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"First Place"
If you have noticed a lot of women at the church on Monday nights, it is thanks to
the wonderful job our Health Ministries Committee has done of putting together a summer
Health Group. We have really packed them in with anywhere from 20 to 40 women
attending each Monday night. Our book is titled "The Only Menopause Guide You’ll
Need" by Michele Moore, M.D., but it is so much more than that. We have had exciting
and varied speakers each week. We have learned that becoming a "crone" is a good thing,
that nutrition is very important in all stages of life, and that we do have choices on how to
handle life’s changes.
With that said, I would like to elaborate upon the topic of nutrition and how God
views our bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, "Do you not know that your body is a
temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not
your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." If we
really think of our bodies as a temple, would we eat and drink the way we do? Would we
get the proper exercise and rest? Many of us were amazed and overwhelmed by the
information shared with us one Monday night about how to make these changes in our
eating habits. If you left feeling that not all your questions were answered, or that so
much information was presented that you had no idea where to begin, or you would just
like to learn how to have a healthier lifestyle, then I would like to suggest that you join
First Place.
First Place is a Christ-Centered Health Program that meets for 13 weeks and is
designed for use in a small group setting, offering the support and encouragement of a
caring leader and fellow classmates. The program emphasizes Bible study, scripture
memory, prayer, and exercise, while following a healthy eating plan. We learn to focus on
giving Christ "first place" in every area of life.
First Place is designed for men and women of all ages who desire to lose weight
and/or develop healthy eating and cooking habits, as well as for those who wish to avoid
weight-related health problems. The ultimate goal of First Place is for members to
experience a more abundant life, as Christ becomes Lord of the spiritual, mental,
emotional and physical areas of their lives.
Romans 12:1-2 says, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to
offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God" this is your spiritual act
of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will
is: "His good, pleasing and perfect will." God wants us to offer our bodies to Him as
living sacrifices so that He can transform every part of us by renewing our minds. We
need to be transformed in thought, in body and in actions, so now is a good time to make
that commitment to God and yourself to become a transformed person!
This is an exciting time to begin First Place or to recommit to your group. All the
materials and studies have been rewritten and put into a new, more user-friendly format.
Sign-ups and orientation will be during the first part of September with classes beginning
the last week of September. For more information, contact Debbie Collins or Nancy Randall. We are very excited about the new changes taking place with First Place and the people whose lives have been touched by the program! We pray that you will make this a time of positive change in your life. "Change is inevitable, but growth is optional." Let’s choose to grow with the changes!
Diane Lowe, Parish Nurse
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Questions about Middletown United Methodist Church or comments regarding
the MUMC web site should be sent to the Church Office. |
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7108 Fern Circle · Middletown, MD 21769
voice: (301) 371-5550 · fax: (301) 473-8090
TTY: (301) 473-9892 |
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