First United Methodist Church of Johnson City

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1 First United Methodist Church of Johnson City Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors First United Methodist Church 105 North LBJ Drive PO Box 207 Johnson City, TX Website: Angela Bacon * Carrie Anders Youth Coordinator youth@fumcjctx.org * Ronnie Birck Education Director * Cindy Leonard Wesley Nurse Mo-Fr 8-12 & CLeonard@mhm.org ************************* Pastor Lee Romero pastor@ fumcjctx.org Cell: ************************** Worship Services 8:30 a.m. Contemporary Service 10:50 a.m. Traditional Service Sunday Christian Education Classes 9:40-10:30 a.m. Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with God John Wesley Treats for Troops thanks our soldiers MAY 2017 Again this year, we re sending "goodie boxes to soldiers in a Ft. Hood unit serving overseas. We ll ship the boxes on Flag Day (June 14th), so they ll arrive in time for the 4th of July. It s a way of letting the troops know they aren t forgotten just because they can t be here for our barbecue and fireworks. We did it last summer and then again at Christmas, and both campaigns were successful, even spreading to other Methodist churches around the district. Those partner churches are doing it again, and so are we. Below is a list of suggested items soldiers appreciate, but it s not everything; you re likely to think of something yourself that hasn t occurred to us. Feel free to drop it in. The post office will provide the boxes free the only charge is for mailing and anything you can cram in one of the standard post office boxes ships for a flat rate. In fact, it may be better than the flat rate. Last year, the postal service knocked a buck off the mailing cost for us. If you want to fill your own boxes, that s fine. We only ask that you let us know how many boxes you send, so we can keep a count of boxes shipped through our program. Better yet, pick up some goodies and bring them in for our children to pack in boxes. That s our favorite, because it brings the kids into the program, and they feel proud to have played a role in a mission project that s helping support our soldiers overseas. Or just drop off a check and we ll do your shopping for you, or apply it to the shipping costs (we don t have a budget for postage). Remember our deadline is Flag Day, though. Like they say about Christmas: shop early.

2 As members of this congregation, we pledge to faithfully participate in its ministries by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service and our witness. Our Prayers...Lord Hear our prayers: for those who are ill, grieving, or facing difficult times; for those persons in nursing homes, assisted living and homebound; for our military and civilian men and women serving in harm s way and their families; for our leaders, and children everywhere. Our Presence Our Gifts 1st Service 2nd Service SS April 2nd April 9th April 16th April 23rd Year to date as of April 29, 2017 Budget Requirements Tithes Received $99,875 $115,834 Kids Lunch Club is ready to go The Kids Lunch Club is set to begin serving free lunches on Monday, June 5th, in the Activity Building. Our teams of volunteers will put lunch on the table every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11 until 12:30, right through the summer until Friday, July 28th. And every kid is welcome. When we started, we had the option of getting our food free from a government program. We d have to qualify kids with a lot of invasive screening. Only the children could eat, not the moms who brought them nor the cousins visiting from out of town. And they were only going to provide cold sandwiches and chips. We thought we could do better than that. So with the support of this and other churches, we have cooks from all over town preparing solid meals spaghetti, barbecue, tacos, sloppy joes, Frito pie, and lots more. If mom brings em in, mom eats, too. If out-of-town cousins are visiting, they re welcome, too. And, yes, we offer seconds, and the kids will come back for them, especially the ice cream. Now we need something from you. In addition to their bodies, we feed children s minds through the summer, too, by offering a free library of books they can borrow, and even keep if they like them. Last year, we had accumulated a great supply of books, but at the end of the program we weren t sure whether we d be doing it again, so we gave all our books away. Now we re back, and need to rebuild the library. If you have children s books your kids have outgrown, please blow the dust off 'em and bring em in. There are fresh minds in need of nourishment, and books can recycle again and again.

3 Disaster Used Clothing Drive was a winner as usual Our Disaster Used Clothing Drive was successful in more ways than one. First, we collected a lot of usable clothing that the Seventh-day Adventists will be able to clean, sort, package, and store until the next disaster in or near Texas, and then it will go overnight to the shelters where survivors will need it. Last year, much of what we donated went to south Louisiana, first for the widespread flooding there, and later for the survivors of the tornado that hit parts of New Orleans still trying to recover from Hurricane Katrina. We have no idea where our donations will go this year, of course. Keep an eye on the news. We didn t fill the semi jam-full this time, like we did last year, but that wasn t because we didn t have the clothes. The Adventists did a better job of dividing up the routes between their two trucks, which evened out the loads. Second, it was successful for the number of local partners participating: Community Church of the Hills, First Baptist Church, First Christian Church, Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Trinity Lutheran Church, and the Red Door resale shop all pitched in with their own collections. Getting others to work with us on community projects is one of our mission goals, because together we can accomplish much more than if we all work separately. We re doing more of that these days, and Johnson City is the better for it. Third, the same principle works with individuals. The more our members get involved in mission projects as individuals and families, the more successful those projects will be, and the more involved those folks are likely to be in the future, and we saw members helping this time who had not participated in the past. That says good things about our congregation. Now we get to rest on our laurels, but only briefly. There s more to be done and more opportunities to serve as the hands and feet of Christ. Besides, as our church builds a reputation for leadership in service, we have that reputation to live up to.

4 Our Mission to Mexico is back The three mission team members from here who joined the medical mission to Mexico are back, and all have stories to tell. The trip was to three tiny villages in the mountains of northern Mexico, only a short distance from the Rio Grande, across from Big Bend National Park, but a world away from modern medical care. In fact, the only regular medical care they get is the twice-a-year visits from the team from Misión de Candelilla in Fredericksburg. Think of it as MASH without the surgery or bullets. The team carries a complete clinic, and sets up in one village each morning. The doctors and nurses see patients all day, and the non-medical volunteers count pills in the pharmacy or keep the records. That s what our folks did this time. Rose Schwartz, who is fluent in Spanish, interviewed patients about their medical issues as they came in. After they saw the doctor, it was David Hamm who counted out their pills in the pharmacy, and George Barnette who kept the inventory records. Does pill-counting sound like a light job? The crew dispensed more than 57,000 of them over the three days! Then, after spending all day operating the clinic, the team held worship service for the residents after supper. Their isolation means they don t get religious services much more often than medical, and the town turns out for the services in their Sunday best. That was where Rose was especially valuable. Like the Pied Piper, she led the children off to their own Sunday School, using her Spanish and acting out the parts in Bible stories for a raptly attentive audience. The days are long and the work unending, but as David said, the payoff in the gratitude and appreciation of the people is more than enough to make it worth the trip. (Want to join the crew for your own mission adventure? Misión de Candelilla makes the trip to these villages every April and October, but there s a trip across to other villages every month, either for medical services or construction. New volunteers are welcome.)

5 Thoughts from the Center Office Here are several pictures of the Home for Daria. This the home that we built in a week, with the cooperation of United Methodists from throughout the conference and beyond. This project was spearheaded by Bishop Martinez. Rev. Mark Porterfield who has a ministry called Home in a Week was our General Con tractor. Rev. Porterfield is the pastor of Canyon Lake UMC. On average there were about 15 people working on the site, but for several days we were supplemented by a team of 13 people from Grace UMC (Corpus Christi). It was an amazing experience that Kathy and I participated in, as physically able. I can see us becoming more involved in this type of ministry in the future. Blessings flowed throughout the week! Blessings, Pastor Lee A Note from your Wesley Nurse We finished our first group of Daniel Plan classes and we learned a lot about living healthier for the Grace of God. We lost weight, we have more energy, and learned new healthy recipes. I am very passionate about this program and I would like to teach the classes again. If you are interested in the Daniel Plan classes, please let me know Thanks. If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:31b-32 NKJV The Daniel Plan is a healthy lifestyle program framed around abundance, not deprivation. You will enjoy eating delicious whole foods; food grown on a plant, not man-made products created in a plant. Start by bringing in the good, and with every healthy choice, you will begin to feel better. 10 Ways to Conquer Your Cravings by Dr. Daniel Amen Cravings can be the culprit that derail your good intentions to stick with a brain healthy program. Here are 10 simple changes you can make to your daily habits to get better control of your cravings. Avoid your triggers To control your cravings, you have to control your triggers. Know the people, places, and things that fuel your cravings and plan ahead for your vulnerable times. For example, take a snack when you go to the movies so you aren t tempted by the popcorn and licorice.

6 Balance your blood sugar Low blood sugar levels are associated with lower overall brain activity, including lower activity in the PFC, the brain's brake. Low brain activity here means more cravings and more bad decisions. Low blood sugar levels can make you feel hungry, irritable, or anxious all of which make you more likely to make poor choices. Here are tips to keep your blood sugar levels even throughout the day so you can reduce cravings and boost your self-control. Eat a nutritious breakfast every day. Eating a nutrient-rich breakfast helps get your blood sugar off to a good start and can help keep it balanced for hours so you don't get hungry before lunchtime. Studies show that people who maintain weight loss eat a healthy breakfast. Have smaller meals throughout the day. Big meals send your blood sugar skyrocketing only to plummet later on. Eating smaller meals helps eliminate the blood sugar rollercoaster ride that can impact your emotions and increase your cravings. Eliminate sugar, artificial sweeteners and refined carbs If you really want to decrease your cravings, you have to get rid of the artificial sweeteners and sugar in your diet. Things like candy, potatoes, white bread, pretzels, sodas, sweetened alcohol, and fruit juice causes your blood sugar to spike and then drop, so you feel great for a short while and then you feel stupid and hungry. Be very careful with high-fat, high-sugar, high-calorie foods because they work on the morphine or heroin centers of the brain and can be addictive. Eat slow carb, not low carb Carbohydrates are so important for good health. Bad carbohydrates such as simple sugars and refined products are the ones to avoid. Choose high fiber carbs like vegetables, fruits, beans, and whole grains! They will keep you fuller longer and help you with weight loss. Drink More Water Dehydration can contribute to increased hunger. When your body sends signals that it is hungry it can actually be an attempt to get more water. Sometimes hunger is disguised as dehydration. If you drink a glass of water before your meals to make you feel fuller and can moderate your food intake. Prioritize Protein Do you want to feel satisfied longer? Make sure protein is an important part of your diet. Protein fills you up and regulates your blood sugar while making your body release appetite suppressing hormones. Manage your stress Chronic stress has been associated with increased appetite, obesity, sugar and fat cravings, addiction, anxiety, heart disease, cancer, and depression. To decrease your cravings, get on a daily stress-management program including deep-breathing exercises, prayer, and other relaxation methods. Follow the 90/10 rule Make great food choices 90% of the time. For the remaining 10%, cut yourself a little slack and allow yourself margin to enjoy some of your favorite foods on occasion. (Blue Bell Ice Cream) Get moving Scientific research has found that physical activity can cut cravings whether you crave sugary snacks or things like cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs. Instead of immediately giving in to your cravings or focusing on how much you want something, get moving if at all possible. Make this a high priority and stay committed to exercising each week. Get 7 to 8 hours of sleep Have you ever noticed that after a night with almost no sleep, you wake up ravenously hungry and want to eat anything and everything in sight? That is because lack of sleep can increase cravings. It s time to explore ways to develop healthy sleep habits and put unwanted hunger to rest. Daniel Plan.com Cindy Leonard, RN, is a Wesley Nurse with Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. (MHM). MHM s Wesley Nurse program is a faith-based, holistic health and wellness program committed to serving the least served through education, health promotion and collaboration with individual and community in achieving improved wellness through self-empowerment. Learn more at

7 Sunday School Classes FELLOWSHIP led by Bill & Elaine Swiss. The class is studying Hollywood Jesus. New members and visitors are welcome to join in. The class meets in Fellow Ship Hall, located near the Sanctuary. JOHN WESLEY led by Barbara Hudson. John Wesley Class will be studying The Prodigal God Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith. NOMADS Nomads class will be studying Matt Chandler s 12 week DVD series Recovering Redemption. The Bible makes it clear that God wants his people to experience life abundantly. Matt Chandler will guide us in this study to discover why things are is such a mess even for Christians. Through getting to the root of brokenness and the destructive patterns of behavior we will reorient our lives around how to understand and apply the gospel in our lives. SEEKERS The Seekers class is studying God is Good He is Better Than You Think by Bill Johnson. All are invited to join. LIFE WITH GOD - Young Adult/College Age Sunday School Class. It is for single or married adults, college age into their 20 s. As we start out we will do a video/discussion relative to Christian life, in a sometime confusing world. The class will be dynamic and those attending can shape it to the desires of the group. The discussions will initially be led by Pastor Lee. The class meets in the former Nomads room of the Activity Center. If you are not involved in a Sunday School class and you are college age or a young adult, come join us. YOUTH - Join us in the Youth room for our Project study on Minor Prophets from the Old Testament. All 6th 12th graders are invited. MAY LECTIONARY May 7, th Sunday of Easter [White or Gold] Acts 2:42-47 Psalm 23 (UMH 754 or 137) 1 Peter 2:19-25 John 10:1-10 May 14, th Sunday of Easter [White or Gold] Mother s Day Acts 7:55-60 Psalm 31:1-5, (UMH 764) 1 Peter 2:2-10 John 14:1-14 May 21, th Sunday of Easter [White or Gold] Acts 17:22-31 Psalm 66:8-20 (UMH 790) 1 Peter 3:13-22 John 14:15-21 May 25, 2017 Ascension of the Lord [White or Gold] Acts 1:1-11 Psalm 47 (UMH 781) Ephesians 1:15-23 Luke 24:44-53 May 28, th Sunday of Easter [White or Gold] Acts 1:6-14 Psalm 68:1-10, (UMH 792) 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11 John 17:1-11 Please remember and pray for our nursing home residents, those in the hospital and shut-ins: CHILDREN The curriculum used for Nursery, PreK-5th Grade is Planting Faith, Growing Faith. All classrooms are accessed from the hallway by the church office. Delores Bozeman Bernice Casparis Anna Lou Felps David Freer Elnora Kneese Yvonne Leonard Melrose Sultemeier Alice Wadsworth

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10 Happy Anniversary! Mason Roberts May 1 Porter Dunnaway May 19 Edward & Cynthia Keene May 6 Jim & Kay Odiorne Levi Urbanovsky May 1 Brady Liesmann May 19 Glenn Sultemeier May 4 Donna Felps May 21 Jim & Ruth Ann Spencer Josie Knecht May 6 Langdon Odiorne May 21 Mitchell & Holly Liesmann Sawyer Lynn May 7 Denise Porter May 21 Cage Schnitz May 7 Erin Dahmann May 22 Whitney Walston May 8 Ingrid Moursund May 23 Marlene Edwards May 9 Tommy Levitt May 25 Carol Summy May 10 Shannon Riebesehl May 25 Norma Honeycutt May 13 Randy Rutherford May 28 Brit Odiorne May 13 Dick Wiemers May 28 May 10 May 15 May 18 Shane & Jerry Ann Buck May 21 Tommy & Amber Fry May 22 National Day of Prayer May 6:30 pm Johnson City Courthouse Come pray with us for our national, state and local governments, churches, schools and communities. All ages, dominations and faiths are invited. Kay Culp May 14 Autumn Moursund May 14 Ann Godwin May 15 We are celebrating our Tom Hardy May 15 FUMC Johnson City Graduating Seniors Tori Mahar May 18 during our Worship Service at 8:30 am & 10:50 am Harper White May 18 on Sunday, May 21st Reception will be during Sunday School hour from 9:40-10:40 am in the Activity Building. Everyone is welcome.

11 A Place to Grow in Christian Love First United Methodist Church PO Box 207 Johnson City, TX Return Service Requested Hand folded and sealed with love especially for... May 2017 The mission of the Congregation of the First United Methodist Church is to continue to be a committed fellowship of disciples sharing the love of God through Jesus Christ and furnishing a place of Christian worship, programs, services and facilities for its members and the people of the Johnson City area. Worship Services 8:30 a.m. - Contemporary Service 10:50 a.m. - Traditional Service Christian Education: 9:40-10:30 a.m. *************************************************** The church office is open: Monday - Thursday 9 am - 12 & 1-4 pm Office Phone: Pastor Lee s cell Pastor s pastor@fumcjctx.org Secretary s secretary@fumcjctx.org Youth Coordinator: youth@fumcjctx.org Education Director: education@fumcjctx.org Visit our Website: