SEPTEMBER Sunday Evenings at 7 PM At the Keith s home Contact: Michelle Keith (210) Starting Sept. 13

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1 Lytle United Methodist Church P.O. Box 608, Somerset St. Lytle, Texas (830) Lytleumc.com SEPTEMBER 2015 We recognize the three bad soils in the parable of the sower, but what s the good soil that will help us to grow and produce a crop (Mark 4:8)? The Bible gives us part of the answer within the very telling of the parable. Jesus tells the parable (Mark 4:3-9), then goes off into a small group with His disciples and discusses the parable (Mark 4:10-20). Jesus had his small group, and the Bible calls us to be a part of a small group as well: Hebrews 10:25-26, And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another. Worship is important but only part of the good soil. You can t ask questions or give opinions during a sermon; you can t form relationships sitting in a pew; you can t eat cake and drink coffee in the sanctuary (don t look at me it s not my rule). Pray about attending a small group, at least for the six weeks of our fall spiritual growth campaign. Find out what good soil feels like. Grace and Peace, Scott Fall Spiritual Growth 40 Day Campaign Follow Me: A Call to Die, A Call to Live: Sept. 13 through Oct. 18 What did Jesus really mean when He said, Follow Me? Many people in our churches have been misled as to what it truly means to be a follower of Christ. Western Culture has drained the lifeblood out of Christianity and replaced it with a watered-down version of the gospel that is so palatable it isn t even real anymore. Follow Me, Jesus calls; Two simple words that change everything. You will never be bored. You will always have purpose. You will never lack joy. But is will cost you. This is not an invitation to a prayer of salvation It is a summons to lose your life. This 40 Day time of growth will include: Individual Participation: Each person will have the opportunity to complete regular reading assignments from the companion book for the campaign, Follow Me, by David Platt. These readings will challenge us to reflect on the truth of Jesus call on our lives. Weekend Service Participation: Each weekend of the campaign, the pastor, choir and worship team will put together services that glorify God and reflect on that week s theme in the campaign. Group Participation: A powerful element of the campaign is encouraging us to experience true biblical community through small groups. The small group curriculum includes a Bible study taught on video, followed by a guided discussion time where group members dig deep and apply the truths of the study to their lives. These groups will take place during the week or on Sunday mornings. Some of the groups you may want to join: Sunday Mornings at 10:15 AM At the church Contact: Trisha Broach Starting Sept. 13 Sunday Evenings at 7 PM At the Keith s home Contact: Michelle Keith (210) Starting Sept. 13 Wed. Evenings at 7 PM At the Martin s home Contact: Scott Martin (210) Starting Sept. 23 Wed. Mornings at 10 AM At the Bennett s home Contact: Bill or Marty Bennett (210) Starting Sept. 16 Wed. Evenings at 6:30 PM At the Farmer s home Contact: Linda Bahlmann (210) Starting Sept. 16 Thurs. Mornings at 10 AM At the Stewart s home Contact: Linda Stewart (210) Starting Sept. 17 Remember, a small group can be two people Materials for the small groups should be picked up by the group leader from the pastor s office

2 Church Schedule September 1, Tuesday - In-reach and Outreach meetings. September 5, Saturday - Quilt Club at the church. September Covered-dish lunch after the second service. September 7, Monday - Labor Day September 13 - Follow Me Spiritual Growth Campaign begins. September 14, Monday - The United Methodist Women meet at 2:30 PM at the home of Mary Snyder. Rose Lynn or Bethel Kay Bateman will be leading the program. September 10, Thursday - Quilt Club at the church, 6 to 9 PM. September 11, Friday - Koinonia Emmaus gathering at St. Paul s in Hondo, starting at 7:30 PM. This will be the team consecration for the women s walk. September 21, Monday - Food Pantry Day, 6 to 7 PM. September 20 - Youth Taco Sunday and Praise Band leading worship. September 22, Tuesday - Finance meeting at 6:30 PM. Administrative Council meeting at 7 PM. October Women s Walk to Emmaus #1808. October 4 - Life Chain, 2 to 3 PM. October 11 - Church Picnic, 4 to 7 PM, at the home of Brad and Nan Boyd. October 17, Saturday - Adopt a highway Pick-up Day. Meet at the church at 7:30 AM. November 1 - Stewardship Commitment Sunday. November 14, Saturday - Lytle Area Mission Project (LAMP). UNITED METHODIST YOUTH FELLOWSHIP SCHEDULE ~ September 2015 ~ September 6: Trip to the Movies Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Trip to the Movies 11:15am 4:00pm 13 No U.M.Y.F Youth Family Lake Day! 9 am-7:00pm U.M.Y.F. 4:00pm 6:15pm (Taco Sunday) 27 No U.M.Y.F Notes: We will be going to see the movie, War Room. Cost will be $6.00. Ice cream afterwards will be provided by the youth group. September 12: Youth Family Lake Day. Refer to the flier for details. September 20: We will have Taco Sunday on this day instead of the last Sunday. September 20: We will be hosted by the Hoffman s (Camryn s parents). We will meet at the church at 4:00 pm and walk to their house on Martin St. Youth may be picked up at 6:00 at the Hoffman s house or at the church at 6:15pm. September 27: I will not be here. If there are any parents who would like to volunteer to take Youth Group on this evening, that would be great! (Must have a back ground check on file at the church.) Adult Mission Trip and Church Volleyball Game Moved to the Spring Because of the crowded fall schedule, the In-reach and Outreach Teams decided to move two events to the spring. The adult mission trip has tentatively been scheduled for February The volleyball game will be later in the spring.

3 Congratulations to Tiffany and Gilbert Moreno on the birth of their son, Nolan Tiger Moreno, born on August 28. Congratulations to grandparents Diana and Kyle Jackson as well. Church Picnic Sunday, October 11 This year s Annual Church Picnic is scheduled for October 11, from 4 to 7 PM, at the home of Brad and Nan Boyd. The picnic is an opportunity for the people of the church, from children to senior citizens, to gather for great fellowship. The picnic will feature great food, board games, lawn games and much more. Come and get to know others of our church a little better. Interactive Comedy Dinner Theater To help raise funds for Military Ministry Our second annual interactive dinner theater was a great success with well attended performances on both Saturday and Sunday nights, Aug. 8th and 9th. This event served at least three purposes. It was a fund raiser for Cru Military, which assists our military men and women, including active duty, Guard, Reserve, veterans, retirees, and family members all around the world. Cru military helps them by bringing to them the love, strength and healing of Jesus Christ. Through Family Camp our church raised $2,100 for this ministry. This is in addition to the funds in our regular budget that support Cru Military missionaries Stephen and Karen Dorner. The 2 nd purpose of this interactive dinner theater was to reach people in the community, introduce them to our church, and share with them the Good News of Jesus Christ. To this end we were blessed to have many visitors in the audience, as well as church members and family. The 3 rd purpose of Family Camp was to bring the church together in ministry, and it accomplished this well, through the numerous people involved in this production. We would like to thank play director Connie Norton, food supervisor Diana Jackson and everyone else who took part in this ministry. Food Pantry Ministry Continues to Serve Our workers have been terrific, but we can always use more. Just come at 5:30 PM to help prepare for the 6 to 7 PM rush on the first and third Mondays in September (September 21 is the next one). We will again be handing out canned goods, as well as frozen meats and fresh fruits and vegetables, to nearly 100 families. Thank you for supporting the Methodist Food Pantry. We are also talking about signing up for another Food Fair. During a food fair, a truck from the San Antonio Food Bank will deliver 11 pallets of food. This free food will be given away in preparation for Thanksgiving, but we will need lots of help. If you have an opinion on whether to have another food fair, please talk to Kyle Jackson. New and Revised Lytle Area Mission Project Saturday, November 14 It s not just for youth anymore, and it s not just home construction anymore. It will include yard work projects, painting projects, providing food for the Saturday night dinner, providing snacks/refreshments during the day, home improvement projects, etc. In other words, L.A.M.P is for everyone! Set Saturday, November 14 aside as we witness to the city through Christian action.

4 Combined Service to Continue in the Fall At the beginning of the summer, and the beginning of the combined service, we asked three questions: Why, what and where. Why are we combining the services; what will the combined service look like; and where will the future lead us. The In-reach team met on Tuesday, August 4 to discuss the combined service and the question of whether to split the two services again for the fall or to continue as is. All of the feedback that we had heard from the congregation was that you all like the combined service and didn t want to change back. We apologize if you have a different opinion and we failed to hear you. The in-reach team also decided to keep the service at 9 AM, as that seemed to work best for the majority of people. We did note that the service is running a little long at times and we are working to correct that. Again, we thank everyone for their feedback, and for your patience during this time of transition. Christian Tracts and Spiritual Guides In the entranceway of the church is a rack of free evangelism tracts, to be given out to others, or placed in locations where they will be found by others (such as in restaurants). Each tract explains the Good News of Jesus Christ in a catching way. Take as many as God is calling you to take. You may also want to take one of the green flyers explaining different ways of using them. If all of us handed out one or more tracts a day, think about the people that might be saved. Also in the church entranceway are free copies of The Upper Room, a daily spiritual guide. There are also free spiritual magazines for youth and for children. Be sure to stop by each month and get copies of these materials, and other free materials available in the entranceway literature racks. Prayer Concerns Tiffany and Gilbert Moreno congratulations on birth of son, Nolan Irma Bayne and family on death of her sister, Lela Chuck Bayne and family on death of his sister-in-law Gareth Bodie and family on death of his grandmother, Jane Beck Family of Mary Hoffmeyer s cousin who died last week Kevin Warren injured in serious accident, praise for God s hand of protection; improving, no surgery Leo Mendoza (friend of Becky Escalante) leukemia and liver cancer Jason Favela for housing Pat Bracken Amanda Bodie s grandmother, shoulder injury Sandra Meeks diagnosed with rare form of cancer Marla Cantu recurring seizures Walter Scarborough serious stroke AC Heath moved to Alzheimer s unit Stephanie Keith post-polio syndrome Cozel Foster (Shelle McMillan s father) difficulty walking Amado Zamora has a mass, possible cancer Frenchy Grant for comfort and peace Mike Elias pancreatic cancer For our country and for our faithful witness as Christians Barbara Delosh stage 4 lung cancer Dorothy Mathis for improved health Becky Escalante Lee Craig (Linda Bahlmann s brother)krista Soria stage 4 cancer Lisa Wells lung cancer, praise that tumor has reduced in size Louis Solis (church lawn keeper) failing eyesight and health Deana Brown Parkinson s Gene Gunn s daughter and granddaughter Bonnie Lou Roberson persistent health problems, in hospice care Mike and Cindy Williams our missionaries on the Arabian Peninsula Dustin and Mallary Covington our missionaries in India Our president and government Our military and their families For persecuted Christians around the world For victims of human trafficking and for an end to human trafficking Our Church Family Soldiers and Civilians Working with the Military William Meyer Marines Chris Saindon friend of John Martin, Navy Forrest Keith Kevin Keith s son, Navy Kyle Pringle Army Joe Brauchle Army Josh Orbinati Michele Brown s nephew, Coast Guard Craig Wolf Air Force Jonathan Heiman Navy Jon and Brianna Hartwig Army, Jill Daggs daughter and son-in-law Jessica Wehner (Gene Gunn s granddaughter) Army

5 United Methodist Women Back in Session All the women of the church are invited to the first United Methodist Women meeting of the fall. It will take place on Monday, Sept. 14 at 2:30 PM at the home of Mary Snyder, with the program led by Bethel Kay Bateman. The UMW is a loving group who join together for missions, Bible study and fellowship. We urge all the women of the church to join. For more information, call Linda Stewart at (210) Life Chain, Sunday, October 4 This year the Life Chain will take place on October 4, from 2 to 3 PM, and will take place in Lytle! Meet at the True Value parking lot around 1:45 PM to receive your sign and take your position along Main Street. The purpose of the chain, a yearly event, is to visibly show that the church is united in its Biblical stand for the sanctity of unborn human life. For more information about the Chain, talk to Linda Martin. Emmaus News Women s Walk to Emmaus #1808, sponsored by our Koinonia community, is right around the corner and many women from our church are serving on the team, including walk lay leader Michele Brown. The walk takes place October 1-4 at Mt. Wesley. Please keep this walk in your prayers. Applications, and more information, can be found in the information rack in the church entrance hallway, or on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall. In other Emmaus news, our Koinonia gathering for September will take place at St. Paul s Lutheran church in Hondo on September 11. Take a beautiful drive in the country and join other churches for a time of worship, fellowship and food. Singing starts at 7:30 PM. See you there. November 1 - Stewardship Celebration Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God has blessed us with eternal life. God also offers us the full life here and now. How do we experience that full life? We follow Jesus! This is a simple sounding step that truly takes a leap of faith. Jesus asks us to tithe, to give 10% of the income God has given us back to him, and promises us that through this good stewardship we will be blessed and we will be a blessing to others. On Sunday morning November 1, we will celebrate the ministry that has been enables through our giving, and the lives that have been changed through tithing. At the end of each service that day, God s people will be invited to come forward to make a financial faith promise for the coming year. War Room a New Movie in the Theaters My family and I recently went to the theater to see War Room, a movie about the power of prayer, and I highly recommend it. It comes from the same group that made Facing the Giants, Fireproof, and Courageous and it is both entertaining and encouraging. It reminds us of the power of the prayers of the faithful. Forum Gathering and Church Conference, November 15 Our church has been partnered with several churches in the Comino Real Forum, which runs along 1-35 from Lytle down to Laredo. The pastors of the ten churches in this forum have been meeting since the spring, but the plan is to have a gathering of church members as well. This will be an opportunity to plan joint missions, to share ideas and struggles, and to form friendships. We will also, as a small part of the gathering, be formally approving our church budget and nominations report. The gathering will be on Sunday, November 15 at Pearsall UMC. The gathering will start at 4 PM and will include a covered-dish dinner. Please mark this date on your calendar now. This gathering is for everyone! Lytle Freedom Festival, Saturday Sept. 12 The Lytle VFW would like to invite everyone to the Freedom Festival, to take place Saturday, September 12, in the Lytle City Park. The Festival will feature music, food, craft booths, and a softball tournament and a free meal for all veterans. For more information call Larry Sanders at

6 Miscellaneous News! Highway Clean-Up It has now been four years since our church adopted highway 463, starting from the Lytle water tower and heading out beyond Lake Shore Estates. Our last pick-up day, July 25, went well, and our next one is scheduled for October 17. Thank you to all our volunteers. Monday Night Men s Group All of the men of the church, and friends, are invited to a weekly men s gathering. It takes place on Monday evenings starting at 7 PM in the education building and dinner is served. The focus is fellowship and service as the guys gather to lift one another up in their daily Christian walk. Last Sunday Breakfast Taco Sales - Bowing to hungry demands, the youth group has instituted Last Sunday breakfast taco sales as a regular monthly activity. They will be selling your favorite breakfast taco before Sunday school on the last Sunday of every month. Because of a scheduling conflict, for this month only the sale will be on the 3 rd Sunday, September 20. All-Saints Sunday On Sunday, Nov. 8, we will be celebrating the lives of church members, and other loved ones of our church family, who have died during the past year. During our annual All Saints Day, roses will be brought forward as a memorial. Please contact Rev. Scott Martin if you would like to participate in this special ceremony. Quilt Club A quilt club, headed by Debbie Bacon meets in the fellowship hall on the 2 nd Thursday of each month, and the 1 st Saturday. For more information, please contact her at (830)