THE FAITH CONNECTION NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019 EDITION

Transcription

1 THE FAITH CONNECTION NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019 EDITION HAPPENING AT FAITH Tuesday, January 1 st New Years Day Church Office Closed Friday, January 4 th 6pm Primetimers at Der Dutchman Restaurant Sunday, January 6 th 11:30am Church De-Greening Wednesday, January 9 th 10am Ruth Circle Meets at Jan Dietz Home Friday, January 11 th 5-7pm Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser Sunday, January 13 th 3:30pm Brandon Kouri Piano Concert Tuesday, January 15 th 11am The Way Forward Meeting Wednesday, January 16 th 11am The Way Forward Meeting Monday, January 21 st 7pm The Way Forward Meeting Monday, January 21 st Martin Luther King Day Church Office Closed Our mailing address: Faith United Methodist Church, st Avenue West, Bradenton, FL Office: ; faithchurch@verizon.net; website: faithchurchum.org Pastor: Rev. Gary Eldred Editor: Karl Hasbrouck ~ Managing Editor: Debra Johnson

2 From the Pastor's Desk A number of years ago, my family and I were observing a parade at Disney World. At that time, they had horses pulling wagons as part of the parade. Having horses necessitated the need for people to follow the horses with scoop shovels. I remember so well one of the pooper scoopers. He was a young man who was dancing with his shovel. I was amazed with what he was doing with that shovel. He had all kinds of fancy moves, a great deal of fluidity with his gestures. I was captivated by his joyful spirit, his smiles, his delight in doing what he was doing. I realized that this was his own, individual, creative contribution to the parade. That he had not been trained to do what he was doing, not expected by Disney officials to be doing what he was doing because none of the other pooper scoopers were doing what he was doing. In my eyes, he was the star of the parade. To this day I don t remember any other thing about all of the Disney parades that I have seen other than that pooper scooper. In 2019, I want to be like that young man. I know that I'm going to encounter some messy, nasty, downright disgusting things in Things that are going to make me mad, sad, or afraid. However, I know that the Holy Spirit may help me have joy even in the midst of trouble. I know that he will help me deal with messes that I create, and ones that I need to respond to that others create. The Apostle Paul said, Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. I Thessalonians 5:16-18 My prayer for you in 2019, as well as for myself, is that we may dance to the rhythms of God's grace in our lives, especially when life gets messy. We are on parade before each other s lives. Will others see the joy and other fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives in 2019? Will we bless others as we make the most of each day, trusting the Holy Spirit to be at work in us and through us? In God s Great Grace, Pastor Gary Worship Committee News De-Greening of the Church on Sunday, January 6 th at 11:30am. Your help is needed with undecorating our Christmas trees, Sanctuary and Narthex. Please come to church prepared to join us in this project of fun and fellowship. Cookies will be served.

3 Intentional Discipleship News by Sherry Eldred Adult Sunday School Classes: Be sure to enrich your Sundays by joining one of our adult Sunday school classes. They are always eager to welcome you. Seekers Sunday School class meets Sundays in the Pastor s Study at 9am. Please join in their new study Abigail! Living with Difficult People in Your Life. Mixed Blessings Sunday School class meets Sundays in the Church library. Please join them in exploring the Adult Study Series. Growing Christians Sunday School class meets Sundays in Room #9 with a new DVD series Living on the Edge by Chip Ingram. This series is taken from Romans 12, which is the Apostle Paul s lesson on How To Live A Christian Life. The Seekers Sunday School Class would like to express their gratitude to Faith Church members for the wonderful response to the Holiday Food Drive. We will continue to collect food donations to fill our food pantry through the holidays. Thanks for making the holidays brighter for those in need. Library News: Be sure to browse regularly the Library FREE shelf located in the Narthex. The committee is diligently working to get more resources into your hands to help you in your walk with the Lord. Take what you will use and then pass it on to someone else. Items do not have to be returned. Wanted and Needed Shepherds to keep watch over flocks. Its not a hard job; just keep in touch with them, greet them at church on Sunday, perhaps send a card on their birthday or when they are sick, put them on the Lets Connect Slip if they need prayer. This is a feelgood ministry on both the part of the Shepherd and the church member. Contact Mitz Damstra by phone or at ministries43010@gmail.com Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser Friday, January 11th, pm-7pm in the Sanctuary All you can eat spaghetti with homemade meat sauce, salad, garlic toast and beverages for only $7 adults and $3 children.

4 Brandon Kouri In Concert Sunday, Jan. 13 th, 2019 at 3:30 PM Faith United Methodist Church Free Admission (A Love Offering will be taken) Brandon will perform a wide selection of musical styles including: classical, ragtime, and contemporary. He is a graduate of the University of Colorado where he earned his degree in Piano Performance with minors in harpsichord, organ, and French. He previously enjoyed playing piano for churches and schools in Colorado, his home state.

5 PrimeTimers Upcoming Event ~ Welcome The New Year With Us! Der Dutchman Restaurant 6PM ~ Friday ~ Jan. 4th, 2019 Address: 3713 Bahia Vista St, Sarasota Website: Phone: All Adults Welcome & Need Not Attend FUMC. Please RSVP to Shirley at Until We Meet Again My Friend William Carl Dooley, Sr. (born November 16, 1939), known to friends as Bill, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 4, 2018 at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton, Florida. He is preceded in death by his parents William J. Dooley and Caroline Beeson Dooley, brothers William James and Robert Dooley, sisters Wilma Dawson and Carolyn Clark, and many nieces and nephews. Bill is survived by his loving wife of 54 years Ruth A. (Green), son William C. Dooley, Jr., daughter Allison White (Tom), sisters Frances Hicks and Darlene Bush, granddaughters Elizabeth Adams (Tom) and Alanna Dooley, grandson Thomas White Jr., as well as five great-grandsons and a great-granddaughter. Bill attended Milton Hershey School then enlisted in the United States Armed Forces, whereby he received an Honorable Discharge. A United States Navy Vietnam Veteran, Bill was an active member and past president of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Bill spent his civilian years employed by the Delaware County Prison. He was very involved in the Marcus Hook community, serving as a volunteer of the Marcus Hook Fire Company and coach of the local Vikings AA baseball and softball teams. Bill spent his final years in leadership roles at Faith United Methodist Church and enjoying life at a Fraternal Order Of Eagles retirement community in Bradenton. A Celebration of Life Service was held at 2PM on Wednesday, December 19th at Faith United Methodist Church (FUMC), st Avenue, Bradenton FL A man of God, beloved family member and trusted friend, Bill will be remembered and missed. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bill s memory to FUMC [ st Ave West, Bradenton FL Thank-You To the Ruth Circle and FUMC: We are sorry for your loss. Thank you for your donation in memory of Ann Romano. It is greatly appreciated. Stephanie, Forget-Me-Not [Dog Rescue] st Avenue Terrace West, Bradenton RUTH CIRCLE ~ JANUARY MEETING DATE CHANGED to the SECOND WEDNESDAY! January 9th ~ 10AM ~ Jan Dietz s Home Co-Host: Lynda Bellows ~ Devotion: Peggy Coon

6 2018 Christmas Cantata The Song Heard Round the World Dec. 9 th Chancel Choir with Children s Choir Chancel Choir Dec. 15 th International Food Tasting Event Dec. 15 th

7 Finance News On behalf of the Finance Committee, thank you to all you who made a pledge for Your support and generosity is greatly appreciated, especially those of you who have tithed and those of you who have increased your giving for 2019 by 10%. Thank you very, very much. Also, if you are at the church anytime in January, please notice the new roof! Work will begin on January 2 nd. Trustee News Manson Roofing will begin our church roof replacement on Wednesday January 2 nd and will be here working Monday thru Friday from 7:30am to 5:30pm. The church office staff will be working offsite the days they will work on that roof area. NEW MEMBERS Janet and Greg Brooks were welcomed as new members of Faith UMC on Sunday, Dec. 23, They transferred their memberships from Stewartstown United Methodist Church in Stewartstown, PA. Janet is a member of the Faith UMC Chancel Choir. Janet s son, Greg is our Facility Director; he is also an usher and a member of the counting team.

8 Sisters and Brothers in the Florida Conference, Grace and Peace to you in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate! I give thanks for your faithful witness to this good news, for the many thousands of acts of love, justice, worship, mercy and intercession offered in service to God and shared with our neighbors. I want to rejoice in two extraordinary movements of the Holy Spirit among us this Christmas. First, thank you for your generous offering on behalf our sisters and brothers in the Alabama-West Florida Conference who experienced the devastation of Hurricane Michael in the panhandle in September. We invited our churches to receive an offering for them. The people of First UMC in Ormond Beach challenged us with a $500,000 matching gift. I am overjoyed to announce that you have contributed an additional $887,383 toward the needs of our brothers and sisters in the Panhandle. This gift will be sent the first week of January Second, I also want to share the good news that we have received approval for the establishment of a United Methodist Church in the Lowell Correctional Institution, located in the community of Reddick in the North Central District. Lowell houses more than 2300 women and is considered to be the largest female prison in the United States. I can envision the lives of women being blessed by the gifts of Christian fellowship and worship and the presence of a pastor who will be a sign of the Good Shepherd s love for them. In my role as President of the Council of Bishops, I shared a Christmas Letter to our global church entitled A Peaceable Kingdom in a Divided World. You can access that letter at christmas-greetings-from-bishop-carter-and-the-council-of-bishops Pam and I wish for you God s gifts of hope, peace, joy, love and light at Christmas. We consider it a great blessing to serve with you as followers of Jesus. Indeed, the word has become flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father s only son, full of grace and truth (John 1. 14). Merry Christmas! Ken Carter

9 How can I learn about the Way Forward? A significant milestone in the history of our church is fast approaching. On Feb , 2019 a Special Session of The General Conference will be held in St. Louis, MO. The purpose of the meeting will be to review a variety of suggested plans which the church may use to address current issues of human sexuality. Pastor Gary will be convening informational meetings at Faith UMC for anyone interested in learning more about the issues involved and the possible changes to the Methodist Church. Here is a schedule of those meetings: Tuesday 11 AM, Wednesday 11 AM, and Monday 7 PM. For information about the Point of View (POV) process, which has been happening in many of our local Churches at The purpose is to create empathy in congregations an communities and to approach the LGBTQ conversation from a posture of listening to scripture and each other. POV was developed by a cross- section of leaders across a theological spectrum and is also being used as a resource in other conferences. Bishop Ken Carter convened four regional gatherings in Tallahassee, Winter Park, Boca Raton and Bradenton in September around the theme "The Cross and the Flame." These followed six meetings over the last two years, which were held in Gainesville, Cape Coral, Loxahatchee, Jacksonville, Tampa and Orlando. Bishop Carter reflected on the future of the church and took time answering submitted questions. To watch a compilation video of the regional gatherings at Rev. Alex Shanks presented in the eight districts this fall to review the three plans that are present in the Commission on a Way Forward s report to the Special Session of the General Conference. To see the report at Way_Forward_Report_-_Final_-_ENGLISH.pdf These district gatherings followed the presentations about the Way Forward held in each district in the Winter of The Special Session of the General Conference will be held in St. Louis, February 23-26, To learn more about the Special Session or how to attend the Special Session as a visitor at The names of our delegation to the General Conference, with equal representation of laity and clergy and led by Molly McEntire and Rev. Alex Shanks, are listed here at general-conference-florida-delegation-2019-special-session To see all the petitions before the Special Session click here for the Advanced Daily Christian Advocate, go to -edition-daily-christian-advocate The Conference Table, convened by our Lay Leader Paulette Monroe and Bishop Ken Carter on October 20th, included an open conversation with our General Conference delegates about the Special Session in February. Go to to watch a video of those who registered to speak at this gathering. We encourage you to share this page with others, which contains videos, testimonies, and links to the Annual Conference presentations by a number of our leaders, including Way Forward Commission members Rev. Jorge Acevedo and Alice Williams. Bishop Carter s book, Embracing The Wideness of God s Mercy, was published by Abingdon Press in late August of 2018, and is available through Amazon and Cokesbury. You can learn more about the book at It includes material that has been included in local churches and clergy gatherings in the Florida Conference, and is a traditional evangelical case for greater inclusion of LGBTQ persons in our local churches.

10 January Birthdays Joey Phillips 1/2 Bob LaMastro 1/18 Jim Siegfried 1/2 Elma Sample 1/18 Brenda Bellows 1/4 Mary Lenz 1/20 Nelson Applegate Jr 1/5 Lori Crick 1/22 Tuck Tucker 1/7 Sharon Jarvis 1/24 Bryan Wetzel 1/11 Jerry Lowery 1/27 John Shea 1/13 Juanine Lowery 1/28 Nathan Dix 1/15 Erica Jarvis 1/31 Rich Sidley 1/15 Michelle Phillips 1/31 Kay Glass 1/18 January Anniversaries Bill & Joy Porterfield 1/6 JB & Sarah Tucker 1/16 Gary & Jane Metcalf 1/23 Jim & Pam Deathe 1/27 Robert & Mary Lenz 1/29 Visit our website and calendar of events at $10 off Friends & Family Savings Coupon Call to register at Faith United Methodist Church is pleased to offer a preventive health event. Life Line Screening, a leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings, will host their affordable, non-invasive and painless health screenings on Saturday, February 2, Four screenings will be offered that scan for potential health problems related to: blocked arteries which is a leading cause of stroke; abdominal aortic aneurysms which can lead to a ruptured aorta; hardening of the arteries in the legs which is a strong predictor of heart disease; atrial fibrillation or irregular heart beat which is closely tied to stroke. Register for a Wellness Package which includes 4 vascular tests + Osteoporosis from $149 ($139 with our member discount). The screenings take minutes to complete. In order to register for this event and to receive a $10 discount please call or visit communitycircle or text CIRCLE to Being proactive about your health by knowing your risks helps you and your doctor address problems early.