THE FIRST WORD August Tamra Acree... 8/02 Lori McCurdy... 8/02 Dorothy Anderson... 8/04 Leesa Burnette... 8/05 Richard Dubarton, Jr... 8/06 Tim Vines... 8/08 Mark Chitty... 8/10 Laura Oplinger... 8/10 Robert Steif... 8/10 Theresa Braswell... 8/11 Sheri Futrell... 8/12 Nancy Burkhalter... 8/13 Bryon Warren... 8/13 Ben Worley... 8/13 Sarah Bennett... 8/15 David Simmons... 8/15 Tom Lowery... 8/16 Joselyn Valle... 8/17 Robert Westmoreland... 8/18 Sharon Elkins... 8/20 Russell Schiesser... 8/22 Pamela Dotson... 8//23 Jean Smilie... 8/23 Judith Williams... 8/23 Landon Maiyer... 8/24 Patricia Paul... 8/24 Tommy Burnette... 8/25 Cartha Christopher... 8/25 Carole Long... 8/25 David Maiyer... 8/25 Amanda Wishon... 8/29 Carol Maiyer... 8/30 A publication of Ellijay First United Methodist Church August 2012 Thank you for all of your prayers, cards, emails, calls, and texts during the last month. I appreciate so much our wonderful staff and the ministry of the Parish Nurses. You have been wonderful in making visits at home and the hospital. The list is too long to call each person s name who do ministry so well. Thank you!!! In a few days the school bells will be ringing and our students, teachers and administrators will begin a new year. Let us pray and be thankful for the many wonderful young people and faculty who give so much of themselves. Along with the beginning of school, soon thereafter, the Fall program at Ellijay First will resume! The United Methodist Women did a wonderful job last Sunday at both services. We were ministered to and inspired to use our spiritual gifts to the glory of God. Congratulations to the women who were recognized for outstanding ministry: The Noon Circle: Joan Compton The Joy Circle: Marie Holt & Patty Bell The UMW recognized Judy Farmer for her outstanding leadership with the Gilmer Food Pantry and other areas of ministry. With love, Danny There is planning underway for a short-term mission trip to West Virginia in 2013. Jody and Mary Webb have a long established Mission work in McDowell County, which is rated one of the top ten poorest counties in America and has been hit hard by an evershrinking coal mining industry. Hands of Hope helps provide food, shelter, clothing, and hope, especially to children and women in desperate living conditions. It is important to have a show of hands soon of those interested in going. Our target dates are during the May 25 through June 6 time period. We need to nail down a time slot soon. Jody will be available in August to meet and discuss details. Think about what we see here at GRASP and multiply by a thousand. Come hear Jody s story and sign up today. Any one on the Missions Committee will be glad to discuss this project with you. They are: Bob Stephens, Joan Compton, Sharon Elkins, Marsha Vautrot, Jeanine Eason, and Tom Lowery.
SUNDAY Each Sunday 8:45 a.m. Early Worship 9:45 a.m. Sunday School 11 a.m. Worship 5 p.m. Bell Choir, Fall 6 p.m. Impact Youth 1st Sunday 8:45 a.m. Communion 11 a.m. Communion ONGOING WEEKLY EVENTS 1st Monday 5:30 p.m. Finance Committee Meeting August 6 6:00 p.m. Administrative Council Meeting September 10 2nd Monday 6:00 p.m. UMM Dinner & meeting When Called 4th Monday 11:30 a.m. Prayer Shawl Workshop August 27 Each Tuesday 11 a.m. Adult Bible Study BYKOTA CLASSROOM 1st Tuesday 8 a.m. UMM Prayer Breakfast/Meeting at IHOP August 7 3rd Tuesday 11:30 a.m. UMW Noon Circle August 21 6:30 p.m. Prayer and Worship Service Will resume in the Fall 2nd Wednesday 5 p.m. Board of Trustees Meeting, BYKOTA CLASSROOM, August 8 Wednesday 5 p.m. Youth Choir practice will begin in the fall 5:45 p.m. Grace Notes, will resume in the fall 5:30 p.m. MID-WEEK FUEL Fellowship supper sponsored by church 6:00 p.m. Youth IMPACT Will begin again on September 5. Groups. 6:30 p.m. Adult and Children Groups Will begin again on September 5 6:30 p.m. Adult Choir Rehearsal 1st Thursday 11 a.m. Joy Circle August 2 2nd Thursday 11:30 a.m. Single Ladies Lunch August 9 A NOTE FROM THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS COMMITTEE SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 9:15-9:45 am Blood pressure screenings in the office. Come by for a free check. If you know of anyone who is home bound or in the hospital, please call the church office so one of our team members can make a visit. The devotional phone line has been reactivated. The phone number for this line is (706) 635-3500. Messages will be changed weekly. If anyone is interested in recording a devotion to be included in the weekly devotionals, please contact Peggy Puckett at (706) 635-8778. Your devotion could be a meaningful passage of scripture, something that has touched you, or something meaningful to share.
SLEEP HABITS THAT CAN HARM YOUR HEALTH Submitted by Tamra Acree, Parish Nurse In a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers found that 30 percent of American adults sleep less than six hours a night. Lack of sleep is often caused by stress, anxiety, and depression. Insomnia may also be caused by late night eating, consuming too much caffeine, or staying up late to watch television. Whether it is a lot or a little, the amount of sleep you get does affect your health. In one study of 3,000 people, researchers found that those who slept less than six hours a night had twice the risk for a stroke than did those who slept six to eight hours. Sleeping more than eight hours increased a person s risk of heart disease by 10 percent. THE PROBLEM WITH SLEEPING PILLS Some people who struggle with insomnia use prescription medications to help them go to sleep. A recent study found that people who took sleeping pills, even for a short time, were three times more likely to die early than those who didn t take the pills. Researchers looked at the medical records of 10,000 patients who used prescription sleep medications. And they compared the data with 24,000 patient records of those who had similar sleep disorders but did not use medication. These studies suggest that the negative, long term side effects of prescription sleep aids, may outweigh the benefits of taking medication to get some rest. If the problem persists see your health provider again as this may be a secondary sign of a more serious health condition. TIPS TO IMPROVING SLEEP 1. Go to bed at the same time, even on weekends. 2. Create a bedtime routine, like taking a warm bath or listening to soothing music to help you fall asleep. 3. Sleep in an area that is dark, quiet, comfortable and cool. 4. Avoid watching TV, using a computer or reading in bed. 5. Eat your last meal of the day at least 2-3 hours before your regular bedtime. 6. Exercise daily, but not in the last few hours before bedtime. 7. Avoid caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime. 8. Avoid smoking before going to bed. Journal of the American Medical Association. Vol. 307(17) 1789 National Sleep Foundation May 2012 Sleep. Vol.28 (5) 612-615 Mayo Clinic Your parish nurse says to do what is best for you and your sleep habits. There is a lot of info in these articles. HAVE YOU THOUGHT OF PUTTING THE CHURCH IN YOU WILL? Charitable giving can be an important part of the legacy you choose to leave. Making a charitable contribution to the Ellijay First United Methodist Church through your will allows you to support the work of the church, its ministries and mission. You can make a bequest to the church by creating a new will, adding a codicil (amendment) to your existing will, or naming the church in your living trust. You may also designate the church as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy or qualified retirement plan. To designate the EFUMC as a beneficiary, you can use the following wording: I hereby give ( X dollars) or ( X percent of the residue of my estate) to the Ellijay First United Methodist Church, located in Ellijay, Georgia. This gift shall be used in the area of greatest need at the time the gift is received If you prefer, you can direct your gift to a new or existing fund at the church: I give ( X dollars) or ( X percent of the residue of my estate) to the Ellijay First United Methodist Church, located in Ellijay, Georgia. The church shall use this gift to support/establish the fund. Many thanks to Ross Evers and other United Methodist Men who provided the homemade ice cream for the July 18 Ice Cream Social and Financial Update. The desserts were excellent and the financial presentation was well received. Our church continues to prosper thanks to the dedication of all our volunteers and the financial support of our members. The discipleship message of regular tithing is well established in our church, making the Finance Committee s job much easier. Paul Compton Finance Committee Chairman
ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES--9:45 a.m. CROSSWALK will not meet until September. Join another adult class for your summer education and conversation. HELPING HANDS will finish a study of When Christ Comes on August 5. They will start a study of Christianity's Family Tree; What Other Christians Believe and Why by Adam Hamilton on Sunday August 12, 2012. They continue to support the following groups: Gilmer County Food Pantry, Murphy Harpst Children's Center, Gilmer Christian Learning Center, and Kids Kottage with monthly contributions and other special needs when funds are available. On the 5th Sundays they devote the class time to refreshments, getting to know class members and conducting business that needs to be discussed. They hope to have a Fall class picnic and a Christmas get-together in early December. CORNERSTONE is finishing up the study by Andy Stanley, Five Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith on August 5. On August 12 they will start a 13 week study of First Corinthians. They have monthly social gatherings and support many causes such as the Gilmer County Food Pantry, Angel Tree, Kids Kottage and The March of Dimes. BYKOTA is studying the International Sunday School Lessons.. BEN BARRETT is studying the International Sunday School Lessons. August 17 ATLANTA HISTORY MUSEUM Swan Coach House for Lunch Sign up in church office or Call the Acrees at 706.635.1134 A SEASON OF PRAYER AND WORSHIP will begin again in the Fall. Childcare is provided. DISCIPLE I BIBLE STUDY Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study Begins August 16, 2012 Length of study: 34 weeks Class Size: Ideally 12 or less Fee: $37 for study manual Evening Class: Thursdays, 7-9 p.m. Facilitated by: Janet Lynch DISCIPLE I is a 34-week overview of the Bible. Beginning with Genesis and continuing through Revelation, participants will read approximately 70% of the Bible during this life-changing study. Students have daily reading assignments in the Bible and the Study Manual that will be discussed in weekly group meetings. Questions? Call Janet Lynch at 706.636.3328, janetclynch@gmail.com, or the church office.
Ellijay First UMC has recently enrolled in the Stephen Series, a system for training laypeople to do caring ministry. Those training for Stephen Ministry will learn skills and develop their talents for bringing Christ s healing love to people who are grieving, depressed or experiencing other stresses in life. Carole Long is our contact person and can be reached at home at 706.636.4814, cell 850.212.000261, or by email at walmtn@etcmail.com for more information. The Stephen Series is named for the martyr Stephen, one of the first laypeople commissioned by the apostles to perform acts of caring ministry. If you have difficulty hearing, please see an usher before church for a hearing impaired device. Thanks to the Trustees for securing these aids. Volunteers are needed to provide supper for the youth on Sunday evenings. There is a sign -up sheet located on the bulletin board by the youth room. Any individuals, SS classes, or Circle that would be interested in providing a meal for approx. 25 people on Sunday nights may contact Barbara Talbot for menu suggestions or other information. AUGUST 26 ~ The next BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING at 9:15 Volunteer for a committee, visit our homebound members, participate in some of our many activities. You will be blessed. Volunteers Are Needed! Children s Church A craft, lesson, and snack are provided. This is done on a rotation basis for once every three months. That is only 4 hours a year to assist in this important ministry. Contact Marianne Evans if interested. The next Administrative Council meeting will be held on Monday, Sept. 10, at 6 p.m. All committee chairs are encouraged to attend. Audio Ministry continues to need volunteers If you have a musical ear and like to work with audio gear, you are needed to serve on a rotating basis. Please contact John Rathbone at 706-889-2038 or www.dirtcheep@ellijay.com. September Newsletter Deadline The deadline for submitting articles or information for the September newsletter is Wednesday, August 29. Anything received after that date will be included in the October newsletter. JOIN THE CHOIR! Join the fun! Noon Circle meets the 3rd Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. Joy Circle meets the 1st Thursday at 11 a.m.
Anyone who works in the nursery, teaches children s Sunday School, helps with children s church, youth or the elderly need to take this class. This is for the protection of everyone. Our trainer will be coming from Marietta FUMC. Would you be interested in a Church-wide Campout at a local camp ground on September 14 16? This camp site will accommodate tents, popups and RVs under 25. Sounds fun, but you don t have camping equipment? No problem, camping equipment can be borrowed. If you are interested, please contact the church office as soon as possible so we can plan this fun family campout! August 19, 2012 Each week during the school year the Gilmer Community Food Pantry puts together food sacks for about 200 children to take home from school each Friday. Many of these children would have no food at all over the weekend if not for the Sack Pack program. What we are missing is volunteers to come to the Pantry on Monday morning to pick up those Sack Packs and deliver them to their respective schools. It s usually 3 or 4 banana boxes per delivery and should fit easily in your car and will probably only require a couple of hours of your time. Please contact Judy Farmer to volunteer. Her email address is kjfarmer@ellijay.com or her phone number is 706-635-2167. DO YOU HAVE A NAME TAG? If so, please remember to wear it each week. If you do not have a name tag, please contact the church office and we will make sure you get one. They are helpful and allow us to get to know each other! Carolyn Hipp On July 15 If you did not place a portrait order while being photographed for the pictorial directory, you may pick up your complimentary 8 X 10 in the church office, M F from 9 4 p.m. United Methodist Women Noon Circle is preparing for a bazaar on Saturday of the first weekend of the Apple Festival. The mission projects that will be supported by this bazaar are: Murphy Harpst Children s Home, Methodist Children s Home, Community Food Pantry, youth activities, Christmas baskets for shut-ins, Christmas bags for the men at Promise Land, the McEuen family missionaries in Peru, military ministry and more. The bazaar will be held in the Fellowship Hall on Saturday, October 13 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be an Antique Treasures table and donations are needed and will be much appreciated. Please search your attic, basement, and closets for those forgotten treasures which are no longer used by you, but would be cherished by others. Items will be accepted at a date and time to be announced. Please have your items priced.
CHILDREN S MINISTRY Want s more fun? Did you enjoy VBS this summer? Join us for Summit Seekers! On Wednesday nights starting on September 5. See Marianne if you are willing to teach Sunday School, Children s Church or Wednesday Night- VBS fun this Fall (starting in September) Parents! Plan now to have your child participate in the fun of Summit Seekers, a 13-week outdoor adventure in discovering God s tremendous love and amazing promises. Sign up today by calling the church office at 706.635.2555 or by emailing Marianne at children@fumcellijay.org. Preschool News Preschool has begun registration for Fall of 2012. Registration form on Church Website. Keep saving Box Tops! Worth 10 cents each! August 30 Preschool Open House at 6:30 p.m. Children s Church Ages 3 years thru 2nd Grade. Join us after the children s sermon in church. We will sing some songs. The lesson and craft will go along with the children s sermon. We will also have a snack. We will join back up with the parents in church. Children s Church Volunteers August 5 August 12 August 19 August 26 Jenny Easley Youth Jacqueline Poole Barb Talbot Nursery Bliss Cole Daniele Deneka Barb Parks Need Volunteer
IMPACT YOUTH NEWS Youth Fall Retreat Where: Copperhill, TN White Water Express (whitewaterexpress.com) When: Labor Day Weekend, September 1 3, 2012 Who: Students in grades 6 12 What: Weekend of adventure, fun, and growing closer to God! Cost: $150 (Scholarships/fundraising available) (Deposit of $50 due August 1) CHAPERONES AND SCHOLARSHIPS are needed for the retreat on Labor Day weekend. Please contact Kerri Ann if you are able to assist. WE HAVE A MISSION Welcoming-Worshiping-Nurturing-Sending Why does the church exist? According to Matthew s Gospel, the risen Christ made it clear: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you (28:19-20) Based on this Great Commission, our United Methodist Church has stated its purpose: The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Local churches provide the most significant arena through which disciple-making occurs. So the mission of our congregation is to make disciples. This is a four-fold task.... We could abbreviate our mission as one of welcoming-worshiping-nurturing -sending. From The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church 2008, pp. 87-88. For more information on Our Faith, please visit the UMC Web Site. Ellijay First United Methodist Church 75 McCutchen Street P.O. Box 472 Ellijay, GA 30540 Church: 706-635-2555 Fax: 706-273-2555 Pastor s Residence: 706-636-4991 Email: office@fumcellijay.org danny@fumcellijay.org youth@fumcellijay.org children@fumcellijay.org Website: www.fumcellijay.org Church Office Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday CHURCH STAFF The Reverend Dr. Danny Barton, Pastor The Reverend Alan Tarr, Assistant Pastor Tamra Acree, Parish Nurse Charlie Bryant, Director of Music Pam Corbin, Custodian Gabrielle Cornett, Pianist Marianne Evans, Director of Children s Ministries & Preschool Rhonda Hilliard, Administrative Assistant Angel Hughes, Nursery Coordinator Kerri Anne Lipscomb, Youth Minister Cheryl Smith, Organist