MAY 2014 NEWSLETTER Jessica Herrera, Secretary hours: Mon & Wed. 8:00am-3:00pm as work demands The Reverend Debbie Measells, Pastor: Office hours: M-Thurs 8:30am-12& 1-4pm;Friday-day off ************************************************************************************ A note from the Pastor Dear friends and members, This month we will be reading from Psalm 116. This is the first verse: I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my supplications. God listens for us and to us. I am glad that each of us can turn to God for help and salvation. I hope that you will call upon the name of the Lord to see you through your daily lives. Sometimes we rely too heavily upon ourselves until everything goes wrong and then we ask God to bail us out of trouble. Don t wait for the last moment to turn to God. Start each day with a prayer for God to guide you and direct your life. Set an example of trust in God and your family will follow in step behind you. As we celebrate Mother s Day on the Second Sunday of May, we can thank God for Moms and Dads who taught us to pray. Come worship with your mother and honor her by your presence. Let her know that her faithfulness is important to you and still a guide in your life. Love, Rev. Debbie Measells +++++++++++++++ suggestions to Bill Clarke or Jessica and they will pass them along. The First Assembly of God is requesting donations and servers for Columbia High School Baccalaureate on May 18, 2014 at 6pm at First Assembly. If you are able to help in either way, please contact Debbie or Jessica in the office for more information. Host a Christian High School Exchange Student!! Christian volunteers, with or without children at home, are needed to host Christian international high school students for 2014-2015 school year. The students speak English, are covered by medical insurance, have spending money for their personal expenses, and hope to arrive in AUGUST for enrollment in their new high school. For more information, please contact Yvette at SHARE!: 1-800-941-3738, info@sharesouthwest.org or visit www.sharesouthwest.org *****REPORT ON PAST EVENTS****** There were 6 children and 13 adults that attended the Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 19 th. Thanks to everyone who came and brought food. Another 5 children hunted eggs on Sunday the 27 th. ********CURRENT EVENTS*********** We are having a kick-off meeting for Feed My Lambs on Wednesday, May 7 at 1:30pm in the fellowship hall. All folks who are interested in attending are welcome. Also, if you are unable to attend but may have suggestions or ideas about Feed My Lambs, please send your Presbyterian Children s Homes and Services wrote this: We are so blessed by your recent gift of $101.00, thank you! You are a valued partner in this ministry! Without your prayers and your gifts, we could do very little but with the help of God and faithful supporters like you, the Good News is shared in word and deed; children are healed and families in need are given hope in an uncertain world.
We have purchased and installed 2 new A/C window units for the old building. The cost for was $1,428.00. Thanks to the generous support of our congregation, A New Life AA Group and Boy Scout troop #524, we have received $1,855.00. This will give us enough money to purchase both units and other supplies that will be needed. Charlie Phillips daughter wrote this: Dear Ladies, Thank you so much for your expression of love in providing the delicious food for my dad s funeral. It is so appreciated as well as your hard work. Again, many thanks! Love, Edith Ann and family. POP sends their thanks for our monthly donation. Your offering allows us to be faithful supporters of their ministry. ********MISSION REPORT********** In April, nine families were given food from the food pantry. This is an ongoing ministry which is always in need of canned goods and non perishable food items. Your continued support of our food pantry is greatly appreciated. Feed My Lambs will begin on June 2nd. If you have not already filled out a volunteer form and would like to volunteer, please do so ASAP. Jessica will be making the schedule for the first two weeks by May 21 st and getting it sent out. You may also call the office and Jessica can fill out the form for you. Thank you again for your dedication and service in making this mission successful. ********Worship Report ********* Elders serving communion on May 4 th are Leonard Meier, Jessica Herrera and Brian & Phoebe Knapp. The Usher captains are Dale Davis and. (Not available at time of printing.) We would like to thank Ginny Raska for serving as Lay Reader during the month of April. If you would like to be Lay Reader please use signup sheet or let the office know. ********Treasurer s Report******** April Offering $ 9,591.33 Disbursements $12,494.65* *We transferred $5,000.00 from another account to cover the bills for the month of April. You may want to consider increasing your offering if at all possible. Special offerings: New A/C $1,855.00 Parking lot stripes $ 300.00 One Great Hour of Sharing $ 61.00 **Lectionary Readings for May** May 4th: Acts 2:14a, 36-41, Psalm 116:1-4, 12-1, 1 Peter 1:17-23, Luke 24:13-35 May 11th: Acts 2:42-47, Psalm 23:1-61, Peter 2:19-25, John 10:1-10 May 18 th : Acts 7:55-60, 1 Peter 2:2-10, John 14:1-14 May 25 th : Acts 17:22-31, Psalm 66:8-20, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21 *********A LOOK AHEAD********* Feed My Lambs will begin in June. We anticipate serving 10,000 lunches this summer. Your financial contributions and your willingness to volunteer are what is needed to make this possible. Jessica would like all volunteers to fill out a form and turn it into the office. There are copies of this form available in the sanctuary or the office and you can find a copy of the form on our website at www.fpcbrazoria.org when you click on the ministries tab.
Vacation Bible School is in the works. More information will be shared as plans are made. If you would like to volunteer during the week of VBS, please let Phoebe or Ginny know ASAP. During the month of April, the potted plants were placed in the sanctuary to the Glory of God by Debbie Measells and Ginny Raska. The Easter Lilies were enjoyed by all to see on Easter Sunday by: Name of Donor In Memory of: Ginny Raska Mary McNeil Wynelle Vollbaum Donald Vollbaum Tami Brown Carol Snedecor Phoebe Knapp Margaret Alford Ruby Measells Floyd Cannedy Jerry Measells Jerome Measells Bill & Sandra Clarke Marilyn & Gordon Wiggins Frances & Shelby McCullough Cathy & John Phillips Pops Charlie Phillips Jessica Herrera Ginny Raska In Honor of: Malia & RJ Herrera Sarah Raska The families of Dr. Jack Taylor at his death, and Joyce Gretschal at her death, John Indian s friend Herman Jackson is ill, Nancy McLaren with health concerns, Jerry Measells had day surgery on April 29 th, Gary Harrington in ICU on life support, Debbie Beaver s mother fell, Melvina Meier has been ill. 13-Emmalyn Mercer 14-Sandy Tinnon Indian 17-Sandra Clarke Betty Schaefer Bonnie DuBose 20-Bill Hopwood 22-Stacy Mitchell 26-Anna Claire Cook 30- Paige & Caitlin Hyer 31-Courtney Danford Important Information: Jessica is in the office on Monday and Wednesday from 8am- 3pm. However, during the summer, she will be working Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8am-3pm to be available during Feed My Lambs. 7-John &Linda Matheson 24-Ronald & Jennifer Mercer
Do "eustress" enough? Stress generally isn t viewed as positive, but psychologists speak of both distress and eustress. Eustress is a level of discomfort not so high as to make us give up but high enough to urge us forward. Winemakers know that the best wine comes from stressed grapevines, planted in rocky soil and given only enough water to prompt the roots to stretch downward to find more moisture. People, too, grow strong when pushed to work hard, not when handed everything we want or need. Good parents know this, as does our good and gracious God. When we re struggling and stressed, God hasn t abandoned us, but he may be practicing the vinedresser s tough love to help us grow. Perhaps the Spirit allowed the Bible to be difficult in places so we d work to learn what it means. Perhaps God lets questions challenge our faith so we ll stretch to find answers. Maybe God will transform what seems distressing into eustress making us the very best we can be. How about a good laugh??
We have a few updated addresses for you to add to your church directory. Bible Quiz Donnell Cook PO Box 304 Brazoria, TX 77422 Caitlin Hyer 1601 Vickrey Circle Apt# 9205 Belton, TX 76513 Roger & Laura Lackey 2824 CR 471 Brazoria, TX 77422 Mike Tinnon 201 Dixie Dr. Apt# 408 Clute, TX 77531 Opal Vollbaum 6767 S. Broadway Littleton, CO 80122 If you have moved or had a phone number change, please give the office a call to give us your updated information. Congratulations to Earl & Nelda Gragert at the birth of their new great granddaughter on April 3, 2014. Complete the following Bible verse: A gentle answer turns away, but a harsh word stirs up. A. an argument; obedience B. wrath; anger C. jealousy; resentment D. falsehood; truth Answer: B (See Proverbs 15:1, NIV.) Waiting on God On May 1, Americans observe the National Day of Prayer. Waiting on God is an important component of prayer. It s hard to understand why God delays when we cry out for help. Why does he allow us to suffer, when he could just say the word and make it all better? Why must we wait? Consider a child whose parents always give her whatever she asks, as soon as she asks for it. That child has little opportunity to learn patience or gratitude. Because she doesn t know what it s like to not have, she cannot appreciate the true value of something. God may have some of these things in mind when our prayers go unanswered for a time. As the psalmist exhorts, Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! (Psalm 27:14, NRSV).
FML-Feed My Lambs 2014 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 National 2 3 Day of Prayer Sunday School 9:15am Worship 10:30am Every Sunday 4 Communion 11 MOTHER S DAY! Men s Breakfast 7am PW 12pm 18 Church dinner and Session Baccalaureate 6pm First Assembly 25 26 Memorial Day 2 6 12 13 19 20 27 7 FML meeting 1:30pm Choir Practice 6:30pm 14 Choir Practice 6:30pm 21 Choir Practice 6:30pm 8 9 10 15 16 17 22 23 24 28 29 30 31