PARTICIPANT OR BYSTANDER?

Transcription

1 August 4, 2013 PARTICIPANT OR BYSTANDER? In his book, Unfinished, Richard Sterne issues the following call to participate in God s great rescue plan: The gospel message of Jesus was not just an offer of forgiveness; it was his call to enlist; it was a recruitment to join the great mission of God in reclaiming his world from enemy occupation. It was not a call to withdraw into our churches with our salvation secure, to await our rescue from this fallen world. No, it was a call to arms in a revolution to overthrow the other kingdoms that control the lives of God s children; it was a call to rescue them from their captivity. It was an invitation to become God s partner in restoring, reforming and redeeming every dimension of human life. But invitations must be accepted. God invites us, but he will not force us. You can choose to refuse. You can decide to stand on the sidelines as a bystander to the great mission of God to restore his kingdom and rescue his children. You can let God s great purpose for your life pass you by. But how sad to live your life as a bystander. (p.81) Jim THE CHURCH STAFF Rev. James W. Smith... Senior Minister Christie Umpleby... Preschool Director Rev. Noel C. Perez... Hispanic Minister Mike Jones... Church Administrator Rev. David Warlick... Minister of Worship Arts Stephen Thompson... Sound & Maintenance Charles McLendon... Director of Student Ministries Elaine Smith... Finance Secretary Alwen Yeung... Pianist/Accompanist Anne Hunter... Church Hostess Mark Watford... Organist Connie Brodess... Secretary Christi Barr... Praise Team Leader Lyn Dozier... Secretary 200 South Lee Street Americus, Georgia office@fumcamericus.com

2 Americus First United Methodist Church MORNING WORSHIP August 4, :00 a.m. in the Sanctuary Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost/Holy Communion PRE-WORSHIP MUSIC WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Mark Watford (Please fill out your communication card and place it in the offering plate later in worship.) *HYMN OF PRAISE #103 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise *AFFIRMATION OF FAITH #881 The Apostles Creed *GLORIA PATRI #71 Glory Be to the Father PASTORAL PRAYER, LORD S PRAYER #895 CHORAL RESPONSE Breathe on Me, Breath of God (Robert Jackson) 3K to 2nd Grade Children dismissed to Children s Church with Christie Umpleby. *SONG OF PREPARATION More Precious than Silver SCRIPTURE READING Exodus 32:1-24 THE MESSAGE Golden Calf Religion Sermon Series: Stories from the Old Testament Why They Matter TITHES, OFFERINGS and COMMUNICATION CARDS OFFERTORY PRAYER OFFERTORY ANTHEM Communion Song Kalynn Partridge, Flutist Chancel Choir *DOXOLOGY #95 SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION *BENEDICTION *POSTLUDE Ricky Arnold, Sound Tech (Don Besig) Mark Watford, Pianist Joe Castongia, Media Tech Servers: Anne Gilfoil, Walter Stapleton, Anne Hunter and Jim Smith Preparer: Mary Lafevers; Replenisher: David Warlick * Congregation stands. Please see an usher for an assisted listening device. Welcome, Guests, to Americus First United Methodist Church! We are glad you are here and hope you worship with us again. We invite you to join our congregation. If you are interested in membership, call at

3 Americus First United Methodist Church Contemporary Worship August 4, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. Golden Calf Religion Scripture: Exodus 32:1-24 Sermon Series: Stories from the Old Testament...Why They Matter Sacrament of Holy Communion Servers: Linda & Smitty Eason, David Warlick and Jim Smith Praise Team Christi Barr, Leader/keyboard and vocals Paul Farr, percussion; Keith Pinckard, acoustic guitar Stephen Thompson, electric guitar; Nathan Bateman, bass guitar Pam Cannon, vocals Joe Castongia, Media Tech Travis Warlick, Sound Tech AUGUST 4, 2013 GREETERS AND USHERS 9:00 Greeters for August Susan & Wade Barr 11:00 Greeters for August 4, 2013 Front Door Priscilla & Frank Pool North Door Jim West South Door Leslie & Matt Stewart 11:00 Ushers for August 4, 2013 Captain Carson Walker, Andrew Austin, Greg Austin, Louis Bridges, Jim Buchanan, Mike Denham, Jim Gatewood, Franklin Hardin, Sam Hunter, Randy Jones, Bill NeSmith, Mark Pace, Robert Parks, Jimmy Williams IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS Georgia Anne Arthur, Sue Bradley, Jule Brown, Beth Carroll, Carolyn Daniel, Vickie Dozier, Freddie Dudley, Matthew MJ Benson-Dursse, Walt Grant, Steve Griffin, Carey Harbuck, Darrel Harbuck, Kathy Hardee, Kenneth Hardee, Oscar Hardee, Billy Horne, Mary Hunt, Anne Hurst, Cooper Kurth, Norinne Lowell, Ben McMahan, Colton Moore, Rachel Nolley, Jack Partain, Ginger Perkins, Geri Smarr, Brenda Stanfield, Betty Teasley, Rodney Vance, Kathy Vickers, Hazel Waller, Julian Webb, James Wiggins, Louise Wiggins, Keith Wilson and Liz Wilson Prayer Pager: Walton Grant

4 OUR LOVE AND SYMPATHY To Mary Polly Oxford and family on the death of her father, Eldridge Wells Perry, on July 24, Love and sympathy also to his brother, Bill Perry, and family. MEMORIAL GIFTS In Memory of Mrs. Angie (Tom) Marshall From Claire R. Zant BODY SCULPTING EXERCISE Join us on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00-4:00 pm. Upstairs in the Sanctuary Building of FUMC. $6 per session - All are welcome to join. Led by Gail Walters NEW PHOTO DIRECTORY We are preparing a new directory to connect our church family! You may sign up for your Lifetouch portrait session online at our website When you see Jim s picture, the directory signup is the blue box on the right. Beginning this Sunday, you will be able to sign up before and after 9:00 worship, 10:00 Sunday School and 11:00 worship. The portrait sessions will be held August 22, 23 and 24 as well as September 6 and 7. We need YOU to make our new directory complete! Sign up soon to get the date and time you want! OUR RECORD OF FAITHFULNESS Membership: 960 Total Worship Attendance: 332 9:00 Worship Attendance Hispanic Worship Attendance :00 Worship Attendance Hispanic Offering... $613 Sunday School Attendance Hispanic Offering YTD... $22,844 UMYF Benevolent Fund YTD... $3,895 Budget Giving... $11,805 Budget Giving YTD... $393,118 Reminder: You may make donations to the church by automatic draft. To do so, just call Elaine in the finance office at

5 THANK YOU! The week was filled with anticipation and excitement as we practiced and worked on Land of the Lost & Found. Thank you to the 30 children who participated in Music & Arts Camp this year! You were great fun to work with and you really did beautifully presenting the musical, Land of the Lost & Found, both at Magnolia Manor on Saturday and in our Social Hall on Sunday. Special thanks to the adults who worked so hard before and during the week to make such a wonderful experience for our children as well as for the congregation. The energy from the adults was captivating, exhilarating and contagious STAFF Michelle Andrews Drama Christi Barr Choreographer, Drama Ashley Beaver Photography Mary Comer Photography Kendall Dragoin Choreography Assistant Valerie Duff Camp Coordinator; Something Fun Teacher; Costumes Rosalind Gatian Soloist s Coach Tiffany Gilbert Scenery, Sets and Props Assistant Amy Hamrick Registration and Attendance Deanna Hudgins Crafts Assistant Anne Hunter Kitchen and Food Reba Hunter Crafts Teacher; Scenery, Sets and Props Assistant Barbara Raines Lead Scenery, Sets and Props; Instruments Assistant Candy Riccardi Singing/Music Teacher Stephen Thompson Instruments Teacher; Videography Tommie Thompson Support Staff Travis Warlick Sound System ENNEAGRAM STUDY Thursdays: August 29 and September 5 5:30 9:00 p.m. (meal included) Sheffield-Wootten Classroom at FUMC Register for Class with $25.00 deposit for book (Richard Rohr s The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective) and two suppers. Couples can register for $40.00 if they want to share one book. The Enneagram is an ancient spiritual development tool. Every person falls into one of nine types. This class seeks to confirm your type in two lessons. The only outside study required is completion of a selfassessment prior to class beginning. For more information, contact Drenda Sternenberg at Drenda.sternenberg@gmail.com or

6 HAPPENING THIS WEEK Sunday, August 4, :00 a.m. Contemporary Worship in the Social Hall 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Morning Worship in the Sanctuary 5:00 p.m. Prayer Connection 6:00 p.m. UMYF Monday, August 5, :30 p.m. Staff Meeting 5:00 p.m. Safe Sanctuaries Meeting in the Wesley Class Wednesday, August 7, :45 p.m. Youth supper and Bible Study in the Foundry PRECEPT BIBLE STUDY PRECEPT BIBLE STUDY CLASSES BEGIN SEPTEMBER 9. We are studying John Part II and offering 3 class times and places: Monday: Central Baptist 10 am to 12 pm Monday: First United Methodist 7 pm to 9pm Tuesday: Ellaville Methodist 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm We would love to have you join us! For information and to sign up please call Ginny Jones at STOP HUNGER NOW With nearly a billion people worldwide suffering from chronic malnourishment, every Stop Hunger Now meal makes a difference. Join us on Saturday, 9:45 a.m. noon to pack meals for hungry children around the world! Last year we packed 10,000 meals in less than 2 hours! This year our goal is 15,000 meals. Bring your whole family all ages from 4 and up! Contact the church office at or office@fumcamericus.com to sign up to pack meals. MAGNOLIA MANOR RUN & WALK FUN COLOR RUN & LOVE WALK Saturday, September 14, :30 a.m. Celebrating 50 years! Magnolia Manor Campus 2001 S. Lee Street, Americus, GA Register online at Or call The Color Run is a five-kilometer, untimed race in which participants are doused with color at each kilometer. The color is non-toxic, non-rash inducing, colored cornstarch.

7 Calendar Dates for August 18, 2013 Children s Promotion Sunday Social Hall August 22-24, 2013 FUMC DIRECTORY LIFETOUCH PORTRAIT SESSIONS Wesley Classroom August CHANCEL CHOIR RETREAT August 29 and September 5, 2013 Enneagram Study Sheffield-Wootten Classroom September FUMC DIRECTORY LIFFETOUCH PROTRAIT SESSIONS Wesley Classroom September 20-21, 2013 Fall Consignment Sale Bright Beginnings FUMC Social Hall October 13-16, 2013 Evelyn Laycock Bible Study Series Beginning...and Beginning Again: Studies in Genesis and Acts Epworth by the Sea October TRUNK OR TREAT FUMC Parking Lot November 6, 2013 Charge Conference November 15-17, 2013 Advent Retreat Come Away. A Time for Comfort, A Time for Joy A 3-day Retreat for Mothers who Grieve Epworth by the Sea December 24, 2013 Christmas Eve Communion And Candlelight Service 5:00 pm September 14, 2013 STOP HUNGER NOW Social Hall September 14, 2013 FUN COLOR RUN & LOVE WALK FOR MAGNOLIA MANOR Magnolia Manor December 4, 2013 Deck the Halls December 8, 2013 Christmas Musical at 11:00 am Sunday School Rooms & Doors December 9, 2013 Christmas Musical at 7:00 pm Church Office Hours Monday-Thursday: 9:00a to 5:00p Friday: 9:00 a.m. to noon Friday is Jim s, David s, and Charles day off. Finance Office Hours Monday - Thursday: