P. 3 APRIL 22 - MAY VOLUME 198 ISSUE 8

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1 P. 3 SPECIAL COMBINED SERVICE ON MAY 6 AT 11:00am Come be a part of the of the combined worship service on May 6 as we give glory to God and celebrate that the church has paid off the mortgage of the Perry Home/Wesley Abbey and is now debt free! APRIL 22 - MAY VOLUME 198 ISSUE 8

2 How Your Faith Has Impacted My Life Almost ten years ago this congregation, under the leadership of Dr. Wesley Wachob, made a big decision. You decided to look towards the future, step out in faith, and expanded the ministries of First United Methodist Church of Pensacola by beginning the Perry Home/Wesley Abbey project. This was no small task. In addition to purchasing this historic home and attached building from the Scottish Rite Masons, the church beautifully remodeled and outfitted these spaces for ministry, and launched a fourth Sunday morning worship service in January 2009 called ICON. It is not an overstatement to say that my life has been changed because of the decisions this church made ten years ago. After joining the church in June, I was hired in November of 2008 to help with some of these expanded ministries made possible by the purchase of the Governor Perry Home and Wesley Abbey, such as the ICON service and the addition of a communications department. When I first arrived at this church I knew I had found a home. What I found as a member and as a staff person was a family of faith full of people who love God, care for one another, and serve their community. Your faith has impacted my faith. This church has taught me what it means to be a follower of Christ. I am thankful that God brought me to First Church and I am thankful that you had the faith to hear God s call and expand the ministries of this great church. My story is not unique. Hundreds of others are a part of the First Church family today because of the vision, faith, and sacrificial giving of so many during these past ten years. As the Creative Director at First Church, I am often asked What makes First Church different? Why does this downtown church continue to thrive? My answer is always the same the people. This congregation is not afraid to step out in faith. This congregation has such an important and influential history, but we don t stop there. We are a church that is active in the present. We worship God, and then we stand up, leave our pews, and go serve our fellow brothers and sisters. But we don t stop there either. We continue to look towards the future. We look for areas and opportunities to expanded our ministry. We look for creative ways to share the transformative message of the Gospel to future generations. What an exciting place to be involved in ministry! I hope that you will attend the special combined service on May 6 at 11:00am in Wesley Abbey to celebrate that the church has paid off the mortgage of the Perry Home/Wesley Abbey and is now debt free! This Service for the Dedication of a Church Building Free of Debt, will be a great celebration as we give glory to God. (You may read more about the combined service on page 3 in this edition of The Methodist Witness.) During the service a short video will be shown which will include a brief history of the Perry Home and Wesley Abbey including some before and after photos during the renovations. The video will also highlight some of the expanded ministries added during the past 10 years. You will also hear other stories, just like mine, of people who are here today because of your faith. I am very much looking forward to this service and hope to see you there. Thanks for having the faith to do great things. My life will never be the same. Jeb Hunt Creative Director On this Sunday, April 22, 2018 we will acknowledge and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the formation of The United Methodist Church, which was officially formed at the Uniting Conference on April 23, This conference merged the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church and formed what we are today, The United Methodist Church. Learn more about this anniversary at umc.org/umc50. 2 APRIL 22 - MAY VOLUME 198 ISSUE 8

3 COMBINED Service MAY 6 11:00am WESLEY ABBEY Please note that the 8:00 & 9:30am Services will still take place. EVENTS Service for the Dedication of a Church Building Free of Debt You are invited to be a part of a service and celebration ten years in the making! On Sunday, May 6, we will combine the 11:00am Traditional service and the ICON service at 11:00am and worship together to celebrate that the church has paid off the mortgage of the Perry Home/Wesley Abbey and is now debt free! This Service for the Dedication of a Church Building Free of Debt, which is outlined in the Book of Worship, will be a great celebration, giving glory to God. At this service we will pray that God will continue to use this space for the worship of God, preaching of the everlasting gospel, and for the celebration of the Holy Sacraments. We will pray that it will continue to be a place where those who mourn are comforted, a place where those who are tempted will be strengthened, and a place that shines a light for years to come. Part of the service will include the official dedication of the Perry Home and Wesley Abbey. Our Senior Pastor, Dr. Wachob, whose leadership guided us in the purchase of this building, will burn the mortgage and preach the sermon in this hour of great celebration. The service will include music by Rick and Heidi Branch, the youth choir, Jeb Hunt, and the ICON Praise Band. A video summarizing the Wesley Abbey/Perry Home project will also be shown. Please note that the 8:00am and 9:30am Main Sanctuary services will still take place on May 6. On October 14, 2008, exactly 100 years after the cornerstone of our Main Sanctuary at Wright and Palafox was laid on October 14, 1908, we consecrated the beginning of the Perry Home/Wesley Abbey project. At this service, we prayed that God would make the Perry Home and Wesley Abbey a place of praise, prayer, and continued ministry to the church and the world. Now ten years later, we celebrate the lives that have been touched through the expanded ministries made available by the congregation stepping out in faith and rejoice in God s faithfulness in completing the work started. The Perry Home/Wesley Abbey project was made possible because of the faith and sacrificial gifts of many in our congregation over the past ten years, including the gift from Bill and Kitty Weatherford. Come join us for this joyous celebration as we say thank you and honor God on May 6 at 11:00am in Wesley Abbey! FUMCPensacola.com 3

4 EVENTS MISSIONS & OUTREACH At First Church we strive to be the hands and feet of Christ through missions and outreach. Through acts of compassion, volunteering, and missional giving, we strive to make a positive difference in our community and around the world. In 2018 we are having a concentrated focus on Missions and Outreach. Each month of 2018 will have its own missions focus that we ll discuss in worship, classes, and special media. Each focus will also include its own calls to action. Come be a part of what God is doing here at First Church, and let s worship God in the new year by loving our neighbors through missions. MAY FOCUS Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference Mission Projects In addition to the internal missions of our conference, the Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference is in partnership with nine mission agencies across the Alabama-West Florida area. As a local church, we have the responsibility to support these agencies. Two of these ministries, Milk and Honey Outreach Ministries and Pensacola United Methodist Community Ministries impact our area directly and are located close to home. While all of these ministries could use financial support, there are many ways to be involved. The nine mission agencies include Alabama Rural Ministry (Lee, Sumter, Macon Counties), The Ark (Panama City), Communities of Transformation (multiple locations), Dumas Wesley Community Center (Mobile), Inner City Mission (Mobile), Mary Ellen s Hearth (Montgomery), Milk and Honey Outreach Ministries (Pensacola), Pensacola United Methodist Community Ministries (Pensacola), and QuadW Missional Internship (multiple locations). CALL TO ACTION In addition to supporting the nine mission agencies across our conference (and specifically those in our district: Pensacola United Methodist Community Ministries and Milk and Honey Outreach Ministries), the conference-wide mission project this year is to collect and send UMCOR kits to the annual conference meeting the first week of June. We will be sending all the kits we collected during our March call-to-action, but invite the congregation to continue making kits to send to conference. Lists of needed items for each kit are available in the church office and outside the Main Sanctuary. As an added variation from previous years collections, the conference is also asking each district to bring individual items for the hygiene and school kits. Our district is asked to bring erasers for school kits (2 inch or larger size) and combs for the hygiene kits. The combs should be sturdy and longer than 6 inches long. No pocket combs or picks please. Rattail combs and combs without handles are acceptable with a minimum of 6 inches of teeth. MAY JUNE International Missions The United Methodist Church is a global church and we desire to serve in missions to equip and transform people and places for God s mission around the world. In addition to supporting international missions through connectional giving and United Methodist programs, such as UMCOR, the church also contributes and supports international missions organizations such as Future 4 Haiti and Bahamas Methodist Habitat, and organizes an annual international mission trip giving the congregation the opportunity to serve alongside our brothers and sisters around the world. JULY UMW Related Missions Mission and Outreach is at the heart of the ministry of The United Methodist Women (UMW) at First Church. The United Methodist Women is a community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church. In addition to raising money, and being actively involved in all mission areas of the church, the UMW also runs Suit Yourself, a clothes closet for women in need who are retuning to work. 4 APRIL 22 - MAY VOLUME 198 ISSUE 8

5 CONFIRMATION [ THE BASICS ] EVENTS Confirmation is a sacred day of commitment and celebration in the life of an individual and the church. Although confirmation is not a sacrament in The United Methodist Church, it is an important marker along our spiritual journeys. It is the continuation of one s faith journey, a journey begun at baptism, and the beginning of one s covenant relationship with the church, not an end unto itself. Beginning in January, our ministers and staff spend time instructing and answering questions from the confirmands. Topics include the sacraments, worship, missions, the Bible, the creeds, the Holy Spirit, and the history of our church. Because our journey in the Christian faith is not intended to be a solo venture, throughout the comfirmation service there are places for the congregation to participate. We renew our baptism vows, profess our faith together with the confirmands, promise to do all in our power to support these newest professing members, and with them renew our covenant to be the body of Christ for the world. MARK YOUR CALENDARS 6TH GRADE CONFIRMATION REHEARSAL April 21 9:00am The Wright Place 6TH GRADE CONFIRMATION April 22 11:00am Main Sanctuary REGISTRATION BEGINS APRIL 29 FUMCPensacola.com 5

6 ANNOUNCEMENTS WHAT'S HAPPENING FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CHURCH - WIDE 2018 PENSACOLA TRIATHLON Sunday, April 29 Please be aware that the Pensacola Triathlon is taking place on April 29 from 6:45-11:45am causing some road closures in downtown Pensacola, Scenic Hwy. and Cordova Park. Visit tripensacola.com for more information about how this might impact your drive to church YEAR OF MISSIONS Contact: Rev. Brandon Bures BBures@FUMCPensacola.com SERVING THE HUNGRY Serving the Hungry ministry is no longer in need of medicine bottles. There is a need for grocery bags and gently used backpacks. SUIT YOURSELF Suit Yourself continues weekly to help women in our community to dress for success. We couldn t do it without you. Thank you for your support. To donate please contact Jeanne Royal at To find out how you can volunteer & make a difference in someone s life, please call Anne Aldridge at CHILDREN & FAMILY Contact: Lisa Bond LBond@FUMCPensacola.com VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL June :00am - Noon Rolling River Rampage - Experience the Ride of a Lifetime with God! Registration begins April 29. We are in need of decorating items. Please note, these items will be returned to their owners at the end of Vacation Bible School. We need Unlit Christmas Tees (assorted sizes), Kayak Paddles, Rafts and Innertubes, and Pop-up Tents. CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Contact: Lisa Bond LBond@FUMCPensacola.com SENIOR PASTOR S BIBLE STUDY Wednesdays 6:00pm Wesley Abbey The Beginner s Guide to the New Testament, will run through May 30. SUMMERTIME SESSIONS Wednesday Nights, Starting May 30 This Summer we invite all ages to join us for our weekly family dinner and fellowship. We have something planned for everyone. More information to come. NEW WOMEN S COMMUNITY GROUP Mondays 5:30-6:30pm Perry Home If you are looking for a group to connect and share with, please contact Lisa Bond at lbond@fumcpensacola.com. CONFERENCE - WIDE MEANS OF GRACE A Quarterly Day Apart for Spiritual Formation Fasting & Holy Living May 19 9:00am 4:00pm Blue Lake $40.00 Join us this quarter for speaker Roger Short. Each day you will experience spiritual practices to tend your soul and grow in relationship with God, self, and others. There will be a gentle rhythm to the day - times for worship, group learning and discussion facilitated by spiritual directors from our conference, and personal solitude. The sessions stand alone you may attend any or all. Register online at awf-reg.brtapp.com/ MeansofGraceSession4. FIFTY FORWARD Contact: Debra Tallman DTallman@FUMCPensacola.com SILVER AND GOLD April 26 10:30am The Wright Place $5.00/person Join us for this month s Silver and Gold with a special program by Gulf Coast Chorale. Call Church Office to sign up ( ). LUNCH OUT May 10 11:30am The Gift Horse Restaurant - Foley, AL All are welcome to join us for May s Lunch Out at The Gift Horse Restaurant in Foley, Alabama. Call the Church Office to reserve your spot ( ). FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE WRIGHT PLACE May 18 6:00-8:00pm The Wright Place Join us for Mitzi Presley and Paul Martin doing big band 40 s music! Call the Church Office to register ( ). ANNIE July 7 The Alabama Shakespeare Festival Save the date and join us this summer as we go see Annie. There are only 25 seats available and they are first come first serve. Cost is $50 and includes ticket and box lunch. Payment is required upon reservation. Call the Church Office to register ( ). 6 APRIL 22 - MAY VOLUME 198 ISSUE 8

7 SERVICE TIMES RUTH S KITCHEN Contact: Susie Schmidt SSchmidt@FUMCPensacola.com SUNDAY 8:00am, 9:30am, 11:00am & ICON AT 11:00am TWEENS Contact: Denise Van Atta DVanAtta@FUMCPensacola.com stay connected YOUTH fumcpensacola Contact: Denise Van Atta DVanAtta@FUMCPensacola.com ANNOUNCEMENTS WEDNESDAY MEALS April 25 Picadillo, Yellow Rice, Black Beans Cornbread, Salad, & Dessert May 2 Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole, Green Beans, Rolls, & Dessert MUSIC Contact: Dr. Rick Branch RBranch@FUMCPensacola.com MID HIGH AND SENIOR HIGH CHOIRS Sunday, April 22 Sing at 11:00am. Confirmation service in the Main Sanctuary. Warm up at 10:35. Sunday, May 6 Sing at 11:00am in Wesley Abbey for the Combined Service. Warm up at 10:35. Sunday, May 13 Sing at 8:00am Baccalaureate service. Warm up at 7:35. CHOIR TOUR Attendance requirements for those going on tour have officially begun! If you don t let me know BEFORE you miss a rehearsal, you ll have to make it up! SANCTUARY CHOIR Sunday, April 22 Sing at 8:00am Sunday, April 29 Sing at 11:00am Sunday, May 6 Sing at 8:00am SUMMER SPLASH June Join us June 10 - June 14 for a week of fellowship, fun, and faith formation! Summer Splash is a fun, messy, over the top, Vacation Bible School designed for students who have just completed the fifth or sixth grade. A fee of $65 per student is asked to help cover the cost of curriculum, supplies, and field trips. Fee waivers are available upon request if needed. Please contact Denise Van Atta at to learn more. Registration begins April 29. WORSHIP Contact: Dr. Rick Branch RBranch@FUMCPensacola.com USHERS NEEDED We can ALWAYS use more usher volunteers at all of our Main Sanctuary services. We especially need ushers at 11:00am on the 2nd Sunday of the month! If you are willing to usher once a month, please let Rick Branch know. By the way, ushers can be male or female, youth through older adults! PICTURE SLIDE SHOW Please 10 pictures of your senior from birth to their senior picture to Jeb Hunt at JHunt@fumcpensacola.com to be displayed digitally during the Senior Breakfast. These pictures can be any kind of picture you like, including ones with siblings, church events, goofy ones, etc. Please submit no later than April 28. SENIOR BREAKFAST Saturday, May 12 8:00am The Wright Place Formal invitations to follow. Breakfast is free to Graduating Seniors and $5 for guests. Please feel free to invite as many as you wish. Service to follow in Wesley Abbey. RSVP by May 2 to MStevenson@ fumcpensacola.com. BACCALAUREATE SERVICE Sunday, May 13 8:00am Main Sanctuary Graduating Seniors will be recognized and given Bibles at the end of the service. A representative of the class will speak at all four services. The students are asked to meet in the chapel at 7:30am in their cap and gown. MID-HIGH WEEK June Mid-High Week is a rewarding week where students who have just completed seventh or eighth grade have fun and fellowship while learning to help, serve, and live like Jesus. A fee of $65 per student is asked to help cover the cost of curriculum, supplies, and field trips. Fee waivers are available upon request, when needed. Please contact Denise Van Atta at to learn more. Registration begins April 29. FUMCPensacola.com 7

8 Six East Wright Street, Pensacola, Florida (office) (fax) inside this edition... The Methodist Witness is a biweekly newsletter published by First United Methodist Church of Pensacola. If you have information to be included in an upcoming edition, or you have any questions or comments regarding The Methodist Witness Please contact the editor. Please Note: all information to be included is subject to approval and must be submitted by the appropriate deadlines. Kelsey Seager Editor of The Methodist Witness KSeager@FUMCPensacola.com...and more.

9 WHAT'S HAPPENING FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH SUNDAY, 22 APRIL 4th Sunday after Easter 7:45 AM - 12:15 PM - Childcare Available EB 8:00 AM - Worship Service Main Sanctuary 9:00 AM - Perry Home Coffee Bar PH 9:30 AM - Worship Service Main Sanctuary 9:30 AM - Sunday School Various Locations 9:30 AM - Tour of First Church PH101 11:00 AM - ICON Worship Service WA 11:00 AM - Worship Service Main Sanctuary 4:30 PM - Club 56 HRAC/EB 4:30 PM - Sunday Night Youth Activities YMC/ ITR MONDAY, 23 APRIL 7:00 AM - Sr. High Bible Study Panera 9:30 AM - Preschool Chapel with Lisa WA 10:00 AM - Braden/Nichols UMW Group PH101 10:00 AM - Centering Prayer Community Group S120 11:00 AM - Serving The Hungry Plus MBP 4:15 PM - Hand Bells ITRH 5:30 PM - Cub Scout Pack 99 YMC 5:30 PM - Fitness and Faith Group Front Lawn 5:30 PM - WR Community Group PHP 7:00 PM - Boy Scout Troop 495 WP TUESDAY, 24 APRIL 7:30 AM - Sr. High Bible Study Bagelheads 10:00 AM - Prayer Shawl Ministry PH101 10:30 AM - FUMC Staff Meeting S117 11:45 AM - UMW Lunch Bunch PHCB 5:30 PM - Five Flags Dog Training Club FB 6:00 PM - Chick-Fil-A Leadership Event WA WEDNESDAY, 25 APRIL 7:00 AM - Joe Harrell Bible Study DH 7:30 AM - Dad s Bible Study Panera 9:00 AM - Repair and Renewal R&R Garages 10:30 AM - Women at the Well PHP 12:00 PM - Bible with Brandon DH 12:00 PM - Cantonment Rotary GH 12:00 PM - Fellowship Lunch DH 5:00 PM - Fellowship Dinner WP 5:30 PM - Five Flags Dog Training Club FB 5:45 PM - Kids Gym & Childcare Available HRAC 6:15 PM - Adult Sanctuary Choir ITRH THURSDAY, 26 APRIL 7:45 AM - Mid High Bible Study Panera 7:45 AM - Sixth Grade Bible Study Panera 9:00 AM - Yoga EB201 10:00 AM - Mom s Bible Study EB207 10:30 AM - Silver and Gold WP 11:00 AM - Serving The Hungry Plus MBP 3:15 PM - Chill Time TCBY Bayou 5:00 PM - Weight Watchers PH101 5:30 PM - CoDA Support Group FB 5:30 PM - ICON Praise Band Practice WA 6:30 PM - UMW Copeland Group Various Homes FRIDAY, 27 APRIL 4th Grade Mystery Trip 6:45 AM - Mid High Bible Study Bagelheads 6:45 AM - Sixth Grade Bible Study Bagelheads 11:00 AM - James Robert Stewart Memorial Sanctuary SATURDAY, 28 APRIL 4th Grade Mystery Trip 9:00 AM - Quilters Guild Quarterly Meeting WA 9:30 AM - CoDA Support Group FB 3:00 PM - Wedding and Reception WP CALENDAR APRIL 22 - MAY VOLUME 198 ISSUE 8 FUMCPensacola.com INSERT

10 SUNDAY, 29 APRIL 5th Sunday of Easter 4th Grade Mystery Trip 6:15 AM - Pensacola Triathlon Downtown Pensacola 7:45 AM - 12:15 PM - Childcare Available EB 8:00 AM - Worship Service Main Sanctuary 9:00 AM - Perry Home Coffee Bar PH 9:30 AM - Worship Service Main Sanctuary 9:30 AM - Sunday School Various Locations 11:00 AM - ICON Worship Service WA 11:00 AM - Worship Service Main Sanctuary 4:30 PM - Club 56 HRAC/EB 4:30 PM - Sunday Night Youth Activities YMC/ ITR MONDAY, 30 APRIL 7:00 AM - Sr. High Bible Study Panera 9:30 AM - Preschool Chapel with Lisa WA 10:00 AM - Centering Prayer Community Group S120 11:00 AM - Serving The Hungry Plus MBP 5:30 PM - Cub Scout Pack 99 YMC 5:30 PM - Fitness and Faith Group Front Lawn 5:30 PM - New Member Dinner DH 5:30 PM - WR Community Group PHP 7:00 PM - Boy Scout Troop 495 YMC TUESDAY, 01 MAY 7:30 AM - Sr. High Bible Study Bagelheads 9:30 AM - Bridge Group PHCB 10:00 AM - Prayer Shawl Ministry PH101 10:30 AM - FUMC Staff Meeting S117 5:30 PM - Five Flags Dog Training Club FB 6:00 PM - Scout Masters Meeting YMC 6:00 PM - UMW Friendship Group PH 12:00 PM - Bible with Brandon GH 12:00 PM - Fellowship Lunch DH 5:00 PM - Fellowship Dinner WP 5:30 PM - Five Flags Dog Training Club FB 5:45 PM - Kids Gym & Childcare Available HRAC 6:15 PM - Adult Sanctuary Choir ITRH THURSDAY, 03 MAY 7:45 AM - Mid High Bible Study Panera 7:45 AM - Sixth Grade Bible Study Panera 9:00 AM - Yoga EB201 10:00 AM - Study of Prayer PH101 10:00 AM - Mom s Bible Study EB207 11:00 AM - Serving The Hungry Plus MBP 5:00 PM - Weight Watchers PH101 5:30 PM - CoDA Support Group FB 5:30 PM - ICON Praise Band Practice WA FRIDAY, 04 MAY 6:45 AM - Mid High Bible Study Bagelheads 6:45 AM - Sixth Grade Bible Study Bagelheads 5:00 PM - Girls of Grace EB SATURDAY, 05 MAY 9:30 AM - CoDA Support Group FB WEDNESDAY, 02 MAY 7:00 AM - Joe Harrell Bible Study DH 7:30 AM - Dad s Bible Study Panera 9:00 AM - Repair and Renewal R&R Garages 10:30 AM - Women at the Well PHP S - Basement of Sanctuary EB - Education Building FB - Franklin Building HRAC - Henry Roberts Activities Center ITRH - Ike Terry Rehearsal Hall LEGEND JHL - Joe Harrell Library OB - Outreach Building PH - Perry Home PHCH - Coffee House WP - The Wright Place DH - Wright Place Dining Hall GH - Wright Place Great Hall WA - Wesley Abbey YB - Youth Building MBP- Miss Barbara's Place APRIL 22 - MAY VOLUME 198 ISSUE 8 FUMCPensacola.com INSERT