THE CHURCH CONNECTION

Transcription

1 THE CHURCH CONNECTION First United Methodist Church of Seminole Volume 22 Issue 3 March, 2018 IN THIS ISSUE: From the Pastor 1 Church Council 2 As I sit to write these words, I am processing the news that beloved evangelist Billy Graham has passed away. He was 99 and according to a Facebook post by his son, Franklin, he had been preaching the gospel for nearly 80 years. Dr. Graham has been the spiritual advisor to presidents and potentates, had traveled all over the world sharing the love of Christ and an excellent example of a Christian believer. UMM & UMW 3 News 4 Calendar 5 Contact Info 6 Yet what enamored me the most to Dr. Graham was his humility and his outlook on life. When Rev. Graham was diagnosed with Parkinson s disease he quipped, You know what happens when you get Parkinson s? Your handwriting gets illegible and your sermons longer. That answer reflects Graham s outlook and understanding of life. As I was reading through the many news articles, obituaries really, by hundreds of newspapers and magazines across the globe I came across a statement by Dr. Graham regarding his death. Please read this carefully because it speaks volumes! Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will be gone into the presence of God. That s great theology but what else would you expect from America s preacher. We seem to struggle against death, even those of us who have faith in Jesus Christ. Yet, removing the sting of death is what Easter is all about. Easter is all about resurrection. Our earthly body may wear out and stop but the triumph of Jesus over death assures us of a resurrection to eternal life. Graham says that we are merely changing our address, but I like to look at it as transferring my membership from this earthly life to life eternal. Our last breath here on earth is our first one in heaven. Someone asked Grant Wacker, a former church history professor at Duke if there might be another Billy Graham someday. Wacker quoted C.S. Lewis by saying, The one prayer God never answers is, Encore. God has received a faithful servant and we grieve the hole that Rev. Graham s death leaves in this world but what an inspiration that life was to millions of people. Myself included! ATTENDANCE SS Worship Feb Feb Feb Feb In Christ s Peace, Pastor Mark AVERAGE SS 49 WORSHIP 76

2 Page 2 THE CHURCH CONNECTION We are still going strong on Wednesday evening with a great crowd every week, but we would love to have more people join us! We will begin a new study on March 7 th. We will be journeying through Leslie Weatherhead s The Will of God. This a great book to help us delve further into understanding God s will for us as individuals and as a people of faith. We begin at 6:15pm so make plans to join us! Books have been ordered and they are $6 apiece. Mark Out of the Office Our pastor will be out of the office from March 12 th thru March 14 th for meetings as a part of his work with the Oklahoma Board of Ministry. As has been the practice in times past, Mark will not be able to take phone calls during the day but will answer texts on breaks. If you need to get in touch with him, please feel free to text him or contact the church office and Donna will get ahold of Mark. CARE PACKAGES FOR SOLDIERS The children are starting a service project to send care packages to soldiers stationed overseas. They are writing letters and drawing pictures to include in the packages. They need help getting items to include in the packages and help with shipping costs. See below for a partial list of items than can be put in the packages. Any and all donations will be greatly appreciated. Peanut butter pretzels Beef Jerky Chex Mix Small bottles of Mountain Dew Nuts Hard Candy Playing Cards Card Games Word Searches Crosswords Cash Cards to use at Base Locations For more information, please contact Dee Tedrick. FINANCES NEEDED WEEKLY $ 3, RECEIVED February 4 $ 2, February 11 $ 2, February 18 $ 1, February 25 $ 1, If you have any questions about the finances of the church, please feel free to speak with Mark Schell, Treasurer; or Lola Davisson, Chairman of the Finance Committee. Copies of the current budget are in the display outside the Treasurer s office. MISSIONS PAID: %

3 THE CHURCH CONNECTION Page 3 President... LOLA DAVISSON UNITED METHODIST WOMEN Wednesday March 21st 9:30am (UMW is now meeting on the 3rd Wednesday.) Saturday March 10th 8:00am ALL MEN ARE WELCOME! President... WALLACE GATES A NOTE FROM TODD AND JUSTIN... Dear FUMC Seminole... We don t know what we would do without our amazing church family! Devastation and tragedy comes to us all at one time or another, but you all have been our light of hope in what seemed to be a hopeless situation! Thank you for generously giving $200 to help us restart our life. We are forever thankful that God brought us to Seminole FUMC! With sincere gratitude and appreciation. We love you! Todd & Justin Return of the McNeills Yes, you read correctly! The McNeill family will be returning to Seminole to do a community concert on Saturday, March 24 6:30pm. Everyone is encouraged to invite people to join you. A love offering will be taken. So share the news because you know from experience how good this family is. Invite a friend or two to join you, but don t miss this exciting, Spiritfilled evening. Saturday, March 6:30pm SUPER SUNDAY SCHEDULE Second Quarter April 22, 2018 Third Quarter July 15, 2018 Fourth Quarter October 21, 2018 IF NEEDED December 9, 2018

4 Page 4 THE CHURCH CONNECTION HOLY WEEK SOUP & SERMON St. Mark s Episcopal Church Monday, March 26th through Friday, March 30th 12 noon Different churches provide a short sermon and lunch each day. Wednesday is Methodist Day! Maundy Thursday Service Plans are being made to celebrate and remember the events of Jesus last night on earth so make plans to be here on March 29 th at 6:30pm. The service will include singing, praying, a short sermon, communion and foot washing. Hope to see you! Easter Sunrise and Morning Worship Once again, we will begin to celebrate Easter early in the morning with a sunrise service. The sunrise service will begin at 6:30am and Mark is hoping to have it at the Little cemetery, but firmer plans will be made as Easter Sunday gets closer. The second service will begin at 10:45am on Easter Sunday and we would love to include some great special music. If you can play or sing (or know someone who does) then let Sandy know.

5 THE CHURCH CONNECTION Page 5 MARCH, 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Daylight Savings Time UMM Finance-6: UMW VBS Mtg-6: McNeill 6:30pm (Methodist Day) Maundy Thursday Service Good Friday REGULAR CHURCH CALENDAR 04 Celia Hammons 04 Christine Schoaps 05 Leigh Ann Azlin 05 Debbie Coym 11 Katie Spencer 14 Kaitlyn Atwood 20 Carolyn McDaniel 21 Janice Wolff 22 Joanne Baxter 22 Martha Steger 26 Randy Ashcraft 27 Minna Lo Squires 28 Cansas Pate 30 Gabby Peters 30 Rev. Mark Watson 31 Shalia Ashcraft 03 David & Janelle Zehren 07 Randy & Shalia Ashcraft 14 Jerald & Debbie Coym Are you and your family not listed in our birthday and anniversary lists? We would love to include you! Sundays... 9:30am Sunday School 10:45am Worship 4:00pm Disciple Bible Study 2nd & 4th Sundays... 9:00am Breakfast Wednesdays... 5:30pm Meal 6:15pm Children & Youth 6:15pm Bible Study 7:00pm Joybells Practice 2nd & 4th Saturdays... Youth Service Project

6 First United Methodist Church of Seminole First United Methodist PO Box 1314 Seminole, OK W. Wrangler Blvd. P. O. Box 1314 Seminole, OK Phone: suddenlinkmail.com Website: seminolefumc.com Facebook: Fumc Seminole Oklahoma Okla. Conference Website: okumc.org Heartland District C H U R C H N E W S Newsletters are available in the narthex & east entrance at the beginning of each month. They are also attached to our website (seminolefumc.com) under the Info Center tab. OUR SYMPATHY to the families of MARY SHAWVER and DEAN HANSON CHURCH STAFF Bishop Dr. Jimmy Nunn Heartland D.S. Dr. Greg Tener Senior Pastor Rev. Mark Watson Minister All the Congregation Children s Director Dee Tedrick Custodian..Esther Gomez Liturgical Colors.Charlotte Horton Music Director...Sandy Peters Office Manager Donna Magruder Organist..David Larson Sunday School Supt..Lola Davisson Treasurer.. Mark Schell Youth Director.Tracy Jacomo 2nd & 4th 9am