A Note From Bro. Wade

Transcription

1 A biweekly publication of First United Methodist Church October 15, 2014 issue Pastoral Staff Rev. Wade Cox Senior Pastor Rev. Grace Phelps Minister of Outreach and Program Care Staff Dr. Faye Beckett Congregational Care Kendy Erwin Hospitality Care Program Staff Sara Palm Youth Ministries Charlotte Quinley Children and Nursery Ministries Dr. Bonnie Wright Director of Music Office Support Staff Sandy Burgess Receptionist/ Printing Secretary Holley Mills Morris Admin. & Financial Secretary Musician Justin Hanson, Organist Facilities Rebecca Paris Custodian Kenny Summers Maintenance A Note From Bro. Wade We are privileged to have Eric Soard speaking with us at both services on Sunday, October 19. Eric and his wife, Liz, have been United Methodist Missionaries for several years doing amazing work. Eric and Liz graduated from Lambuth University in Jackson, TN. Eric and I worked together in Eric and Liz now live in Tanzania, East Africa near Lake Victoria. They have three children, Derrick (7), Kaleb (2), and Micah (a few months). They work doing holistic church development, which includes everything from church planting, to leadership development, to community development, and never a dull moment. They are also involved in the Tanzanian Publishing Team, working to develop church resources for the UMC in Tanzania, and are heading up a team to start Wesley College, which will be the first United Methodist university in Tanzania. They are also passionate about volunteer teams, church-to-church partnerships, and anything that connects the global church together. Liz is currently working on an MA in Intercultural Studies and Eric an MA in International Development. Eric is a certified candidate for ordination in the Memphis Conference and Liz is a certified candidate in the Arkansas Conference. They both hope to be commissioned as deacons in the UMC in the near future. You can check out more about their work at their blog, ingodslife.blogspot.com, or contact them directly at esoard@umcmission.org or ericsoard@umcmission.org. Huendi Kanisani. Kuwa Kanisa. Don t go to Church. Be the Church. Peace and Grace, Wade

2 Page 2 Page 2 THE FOCUS 10/15/2014 3/20/2013 KIDS COATS NEEDED! The Share the Warmth Coat Closet will open again on Saturday, November 1 during food pantry hours and will remain open on 1 st and 3 rd Saturdays through February for our food pantry patrons and their families. We have a good supply of adult coats, but are in need of kids coats in all sizes. If you have children or grandchildren who have outgrown their coats, please consider donating them to the coat closet. The coat closet is located on the lower floor of the sanctuary building. Donations may be brought there or to the church office. Thank you! YOUTH FUNDRAISER The youth of FUMC have a very exciting opportunity to attend the National Methodist Youth Conference called Youth 15 in Orlando, FL. This conference only happens once every four years and is an amazing opportunity for the youth to be part of the greater connectional church. In order to raise money for such a journey, the youth are participating in a different kind of fundraiser. Beginning October 5, and lasting throughout the month of October, there will be a board with envelopes, numbered 1 through 100. Each envelope will contain a thank you note from a youth and a picture from one of our events over the past year. If you wish to participate in this fundraiser, all you need to do is take one of the envelopes off the board, take out the thank you note and picture, and deposit the amount of cash (or amount by check) that matches the number on the envelope. If you take envelope 27, you would put $27.00 in the envelope and give to Sara Palm or place in the offering plate. There will be one board for each of our Sunday services and if all of the envelopes get filled we will raise $10,100! Amazing, right? So have fun with this, and if you'd like to add an encouraging note to the youth back in your envelope with your donation we'd appreciate that as well! We thank you for your continued support of the youth of this congregation. For more information, please contact Sara Palm, or sara.r.palm@gmail.com. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Make a big difference in little lives. Join the Reading Crew at Covington Integrated Arts Academy, helping children learn to read. Please call Marlyn Seagrave at to volunteer for this program.

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4 Page 4 THE FOCUS 10/15/2014 YOUTH EVENT The youth are planning a family gathering at Tim and Dawn Carpenter s home, 8148 Donnell Road, Millington, November 1st. There will be a potluck dinner (Tim and Dawn are providing the meat) at 5:30 p.m. followed by games and a bonfire. For more information, contact Sara Palm at or sara.r.palm@gmail.com. CHILDREN S ACTIVITIES October 31 Trunk or Treat 6:00-8:00 p.m. Christian Life Center parking lot. Donation boxes for candy are setup in the Education Building and lobby of the Christian Life Center. Limited car space is available, so please contact Charlotte at or cquinley_fumc@bellsouth.net to sign up to give out candy. MEN S PRAYER BREAKFAST The men s prayer breakfast for the month of October will be held in the Fellowship Hall. NOTE OF PRAISE: Lt. Col. Raymond R. Newbill retired October 1st from the United States Air Force following 20 years of service. Raymond was an active member of FUMC throughout his youth. The family will be living in Jacksonville, FL. His FUMC parent s are Ray and Janice Newbill, 220 Sawmill Road, Brighton, FUMC Office Hours: 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday MPNS ANNUAL FUNDRAISER Methodist-Presbyterian Nursery School is selling various Christmas wreaths, garland and centerpieces as a fundraiser. Order forms are located in the church office or on the bulletin board leading to the Sanctuary. Please include payment when ordering. Checks may be made payable to MPNS and placed in the order envelope. The deadline to order is November 7th. Delivery will take place December 1st-5th. For more information, please contact Andrea Franklin,

5 10/15/2014 THE FOCUS Page 5 JESUS LOVES TIPTON COUNTY MISSION BLITZ COMING UP! Mark your calendar now for a chance to join together with brothers and sisters in Christ in Tipton county in showing the love of Christ on Saturday, October 25 from 8:30 11:30 a.m. Folks from fifteen different area churches will be participating - Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Church of God in Christ, Missionary Baptist and non-denominational congregations will all be represented. Activities that day will include: 1. Frazier Park Project - volunteers needed (Child Friendly) a. Lawn Maintenance for Disabled & Elderly / Neighborhood Cleanup - Volunteers requested to wear work gloves and yard tools if available (push mowers, clippers, rakes, weed eaters). Trash pickup will take place as well. b. Clothing Distribution gently used jeans, hoodies and sweatshirts, t-shirts, and new socks for adults and kids. Volunteers needed to manage the distribution that morning. c. Breakfast FUMC will do a simple breakfast food distribution from a food trailer on site (food from Mid-South Food Bank). Volunteers needed to help with food distribution. 2. Nursing Home Ministry volunteers Needed , (Child Friendly) Two locations: Covington Care Bert Johnston Ave, Covington from 9:30 10:30 am and Parkway Cove Bert Johnston Avenue, Covington from 10:30 11:30 am. a. Minister to nursing home residents by providing small pre-approved gift packages. Churches should be collecting small items such as toiletry items, crossword puzzles, small devotionals books. We will also fellowship, visit, and pray with residents and their families, as well as provide a worship service with residents at each of the homes. 3. Community Fellowship Lunch / Prayer Rally at the Covington High School Football Stadium for all of the volunteers and supporting churches following the morning projects. The projects will run from approximately 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. with the lunch/prayer rally to begin at 12 noon. We will enjoy a light lunch provided by First Baptist, fellowship with Christian friends, and pray together for our community and nation. Collection boxes for the gently used clothing items will be placed in the handicapped entrance and lobby of the CLC starting this Sunday through Sunday, October 19. Please bring these items only: Jeans, t-shirts, new athletic socks for kids and adults. Collection boxes for nursing home gift items will also be available. Please bring items such as: Body lotion, chapstick or other personal care items; crossword, word search, devotional books; socks with non-slip soles; NO FOOD ITEMS please due to restricted diets. Sign-up sheets for the various mission blitz projects will also be available on each of those Sundays. Please plan to be part of this opportunity to come together with our neighbors in this ecumenical outreach effort by joining us at Covington High School at 8:30 a.m. and we will go to our project areas from there. For more information, contact Grace Phelps at or gphelps_fumc@bellsouth.net.

6 Page 6 THE FOCUS 10/15/2014 BIRTHDAYS OCTOBER 15 TO OCTOBER 31 October 15 October 16 October 17 October 18 October 19 Hudson Freeman Katie Saunders Candace Cook Gwen Glass Aiden Sprenkle Gil Erwin Ferd Fisher III Aiden German Mae Belle Wright Preston Wright Mary Ruth Young Clara Nell Williams Chris Gangaware October 22 October 23 October 24 October 26 October 27 October 29 October 30 October 31 Peggy Miller Jeffrey Bryant Drew Shelley Shirley Hensley Rebecca McDowell C.H. Sullivan Owen Hughes Dale Byrd Molly Flanagan Kendall Jackson Susan Sampson STORY OF INTEREST: The decision was made that with each Samaritan and/or Round UP award, the FUMC person would offer to pray with the individual(s). In the past, if a visitor requested prayer, I would hunt up Grace, Tim or Wade. They are the ministers...now the praying responsibility is mine and it is VERY intimidating. The first praying request was made by an individual specifically for employment. Okay, managed this with minimal stammering. Several other individuals visited with me in the meantime and the ability to pray with the visitors has become easier. So early this week, Grace was tied up and there was a repeating visitor seeking assistance. I said a personal prayer of my own and went out to greet this individual. I know that he has had many mental health episodes, homelessness, and so much more. So after completing the paperwork (and FUMC helped with his Covington Electric issues), I asked the gentleman if we could pray together before he left. He responded yes. Now the pressure is really on and I m stammering. With God given words, I asked him if he had a specific prayer. His response was a prayer of thanksgiving. His daughter is graduating from college in December with the ROTC s help and will join the military service in January. The reason he was financially short this month was helping his daughter with a car repair. What a joy it was to be able to pray for this wonderful accomplishment. This gave this individual something to be proud of and share good news with me. Now that a few days have lapsed, I realize I would have missed this blessing without the power of prayer. Thank you. Holley

7 10/15/2014 THE FOCUS Page 7 SEEKING PAID NURSERY WORKER The very best feeling in the world is to have a baby fall asleep in your arms. Some of our great volunteers get the chance to be around the babies and toddlers in our nursery. The Children and Nursery Department is looking for a permanent, paid person to supplement volunteers each Sunday. This person must be 18 or older, able to work Sunday mornings, Wednesday nights and other opportunities such as Bible studies, church meetings, and/or practices, which could be days or evenings. There could be two or more people to fill this opening. Applications are available from the church office and online at If you have questions, please contact Sandy Burgess at or sburgess_fumc@att.net. Workers MorningSong October 19 Brenda Moss and Gil Erwin October 26 Faye Beckett and Mackenzie Howard Traditional Service October 19 Brenda Wrather and Stefanie Beasley October 26 Charlotte Quinley and Ben Brasfield PARENT S NIGHT OUT Twenty-three children, youth and adults enjoyed Parent s Night Out, Friday, October 3rd. Everyone enjoyed an evening of games, crafts, food and fun! WORKERS MorningSong October 19 Sheri Gilbreath and Molly Turner October 26 Shellie Hendren and Meredith Owen Traditional Service October 19 Kacee McCalla and Leah Beasley October 26 Christal Fisher and Amanda Phillips

8 Page 8 THE FOCUS 10/15/2014 ATTENDANCE AND GIVING October 5, 2014 MorningSong - Sunday School - Traditional Worship - Bread of Life Worship - MorningSong Offering - Traditional Worship Offering $4, $7, October 12, 2014 Morning Song - Sunday School - Traditional Worship - Bread of Life Worship - Morning Song Offering - Traditional Worship Offering $4, $3,067.00

9 10/15/2014 THE FOCUS Page 9 SAMARITAN FUND 2014 TOTALS September 19 through October 10, 2014 # of Amount Type of Assistance Awards 0 0 Bus Ticket 0 0 Food 13 6 $ $ Lodging 01 $ Miscellaneous 2 $ $ Rent $ $ Utilities 41 $ $25.00 Vehicle Gas $1, $1, Totals # of Awards January 1, 2014 to Date Amount Type of Assistance 1 $ Bus Ticket 8 $ Food 139 $8, Lodging 7 $ Miscellaneous 35 $1, Rent 266 $14, Utilities 25 $ Vehicle Gas 481 $25, Totals Children: 33 Senior Adults: 1 Adults: 29 Total Individuals: 63 Fixed Income: 8 Lost Jobs: 6 AS OF OCTOBER 14, 2014 Children: Senior Adults: Adults: Total Individuals: Fixed Income: Lost Jobs: Samaritan Balance: -$2.91 ROUND-UP UTILITY ASSISTANCE REPORT September 19 through October 10, 2014: 16 households were interviewed: CES: Approved 4 households totaling $ Declined 12 households totaling $1, CGWS: Approved 3 households totaling $ Declined 2 households totaling $ COMMUNION OFFERING The communion offering from October 5th was designated to Reelfoot Rural Ministries. Your generous donations, in the amount of $750.05, will help this agency provide services for low income families, children and senior citizens. Reelfoot Rural Ministries serves a four-county area in rural northwest Tennessee.

10 Page 10 THE FOCUS 10/15/2014 MEMORIALS AND TRIBUTES In Memory of Davie Peeler Good Samaritan Fund by Jim and Elizabeth Baddour Good Samaritan Fund by Friends at Patriot Bank Good Samaritan Fund Ronald and Melba Howard Good Samaritan Fund by Donna Jones Good Samaritan Fund by Curtis and Geraldean Person Good Samaritan Fund by John Nick and Marla Phillips Good Samaritan Fund by James and Beverly Smith Good Samaritan Fund by Stephen and Kaye Smith Bread of Life Food Pantry Fund by W. C. and Eleanor Whitesides In Memory of Ron Leyvas Father Good Samaritan Fund Michael and Hope Turner In Memory of Eugene McDaniel Good Samaritan Fund by The Hope Sunday School Class, FUMC In Memory of Russell Phelps Good Samaritan Fund by Bill and Nancy Peeler NOTE OF THANKS: The Peeler Family has recently been the recipient of our church family s loving care and concern in our time of sorrow. For the privilege of being a part of this family of God s children, we give thanks. For the funeral service offered by our minister, we give thanks. For the prayers offered by you, we give thanks. For the glory of songs that were sung, we give thanks. Thanks be to God, The Peeler Family CHARGE CONFERENCE Sunday, November 9th 11:00 a.m. Worship Bread for the Journey Devotions available from ushers or on our website WORSHIP BROADCASTS Live radio broadcast of the Traditional Worship on WKBL AM 11 a.m. Delayed broadcast of the Traditional Worship on KBJ Cable TV, Channel 5 (city) and 19 (county) - Sundays at 1:00 p.m.; Tuesdays at 12 Noon. MorningSong broadcast is on Mondays at 6:00 p.m. Also, live streaming of the traditional service is available at as well as streaming of past services, at any time.

11 10/15/2014 THE FOCUS Page 11 PRAYER REQUESTS Nina Anderson Donna Beard Blake Becton James Boyd Tom Bready Shirley Bready Terry Clay (husband of Rev. Sandra Clay) Monte Connell Bo Cranford Paul Crotty Deb David Amy Powell Dougherty John Forrest Douglas Mike Fleming Lillie Mae Glass Rebecca Harrison Bob Hensley Susan Huffman Carole Hughey Ricky Hunt Greg Knox Mary Levesque Lori Butler Lindley Nancy Lindsey Peggy Massey Edith McBride James Neely Rachel Neely Lauren Smith Leslie Trumbo Jimmy Turner Camille Whitley Jo Wigington Debbie Wilson Kent Wingate Martha Yarbrough CONDOLENCES Condolences to the family of Phillip Newman. He passed away October 9, 2014 after a long battle with cancer. Phillip was C.H. Sullivan s uncle. C.H. and Staci s home address is 505 South College, Covington Condolences to the family of Landon Yarbrough who passed away October 11, He was the owner of Maley-Yarbrough Funeral Home and Covington Memorial Gardens. Please keep his family, Leonard, Brenda, Allie, Houston and Ginny Moss in your prayers. Leonard, Brenda and Allie s address is 2152 Melrose Road, Brighton, Houston and Ginny s address is 2655 Hwy. 59 West, Covington, CONGREGATIONAL CARE SILVER LINK TEAM The Congregational Care Silver Link Team focus their care ministry on homebound and senior members of the church. If you know someone that you would like them to visit, please contact Faye Beckett at or fbeckett_fumc@att.net. COUNSELING Counseling is available for individuals or couples. Fees are based on ability to pay. Faye Beckett, D.C.C. Doctorate in Christian Counseling, Master of Science in Psychology. For an appt. call the FUMC office , ext. 19. Cindy Pease, M.H.S.P., Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified. For an appt. call the FUMC office , ext.18.

12 Page 12 THE FOCUS FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Traditional Worship 11:00 a.m. Morning Song SERVICE OF PRAISE 8:30 A.M. AT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTER UPPER ROOM PRAYER SCHEDULE October 19 MorningSong Service Elizabeth Posey October 26 MorningSong Service Ray and Janice Newbill November 2 MorningSong Service Frank and Barbra Racy Traditional Service Arnold Bull Tom Rogers Traditional Service Cathy Adams David and Tobie Smith Traditional Service Skip and Kendy Erwin OCTOBER 15, 2014 MISSION STATEMENT OF FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH A BIWEEKLY PUBLICATION OF FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH HURCH ST. 145 W. CHURCHC COVINGTON,, TN (901) Leading Others to Christ, Learning to Be Disciples, Loving through Service. WEBSI TE: NGT ONFUM C.COM CO VI NGTONFUM C@ATT.NET