Help with Bishopric message for the ward newsletter

[SeattleUte]

If you haven't already you might use a tie in to the bad economy. Have the Bishopric admonished those who are more fortunate to dig deeper and help those in need, make a spiritual blessing out of these trying times and their own material prosperity? Find some way to help; go to a soup kitchen and volunteer; give to the poor. Sometimes in our bounteous country we forget that this is the crux of the NT, not gays are bad or stone the harlots. Your text:

"But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed." (Luke 14:13). Matthew 25:31-46:"Come you blessed of my Father, for I was hungry and you fed me... When you did it to the lowliest of my brothers (and sisters). . . . Out of my sight, you who are condemned, for I was hungry and you did not feed me..."

Jesus fed the hungry, crowds of four thousand (Mark 8:1-13) and five thousand (Mark 6:30-44). Of course it was easy for him.

[smokymountainrain]

If you haven't already you might use a tie in to the bad economy. Have the Bishopric admonished those who are more fortunate to dig deeper and help those in need, make a spiritual blessing out of these trying times and their own material prosperity? Find some way to help; go to a soup kitchen and volunteer; give to the poor. Sometimes in our bounteous country we forget that this is the crux of the NT, not gays are bad or stone the harlots. Your text:

"But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed." (Luke 14:13). Matthew 25:31-46:"Come you blessed of my Father, for I was hungry and you fed me... When you did it to the lowliest of my brothers (and sisters). . . . Out of my sight, you who are condemned, for I was hungry and you did not feed me..."

Jesus fed the hungry, crowds of four thousand (Mark 8:1-13) and five thousand (Mark 6:30-44). Of course it was easy for him.

That right there is exactly what I was hoping to get when I created this thread. I'm serious. I have a bit of work to do, but this will work great. Thank you.

All you stinkin' SOBs and your petty attempts at comedy can go suck an egg because DDD and SU have spoken.

[SteelBlue]

More like ward clerk. The Exec Sec doesn't usually had authority over the website, newsletter, etc.

Varies by ward I think. I've decided the best job description for Exec. Sec. is that he does whatever the Bishop feels like asking him to do.

[Art Vandelay]

I'm in charge of submitting Bishopric message for our monthly ward newsletter. Generally I take a one of the messages from that month's Ensign, but this month I've decided I want to go a different direction.

The problem? I'm stumped - I can't find one I feel good about.

If you were in my position and could send a message to your ward full of mullahs (no more than about 4-5 paragraphs) on a gospel topic - preferably one by a member of the Qo12 or at least GA - which would you choose? Does anybody have a favorite?

TIA

Is this something most wards do? A newsletter I mean. I can see the temptation of pushing more of my personal agenda on the defenseless flock, but mainly it just seems like one more thing to worry about every month. We have a RS newsletter which encompasses 99% of the people who would likely care about things like this.

How many of you live in a ward that sends out some sort of regular newsletter?

[smokymountainrain]

Is this something most wards do? A newsletter I mean. I can see the temptation of pushing more of my personal agenda on the defenseless flock, but mainly it just seems like one more thing to worry about every month. We have a RS newsletter which encompasses 99% of the people who would likely care about things like this.

How many of you live in a ward that sends out some sort of regular newsletter?

Besides the message, we print a birthday list, a YM/YW calendar, if there is an activity the AC submits an entry, the YW generally submit something, etc. A guy in our ward owns a printing company and does the newsletters for free, so outside of him, no one person really has much to do to get it out. It is passed out when the deacons collect fast offerings.

[TripletDaddy]

That right there is exactly what I was hoping to get when I created this thread. I'm serious. I have a bit of work to do, but this will work great. Thank you.

All you stinkin' SOBs and your petty attempts at comedy can go suck an egg because DDD and SU have spoken.

thank you for placing me before SeattleUte.

[beelzebabette]

Is this something most wards do? A newsletter I mean. I can see the temptation of pushing more of my personal agenda on the defenseless flock, but mainly it just seems like one more thing to worry about every month. We have a RS newsletter which encompasses 99% of the people who would likely care about things like this.

How many of you live in a ward that sends out some sort of regular newsletter?

My current ward only does a RS newsletter. I think it depends on the need of an individual ward, but it's definitely not a necessity that the 1st ward have one because the 2nd ward does. It is nice to have a combined calendar in one place. Also nice to be able to share a brief message (maybe indirectly addressing a point of concern from welfare meeting, e.g.) without having to hear from ward/auxiliary leadership from the pulpit any more often. It's refreshing to see you're concerned about a personal agenda, but like SU pointed out it's not bad to have a reminders of what Christianity means, e.g. That many will skip a preachy message or a topic they're not currently struggling with is a plus for the time-effectiveness of newsletters in my mind.

[pellegrino]

That right there is exactly what I was hoping to get when I created this thread. I'm serious. I have a bit of work to do, but this will work great. Thank you.

All you stinkin' SOBs and your petty attempts at comedy can go suck an egg because DDD and SU have spoken.

But thanks to this thread anyone who doubted SU's value to the board must now reevaluate their opinion of him.

[Pheidippides]

Varies by ward I think. I've decided the best job description for Exec. Sec. is that he does whatever the Bishop feels like asking him to do.

Sounds about right.

Thankfully my bishop hasn't handed over that to the ward clerk yet

Plus the exec sec handles the ward web site, I don't even have admin rights - thank heaven for small favors.

Ha! I petitioned to get a Ward Web Administrator called. I have admin rights but no idea how to use them.

[SeattleUte]

That right there is exactly what I was hoping to get when I created this thread. I'm serious. I have a bit of work to do, but this will work great. Thank you.

All you stinkin' SOBs and your petty attempts at comedy can go suck an egg because DDD and SU have spoken.

Moreover, you might elucidate the meaning of charity, maybe various permutations of dictionary definitions (this will lead you to the modern usage, i.e., helping those in need), and quote (my favorite Pauline scripture) 1 Cor. 13 re charity being greater than faith or hope or any other virtue.

[statman]

Tell the Bishop you have a stupor of thought and don't think you should write one this month...

[The_Tick]

Ha! I petitioned to get a Ward Web Administrator called. I have admin rights but no idea how to use them.

I have admin rights and know how to use them.

Let me know if you want to have some fun one night. You can change all the ward callings listed. And I mean all of em.

[LA Ute]

Moreover, you might elucidate the meaning of charity, maybe various permutations of dictionary definitions (this will lead you to the modern usage, i.e., helping those in need), and quote (my favorite Pauline scripture) 1 Cor. 13 re charity being greater than faith or hope or any other virtue.

In support of SU's theme, maybe you can use this vignette:

One who exemplified charity in his life was President George Albert Smith. Immediately following World War II, the Church had a drive to amass warm clothing to ship to suffering Saints in Europe. Elder Harold B. Lee and Elder Marion G. Romney took President George Albert Smith to Welfare Square in Salt Lake City to view the results. They were impressed by the generous response of the membership of the Church. They watched President Smith observing the workers as they packaged this great volume of donated clothing and shoes. They saw tears running down his face. After a few moments, President George Albert Smith removed his own new overcoat and said, “Please ship this also.”

The Brethren said to him, “No, President, no; don’t send that; it’s cold and you need your coat.”

But President Smith would not take it back; and so his coat, with all the others, was sent to Europe, where the nights were long and dark and food and clothing were scarce.

It's from a vintage TSM talk, which you can mine further if you want to here.

I just realized that I am trying to collaborate on a gospel message with SU. Is the space-time continuum still intact?

[Art Vandelay]

In support of SU's theme, maybe you can use this vignette:

One who exemplified charity in his life was President George Albert Smith. Immediately following World War II, the Church had a drive to amass warm clothing to ship to suffering Saints in Europe. Elder Harold B. Lee and Elder Marion G. Romney took President George Albert Smith to Welfare Square in Salt Lake City to view the results. They were impressed by the generous response of the membership of the Church. They watched President Smith observing the workers as they packaged this great volume of donated clothing and shoes. They saw tears running down his face. After a few moments, President George Albert Smith removed his own new overcoat and said, “Please ship this also.”

The Brethren said to him, “No, President, no; don’t send that; it’s cold and you need your coat.”

But President Smith would not take it back; and so his coat, with all the others, was sent to Europe, where the nights were long and dark and food and clothing were scarce.

It's from a vintage TSM talk, which you can mine further if you want to here.

I just realized that I am trying to collaborate on a gospel message with SU. Is the space-time continuum still intact?

How many prophets have given away their coats? Isn't there also a story (Murban legend?) of SWK handing over his coat to one of the protesters on Temple Square and blustery day?

[SteelBlue]

I have often thought that SU could probably write one hell of a sermon. We missed out when he chose to leave. Many hearts could have been warmed, testimonies strengthened, and smiles shared.