FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Covington, TN

Transcription

1 FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Covington, TN September 27, 2017 A Bi-Monthly Publication On Baptism I ve often been asked why we christen infants in the United Methodist Church? Truth be told, we don t. We baptize them. I grew up in a tradition which emphasized something known as believer s baptism. In other words, a young person waited until they felt they were old enough (usually eleven or twelve years of age) to make a decision for themselves accepting Christ as Lord and Savior. Baptism was the culminating and dramatic event which signified full church membership. There was much good about that process. It certainly caused a young person to grapple with important questions for themselves. To try and understand deep meanings. However, I wonder if any of us can fully understand what is happening in the mysterious sacrament of baptism? We Methodists baptize infants in the ancient tradition of the Church. We believe baptism (whether it be of an infant, a toddler, an adolescent or a grandparent) is the celebration of that grace which surrounds us and ushers us into the Christian life. We term such grace prevenient grace. God through this community called the Church is always at work teaching, actively loving, correcting and modeling what it means to be Christian and baptism ushers us into the community. Baptism symbolizes the faithful work of the community and begins a lifelong journey of salvation for the one who is receiving the sacrament. Henri Nouwen s words are most helpful: When parents have their children baptized they indicate their desire to have the children grow up and live as children of God and brothers or sisters of Jesus, and be guided by the Holy Spirit. Through birth a child is given to parents; through baptism the parents acknowledge that their parenthood is a participation in God s parenthood, that all fatherhood and motherhood comes from God. Thus, baptism frees the parents from a sense of owning their children. Children belong to God and are given to the parents to love and care for in God s name. It is the parent s vocation to welcome their children as honored guests in their home and bring them to the physical, emotional, and spiritual freedom that enables them to leave home and become parents themselves. Baptism reminds parents of this vocation and sets children on the path to freedom. I ve found that one of the best ways for the Church to be the Church is to talk with young parents about baptism. Perhaps you know someone who would want to have this conversation? Feel free to share this article with them and/or encourage them to give me a call. If you don t have it, my cellphone number is (731) May God bless and keep you, Pastor Dan Pastoral Staff Rev. Dan Camp Senior Pastor dcamp@covingtonfumc.com Care Staff Dr. Faye Beckett Congregational Care ftrumbo@att.net Kendy Erwin Hospitality Care kerwin1962@att.net Outreach Staff Liz Newman Director of Outreach ewnewman2@gmail.com Program Staff Andrew Davis Youth Ministries ajdavis915@gmail.com Dr. Bonnie Wright Director of Music bwright@tipton-county.com Office Support Staff Sandy Burgess Administrative Assistant sburgess@covingtonfumc.com Holley Mills Morris Business Administrator hmmorris@covingtonfumc.com Musician Justin Hanson, Organist Facilities Rebecca Paris Custodian Kenny Summers Maintenance F U MC Office Hours: 9: 00 a. m. - 5 :00 p. m. M ond a y-fri da y Leading Others to Christ, Learning to 1 Be Disciples, Loving through Service.

2 UMW CORNER Ruth Circle 2 nd Monday of each month 12:00 p.m. Fellowship Hall Mary Martha Circle 2 nd Tuesday of each month 9:30 a.m. New Beginnings Classroom YOGA CLASSES Free yoga classes, provided by Michelle Tomlinson, are being offered in the Christian Life Center Monday evenings through October 23 rd (please note the new date) at 6:00 p.m. We will not have class, Monday, October 9 th. Please wear comfortable clothing and bring a mat. CANDY FOR TRUNK OR TREAT Donations of candy for trunk or treat may be brought in now through October 30 th. Collection boxes have been placed near the entrance to the Fellowship Hall and the lobby in the Christian Life Center. Trunk or Treat will be held October 31 st from 6-8 p.m. in the CLC parking lot. If you plan to distribute candy, please contact Sandy Burgess by calling the church office at or sburgess@covingtonfumc.com by October 27 th. YOUTH UPCOMING EVENTS Friday, September 29 th, there is a Covington High School home football game. FUMC is hosting the 5 th quarter event at the CLC after the game! Fifth Quarter is a youth event (an open gym activity) organized by several of the churches in Covington. Youth will be partnering with other Methodist churches in West TN for Discovery Weekend Fall Retreat, November 3-5 at First United Methodist in Martin, TN. The cost is $25 if paid in the month of September; after this the cost will be $45. Final registration deadline is October 6 th. For more information on these events, please contact Andrew Davis by ing ajdavis915@gmail.com or calling

3 NEW CLASS Are you new to the church? Do you want to know what it means to be a Methodist? Join Rev. Dan Camp for the study of Three Simple Rules: A Wesleyan Way of Living by Reuben Job. Explore three rules that have the power to change the world. This class will meet Sunday s, October 1 st -22 nd at 9:45 a.m. in the Men s Bible Class (lower level of the Sanctuary building-chapel). For more information, please contact the church office, September 28 September 29 September 30 October 2 October 3 October 4 October 5 October 6 Liz Burgess Chelsea David Billy Greggs Eddie Daniel Frank Poole Larry Anderson Don Clark Haley Henderson Rodney Hughes Keith Elzie Gena Maury Gordon Stone Alexander Mitchell Jones Allen Wooten Halle Childers Jack Edwards Turner Shrum October 7 Janice Newbill October 8 Shannon Beasley Trace Griffin October 9 Murphy Jones October 10 Brenda Elzie Tami Jackson October 11 Rebecca Bridges Cathy Elam Sonny Leem October 12 Meredith Wooten October 13 Norma Beasley Bob Buxton Janet Klutts October 14 Mary Poole October 15 Katie Saunders October 16 Candace Cook Gwen Glass 3

4 CHILDREN S CHURCH WORKERS October 1 MorningSong: Laura Thornton and Jonathan Stewart Traditional Service: Kacee McCalla and Brenna Grace Lockhart October 8 MorningSong: Volunteers Needed Traditional Service: Volunteers Needed NURSERY WORKERS October 1 MorningSong: Joey Caldwell Traditional Service: Volunteers Needed October 8 MorningSong: Neely Turner Traditional Service: JoAnne Cain Contact Liz Newman to volunteer by ing ewnewman2@gmail.com or calling UPPER ROOM PRAYER MINISTRY SCHEDULE October 1 MorningSong Service Ellen Clark Lane Clark Doris Ann Gray October 8 MorningSong Service Volunteers Needed Traditional Service Cathy Adams Traditional Service Phyllis Richmond Brenda Wrather COMMUNION OFFERING The Communion offering, Sunday, October 1 st will benefit the United Methodist Neighborhood Centers of Memphis, Inc. This organization is supported through private donations, grants and United Methodist Churches throughout the Memphis Conference. They provide childcare and outreach programs to people in South Tipton and Shelby Counties. ATTENDANCE & GIVING September 17, 2017 MorningSong Worship - Sunday School - Traditional Worship - Bread of Life Worship - MorningSong Offering - Traditional Worship Offering - September 24, 2017 MorningSong Worship - Sunday School - Traditional Worship - Bread of Life Worship - MorningSong Offering - Traditional Worship Offering $2, $6, $3, $3,

5 SAMARITAN FUND TOTALS As of September 16 through September 22, 2017 # of Awards Amount Type of Assistance 0 $ 0 Bus Ticket 0 $ 0 Food 6 $ Lodging 0 $ 0 Miscellaneous 3 $ Rent 12 $ Utilities 0 $ 0 Vehicle Gas 21 $ 1, Totals # of Awards Year-to-Date Totals Amount Type of Assistance 3 $ Bus Ticket 1 $ Food 241 $ 12, Lodging 6 $ Miscellaneous 53 $ 2, Rent 283 $ 14, Utilities 12 $ Vehicle Gas 599 $ 30, Totals Children: Senior Adults: Adults: Total Individuals: Fixed Income: Lost Jobs: Children: Senior Adults: Adults: Total Individuals: Fixed Income: Lost Jobs: , As of September 22, 2017 Samaritan Balance: $1, ROUNDUP UTILITY ASSISTANCE September 16 through September 22, Households were interviewed CES: 4 total households 3 approved totaling $ declined totaling $ CGWS: 3 total households 2 approved totaling $ declined totaling $

6 Memorials and Tributes In Memory of Bob Baskin In Memory of Sanford Blankenship In Memory of Tom Bready Landscaping Fund by Joey and Ann Caldwell Landscaping Fund by Chuck and Carla Carter Good Samaritan Fund by Skip and Kendy Erwin Good Samaritan Fund by Russell and Patsy Lindsey Choir and Worship Fund by Keith and Sandra McCalla Landscaping Fund by Nancy McKenzie Chimes Maintenance Fund by Jim and Beverly Smith Landscaping Fund by H. L. Tomlinson Good Samaritan Fund by Keith and Peggy Watson In Memory of Dot Butler Good Samaritan Fund by Suzanne Cope Good Samaritan Fund by Russell and Patsy Lindsey Christian Life Center by Stephen and Kaye Smith Good Samaritan Fund by Ted and Carolyn Turner Good Samaritan Fund by Bob Wallace In Memory of Joy Caplena Christian Life Center Fund by Stephen and Kaye Smith In Memory of Mary Carpenter Mason Initiative in Mission Fund by Wally and Sheri Burdette Good Samaritan Fund by Joey and Ann Caldwell Good Samaritan Fund by Russell and Patsy Lindsey Christian Life Center Fund by Stephen and Kaye Smith Good Samaritan Fund by Ed and Marie Timberlake Good Samaritan Fund by Tim and Kathy Wallace In Memory of Gloria Lewis In Memory of Nancy Lindsey Good Samaritan Fund by Linda Yates In Memory of Wallace Mathis Choir and Worship Fund by Leonard and Brenda Moss In Memory of James Neely In Memory of Rev. Grace Phelps Youth Fund by Dick and Donna Sherrod In Memory of Anne Tucker Good Samaritan Fund by Waymon and Naomi McDade Christian Life Center Fund by Stephen and Kaye Smith Good Samaritan Fund by Ed and Marie Timberlake Good Samaritan Fund by Ted and Carolyn Turner In Memory of Vicki Coburn Wood Be patient. God is using today's difficulties to strengthen you for tomorrow. He is equipping you. The God who makes things grow will help you bear fruit. -Max Lucado 6

7 Condolences to the families of: Jimmy Turner Gene Walton Other Requests: Billy Anderson Donna Beard Faye Beckett Joe Campodonico Amber Corbitt Cimadevilla Kristi Escue Cassie Evans Lauren Gilliland Gwen Glass Charles Gray M.B. Howard Jackson Hughey Teena Jacobs Janet Klutts Bernie Liles Lori Butler Lindley Donna Luckey Peggy Massey Gary Miller Charlie Moss Shannon Reed Nan Sanders BJ Smith Jim Smith Maurice Smith Daniel Stock Jacob Stock Joyce Stottlemyer Susan Turner Bart White Everett Williams Dr. Barney Witherington III Mae Belle Wright SAMARITAN STORY FROM HOLLEY MORRIS As I prepare this report for your review, the Methodist Presbyterian Nursery School children are on the playground having a wonderful time in the sunshine and warm temperatures. The sounds are fantastic. Earlier this week met with a young man who stated he had just received his two year old son, Dakota, from children services earlier in the week. Stated the child had been abused while in the child s mother s care. The young father briefly described details regarding his son s injuries and neglect. I must admit, it was so painful to hear the details to this precious child. Dakota still had remnants of the abuse on his body but his spirit was amazing. He walked all around the church just jabbering about everything. He was very occupied with the credenza doors and laughed at his success with the doors. Just a precious child of God. Request your prayers for Dakota and his future. Thank you for your Samaritan gifts to make their lives better. And I am so thankful for the services (and sounds) of the MPNS which provides a safe and loving environment to our children. COUNSELING Faye Beckett, D.C.C. Doctorate in Christian Counseling. For appointments call the Counseling Ministry: Empowering others to reach their God given purpose. Cindy Pease, M.H.S.P., Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified. For appointments call the FUMC office , ext. 17. Counseling is available for individuals, couples or families. Fees are based on ability to pay. 7

8 WORSHIP BROADCASTS Live radio broadcast of the Traditional Worship on WKBL AM 11 a.m. Live streaming of the traditional service is available at Traditional services are also archived at our website and can be viewed online anytime. WORSHIP TIMES MorningSong Service Sundays at 8:30 a.m. Christian Life Center Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Traditional Service Sundays at 11:00 a.m. Sanctuary A Heartfelt Thanks! Thanks to everyone that helped us make the God stories a success! A special thanks to Derek & Amy Baltimore, David & Mae Belle Wright, Susan Turner, and Sue Jones. Thanks also to all of you who even considered sharing your stories when we asked. A special thanks to Dan Camp and Sandy Burgess for helping to facilitate the process, and to Andrew Davis without whom it would not have happened. What started as an assignment for our Generative Leadership Academy turned into precious times of sharing that we hope created closer connections within our church. What's your story?! Blessings, Tom & Lisa Rogers First United Methodist Church 145 W. Church Avenue Covington, TN Phone: Fax: covingtonfumc@covingtonfumc.com Website: Facebook: Twitter: twitter.com/fumccovington 8