The Brady Beacon. and an Easter cantata - something for everybody.

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1 The Brady Beacon April 2017 Romans 6:3-5 (NRSV) Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. No doubt you've seen and heard all the annual December hoopla about keeping Christ in Christmas. There's not a Christmas that goes by without a good gnashing of teeth from some folks about how secular culture has misappropriated and ruined the Birth of the Christ with gross consumerism. Oddly enough, we rarely seem to experience anything similar at Easter. Even faithful and devout Christians are not above hiding eggs for the kids and nibbling the ears off chocolate rabbits. For that matter, FUMC Brady will offer up our own tribute to ancient pagan fertility rites on Easter Sunday. There will be a sunrise service, a potluck breakfast, an Easter Egg hunt, F I R S T U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H 401 South Blackburn PO Box 1030 Brady, TX Phone: fax: Web: fumcbrady.org N. P. Phil Steinbach, Pastor Jey Jones, Youth/Children s Director and an Easter cantata - something for everybody. Granted, we won't be dropping candy from a helicopter (like a large nameless San Angelo church will be doing). Nonetheless, I cannot help but wonder if the Easter message sometimes gets lost in the annual Easter hoopla. It may be so because we prefer to avoid the constant reminders of the death of Jesus during the season of Lent and Holy Week. We would rather skip right over all the pain and suffering parts of Easter and jump right into all the fun and celebration parts of Easter. But you have to know that our resurrection to eternal life does not come before our surrender to sin and death, or as the Apostle Paul would put it, "just as Christ was raised from the dead, so we too might walk in newness of life." This is the whole point of the observance of Easter. It is at the heart of what it means to be a disciple and follow in the footsteps of the Christ. I am not suggesting the community of faith should go about gnashing their teeth about the how the secular culture has hijacked Easter. Rather, I suggest the community of faith should bear witness to the Easter miracle of how brokenness has been healed, how transgressions have been forgiven, how enemies have been reconciled, and perhaps most important, how God's promise of resurrection to life has overcome death. Keeping Christ in Christmas is important. We should keep Christ in Easter, also. I'll see you in church! Phil... The Brady Beacon 1

2 Holy Week is almost upon us. The choir is working on the Easter Cantata He Came For Us. We will present this cantata on Easter Morning at 10:00. We hope to see you there! We have had several Gifts of Music recently. They are as follows: In Memory of Jacque Elliott from the FUMC Choir. In Memory of Fletcher Fields from: Jim and Eileen Kitchens, Merle Kyzar, Karen Bishop, Carol Pilgrim, Alan and Susan Delafield, Donna Hardcastle, Llano Elementary School, Mary Bates and Bob and Janet Rudder Bryant. Thank you very much for your gifts. I personally would like to thank those that have given in memory of my sweet daddy. From the bottom of my heart thank you! Don t forget you can enhance our music ministry by purchasing gifts of music. You may do this in honor or memory of loved ones. Please contact Kathleen Gray at or kfgray44@gmail.com if you have questions or would like to purchase a gift of music. The FUMC Church Council met on Monday, March 27 th to discuss the recommendation of the SPRC Committee to set up a fund to help Jey attend the Center for Youth Ministry Training. At the end of the three year commitment, Jey will receive his Master of Arts in Youth Ministry. The Council is very excited about the program and the opportunity it offers Jey. The Council approved the SPRC recommendation. The Brady Beacon 2

3 Did you know that March 23 rd will mark the 148 th birthday of United Methodist Women? Back in 1869, eight women organized. Hey sent a doctor and teacher to a foreign country. We ve been doing missionary work ever since. That is the purpose of United Methodist Women missions. The local unit has donated $50.00 to the Legacy Fund which was set up to celebrate the 150 th year. During February and March, Call to Prayer and Self-Denial was studied by both circles. Donations of $ were given to the district. May 7th ( Grad Sunday) Time: 10:30am Where: First United Methodist Church Brady Purpose: Honoring our seniors who were actively involved in the youth group! Also, FREE FOOD! Pot Luck Dinner after Service to honor Grads and Parents Each circle meets and studies some form of mission. Please consider visiting with one of our circles. Mary Martha meets on the second Monday of the month at 2:30pm and Suzanna Wesley meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 9:30am. You are most welcomed at either circle. Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the REACH of God s grace. AND Your best days are never so good that you are beyond the NEED of God s grace. VBS 2017! June 13th- 16th Tuesday-Friday! Volunteer sign-up sheets are in the narthex!! The Brady Beacon 3

4 The UMM met March 5 th for their monthly breakfast and had 15 men in attendance. Attending were Donald Barley, Jimmy Williamson, Myron Mays, Leroy Keese, Robert Barnhill, Joe King, Larry Land Robert Dean, Phil Steinbach, Jim Kitchens, Monte Owens, Richard Lane, Jim Sharp, Kim King, Larry Land, and Ron Aston. They were treated to pancakes and sausage, coffee and juice. The cooks for April will be Joe King and Richard Lane. The UMM voted to have a fish fry April 23 rd. Larry Land has accepted the role of Kingfish 2 along with Kingfish 1 John Smith to be the ones to order and receive fish and supplies and help coordinate the fish fries as we have them. John Smith will be helping from his home in the Panhandle as he stated that he still wants to be a part of the UMM Brady. More details on the fish fry as we get closer. The UMM were informed by Monte Owens that we have been tagged to help with the evening meal for the Memorial drive United Methodist Church Youth group in June. More details to follow. Donald Barley gave a unique devotional that struck home with our group. Here is the devotional that Donald read to us; George Burns once said, "Tennis is a game for young people. Until age 25, you can play singles. From there until age 35, you should play doubles. I won't tell you my age, but when I played, there were 28 people on the court -- just on my side of the net." I've talked some about the fears we have related to getting older. But, I want to close out this series by looking at the positive aspect of aging. In Proverbs 20:29, Solomon wrote, "The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is their gray head." The Bible has for us several examples of elderly people who refused to believe their usefulness was over just because they weren't young anymore, who served God well despite their advancing years. One of the greatest examples is found in the book of Joshua. Caleb was 85 years old. He had served the Lord faithfully for his entire lifetime. When he was 40, he, along with eleven other soldiers, sneaked into the land of Canaan to spy out the land that God had promised them. What they saw was frightening and ten of the soldiers concluded there was no chance of victory. Joshua and Caleb were the two faithful spies who stood firm in their conviction that God could give them Canaan despite the giants in the land. Then for the next 40 years, that unbelieving nation wandered in the wilderness until Caleb and Joshua were the only adults left. Joshua led the Israelites in conquering the land of Canaan and Caleb had fought valiantly in securing the land. But by the time we get to the 14th chapter of the book of Joshua, Caleb is an old man years old. You would think he was ready to sit out on that porch swing, but listen to him: "And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as he said, these forty-five years, ever since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said." (Joshua 14:10-12). At the age of 85, Caleb was still looking for ways to serve God; he asked for a mountain full of giants to conquer. It was the most difficult spot in the whole land to be conquered. He deliberately chose the hardest task. Now if anyone in that nation had earned the right to retire and live the rest of his days in comfort, it was Caleb. But, he wasn't ready for the shelf; he wanted a mountain. What was his secret? There are several things that I think stand out. He was a man who obviously had a positive attitude and faith in God. It's easy to become negative as we get older, looking back on "the good old The Brady Beacon 4

5 days". But Caleb refused to be negative. He had a positive faith in God. God said, "Even to your old age, I am he, and even to gray hairs I will carry you." (Isaiah 46:4). Caleb truly believed that, that God is in control at every stage of our lives. Here was a man who had a divine purpose. He was in his eighties, but he believed that God had something important for him to do. And he believed that with God's help he could do it. He was a man who looked for ways to serve God despite his advancing age. There are tasks that an older Christian can do that a younger Christian just simply isn't equipped to do. But, above all else, Caleb was obedient to the Lord. It's difficult for a person to obey God in his old age if he doesn't establish a pattern of obedience in his earlier years. But it can be done. The important thing is to continue to give yourself to the Lord no matter what your age. This really hit home to the UMM as the youngest member is 62. Where are the young men? Why aren t they coming and helping support the UMM mission? These questions will be looked at as we go along. Ron Aston volunteered to do the devotional for April 2 nd. The following concerns were mentioned; The families of Fletcher Fields and Dewey Young, Gwen Ragsdale, Melinda Phillip, Cooper Owens. The joy that was mentioned was the new Grand daughter for Larry and Becky Land. The above notes/minutes were from the March 5th UMM breakfast and meeting. I ask the First United Methodist Church Brady to pay close attention to the devotional that Donald Barley read to us. We are an aging Church, and you young folks (below 62), especially you young parents that are in the range. We need you, if you want the First United Methodist Church Brady to be around for your children, please help us keep the missions going, get involved, join the UMW, or the UMM or teach Sunday School or so on and so on. Please do not let the older generation burn out without teaching you younger members, we want to pass the torch, and yes we want to continue to serve too, but we just want to be assured that there are those younger than us that will carry on. As far as the older ones of us, we will keep on serving, and we are blessed to have a bunch of the graying generation, but what happens when Monte Owens Holy Week And Easter Sunday Maundy Thursday Service April 13 th at 6:00PM in the FUMC Sanctuary. Easter Sunrise Service April 16 th at 7:30AM on the front steps of the FUMC Sanctuary. Potluck Breakfast April 16 th at 8:00AM in the Fellowship Hall. Easter Egg Hunt April 16 th at 9:00AM on the front lawn. Easter Cantata April 16 th at 10:00AM at one service. Here is a message written by DaySpring co-founder Roy Lessin. I hope it will give you the same encouragement that it has given me each day that I read it. Just think, you re here not by chance, but by God s choosing. His hand formed you and made you the person you are. He compares you to no one else you are one of a kind. You lack nothing that His grace can t give you. He has allowed you to be here at this time in history to fulfill His special purpose for this generation. Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven. The Brady Beacon 5

6 From the Desk of Your Wesley Nurse: April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Distracted driving is driving while doing another activity that takes your attention away from driving. Distracted driving can increase the chance of a motor vehicle crash. Each day in the United States, over 8 people are killed and 1,161 injured in crashes that are reported to have a distracted driver. At 55 mph, the average text takes your eyes off the road long enough to cover a football field! The 3 main types of distraction are: Visual: taking your eyes off the road Manual: taking your hands off the wheel Cognitive: taking your mind off of driving Distracted driving activities include things like using a cell phone, texting, and eating. Using in-vehicle technologies (such as navigation systems) can also be sources of distraction. While any of these distractions can endanger the driver and others, texting while driving is especially dangerous because it involves all three types of distraction. Some of the risk factors include: Talking or listening, texting, dialing or otherwise manipulating cell phone Distracted by other passenger, pet, insect or dropped object in vehicle Manipulating various components or controls integral to the vehicle Distracted by outside person, object or event Eating, drinking or smoking while operating the vehicle Lost in thought or daydreaming What is being done? Many states are enacting laws such as banning texting while driving or using graduated licensing systems for teen drivers to help raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving and to keep it from occurring. The Brady Beacon 6

7 Federal government: On September 30, 2009, President Obama issued an executive order prohibiting federal employees from texting while driving while on government business or with government equipment. Since that time, various federal government agencies have issued similar bans. In March of 2016: Talking on a hand-held cell phone while driving is banned in 14 states and the District of Columbia The use of all cell phones by novice drivers is restricted in 37 states and the District of Columbia Text messaging is banned for all drivers in 46 states and the District of Columbia. In addition, novice drivers are banned from texting in 2 states (Texas and Missouri) Many localities have enacted their own bans on cell phones or text messaging What can you do? 1. Be aware of driving distractions and follow the rules/regulations. 2. Don t eat, smoke, drink (any beverages) or text AND DRIVE at the same time. 3. Keep your pets restrained in moving vehicles. 4. Pull over to the side of the road or into a parking lot if you need to make or answer a call. 5. Be cognizant of daydreaming and focus on your driving. Be aware of your surroundings, be alert and drive defensively. Sources: Starting April 5th, the Youth Group will begin their new series entitled: In their eyes. Is it worth following Jesus? Is it worth giving up the things we love the most? Was it hard for Jesus's early followers to abandon the lives they knew in order to follow him. In this series, we will look at four different accounts from four different people who were eye witnesses of the last 36 hours before Jesus was murder on a cross. Jesus shows us that in his final hours He loves you, will go to the very end of his life for you and that He doesn't regret saving you. So, no matter how far you ran away from God, how much you hate him, your feelings of shame and doubt or unworthiness. Know that He (Jesus) went all the way to the end for you because He loves you and He has no regrets. John 14:6 (NLT) I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." "The beauty of the cross is that it proves no matter how bleak the circumstance God still makes a way for His purpose and plan." - Louie Giglio The Brady Beacon 7