THE FIRST WORD A publication of Ellijay First United Methodist Church June 2013

Transcription

1 THE FIRST WORD A publication of Ellijay First United Methodist Church June 2013 Bob and Ann Sweat Curtiss and Joyce Mabie END OF GRASP LUNCHEON/ CELEBRATION We will have our traditional GRASP luncheon/celebration following the 11:00 service on Sunday June 9th. We would love the congregation to join us for this celebration. We ask for your help in feeding these hungry, hard-working GRASP missionaries. GRASP will provide the fried chicken. Please bring a side dish to share.

2 SUNDAY Each Sunday 8:45 a.m. Early Worship 9:45 a.m. Sunday School 11 a.m. Worship 6 p.m. Impact Youth 1st Sunday 8:45 a.m. Communion 11 a.m. Communion ONGOING WEEKLY EVENTS 1st Monday 5:30 p.m. Finance Committee Meeting July 8 6:00 p.m. Administrative Council Meeting July 8 2nd Monday 6:00 p.m. UMM Dinner & meeting When Called 4th Monday 11:30 a.m. Prayer Shawl Workshop June 24 Each Tuesday 11 a.m. Adult Bible Study BYKOTA CLASSROOM 1st Tuesday 8 a.m. UMM Prayer Breakfast/Meeting at IHOP July 2 3rd Tuesday 12 noon UMW Noon Circle No June Meeting July 16 6:30 p.m. A Season of Prayer Resumes in the fall Each Wednesday 5:45 p.m. Grace Notes 6:00 p.m. Youth IMPACT ( 6th 12th grade ) 6:30 p.m. Adult Choir Rehearsal 2nd Wednesday 5 p.m. Board of Trustees Meeting, BYKOTA CLASSROOM June 12 Each Thursday 4:45 p.m. BODY AND SOUL 1st Thursday 11 a.m. Joy Circle Resumes on September 13 2nd Thursday 11:30 a.m. Single Ladies Lunch June 13 Each Saturday 9:00 a.m. BODY AND SOUL SEASON OF PRAYER services will resume in the fall.

3 Bringing Christ's healing love to hurting people How can you apply to become a Stephen Minister? Obtain an application from the round table in the Narthex, outside the Fellowship Hall, or from one of your Stephen Leaders. Complete it and return it to a Stephen Leader or to the Church office. Contact Debbie Halligan for more information: Our next training program will begin in late July or early August. The devotional phone line has been reactivated. The phone number for this line is (706) Messages will be changed twice weekly. If anyone is interested in recording a devotion to be included in the weekly devotionals, please contact Kathy Stephens at (706) or contact the office. Your devotion could be a meaningful passage of scripture, something that has touched you, or something meaningful to share. ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES--9:45 a.m. HELPING HANDS class is studying Ecclesiastes; We continue to support the Food Pantry, Murphy Harpst, Gilmer Christian Learning Center and Kids Kottage with monthly contributions. We are also providing monthly sponsorship of an eleven year old boy in Kenya through The Kenya Project. CORNERSTONE Sunday School class is studying Andy Stanley s, Faith, Hope and Luck: What You Can Expect from God. They have monthly social gatherings and support many causes such as the Gilmer County Food Pantry, Angel Tree, Kids Kottage and The March of Dimes. BYKOTA is studying When Christ Comes by Max Lucado. BEN BARRETT is studying the International Sunday School Lessons.

4 NATIONAL WOMEN S HEALTH WEEK WAS MAY WHY CELEBRATE NATIONAL WOMEN S HEALTH WEEK? Women often serve as caregivers for their families, putting the needs of their spouses, partners, children and parents before their own. As a result, women s health and well-being becomes secondary. As a community, let s support the women we know and do everything we can to help them take steps for longer, healthier, happier lives. Consider scheduling your annual check-ups near your birthday. What a great gift to celebrate YOU. Getting more active can be done in small, manageable steps. Ten minutes of any kind of exercise is better than nothing. Park further away from entrances to work, the mall, school, church etc. Remember that gardening, playing with children and pets, even housecleaning is exercise. Eat healthier by making small changes: decrease soda consumption and artificial sweeteners, use a smaller plate for your food, increase fresh fruit/vegetables and drink more water. Pay attention to your mental health: Go to bed earlier, listen to music, schedule ME TIME in your calendar. BREATHE deeper AND PRAY more often. Avoid unhealthy behaviors such as: not wearing a seat belt or bicycle helmet, texting while driving and smoking. For information on National Women s Health Week, visit womenshealth.gov/nwhw/ or call I also want to pay tribute to all the nurses in our congregation. Nurse s week was May We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-4 (NIV) Tamra Acree, Parish Nurse Did you know that there is a choir for everyone in our congregation? We invite you to join the Chancel Choir, Bell Choir, Children's Choir or Youth Music. Please contact John Rathbone, Judith Rathbone, Charlie Bryant or Sarah Thorne.

5 VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL Kingdom Chronicles will be on June from FYI from Health and Wellness There is a first aid kit now located in the kitchen. An AED is on the back hallway wall close to the fellowship hall. If you have difficulty hearing, please see an usher before church for a hearing impaired device. Thanks to the Trustees for securing these aids. The next Administrative Council meeting will be held on Monday, July 8 at 6 p.m. All committee chairs are encouraged to attend. Volunteer for a committee, visit our homebound members, participate in some of our many activities. You will be blessed. Volunteers Are Needed! Children s Church A craft, lesson, and snack are provided. This is done on a rotation basis for once every three months. That is only 4 hours a year to assist in this important ministry. Contact Marianne Evans if interested. Volunteers are needed to provide supper for the youth on Sunday evenings. There is a sign-up sheet located on the bulletin board by the youth room. Any individuals, SS classes, or Circle that would be interested in providing a meal for approx. 25 people on Sunday nights may contact Barbara Talbot for menu suggestions or other information. Audio Ministry continues to need volunteers If you have a musical ear and like to work with audio gear, you are needed to serve on a rotating basis. Please contact J o h n R a t h b o n e a t o r July Newsletter Deadline The deadline for submitting articles or information for the July newsletter is Friday, June 28. Anything received after that date will be included in the August newsletter. JOIN THE CHOIR! Join the fun! Noon Circle meets the 3rd Tuesday at 12 noon Joy Circle meets the 1st Thursday at 11 a.m.

6 Governor s Commendation for Volunteer Service Awarded to Faith, Hope and Charity Senator Steve Gooch presents Governors Commendation to Tom Rippy, Business Manager, Barbara Murray, Store Manager and Rita Odom, Assistant Store Manager during a presentation to recognize volunteers at Faith, Hope and Charity. During the presentation, Senator Gooch stated, Faith, Hope and Charity Recycle Store, Inc. (FHC) has been a mainstay of community support and service in Gilmer County since Since that time the store has returned more than $4,700,000 to the community in the form of assistance, grants to charitable organizations, scholarships and help for families with immediate need of medical assistance, prescriptions, electric and gas bills, food and rent. During the presentation, Bill Kokaly, Representative for 9 th District Congressman Doug Collins, presented a Congressional Certificate of Recognition to store volunteers. Congratulations to all volunteers of FHC. Your work is noticed and appreciated. BODY AND SOUL! COME AND JOIN US! BODY AND SOUL meets at 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays and on Saturday mornings at 9:00 am in the Fellowship Hall. We exercise for 30 minutes doing Latin dance (zumba-type) exercise, and will potentially work up to an hour. Honor your own individual needs; come and join us for the fun of it, but do what you can without pain. Participants are free to stop when they need, restart, and/or modify the moves to assist in participation of all, regardless of your abilities. If you have any questions, Sheri at drbrimfutrell@gmail.com or call her cell at Please invite any of our sisters at EFUMC who may not have signed up. All are welcome. A NOTE FROM THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS COMMITTEE If you know of anyone who is home bound or in the hospital, please call the church office so one of our team members can make a visit.

7 WE HAVE A MISSION Welcoming-Worshiping-Nurturing-Sending Why does the church exist? According to Matthew s Gospel, the risen Christ made it clear: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you (28:19-20) Based on this Great Commission, our United Methodist Church has stated its purpose: The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Local churches provide the most significant arena through which disciple-making occurs. So the mission of our congregation is to make disciples. This is a four-fold task.... We could abbreviate our mission as one of welcomingworshiping-nurturing-sending. From The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church 2008, pp For more information on Our Faith, please visit the UMC Web Site. Ellijay First United Methodist Church 75 McCutchen Street P.O. Box 472 Ellijay, GA Church: Fax: Pastor s Residence: office@fumcellijay.org danny@fumcellijay.org youth@fumcellijay.org children@fumcellijay.org Website: Church Office Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday CHURCH STAFF The Reverend Dr. Danny Barton, Pastor The Reverend Alan Tarr, Assistant Pastor Tamra Acree, Parish Nurse Charlie Bryant, Director of Music Pam Corbin, Custodian Gabrielle Cornett, Pianist Marianne Evans, Director of Children s Ministries & Preschool Rhonda Hilliard, Administrative Assistant Angel Hughes, Nursery Coordinator Kerri Anne Lipscomb, Youth Minister Cheryl Smith, Organist