The witness A PUBLICATION OF TOMS BROOK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH FEBRUARY Greetings my friends in the Name of the Lord!

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1 The witness A PUBLICATION OF TOMS BROOK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH FEBRUARY 2017 Greetings my friends in the Name of the Lord! The world needs Jesus. Wow, is that ever obvious. And we, my friends, have been given the job of bringing the good news about Jesus to the world. In order to testify about Jesus sacrifice on the cross and His forgiveness of my sins, with integrity, I must show that I have been transformed by His mighty power and am a living example of what God can do in a person s life. This is what the Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 1:27 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. Jesus even said in John 13:35, Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. If we are to make a difference for the Kingdom of God, we must be unified. We must fight against the enemy, the devil, not each other. As Paul writes in Ephesians 6:11, Put on all of God s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. Paul even says the shield of faith is designed to, to stop the fiery arrows of the devil, (6:16). I not only wear the armor of God, but the Lord has also given me weapons to fight with in the great battle with which we are engaged. Paul writes in II Corinthians 10:4-5, We use God s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. Wow, that does not sound like church as usual, that sounds more like the church in the Book of Acts. And so it is. We are the same church and face the same struggles now as it did then. And the same Lord then is the same Lord now. Jesus continues to lead His church to victory of which we also are a part. Let us pray, Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thank You for giving us Your armor to wear, and Your weapons to fight with. Help us learn how to fight together as You lead us to witness for our faith in You. In Jesus Name, amen. The peace of God be with you, Pastor Stan

2 Page 2 Wednesday Souper Suppers Lenten Souper Suppers begin at 6:15 p.m. on Ash Wednesday, March 1 Please bring donations for our weekly Mission Focus. Pastor Stan Thompson will be the guest speaker for March 1, but other Wednesdays will have surprise guest speakers. March 1 Ash Wednesday Service 7:00 p.m. Supper Host: Hearts & Hands Mission Focus: Lend-a-Hand (a free-will offering) Speaker: Pastor Stan Thompson March 8 Supper Host: Master s Choir Mission Focus: A Small Hand (Items needed are sippy cups, children s toothpaste, and/or donation) If you haven t helped in the past with hosng a meal and would like to help this year, please contact the group that you would like to help or contact Shelba Funk ( ). More groups will be listed in the March newsle(er. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. Matthew 5:9

3 Hearts & Hands Page 3 Hearts and Hands will meet on Tuesday, February 21, at 7:00 p.m. Once again our program will be "Ask the Preacher" with Dr. Stan Thompson. Emmaus Gathering An Emmaus Gathering will be held on Saturday, February 25, at 10 a.m. at Toms Brook UMC. Read Through the Bible This two-year read-through-the-bible program was compiled by our very own Pastor Stan Thompson. If you haven t done this already, it is a blessing. We hope you will be inspired to begin in 2017! You may find copies on the back table in the sanctuary. Winter Church Closing Information When bad weather requires cancellaon of our church services or meengs, please look to radio staon WSVG (7.90 AM), WHSV-TV, or their web-site: or our church website: for up-to-date cancellaon informaon Church Directory The church office has published our new 2017 Church Directory. Please pick-up your copy on the back table in the sanctuary. However, if you are unable to pick one up at the church and would like one mailed to you please contact the church office ( or tbumc@shentel.net).

4 Page 4 Blessings From You I thank you dear Lord for so many things; for puppies, for thumbs and butterfly wings. For pumpkins, for snowflakes and sunsets at night; for oceans, for coffee and dawn's early light. Blessings, oh what would I do without all these wonderful blessings from you? For smelling, for seeing, and hearing a tune; for crocus in March and fireflies in June. For hands that we hold and kisses on cheeks, for months of the year and days of the week. Blessings, oh what would I do without all these wonderful blessings from you? For sleeping, for waking, and friends that we know; for sky up above and grass down below. For mothers, for children and husbands that love; for gifts that you give us from high up above. Blessings, oh what would I do without all these wonderful blessings from you? And when I lay down my head for the night, I'm glad that you're watching and holding me tight. ~ Written by Jennifer Wieber Food Collections and Outreach Reports Lend-a-Hand Report - In December, the church had 12 calls or visits and spent $ for area outreach to 7 people/families with $100 being sent to Valley Christian Outreach. Compassion Cupboard - The donations for January were: 3 (24) oz. cans of spaghetti sauce, and 3 (1) lb. boxes of spaghetti pasta. Bread of Life Food Pantry distributed 5,274 pounds of food in December to 85 families, which consisted of 263 individuals. Giving Tree totals were 45 hats, 63 gloves/mittens, 24 pairs of socks and 4 scarves donated to the Shenandoah County Pregnancy Center and A Small Hand - thank you for giving generously!

5 Page 5 Children s Valentine Page

6 Page 6 Lay Ministry for February Traditional Worship-8:30 a.m. Modern Worship-11:00 a.m. Inside Greeters: Leo & Gloria Ryman Steve & Ellen Kern Acolyte: Natalee Peterson Ushers: Robert Neff Mary Fay Leo Ryman Gloria Ryman Kevin Keller Visual Creation: Run Visuals: J.J. Funkhouser Brian Funkhouser Sharon McCarthy Sharon Keller Sound Board : Doug Midkiff Ed Smallwood Communion: Diana Bauserman Set-up Dr. Stan Thompson, Bobby Funkhouser Servers Ellen Kern Set-up Dr. Stan Thompson, Rotating Servers S.S. Devotional Leaders/Pianists: Coordinator: Shelba Funk February 5 Gloria Ryman/Marcy Bauserman February 12 Jeff Delano/Marcy Bauserman February 19 Sharon Maynard/Marcy Bauserman February 26 Shelba Funk /Marcy Bauserman Note: This list will be posted on the church bullen board for your convenience. Please find a substute if you are unable to be present on a Sunday when you are scheduled to serve. Devoon leaders should contact the coordinator at the number provided. Jesus said to him, You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. Mahew 22:37

7 Sermons & Scriptures for February Page 7 February 5 I Will Give You Authority Over All the Nations Revelation 2:18-29 February 12 I Will Give You a White Robe Revelation 3:1-6 February 19 You Will Be Citizens of the New Jerusalem Revelation 3:7-13 February 26 You Will Sit with Me on My Throne Revelation 3:14-22 Birthdays & Anniversaries February 1 Emme( Umberger 3 Riley Gochenour 4 Larry Himelright 4 Nancy Moffat 8 Susan Moose 9 Elizabeth McCoy 10 Juli Kent 15 Kitra French 15 Jaden Murphy 16 Karaline Brill 16 Leta Sckler 16 Abigail Davis 18 Debbie Buckley 18 Amelia Gochenour 18 Bill Menges 19 Dale McCoy 20 Derek Burgess 21 Rhonda Lively 21 Hunter Funk 21 DoLe Bradbury 23 Alyssa Sckley 24 Shelba Funk 24 Phyllis Himelright 24 Alex Wieber 25 Stephanie Ryman 27 Sara McClelland 28 Brian Morefield 28 Mil Wallen Anniversaries 2 John & Nancy Easto 5 Paul & Debbie Buckley Sermon Podcast You may now listen to Pastor Stan Thompson s sermons on Revelaon our website. Just go to: hp:// and click on the latest media link.

8 Page 8 Toms Brook UMC 3263 N. Main St., P.O. Box 99, Toms Brook, VA Office Phone: tbumc@shentel.net Web: tomsbrookumc.net Minister: Dr. Stan Thompson Cell: stantherock@hotmail.com *** ~ Sunday Worship Schedule ~ Tradional Worship: 8:30 a.m. Life Applicaon Classes: 9:45 a.m. Modern Worship: 11:00 a.m. ~Monday thru Friday~ Morning Prayer Service: 7 a.m. What is the Walk to Emmaus? The Walk to Emmaus is a spiritual renewal program intended to strengthen the local church through the development of Christian disciples and leaders. The Walk to Emmaus experience begins with a 72-hour short course in Christianity, comprised of fifteen talks by lay and clergy on the themes of God's grace, disciplines of Christian discipleship, and what it means to be the church. The course is wrapped in prayer and meditation, special times of worship, and daily celebration of Holy Communion. This short course in Christianity is a highly structured weekend designed to strengthen and renew the faith of Christian people, and through them their families, congregations and the world in which they live. It is a combined effort of laity and clergy and is non-denominational. The Walk to Emmaus is a division of the Upper Room Ministries. If you would like to know more contact Elizabeth Davis at or go to: TOMS BROOK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH P.O. Box 99 Toms Brook, VA POSTMASTER: RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED