First United Methodist Church Volume 74, Issue 7 April 15, 2018 The Methodist Messenger A Taste of What s Inside 2 Ransum Taylor Baptism 2 Salem Mick Baptism 3 Relay For Life Bake Sale 3 Music Notes 3 School Supplies for Uganda 4 Children s Corner 5 Bridal Shower for Hannah Irvin 6 Newsletter Deadline 6 Puppets for Jesus Mark Your Calendar 3 Relay For Life Bake Sale - April 15 3 Relay For Life Event - April 27 3 Luminaria Deadline - April 20 5 Bridal Shower for Hannah Irvin - May 5 6 Puppet Performance at Blackstone Ridge - April 28 6 Puppets perform for Children s Moment - April 29 6 Newsletter Deadline - April 19 When the weather turned unexpectedly chilly last Saturday I was remembering something which my grandfather said in regard to Houston weather. It was his opinion that Houston had two seasons: August and Not August. I can t say that I would disagree. There were many wintery days back during my growing up years when shorts and T-Shirts were comfortable. We did have snow in Houston back at least three times in the years before I left for college, I m thinking that the snow at least stuck during one of the events, maybe the one in 1972. Since heading out of Houston and being under appointment in the Texas Conference we have experienced the changing of real seasons in a variety of places. It has been great to be here, for example, for spring. Tyler has the Azalea festival this time of year and Palestine invites the world over for Dogwood trees. Honestly though, from the slight hill where our home is located can be seen some amazing azaleas and just around the corner are wonderful Dogwoods. I suppose making the trek to Palestine or to Tyler might produce quantity however I will say that our quality in Gilmer and the area around is outstanding. Even though I note spring, the other three distinct seasons have their points of beauty up this way as well. For example, I pull out the pictures on my cell phone from the first snow we experienced up this way our second or third year so I can experience the beauty again. Suffice it to say that there is more to the flow of nature here than in Houston. I will say, however, that my grandfather s thought about August and Not August is relatively true but not completely because there are moments when Houston and the general coastal area can be amazingly and beautifully natural. The good news is that the order of things which God created in our world shows off variety and alteration. There is change in place with each moment adding to life s experiences. (Pastor s Letter continued on page 3) Vision Statement: First United Methodist Church is a loving, supportive family of faith working together to share 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... Ceci Crombie, Lamon Geddie, Roy Helpenstill, Dr. David Jenkins, Sarah Monk, 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 4:6 Submit requests to Church s web page: www.gilmer-fumc.com Or Call: Church Office 903-843-2610 Ransum Carter Taylor (pictured above) was baptized on April 8, 2018. Ransum is the son of Jaime Carter and grandson of Doug and Elaine Carter. Statistically Speaking Our Presence Sunday School Worship Visitors March 25 72 150 26 April 1 72 284 66 79 172 29 88 179 27 Date Average Year to Date Average Last Year Salem Michael Mick (pictured above) was baptized on April 8, 2018. Salem is the son of Mark Mick and Chloe Carter. He is the grandson of Jaime Carter and great-grandson of Doug and Elaine Carter. Our Worship Service is broadcast Our Presents Date March Year to Date on ETEX, Channel 999, Sunday, 6 p.m. Total Income Total Expenses Income Over/ (Under) $31,691.68 $33,539.72 -$1809.28 $92,386.36 $105,590.36 -$13,204.00 and Monday, 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Follow us on Facebook First United M ethodist Church of Gilmer
Page 3 The Methodist Messenger Page 3 The worship service for April 15, includes scripture from Luke 24:36-49. Reverend Laster s sermon topic is Fish for Breakfast. The opening hymn is by Lora Robison Thine Be the Glory. The second hymn is a Congregation s Choice and the closing hymn is He Touched Me all from The United Methodist Hymnal. The anthem is Come, Share, Rejoice by Allen Pote. Music Notes Relay For Life Bake Sale The Relay For Life Team is having a Bake Sale on April 15th. This is one of our major fundraisers. Any church member who is willing to donate a baked item for the sale, please bring it to church on Sunday, April 15, by 8:30 am if possible. The auction ends at 9:58 am. Forms are now available at the church to sign up to be on our team and walk the track on Friday, April 27th, starting at 6:00 pm. Remember to purchase your Luminarias. Forms are available on the table outside the church office. We would like the forms turned in by April 20th. Steve Nye Sunday, April 22, includes scripture from I John 3:16-24. The Sermon Topic is Knowing Love/Showing Love. Hymns for the day include Where Charity and Love Prevail and The Gift of Love from The United Methodist Hymnal. The closing hymn is They ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love from The Faith We Sing hymnal. The offertory rung by Jubilation is And Can It Be/Love Divine arranged by Dobrinski. The Chancel Choir will be singing King of Love My Shepherd Is by Forrest. Worship for Sunday, April 29, includes scripture from John 15:1-8. Reverend Laster s sermon topic is Faithful Disciples. The opening hymn is How Firm a Foundation and the second hymn is I Need Thee Every Hour both from The United Methodist Hymnal. The last hymn is The Lord of Life, A Vine Is He from the Worship and Song hymnal. The anthem for the day sung by the Chancel Choir is I Am the Vine by Allen Pote. We rejoice as we celebrate our Risen Lord! See you in WORSHIP! In Christ s love, Lora Pastor s Letter (continued from page 1) Mission Opportunity: School Supplies for Uganda As we are about the details of arrangements for a new home in a new community, as I am struggling with boxes of this and that, along with questions about the future and issues of emotion and adjustment, it is a thing of peace to know that change is one of the blessings of life. Nature changes. The seasons come and go in rotation. Best of all in the midst of the flow of the things of our world and of our living a phrase which our own John Wesley used as a standard still remains strongly in place, best of all, God is with us. We all realize through basic faith that there is no time, no season, no place where we are separated from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Sounds sort of Bible like, doesn t it? Romans 8ish for sure. All for now See you Sunday, if not before Richard We will be returning to Uganda in a few weeks. We will be visiting the three schools where we have helped set up libraries in the past. We will be checking on and straightening up the libraries, but we will also be purchasing and delivering badly-needed school supplies to all three schools. It s not unusual for classrooms to hold 50 children who are sharing just a few composition books and half a dozen pencils. The teacher may have only one piece of chalk. We hope you will help us raise the funds to purchase paper, pencils, and chalk for the 500 kiddos we ll be visiting. Five dollars will purchase supplies for one child for an academic year. Thank you for caring about these children halfway around the world! Sue & Buzzy Green
The Methodist Messenger Page 4 Children s Corner by Chandra Sorrells Easter Happenings 2018 www.gilmer-fumc.com
P age 5
Flowers for April 1 Vance Arnold and Family April 8 The Hudgins Family April 15 Gary and Barbara Smith April 22 Dr. and Mrs. Richard Reed April 29 Linda Keller Greeters Tim and Jana Pritchett Lay Reader Frank Breazeale Ushers Kelly and Carolyn Rominger, Kathy McClain, Tammy Orms The Sanctuary Flowers for March 25 were given by Larry and Berita Morse and family in honor of family and loved ones. April 1 were given by Vance Arnold and family in memory of Vance s mother, Ada Brison Arnold. Deadline for Newsletter Articles April 19, Noon P age 5 Puppets for Jesus by Babs Crombie The EGG-cellent Easter Adventure! We had a special outreach event for children and their families in Bettie recently. Over 20 children attended and were entertained by our puppets, as they explained the story of the Resurrection Eggs, The Trinity Egg, and the Easter Egg Hunt. Special Thanks to: Adam Fenlaw, Mimi Ross, Benjamin Fenlaw and Ceci Crombie. The Children s Church performance was presented by both Jr. and Sr. team members: The Parable of the Lost Sheep. A special Shout Out to: Nick Sorrells, Jake Fenlaw, Sam Sorrells, Seth Ball, Hagen Hagler, and Ceci Crombie. Special Thanks to Diane Chevalier as the Narrator. The story told that the shepherd loved his sheep, and could not stand it that even one out of the hundred was lost. He rejoiced when the lost sheep was found. Our very own Pastor Laster is like our shepherd who loves and cares for his flock. We are presenting a special performance for a country historical gathering at Blackstone Ridge on Saturday, April 28th. The team has performed there in the past, and was honored to be asked back again to perform. Rehearsals are in full speed mode for a very special performance for our FUMC Children s moment and congregation on Sunday, April 29th. The Bus Stop Samaritan is a powerful puppet performance without spoken words. A modern-day version of the Good Samaritan. Through the use of appropriate music, sound effects and puppet actions, the audience of all ages can receive the same message. It s a message to treat others with kindness when they are in need, and that we show God s love when we treat those in need with compassion. Coming from the scripture, And who is my neighbor...the expert in the law replied, the one who had mercy on him. Jesus told him, Go and do likewise. - Luke 10: 29-37. Congratulations to Gilmer Intermediate School student and our very own Puppeteer Hagen Hagler on receiving his recent UIL competition award. We are very proud of him and his competition event. Blessings, Remember to be kind to others and to help someone when they are in need with compassion. 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