CELEBRATES 25 YEARS. outreach ministries

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1 OCTOBER VOLUME 197 ISSUE 21 outreach ministries CELEBRATES 25 YEARS MILK & HONEY 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION P. 3 Learn more about this outreach ministry and their 25 years of community service. GROWING SEASON UPDATE P. 4 Read a summary of our Discipleship Campaign and learn how you can still get involved.

2 PASTORAL LETTER Several years ago on a regular Sunday morning, I stood at the pulpit and was just about to invite everyone to recite the Apostles' Creed when I heard a lady shout my name from the congregation. She stood up and came running down to the front of the church. I was shocked. Once she made it to the front of the church, she knelt at the altar rail and shouted, Pray for me pastor. What was I to do? The only thing I could think of at the time was to go to her at the altar and pray for her. You see, the lady had been battling cancer for some time. All she wanted was a prayer of healing. Can you believe that the whole church gathered around her and prayed for her? Well, on that particular, regular Sunday the church had a healing service. Jesus healed many people on his journey to the cross. Joel B. Green calls the healing by Jesus, One of the distinctive properties of Jesus activity. In the Gospel of Matthew, we find nineteen stories of healing by Jesus. In the Gospel of Mark, we find eighteen, and in the Gospel of Luke, you will find 20 stories of healing. Also, Jesus gives his disciples authority to heal every kind of sickness. When you look at the healing done by Jesus, he was not just curing people of some illness or disease. Oh no, Jesus Christ was making people whole. Do you remember the story of the blind beggar sitting outside Jericho? He kept shouting to Jesus, Have mercy on me. Jesus proceeds to restore his sight, but Jesus says something rather odd, Receive your sight; your faith has saved you. Through faith in Christ, the blind man is healed and saved. He is made whole. On October 8th at 6:00pm, we will have a Healing Service in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd. Healing services have a very traditional foundation in the church and have been around since the beginning of church history. I am inviting you to come and be a part of the service. We will pray for healing. We will pray for God to make us whole. Rev. Brandon Bures Associate Pastor IN LOVE AND REMEMBRANCE TO The family of James Christopher Callahan. Chris died September 15, Tim Price-Williams on the death of his mother, Dolores Spiers. Dolores died September 23, CONGRATULATIONS Valerie Westmark and Joseph Virgillio on their marriage on September 23, FLOWERS You may place flowers in the Main Sanctuary in honor, celebration, or memory of someone. The arrangements are each. To reserve a date, call Ginger ( ). The following dates are open: October 15 2 Arrangements November 19 2 Arrangements November 26 2 Arrangements December 3 2 Arrangements December 10 2 Arrangements Jenna Susko and Mike Boggs on their marriage on August 26 at Lake Tahoe, CA. Proud parents are Hope and John Susko. 2 OCTOBER VOLUME 197 ISSUE 21

3 GOD LOVES THEM SO MUCH By Kari C. Barlow FEATURE Sonya Culliver can t help but laugh when she talks about starting Milk and Honey Outreach Ministries in She and her close friend Annette McCorvey didn t have much just permission to use a community room at the Attucks Court housing project, their Bibles and a dream of sharing Jesus with inner city children. We would have our little felt board and tell stories and do memory verses with about five little kids, Culliver recalls. Annette would bring snacks and hot dogs, and that s what we did for an hour and a half on Thursdays. And we just went from there. It s really critical, Culliver says. We really only have a small window of time to keep their attention. Being there consistently in the afternoons is so important. She s quick to tell volunteers there s no magic formula just show up and build some relationships. You don t have to do any big fanfare, she says. You re just there for them. Culliver, who grew up in the Morris Court housing project, knows from personal experience how important tutoring and mentoring can be in a child s life. Today Milk and Honey is not only still around, it s celebrating 25 years in the Attucks Court community, providing a wide-range of programs including after-school care and tutoring four days a week from August to May for children 6 to 14 at the Fricker Recreation Center on North F Street. Both women are still closely involved, with Culliver serving as executive director and McCorvey currently heading the board of directors. God has led me through this ministry, says Culliver, also a member of First Church. I just play one part. It has changed my life, and it has directed my life. outreach ministries The support of local churches particularly First Church, which houses its administrative offices has been critical to Milk and Honey s existence. We wouldn t exist without First Church, she adds. First Church gave us our foundation. With the assistance of a diverse board that includes local educators, clergy and church members and numerous volunteers, Milk and Honey has proven itself a steadfast community partner dedicated to nurturing some of Pensacola s most vulnerable children. In April of this year, it broke ground on the new classroom facility to be built at 1100 W. Desoto St. in the middle of the Attucks Court community. The project is being funded with a 108,200 grant from Impact 100 Pensacola Bay Area, which was awarded in The Milk and Honey after-school program is vital to the group s efforts to keep dozens of children off the streets, away from drugs and in school. I m a child from the inner city, she says. My dad died when I was very young, and I remember the mentors who came and helped us. If it wasn t for them and high school basketball, I don t think I would be in the place I am right now. For young women between the ages of 10 and 17, Milk and Honey provides the GEMS (Girls Embracing a More Excellent Way) program, which meets weekly and is designed to foster self-esteem, sexual abstinence, goal setting and improved fitness and nutrition. For boys ages 8 to 12, there s BB-BAM (Boyz Becoming Brilliant Amazing Men), which also incorporates mentoring, field trips and recreation to teach teamwork, selfrespect, proper hygiene and dress and communication skills. God loves them so much! Culliver says. We realize that each person comes to us God has given them a gift, and it is our responsibility to find out what those gifts are. 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Milk and Honey invites you to celebrate 25 years of community service on October 21 from 6:00-8:30pm in the Henry Roberts Activity Center (Gym). Tickets are 25/per person (dinner included). Tables of 8 can be sponsored for 200. To purchase tickets, call the Milk and Honey office at or Sonya Culliver at WANT TO HELP? To volunteer as a mentor or after-school tutor at Milk and Honey Outreach Ministries at FUMCPensacola.com 3

4 FEATURE THE GROWING SEASON year of worship Since August 14th we have been focusing on making disciples of Christ, for the redemption of the world, through Worship, Christian Education, Mission and Outreach, Evangelism, and Stewardship as part of our annual discipleship campaign called The Growing Season. Each week during The Growing Season you were asked to put your faith into action by committing to serve in each of these areas. Over 500 responses were collected during The Growing Season, representing a congregation that understands their vows of supporting the church through your prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. Many of those who responded have already been plugged into their requested area of service and we are continuing to contact people daily. Everyone who responded will be contacted by the end of the year. We also had a good start on our Estimate of Giving Cards received for 2018, but still have a ways to go before we meet our budget for next year. We will update you in each edition of The Methodist Witness of our stewardship progress as the congregation continues to respond in this area. Thank you for your faithfulness to the mission of Christ at First United Methodist Church! STEWARDSHIP ESTIMATE OF GIVING FOR 2018 UPDATE Number of Cards Received: 291 Current Total Estimate of Giving for 2018: 1,273,515 2,200,000 1,273,515 1,000,000 Still Needed: 926, ,000 Your Estimate of Giving, in addition to being an important act of sacrificial faith, is a necessary resource which allows your church to build a responsible budget for ministry during the following year. If you have not already pledged for 2018, please consider completing your card today. First Church understands that this is an estimate and may need to be adjusted. 0 4 OCTOBER VOLUME 197 ISSUE 21

5 Mostly Miller SACRED SONGS CHORAL CONCERTS First Church is excited to welcome Mark Miller. Mark serves as Assistant Professor of Church Music at Drew Theological School and is a Lecturer in the Practice of Sacred Music at Yale University. He also is the Minister of Music of Christ Church in Summit, New Jersey. Since 1999 Mark has led music for United Methodists and others around the country, including directing music for the 2008 General Conference. Mark has multiple best selling anthems and published hymns. Join us for these two upcoming services. October 12 7:30pm Main Sanctuary with Sanctuary Choir & Organ October 15 6:00pm Main Sanctuary with Youth Choir SEP 6 - OCT IN MEMORY Betty Ann Bradley By: Larry and Ann Webb Jack Clay By: Kay Richie and Phil Lucchesi Kent Klarner By: Bill and Ruth Sneed Carol Crooke Lord By: Bill and Ruth Sneed Virginia Shealy By: Elaine Grove IN HONOR Janice Anderson s Birthday By: Bill and Ruth Sneed Bob and Sharon Espersen s 50th Wedding Anniversary By: Thomas and Elizabeth Mayhugh Betty Olliff Ruth Klarner s Birthday By: Bill and Ruth Sneed Jacob Langston s Baptism By: Barbara Jones Elaine Mitchell s Birthday By: Bill and Ruth Sneed Jane Weekly Scholarship By: Valarie Westmark Virgilio FUMCPensacola.com 5

6 ANNOUNCEMENTS WHAT'S HAPPENING FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CHILDREN & FAMILY Contact: Lisa Bond CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Contact: Lisa Bond FIFTY FORWARD Contact: Debra Tallman WORSHIPING WITH CHILDREN October 22 9: am WP205 This class will enable parents to guide their child through an authentic worship experience. Lisa Bond, Director of Children and Family Ministries, will provide insights for families to engage in worship together as a family. GIRL TIME November 3 5:30-7:30pm 2nd Floor Education Building Second-Fourth grade girls are invited for a night of fun as we gather for fellowship and faith sharing. Join us monthly for this special time. PLAY-N-PRAY November 3 5:30-7:30pm Gym Third and Fourth grade boys are invited to come join a night of fellowship, games, and devotion time. We will gather together monthly. LIFE PLANS SERIES FINAL PLANS October 30 6:00pm Wesley Abbey Join us for our third and final class in the Life Plans Series, which is designed for adults of any age who are interested in preparing and planning for the future. Topics discussed will include: Pre-Planning Funeral Arrangements and Hospice Care. Sign up online at FUMCPensacola.com. CHURCH-WIDE HEALING SERVICE October 8 6:00pm Chapel Join us for this special worship service for those experiencing pain and grief. BLOOD DRIVE November 5 8:00-12:30pm Share your story. Share your power. Save lives. Get on the big red bus and give blood during the OneBlood blood drive. All those that are able are encouraged to donate. ID required. Visit OneBlood.org to schedule an appointment. Bud Mitchell (BMitchell@FUMCPensacola. com) for more info. LUNCH OUT October 12 11:30am Hot Spot BBQ All are invited to join the Fifty Forward ministry for this time of fellowship and food at Hot Spot BBQ on 9th Ave. TOUR OF ST. MICHAELS CEMETERY October 12 9:30am St. Michaels Join Fifty Forward for the second tour of St. Michaels Cemetery. You can meet at church 9:00am to go by church bus or meet us at 9:30am at the East gate of the cemetery. Everyone is welcome to join the Lunch Out group at Hot Spot BBQ at 11:30am after the tour. SILVER & GOLD October 26 10:30am The Wright Place 5.00 Join us for our first Silver & Gold after the Summer Break. Program is Traveling to the Orient with Eric & Marsha Enquist. 6 OCTOBER VOLUME 197 ISSUE 21

7 SERVICE TIMES MUSIC Contact: Dr. Rick Branch SUNDAY 8:00am, 9:30am, 11:00am & ICON AT 11:00am RUTH S KITCHEN Contact: Susie Schmidt SSchmidt@FUMCPensacola.com stay connected YOUTH Contact: Denise Van Atta DVanAtta@FUMCPensacola.com fumcpensacola ANNOUNCEMENTS SANCTUARY CHOIR October 8 Sign at 8:00am October 12 Warm up at 5:45pm, concert at 7:30pm October 15 Sing at 11:00am KINDERGARTEN - 6TH GRADE CHOIRS Sing October 8 11:00am & ICON Warm up in the Ike Terry Rehearsal Hall (the big choir room) at 10:40AM, sing for the prelude at 11AM sanctuary, and then you will be taken over to the ICON service to sing there later in that service. CLUB 56 CHOIR (5TH & 6TH GRADES) No Rehearsal October 15 MID HIGH & SENIOR HIGH CHOIRS October 15 Warm up at 4:00pm, dinner at 5:30pm, concert at 6:00pm. WORSHIP COMMITTEE October 9 5:30pm Meet in the Ike Terry Rehearsal Hall MARK MILLER CONCERTS October 12 7:30pm Main Sanctuary October 15 6:00pm Main Sanctuary Join us for our two Mark Miller concerts during October. Enjoy Mark Miller with our Sanctuary Choir and organ on October 12 and with our Youth Choir on October 15. WEDNESDAY MEALS October 11 Herb Pork Loin, Wild Rice, Carrot Souffle, Rolls, Autumn Salad, & Pumpkin Cobbler October 18 Chicken and Sausage Creole, Rice, Corn, Salad, Cornbread, & Bread Pudding TWEEN Contact: Denise Van Atta DVanAtta@FUMCPensacola.com CLUB 56 & CHOIR Sundays 4:30pm - 6:30pm Club 56 is an opportunity for 5th and 6th grade students to gather for fellowship, service, worship and bible study. We meet weekly in the front lobby of the church. Please note the different times for this month. For more information concerning 5th and 6th grade ministry contact Caitlyn Bowlds or Denise Van Atta. October 8 4:30pm - Loaves and Fishes. October 15 6:00pm Sanctuary Tween and Youth Choir Concert October 22 4:30pm Tween Worship in ICON October 29 5:00pm Youth Sponsored Halloween Carnival OCTOBER 8 HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL VOLUNTEERS NEEDED The youth hosts the Halloween Carnival each year for our children and tweens of our church. This event won't happen without your help! Please sign up to volunteer for face painting, games, crafts, set up and clean up. Sign up sheets are in the youth building. The Halloween Carnival is October 29 during youth. FUSED November 5 4:00-6:30pm Community Life UMC We are excited about joining together again as "one with Him in the Spirit" for our 7th Annual FUSED Youth Rally. FUSED provides an opportunity for students from across the District to come together for worship, fellowship, fun, & food! We always have a lot of fun with up front and group games! We give away a lot of stuff We always have an excellent worship band! We always have an excellent speaker! We always support a mission initiative! We feed you FREE pizza Contact Caitlyn or Denise to sign up. 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, 08 OCTOBER 18th Sunday after Pentecost Children Sabbath 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 - Crossroads, Young Adult Class GH 9:30 AM - Intergenerational TBA 9:30 AM - Worship Service Main Sanctuary 9:30 AM - Ministries of First Church PH101 9:30 AM - Sunday School Various Locations 9:30 AM - Worshipping with Children WA 11:00 AM - ICON Worship Service WA 11:00 AM - Worship Service Main Sanctuary 3:00 PM - ECHO WA 3:00 PM - Girl Scout Troop 110 E204 4:30 PM - Club 56 HRAC/EB 4:30 PM - Feeding at Loaves and Fishes Off-Campus 4:30 PM - Sunday Night Youth Activities YMC/ ITR 6:00 PM - Service of Healing Chapel 7:30 PM - Male & Female Youth Ensembles ITRH MONDAY, 09 OCTOBER 9:30 AM - Preschool Chapel with Lisa WA 10:00 AM - Centering Prayer Community Group PH201 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 6:00 PM - Revelation PH209 7:00 PM - Boy Scout Troop 495 YMC TUESDAY, 10 OCTOBER 7:30 AM - Sr. High Bible Study Bagelheads 9:00 AM - Suit Yourself OB 9:30 AM - Bridge Group PHCB 10:00 AM - Prayer Shawl Ministry PH101 10:30 AM - FUMC Staff Meeting S117 4:00 PM - UMW Cheese Straws RK 5:00 PM - UMW Mary and Martha Group PH101 6:00 PM - Mission Outreach Committee Meeting S117 WEDNESDAY, 11 OCTOBER 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 GH 12:00 PM - Fellowship Lunch DH 2:15 PM - Kid Connect HRAC/ITRH 5:00 PM - Fellowship Dinner WP 5:45 PM - Kids Gym & Childcare Available HRAC 6:00 PM - Family Feud S106 6:00 PM - Financial Peace University S117 6:15 PM - Adult Sanctuary Choir ITRH THURSDAY, 12 OCTOBER 7:45 AM - Mid High Bible Study Panera 7:45 AM - Sixth Grade Bible Study Panera 8:00 AM - Social Worker Breakfast GH 9:00 AM - Suit Yourself OB 9:00 AM - 50 Forward St. Michaels Cemetery Tour 10:00 AM - God s Stories Group PH 10:30 AM - Mom s Bible Study EB 11:00 AM - Serving The Hungry Plus MBP 11:30 AM - 50 Forward Lunch Out Hot Spot 9th Ave 5:30 PM - ICON Praise Band Practice WA 5:30 PM - Weight Watchers PH101 6:00 PM - Mark Miller Adult Choir Event Sanctuary FRIDAY, 13 OCTOBER 2017 Blue Lake Retreat 6:45 AM - Mid High Bible Study Bagelheads 6:45 AM - Sixth Grade Bible Study Bagelheads 4:00 PM - Home Instead DH 5:30 PM - Sacred Harp PH210 SATURDAY, 14 OCTOBER CALENDAR OCTOBER VOLUME 197 ISSUE 21 FUMCPensacola.com INSERT

10 SUNDAY, 15 OCTOBER 19th Sunday after Pentecost 7:45 AM - 12:15 PM - Childcare Available EB 8:00 AM - Worship Service Main Sanctuary 9:00 AM - Perry Home Coffee Bar Closed 9:30 AM - Crossroads, Young Adult Class GH 9:30 AM - Intergenerational TBA 9:30 AM - Worship Service Main Sanctuary 9:30 AM - Serving at First Church PH101 9:30 AM - Sunday School Various Locations 11:00 AM - ICON Worship Service WA 11:00 AM - Worship Service Main Sanctuary 3:00 PM - ECHO WA 4:30 PM - Club 56 HRAC/EB 4:30 PM - Mark Miller Youth Event Sanctuary 4:30 PM - Sunday Night Youth Activities YMC/ ITR 6:00 PM - Introduction to Christian Worship Chapel 7:30 PM - Male & Female Youth Ensembles ITRH MONDAY, 16 OCTOBER 7:00 AM - Sr. High Bible Study Panera 9:00 AM - Sewing Ministry FB 9:30 AM - Preschool Chapel with Lisa WA 10:00 AM - Centering Prayer Community Group PH201 11:00 AM - Serving The Hungry Plus MBP 5:15 PM - PPRC Committee Meeting JHL 5:30 PM - Cub Scout Pack 99 YMC 5:30 PM - Fitness and Faith Group Front Lawn 6:00 PM - Emerald Coast Bead Society Meeting DH 6:00 PM - Revelation PH209 7:00 PM - Boy Scout Troop 495 YMC TUESDAY, 17 OCTOBER 7:30 AM - Sr. High Bible Study Bagelheads 9:00 AM - Suit Yourself OB 9:30 AM - Bridge Group PHCB 10:00 AM - Prayer Shawl Ministry PH101 10:30 AM - FUMC Staff Meeting S117 5:30 PM - New Member Dinner GH 6:00 PM - Milk & Honey Board Meeting PH102 WEDNESDAY, 18 OCTOBER 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 GH 12:00 PM - Fellowship Lunch DH 2:15 PM - Kid Connect HRAC/ITRH 4:00 PM - 50 Forward Council Meeting S117 5:00 PM - Fellowship Dinner WP 5:45 PM - Kids Gym & Childcare Available HRAC 6:00 PM - Family Feud S106 6:00 PM - Financial Peace University S117 6:00 PM - Senior Pastor Bible Study WA 6:15 PM - Adult Sanctuary Choir ITRH THURSDAY, 19 OCTOBER 7:45 AM - Mid High Bible Study Panera 7:45 AM - Sixth Grade Bible Study Panera 9:00 AM - Suit Yourself OB 10:30 AM - Mom s Bible Study EB 11:00 AM - Serving The Hungry Plus MBP 11:30 AM - FPRA GH 11:30 AM - Heritage Lunch and Lecture DH 5:30 PM - ICON Praise Band Practice WA 5:30 PM - Weight Watchers PH101 FRIDAY, 20 OCTOBER 6:45 AM - Mid High Bible Study Bagelheads 6:45 AM - Sixth Grade Bible Study Bagelheads 6:00 PM - Friday Night Wright WP SATURDAY, 21 OCTOBER 6:00 PM - Milk and Honey 25th Celebration HRAC 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 OCTOBER VOLUME 197 ISSUE 21 FUMCPensacola.com INSERT