Tuesday, November 28, 2006

November 26, 2006



Holy Humor...




What kind of man was Boaz before he married Ruth?
Ruthless.
What do they call pastors in Germany?
German Shepherds.
Who was the greatest financier in the Bible?
Noah. He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation.
Who was the greatest female financier in the Bible?
Pharaoh's daughter. She went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet.



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From the Choir Loft





Thanksgiving is now over. When I was growing up, my mother always said I couldn’t play the Christmas "records" (remember those?) until Thanksgiving Day. The reason for that rule was she caught me playing "Joy To The World" in August. That means I can now perform Christmas music with a clear conscience. Beginning next week, I will be including the history of some of the "best"



Christmas Tunes (I decide which ones are "best!"). I will also include the history of some of the old Christmas Toys. If you have a favorite Christmas Carol or favorite Christmas toy, let me know and I will do some research on its background.



The Community Chorus has two dress rehearsals on Sunday, December 3, 2006:



2:00 PM @ Sheridan United Methodist Church (Sheridan, NY)



4:00 PM @ First United Church (Silver Creek, NY)



For many reasons, we need you to make both dress rehearsals.



The two performances of the Christmas cantata are:



Sunday, December 10, 2006 at First United Church in Silver Creek (7:00 start/6:00 report)



Sunday, December 17, 2006 at Sheridan United Methodist Church (7:00 start/6:00 report)



Also, Tuesday, December 19th, we will be Christmas Caroling @ St. Columban's and to the many "shut-ins" in our area. Please meet @ *St. Columban's (Route 5 in Silver Creek, NY) @ 6:15 PM, or meet at the church @ 6:00 PM if you are traveling to the shut-ins. We want a big group, including the kids! "Come one...come all!"



[If you know of anyone who would appreciate being visited by Christmas Carolers, please contact me or the church office for a visit from some of the very best Christmas Carolers in Chautauqua County!]



*Because of bridge construction, you must enter St. Columban's on Route 5 from the west side (from the Dunkirk side) of the facility! I know this from personal experience!







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You might be a United Methodist if...



... you know that a circuit rider is not an electrical device



... you've ever owned a pair of 'cross and flame' boxer shorts



... your church is named for a geographical location rather than for a saint



... at least one person in every church meeting says, "But we've never done it that way before!"



... the only church camp song you know by heart is "Kum ba yah"



... you realize that the ‘Book of Discipline’ is not a guide to getting your child to behave



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Today in history



(November 26)



1978 – 10 died in a fire inside a Holiday Inn in Rochester, NY



1968 – The 34th Heisman Trophy was awarded to the USC running back O.J. Simpson



1962 – The 1st recording session under the name ‘Beatles’



1956 – ‘The Price is Right’ debuted on NBC-TV



1940 – The Nazis forced 500,000 Jews in Warsaw, Poland to live in a "walled ghetto"







1865 – ‘Alice in Wonderland’ by Lewis Carroll was 1st published



1861 – The state of West Virginia split from Virginia over the issue of slavery



1832 – The 1st streetcar in America began operating in NYC with a fare of 12 cents



1789 – The 1stNational Thanksgiving’ was celebrated in America



1716 – The 1st lion ever exhibited in America in the Boston Zoo





Church office: (716) 672-2048, Bud: (716) 934-7734, email:



tubamanbud@yahoo.com
















From Bud’s



History of the Hymns



November 26, 2006



"Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me"



(1776) pg. 361



Words



by Augustus M. Toplady (1740 - 1778) Music by Thomas Hastings (1784 - 1872)



Many years after ‘Rock of Ages’ was written, one of the "Jubilee Singers" of Fisk University was on board a ship that caught on fire. He had the presence of mind to place life preservers on himself and his wife. But in the agony of despair, when all on board were trying to save themselves, someone took from his wife her life preserver, so that she found herself helpless in the water. But she clung to her husband, placing her hands firmly on his shoulders as he swam on. After a little while her strength was exhausted and trying to keep his wife’s spirits up, he pleaded with her to sing ‘Rock of Ages.’ Immediately they both began to faintly sing; and their strains fell upon the ears of many in the water around them. One after another, other swimmers joined in. Strength seemed to come to each of the singers; and they were able to hold out a little longer, still faintly singing. A boat was seen approaching, and they did get strength enough to keep themselves afloat until the crew lifted them on board. And thus Toplady’s hymn helped to save more than one from death by the sea, as it has often helped save souls from sin.





Meanwhile…1776…230 years ago…



What happened to the signers of the Declaration of Independence?



Five of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were captured by the British and brutally tortured as traitors. Nine fought in the War for Independence and died from wounds or from hardships they suffered. Two lost their sons in the Continental Army, another two had sons captured and at least a dozen of the fifty-six had their homes pillaged and burned. What kind of men were they? Twenty-five were lawyers or jurists. Eleven were merchants. Nine were farmers or large plantation owners. One was a teacher, one a musician, and one a printer. These were men of means and education, yet they signed the Declaration of Independence, knowing full well that the penalty could be death if they were captured. In the face of the advancing British Army, the Continental Congress fled from Philadelphia to Baltimore on December 12, 1776. It was an especially anxious time for John Hancock, the President of the Congress, as his wife had just given birth to a baby girl. Due to the complications stemming from the trip to Baltimore, the child lived only a few months.



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