The Flame. The Value of a Picture- By Pastor Jim. Our Vision: Our Mission: To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world

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1 The Flame MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF PORT BYRON 1 ST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OCTOBER 2017 VOLUME 7, ISSUE 10 Our Mission: To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world The Value of a Picture- By Pastor Jim Our recent Yellowstone pack trip was tough; maybe even beyond tough. I suppose it s all a matter of perspective. At the end of the week we were cold, wet, exhausted, and just plain irritable. The backcountry of Yellowstone is tough. It s its nature. Every obstacle is between you and where you are going. Yellowstone is mountain, meadow, marshland, and river. Our Vision: by Plugging In Charging Up Living Out. The options for us and our horses at Yellowstone are survive or don t survive. As we arrived back at the trailer and headed home, I felt weak, defeated and old. As we started naming our next destinations, Yellowstone was absolutely off the list. This was our second trip to Yellowstone and we were like, screw this, there s too many options to ever come back here. Continued on page 2... In This Issue The Value of a Picture P3 Upcoming Events Announcements Church Family Special Days Spotlight on Missions G.R.O.W. NOW Initiative Bookworm Club

2 The Value of a Picture Continued My memories preceding this statement were- Falling down five flights of stairs and slamming into the wire dog cage 2 hours before leaving Driving 1250 miles straight through to get to Yellowstone The creek the beavers damed that was now up to the horses bellies and was so big you couldn t see the trail on the other side. And the creek the horses decided not to cross until Lloyd got off and led his horse through to the other side The next creek that was up the horses bellies and again they decided not to cross.finally getting the horses across but not before getting caught under my horse and getting one leg stepped on and the other leg kicked by a hoof My horse getting completely submerged in the creek, tack and all Getting delayed by two hours, riding in the dark soaked up to our arm pits, not making our first camp site, and setting up camp in the dark The rain that started again the next afternoon and continued for 2 ½ days (Yellowstone s annual September rainfall is 1.3. We got about 5 which was an exact repeat of two years ago) My winter insulated riding boots that decided they were done after last year s ride yet failed to inform me of this The three horses that got loose and trotted ¾ of a mile down the trail before I could get my horse in front of them The cinch strap that broke in the rain The stirrup fender that broke.in the rain The 10 lead line that broke.in the rain The bridal that broke.in the rain The handfuls of Advil just to be able to walk and ride Breaking camp on the last day, in the 38 degree rain, The five hour ride out in the rain wearing soaked-through gear The %#@& horses that decided none of the creek and river crossings were very scary when your headed back to the trailer The 18 hour drive home with 15 hours of pouring rain Continued on page 3...

3 The Value of a Picture Continued At some point on the way home I pulled out my camera and started to look at the pictures. They were beautiful. They were crystalline. They were invaluable. In those pictures I saw none of the things previously mentioned. I saw success. I saw obstacles overcome so that the beauty of Yellowstone was mine to hold forever. I saw family. I saw horses from Illinois that conquered the mountains of Wyoming. And that, is the value of a picture. Now, what if all of those incidents I mentioned in four days were life events. I would look to God s promises in the bible. It s full of them. Those would be my photographs in the form of scripture. That s how we survive and thrive in life. John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (NRSV)

4 UPCOMING EVENTS Children/Youth Discipleship Groups 9:15 a.m. for students in grades prek-12 th Grade PARENTS! Get your kids settled in their Sunday morning class, grab a cup of coffee and join Pastor Becky at 9:25 a.m. in the Choir Room for the month of October. We will spend time together learning how we as parents can help build and encourage a faith that will stick with our children beyond high school. ANNOUNCEMENTS Thank You This is for all the people that donated food, helped in numerous ways and came to enjoy sharing time at the Family Fall Festival. Special thanks to Rick Munson, Jenny Lee, and the entire Fellowship Team, Sue, Kathy, Kristen, Joni, Becky, Brenna. A good team working together makes it a fun time. Once more the weather cooperated, helping us to have another successful event. Ida Marie and Sue One last hurrah! One last time to cheer on the boys of fall on their home field. One last opportunity for High School students to enjoy an extra quarter with friends. Join us at PB First UMC after the home football game Friday October 20 th for a Hot Chocolate Bar Youth Mission Trip Sunday July 8-Friday July 13th Youth in grades 6-12-talk to Pastor Becky if you are interested in more information. **Fall is a busy time for youth ministry. 5 th Quarter, Cast Party, Youth Group and P3 are all starting soon. If you see any sales or have any coupons for soda (cans or 2 liters) or powdered drink mixes please pick some up. THANKS so much!!**

5 Church Family Special Days Birthdays 2 Roberta Short 2 Karen Barakat 6 Deb Boyd 7 Marvella Crabb 7 Gordon Landrum 7 Elizabeth Robinson 14 Chad Hurry 16 Jackson Tegeler (Happy 9 th ) 16 Jay Moore 16 Laila Moore (Happy 8 th ) 19 Stella Peirce (Happy 7 th ) 20 Jan Chaney 22 Billy Cox (Happy 11 th ) 22 Addison Gelande (Happy 16 th ) 23 Pastor Becky Butterfield 23 - Dorothy Light 24 Jennifer Paxton 26 Pastor Jim Crozier Anniversaries 3 Jay & Lisa Moore 6 Matt & Deb Boyd 14 Charlie & Cassandra von Motz 16 Larry & Pat Griffith Spotlight on Missions Bread for the World is our October Spotlight on Missions. Following is an excerpt from their literature: Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. By changing policies, programs, and conditions that allow hunger and poverty to persist, we provide help and opportunity far beyond the communities in which we live. God s grace in Jesus Christ moves us to help our neighbors, whether they live in the next house, the next state, or the next continent. Food is a basic need, and it is unjust that so many people must go without enough to eat. We can end hunger in our time. Everyone, including our government, must do their part. With the stroke of a pen, policies are made that redirect millions of dollars and affect millions of lives. By making our voices heard in Congress, we make our nation s laws more fair and compassionate to people in need. We will do our part to make our voices heard by writing an Offering of Letters. Sample letters (along with names and addresses) will be supplied for the members of our congregation to write letters encouraging our representatives to make funding decisions that will help put an end to hunger. These letters will then be blessed during worship and mailed.

6 The Spirit is moving on Wednesday nights at GROW. New faces, great small group leaders helping us to expand our reach to youth, 40 youth, adults and children gathered for worship. Dinner at 7- Worship at 7:35-Open to All Small Group 8-8:30-Grades And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20 Be in prayer for the 4 middle school students and two leaders who will be traveling and participating in the Middle School NOW Initiative Friday October 6-8. High School Families and Students- Mark your calendar and save the date for Senior High NOW March 2-4, 2018 Bookworm Club We continue to have a nice group of ladies meeting each month, to discuss the book for that month, as well as enjoy some treats and engaging conversation. Anyone wishing to join us would be wecome. The book we are reading for October is by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. The title is Same Kind of Different as Me?.