WEEKLY CONNECTION VOLUME 47 No. 13 MARCH 29, 2017 Donations will be accepted to offset costs.
A Message from the Sesquicentennial Committee The Sesquicentennial Committee is eagerly anticipating our official 150th Anniversary Celebration on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017. Bishop James E. Swanson Sr. of the Mississippi Conference of The United Methodist Church will be here to preach on Easter Sunday. Bishop Swanson is a native of Houston, Texas. He graduated from Southern Bible College with a B.S. degree in Christian Ministries and from C. H. Mason Seminary, ITC with a M. Div. degree. Bishop Swanson served as Pastor of St. Mary s Road United Methodist Church in Columbus, GA for 14 years. He served as Superintendent of the Savannah District of the South Georgia Conference starting in 2001, and he was elected to the Episcopacy in July 2004 by the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference and was assigned to the Holston Area. After serving the Holston Area for 8 years, he was assigned to the Mississippi Area in 2012. Bishop Swanson is married to the former Delphine Yvonne Ramsey. They are the proud parents of six children: Karen, James Jr., Shondell, Carlton, JaNaé and Joshua, and they have ten grandchildren. Fun Fact for Wednesday, March 29 Did you know that FUMC once had a Kitchen Guild whose members cooked for all church meals? In the olden days, members of the Kitchen Guild (who were all female) cooked and served the church family for Wednesday night suppers, Administrative Boards, church committee lunches and dinners, and special events like Dinner Theater. Come to Sesquicentennial Church Family Celebration on April 2 to eat and enjoy food prepared by many of our own church ladies and maybe a few gentlemen! -The Sesquicentennial Committee
LENTEN LUNCHEON SERIES Thursday, March 30 St. Luke United Methodist Church, 1400 Clayton Avenue Thursday, April 6 First Presbyterian Church, 400 West Jefferson Street The community will gather at noon. A light lunch will be served. Donations accepted to offset the cost of lunch. WEDNESDAYS @ FUMC Wednesday, March 29 5:15 p.m. Dinner Menu: Chicken Strips and Chicken Gravy, Beef Strips and Brown Gravy, White Rice, Buttered Pasta, Steamed Mixed Vegetables, Chicken and Cheese Crispoes, Dinner Roll, Salad Bar, Peach Cobbler 6 p.m. Rev. Smith Lilley & Rev. Lynn Mote will share about their recent trip to the Holy Land. Wednesday, April 5 5:15 p.m. Dinner Menu: Chicken Nuggets, Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Peas and Carrots, Corn, Bread Sticks, Salad Bar, Cookies 6 p.m. Healing and Prayer Service, Chapel Wednesday, April 12: No Programming Due to Holy Week Services CAMP LAKE STEPHENS 2017 Camp Lake Stephens brochures for 2017 are now in the office. You may also go online to www.camplakestephens.com or call the camp office at 662-234-3350 to register. Be sure to register early because camps fill up quickly!
No cost! An offering will be received to cover expenses.
On this night Christians commemorate the supper Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion and instituted the Sacrament of the Lord s Supper. The service of Tenebrae, meaning darkness or shadows, has been practiced by the church since medieval times. Readings trace the story of Christ s passion, music portrays his pathos, and the power of silence and darkness reminds us of Christ s suffering and death. ***Daily Prayer in the Chapel at 12 p.m. *** (Monday, April 10 Friday, April 14)
Thank you to everyone who has picked up a box to fill. Completed boxes can be returned at any time to the church office, with the goal of April 2-9 for final return of all boxes for shipping. Shipping has been covered. So, bring your box and we will get it shipped. ~~Kathryn Gatlin, for United Methodist Women CHILDREN S NEWS VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2017 Mark Your Calendars June 5-9 A Mighty Fortress
***SPOTS FILLING UP FAST!*** APRIL 11-14; 2 9 P.M. (FULL) APRIL 15: 10 A.M. 5 P.M. **NEW**APRIL 26-27; 12 7 P.M. APRIL 28; 2 9 P.M. APRIL 29: 10 A.M. 5 P.M. The United Methodist Women will collect Soap for Helping Hands during April. Please bring these donations to the Old Fellowship Hall and Wesley Hall.
LIBRARY NEWS All ages enjoying the FUMC children's library! Come check us out! We will begin a Prayer Bible Study on April 19 at 12 p.m. in the Chapel. This study will using The Workbook of Living Prayer by Maxie Dunnam. The cost of the workbook is $6. To order, please contact Jarie Thompson at jarie@fumctupelo.com or 662-690-8100 by March 29.
APRIL BIRTHDAYS 1 George Booth Jo Frazier Elaine Lovorn Smythe McCoy Ellen McGregor 2 Swan Burrus Grace Clark David Copenhaver Ann Gibbs Miriam Ogg Miller Ogg Bill Spencer 3 Maggie Clark Bennett Mize Shirley Neuhaus 4 Joby Collins Ansley Garner Howard Hinds 5 Katherine Ray Mac Smith Dawn Southworth 6 Cameron Cole Stephen Spencer 7 John Guyton Joyce Johnston Susan Pilgrim 8 Phillip Williams 9 Lauren Briscoe Charlie White 10 Angela Britton Clay Crabb Lauren Zuelzke 11 Smitty Harris 12 Julie Gough Tommy Green Lavenia Moore David Rather 13 McKenzie Denton Madison Weatherford 14 Rachel Becker Ruth Hollingsworth 15 Emily Addison Millie Daniel Judy Jones Benton Hilbun, III Zeke Neuhaus 16 Lauren Darsey Brock Kelly Stella Parker Kaylee Waldrip 17 Abrielle Carnathan Kirk Presley Ty Robinson 18 Andy Anderson Jack Babb Anthony Mayfield Angelia Thomas Dick White 19 Tony Gaines Jr. Mary Katherine Harris Betty Huddleston Parker Rish Mike VanBuskirk 20 Landon Asa Gavin McCoy Tays Heyer Jim McGraw Betty Rogers 21 Clete Brekke Joe Geddie Taylor Hilbun Abby Hunt Connie Marion Kimmie Moscato Susan Nelson Kristen Partin Walt Rose Sophia Scott 22 John Michael Herman Carter Kulp Emily Mote Sam Hughes Thompson Faye Wiygul 23 Jason Pannell Andy Ray 24 David Irwin Chad May Paul Mize, III 26 Bonnie Mize Jim Stone 27 Kalyn Lake Hayden Palmer Ashley Prince Jacob Prince Mary Stewart Rhea 28 Jackson Edwards Craig Horrocks Lindsey Leake Ann Milam 29 Grace Bryan Kathryn Cayson Benjamin Davis Lisa Lippincott Ned McGraw 30 Batton Barber Collins Foote Barney Guyton APRIL ANNIVERSARIES 2 M/M Heath Childs M/M Louis Lee 3 M/M Mac Smith 5 M/M Michael Eidt M/M Barrett Lovorn 6 M/M Wesley McCullough 7 M/M Lynn Holland M/M Charles Talley 12 M/M Rick Caldwell M/M Charles Carter 13 M/M Bennie Hankins M/M Butch Harris 14 M/M Ken Gillentine 16 M/M Keith Morris M/M Wesley Partin 17 M/M Charlie White 18 M/M Chan Brown 20 M/M Todd Underwood 22 M/M Mike Sowers 24 M/M Justin Robinson 25 M/M Scott Reed M/M Crofton Sloan 27 M/M Eddie Lomenick M/M Brian McGraw 28 M/M Phillip Gough R/M Smith Lilley
GIVEN IN MEMORY OF Jean Harper By: Katie Cox D/M Richard Warriner Loretta Monts By: Lisa, Kathryn & Neely Johnson M/M David Brevard Sylvia Ross By: Melinda Bell Harry Morphey By: M/M David Brevard D/M Richard Warriner Dona Porter Stephen Hall By: D/M Richard Warriner Fred Strange By: D/M Richard Warriner Rev. B.F. Lee By: D/M Richard Warriner M/M Charles Grace M/M Howard Hinds D/M Joe Edd Morris Bonnie Adams By: M/M Ben Orr GIVEN IN HONOR OF Steve Holland By: Lisa, Kathryn & Neely Johnson Dr. Jack Foster By: Dorothy Fairbank Henry Brevard Henry McMillan By: M/M Felix Rutledge, Sr. SERVING SUNDAY, APRIL 2, 2017 TV OPERATORS: Jim Karrant, Lee McKenzie, Jason Pannell SANCTUARY SOUND: 8:45: Ansel Mote 11: Butch Dendy GREETERS: 8:45: Elsie/Dick White 8:45 Invitation: Brenda Chase 11: Dianne/Barney Guyton USHERS: 8:45: Chris Hill, Lindsey Leake, George Rutledge 8:45 Invitation: Nat Leathers, Kevin Rose, Jamie Osbirn, Bill Spencer 11:00: Jeff Short STEWARDSHIP 2017 Budget Goal... $2,424,213.45 2017 Needed Weekly... $45,739.88 2017 Three Month Budgeted Amount... $606,052.62 Last Week s Offering through 03/23... $36,282.93 2017 Offering through 03/23... $658,698.83 Spent to Date 2017 through 03/23... $511,952.69 FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI CALENDAR FOR APRIL 2-8, 2017 SUNDAY, APRIL 2 8:45 Worship, Sanctuary 8:45 Worship, Wesley Hall 9:45 Fellowship, Gathering Room 10:00 Sunday School 11:00 Worship, Sanctuary 4:00 Scouts, FH 5:30 Church Family Celebration, WH MONDAY, APRIL 3 9:00 Preschool/MDO/Kindergarten 2:30 CASA, CLC 5:00 Library Book Group, CR 7:00 Boy Scouts, Scout Hut TUESDAY, APRIL 4 8:00-11:30 Clothes Closet Open for Donations 9:00 Preschool/Kindergarten 9:00 Invitation Planning, CR 10:00 Faithbuilders, 207 10:30 Staff Meeting, Conference Room 2:30 CASA, CLC 3:00 Carol Choir 5:15 Trustees, CR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5 6:45 Youth Prayer Breakfast, Connie s 9:00 Preschool/MDO/Kindergarten 2:30 CASA, CLC 3:30 Jubilee Singers/Jubilation Choir 5:15 Dinner, WH 6:00 Healing/Prayer Service, Chapel 6:00 Sanctuary Handbells 6:00 Youth Worship 7:00 Chancel Choir THURSDAY, APRIL 6 9:00 Preschool/Kindergarten 9:00 Invitation Planning, WH 2:30 CASA, CLC 5:15 Missions Committee, CR FRIDAY, APRIL 7 7:00 Prayer Group, Chapel 9:00 Kindergarten 2:30 CASA, CLC 6:00 IF Gathering, WH SATURDAY, APRIL 8 9:00-12:00 Helping Hands Open 9:00 IF Gathering, WH