The First United Methodist Quitman Choir is headed to NYC to sing at Carnegie Hall!! Any YOU have the opportunity to help us get there.

Transcription

1 April 2018 Come expectantly seeking Jesus. Follow Him boldly. Go witness intentionally. The First United Methodist Quitman Choir is headed to NYC to sing at Carnegie Hall!! Any YOU have the opportunity to help us get there. To help raise the money, we are putting on a Musical Revue complete with Home Made Deserts! So come on and enjoy the show! When: April 14th at 6:30 pm Where: JOY Hall First Methodist Quitman No tickets are required but we do suggest a donation at the door. Allison Blackmon, our youth director, and Micah Morrow will be married on April 7, 2018 Join us on Sunday, April 22, 2018 as our congregation showers them with well wishes. A message from Bill Fry: I Need YOUR help! I am taking a survey for my seminary course in worship studies, and I need at least 100 members of FUMC Quitman to fill out my online survey about the worship dynamics of our congregation. BSA Troop 36 Fish Fry Saturday, April 28, :30-7:30 pm in JOY Hall The survey is online: If you have any questions about the survey or the course, I can be reached via phone at : or by bill@fryfamily.net Your support and assistance are greatly appreciated. 1

2 Dear Friends, A Note From Our Pastor It s funny. I so often assume that most Methodist folk know about the crisis that faces the church. I assume it because I have been immersed in it for 30 years. The Methodist Church in the United States has been in a long standing, at times very acrimonious, argument for over 40 years. Can you imagine? A family feud for over 40 years? I am writing of the debate over human sexuality. To date, the United Methodist Church has faithfully retained in the Book of Discipline (BOD) a traditional Christian stance of celibacy in singleness, fidelity in marriage, that marriage is a monogamous union between a man and a woman and that therefore sexual expression outside of those bounds are incongruous with God s will. Others within the church disagree and have for years fought for what they call full inclusion to change the language of the BOD on homosexuality and to allow the ordination of those who have such an orientation and who openly declare and practice it. So, I am sure, you have heard about this issue. But what many don t seem to know is that our over 40 year argument has come to a head. At the last General Conference, the division had clearly reached an intolerable level. Thus, the General Conference appointed a group called The Way Forward to look into possible ways of reaching a structural resolution. The question is how can we relate to each other as United Methodists while allowing each to hold to their different views with integrity? This group that has been meeting and finally submitted 4 proposals to the council of Bishops. The council of bishops have been weighing and debating what to propose to the broader church. Their report to the church will be out in early May for United Methodists to consider. Then, at a 2019 called General Conference, there will be a debate and a vote as to how to move forward. As I write this, it almost sounds like a smooth, calm deliberative process headed to an inevitably wise conclusion. But it s much more like a damaged ship caught in a storm at sea trying to make it to some port, any port, before it breaks up and sinks. And if there is any wisdom (and I believe there is) it is the wisdom of Solomon who called for the sword to cleave the child. What, I fear, is so misleading about the relative silence and apparent calm is that whatever is coming will be disruptive and painful. And so, before it happens, I wanted you to know. The Bishops decision and report will be released in early May. It will be followed by our Bishop Scott Jones addressing the issue and giving his perspective. No matter what the decision it cannot be established without a vote of the called General Conference in And that in itself will be a high bar because it will require a 2/3 vote. But no matter what comes down the pike, there will be coming some dramatic, painful, difficult changes. So I didn t want you to totally taken by surprise. Either in late April or sometime in May we will find a venue to discuss what s coming so you will understand the issues better. In the mean time I hope that you will pray for God s will to be revealed and followed. And the most important thing to know that the Lord Jesus is still on His throne, the true Body of Christ remains united. We just have to pray and hope for a resolution that is truly healing. Keefe Cropper 2

3 FUMC Sunday 8:30 am Worship 9:30 am Sunday School 11:00 am Worship Monday 9:00 am n-joy Line Dancing 11:00 am Covenant Prayer Group Wednesday 5:15 pm WNL Meal 6:00 pm Bible Studies for all ages 7:00 pm Choir Rehearsal Thursday 7:00 am - Men s Breakfast at Country Kitchen 9:00 am n-joy Line Dancing FUMC 4/1 11 am Easter Worship 4/2 2:00 pm Writing Club 4/3 4 pm Endowment Meeting 4/5 10 am Crafty Christians at Liberty UMC 4/6 UM Men Blood Drive 4/8 1:30 pm Trustee Meeting 4/9 NO Tyler Food Bank 4/9 2:00 pm Book Club 4/11 10 :00 am Wesley House Devotion 4/14 6:30 pm Choir Fund Raiser 4/16 6:30 pm UM Men at Liberty 4/17 3:30 pm Confirmation Class 4/18 10:00 am Heritage Devotion 4/20 11 am Savor the Word Bible Study 4/24 3:30 pm Confirmation Class 4/28 5:30 pm Boy Scout Fish Fry in JOY Hall General Fund Financial Update As of March 25, 2018 Year-To-Date Giving $92,951. Year-To-Date Budget $95,892. Third Monday of the month Meal at 6:30 pm bring a dish to share April 16, 2018 at Liberty UMC Program: Christ for India 8:30 am Service Jerry Gibson Bert Blair April 11:00 am Service Jerry Jackson Frank Dalhoff, Pat Neel, Jentri Jackson, Shaun Baker, Stephen Fulce USHER? Ushering at our worship services is an easy way to serve the church, especially when we have plenty of helpers on each team. If you are interested in joining us, please contact Darrell or Debby Slabaugh at April 4/1 Sara Kate Grider 4/4 Jhett Jackson 4/8 Kent Beverly 4/9 Katie Woodall Heater Debby Slabaugh Debbie Donovan FUMC Communion Rail Offering March: $412 to Pastor s Discretionary Fund Holy Week Rail Offerings: United Methodist Committee on Relief Bob Blackwell, Marcia Chewning, Joan Collins, Joe Crawford, Gary DeArmond, Don Edwards, Bruce Grider, Billie Kleebauer, Janet McGill-Faubion, Jan Nisbet, Beth Aikman, Bob Asmussen, George Rosewall 4/11 Brenda Cates 4/14 Betty Bozeman Jeff Warford Cade Simpkins Ryan Simpkins 4/16 Kathy Burford Phoebe Backer Fiona Backer 4/17 Allen Tuell 4/20 John F Johnson JoAn White 4/21 Gloria Jeane Rosewall 4/23 Kiki Bettis 4/23 Kelly Roberts 4/26 Valerie McWhorter 4/27 Randy Bennett Marilyn Odum 4/29 Darlene Blair 3

4 Serving Meals on Wednesday Night By now you have surely heard that the choir has been invited to sing at Carnegie Hall in November of this year. What an honor, what a surprise!! We are very excited to participate in a performance of Joseph Martin's Christmas Cantata: The Winter Rose. This performance is planned to take place in Carnegie Hall on Monday, November 26, 2018 under the direction of Mr. Martin. There are 18 choir members signed up to experience this once in a lifetime opportunity. 4/4 Covenant Class Pulled Pork 4/11 Open Door Class Italian Meal 4/18 Journey Class Tacos 4/25 Adult Bible Class Burgers Much thanks to Sam Scroggins for setting up the Go Fund Me page for us! The fundraising has begun and at the time of this writing the Go Fund Me page is over $1000. Donations of all amounts are greatly appreciated. Some have been anonymous, others have been in honor/memory of a loved one. I realize that a lot of folks don't get online but would like to donate to help the choir. Donations can always be made by earmarking a check for the choir trip which can be placed in the offering plate or dropped by the church office. There will also be fundraising done here as well, our first one is in just a couple weeks. Please join members of the choir & guests and "Let Us Entertain You" on April 14 at 6:30 in Joy Hall. Desserts and coffee/tea will be served while you enjoy popular songs from Broadway and movies. (There will be a Fish Fry with all the trimmings in mid June!) Lepha 4

5 Tommy & Jan Doer 1317 RSCR 3400 Emory, TX

6 Ponderations by Roy Faubion Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him. Psalm 37:7 Lord, I prayed. Give me patience, but hurry, I need it now. We are told every matter has its time but we often forget that God s time is not necessarily the same as our time. Patience is not only a virtue; it is also a holy directive. Wait. Wait upon the Lord. Remember, the Lord is not dragging his feet in answering our prayers. He is just doing it right FUMC Contacts Back Pack Program Kevan Burroughs Bridge/Evangelism Al Medina Children s Programs Teresa Dunn Church Council Chair Jack Robinson Crafty Christians Donna Guvernator Cub Scouts Cory Irwin Adult Choir Lepha Luttrall Endowment Chair Darrell Slabaugh Finance Chair Beth Aikman Handbells FUMC Becky Bradfield Handbells Liberty Cathy Hibbs Church Office office@fumcquitman.org Newsletter Mary Wilson Missions Chair Keith & JoAnn Zimmerman Taste and See sharronnthomas@yahoo.com Trustees Chair Savor the Word Annette Wilbourn Staff Parish Relations Teresa Dunn United Methodist Men Mike Narkiewcz Youth Programs Allison Blackmon Worship Chair Diane Blackwell any others Mary Wilson

7 Liberty Sunday 8:30 am Early Risers Sunday School 9:30 am Worship 11:00 am Brunch Bunch Sunday School Tuesday 9:30 am Liberty Prayer Circle 11:00 am Liberty Bells Rehearsal 6:00 pm Snack n Chat Friday 10:00 am Women s Bible Study Liberty 4/1 7:00 am Easter Sunrise Worship Service 4/5 10:00 am Thursday Crafty Christians 4/11 6:00 pm Wednesday Trustee Meeting 4/12 6:30 pm Thursday Council Meeting 4/16 6:30 pm Monday United Methodist Men at Liberty UMC 4/19 6:00 pm Thursday Fellowship Meal 4/2 Jennifer Winkles 4/3 Vada Fields 4/4 Jerry Price 4/5 James Tiffee 4/6 Sam Lange 4/12 Mary Jane Young 4/24 Rhonda Taylor 4/25 Arlan Flake Liberty UMC Communion Rail Offering for March 29, 2018 United Methodist Committee On Relief LIBERTY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: AN OLD CHURCH WITH A STRONG HEART LIBERTY LINES.By John Sparks The handbell ringers choir at Liberty Church was formed in 2015 under the direction of JoAn White, wife of Pastor Dick White. The nucleus in the formation of the Liberty bell choir were seven ringers who had joined JoAn s community outreach ringing group, Quitman Rings, which performed at local-area nursing homes and community events such as open houses and in celebrations of seasonal activities in the Quitman area. The Liberty UMC ringers in Quitman Rings were: Elizabeth Dueson, Ann Flake, Lenore Gasperin, Cathy Hibbs, Andy Smith, Ann Sparks and Anna Wilkins. Quitman Rings was comprised of not only Liberty and Quitman UMC members, but also some ringers from other area Churches and denominations. Bell storage and practice sessions were held in a Joy Hall classroom at First Church Quitman (later in the Annex Building) and transportation often involved use of the QUMC vans and lots of muscle, with Pastor White and sometimes Sam Scroggins and/or ringers spouses pitching in. Dick also eventually joined in as the first male ringer in the group. The Liberty ringers convinced JoAn that their Church needed the musical blessing of its own bell choir. So, in 2015 she agreed to lead and train those who were willing and could be convinced to join in. Practices were scheduled and held at the Quitman Annex using the same bells and equipment that both the Quitman UMC Bell Choir and Quitman Rings were using. The suggestion that the new group be named The Liberty Bells was unanimously accepted. With the announced formation of a Liberty UMC bell group, appeals to the congregation for new members drew fruit as several soon-to-be ringers stepped forward, including Jerry Hibbs, Neva Potts and Charles Smith. Director JoAn White departed July 2017 as husband and Pastor Dick White was selected to serve as a District Supervisor. Cathy Hibbs agreed to serve as Liberty Bells director. Additional ringers have since joined the choir, they are; Jean and Bill Bollinger and Ginny Bluzzard. Liberty pianist Nan Vance also serves as a substitute ringer. With the 2017 expansion of the Liberty UMC Sanctuary, plans included the provision of storage space for a set of bells for Liberty acquired by JoAn on loan from Madisonville UMC. Thus, it was most appropriate for the Liberty Bells to perform at the January 28, 2018 dedication ceremony for the expanded and remodeled Liberty Sanctuary. 7

8 First United Methodist Church 406 E. Lane Street Early Worship 8:30 am Sunday School 9:45 am Worship 11:00 am The Quitman & Liberty United Methodist Men are hosting a Blood Drive on Friday, April 6, 2018 in the Celebration Room of JOY Hall. Contact Charles Long at to make your appointment. Liberty United Methodist Church 2581 E. Hwy Sunday School 8:30 am Worship 9:30 am Sunday School 10:45 am HAVE YOU MOVED OR HAVE A NEW PHONE NO? If so, please contact Mary Wilson in the church office so she can update the records. Call her at First United Methodist Church P O Box 1643 Quitman, TX Non-Profit Org. US Postage Paid Permit No. 14 Quitman, TX Transforming God s Children Into Disciples 8