First United Methodist Church March 1, 2019 Volume 75, Issue The Methodist Messenger A Taste of What s Inside 1, Perspectives 2 Worship Notes Mission Moment Music Notes Children s Corner Lift-off to Lent I Am Sermon Series & Study 5 Munch A Lunch 5 Spelling Bee Winners 6 2019 General Conference Update 7 Puppets for Jesus 7 Newsletter Deadline Mark Your Calendar 2, Ash Wednesday - March 6, Esther Children s Musical March 6 Joy Singers Rehearsal - March 2 I Am Sermon Series & Study Sundays, March 10 - April 21 Pancake Supper - March 6 7 Newsletter Deadline - March 7 Perspectives By Rev. Matthew Smith Are You True to Your Character? When I say that ordination in the United Methodist Church is a process, I mean it. I ve heard that it s the most vetted process of any Christian denomination. Throughout the process candidates are given various assessments to measure a wide variety of variables, from personality to aptitude. Not too removed from my psychological studies at college, I had remembered studying the intricacies of such assessments. Therefore, in a move of cleverness I sought to have a little fun with the tests, only to find out that it had made a little fun of me, and by fun I mean a little admonishing by the administrators. In essence what the assessment was saying is that I was not being true to my character or personality. I had tried to make myself into something different and it caught me. How often do we try to be somebody that we re not? Probably more than we care to admit. God is that assessment, and when we approach Him, He brings revelation into whether or not we re being true to our character. God created each and every one of us with a beautiful uniqueness that finds its purpose and fulfillment within the community of faith. Even the faith community takes on an identity from which it derives its purpose. Often the individual and the community try to live contrary to its created purpose and that s when we hear the voice of God saying, Return to me. (Please see Perspectives, page ) Vision Statement: Contact Us First United Methodist Church is a loving, supportive family of faith working together to share God's love. 105 N. Montgomery St Gilmer, TX 756 90-8-2610 www.gilmer-fumc.com Pastor, Matthew B. Smith mattsmith@gilmer-fumc.com Secretary, Esther Faggione gilmerchurch@gmail.com Financial Secretary, Lamon Geddie fumcacct@etex.net
Page 2 WE SHOW OUR LOVE By Our Prayers... Babs Crombie, Ceci Crombie, Verlon Feller, Lamon Geddie, Roy Helpenstill, Dr. David Jenkins, Sarah Monk, the family of Bob Spruiell, Billie Stevenson Remember ongoing prayers for loved ones with serious illnesses, our shut-ins, family and friends in the military service and the leaders and staff of our church and our country. Remember to check our Web Site for up-to-the-minute prayer requests. Prayer Ministry Don t worry about anything; instead pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don t forget to thank Him for His answers. -- Philippians :6 Submit requests to Church s web page: www.gilmer-fumc.com Or Call: Church Office 90-8-2610 Statistically Speaking Our Presence Sunday School Worship Visitors February 10 80 28 2 February 17 10 151 16 89 171 26 8 151 26 Date Average Year to Date Average Last Year WORSHIP NOTES 2019 In looking to Ash Wednesday the beginning of Lent (March 6), Holy Week (Palm Sunday - Good Friday) and Easter, let us begin to prepare our hearts for opportunities to come together in community as we worship and study and fellowship. Hydrangeas and Easter Lilies will be available to honor or remember our loved ones Easter Sunday - more information will be in the next messenger. Annette Breazeale Our Worship Service is broadcast on ETEX, Channel 1, Sunday, 6 p.m. Follow us on Facebook and Monday, 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. First United M ethodist Church of Gilmer
1 P a g e The Methodist Messenger P age Mission Moment... Thank you! The Carolyn Belshe Orphanage in Cambine, Mozambique is home to more than 60 orphans. THANK YOU to the two Sunday School Classes and individuals who are continuing to sponsor children in this orphanage. Through your generosity, Joao, Julia, Nercio, Olga and Patricio will be provided school uniforms, other school needs during their school year, healthy breakfasts, as well as day to day personal needs that might otherwise not be met without your help. Mission Opportunity There is a new opportunity to sponsor children in the Orphanage in Dondo, Mozambique. If you are interested in sponsoring a child in Mozambique for $100/year, please contact me at 90-762-1002. I ask that you remember these children and their caregivers in your prayers. Barbara Smith Perspectives (continued from page 1) As we begin another Lenten journey we re reminded of God s call to return. To repent from trying to live separate from God and contrary to who God created us to be. The Christian life is not for the faint of heart, but for those seeking a true transformation of the heart. I pray that this Lenten season you and your family will make a faithful effort to journey together as a faith community through worship, small groups, Bible study, and service. Are you true to your character? Or is God saying, Return to me? Rev. Matthew Smith Communion Sunday, March, Reverend Smith will offer his last sermon in his Esther series. Scripture emphasis for the day is from Esther 8:15-10:. His Music Notes sermon topic is Working for Good. Hymns for today s service include Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah and He Leadeth Me, both from The United by Lora Robison Methodist Hymnal. The Chancel Choir will be singing How Marvelous Are the Works by Angerman. Wednesday, March 6, the Joy Singers along with youth Molly Sullivan and Matthew Faggione, will present Esther, a children s musical about the book of Esther. As an end to the Esther series and as the beginning of Lent, we will be meeting in the Fellowship Hall at 5:00 p.m., for a pancake supper and children s musical. Following will be our traditional Ash Wednesday service in the sanctuary. Worship for March 10, the first Sunday of Lent, will focus on Scripture from John 1:1-1. Reverend Smith s sermon topic for this Sunday is The Way, Truth, and Life. Hymns for the day include The Church s One Foundation, Only Trust Him, and When We All Get to Heaven all from The United Methodist Hymnal. The Joy Singers will be singing Dance on the Water by Crunk during the Children s Moment. The Chancel Choir will be singing Do Not Let Your Heart Be Troubled by Larson. See you in Worship! In Christ s love, Lora March and Spring are here. It is always such a hopeful and joyous time of year. As we start seeing the signs of Spring, may it remind us of our beloved Savior and the hope and joy we have in Him. We begin March by finishing up our study of Esther with a great musical. The Joy Singers will have a dress rehearsal on Saturday, March 2, from 9 to 11 am. The big day for our musical will be Wednesday, March 6th, at 6 pm. Dinner will be served. Don t miss this opportunity to see our children with Matthew Faggione and Molly Sullivan perform this fun, meaningful production. In Sunday School, we will be studying the 7 I Am statements recorded in the book of John during the months of March and April. Finally, remember there will be no Wonderful Wednesday on March 1. I hope you each enjoy a safe and fun Spring Break. See you soon, Chandra
Th e M ethodi st Messe nger P age Ash Wednesday, March 6 5 p.m., Pancake Supper (Fellowship Hall) 6 p.m., Esther Children s Musical (Fellowship Hall) 6:0 p.m., Receiving the Ashes (Sanctuary) How Believing in Jesus Affects How You Live Answer the open ended statement: I am. What did you come up with? I can think of many responses, such as: a father, a son, a husband, a Christian, a pastor, redeemed, etc. How I respond to that statement affects how I live. In the Gospel of John, Jesus responds to that statement in seven different ways, what is referred to as the I Am statements of Jesus. Each week beginning March 10 through Easter Sunday we will take a look at one of those I Am statements that Jesus makes in John s Gospel. Each one is significant, and as it takes hold of us we ll begin to see how believing in Jesus really does affect how we live. Church-wide dinners and Bible study will coincide with the I Am series and provide an opportunity to dive deeper into these statements through a completely in house developed study. Sundays, March 10 through April 1, Dinner 6:00 pm, Bible Study 6:0 pm. March 10 - John 1:1-1 April 7 - John 6:25-5, 1-58 March 17 - John 10: 11-18 April 1 - John 10:1-10; Luke 19:28-0 March 2 - John 8: 12; 9:1-7 April 21: John 11: 17-26; Luke 2:1-12 March 1 - John 15:1-8 www.gilmer-fumc.com
The Methodist Messenger Page 5 2019 Spelling Bee for Literacy Winners Pictured above are the Bee-Lievers: Deborah Betterton, Frances Kendall and Caroline Van Horn (Photo taken by Mary Kirby, of the Gilmer Mirror)
The Met hodist Messenger P age 6 2019 General Conference Update The General Conference of the United Methodist Church, the church's top law making body, recently met in St. Louis in special session as called for by the Council of Bishops. The purpose of the conference was to receive and react upon plans put forth by the Commission on a Way Forward that would address the issues of human sexuality in regards to both marriage and ordination. After much debate the Traditional Plan, which affirms and strengthens the church's long held belief that marriage is between one man and one woman, and that we believe all people to be of sacred worth but believe the practice of homosexuality to be incompatible with Christian teaching, was passed by a vote of 8 to 8. The Traditional Plan strengthens prohibitions against gay marriage and the ordination of self-avowed homosexuals. Due to many delay tactics put forth by opposition, simple amendments, that were needed to bring the full Traditional Plan into harmony with Judicial Council decisions, failed, but can be amended at the 2020 General Conference. The Conference also approved one disaffiliation plan that would allow churches to disaffiliate from the UMC with their property, but it is expected to be ruled unconstitutional by the Judicial Council. In all, actions approved will take effect January 1, 2020. Nothing will change for our church and we will continue to be focused on making disciples for Jesus Christ. Please keep the entire church in your prayers as we move forward in good faith that God will continue to use the United Methodist Church for His glory and kingdom work. For further information and to view videos from General Conference please visit www.txcumc.org or feel free to stop by the office for a chat. Grace & Peace, Matthew Smith
Flowers for March March 10 March 17 Mr. Harold Meadows and family Mrs. Annette Breazeale and Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth White Ms. Lamon Geddie and Mrs. Joy Sorrells March 2 March 1 Greeters Larry and Berita Morse Lay Reader Jimmy Bedard Ushers Rob Albright, Mark Boddie, Tammy Orms, Kathy McClain The Sanctuary Flowers for February 10 were given by Boy Scout Troop 1 in honor of past, present and future Scouts of Troop 1. February 17 were given by Greg and Frances Kendall in memory of Jim and Mary Wright, L.C. and Alice Wooten, and Jimmy Kendall. Deadline for Newsletter Articles March 7, Noon P age 7 Puppets for Jesus by Babs Crombie Excitement continues to stir within the puppet team as we ready ourselves for rehearsing new scripts to perform for the congregation and the children during Children s Church. We celebrate God s work in our lives and ministries as we focus on ways to seek and find God s joy through life. Our Children s Church performances continue to focus on the life of Queen Esther and her heroic life of her people. Our main topic of discussion lately has been one of great concern of the team, as it concerns the entire church. As always, we greatly appreciate your continued support of this important ministry of our church. We are needing everyone s support on this one however. For MANY years the stage curtain in the Christian Life Center has been used by countless groups and individuals. All for good causes. The stage and curtains however; are really starting to show their age, and are in dire need of some serious repair. The stage curtains are extremely fragile at this point and are needing to be taken down, cleaned and repaired. The summer months would be the best time for this project to be done, as there are few activities going on that would require the use of the stage. We will be planning more detailed information on what exactly is needed, the costs and how you as a church can help with this expense and time involved to complete this project. We hope you will support such an important cause as, the stage benefits EVERYONE in the church. We will post more on this fundraiser at a later date. Please pray that we can resolve this project in a positive way for everyone! Thank You! Have a wonderful week and remember to be kind to one another! Blessings, Babs Th e M ethodi st Messe nger Follow u s on F aceboo k - Fir st Unit e d Methodi st Church o f Gi lm er