The Purpose of Our Church

Transcription

1 The Newsletter of the First United Methodist Church of Decatur, Alabama September 21, 2016 The Purpose of Our Church On April 12, 2016 the Council on Ministries of Decatur First United Methodist Church commissioned a study of the church s vision statement. The charge to the study group was to assess whether revisions of our current vision statement are needed in order to clarify our purpose as a church so it will serve as a clear guide to all the ministries of the church for developing ministry activities and using resources in ways that move our church forward. Our pastor recommended we use as a guide for this assessment Will Mancini s book Church Unique: How Missional Leaders Cast Vision, Capture Culture, and Create Movement. Mancini says, I wrote this book for one purpose to challenge you to find your Church Unique that is, to live a vision that creates a stunningly unique, movement-oriented church. All Council members were invited to join the study team. Four volunteered. The Purpose Study Team consisted of Maryanne Dunnivant, Ken Chandler, Beth Green, John Underwood, and Hughey Reynolds. The team met on May 4, June 1, June 22, July 13, and August 3. They brought their recommendations to the August 9 session of the Council on Ministries. The Council approved presenting the statement to the Administrative Board on September 13. The Board unanimously approved disseminating the purpose statement throughout the congregation for discussion and feedback. The purpose study group will receive feedback and address it in the final purpose statement. We will ask the Administrative Board to approve the Purpose Statement in November. As we worked our way through Church Unique, we completed the following sentence with the bulleted answers below. Our church exists to glorify God and make disciples by Serving the less fortunate. Providing leadership for the community and beyond. Using the spiritual gifts of members to build up the body of Christ. Meeting nutritional needs of our area through our garden. Offering worship services and support to church and family members in memory care. Experiencing unity and a surge in energy as we work and serve together. What is the single most important emphasis for the coming year? Equipping and deploying young men and women to be Christian leaders in their families, church, and community. Will Mancini says a unique and effective church purpose or vision is the central focal point within a vision frame. We began to construct our vision frame with our church s actual commitments. Mission = What we are doing? Serving the less fortunate at home and abroad, providing leaders for our neighborhoods and city, making disciples. Values = Why we are doing it? To use our spiritual gifts, to share ourselves with others, for church unity, to prepare the next generation of Christian leaders, to have our feet follow our money in mission, to guide families through life stages Strategies = How we are doing it? Faith Promise partnerships, church and First Grace children s ministries, Discovery Youth Weekend, The Urban Acre Community Garden, Quarterly Mission Activity, young women s Bible study, parenting classes. Measures = When are we successful? Beyond growth in ABC s (Attendance, Baptisms, Cash), more members engaged in servant leadership through community groups, a proportionate number of elected church leaders across our demographics, a proportionate number of volunteers in church and community activities across our demo- Vision Frame graphics. Vision Proper = Where is God taking us? To disciple our members to reach, engage, and equip the next generation to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ through servant leadership everywhere. Purpose study group members are available to speak to your class about this statement. An open forum to discuss the purpose statement will be held on Sunday, October 16 at 5:00 p.m. Yours in Christ, Hughey

2 Sympathy Sharing sympathy with Carolyn Timberlake and family on the Aug. 29th death of Cecil Timberlake. A graveside service will be held for him on Oct. 8th at 11:00 a.m. at Decatur City Cemetery. First Grace Child Development Center News First Grace would like to thank everyone who visited our Book Fair and took time to celebrate Grandparents Day with us! We love you! A Retreat for Women of All Ages Oct Oct. 30 at Sumatanga Retreat Center A time to: Relax, Reflect, Refresh, Refill Rev. Sheri Ferguson will lead as we expand our understanding of Simplicity and Boundaries; how they relate, and how our understanding of them inform who we are. Mollie Erickson will be there for afternoon Yoga, if you wish to stretch a bit. There is also the labyrinth experience guided by Sheri, and the possibility of a mountain hike. If you would rather, you can take a nap, or bring a good book and find one of the many rocking chairs around camp. The afternoon is yours for the taking - to relax, reflect, refresh, or refill as you choose. Cost per person: (Includes housing, meals, transportation, and program expenses.) 1. Two Night Single Occupancy $ Two Night Double Occupancy $ One Night Single Occupancy $ One Night Double Occupancy $80.00 If you have questions, please call Donna McAnnally at or Sandy Reynolds at We also have registration forms at the church. We will leave mid-morning and will be back by lunch time on Sunday. This will leave plenty of time to get ready for Trunk or Treat at our church that evening. Power of Pink 2016 Power of Pink Walk Sunday October 23rd at 2:00 Registration Forms and More in the Courtyard Entrance Power of Pink Vendor Applications If you are interested in being a vendor at the Power of Pink Walk on Oct. 23 from 12-3:00, there are guidelines and applications on the Power of Pink table in the Courtyard Welcome A $40.00 deposit is due by Sept. 22. Make checks out to FUMC with Women s Retreat in the For line. Church Prayer List Sept. 21st Edition Pat Carl, recovery from colon surgery Ann Crabbe, knee replacement rehab Jane Boozer, knee replacement rehab Jane Nabors, continued rehab Priscilla Childs Carol McBroom, chemo treatment Jen Winkler's mother, Janet Pfeiffer, back surgery Katherine Johnson Sammy Dean, continued recovery from car accident Ed Kirby Please fill out a prayer card found in the pew pockets or your prayer requests to aquinn@decaturfumc.org for publication in the next newsletter.

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4 Decatur First United Methodist Church Global Impact Celebration and Missions Update Greetings from the FUMC GIC and Missions Teams! At the conclusion of our 2016 Global Impact Celebration, our congregation made a Faith Promise of $106,000 and we are pleased to report that we are up to date with our giving! This year we are in partnerships with 36 local, national, and international agencies. Our church and its members are an AMAZING blessing to all of the missions partners!! Thank you!!! As the leadership of the GIC and Missions Teams has prayed about the year ahead, we have decided to redirect our focus to living a life of missions to become more of the hands and feet of Christ. Our theme is SEASONS OF LOVE. There will be many opportunities to share your gifts, talents, and resources with both our local community and with the global community throughout the year! Kick-Off Tailgate for Seasons of Love We are asking that we all as followers of Christ, GET IN THE GAME! Let s get involved! What better way to kick off an event than a TAILGATE PARTY?? The first SEASONS OF LOVE missions event will be held on Sunday, October 2 from 4:00-6:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. For this missions event, we will be filling shoeboxes that will be given as gifts to children through the Disaster Relief Warehouse. Let s make it truly fun by having a fun competition: bring some of the small items needed in the shoeboxes and place it in either the Alabama or Auburn bin by the missions bulletin board! Let s see which team has the most support!!! The church will provide burgers, hot dogs, and drinks. Bring a dessert or side to share. Hands-On Missions You may have seen or heard about our Hands-On First Fellowship opportunity on the first Wednesday of each month. During our first event, we were able to pack 80 birthing kits to be distributed by the UM- COR Disaster Relief Warehouse. Not only were we able to impact the lives of 80 mommies and babies, we also had a wonderful time fellowshipping with each other during this time! If you don t have a regular Wednesday night class to attend, please join us on the first Wednesday of the month. On October 5th, we will have the 4th and 5th graders as our special guests for Hands-On Mission. Items for shoeboxes may include: Hot Wheels Small Dolls or Toys Socks Flip Flops Wash Cloths Toothbrushes Toothpaste Combs/Brushes Underwear Hair elastics, bows, etc. Don t forget that you can receive text message updates about Seasons of Love activities and opportunities to serve. To do so, to (Enter as the phone number as the message and send). If you use the Remind App, search and join the class. Kick-Off Tailgate for Seasons of Love Reservation Form (Please turn in to the church office or one of the marked baskets as you exit the sanctuary.) Family Name: Number Attending:

5 Alexia Claborn, Director of Children s Ministry, Tailgate! Don t forget Seasons of Love Kick Off! It will be on October 2nd from 4-6:00 p.m. in our church parking lot. We will have plenty of fun for kids and the whole family. See you there! Please see insert for details Lee Lott Power of Pink Walk This year our children and youth will be participating in the walk and will walk together. Please register before Friday, Oct. 14th. You can find registration forms in the Welcome Center. More details to come! Sunday Morning Volunteers Volunteers for Sunday, Sept. 25th Sunday School Pre-school Room #215 Leigh Ann Blankenship Jessica Mitchell K-2 nd Room #207 Carrie Hart assistant Tom Earley 3 rd -5th Grade- - Room #306 Alexia Claborn assistant Maryanne Dunnivant Children s Church 8:45 Service Teacher- Vickie Earwood Assistant- Mary Ila Ward 11:00 Service Teacher-Alexia Claborn Assistant-Davia Newman Volunteers for Sunday, Oct. 2 nd Sunday School Pre-school Room #215 Leigh Ann Blankenship Jessica Mitchell K-2 nd Room #207 Barbara Ashwander assistant TBA 3 rd -5th Grade- - Room #306 Betty Ann Mitchum assistant Ronnie Dukes Children s Church 8:45 Service Teacher- Alexia Claborn Assistant- Bailey Copeland 11:00 Service Teacher-Alexia Claborn Assistant- Lydia Matthews Children s First Fellowship Elementary 5:30 -Elementary Choir 6:00-7:00- Bible Story and Lesson Pre- School 6:00- Pre-School Choir 6:20-7:00 -Bible Story and Lesson Upcoming Important Dates Sept. 28 th - Children s Ministry Committee Meeting 4:00-5:00 p.m. in Courtyard Conf. Room Oct. 23 rd - Power of Pink Walk Oct. 30 th - Trunk- or- Treat 4:30 p.m. Dec. 14 th Christmas Pageant and Dinner 5:30 p.m. Acolyte Information Sept. 25 8:45 Bristol Rayne Teal 11:00 Miller Roberts & Davis Roberts Oct. 2 8:45 Bristol Rayne Teal & Mary Elizabeth Booth 11:00 Christopher Reavis & Beau Claborn Crucifer- Garret Buckner Volunteers Needed We are looking for Sunday School Teachers / Assistants, Children s Church Teachers / Assistants and First Fellowship Volunteers. Please contact Alexia if you are able to volunteer in any of these areas. The best way to contact me is by , text or call at the following: aclaborn@decaturfumc.org and cell

6 Youth Dates Sunday, September 25 10:00 Sunday School 6-7:30 Delano Park (see details to the right) Wednesday, September 28 5:00 First Fellowship Dinner 6:00 Youth Bible Study Thursday, September 29 7:30am Senior High prayer breakfast at Chick Fil A Friday, September 30 DHS Football Breakfast 6:15 a.m. Cooks, 7:15 a.m. greeters and servers, 7:45 a.m. clean up Sunday, October 2 10:00 Sunday School 4:00-6:00 Church wide Tail Gate Party no UMYF Monday, September 3 7:45am JH Prayer Breakfast at Bojangles (rides provided to OPMS) Wednesday, October 5 5:00 First Fellowship Dinner 6:00 Youth Bible Study 7:00 Youth Leadership Team Thursday, October 6 7:30am Senior High prayer breakfast at Chick Fil A UMYF on September 25 Delano Park Leave No Trace- September 25- We will travel by church bus to Delano Park to join Central UMC and other youth groups for a hands on experience learning more about Leave No Trace, micro trash, and ways we can move toward recovering and protecting the places (Delano Park) we cherish for future generations. Junior High Human Sexuality Retreat, Oct Come and be a part of this amazing weekend at Camp McDowell where we learn about God and His gifts of sexuality. This retreat is based upon the premise that our sexuality is a good gift, a powerful gift, and a valuable gift from God. As such, we believe that sexual intimacy has a special place within the bonds of a loving, committed marriage. We know you won t want to miss out on this fun and exciting weekend! The cost is $75 per student and friends are welcome to join us! We will be partnering with Hartselle FUMC and sharing Rev. John Edd Harper from the Louisiana UMC Conference as our resource person. Contact Beth Green for additional info. College It s time to collect addresses for our college students! Throughout the year, we mail our students cards and care packages. We don t want anyone left out. Please send Beth your students name, school, mailing address, and expected year of graduation. Brick Deadline - Sept. 30 September 30 is the last day to order a brick for the sidewalk leading up to the Courtyard entrance by the Columbarium. Each brick is $75 and profits will go towards youth missions and outreach. Order forms are throughout the church and included in this newsletter. Please contact Beth with any questions. You can give order forms and check to any youth! Order forms are located throughout the church and from the church office. Please contact Beth with any questions. You can give order forms and check to any youth! Decatur High Football Breakfasts Our church will be hosting the football team, coaches and cheerleaders again this fall for breakfasts on the following mornings: Athens, Friday, September 30th (Upper Room and The CLASS help serve) Hartselle, Friday, October 14 th (Faithfinders and New Community help serve) Sparkman, Friday, October 28 th (Men s Club and Wesley Class helps serve) Volunteers are always needed and appreciated. Cooks arrive at 6:15, greeters and servers arrive at 7:15 and clean up is at 7:45. It takes about 25 volunteers to pull off one breakfast. Sign-up sheets will be in the adult Sunday school classes. If your business would like to sponsor a breakfast ($250) we will give proper recognition at the breakfast. UMW College Scholarship Recipients Scholarship grants were given to four students for the fall semester from The Georgia Dinsmore Scholarship Fund administered by the United Methodist Women of FUMC. Recipients are: Davis Earley Auburn University Suzanna Greer University of South Alabama Matthew McCulloch University of Alabama Hattie O'Hara Birmingham -Southern College Congratulations to each of these deserving students! History of The Georgia Dinsmore Scholarship Marvin Dinsmore's aunt, Miss Kathleen Stott, a former teacher, established the fund with grants from her estate in Mr. Disnmore added to the fund with memorial gifts of over $50,000 honoring his mother Byna, his wife Georgia, and their daughter Sarah Worth. Donations in memory of Georgia were also added to the fund along with a donation by Jack Wood honoring his wife Lucy. In 1995 the scholarship fund was formally named The Georgia Dinsmore Scholarship Fund.

7 Upcoming Events 9/25, 6-7:30 Delano Park (see page five for details) 9/26, 4:00 p.m., Archives Committee Meeting, Archives Room 9/26, 6:00 p.m., Committee on Nominations and Leadership Development, Courtyard Conf. Room 9/26, 6:00 p.m., Worship Team Practice 9/27, 10:00 a.m., Women's Bible Study, Courtyard Conf. Room 9/28, 4:00 p.m., Children's Committee Meeting, Courtyard Conf. Room 9/28, 5:00 p.m., First Fellowship Meal and Classes, Fellowship Hall and Sunday School Rooms 9/28, 6:30 p.m., Chancel Choir Practice 9/29, 6:30 a.m., UMM Bible Study, Minister s Conf. Room 9/29, 7:30 a.m., UMM Breakfast, City Café 9/29, 7:30am Sr. High prayer breakfast at Chick Fil A 9/29, 5:30 p.m., Historic Decatur neighborhood Meeting, Fellowship Hall 9/30, DHS Football Breakfast, Fellowship Hall, cooks arrive at 6:15 a.m. 805 CANAL STREET N.E. DECATUR ECATUR,, AL PHONE (256) FAX (256) Please place label here U.S. Postage Paid Non-Profit Org. Decatur, AL Permit No. 226 Find Us On Social Media Like us on Facebook: Hughey Reynolds, Senior Minister, hreynolds@decaturfumc.org Charlie Elliott, Custodian Patrick McCormick, Director of Worship, patrick@decaturfumc.org Melissa Wiley, Housekeeper Beth Green, Minister of Discipleship, beth@decaturfumc.org Sandy Callahan, Food Manager Cindy McCulloch, Finance Secretary, cmcculloch@decaturfumc.org Wayne Keller, Accompanist Alyson Quinn, Church Secretary, aquinn@decaturfumc.org Cindy Brigman, First Grace Director, firstgrace@decaturfumc.org Alexia Claborn, Director of Children s Ministry, aclaborn@decaturfumc.org Ruth Moyers, Organist Shannon Booth, Director of Outreach, shannon@decaturfumc.org Upcoming Worship Services VISION STATEMENT: Growing in Christ, Sharing God s Love through Inspiring Worship, Empowering Ministries Equipping Persons for Ministry, Promoting Well-Being Sunday, Sept. 25, Rev. Hughey Reynolds, preaching 8:45 and 11:00 a.m. Where Money Gets a Bad Name 1 Timothy 6: 6-19 Sunday, Oct. 2, Rev. Hughey Reynolds, preaching 8:45 and 11:00 a.m. Disciple as a Verb Matthew 28: UMM Bible Study The United Methodist Men have Bible Study every Thursday at 6:30 a.m. at the church. Following Bible Study, those who are able enjoy breakfast together at City Café. All men are welcome to join the UMM. Scheduled To Serve Sept. 25 Acolytes: 8:45 a.m. - Bristol Rayne Teal 11:00 a.m. - Miller Roberts & Davis Roberts Ushers: 8:45 a.m. Mike Ward, Jack Ozier, Jolly McKenzie, Ronnie Dukes 11:00 a.m. Ricky Clay, Jeff Earley, Ronald Matthews, J. Robert Fite, Phil Corazzari First Fellowship Sept. 28 Find an opportunity to grow in discipleship through great groups and classes. First Fellowship classes will begin at 6:00 p.m., following the meal at 5:00. The menu for Sept. 28 will be Kenny s Marinated Pork Loin, Macaroni & Cheese, Spiced Apples, Toasted Italian Bread, Salad Bar, Peanut Butter and Jelly and Cheese Sandwiches, and Blackberry Cobbler/Ice Cream. No Reservations are required! $6.00 per adult, $6.75 to go plate, $5.00 salad bar without hot bar, $18.00 family of three or more (hot bar), Child s meal 10 & under without hot bar is free.