First United Methodist Church T M October November 15, 2017 15, 2013 Volume 73, Issue 19 A Taste of What s Inside 2,5 Church Facts 2 Falltastic 3 Youth News 3 Music Notes 3 Chili Supper 4 Mission Moment 5 Newsletter Deadline 5 Puppets for Jesus Mark Your Calendar 1 Laity Sunday - October 15 1 Fall Follies - October 25 1 Healing and Wholeness Service - October 29 1 All Saints Sunday - November 5 2 Falltastic - October 31 2 Sue Green Presentation - November 5 3 Youth Park Cars for Yamboree - October 20-21 3 Chili Supper - November 3 3 Jodi Morris - Elmore Baby Shower - November 5 Friends... Please join me as we explore a handful of opportunities ahead which I am thinking will enhance your lives at some point or another. It is my plan to be present so I can support each of these. I look forward to being with you at whichever, or perhaps all, fits your schedule. Immediately I bring to your attention the privilege of enjoying Laity Sunday. This is the day when we United Methodists embrace what is known as the priesthood of all believers, a recognition that everyone has some talent (called a gift or grace) which God provides. Laity Sunday is October 15 at our regular worship time of 10 a.m. Our lay Leader, Rob Robinson, is planning the specifics. I thank you for your support. Following soon thereafter is the annual Fall Follies, an evening of entertainment organized by the church s music ministry, and featuring anyone who is interested is sharing his or her musical talent. Follies begins with an amazing dinner followed by musical inspiration and an entertainment extraordinaire. The date for this is Wednesday, October 25, beginning at 6:00 p.m. Our October worship month will end with a service of Healing and Wholeness on Sunday night, October 29, at 6:00 p.m. in the church chapel. This is a time designed for reflective prayer to aid us in becoming the best we can be within the circumstances of our living. First UMC worship ministry sponsors this opportunity. Finally, at least for the very near future, Sunday, November 5 offers a couple of avenues for Christian reflection. Our morning worship will focus upon the tradition of All Saints, a time when the church gathered remembers those who are part of the church eternal. Special moments will (Please see Pastor s Letter, page 2) Mission 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, Esther Faggione gilmerchurch@gmail.com Financial Secretary, Lamon Geddie fumcacct@etex.net
Page 2 WE SHOW OUR LOVE By Our Prayers... Deborah Bell, Ceci Crombie, Lamon Geddie, Stephanie Hamberlin, Roy Helpenstill, Billie Stevenson, Louise Stracener 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. Pastor s Letter 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 Prayer Contacts: Betty Parish 903-843-3865 Annette Breazeale 903-843-3873 (Continued from page 1) be provided to remember those of the church family who have passed away in the last year. There will also be designated moments of remembrance for those of family and friends who are no longer able to walk with us here. The last calendar event is also scheduled for November 5. At 6:00 p.m. the community is encouraged to gather for dinner and to hear our own Sue Green offer reflections of joy and hope as she shares details of her most recent service trip to the nation of Uganda. I look forward to hearing her insights. Statistically Speaking Our Presence Date Visitors Sunday School Worship 9-17 14 82 144 9-24 14 81 193 Average Year to Date 25 83 162 Average Last Year 24 95 169 Thanks for your time. Also, I appreciate those who are working to make the above items part of our Christian growth plan. For now... see you when time allows... Regards and God Bless... Richard Like us on Facebook First United M ethodist Church of Gilmer Our Presents Total Income Total Expenses Income Over/ (Under) Our Worship Service is broadcast September $31,623.95 $32,263.76 -$639.81 on ETEX, Channel 999, Sunday, 6 p.m. Year to Date $296,388.96 $309,512.99 -$13,124.03 Month and Monday, 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Page 3 Youth News by Matt Potter Hello everyone! Just a reminder that with Yamboree coming up, we will be doing our annual parking cars fundraiser. We will be parking cars prior to the parade, on both Friday, October 20th and Saturday, October 21st. All those who are helping, please be at the church around 9:00 a.m. or before because we will need to pick up trash before parade goers show up. There will be breakfast for those who help park cars. We need as much help as possible so please come out if you can. Also, there will be no MYF the Wednesday of the Yamboree, which is October 18th. Matt FALL FOLLIES are in the making and will be performed on WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25! Lots of wonderful acts are being prepared for your enjoyment from every age group! You will be hearing and seeing performers from the JOY SINGby Lora Robison ERS, CHANCEL CHOIR, JUBILATION BELLS, PUPPETS FOR JESUS, MOLLY SULLIVAN, MATTHEW FAGGIONE, SAM SORRELLS, J.T. ROBISON, THE MEN FROM THE CHOIR, BUZZY GREEN, among others along with some SOME SPECIAL GUESTS! A fabulous fall dinner of chicken spaghetti, salad, and rolls will be provided by Debbie Loyd. Dolly Robison and Lauri Woodson will provide delicious and beautifully decorated cupcakes for dessert! Your donations for this event will help pay for our Christmas orchestra which will accompany the Chancel Choir and guest singers on Sunday evening, December 17! We hope to see each of you at the Fall Follies. We appreciate your kind and generous support! Music Notes Sunday worship, October 22, will focus upon scripture from Psalm 99. Reverend Laster s sermon title will be Shaking and Quaking. Our hymns for the day will include We Will Glorify the King of Kings, O God Beyond All Praising, and Lord, Be Glorified all from The Faith We Sing hymnal. The Psalter Reading will be from The United Methodist Hymnal including the choral responses. The Offertory rung by Jubilation Bells will be He Is Exalted arranged by McKechnie. The anthem sung by the Chancel Choir will be Holy, Holy, Holy, We Worship You arranged by Harlan with the congregation joining when directed on the hymn. Reformation Sunday, October 29, includes scripture from Matthew 22: 34-36. The sermon topic is This / These Is / Are My Commandment / Commandments. Our hymns will include Faith of Our Fathers, I Want a Principle Within, and Take My Life, and Let It Be. The anthem sung by the Chancel Choir will be I Worship You by Berry. See you in worship! In Christ s love. Lora The United Methodist Men Chili Supper will be on Friday, November 3, from 4:30 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available from any member of Methodist Men or at the door. The cost is $7.00 for adults and $3.00 for students. This buys chili, a drink and dessert. Take-out is also available. Everyone is invited to enjoy an evening of good food and fellowship.
Page 4 Mission Moment... As I announced during church, it s Operation Christmas Child time! Time to fill those shoebox gifts for children all over the world. There are several ways in which you can help: 1) You can fill a shoebox (or more) as an individual or family. Choose a gender and age range, and mark the box as such. The age ranges are 2-4, 5-9 and 10-14. 2) You may purchase items individually or in bulk to donate for placement in the boxes. Place these items in the drawer of the Donation Station, and I will collect them. I have a list of suggestions for box fillers available. 3) You may craft items to put in the boxes. Suggestions include knitted or crocheted caps or mittens, fleece hats or scarves, pillow case dresses, wooden toys, hairbows, small dolls/doll clothes. I ve even printed out pictures and made 5 x 7 coloring books to include! 4) Donate money. You can make a donation for shipping costs or for items to be purchased for the boxes. The shipping donation suggestion from Samaritan s Purse is now $9.00 per box. 5) If you are unable to help in one of these mentioned ways, then pray! Pray for the children who receive the shoeboxes, pray for the people who will be packing and transporting the boxes to their destinations. Also, there are a number of items that we are collecting, either as raw materials for a craft item to put in the boxes or just another item that we can include with the other gifts. These items are: Plastic kids cups from restaurants - save the lid if it comes with one Old CDs - we ll be making toy spinning tops from these. Buttons Empty Altoid tins I have ordered official Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes this year. They should arrive next week. I will make those available as soon as I get them. Just FYI - I ve been asked where the shoeboxes go, and the answer is that we don t immediately know. After they are delivered, I get notice from Samaritan s Purse. Our 2014 boxes went to Ghana. In 2015 the boxes were sent to Ukraine and Ecuador. Last year, children in Botswana and Mexico received our donations. I have no idea where this year s bunch will end up! Don t forget to clip those BOX TOPS for Education! The first batch I collected totaled $6.30 earned for one of our area schools! Every little bit helps, and it does add up! The Missions committee needs to meet briefly after church in the library on Sunday, October 22. Robin Woodson, missions chairperson
P age 5 Page 5 Flowers for October 1 October 8 Kathy Daniels October 15 Suzanne Mayfield October 22 The Bledsoe Family October 29 The Aldredge Family Lay Reader Sue Green Greeters Tim and Jana Pritchett Ushers Keith and Karen Bonds Jerry Bobo, Kelly Rominger The Sanctuary Flowers for September 10th in lieu of flowers money was allocated for flood buckets. September 17th were given by the Upshur County Literacy Program with gratitude to the First United Methodist Church for all their years of support. Deadline for Newsletter Articles October 24, Noon Puppets for Jesus by Babs Crombie The First United Methodist Church PUPPETS FOR JESUS provides both youth and adults with a unique worship experience. By portraying the Gospel with puppets, the Word of our Lord is demonstrated in an enjoyable and entertaining way. Kids and adults alike look forward to the great performances of our puppets. We are gearing up for several of these unique performances. The Children s Church performance of the story of Ruth was told in an informative and entertaining way to the young worshipers. In keeping with the Sunday school lesson topic s each month, the puppets reinforce their learning and understanding in a visual way. A BIG Shout Out to the following puppeteers: Jeff Sorrells, Lisa Fenlaw, Nick Sorrells, Joseph Fenlaw, Ben Fenlaw, Adam Fenlaw, and Ceci Crombie. God made us all creative! In the book of Genesis we learn that God created everything and then He created us in His image. The same creativity He used to create the world is in all of us! When we use the creativity He gave us to teach and proclaim the Word of God, it can have an impact on people s lives. That is what the puppet ministry is all about! We invite any 4-6th graders and 7th through Adults to visit our puppet team meetings and see what all the excitement is about. We meet in the CLC every Sunday afternoon. Jr. team members meet from 4-5 p.m. and Sr. team members meet from 2-4 p.m. In addition to monthly performances, we also perform for fall, Christmas and Easter holidays. Please allow us the opportunity to help you use the creativity God gave you to reach our world for Him. 22nd). Just a reminder that there will be NO Puppet team meetings on the Sunday after Yamboree ( October Have a great week and remember to be kind to one another! Blessings, Babs Li k e u s o n F acebook - Fir st Unit e d M ethodi st Ch urch o f Gi lme r