THE LOVE LETTER. From Pastor Danny... JULY 2011 BENTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

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1 From Pastor Danny... BENTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH JULY 2011 Grace and peace to you in the Name and Spirit of Jesus Christ! When people have asked, Are you all settled in yet? My common reply has been, Not yet, but we have everything under one roof. Moving is always an adventure! My wife and I moved: in 1991 when we got married (1); to Bossier City after seminary in 1992 to serve as the Associate Pastor of First UMC, Bossier City (2); to Moss Bluff in 1997 to serve as the pastor of the Moss Bluff UMC (3); to St. Francisville in 2005 to serve as the Senior Pastor of St. Francisville UMC (4); and now to Benton in 2011 to serve as your pastor (5). Five moves in twenty years of marriage sounds like a lot. Each move has always been filled with anxiety, unsettledness, and exhaustion, but also each move has been filled with excitement, joy and blessing. This was Matthew s first move since his birth. (Technically we were pregnant with Matthew when we moved to St. Francisville.) For him everything is different and new. A new house, a new school, a new church, a new Sunday School teacher, a new after school care, a new everything. His little world has been rearranged. Matthew s transition became easier when he was able to see his new bedroom, his backyard that has a golf course in it, his new school that has a bear in front of it, and his new church that has a drum set in it. All of these things began to help him adjust to a new situation. Our son Matthew s move to Benton reminds me of how as humans we are always trying to make life as comfortable as it can be and how God is always inviting us to leave the comfort zone and go into the unknown. Look at Abraham Now the LORD said to Abram, Go from your country and your kindred and your father s house to the land that I will show you. (Genesis 12:1 NRSV) Abram/Abraham was seventy-five when he left his father s home. He left home not knowing exactly where he would be going. God only said to the land that I will show you. Abram went from a house to a tent that he pitched nightly and took down every morning along this journey. God said to Abram/Abraham I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. (Genesis 12:3-4 - NRSV) In other words, God told Abram/Abraham I got your back! I am with you to the end! God s promise of a son being born to Abraham and Sarah did not happen for twenty-five years after they had departed Haran. Abraham and Sarah had great faith, and in exercising their faith, they uprooted everything and just went. Hebrews 11:1-3 reminds us: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. Faith involves knowing that God has a larger vision for your life than we can see at the present time. Faith is being open to a question mark (?) where we have put a period (.) God is inviting us to have and exercise our faith. We are excited about all of the opportunities that we have to share in growing our faith in God with you. We look forward to sharing in ministry with you. Grace and peace, Danny Gleason, Pastor WORSHIP SCHEDULE Traditional Worship 8:30 a.m. Sunday School 9:40 a.m. Contemporary Worship 10:50 a.m. Children s Church (Ages 3-3rd Grade) 11:10 a.m. REGULAR EVENTS United Methodist Men 3rd Sunday at 7:15 a.m. Breakfast Zumba Mondays at 5:30 p.m. Tues. & Thurs. at 9:00 a.m. Prayer Shawl Ministry 1st Monday at 6:30 p.m. United Methodist Women Circle Meetings 3rd Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. 3rd Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. Prayer Group Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m. OPALS 4th Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. Souper Saturday Last Saturday of Each Month at 8:00 a.m. Waverunners Sundays & Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.

2 PAGE 2 From Dianne Becoming the Person I Want to Be... I see quality characteristics in other people that I would like to attain. Why can t I be more loving, generous, and kind-hearted? Instead I find myself being selfish of my time and resources, thinking more of what I want than what I can provide for others. I found an article that listed the qualities of a Christian steward. It occurred to me that to become what I want to be I need to live out what God desires of me. It is not something I can do on my own. 1. A Christian steward is compassionate. 2. A Christian steward is content. 3. A Christian steward is generous. 4. A Christian steward is grateful. 5. A Christian steward is loving. 6. A Christian steward is loyal. 7. A Christian steward is obedient. 8. A Christian steward is prayerful. 9. A Christian steward is responsible. 10. A Christian steward sacrifices. 11. A Christian steward shares. 12. A Christian steward is trustworthy. It s interesting that there are twelve qualities. I am going to enter into my own twelve step program, beginning with Compassion. You can help me by not enabling me to slide back into my old habits. And I would love it if you would join me as we seek to grow deeply, living out the compassion that Jesus showed to us and for us. Christian stewards are caretakers and caregivers. They concern themselves with the distribution of gifts and resources so that all might benefit (Genesis 2:4-9; Matthew 14:13-21; Matthew 25:31-46; I Corinthians 12:12-28; James 2:14-17). Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it (I Corinthians 12:27) Applying Bible Principles... If you read annual reports from publicly held companies or banks, you will frequently see the word fiduciary. Fiduciary is used as an adjective to describe something which is held in trust. It is also used as a noun to describe the one who is a trustee who must account for that which is held in trust. For example, a bank president has a fiduciary responsibility to stockholders in the bank and to depositors who place their money in the bank. A company treasurer has a fiduciary responsibility to the owners of the company. A payroll clerk has a fiduciary responsibility to pay people what they have earned. You may never have considered yourself a fiduciary, and you may never have acted officially in a fiduciary capacity, but in reality, you are a fiduciary. All of us are. That applies both to Christians and to those who are not part of God s family through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We who are Christians will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ. There, we will not be judged for salvation, since the penalty and judgment for sin was settled once and for all on the cross of Calvary when the Lord Jesus paid the price for our sin. Instead, when we stand before Christ, we will give an account of how we have used what God has entrusted to us. Just as a bank president must account to stockholders and depositors on how their funds are used, we must account to Christ for how we have used what God has entrusted to us. Since everything we have rightfully belongs to Him, we will need to report on how we have managed His assets! As you consider how you have used what God has entrusted to your care and keeping during the past few months, what kind of job have you done? And more importantly, as a fiduciary of what God has placed in your hands, will you stand before Him with joy, eager to report on your giving and management of His assets?

3 Page 3 United Methodist Women News A NEW BUMC COOKBOOK IS COMING! It has been several years since our last cookbook was published and many requests have been made for a new one. Jill Frost will coordinate the publication of this edition and she needs our help. Recipes can be submitted in two ways. They may be submitted online or written on the form that is provided. Forms will be passed around in the adult Sunday school classes on July 3rd. Additional forms will be available from Rachel in the church office. The deadline is JULY 31st, so we need to get busy. We hope to have these books available for sale by October 15th. That is the date of our upcoming indoor bazaar. They will make great Christmas gifts You will want several!!! To submit your form online: 1. Choose a favorite recipe to share 2. Go to 3. Login: BUMC-UMW 4. Password: 7xh2b 5. Follow the directions on the screen 6. Deadline is July 31, 2011 Proceeds from this project will help fund mission projects. Thanks for your help. Betty Russell Pairs & Spares presented this gift to Lynn and Vanessa because they started the Pairs & Spares Sunday School Class. The Ed DeBusk Memorial Prayer Chapel was dedicated on June 26, We remember with love the witness that Ed lived throughout his life and are thankful that his family carries his banner. O.P.A.L.S Older People with Active Lifestyles invites everyone to attend their meeting scheduled for Tuesday, July 26 at 11:30 a.m. in our Family Life Worship Center. Bingo is on the agenda for that day. Come out and play with us everyone is welcome! Hope to see you. Call the church office at to reserve your spot. ~Joann Horton Supporting Our Military Troops If you have a loved one overseas, please send us their address. We will publish it in the newsletter so your church family can send cards and care packages to encourage our troops. bentonumc@bellsouth.net or call the church office at Ministry Update: If your ministry is not listed or has outdated or incorrect information, please contact us so we can update your web page! Contact: Rachel Stoneman or bentonumc@bellsouth.net

4 PAGE 4 Northwest Louisiana Food Bank & Benton UMC Emergency Food Pantry Our church has embarked on a mission to aid the Northwest Louisiana Food Bank in distributing food to those who truly need it to survive and creating the Benton UMC Emergency Food Pantry. These are two separate pantries supported by you. However, each are supported in different ways. The differences in the two are as follows: The Northwest Louisiana Food Bank supplies us food from the USDA program and other food at a discount rate. Each family applies for approval in the program because it is supported mainly by the USDA. There are many regulations to comply with, and one is that we cannot distribute food to a family that has not been approved for the USDA program. That is why we now have the Benton UMC Emergency Food Pantry. The Benton UMC Emergency Food Pantry is used for first time families in need. When they call or visit the church needing help, we tell them about the NW LA Food Bank and help them fill out their application. We can give them an emergency food box to help them until their application has been approved. This helps bridge the gap between the two programs, and the people in emergent need are helped. To continue this program, we need donations of the items listed in the Food Pantry Items Needed box below. To help you, we will have brown paper bags with the list of these items in the foyers of the church and in the church office. Please take a bag with you, fill it up and bring it back the next Sunday or during regular office hours. Place your filled bags outside of the administrator s office in the hallway across from the elevator. There will be a table set up for you. We need YOU to help support this program. This is an ongoing program that will need continuous help. If you don t like to shop, you can always make a donation to the Food Pantry, and we can do the shopping for you. In conjunction with our mission to provide food for those who are hungry, we hope to collect and provide clothing for those who truly have a need. We will begin in July collecting clean, gently used and new clothing. There will be a table in the North foyer that is marked FOR CLOTHES CLOSET. We are looking for clothing for children and infants, youth, and school uniform shirts and pants/shorts. We need all kinds of clothing, but more for our small ones. Also we need someone to step forward to head this mission and more servants to help the leader sort and store the clothing. If this is your passion and you want to help others, contact Rev. Danny Gleason, Ron Jones or Rachel/Dianne in the office at GOD NEEDS YOU TO SERVE HIS CHILDREN. Canned Vegetables Canned Soup Cereal Rice Flour Sugar Peanut Butter Jelly Food Pantry Items Needed Canned Tuna Canned Chicken Bottled Juice (not refrigerated or frozen) Spaghetti Noodles Spaghetti Sauce Dried Beans Diapers, Pull-Ups size 4 & up Missions Update... Gotta Run 5K Mission Fund Raiser We had a great time and raised $780 for mission! Thank you for your support. We still have shirts available for purchase for $10. Pick yours up in the church office before supplies run out. Plain Dealing Fans BUMC Food Pantry Wednesdays in Mission July 6 Pool of Siloam 4:30 p.m. at church July 13 Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission 4:15 p.m. at church July 20 Benton UMC & NWLA Food Bank 3:00 p.m. at church July 27 Sutton Children s Hospital 6:00 p.m. at church Thank you for your generous gifts of $ to purchase new fans for our elderly neighbors who have no air conditioning. We also appreciate those who brought fans for distribution. Thirty-six fans have been purchased and delivered. We will be making one more purchase with the remaining funds.

5 PAGE 5 Student Ministry Contact Information Chris Winterman, Student Minister Office: (318) or Cell: (318) chriswinterman@bellsouth.net Facebook: Youth News... We have been enjoying a tremendous summer in ministry as the students of Benton United Methodist Church. So far, there have been three great weeks of non -stop fun, relationships, and spiritual development with Impact Benton and Jr./Sr. High camps at Camp Caney. Coming up we have a trip to Six Flags and Hurricane Harbor, and a week at Student Life Camp at the University of North Texas in Denton, TX. Our normal ministry programming will pick back up in August with our Sunday Night INcounter Student Worship on Sunday, August 14th from 5:00-7:30 (5:00-5:30 Snack Bar, 5:30-6:30 Worship, 6:30-7:30 Sports). Thank you so much for your prayers and support for our ministry! Chris Winterman Bottom left: Worship at Camp Caney 2011; Center: Camp Caney, Hannah Easter practicing archery; Top right: Impact Benton 2011, youth scraping and painting house. Sunday: New Fall Schedule Begins August 14 4:00-4:45 Bringing Two band rehearsal 5:00-5:30 Open snack bar for students to eat (all proceeds go to our student missions account) 5:30-6:30 Student Worship 6:30-7:30 Sports Wednesday: 5:00-6:00 Bringing Two band rehearsal 6:00-6:30 Wednesday Nite Live Supper 6:30-7:30 Rotating Schedule (Small Groups 1st & 3rd Wed., Prayer 2nd Wed., Mission Project 4th Wed.)

6 PAGE 6 Children s Ministry WOW! June really had us JUMPIN'! Our LOL Kids (Living Out Loud - Grades K through 2nd) had a sleepover with lots of fun activities. We also enjoyed burgers and a game at the bowling alley. Our Treasure Hunt took us all over town with Orange Leaf yogurt as the grand prize. Of course, the high point of our June activities was PandaMania. Over 170 kids attended VBS and they gave over $2200 in pennies for our mission projects. Many thanks to each and every person who served so faithfully during the week of VBS. Our leaders included but are not limited to - Pennies - Penny King Mom-Rita Crosby, Penny King Advocate- Debbie and Laura Carroway Bible Adventures - Betty Russell and granddaughters, Ashley and Reagan Chadder - Ashley Stinson Arts and Crafts - Kim Mitchell, Shaunna Pierrelee, Theresa Laws, Lavonne and Morgan Music - Jennifer Hable Sound - Danny Gleason and Rachel Stoneman Games - Kim Cox, Leslie Cram, Jenny Cox, Will Hine, and Katie Frost Snacks - Jeanne Hine, Ginny Jones, Madeline Scott, Tommye Gray, Austin Stoneman, and Gwen Hodge Threes - Ms. Pam and Molly Beth Duddy Fours - Ms. Rose and Jamie Knippers Kindergarten - Ms. Loretta, Renae Colwick and Rachel Mitchell First and Second Graders - Ron Jones, Michelle Bailey and Ms. Peggy Third and Fourth Graders - Robin Nichols and Ms. Megan Fifth and Sixth Graders - Tanya White, Kim Winterman and Ms. Mimi The discerning heart seeks knowledge. Proverbs 15:14a Many fun and educational events are coming up in July. Please watch the bulletin, FaceBook, and your mobile phone texts for details. Week of July 5 - Art Camp, Movies, Fishing Class, and Itty Bitty Scientists Week of July 12 - Art Camp, Movies, Splish Splash, and Itty Bitty Scientists Week of July 19 - Bowling, Art Camp, Movies, 5K, and Itty Bitty Scientists Week of July 25 - Art Camp, Movies, SciPort, and Itty Bitty Scientists Plan ahead for these specific dates: July 8-5PM until 8AM - KFC Sleepover (entering grade 3 through entering grade 6) July 20 - Karin's Krewe 5K - a run in South Shreveport to defray the costs associated with my cousin's breast cancer surgery, treatment and care July 22 - Girls' Getaway - American Girl Tea Party - Dallas, TX Also join us on Friday, July 29th at 10 AM to decorate cupcakes for Souper Saturday. This is one of our outreach missions to our own community. Waverunners Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. ~ Hebrews 12:1-2a Thursdays and Sundays at 7:30 PM (NEW TIME!!) at Brownlee Park. This group is for all ages and all ability levels. It is a walk/jog/run group that works out to Christian music in a positive environment. The group also participates in 5K/marathon events to support community and nationwide services. If you have any questions, contact Kim Cox or Mary Jo Duddy.

7 PAGE 7 Other News The United Methodist Women are sponsoring a 1950 s Sock Hop. All proceeds will go to fund mission projects. Everyone is invited for a 50 s style fun time. Come out for: Food: Hamburgers, fries, sodas, floats and more Music & Dancing: The Ko Ko Mo Cruisers will perform 50 s music Best Dressed: Prizes will be awarded for the best male and female 50 s style dress Friday, August 5 at 7 p.m. Cost: $10.00 per person Tickets on sale now! Call Betty at for more information. Thank You, Benton UMC Just a few letters of thank to share with the servants of Benton United Methodist Church: From the United Methodist Committee on Relief for your contribution of $ that will go to the Japan Emergency Fund (formerly Pacific Emergency). Because you gave, UMCOR is able to be there and be hope on your behalf. From the Louisiana Prison Chapel Foundation for your support and generous donations totaling $ Your donations help provide a sanctuary where inmates, their families, countless volunteers, and prison staff can make themselves present to the life changing power of God. From the Caney Board of Trustees for your recent donation made to the Kitchen and Dining Hall Window Drive. Because of these donations, Caney s upgrades are really taking shape. Information Update! We are cleaning up the Benton UMC database and need to know if your phone, address, address, or newsletter preference has changed. Please go online and update your information or the church office at bentonumc@bellsouth.net with your updated information. Update Online at: Paperbacks for Prisoners We are collecting paperback books again for the inmates in Plain Dealing. We are in need of all kinds of paperback books, but there are a few favorite authors they would like to have: Anne Rice J.D. Robb James Patterson John Sanford Lisa Jackson Stephen King Stuart Woods John Grisham Please bring the paperback books to the church on Sunday, or during regular office hours. Office hours are Monday Thursday 8:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m. and Friday 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. All books are appreciated. Call the church office at for more information on this ministry. Please make sure all books are paperback. No hardback books allowed in the prison. Donor Recognition Tree Donor leaves are available for a minimum donation of $100 in the church office in memory or in honor of your loved one. All donations go to the Building Fund.

8 INVITING IN... GROWING UP... SENDING OUT Benton United Methodist Church 4615 Palmetto Road, Benton, Louisiana Office: (318) Fax: (318) Website: NON-PROFIT PERMIT #17 PAID U.S. POSTAGE BENTON, LA Return Service Requested A Little Slice of Heaven Sermon Series July 3 A Place of Refuge! Matthew 11:28-30 July 10 A Place of Intentional Care! Matthew 13:1-9, In The News From Pastor Danny... pg. 1 From Dianne... pg. 2 INriched... pg. 3 INvolved... pg. 4 SHELTER 491 Student Ministry... pg. 5 Beach B.U.M.S. Children s Ministry... pg. 6 July 17 A Place of Exponential Growth! Matthew 13:31-33 July 24 A Place of Great Worth! Matthew 13:44-49a July 31 Food After a Funeral Matthew 14:13-21 Deaths Reggie Futch Katie Caroline Carol Price Bobby Davis Joel Kaufman Holly Ramano Chris Key Tommye Thomas Peggy Lambert Charles Burdine Military Troops and Leaders Samantha Bergeron Alexandra Amador Jacob Randall Jacob Green Jacolbi Thomas Adam Riggs The Arbor Bill & Liz DeBusk Cypress Point Nora Wynne Beverly Quillin Horizon Bay Evelyn Futch Frances Dunnam Elsie Whittington Martha Ree Jones Ruth Dixon Pilgrim Manor Nellie Wyche Ann Husser Requests Jennifer Warner Pamela Knippers Susan Taylor Joy Porter Bill Hine Anita Nichols Holly Doyal Prayer Concerns Lane Pittard John Harper Wilkinson Jean Croom Kenny Powell Ron Gormanous Corey Thomas, Jr. Tameka Ziegler Janey Hockenhull Mone t Zeno Luke Wedgeworth Mary Walker Landon Blackmon Renee DeHondt Joe Beaubeouf Doris Harper Martha May Grisham Michelle Kenny Keri Babcock George Warke Mike Farnam Larry Trant Larry Barbalousse Madelynne Grace Chico Katie Barton Mason Barr Dewey Thurman Michael Stone Suzette Jim Owens Jake Duddy Pat Rahm Don Hebert Cleve Davidson Winnie Shneider Belinda Kennedy