The Messenger. KINGDOMTIDE...the season of the Christian year where we learn more about God s kingdom and our place in it.

Transcription

1 The Messenger Quitman, Texas Transforming God s Children Into Disciples Sptember, 2014 KINGDOMTIDE...the season of the Christian year where we learn more about God s kingdom and our place in it. Vibrant Church Initiative!!! Two of the basic committees have already met and have begun making plans for enhancing our church communications and deciding on the vision that we want others to know about. As soon as the Vision Committee reports to the Council in late September, the Communications Committee will begin formatting the vision statement into every segment of the church s expression to our community. We will enhance the web site (fumcquitman.org), the monthly newsletter, the weekly bulletins, the signage on the highways, the ads in our local newspaper, and much, much more. The VCI teams will be published in the church bulletins so that you may contact them with ideas you might share with the. Everyone is involved because we hope to make the church great for Christ! Editorial Jesus told a parable with a very burning question When did we see you hungry? His answer was, Inasmuch as you did it unto the least of these, my brothers, you did it unto Me. Three ministries in our church that help us answer this disturbing question are (1) Serving at the the East Texas Food Bank in Tyler for the Backpack Program, (2) Using JOY Hall each 2nd Friday for food distribution to the community, and (3) Administering food collection and distribution at the Christmas Sharing Food Bank twice a week. Volunteers are always needed in these enterprises. Should you want to help please contact Ronnie Vance for the ETXFBANK, Rita Johns for the Christmas Sharing Food Bank, and Becky Wimp for the 2nd Fri. food distribution. We all can t do everything, but each of us can do something to benefit those whom Christ has bidden us to help. Make a renewed commitment to be about our Father s business. Bill Hedges, Ed. VCI TIMELINES September-October Conduct Leadership/Staffing Audit Develop Aligned Job Descriptions Implementing Staffing Changes Develop Communication Plan Bridging to the Community

2 A note from our Youth Director Dear Church Family, It was not long ago that we lost a beloved actor in Robin Williams. He was a man that brought joy into the lives of many, executed a wide variety of roles perfectly, and supplied us with a great number of quotes over the years; one of my personal favorites coming from the movie Dead Poet s Society in which he inspired his students with a passage from Whitman which ends by asking them, What will your verse be? As followers of Christ it is important to consider what our verse will be. Will we be remembered as funny, caring, intelligent, or perhaps even as a role model? There are many ways to be remembered but as Christians we ought to strive to be thought of as is someone who Served the LORD, as is our calling. This week as you go out I encourage you to think about your legacy as I ask you, What will your verse be? Grace and Peace, Taylor Ory Page 2 AUGUST USHERS 8:30 a.m. Service Mike/Tammy Gilmore Annette Wilbourn 11:00 am Service David Simpkins (Leader) ( ) Greg Taylor Brad von Ryn Bryon O Neal John Stone ANYONE INTERESTED IN BECOMING AN USHER? We are always looking to add members to our usher teams to ensure we have adequate coverage at each service. If you are interested in joining us, please contact Darrell or Debby Slabaugh, East Texas Senior Box Program The Open Door Class will be opening and closing JOY Hall on the second Friday of September. The hours for food pickup is from 9:30-12:00. East Texas Food Bank personnel will organize and administer the program. Intercessory Prayers for: Louise Hines, Grace Trieb, Margaret DeArmond., Nelda Dodd, Vera Logan, Hugh and Arlene Donaldson, Dee Hurley 5:15pm 6:00pm Wednesday Night Live Starting back Wednesday, September 10th Meal Classes for all ages (children, youth and adults) Make plans to attend and ask a friend!!! Crafty Christians First Thursday of the month 10:00 am at Liberty UMC Thursday, September 4th Thought for the month God Listens You can talk to God because God listens. Your voice matters in heaven. He takes you very seriously. When you enter His presence in prayer, He turns to you to hear your voice. No need to fear that you will be ignored. Even if you stammer or stumble, even if what you have to say impresses no one, it does impress God for He listens. He listens to the painful plea of the elderly in the rest home. He listens to the gruff confession of the death-row inmate. When the alcoholic begs for mercy, when the spouse seeks guidance, when the businessman steps off the street into a chapel, God listens. He listens intently and carefully. Max Lucado (copied)

3 Save the Date Mark your calendar Pres. John Johnson invites all men to the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 pm. Bring a dish to share for the meal. Fall Schedule Joy Ringers Rehearse 6:00-7:15pm September 11, 18, 25, October 2, 9, 16, 23 Liberty Bells Rehearse 10:30-11:30 am September 18, 25 October 2, 9. 16, 23, 30 Fall Women s Retreat Saturday November 8th In J.O.Y Hall Know someone that would be interested? Call or see JoAnn White Bible Study Opportunities ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TU Bible Study Starting September 2nd 1:30 3:00 pm in Celebration Room Every Tuesday Studying Acts using Serendipity NIV Bible Leader: Sharon Thomas Invite someone to try us out!!!!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Taste and See A Bible Study fellowship & Meal for young woman In our community Fall Schedule Sept. 14,Oct. 12, November 16, December 14 Home of Sharon Thomas 6:30 8:00 pm RSVP ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Savor the Word Bible Study Friday September 19th (Third Friday of each month) 11:00 am Lunch at the Gary s Home RSVP ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Ladies Bible Study At LIBERTY CHURCH Friday September 5th 10:00am 11:00am In Fellowship Hall Questions: Call Lenore Gasperin ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 3

4 THANKS to everyone that helped or donated to music camp! Pictured are the door to the ark, the thatched roof, Paul s prison, and the door of King David. During craft time, we painted t-shirts and stuffed critters for Operation Christmas Child, made paraments for the church altar and a stole for Dr. White. Door hangers will remind us to invite God into our hearts. Thanks especially to Becki Wimp, Teresa Fulce, Nan Vance, Darrell Gary, Taylor Ory, Gloria Jeane Rosewall, Dick & JoAn White for leading the camp. Page 4

5 Youth Mission and Mystery Trip Volunteered AT Helping Hands, Mission Waco And ended the trip with a fun visit to Cowboy Stadium tour. Page 5

6 Thank You Notes Operation Christmas Child News Peyton Kruchner invited friends and family to her Birthday Party. She wanted the guests to bring gifts for Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box gifts not for her. She will donate all the gifts she received to OCC Packing Party, Wednesday, November 5 at FUMC. The children receiving shoe box gifts with the gifts Peyton has donated will have smiles of Thank you. The month of September we will collect small toys for the Packing Thank You Church Family for all the cards and prayers you sent our way after my Mom Dorthy Waythe passed away. Your love and support meant a lot. Vicky Selman and Family Dear precious members of my church: What a blessing you are to our school and this community. You are an example of hands and feet working for our Savior. Thank you for your support. Thanks for your prayers. Thanks for your love overflowing. Mary Ann Nichols Thank you all so much for the wonderful and delicious breakfast you provided for us. It was enjoyed and greatly appreciated by all. Thanks, Quitman High School Faculty and Staff Dear First United Methodist Church: I am writing to thank you for your generous $500 Ed and Grace Trieb Eagle Scout Endowment scholarship. Having know Mr. Trieb and his support of scouting, I feel honored to be a recipient of this award.. For many years I have been interested in the medical field, as well as the engineering field. Because of that, I have decided to pursue a degree in Biomedical Engineering. I will begin by working to achieve a Bachelor s Degree in Industrial Engineering. After my Bachelor's Degree, I will choose a biomedical specialty and further my education to earn my Master s Degree. By awarding me the Ed and Grace Trieb Scout Endowment scholarship, you have lightened my financial burden which allows me to focus on my education. Thanks to Scouting and your generosity, I am one step closer to my goal. Sincerely, Sam Brinlee. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Church Family, You have blessed me in so many ways. Thank you for prayers, gifts and support during the illiness of my farther, surgeries, church choir and youth events. Thank you for honoring me with the two scholarships, FUMC and John Savage so that I can go to TJC to continue my education and my future. With God s guidance and my church family I can go out and face the path the Lord is leading me to. Thank you and I will miss you all dearly. Pete O Neal ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Church, I want to take the time to thank you again for supporting my college career with the eagle scout scholarship. Your continuing support now and throughout the years has lead me to experiences that I would not have had otherwise, God Bless! Alston Johnson ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ First United Methodist, We are so thankful for the children s table Ms. Chewing has brought into the center. We recently opened up the play therapy room again. More and more children are needing counseling so this table works great for what we do. Thank everyone for this donation; its going to bring so much help. God bless each of you and your families for caring for the children we serve. Northeast Texas Child Advocacy Center Page 6

7 LIBERTY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH : AN OLD CHURCH WITH A STRONG HEART Lines from Liberty We are never prepared for the loss of a loved one, a good friend. With great sadness, we give our condolences to the Dopson family as we mourn the sudden passing of James Dee Dopson on August 5. James was a friend to us all, a Trustee of the Church, a member of Sunday School, a good husband, a good father, and a good man. On another fine morning, I found myself eagerly looking forward to the coming Sunday and another day at Church. A good feeling, but where does it come from? Am I looking forward to being closer to God? Am I just looking forward to seeing my friends again? Is it because it is a pleasant place to be? Could it just be because it is expected of me? Each of us must answer these questions for ourselves. Assuming that God assisted us and approves of developments, I have to say that Liberty UMC is doing very well in Attendance is way up, finances are good, Youth Sunday School is thriving, we now have a Choir led by Charles Long, and there is excitement everywhere. Oh yes, we mustn t forget that we have an excellent Pastor too! The Church Directory is being printed by Lifetouch now. No specific word yet as to when we can expect them but it should be soon. The Council has selected October 26 as the date for our Autumn Hay Ride. Preparations are ongoing for the Trunk or Treat event in Quitman at Halloween presented by First UMC. The 2014 Charge Conference is coming in November. Pastor Dick and Jo Ann White are presently on vacation on an Alaskan Cruise ship. They wisely chose to do this during the very hottest days for us here in East Texas. In Pastor Dick s absence, Pastor Bill Hedges will tell us about JESUS and His Love for a couple of Sundays. Of course, Pastor Bill was our own Liberty pastor way back in 1986 and for a few years afterward. In fact, he was the originator of our Easter Sunrise Service! In Sympathy. We love the Dopson family. Rev. Robert Young had a slight relapse in his medical problems and was back in a Tyler hospital for a few days but is improving rapidly. Rubye Kindsvater has not been well but is at home. Lewis Swann was briefly hospitalized in Quitman but is now back at The Heritage. Stuart Boswank overturned a four-wheeler on Aug 21 but sustained (we hope) only minor injuries. A Thought for October Most of us are mature adults now and I must ask; Did time move more slowly when we were young? It surely seems to move quickly now as we are already nearing the end of the year! Thanksgiving and Christmas will occupy us soon and newly elected 2015 Officers of Liberty Church will take their positions in January. I refuse to even think further about 2015 yet as there are probably a lot of wonderful happenings yet to occur this year! Page 7

8 SEPTEMBER,2014 (L)- Liberty UMC 3- Susan Kincaid Elizabeth McAlister Billie Kleebauer Penny Peek 4 Keith Zimmerman Ellie Powell Trey Neighbors Ann Steinberg (L) Steve Straznicky 5- Ann Crawford Louann Warford Wally Bradfield 7- Joe Fitzgerald 8- Rebecca Wimp Bill Bennett 9- Linda Patterson 10- Nancy Sague (L) 11- Joanne Terry 12- Mattison Smith (L) 13- Stella Straznicky 14- Waymon Ragsdale Marcia Chewning Jane Herring 15- Jason Paul Sims 17- Sharon Thomas Wayne Lapsley 18- Barbara Gasper Cary Bargas 19- Hayden Breding Bill Hedges 20- Pete O Neal 21- Kathy Pickel Livvie Asmussen Traci Jackson 22- Cliff Anderson Bobbi Gyorfy (L) Lauren Dunn Backer Ronny Taylor (L) 23 Becky McPherson 25- Rita Johns 27- Deena Eberhart 28- Jane Bardwell First United Methodist Church P O Box 1643 Quitman, TX First United Methodist Church 406 E. Lane Street Early Worship 8:30 am Sunday School 9:45 am Worship 11:00 am Youth 4:30 pm Liberty United Methodist Church 2581 E. Hwy Sunday School 8:30am Worship 9:30 am Sunday School 10:45 am HAVE YOU MOVED OR HAVE A NEW PHONE NO? If so, please contact the church secretary so she can update her records. Call her at Non-Profit Org. US Postage Paid Permit No. 14 Quitman, TX Come before the Lord with thanksgiving.