for 2019, and was not a bit surprised by what I found. Out of the 2,000 persons who were polled, the top ten resolutions

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1 Methodist January 2019 Newsletter PASTOR S PONDERINGS Selmer First United Method- There s something about the beginning of a new year, that naturally calls us to take stock of ourselves and consider what we might do to make the year ahead of us somehow better than the year before. I was curious, so I Googled Top New Year s Resolutions for 2019, and was not a bit surprised by what I found. Out of the 2,000 persons who were polled, the top ten resolutions were: diet or eat healthier; exercise more; lose weight; save more and spend less; learn a new skill or hobby; quit smoking; read more; find another job; drink less alcohol; and spend more time with family and friends. It occurred to me that the top nine resolutions have to do with our physical and mental health. Only the 10 th most popular resolution really has anything to do with our emotional and spiritual health, (if, indeed, our friends and family are the kind of folks who lift our spirits.) What and how much we eat, how much physical activity we engage in, and how we spend our time are the tangible things of our lives. It s much easier to be aware of the things we need to change about our physical lives - the things we can see, instead of the inner workings of our souls. But I wonder if we might truly find ourselves living more abundantly in the New Year, if we made as much intentional effort toward improving our spiritual lives. If one takes to heart the teachings of Jesus, it s clear his message was all about change, but rather than focusing on the need to change one s outward behaviors, Jesus focused on the need for a change of heart. We can do all kinds of things that make us look like followers of Jesus. We can busy ourselves with positive activities, like attending church regularly, reading our Bible daily, visiting those who are sick, volunteering in our community, even giving of our money to the church and other good causes, but unless we truly invite God to change our hearts, all those good deeds will just leave us burned out and exhausted. Without a change of heart, we cannot experience the abundant life that s offered to us, no matter how healthy, wealthy, wise or faithful we might appear to others. A change of heart would mean we have to surrender our agendas in order to follow God s call on our lives. A change of heart would cause us to realize our complete dependence on God s Grace rather than on our own goodness. A change of heart would have us recognize our connection with all of Creation and all of God s children. Only when our hearts are truly softened, can our lives produce more fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control), which is the only way we can be who God made us to be people who reflect God s unconditional Love. May our resolution for this New Year be for God to continue to shaped our hearts to be like Christ. Joy 1

God Bless, Chris Thweatt 731-439-0648 Youth News Happy New Year to everyone!

2 God Bless, Chris Thweatt Youth News Happy New Year to everyone!! I hope everyone had a great holiday season and was able to spend some quality time with their families while remembering the birth of our Savior! The new year is here, and our youth is always looking into new ways for us to better serve our community. Our goal this year will be to be more involved in our service to the community than we were in the previous year. That is our goal every year! We don t ever want to be as good as good we were last year; we want to be better! THANK YOU I would like to say a special thank you to the ones who took part in our youth fundraiser. I pray that the pictures of our church that you purchased from the youth brighten up your home (or wherever you hung them) for years to come. Our youth really appreciate the never-ending support that the members of Selmer FUMC provide for them. Without your generous support we would not be able to do a lot of things and for that we are truly thankful! Planning for the Year Ahead In the next few days I will be meeting with certain members of our youth group and trying to plan ahead for the coming months. The next newsletter will have the schedule that we come up with in that meeting so be on the lookout next month to see what our youth will be up to for the next four months! One of the things that we will be doing is starting a new small group bible study that will help us better understand and strengthen Our Relationship with God. This is another segment of the Relationship Series that we started at the beginning of the school year. In that first 6 weeks we learned what the bible says about Our Relationship with Others. Pray for us as the small group leaders and myself learn along with the youth about what the bible says about our relationship God. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV) chris_thweatt@hotmail.com 2

3 SELMER FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Church Leadership Nominations for 2019 Co-Lay Leaders: Clara McCullar, Jeremy Doyle Lay Member to Annual Conf.: Billy Patterson Alt. Lay Member to Annual Conf.: Judy Pylate Church Council Chair: Lisa Horton Recording Secretary: Martha Glover Finance Chair: Sam McCullar (Charles Youngerman) Stewardship Chair: Stan Wheeler Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Chair: Lynn Horton United Methodist Women Chair: Ellen King Chair of Safety: Sam Bedwell Scouting Ministry: Alan Youngerman Office Administrator: Vickie James Youth Director: Chris Thweatt Children s Director: Dayna Patterson Music Director: Mike Rodgers Church Treasurer: Frankie Hill United Methodist Men s Chair: Bruce Manley Members at Large of Church Council Art Crotts Leanne Emmons Wes Landreth James Martin Mike Marik Jeff Cox Richard Rankin Darryl Melton Jennifer Lawson Staff Pastor Parish Relations Committee Glenn Robinson Jerry Emmons Dalana Hessing Mandy Smith G.G. Maxedon Jan Williams Iris Boatman Lynn Horton, Chair Members of Finance Committee: Chair of Finance Committee: Sam McCullar Financial Secretary: Vickie James Church Council Chair: Lisa Horton Rep. from SPPRC: Iris Boatman Lay Member to AC: Billy Patterson Rep. of Trustees: Karl Volner Chair of Stewardship: Stan Wheeler Lay Leader: Jeremy Doyle Treasurer: Frankie Hill At-Large Members Charles Youngerman, Billy Joe Glover, Jimmy Whittington, Heather Dickey, Ernestine Dunaway, Jim Rickman, Paul Fisher Trustees (Chair to be elected by Trustees) Joey Lawson Karl Volner Raymond Smith Margie Wheeler Mac Maxedon Daniel Patterson Bill Platt Denise Brown Ellen King Lay Leadership (formerly Nominations) Class of 2019 (Pastor serves as Chair.) Lay Leader: Jeremy Doyle Sam McCullar Anna Bedwell Annette Whittington Wayne Maxedon Alan Youngerman Dayna Patterson Judy Pylate Rob Hessing PeteModitz GO TEAM: Rhodes Platt, Pam Wheeler, Robbie Volner, Leanne Emmons, Christy Doyle, Lisa Horton, Clara McCullar, Joy Weathersbee Church Council Retreat Church Council Retreat Saturday, January 12 th, 8:30-3:00 Our entire Church Council is invited to gather at Richards Lodge in East View. This will be a day of team building, goal setting and planning for 2019, as we prayerfully discern God s direction for our congregation in the coming year. 3

4 This Month s Worship Volunteers Jan. 6 Frankie Hill Van Drivers: Rhodes Platt Dayna Patterson Children Moments: Denise Brown Ushers: James Martin, Rhodes Platt, Mac Maxedon Jan. 13 Linda Crotts Van Drivers: Mac Maxedon Lisa Horton Children Moments: Robin Bedwell Ushers: Greg King, Charles Youngerman, Karl Volner, Darryl Melton Jan. 20 Frankie Hill & Jenny Platt Van Drivers: Karl Volner Clara McCullar Children Moments: Lisa Horton Ushers: Art Crotts, Joey Lawson, Sam McCullar, Raymond Smith Jan. 27 Linda Crotts Van Driver: Rhodes Platt Jeremy Doyle Children Moments: Teresa Smith Ushers: Sam Bedwell, Rob Hessing, Wayne Maxedon, Phil Burnett Custodial Needs Appreciation is expressed to Mike and Pam Rodgers for stepping up to handle our custodial needs for Dec. and Jan. However, the SPPRC will open a formal application process in January. Anyone who would like to apply for this part time position should contact the church office to complete an application. Memorials Gifts In Memory of Phyllis Moditz By Myrtle Kelly & Family In Memory of Don Maxedon By Art & Linda Crotts In Memory of Toby Walker By Charles Youngerman Ongoing Weekly Opportunities Monday 6:30 Cub Scouts Tuesday 10:30 Prayer Rockabilly Café 4:00 Grief Group (First Tuesday of the month) 5:30 Choir practice 6:30 Hand Bells 6:30 Boy Scouts Wednesday 8:30 Ministry on the Mat (Yoga in fellowship hall) 10:00 Bible Study 5:30 Fellowship Meal 6:30 Bible Study for all ages Thursday 6:00-7:00 Weight Watchers Friday 8:30 Ministry on the Mat (Yoga in fellowship hall) Calendar Items Sat Jan. 12, 8:30-9:00 Church Council Planning Retreat Sun. Jan. 13 2:00-4:00 District Training Even at Lexington First for Staff Pastor Parish Relations Committees, Church Finance and Treasurer, Lay Leaders and Lay Delegates to Annual Conference Sun. Jan 20 th, 3:5 Discipleship Network Meeting at Adamsville First Sun. Jan. 27 th, 3:00-4:30, Safe Sanctuary Training for those who work with children and youth at Lexington First Reflections Group Reflections Group to begin on Sunday, January 13 th at 10:45 A new small group opportunity will be offered for anyone who s not a part of an ongoing Sunday School class, but would enjoy conversation with others to further discuss the scripture lesson used for that day. The group will meet in the Prayer Room immediately after worship. Basic Lay Servant Class Ever wished you felt more comfortable sharing your faith? Is God calling you to build your skills to better serve in your church and community. Then taking the Basic Lay Servant Class might be just what you re looking for. On Saturday, Jan. 19 th from 9:00-3:00, the class will be offered at Big Springs UMC, 768 Ozier Rd in Pinson. Applications are available in our church office. Registration deadline is January 10 th. There is no cost for the class, however those attending will need to purchase and read the participants book prior to the session. 4

5 January 5-Ellen King 7-Ruthie Harstin 7-Denny Moditz 8-Jean Martin 9-Isaiah Jackson 9-Gary Kirby 12-Bill Abernathy 14-Daniel Patterson 16-Tiffany Ervin 16-Sam McCullar 20-Lily Sparks 22-Chris Thweatt 26-Jim Stackhouse 31-Clara McCullar Family Prayer Concerns Betty Amos Michelle Brewer Jimmy Brown Chad Brooks Roseanne Cain Nancy Chambers Jim Cofer Richard Forsyth Ronnie Forsyth Larry Gage Linda George Billy Glover Jerry Graham Terry Graham Jim Gray Judy Griffith Freida Hamm Billy James Birthdays Feburary 8-Jenny Platt 11-Lynn Horton 12-Charles Youngerman 14-Linda Crotts 19-Betty Flint 20-Bob Brooks 20-Mandy Smith 23-Kay Abernathy 24-Parker Bedwell 28-James Martin Frances Johnson Rosemary Landreth Karen McClain Peggy McClearen Lorine McCullar Richard Mitchell Paula Platt Danny Pylate Jim Rickman Janeen Robinson Jimmy Simpson Mandy Smith Raymond Smith Pat Walker Bill Webb Matthew Wheeler Don t miss our Wednesday night Wednesday night Meals by Mike and Bible Studies for all ages will kick off again on January 9 th. The meals for January, (at 5:30) will be; Sloppy Joes on Jan. 9 th ; Children s Chili Bar on Jan. 16 th ; Homemade Chicken Pot Pie on Jan. 23rd Spaghetti with salad on Jan. 30 th. While our children and youth are involved in their programs, (at 6:30) adults will be forming small groups to meet together for eight consecutive weeks to practice noticing God s presence in our day to day lives and listening for God s word through praying the Scriptures. Breaking bread and spending time in Christian community is one of the ways we grow as disciples of Jesus. Nursing Home & Assisted Living Trace Way Manor Bill Webb Trace Way Manor C-23, 2800 W. Main Tupelo, MS Ph McNairy Co. Health Care Center Frances Johnson #306A, Pat Walker Rm# E. Poplar Ave. Selmer, TN Lynnfield Place Nancy Chambers Rm#6 & Jimmy Brown 150 High School Rd. Selmer, TN Country Cottage Roseanne Cain 3002 n. Polk Street Apt# 15 Corinth, MS Freida Hamm 7015 Moore s Lane, Apt# 118 Brentwood, TN Prayer Group Have you the heard the Methodists are praying and singing at the Rockabilly Café? Formerly meeting on Thursday afternoons cloistered away in our prayer room, Darryl and Marty have now taken the power of prayer to town. On Tuesday mornings at 10:30 you can stop in for breakfast and a prayer. When the Rockabilly opens on Tuesday mornings, the breakfast crowd finds a prayer request form on each table. Diners write down their thanksgivings and concerns and at 10:30 those prayers are offered in between singa-long with Mala Willcutt. Mid-Week Bible Study Wednesday Morning Bible Study will resume again on January 9 th. We re beginning a new study, using Max Lucado s newest book, Unshakable Hope. Books have been ordered and can be purchased from the church office for $ This study unpacks 12 of the Bible's most significant promises, equipping participants to overcome difficult circumstances by keeping our focus on the hope found in the promises of Scripture rather than dwelling on the problems in front of us. For every problem in life, God has given a promise. If you re available on Wednesday mornings and are seeking to deepen your faith in this New Year, show up at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, with an open heart to grow in God s Grace. The study meets in the AIA 5

Light From The Hill JANUARY, 2017 The Pastor s Corner Rev. Norman L. Ramsey, III

Light From The Hill JANUARY, 2017 The Pastor s Corner Rev. Norman L. Ramsey, III Dear Laurel Hill: To quote a Chinese proverb: To get through the hardest journey we need take only one step, but we must