Seymour. June United Methodist Church. Words from Pastor Jason... Jason Gattis, Pastor

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1 Seymour United Methodist Church Jason Gattis, Pastor Words from Pastor Jason... June 2017 Hey guys, let s head inside and go up to the tower. It s too hot out here! I uttered these words to a six-year-old Bradley and his friend at the Children s Discovery Museum in Chattanooga. Soon after, I had one of the scariest moments a father could ever experience: my son disappeared. Bradley took off in front of us and his friend and I proceeded to go up the tower; however, when we reached the top, there was no Bradley. Well, maybe he s waiting for us at the bottom. I told his friend. When we descended to the bottom, there was no Bradley. At this point, my heart began to beat pretty fast. Amy had gone to feed infant baby, Mary Haisten, in the lounge so she had left me in charge of the two six year olds. Amy s anger, however, was the least of my concerns. As I walked through the upstairs exhibit of Charlie Brown, Linus, and Lucy, there was not a single sign of Bradley. Panic was starting to set in and I was working hard not to show it to Bradley s friend. Finally, as I was standing at the railing to the stairs leading back to the main floor, I looked down at the bottom floor and saw my son sitting on a bench. I could see the terror on his face. What was just a few moments before a face of joy and excitement, was now a face of loneliness and hopelessness. As I shouted his name from the second floor balcony, he kept looking around trying to find me. I shouted more and he called out, Daddy?!?! looking in every direction but up. Finally, I shouted Up here! He looked up, our eyes met, and he dashed for the stairs. As he rounded the top and caught me face to face the tears started flowing. I would probably guess they were tears of relief now that he was in the arms of his father. It s frightening to be in unknown territory. I had a couple of these experiences myself when I was young, including being lost on a hiking trail in the mountains. When we find ourselves in the unknown, we do have those feelings of loneliness and hopelessness. I can t help but to recall that moment from twelve years ago as I step into June That 6-year-old little boy is now 18 and facing an unknown period as he graduates high school. At the same time, his father is facing the same, transitioning to a new type of ministry. All periods of transitions can be times of feeling lost, but can turn into a sort of spiritual renewal as we seek God s guidance. In the beginning, it s difficult to hear God calling us in the direction we need to go, and sometimes we find ourselves in places we don t belong - places we cannot see God. However, I have found in past transitions that wherever we end up, God is there looking down upon and calling to us. It may take a little while. We may be looking around in all directions, but sooner or later we will hear God s voice calling out to us. On behalf of Amy, Brad, Mary Haisten, Nick and myself, I want to say thank you for five wonderful years. You have encouraged us, challenged us, embraced us, and now send us off better servants of Christ than when we arrived. The greatest, though, is you have loved us. It is your love that will guide us into this unknown transition and help us to hear God s calling in our lives. Grace & Peace, Jason

2 Upcoming.... Don t miss the Youth Yard Sale! Saturday, June 3rd from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm! Maker Fun Factory VBS is coming next month: July 16 20! All children ages three years old through rising 6th graders are invited for this fun time of learning that God created them for a purpose! Dinner at 6PM with program beginning at 6:30PM till 8:30PM. All children registered by July 10th will be entered in a drawing held July 20th to win a DVD of How It s Made: The Fun Stuff. Must be present to win. Volunteers still needed, especially someone to lead the music portion of the opening each night! Please see Michelle Hurton if interested, and be watching for decoration work nights coming soon! Looking for other ways to get involved? Please stop by our donation board in the hallway! Page 2

3 Birthday Celebrations! We d like to wish the following individuals a HAPPY BIRTHDAY in the month of June. 4 Charlie McNeely, Lydia Hill 6 Carah McClurg, Pam Swafford, Amy Gattis, Maksim Crain 7 Kerigan Newport, Bradley Gattis 9 Freda McCrary 10 Mary Jane Snyder, Anna Werker 11 Atticus Morrison 13 Don McCartney 15 Max Ogle, Mary Jane Parker, Robyn Harner 21 Jeanie Gillespie, Jack Latham, Jessica Spoons 24 Debra Ogle 25 Gail Zasowski 26 Jerry Overton, Calvin Young 27 Brenda Libbrecht 28 Gail Hyfantis, Dale Williams, Barbara Hardin, Oakley Scearce 29 Tiffany Irby 30 Greg Anderson, Richard Russell If your birthday was not listed in the appropriate month or date, please contact the church office to make sure we have your correct birth date. We d like to honor you during your special month! Lake Junaluska Day Trip Children s Ministries will be hosting a day tr ip to Lake J unaluska, NC for all children and their parents or guardians on Thursday, June 22. We will meet at the church at 9AM to carpool and return to the church around 6PM. Boasting a beautiful lake and panoramic vistas of the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains, Lake Junaluska is the conference center of the Southeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church and offers visitors numerous things to do. As a group we will be touring the World Methodist Council Museum and enjoying a boat tour of the lake at no charge to participants. You will also have some free time during which you may play mini-golf, rent canoes or paddle boats, swim in the pool, or play shuffleboard all priced from $5 - $6 per person. Or you could freely enjoy the beautiful surroundings by walking around the lake or to one of the many meditation spots on the property, or check out the gift store and coffee shop. Everyone is asked to bring a picnic lunch and drink, as well as swimwear and towel if you plan on swimming. Please sign up on Michelle Hurton s office door by June 18th, or contact her at mhurton@seymourumc.org. Page 3

4 Upcoming continued.... Men of Faith Join us Friday, June 16th at 7:30am at Treehouse Café on Boyd s Creek Highway. (note change of date and location) Contact Thomas Hill at or thomashill@att.net for more information. Soul Sisters Soul Sisters will NOT meet during the months of June, July, and August. Look for information in September. 2-Day Women's Event Exploring Sufficiency and Generosity of Christ Come together with women from across the country and all walks of life for ABUNDANCE, a special two -day event to explore the sufficiency and generosity of Christ. Authors and teachers Lisa Harper, Lysa TerKeurst, Angela Thomas-Pharr, Jefferson Bethke, Jackie Hill Perry, along with Christian recording artists Christy Nockels and Natalie Grant, will explore and illustrate how embracing God's abundance transforms every area of our lives. This Early Bird rate for this conference running November 2-3 in Greenville, SC is $59. We will be carpooling from the church and will stay overnight on Friday night at the Hilton (cost not included) n Greenville. Please contact Michelle Hurton at x11 or mhurton@seymourumc.org by May 31 if you re interested in attending. Make time to relax and read this summer! During the summer weeks, Out to Lunch Book Club will be reading a variety of fiction. Join us as we discuss themes, compare authors, and contrast secular and religious views. We choose from a variety of genres and rarely pay more than $5 for a book. We are strictly read and reflect. No homework or study material. Join us 2 nd and 4 th Tuesdays at Noon. Locations vary, so text or Rebekah at RebekahHill@Comcast.net Page 4

5 Please return your baby bottles filled with change to the church by Father's Day, June 18th. This money goes to support the Women's Care Center of Sevier County. Thank you for your generosity! The Women s Care Center is a non-profit agency that relies solely on the support of the community. All services are free of charge. The WCC is dedicated to the care of women s and families physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. They seek to empower clients to make the best choices they can for their health, family and future. They strive to ensure that no woman feels pressured to have an abortion due to lack of options or support. Choir News.... SUMC CHOIRS Thank you to all those who participated in one of our choirs for this past year. Kids of the Kingdom: Audrey Brewer, Luc Edwards, Makenna Edwards, Peyton Ficco, Kaitlyn Hill, Lydia Hill, Ali Camden Morrison, Logan Morrison, Sawyer Morrison. Kingdom Ringers: Luc Edwards, Kaitlyn Hill, Ali Camden Morrison, Sawyer Morrison. Righteous Ringers: Kurt Duelley, Carolyn Edwards, Bradley Gattis, Nick Gattis, Jay McBride, Carah McClurg, Allyssa Moore, Creed Werker. Alleluia Ringers: Fay Brewer, Kim Duelley, Anita Graham, Jo Hart, Barbara Hyatt, Judy Bailey-Ogle; substitutes - Becky Moak, Charlene Moore, Lydia Ogle. Chancel Choir: Judy Bailey-Ogle, Jean Brown, Anita Graham, Robyn Harner, Jo Hart, Carol Hodge, Brenda Libbrecht, Becky Moak, Tom Moak, Richard Patmore, Don showers, Gert Showers, Candy Tate, Jon Tate, Terry Thiel, Jeri Whisler. A huge thanks of appreciation to Amy Gattis for accompanying the children s choir, and to John Bawcum for accompanying the adult choir, and playing the organ every Sunday morning. Special Music for this summer The Chancel Choir will not be singing during the months of July and August. But we still will need some special music for the 8:45 Worship Service. Anyone wishing to share a musical offering (either vocal or instrumental) please sign up on the sheet on the Music Office Door. Would all those who participated in the Christmas musical please check to make sure you do not have copy # 23 of One Quiet Night? This copy is missing. Also there are still several rehearsal CDs that have not been returned. Please put these or any other music you might find at your house, in the mailbox outside the Music Office. Thanks. Page 5

6 Summer Movie Family Fun SUMC June July August 7th 5th 2nd Hot Dog and Snack Bar 7pm. Movie begins at dusk. Bring your chair/blanket and a friend! EVERYTHING is FREE Page 6

7 Opportunities to Serve..... Operation Christmas Child Toys Remember to return your filled mission bucket to the church by Sunday, June 4th. For the month of June we are collecting small toys for ages 5We are focusing our collecting on dolls, yo yo's, handballs, sport balls and pumps, slinkies, play dough, jump ropes and toy cars. Thank you for your support! F A T H E R S R E M E M B E R E D For anyone wishing to honor or memorialize their father, special above & beyond gifts are being accepted from now through June 11, For whatever donation amount you feel appropriate, you can have your name and that of your father listed as either an honorarium or memorial. This list (minus amount of donation) will be published on Father s Day, Sunday, June 18th. To participate, please fill in the brief information on one of the special gift envelopes (available on the table at the back of sanctuary) for this purpose. Place this sealed envelope, which must contain your cash donation or check, in the offering plates or baskets, or send to, or hand into, the church office. Checks should be payable to Seymour UMC and the memo line marked for Remember Dad, for proper accreditation. All such gifts will help support the ministries and needs of our church. At any time, extra offerings to God, above & beyond your normal tithing, for any of our worthy causes, are most helpful in meeting God s plan for you, our church and its future. Page 7

8 Wednesday Shared Supper As we break for summer we want to say thank you to everyone who has made Wednesday Night the most fun night of the week! Many helping hands made our meals possible from shopping and prepping to room set up, serving, and the super fast clean-up crew. We have had a blast this year and look forward to next year! st Please come back 1 Wednesdays this summer for our movies on the lawn. It will be fun and safe for the whole family. We will have food, activities and games, and a of course a great movie. Plus, everything is absolutely FREE!!! Check the summer newsletters for information about the Fellowship Meal and new events starting in mid August. Page 8

9 June 2017 Normal Sunday Schedule 8:45 AM Traditional Worship 9:45 AM Fellowship Time 10:00 AM Sunday School 10:45 AM Fellowship Time PDO = Parents Day Out Monday and Wednesday Normal Wednesday Schedule 7:30 PM Praise Band Rehearsal Ushers 8:45 am Chester McInturff, Carl Snyder & Buddy Greene 11:00 AM Contemporary Worship 5:00 PM Adult Bible Study 5:30 PM Youth Activities This is our normal monthly schedule unless noted on the calendar below. 11:00 am Bob Lilly (H) Don McCartney & Joyce Terranova 28 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 5:00 PM NO Adult Bible Study 5:30 PM Youth Activities 29 Church Office Closed 9:00 AM NO PDO 10:00 AM Women's Bible Study 5:00 PM Scout 30 6:00 PM Scout 31 9:00 AM NO PDO 7:30 PM Praise Band Rehearsal 1 6:00 PM Recovery at Seymour 6:30 PM Chancel Choir Rehearsal 2 3 7:00 AM Youth Yard Sale :00 PM Adult Bible Study 5:30 PM Youth Activities 11 10:00 AM Women's Bible Study 5:00 PM Scout 12 6:00 PM Scout 13 6:00 PM Recovery at Seymour 7:00 PM Family Movie Night Choir Rehearsal 6:30 PM Chancel 7:30 PM Praise Band Rehearsal :00 AM Reception for Gattis Family 2:00 PM Order of Arrow Scout Meeting 5:00 PM Adult Bible Study 5:30 PM Youth Activities 18 10:00 AM Women's Bible Study 5:00 PM Scout 19 6:00 PM Scout 20 7:30 PM Praise Band Rehearsal 21 6:00 PM Recovery at Seymour 6:30 PM Chancel Choir Rehearsal :00 AM Groundskeepers 8:00 PM Scout (Pack) Meeting 5:00 PM Adult Bible Study 5:30 PM Youth Activities 10:00 AM Women's Bible Study 5:00 PM Scout 6:00 PM Scout 7:30 PM Praise Band Rehearsal 9:00 AM Children's Day Trip Lake Junaluska 6:00 PM Recovery at Seymour 6:30 PM Chancel Choir Rehearsal :00 PM Adult Bible Study 5:30 PM Youth Activities 10:00 AM Women's Bible Study 5:00 PM Scout 6:00 PM Scout 7:30 PM Praise Band Rehearsal 6:00 PM Recovery at Seymour Page 9

10 STAFF Pastor, Rev. Jason Gattis Associate Pastor, Rev. Steve Pross Director of Family Ministries and Outreach, Michelle Hurton Director of Choirs, Gaile Todd Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministries, Steven Mees Director of Contemporary Worship, Amber Lloyd Director Parents Day Out, Susan Cook Organist, John Bawcum Administrative Assistant, Elizabeth Hubbs Jason Gattis, Pastor 107 Simmons Road P O Box 1488 Seymour, TN Phone: (865) office@seymourumc.org We re on the web: We are a church