Countdown. Couts. Mark Your Calendars. Go WEST - Welcome, Equip, Serve, Transform March 1, 2017 Volume 11 Issue 3

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1 Couts Countdown Go WEST - Welcome, Equip, Serve, Transform March 1, 2017 Volume 11 Issue 3 Worship 10:30 a.m. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. 802 North Elm Weatherford, Texas Church Office Hours 8am - 5pm Monday - Thursday Closed on Friday Visit us on the Web Sr. Pastor - Matt Hall Mark Your Calendars Ash Wednesday Service - March 1st - 6 pm Palm Sunday Service/Lunch/Easter Egg Hunt - April 9th Maundy Thursday Service - April 13th - 6 pm Good Friday - Kid Event - Fellowship Hall 10 am-noon Prayer Event - Noon - 3 pm Easter Sunday - April 16th 7 am - Sunrise Service 10:30 am - Worship Service

2 From The Pastor Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ! Thank you Couts UMC! We can all celebrate together regarding the success of our recent stewardship and debt reduction campaign. With more than $60,000 coming in out of the $380,000 pledged to reduce our debt over the next three years, we have a lot to look forward to. During the campaign process we celebrated our many ministries with the many ways lives are touched by Christ through our congregation. Our Scouting Ministry Sunday shared what the 60+ young people in scouts were doing each week. This past Sunday we had a great chili cook-off with winners in each division of chili, cornbread and dessert. Thank you to the youth for having this fun event while raising money for the summer mission trip to Oklahoma. This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of the 40 days of Lent when we prepare our hearts to welcome the Resurrected Christ once again. I want to encourage everyone to take part in Bible studies and the special Lenten worship services. I will be leading a study on navigating life. It is called Take the Flag and it uses scripture and the flags used in auto racing to guide us in this study. There are also several other studies happening this spring. Curtis Nager is leading another Financial Peace University course beginning March 22 nd. I took this course in the fall and I recommend it for anyone. See the details on our website and in this newsletter. This past weekend I attended a training to be an UMCOR volunteer. UMCOR is the United Methodist ministry that responds to disasters all around the world. UMCOR is one of the first on the scene and one of the last to leave. (They just finished the final case in West early this year.) Volunteers must be trained prior to an event to help with the relief effort. Those with the appropriate skills can help with rebuilding once the relief is given. Watch the newsletter and website for training opportunities. Grace and Peace, Pastor Matt Curtis Nager is leading another Financial Peace University Course beginning March 22nd Volunteers must be trained prior to an event to help with the relief effort. Jan 17 Jan 16 $ Change YTD BUDGET Ordinary Income/Expense Income Contributions 42, , , , All Other Sources 1, , , , Total Income 43, , , , Expense Apportionment , , , Church Operating Expense 9, , , , Loans 8, , , Personnel 24, , , , Program Ministry , , Total Expense 43, , , , Financial Update January 2017 Net Income , , , Page 2

3 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 6:00 p.m Final Jr. League Emmaus Community Gathering 6 pm F Hall Games Cub Scout Pinewood Derby - 2pm FH pm Handbell Rehearsal No Handbell Rehearsal Worship - 6pm 7pm Adult Nurture/ Outreach :30pm Finance Committee Meeting Spring Break Deadline for Youth Mission Trip Registration Confirmation Class Meeting 11:30 am - 1pm 26 6 pm Handbell Rehearsal 7pm Children s Mission Team SPRC 7pm 6:30 pm Couts Trustee Meeting Couts Movie Club 2pm Lilies of the Field Youth Murder Mystery 4pm - 6pm 6 pm Handbell Rehearsal Page 3

4 We now have additional children at Kidzone. In the past month we have added three children two from Weatherford schools and one from CCA. That brings our numbers to 18. We have reached the maximum number to transport to Kidzone! Miss Sarah has joined Chapel for CCA Preschool Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and begun visiting Mrs. Curry s Kindergarten as a biblical story teller. The reception from teachers and students has been great. The story telling program is a modified Godly Play program. Center of Hope. Youth and Tweens are sharing three joint programs. Murder Mystery Dinner March 26, Painting with a Twist May 17, and Cooking with Kathy Smith date TBA. Thank you to the congregation for bringing canned food and supporting fifth and sixth graders Souper Bowl collection. We raised $ for Children's Sunday school class raised over $90.00 for the debt reduction. Great work! They continue their study of Jesus Life. Lent is here! This year we will send home a mite box for the children to collect coins for Heifer International. In our Lent in a Box is a coin box, a candle to light each day, a Lenten Calendar with scripture to read, as well as a wooden pocket cross for the children to carry in their back pack or pocket to remind them we are waiting for the resurrection on Easter Sunday. Children should count their blessings each day through Lent and put a coin in their box for each blessing. Easter Eggs In the coming weeks we will have the empty eggs in the shopping cart for folks to take home and fill. We are also accepting Pre filled eggs for the Easter Egg hunt on Palm Sunday April 9. Page 4

5 Newsletter March 2017 CTCYM Mission Trip June 18-24th CTCYM is: Answering Christ's call to be his hands and feet in service to the world. Building hope in broken places. Christ-centered worship and daily devotionals. Developing lifetime friendships and partners in mission. Forever changing lives of youth, adults, and the clients we serve. Growing in our faith in God. Mark your calendars! 3/1 Snack Supper 5:30 Youth Attend ASH WEDNESDAY Service 6-7p 3/5 SS 9:30a "Lent" Church 10:30a 5-6:30p Jon Ball 3/8 Wed eve 6-7:30p "Headline News" 3/12 SS 9:30a "Forgiveness" Church 10:30a No Evening youth- Spring Break Sunday School & Service Time Sunday School 9:30 am Service 10:30 am Snack Supper Menu: 3/1 Baked Ziti & Salad 3/8 Meatloaf, potatoes, corn 3/22 Taco Bar 3/29 Chicken mayo/fruit salad To receive mobile updates by text message, text keyword coutsyouth to /15 NO evening youth-spring Break 3/19 SS 9:30a "Forgiveness" Church 10:30a Youth to Film Alley "The Shack" after church 3/19 RSVP due for Murder Mystery Dinner 3/22 Wed eve 6-7:30p "Headline News" 3/26 SS 9:30a "Forgiveness" Church 10:30a Mystery Dinner 4-6pm 3/29 Wed eve 6-7:30pm CONTACT INFO Check us out at CoutsYouth on the Facebook, and the Instagram. Katrina Amy For Questions about Couts UMC Youth Ministry, call the church office at Page 5

6 Ash Wednesday Worship Service Wednesday, March 1st 6:00 p.m. Couts Sanctuary Everyone is invited to come to the Ash Wednesday Service, Wednesday, March 1st, at 6:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary as we officially begin the season of Lent. Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. Ash Wednesday emphasizes two themes: our sinfulness before God and our human mortality. Pastor Matt will invite those in attendance, to come to the altar to have the sign of the cross placed on their forehead with ashes. The ash cross is an outward sign of our sorrow and repentance for sins. Couts Center Of Hope Week March 1st and 2nd On March the 1st and 2nd, Couts will be providing food and serving at the Center of Hope. The Pathfinder Class will coordinate the meal on Wednesday and the GPS Class will coordinate on Thursday. The food is taken care of on Wednesday but we still need 2 servers. On Thursday, we need 2 servers and 5 desserts that will feed 15. If you can help provide a dessert or serve at the Center of Hope, please contact our coordinator, Katrina Nager. katrina@coutsumc.org Emmaus Community Gathering Friday, March 3rd 6:00 pm-couts Fellowship Hall (meal starts at 6:30 pm) The Emmaus Community will gather for a meal and 4th Day Celebration on Friday, March 3rd. Everyone is invited to come. If you have not been on an Emmaus Walk but are interested in finding out more information, please join the group. Bring a covered dish to share. Mission Team Meetings Tuesday, March 7th Worship Mission Team 6:00 p.m. Conference Room Adult Nurture / Outreach Mission Team 7:00 p.m. Fellowship Hall Children s Mission Team is meeting on Tuesday, March 21st at 6:30 pm Couts Movie Club (for families of all sizes and ages) 1st Movie Lilies of the Field Saturday, March 25th 2:00 p.m. Couts Theatre Page 6 Something new for families of all sizes, shapes and ages is starting on Saturday, March 25th. Once a quarter, everyone is invited to come and watch a movie together in the Couts Theatre. It will be family appropriate. The first movie scheduled is Lilies of the Field. Please bring a snack to share. For more information, call Laura Roberts or the church office.

7 New Men s Bible Study Wednesday evenings 6:00 p.m. All men are invited to participate in the new Bible Study Take the Flag. Every day God sends us signals, but we may miss them if we re not paying attention. The spiritual life is often New Women s Bible Study Wednesday Evenings at 6:00p.m. All women are invited to participate in the new Bible Study One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. The Study discusses daring to LIVE FULLY right where you are. The first official meeting will be Wed., March 8th. Chris Safford will be leading the study. compared to a race. Pastor Rob Fuquay sees a parallel between the flags used in auto racing and the signals God sends us in our fast-paced lives. The purpose of Take the Flag is not to turn us into race fans, but to help us become stronger disciples of Jesus Christ. Pastor Matt is leading the study. CCA On The Border Day Tuesday, March 21st March 21st is the third Tuesday and CCA Day at On the Border. Please pick up a flyer at the church on the Sunday before - you can eat there for lunch, dinner or takeout and present your flyer and CCA will get 20% of the price of your ticket. New Bible Study beginning March 8th Wednesdays at 6:00 pm Pastor Georgia Orr will begin a study of Philippians that is open to everyone. She will be using a study by Kay Arthur. The Couts Smoker is Back A BIG THANK YOU to Trey Woodruff & Gregg Crabtree for revamping/ modifying the Couts UMC Smoker. If you have not seen it, please stop by the north side of the building to see it!!! They spent many volunteer hours redesigning, welding & constructing. Thanks to Curtis Nager for donating the supplies. This smoker has served Couts for many years. Since the Journey class has cooked for Harvest Festival the last 2 years, the men decided it needed to be tweeked some. This will better serve the needs to smoke LARGE quantities of meat. The Journey Sunday School Class will break in the updated smoker in April. We will have a Church luncheon, with Smoked Chicken!!!!! Everyone will be asked to bring their favorite side items to share. YUM!!! Couts Vacation Bible School Monday thru Thursday July 17th - 20th 9:00 am - Noon And spread the word!! Page 7 Youth Mission Trip for Jr. and Sr. High June 18th - 24th Deadline for registration is March 10th. Please go online to to register. The cost for registration is $ No late registrations will be accepted. Scholarships are available - please contact Amy McSwain or Katrina Nager for more infor-

8 Go Welcome, Equip, Serve, Transform Couts Methodist Church 802 North Elm Weatherford, Texas W E RE ON T HE WEB - V I S I T US WWW. C OUTSMETHOD I S T C HURCH. C OM Our Military March Birthdays Billy Burris Matt Couch March 2nd Mark Roberts Rickie Noe March 22nd Paula Massey Curtis Nager 2017 Debt Reduction Campaign Special Dates January 8 - Gratitude Sunday. January 15 - Ministry Sunday. January 22 - Celebration Sunday. January 28 - Prayer event. January 29 - Commitment Sunday. February 12 - First Fruit offering. February 19 - Announcement Sunday. Will Dowd Matthew Geyer Michael Gilliam Jeff Johnson Cory Jones Blake Hubbard Mike Hebert Hunter Hiett Kali Yarnell Lussier Matthew Mitchell Josiah Sorrells Doug Yarnell Cody Williams Page 8 March 3rd Madison Massey Jean Moore March 5th Angela Powell March 7th Karen McElroy March 11th Karen Salyer March 13th Chad Massey March 15th Vincent Barber March 17th Becky Bond Andy Thompson March 18th Gene Slough March 19th Shanna Slimp March 23rd Lydia Bertram Austin Jenkins Carrie Worsham March 25th Charlene Bedinger March 27th Amanda Johnson March 29th Amanda Arthurs March 30th Lisa Cockerell March 31st Wendi Noe