, “Sleepers, Awake!” A Voice Calls
Us by Johann Sebastian Bach, with soloists
Kathleen Buccleugh, Daniel Seigel, & Ryan
Sheets; plus the beautifully lyrical Magnificat
by Marc-Antoine Charpentier at 5:30 p.m., Nov.
23, in the Sanctuary. Christ the King Sunday
commemorates the eternal reign of Christ,
linking His kingship to Thanksgiving and the approaching
Advent season. Childcare by advance reservation only at
874-1546.
4th Annual Bluegrass worship ­— next
Sunday, november 23 — You and your jeans are
welcome! Canterbury Center, 10:30 a.m.
EBOLA CRISIS — We all are aware of the crisis the Ebola
epidemic is causing in Liberia, where Oliver and Elaine
Clark spent 3 years as missionaries during the seventies.
You can help by supporting the United Methodist Committee
on Relief’s aid effort. If you would like to share in this relief
effort, please make your check out to CUMC, and at the
bottom left indicate UMCOR, Ebola.
Homebound Communion — Do you know of a
friend or loved one who would enjoy receiving homebound
communion in their home or retirement center? Canterbury
volunteers will be delighted to bring communion to those
who request it. Please contact Fay Hall at 879-7925 or
Annella Waldrup at 977-5598. If you are interested in
volunteering for this new ministry, we would love to have you
with us!
Holiday Cheese Balls
Made by our UMW, the cheese balls are $8 each and are
available for pick-up Sunday, Dec. 7th and Sunday, Dec.
14th. Questions? Call Carrie Coons at 205-901-2770.
FESTIVAL OF THREE KINGS — Lists are here! Please
stop by the Round Desk at Canterbury and select a child (or
two or three!) to sponsor for this special event! Lists include
children from DHR, STAIR and Brown Bag ministries. Max.
is $100 per child and gifts are due on November 30th.
THE BROWN BAG PROJECT AT CANTERBURY
Brown Bag Thanksgiving will be in Canterbury Hall on Friday,
November 21st from 9-11:00 a.m. We are grateful the lunch
will be provided by our friends at Piggly Wiggly. Come serve
with us! Contact Peggy Rafield at [email protected] for
more information. Emergency pantry needs: tuna. peanut
butter, saltine crackers, meat dinners. For information on
Brown Bag, please contact Susan Dowdey at 874-1569 or
[email protected].
AVONDALE BROWN BAG AT SAMARITAN PLACE
Pick up: 11/ 21 Pack: 11/16
Distribute: 11/17, 24 (Off 11/28 & 30 for Thanksgiving)
The roses on the sanctuary Lectern
ARE Placed IN HONOR OF...
• Elizabeth LeeAnn Denham born September 27th to
LeeAnn and Jim Denham.
• Henry James Wood born November 4th to Dave and
Angie Wood.
Our Sympathy...
• To George and Lou Ann Sherling in the death of their son,
Will Sherling.
• To Paul Roberts in the death of his father, John Henry
Roberts, of Lanark Village, Florida.
• To Bill Malloch in the death of his mother, Daphen
Osborne Malloch, of Birmingham.
In the Hospital as of 11-10-14...
• Brookdale Carolynne Kent
• Brookwood Martha Simmons
Thanksgiving for the life of
E. Stokes McGehee
August 17, 1924 - November 3, 2014
Thanksgiving for the life of
Roger E. Logan
August 25, 1924 – November 9, 2014
Christmas Poinsettias & Wreaths
Poinsettias & wreaths may be ordered in memory of
or honor of someone: Poinsettia _____; Wreath ______
Placed in Honor ____ Memory___
of __________________________________________
By ______________________________
Phone# ___________________
Poinsettias $15.00 each; wreaths $45.00 each.
Return form with your check by December 5 to
Carolyn Davis, 350 Overbrook Road Bham, AL 35213.
This Week at Canterbury
Sunday, November 16
Thanksgiving Confirmation Food Drive,
November 12-24, Commons 8 a.m. - 5 p.m
AA Sunday Morning Group, M208
8:00 a.m.
Transportation from Brookdale Place 8:00 a.m.
New Traditions, Chapel, Rev. Drew Clayton
8:15 a.m.
Combined Sunday School w/Rachel Held Evans,
Canterbury Center
9:15 a.m.
Adult Sunday School, Various Locations
9:15 a.m.
Children & Youth Sunday School, Various Locations 9:15 a.m.
Traditional Worship, Sanctuary, Dr. Bill Morgan
10:30 a.m.
Contemporary Worship, Canterbury Center,
Rev. Julie Holly 10:30 a.m.
Lunch w/Rachel Held Evans, M204
11:30 a.m.
Little Brown Bag, Canterbury Hall
11:30 a.m.
The WAY, Chapel, Rev. Drew Clayton 5:00 p.m.
Youth: MYF, Various
5 :00 p.m.
Rachel Held Evans, Canterbury Center
6:00 p.m.
Monday, November 17
Mother’s Prayer Group, A1278:00 a.m.
Carpenter’s Hands (M-Th),
Meet lower level parking deck, Offsite 8:15 a.m.
Playcare, C121 (by reservation M, W, Th)
9:00 a.m.
UMW Circle 7, M204
11:00 a.m.
AA Women’s Acceptance, M142 (M, W & F)11:30 a.m.
UMW Cheese Ball Preparation , M204
1:00 p.m.
Youth: Project Hope
3:45 p.m.
Finance Meeting, A123
5:30 p.m.
Healthcare Board Meeting, A122
5:30 p.m.
Church Council Meeting, M204 & Canterbury Ctr. 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 18
Youth: TMIT, Youth Room
6:45 a.m.
Mom’s Prayer Group w/Susan Yarbro, M136
8:00 a.m.
Canterbury Fitness (T, Th, F), M129
8:30 a.m.
Mali’s Prayer Group, Chapel 8:30 a.m.
Bible Study with Laura Sisson, A1239:00 a.m.
Bible Study with the Gunns, A127 10:00 a.m.
Knit Wits, M136
1:00 p.m.
Janine Goode’s Emmaus Group, M210
1:30 p.m.
Trustees/Foundation Meeting, A1235:00 p.m.
Stephens Ministry, A122 6:15 p.m.
Scouts: Troop 63, Scout Hut
7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 19
Core Disciples, A127 6:30 a.m.
Bill Morgan’s Bible Study, A122
7:30 a.m.
Mothers’ Bible Study, M227
9:00 a.m.
Brown Bag Project, Crawford Owen Class,
Unload & pack
10:00 a.m.
Homewood Middle School Boys Club, Pack
No night packing 4-5:30 p.m.
Bette Owen’s Bible Study, M22610:00 a.m.
Family Night, M217
5:00 p.m.
Church and Society Team Meeting, M200
5:00 p.m.
Family ADVENTure, Various locations
5:45 p.m.
Christmas Decorating, M209
6:00 p.m.
Children’s Wed. Night Activities, Various Locations 6:00 p.m.
Bible Study with Buddy Tingle, A127
6:00 p.m.
Knit Wits, M210
6:00 p.m.
Mackin Bible Study, A122
6:00 p.m.
Single and Parenting, M115 6:00 p.m.
The WAY Small Group, M142
6:00 p.m.
Bells of Canterbury, M119
6:00 p.m.
Gervin Bible Study, M227 6:30 p.m.
CrossRoads Rehearsal, Canterbury Center7:00 p.m.
Choir Rehearsal, M1287:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 20
Thursday Morning Men’s Group, A123
7:00 a.m.
Living Bible Study, A123 8:00 a.m.
Canterbury Fitness (Th, F), M129
8:30 a.m.
Bible Study with Temple, A127
9:30 a.m.
Women at the Well, M22610:00 a.m.
Sandwich Generation, A127
11:30 a.m.
Ladies’ Bible Study with Oliver, Room A123
1:30 p.m.
Friday, November 21
Church Offices Close at Noon
Brown Bag Project
Thanksgiving Brunch, Canterbury Hall, Crawford Owen
Class- serve food and drinks to seated clients. 9-11:00 a.m.
Crawford Owen Class- bag distribution,
10:30-11:30 a.m.
Reception Area Saturday, November 22
AA Saturday Morning Group, M2048:00 a.m.
Al-Anon Saturday Morning Meeting, M209
8:00 a.m.
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His Encouraging word
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t and life can’t. The angels can’t, and the demons
can’t. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away. – Romans 8:38