First United Methodist Church Volume 70, Issue 5 March 15, 2014 The Methodist Messenger A Taste of What's Inside 2, 5 Church facts 2 Hydrangeas and Lilies for Easter 3 Music Notes 3 Relay for Life 3 Spelling Bee for Literacy 4 Children's Corner 4 Youth News 4 Eagle Scout Court of Honor 4 Vacation Bible School 5 Puppets for Jesus Mark Your Calendar 2 Easter flower deadline - April 13 3 Relay for Life Luncheon - March 16 3 Spelling Bee for Literacy - March 27 4 Eagle Scout Court of Honor - March 22 4 Youth Rally - April 13 4 Youth Impact Weekend - May 16-18 4 Vacation Bible School - July 14-18 4 Children's Council - March 23 5 Newsletter Deadline - March 22 In my official pastor s office I maintain some ephemeral material. The word ephemeral is derived from an ancient Greek ephermeros. Actually to the ancient Greek the word would look like this: εφήμερος. Ephemeral when translated literally means lasting only one day. Its original usage had to do with plants which come up one day and were gone the next. My ephemeral hoard is not of this nature but is another sort of potentially temporary material which provides some happy memories. Represented are several groups of souvenirs that came back home with me from the places I had the privilege of visiting during the time I was enjoying volunteer leadership with our Texas Annual Conference Mission program. When I glance through the archive today I note not only relics of past experience but also share in my mind the memories associated with these. I remember people, I recall places, I see smiles and tears, I hear voices of celebration. I am taken back to high moments of worship in a variety of places and through a variety of languages and traditions. The items which are in place in my office are interesting but overall of little importance beyond themselves. They were essentially designed to be ephemeral, lasting only a brief while. Yet the joy I encounter each time I remember is significant. What makes these even more potent is the awareness that each one was created not by foreigners but by members of our own family, the family of faithful people who are both Christians, and I m proud to say, United Methodist Christians. We United Methodists are literally a world-wide family. Our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and our overall Christian witness, unite with people we will never know in places which we have trouble even pronouncing. Yet, the good news is they, we, are actively involved in sharing the Gospel and doing what we are encouraged to do: To make disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. How great is that!?! All for now. See you Sunday if not before... Richard Vision Statement: First United Methodist Church is a loving, supportive family of faith working together to share God's love. Contact Us 105 N. Montgomery St Gilmer, TX 75644 903-843-2610 Pastor, Richard Laster pastorlaster@etex.net Secretary, Carol Craddock fumcsect@etex.net Financial Secretary, Lamon Geddie fumcacct@etex.net
Th e M ethodi st Messe nger P age 2 WE SHOW OUR LOVE By Our Prayers... Dick Chrisp, Don Clark, Beemer Crombie, Millie Feller, family of Justin Frost, Tom Gray, Roy Helpenstill, Pat Johnson, Sandra Johnson, Tony Kuza, Russ Logan, Mike Sleeth, Betty Wallace 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. ORDER EASTER LILIES & HYDRANGEAS 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 4:6 Submit requests to Church s web page: Or Call: Church Office 903-843-2610 Jane Wilson 903-841-1291 Name In Memory OR In Honor of Please attach cash or check: $10 each lily Statistically Speaking Our Presence Date Sunday School Worship Visitors 3-2 84 142 11 3-9 91 175 15 Average Year to Date 93 167 22 $15 each hydrangea I will pick up my flowers after the Easter Worship Service. I will donate my flowers. Deadline to order - April 13 Average Last Year 87 170 22 L i k e u s o n F a c eb o o k Our Presents Month Total Income Total Expenses Income Over/ (Under) February $29,675 $41,147 -$11,472 Year to Date $59,362 $75,234 -$15,872 F i r s t U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h of G il m e r Our Worship Service is broadcast on ETEX, Channel 999, Sunday, 6 p.m. and Monday, 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Th e M ethodi st Messe nger P age 3 Music Notes by Lora Robison Our service for March 16th is based upon scripture from John 3: 1-17. Our Call to Worship, O How He Loves You and Me, will be offered by the Youth Choir with soloist Ray Sorrells. The Offertory for the day will be sung by Brianna Esquivel, How Great His Love by Ruth Elaine Schram. The Chancel Choir will be singing For God So Loved the World by Martin. This will also be a CONGREGATIONAL CHOICE Sunday so come prepared with your favorite Lenten hymns to suggest. The March 23rd service will be based upon the scripture from Exodus 17: 1-7 and John 4: 11-15. The sermon topic by Reverend Laster will be Dabbling in the Water of Satisfaction. This Sunday we will have a hymn medley accompanied by guitars. The anthem, Come to the Water by Foley will be sung by the Chancel Choir, and Jubilation will ring The Staff of Faith by Tucker for the offertory. The fourth Sunday in Lent is March 30th. The scripture for the day is based upon Ephesians 5: 8-14 with the sermon topic Moving Toward the Light Yes, That Is Good! The Chancel Choir will be singing Shine On Us arranged by Benjamin Harlan. As we continue into our Lenten Season here at FUMC we hope that you will find a closer walk with our Savior, Jesus Christ, by attending services of worship, daily Bible reading, prayer, and meditation, or by attending one or more of our special studies offered at this time. See you in Worship. In Christ s love, Lora Relay For Life Lunch The Relay For Life Team is having an after church lunch on March 16 th. Please mark your calendars; this is one of our major fundraisers. We are trying to raise $8,000 by the end of April to help in the fight against cancer. Any Team member who is willing to help with the lunch, please contact Barbara Williams who is coordinating this event. Spelling Bee for Literacy One of our church's local mission projects is our support of the Upshur County Literacy Center. On Thursday, March 27 th, at the Civic Center, they are having their 21 st annual Spelling Bee. This is their major fundraiser and is sponsored by the Gilmer Rotary Club. For the first time in the history of the Spelling Bee, the spelling teams will be children from the Upshur County elementary and junior high schools. Tickets for this event are $12 and include dinner, a jar raffle, live and silent auctions and of course, the spelling bee competition. This all begins at 5:30 p.m. and usually ends about 9:00 p.m. If you have any questions, contact Steve Nye.
The Methodist Messenger Children s Corner 1 by Chandra Sorrells Children s Council will be meeting after worship on the 23rd of March. We will be discussing our Easter plans and plans for this summer. It would be great if every parent of our children could be in attendance as well as anyone else interested in this ministry. I am looking forward to working with each of you. Page 4 Youth News by Matt Potter Hello everyone! I hope that everyone is doing well and that you all have had a wonderful spring break so far! Last weekend we took the youth to Shreveport and our plan was to go to Winter Jam 2014 at the Century Link Center. We ended up running into a traffic jam on I-20 due to construction which pushed us back time-wise and we were unable to get to the concert before it was sold out. Even though we were unable to make it to the concert we still had a great time! As our backup plan we went to the Boardwalk, which several of the youth had never been to before. Chandra RAYMOND SORRELLS requests the pleasure of your company at his Eagle Scout Court of Honor Saturday, the twenty-second of March two thousand fourteen at two o clock in the afternoon Silver Alley Reception to follow RSVP to Chandra Sorrells at 903-238-6695 We visited Bass Pro Shop and took some pictures with the Duck Dynasty Crew (the cardboard version). We also went to several other shops before returning to Longview to eat at Denny's. Several of the youth asked if we could go back to the boardwalk sometime this summer, and we will look to make that happen. Just a reminder of a few things that are coming up: April 13th - Youth Rally at New Boston April 20th - Easter Sunday May 16th - 18th - Impact Weekend Matt Vacation Bible School Mark your calendars now. VBS July 14-18
Th e M ethodi st Messe nger P age 5 Flowers for The Sanctuary Flowers for March 2 March 9 March 16 March 23 March 30 Mr. Harold Meadows Mr. and Mrs. Bob Bates Mr. and Mrs. Jim Pinto Mr. and Mrs. Frank Breazeale, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth White Mr. and Mrs. Larry Morse February 16 were given by Greg and Frances Kendall in memory of Jim and Mary Wright. February 23 were given by Mr. and Mrs. Gary Patterson and family in loving memory of Wink and Geree Patterson and Ross Gunn. March 2 were given by Mr. Harold Meadows and family in loving memory of Kay Meadows. Ushers... Brandon and Kim Garmon, Linda Keller, Matt Potter Lay Reader... Sue Green Greeters Robert and Patricia Stracener Deadline for Newsletter Articles March 22, Noon by Babs Crombie Puppets for Jesus The puppet team presented a wonderful skit for those who attended Children's Church this past Sunday. The story theme was "Jonah and the Whale" and that one cannot hide from God. Jonah tried to disobey God and failed, until God placed him in the belly of a huge whale. The children will be learning about Jonah the entire month of March during the Sunday school hour, and this story will be more exciting each Sunday. Encourage your children to attend on Sunday for more adventures about Jonah. A BIG shout out to the following: Jeff Sorrells, Ray Sorrells, Nick Sorrells, Lucas Smith, Chandra Sorrells, Ceci Crombie, and Marc Smith. The team also discussed the importance of Lent and what it meant to each of us. Lent is an Old English word which means to lengthen. Have you noticed our days are getting longer? Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and continues for six weeks until Easter. As Christians we prepare by remembering what Jesus has done for us. During the season of Lent some people give up things they really like or enjoy during, as a way of remembering the life Jesus gave up. Others add on doing extra acts of love which lead to a new life for us. It helps us to become better Christians. The sacrifices that you make during Lent will help each person remember Jesus' sacrifice and may help you have a closer relationship with Him. What will you give up for Lent? Looking for something to give up? Give up resentment and become more forgiving. Give up hatred and return good for evil. Give up complaining and be more grateful. Give up pessimism and become more hopeful. Give up worry and become more trusting. Give up anger and become more patient. Give up pettiness and become more noble. Give up gloom and become more joyful. Give up doubt and turn to God. Li k e u s o n F acebook - Fir st Unit e d M ethodi st Ch urch o f Gi lmer