THE FIRST WORD A publication of Ellijay First United Methodist Church April 2015

Transcription

1 THE FIRST WORD A publication of Ellijay First United Methodist Church April 2015 On Easter Sunday, we will once again place fresh flowers on the cross. Please remember to bring flowers that morning and place them on the cross as you enter the sanctuary. If you have extra flowers, please bring them to share. Maundy Thursday Communion and Foot Washing Service begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 2, 2015 Rev. Jim Kroninger will deliver the message. 5:30 p.m. Fellowship Hall April 1 Girl Scouts Barbeque Chicken Sandwiches April 8 No Supper April 15 Youth April 22 UMM April 29 Kenya Project

2 April 5, Easter Brunch, 9:45 a.m. (During Sunday School hour) Bring your favorite breakfast dish to share. April 12, Soup, sandwich, and dessert luncheon, sponsored by UMW Noon Circle. The lunch will be available after Sunday School and after the 11:00 service. The cost is $6 per plate. Cary-out meals will also be available. Proceeds will go to fund our mission projects. April 19, G.R.A.S.P. Cookout Celebration, following 11:00 service. Everyone is invited to come enjoy hamburgers and hotdogs after church and to hear about our plans for GRASP 2015! Testimonies from last year will be shared, as well as ways you can get involved this year. SUNDAY 8:45 a.m. Early Worship 9:45 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Worship 5:00 p.m. Handbell practice 6:00 p.m. Impact Youth ONGOING WEEKLY EVENTS Each Monday 4:45 p.m. Zumba BODY AND SOUL exercise for ladies 1st Monday 5:30 p.m. Finance Committee Meeting May 4 6:00 p.m. Administrative Council Meeting May 4 2nd Monday 6:30 p.m. UMW Claddagh Night Circle - April 13 4th Monday 11:30 a.m. Prayer Shawl Workshop April 27 Each Tuesday 11:00 a.m. Adult Bible Study BYKOTA CLASSROOM 1st Tuesday 8:00 a.m. UMM Prayer Breakfast/Meeting at Annie s April 7 3rd Tuesday 6:30 p.m. UMM Dinner & meeting Shane s Rib Shack April 21 3rd Tuesday 12:00 noon UMW Noon Circle April 21 Each Wednesday 4:00 p.m. S.A.L.T. Saved-Accepted-Loved-Transformed Grades 6, 7, 8 5:30 p.m. Wednesday Night Family & Friends Dinner 5:45 p.m. Grace Notes 6:00 p.m. Youth IMPACT (9th 12th grade) 6:00 p.m. Children s Wednesday Night program/choir 6:30 p.m. Adult Choir Rehearsal 1st Wednesday 5:00 p.m. Board of Trustees Meeting, BYKOTA CLASSROOM Each Thursday 4:45 p.m. Zumba BODY AND SOUL exercise for ladies 1st Thursday 11:00 a.m. Joy Circle April 2 2nd Thursday 11:30 a.m. Single Ladies Lunch April 9 Each Saturday 9:30 a.m. Zumba BODY AND SOUL exercise for ladies

3 MISSION TRIP CONFERENCE RETREAT CENTER IN DAHLONEGA Camp Glisson. We will meet at Camp Glisson Welcome Center on April 20, 2015, at 9 a.m. We will check into our lodging, meet our work director, and get lined out for our tasks. Patti Bell and Barbara Chapman have agreed to oversee food arrangements. If you have an interest in a day trip or stay over, please let it be known by getting your name on a sign up sheet at the office. Thank you Your Missions Committee Tom Lowery, Chair There will be a brief meeting of the group at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15, after supper. Grow Camp is coming to Ellijay FUMC! Rising 1st 6th Graders July 20 24, 2015 This camp is sponsored by Camp Glisson which is part of the UMC North Georgia Camp & Retreat Ministries. On-line registration is available at growdaycamps.org. Paper flyers for registration will be available soon. Please see Marianne if you need scholarship help. This is a great introduction to a traditional camp without spending the night away. Please sign up by Tuesday at noon. There will be sign up sheets at all three entrances to the sanctuary on Sunday. You can call the office ( ); the office (office@fumcellijay.org); or fill out the form on the website ( under the Wednesday Night Supper Tab. Welcome Dan and Judy Serritella

4 The United Methodist Men continue to meet at Annie's Restaurant at 8 a.m. on Maddox Dr. on the first Tuesday of each month for our Prayer Breakfast and devotional. Our evening meetings are held on the third Tuesday at Shane's Rib Shack at 6 p.m. We welcome ALL men of the church to come and participate in these exciting fellowship opportunities. Our next breakfast meeting will be April 7, 2015, at Annie s and our next dinner will be April 21, 2015, at Shane's. One other opportunity to gather and serve is on the fourth Wednesday of the month when the men prepare and serve the church s Wednesday Night dinner. This is a great time to come together to prepare and share a meal with our church members and guests. On Saturday mornings at 8:00 am there is a men s study group that meets in the youth room. Coffee is provided and men of all ages are invited to attend. For the next several weeks we will be working through a book titled A Disciples Heart. Feel free to stop in any time. "A Disciple's Heart" Dean Carlsen, Leader The United Methodist Men are continuing to meet at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday in the Cornerstone Classroom for Bible study. The current study is "A Disciple's Heart": a guide to living in the Wesleyan tradition and Christian Perfection. ALL men are encouraged to come on Saturday mornings at 8 a.m. and share in learning and fellowship. Coffee will be provided. If you have questions please Allan Tarr at allantarr@gmail.com or call him at Claddagh Night Circle meets the 2nd Monday at 6:30 p.m. Noon Circle meets the 3rd Tuesday at 12 noon. Joy Circle meets the 1st Thursday at 11 a.m.

5 OPEN HEARTS. OPEN MINDS. OPEN DOORS. Open your HEART and MIND as we OPEN THE DOORS to our Adult, Youth and Children s Sunday morning classes during the month of April friends and families are invited to explore the opportunities to strengthen your relationship and understanding of God. ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES--9:45 a.m. HELPING HANDS CLASS Helping Hands S. S. Class is studying The God We Can Know Exploring The "I AM" Sayings of Jesus by Rob FuQuay. We cancelled our March 5th Sunday meeting so by the 1st Sunday in April we will be on the 3rd lesson of this study. We will be going to Blue Ridge on Thursday, April 16th, for dinner at Blue Jeans and to see the play "The Moving of Lilla Barton" as reported in the March First Word. There will be more social get-togethers during the year. We continue to support five local charities with monthly donations and to sponsor a young boy in Kenya. We welcome anyone who is not in a Sunday School Class to join us Sunday mornings at 9:45 in the Fellowship Hall. CORNERSTONE SS CLASS On April 12, we will begin a 6 week Andy Stanley study, The Best Question Ever. Our monthly social dinner will be April 11 at the home of Patti Odell. The annual Girls Retreat will be held April The Cornerstone Class is an active group for adults of all ages. Our members are active in the Gilmer County Food Pantry, the Kenya Project, and many other church and community projects. BYKOTA The BYKOTA class (Be Ye Kind One To Another) supports the Wednesday night children s programs, the Gilmer Food Pantry, the New Beginnings Transitional Housing program, Kids Ferst and the Back Pack Program. Join Us!!! BEN BARRETT SS Class The class maintains an emergency food freezer, makes monthly donations to Gilmer Food Pantry, provides Sunday night meals for youth, and supports GRASP and Vacation Bible School with monetary donations. CROSSWALK SS CLASS has been reorganized under the leadership of Al Summers. This class is open to all adults. The class meets in Marianne s Preschool Office. Please join us! Please consider volunteering for: ~~Sunday School Teacher for 4 year olds to 1st grade (every other month) ~~Children s Church leader (once every 3 months) ~~Nursery Helper (once every 3 months) ~~Choir Leader for 4 year olds 1st grade (Wednesday s, 6 6:30 pm) Please see Marianne for more information.

6 Medicine bottles for Malawi How many of you throw away your prescription medicine bottles when they are empty? I know I do. There must be something we can do with these other than bury them in a landfill. There is a need for these empty bottles. A group collects clean bottles and sends them to Malawi. Pharmacies and hospitals in Malawi many times only have torn pieces of paper to dispense medicine to their patients. This could lead to contamination and increase the chance of children taking unneeded drugs. What we throw away, someone else has a real need for it. Below is a link for more information A box will be placed next to the church office to collect these bottles if you wish to participate. They ask to boil them to remove the labels. Once we have a quantity, I will ship them to the Malawi Project. I look upon the world as my parish John Wesley Thank you Dean Carlsen Third Annual High Tea for Ladies of All Ages Truly, Ladies of All Ages attended the Joy Circle High Tea on March 21 st. In addition to the 58 attendees, we were blessed to be served by eight gentlemen. The room was decorated like an old fashioned Tea Room with each table adorned with delicate teapots, serving pieces, and flowers. Everyone enjoyed delicious sandwiches and marvelous tea desserts. The ladies were gorgeous in their dresses and hats and the men spiffy in their black and white serving attire. Proceeds from the tea and jewelry sales will be used to support the May Medical Mission to Nakuru, Kenya. Rachel Tarr and Sandy Williams will be representing Ellijay First UMC on this trip.

7 Bringing Christ s healing love to hurting people Bringing Christ s healing love to hurting people The mission of our Stephen Ministry is To share the love of Jesus Christ by providing one-to -one, distinctively Christian care to individuals who are experiencing life s challenges and difficulties. NEEDED - Stephen Ministers: Male and Female Ever thought about becoming a Stephen Minister? Applications are being accepted for a new Stephen Minister training class. What do Stephen Ministers do? Stephen Ministers bring distinctively Christian care to those in need by working alongside our pastors to care, encourage, and provide emotional and spiritual support to people who are going through a difficult time, such as divorce, grief, hospitalization, unemployment, terminal illness, relocation, chronic illness, or loneliness. If you have a desire to share God s love with those that are hurting, consider becoming a Stephen Minister. You will join the more than 600,000 laypeople worldwide that share the love of Jesus Christ by providing one-to-one, distinctively Christian care to individuals who are experiencing life s challenges and difficulties. If you would like to be part of this ministry or would like more information about it, visit our web page at or contact one of our Stephen Leaders: Steve Ketcham at or steve.ketcham00@gmail.com ; Gwen Scarth at or gwenyth.allen@gmail.com; Sandy Williams at or sandraw460@yahoo.com. Your health and wellness committee is here to help with medical questions and referrals. You can talk to any of our RN's: Tamra Acree, Nancy Smith, Katherine Meyer, Grace Ketcham and Carol Maiyer. Jennifer Vines is our occupational therapist. We are happy to assist you. Grace Ketcham will take Blood Pressures in the office on Sunday, April 19 from 9:15 to 9:45 a.m.

8 ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE What is blood pressure? Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of your arteries. It is recorded as two numbers. The first number measures the force as your heart beats. This is called systolic pressure. The second number measures the force as your heart relaxes. This is called diastolic pressure. A measurement of 120/80 mm Hg, for example, is read as "120 over 80." The systolic pressure is 120 mm Hg. The diastolic pressure is 80 mm Hg. The "mm Hg" stands for "millimeters of mercury." When is blood pressure considered high? Blood pressure measurements fall into four categories. Normal blood pressure. Your blood pressure is normal if it's below 120/80 mm Hg. However, some doctors recommend 115/75 mm Hg as a better goal. Once it rises above 115/75 mm Hg, the risk of heart disease starts to increase. What are the risk factors for high blood pressure? MayoClinic.com lists these risk factors for high blood pressure: *Age. The risk rises as you age. Through early middle age, it is more common in men. Women are more likely to develop it after menopause. *Race. It is more common among blacks. It often starts at an earlier age than it does among whites. *Family history. *Being overweight or obese. The more you weigh, the more blood you need to bring nutrients to your tissues. As the volume of blood goes up, so does the pressure against artery walls. *Not being physically active. Inactive people tend to have faster heart rates. That makes the force of blood against your arteries harder. *Using tobacco. Tobacco use immediately raises your blood pressure on a temporary basis. And the chemicals in tobacco can damage the lining of your artery walls. *Too much salt in your diet. *Too little potassium in your diet. *Too little vitamin D. *Drinking too much alcohol. *Stress. High levels of stress can lead to a temporary, but dramatic, rise in blood pressure. *Certain chronic conditions. They include high cholesterol, diabetes, kidney disease, and sleep apnea. *Sometimes, pregnancy contributes to high blood pressure as well. What are the symptoms? High blood pressure has been called a silent killer. That's because most people who have it have no symptoms. That can be true even when blood pressure reaches very high levels. A few people with early-stage high blood pressure may have some symptoms. They may include headaches, dizzy spells or more nosebleeds than normal. But these signs don't usually occur until it reaches a severe stage. By the time these signs appear, high blood pressure may be life-threatening. Because there are usually no symptoms, it's important to have blood pressure measured regularly. Continued on next page

9 Continued from previous page Why is it so serious? High blood pressure can hurt your heart and arteries by placing too much stress on them. It can also damage other organs. The American Heart Association describes how it harms various parts of your body. How can you control HBP? Changing your lifestyle can help. Here are some of the lifestyle changes recommended on MayoClinic.com. If you have high blood pressure, be sure to talk with your doctor about taking these steps: *Eat healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy foods. Get plenty of potassium. Cut your intake of saturated fat and total fat. *Cut the salt in your diet. Try to keep your salt intake to 1,500 milligrams a day. One way is to put down the saltshaker. But be aware that there's already a lot of salt in many foods. Watch the salt content in processed foods, such as canned soups or frozen dinners. *Maintain a healthy weight. If you're overweight, losing even five pounds can lower your blood pressure. Increase your physical activity. Try for at least 30 minutes of activity each day. *Limit your alcohol. Alcohol can raise your blood pressure even when you're healthy. If you choose to drink, do so in moderation. That means one drink a day for women and people older than 65, and two a day for men. *Don't smoke. *Manage stress. Practice healthy coping skills, such as muscle relaxation and deep breathing. Try to get plenty of sleep. *Monitor your blood pressure at home. *Many people need the help of medicines. Sometimes, lifestyle changes alone aren't enough to control high blood pressure. Your doctor may prescribe medicine, too, to keep it at a safer level. By working with your doctor, you can reach your treatment goals and enjoy the benefits of better health. (Humana, May 2012) submitted by Grace Ketcham Thank you from the Parsonage Search Committee The Parsonage Search Committee would like to thank the congregation for your support during the search for a church parsonage and the final resolution at the March 18 th Church Conference. As of Friday, March 27 th we have closed on the property and now have a house that meets the parsonage guidelines of the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church to house the pastoral family serving Ellijay First United Methodist Church. Our new parsonage is located within the Ellijay City limits at 381 The Oaks Drive. Your recognition of the need for a parsonage and your financial support is deeply appreciated. Contributions toward the meeting of the down payment continue to be accepted. If you would like to contribute, please mark Parsonage Fund on your check. Lex Rainey, SPR Chair Those at the closing were: Melissa Maxie, Melinda Hadden, Kent Sanford, John Mahan, Howard Elkins, Paul Compton, and Dr. Danny Barton

10 Scout Troop 402 had a great February. We want to thank the church for allowing them to fund raise at the Wednesday night gumbo supper where they raised $348 for Sea Base this summer. They, along with Crew 402, did a great job at Scout Sunday. Sid May was right on when he talked about the effect scouting and our church have on the lives of the youth. Troop 402 presented a plaque to Ellijay First UMC for that support. They also recognized John Davis with a certificate for the tremendous job he has done as COR. March started off with a court of honor where several boys were recognized and newly elected officers were installed. A shooting weekend on the 13th was held at Rainey Mountain and the Ordeal weekend on the 22nd had several boys and one leader initiated into brotherhood. I would like to say, as Sid did, we have no idea how effecting one thing in the life of a child or anyone will have a ripple effect. Let s keep the boys and their leaders in our prayers that we lead them in the direction that He wants them to go. The Gospel According to 3:16 Study Opportunity Pastor Jim Kroninger will continue his study on Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. based on his book The Gospel According to 3:16. Having the book is not a prerequisite for attending the class. If you would be interested in a copy, please contact Jim. The cost is $10. jameskroninger@gmail.com First Tuesday of each month, 8 a.m. Breakfast Prayer meeting at Annie s Restaurant Third Tuesday of each month, 6 p.m. evening meeting at Shane s Bar B Q Each Saturday. 8 a.m. Men s Bible Study Annual Easter Egg Hunt after the 11 a.m. service Easter Sunday, April 5th Please consider making donations of plastic eggs filled with candy or a special treat. There will be an orange tub beside the office mail boxes for your donations. Thank you for your generous support for our kids.

11 IMPACT Worship Sundays 6-8 Dinner, Games, and Worship! 6 th -12 th Graders Wednesdays, 4:00-5:15 S.A.L.T. Saved-Accepted-Loved-Transformed Snack, game, and Bible study for 6 th,7 th, & 8 th Graders! High-school Small Groups Wednesdays 6:30-8:00 Girls: Faithful One Study- becoming a faithful follower of Christ! Guys: Daniel Study- Standing Strong IMPACT YOUTH GRASP COOKOUT CELEBRATION April 19th following the 11 o clock service Everyone in the congregation is invited to come enjoy hamburgers and hotdogs after church and to hear about our plans for GRASP 2015! Testimonies from last year will be shared, as well as ways you can get involved this year. We would love for you to be a part of this outreach to our community. If you have never been a part of GRASP, this is the perfect opportunity to learn more about this local mission event. GRASP June 4 7, 2015 It is that time of year again mark your calendars for GRASP June 4th-7th 2015! Be on the look out to sign up to volunteer soon! NOTES FROM THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS COMMITTEE If you know of anyone who is homebound or in the hospital, please call the church office so one of our team members can make a visit. There is a first aid kit now located in the kitchen. An AED is on the back hallway wall close to the fellowship hall. Online Giving is now available! Please visit our website If you have difficulty hearing, please see an usher before church for a hearing impaired device. ( Click on the DONATE button

12 CHILDREN S MINISTRY Join in on the fun! Join in on the friends! Join in on God s Love! Wednesday 6:30 April 5th after 11:00 service. Bring your basket! Our animal Easter Egg Hunt will be after the 11 am service on April 5th. We need our congregation s help by sending in a dozen or so filled eggs. You may fill them with candy or a special treat. There is a box outside the office. Thanks for your support as this is a special treat for our children! More Than a Movie Admit one Free (or two or three.. Bring friends!) Now Showing: The Fox and the Hound Date: April 25 Time: 7-9 Location: Fellowship Hall Come enjoy a great movie, delicious snacks, games and find out how this movie relates to the Bible. Save the Date: April 19th Celebrate Children and Youth as they lead us in worship with a play: What kind of Bird are You? Special Music! Preschool News Preschool has begun registration for Fall of Registration form on Church Website. Keep saving Box Tops! Worth 10 cents each! Children s Church Ages 3 years thru 2nd Grade. Join us after the children s sermon in church. We will sing some songs. The lesson and craft will go along with the children s sermon. We will also have a snack. We will join back up with the parents in church. Children s Church Volunteer Schedule April 5 April 12 April 19 April 26 May 3 Marianne. Diane V./Leyla L. No C.C. Marianne Debbie W. Nursery Need Volunteer Elizabeth Dorfman Need Volunteer Need Volunteer Jacqueline Poole

13 Why does the church exist? According to Matthew s Gospel, the risen Christ made it clear: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you (28:19-20) Based on this Great Commission, our United Methodist Church has stated its purpose: WE HAVE A MISSION Welcoming-Worshiping-Nurturing-Sending The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Local churches provide the most significant arena through which disciple-making occurs. So the mission of our congregation is to make disciples. This is a fourfold task.... We could abbreviate our mission as one of welcomingworshiping-nurturing-sending. From The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church 2012, p. 91. For more information on Our Faith, please visit the UMC Web Site. Ellijay First United Methodist Church 75 McCutchen Street P.O. Box 472 Ellijay, GA Church: Fax: Pastor s Residence: office@fumcellijay.org, danny@fumcellijay.org, youth@fumcellijay.org, children@fumcellijay.org Website: Church Office Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday Tamra Acree, Parish Nurse Pam Corbin, Custodian CHURCH STAFF The Reverend Dr. Danny Barton, Pastor The Reverend Alan Tarr, Assistant Pastor Charlie Bryant, Director of Music Gabrielle Cornett, Pianist Marianne Evans, Director of Children s Ministries & Preschool Ann Hanline, Administrative Assistant Kerri Anne Sanford, Youth Minister Angel Hughes, Nursery Coordinator Cheryl Smith, Organist