WEEKLY CONNECTION VOLUME 46 No. 14 APRIL 6, 2016 Sesquicentennial Celebration The Sesquicentennial committee is pleased to announce our first event in the celebration of our yearlong 150th anniversary celebration. Reverend Prentiss Gordon Sr., our beloved pastor from 1983-1994, will be preaching at our church on Sunday, April 17. Reverend Gordon s walk with Christ started in Choctaw County on December 23, 1925. He graduated high school in Weir and joined the U.S. Air Force as a gunnery instructor during World War II. Reverend Gordon married his wife of 64 years, Mary Lee Blain Gordon, on November 29, 1942, and they were blessed with four children. He attended Wood Junior College, Mississippi State University, and Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Reverend Gordon was an active minister in United Methodist Churches across Mississippi from 1955-1994. He is now a pastor emeritus of First United Methodist Church, Starkville and continues his ministry to others through outreach to those who cannot attend church and through weddings, baptisms, and funerals as he has done for over 68 years. We invite you to make attending the service on Sunday, April 17, 2016 a priority as a part of our sesquicentennial celebration. Fun Fact & Photos needed Rev. Prentiss Gordon s impact was felt in our church community, but he also left a broader footprint. Did you know that both Habitat for Humanity and the Gardner Simmons Home were launched during his tenure as our Senior Pastor? If you have any photos of Rev. Gordon while he was in ministry at FUMC Tupelo, please email these to marystewart@fumctupelo.com or bring them by the church office. Posters for sale Posters of the beautiful artwork of the church for the Sesquicentennial Celebration are now for sale! The cost is $30 and checks can be made out to FUMC, for 150th celebration. Call or email the church office today (marystewart@fumctupelo.com).
Happy Easter! EASTER is not just one day but a season of fifty days, beginning with Easter Sunday and continuing through Pentecost. The central theme of the Easter season is both the resurrection of Jesus, and his life giving presence in the Church by the power of the Holy Spirit. Easter is a seven-week (eight Sundays) celebration encompassing the resurrection, the ascension, and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Mark Your Calendars April 16-17: Hill T.O.P. Sunday, April 17: Sesquicentennial Kickoff of 150 Years of Ministry, Rev. Prentiss Gordon here Thursday, April 21: District Lay Rally, Wesley Hall Wednesday, April 27: Children s Choir Program 6:00 p.m. Sanctuary Jubilee Singers and Jubilation Choir will present The Troubbable of Zerubbabel with special music from the Carol Choir Sunday, May 1: Confirmation Sunday All Services Wednesday, May 4: Spring Fling 5:30 p.m. East Lawn Sunday, May 8: Youth Choir Program 8:45 & 11 a.m. Traditional Worship Sunday, May 15: Baccalaureate Sunday All Services Monday, June 6 Friday, June 10: Vacation Bible School Thursday, June 9 Saturday, June 11: Annual Conference Jackson The Weekend Backpack Program Joins Forces with the United Way The Board of Directors of the United Way of Northeast Mississippi has notified the church that the Weekend Back Pack Program will receive funds from the United Way this year. The $3,160 allocation will help support the program which serves approximately 200 prekindergarten through sixth grade students in the Tupelo Public Schools. Thanks go to Todd Davidson, Diana Ezell and Kay Collins and the band of volunteers who prepare the food sacks for their steadfast dedication to the program. The Philo Sunday School Class is also grateful to all of you who donate funds for the purchase of food items. Without your support the program would not be possible. God s love can be found in the smallest of packages! Thank you.
Wednesdays Dinner begins at 5:15 p.m. $6 per person/$20 per family Study is at 6 p.m. April 6 Menu: BBQ Chicken, Fried Shrimp, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Corndog Bites, Rolls, Salad Bar, Chocolate Cobbler The Call by Adam Hamilton, a four-week study on the life and ministry of Paul April 6: Called to Go Paul s 1 st Missionary Journey April 13: Called to Suffer Paul s 2 nd Missionary Journey April 20: Called to Give Paul s 3 rd Missionary Journey This study includes short DVD footage following Adam Hamilton s walk through Paul s journey, as well as discussion from scripture and from Hamilton s book, The Call. From the road to Damascus to the sun-drenched lands of modern-day Greece and Turkey to a Roman prison, go with Adam Hamilton as he follows the journeys of Paul in a four-week study about Christianity s greatest teacher and missionary. You ll see exactly where some of the most dramatic events in the spread of Christianity took place.
Vacation Bible School is June 6-10, 6 9 a.m. 12 p.m. Registration has begun! Forms are in the Gathering Room and Wesley Hall. Join us as we teach our children that God is with them wherever they go! Children's Council Meeting: Sunday, April 10 at 12 p.m. in Wesley Hall. If you need child care, please contact Lori Clayton by Thursday, April 7. We will be discussing Vaca- tion Bible School and much more! During the month of April,, Older Children will be collecting bars of soap for Helping Hands! Bring your donation to Sunday School! Welcome Back Mary Stewart Rhea SPRC is happy to announce the return of Mary Stewart Rhea to our church office staff. Mary Stewart continues to produce graphics for The Invitation as before but has now added the duties of Administrative Assistant. Her pleasant personality, creative talents, and organizational skills play a valuable role in communicating the work of our church utilizing various media and software. Please welcome Mary Stewart back to our team!
This weekend we will be taking a team to help with flood clean up in the Delta with our partners at the Trinity Center. The team will leave at 6:45 on Saturday morning and return around 6 on Sunday morning. If you can make only part of the trip, we can still use you! To sign up email Smith Lilley at smith@fumctupelo.com or call the church office at 690-8100. We need a final count by Thursday morning at 10. Youth Parents, we want to keep you in the loop! If you are currently not receiving updates about youth news, text @fumct to 81010. This will allow you to receive text updates about the Youth without being in a group text! COOKING, CASSEROLES, & CONVERSATION Tuesday, April 12 6-8 p.m. in the CLC Kitchen Theme: Spring Salads
PRIMETIMERS MOVIE NIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 19 6:00 P.M. IN THE CLC NEW BOOKS FOR OUR JUNIOR READERS Non-fiction: Planet Earth by Leonie Pratt Living in Space by Katie Daynes Planes by Fiona Patchett This is an exciting new series by of books for children who are beginning to read on their own.
FUMC TV Ministry First United Methodist Church s TV Ministry continues to be enjoyed over various satellite and cable systems throughout Northeast Mississippi. Our 11am Traditional service can be currently seen on the following channels and systems: Comcast cable Channel 4 MaxxSouth cable Channel 20 Cable One- Channel 11 DISH Network Satellite Channel 49 And with a TV Antenna Channel 49 For further information, please contact Shannon Turner at 690-8100 or Shannon@fumctupelo.com. Please join Batesville FUMC as they celebrate 45 years of ministry with Andy Ray and his wife Katherine Sunday, May 1, 2016 Batesville FUMC Fellowship Hall 119 Panola Avenue 3-5 p.m. (Presentations at 3 p.m.) MAR Y RICHE Y CIRCLE Monday, April 11-1:30 a.m. Gathering Room Hostess: LaDonna Shepherd CELEBRATION CIRCLE Monday, April 11-10 a.m. Home of Lynn Moll 1555 Columbine Drive
STEWARDSHIP 2016 Budget Goal...$2,331,817.43 2016 Needed Weekly...$44,842.65 2016 Three-Month Budgeted Amounts...$582,954.08 Last Week s Offering through 3/31...$40,451.03 2016 Offering through 3/31...$680,438.91 Spent to Date 2016 through 3/31...$539,083.82 SYMPATHY...Janet Grottke, who passed away March 19, 2016. She was the cousin of Kim Hopmann....Margaret Hight, who passed away March 19, 2016 in Tupelo, MS. She was along time member of our congregation....becky Williams, who passed away in March 21, 2016 in Columbus, MS. She was the mother of Rollin, Shipman (Anna Kathryn), Spencer, and Crofton Sloan, III....Jeanette Winkler, who passed away March 29 in Tupelo, MS. She was the wife of Marion Winkler....Jeanne Chandler, who passed away March 29 in Tupelo, MS. She was the wife of Jim Chandler. Clifford Crabb, Jr., who passed away March 23. He was the father of Clay Crabb (Amy) and the grandfather of Sam and Ellie Crabb. SERVING SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016 ACOLYTES & CRUCIFERS: 8:45 Traditional: Wesley Sumner (c), AV Leake (a) 11:00 Will Hodges (c), Anne Daniel Sams (a) SANCTUARY SOUND: 8:45: Butch Dendy 11:00: Lee McKenzie TV OPERATORS: Joe Bailey, Chris Coffin, Jason Pannell GREETERS: 8:45 Traditional: David Brevard The Invitation: Stephen Southworth 11:00: Dianne and Barney Guyton USHERS: 8:45 Traditional: Chris Hill, Lindsey Leake, George Rutledge The Invitation: Nat Leathers, Jamie Osbirn, Kevin Rose, Bill Spencer 11:00: Jeff Short FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI CALENDAR FOR APRIL 10-16, 2016 SUNDAY, APRIL 10 8:45 Worship, Sanctuary 8:45 The Invitation, WH 10:00 Sunday School 11:00 Worship, Sanctuary 12:00 Children s Council Meeting, WH 3:00 Hill T.O.P. Meeting, CR 4:00 Cub Scouts 5:00 Earthkeepers, 216 5:00 Youth Choir 6:00 Youth Small Groups 6:00 6th Grade Small Groups MONDAY, APRIL 11 5:00 Scouts CPR Training, FH 5:30 Sesquicentennial Committee, GR TUESDAY, APRIL 12 8:00-11:30 Clothes Closet Open for Donations 9:00 Invitation Worship Planning, CR 10:00 Faithbuilders, 207 10:30 Staff Meeting, CR 3:00 Carol Choir 6:00 Cooking, Casseroles & Conversation, CLC WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13 7:00 Youth Prayer Breakfast, Connie s 3:00 Children s Choir 5:15 Refresh Dinner, WH 6:00 The Call Paul Study, WH 6:00 Sanctuary Handbells 6:00 Youth Worship, CLC 7:00 Chancel Choir THURSDAY, APRIL 14 8:00-11:30 Clothes Closet Open for Donations 8:00 Methodist Sr. Service, GR 9:00 Invitation Worship Planning 1:15 Traceway Van FRIDAY, APRIL 15 7:00 Prayer Group, Chapel SATURDAY, APRIL 16 Hill T.O.P. 9:00-12:00 Helping Hands Open