First United Methodist Church Volume 74, Issue 2 February 1, 2018 The Methodist Messenger A Taste of What s Inside 1 Ash Wednesday Service 1 John Study 2,6 Church facts 3 Thanks from Steve Nye 3 Music Notes 3 Youth News 3 Children s Corner 4 Newly Confirmed 4 Newly Baptized 5 Spelling Bee 5 Mission Moment 6 Puppets for Jesus 6 Newsletter Deadline Mark Your Calendar 1, 5 Pancake Supper and Ash Wednesday Service - February 14 1 John Study - February 11 3 Mid-Winter Camp - February 16-18 3 Youth Super Bowl Party - February 4 5 Annual Spelling Bee - February 22 6 Puppet Workshop - February 3 As those of us who are calendar bound recognize, the remembrance of Jesus time just before the cross, to just after the resurrection is just at hand. Lent begins this year in just a couple of weeks, with the day traditionally called Ash Wednesday, an overall call to repentance. First off, during Lent, it is particularly good for each of us to assess our living and our walk with God and how we put faith in Christ into practice. To pray over your walk with God, to look at your life and what, by the power of God s love, you can alter to be more Christ-centered. It is also a time when we are challenged to set something special to our living aside, as an aid in assisting us in remembering to put God first in our living. And during the forty days of Lent, and associated times, we Christian are challenged to perform acts of sacrificial giving and kindness, as we remember Jesus who is the sacrificial servant, and at the same time to focus upon how blessed we are when we put Christ first and follow after his example as our primary goal for living. At First UMC, at least for the moments close to us, I offer a couple of opportunities to bring us to a holy Lent. Starting on Sunday night, February 11 and running for six Sundays, I will be presenting a study on the Book of John. The theme of this Gospel includes areas of significance for the season; the gift of light and life. On Ash Wednesday, February 14 (yes Valentine s Day isn t that appropriate?) at 6:00 we will gather for a time of reflection, repentance, and an opportunity to receive a sign of Christ sacrifice upon ourselves. This is a remarkably important tradition of the Christian faith. And for your calendar we have another tradition which is easier to describe on the day and not so much here; also on Ash Wednesday, February 14, we will meet at 5:00 p.m. just prior to the Ash Wednesday service, for a pancake dinner. Yes, this fits occasion, again best to describe later. I know that there is at least one other Lenten study in the works. More about this soon. All for now... See you Sunday if not before... Regards and God Bless... 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, Esther Faggione gilmerchurch@gmail.com Financial Secretary, Lamon Geddie fumcacct@etex.net
P age 2 WE SHOW OUR LOVE By Our Prayers... Ceci Crombie, Lamon Geddie, Stephanie Hamberlin, Roy Helpenstill, the family of Dr. Oneta Hinson, 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. Our Deepest Sympathy to The family of Dr. Oneta Hinson 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: Or Call: Church Office 903-843-2610 Betty Parish 903-843-3865 Annette Breazeale 903-843-3873 February 14, 2018 6:00 p.m. (Sanctuary) Statistically Speaking Our Presence Date Sunday School Worship Visitors January 7 73 138 21 January 14 90 187 44 January 21 97 141 19 Average Year to Date 87 155 28 Average Last Year 82 144 22 Congratulations to Blake and Morgan Bobo Chandler on their marriage, January 11, 2018. Our Worship Service is broadcast on ETEX, Channel 999, Sunday, 6 p.m. 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 communion service for February 4, is based upon scripture from Mark 1:29-39. Reverend Laster s sermon topic is It Isn t Magic. Our hymns for the day include We ve a Story to Tell to the Nations and by Lora Robison Precious Lord, Take My Hand both from The United Methodist Hymnal. The Chancel Choir will be singing the old favorite He Touched Me by Bill Gaither. Music Notes Putting Our Faith Into Action Thanks to the generosity of our members, this year s annual Holiday Food Drive was again a success. Donations were made which allowed 50 families to be fed at Thanksgiving and another 50 at Christmas. Special thanks go to the Clothes Closet group for their generous donation. Steve Nye for the Missions Team Transfiguration Sunday is February 11. The Scripture is from Mark 9:2-9. Hymns for the day include: Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory, Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies, and Open Our Eyes, Lord all from The United Methodist Hymnal. The Children s Moment will include the Joy Singers Choir singing Now We Worship by Rose. The Chancel Choir will be singing Jesus, On the Mountain Peak by Wren and Burkhardt. This lovely new anthem will include a time for the congregation to join. Words and music for the congregation will be included as a bulletin insert. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, February 14. The Worship Committee will be announcing plans for a special Wednesday evening service. As I write this edition of MUSIC NOTES there is ice and snow on the ground outside my office window. I am ready for the new life and joys of Easter! But in the meantime, let us look forward to our forty days of Lent, a time of reflection upon the Cross and the promise of the new life in Jesus Christ! See you in worship! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In Christ s love, Youth News Lora by Matthew Potter Hello everyone! Mid-Winter camp is right around the corner. The date is February 16th - 18th and is open to youth in 7th - 12th grades. Cost is $135 per person before February 1st and $ 150 after February 1st. If you have any questions or would like to register please let me know. Our annual Super Bowl party is going to be Sunday February 4th, at 5:30 p.m. The doors will open at 5:15 p.m. We are asking everyone to please bring some kind of food or drink that evening please. Everyone is welcome. Matt Children s Corner by Chandra Sorrells The Good Samaritan is a familiar and beloved parable. The children will be studying this parable throughout February. We will be focusing on Luke 10:27 which reads, He answered, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself. I challenge each of you to memorize this verse. Valentine s Day is a great day to remember this verse. This year Valentine s Day and Ash Wednesday are the same day. A gentle reminder of the enormous love Jesus has for us. See you soon, Mrs. Chandra
The Methodist Messenger Page 4 From top left: Seth Alan Ball, Samuel Max Sorrells, John Thomas Robison, Hagen Zane Hagler, Carter Wise Garmon, Jacob Jay Fenlaw, Reverend Richard Laster ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ January 14, 2018 Seth Ball Jacob Fenlaw Hagen Hagler
Th e M ethodi st Messe nger P age 5 Spelling Bee for Literacy One of the ongoing mission projects of our church is the Upshur County Literacy program. This organization has used our Kent House for the past 15 years for providing adult basic education and preparing students for the GED test. The major source of income for this program is the annual Spelling Bee to be held this year on Thursday, February 22 nd at the Gilmer Civic Center. This is sponsored by the Gilmer Rotary Club. Tickets are $12 or two for $20 and include a fried catfish or chicken strip dinner, a silent auction, a live auction, a raffle and a spelling bee. FUMC has had a spelling team for the past four years and has done very well. We are honored to have the three spellers from last year s championship team returning this year. Our spellers are Jodi Morris, Deborah Betterton and Frances Kendall. Mission Moment... For the month of February, we are collecting the following items for Operation Christmas Child. Hair Bows Headbands Sunglasses Jewelry Watches Gloves Mittens Hats Please leave your donations in the Operation Christmas Child bin at the Donation Station across from the church office. Thank you! Barbara Smith ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAT TUESDAY Pancake Supper, Wednesday, February 14th at 5 p.m. Our Methodist Men will be preparing a Pancake Supper prior to the Ash Wednesday Service. Please come and be part of that fellowship before the Ash Wednesday service at 6 p.m. Traditionally Fat Tuesday is celebrated on Tuesday before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday - the two seasons are inseparable. Lent is a time of fasting, reflection and penance in preparation for Easter. Pancakes are traditionally eaten, originally to use up milk and eggs that would otherwise spoil because of not being eaten during the fasting time of Lent.
Flowers for February 4 Randy and Nancy Hill, Nat and Carla Harrison February 11 Boy Scout Troop 314 February 18 Greg and Frances Kendall February 25 Mr. and Mrs. Gary Patterson and family Greeters Janvan and Sandy Jenkins Lay Reader Larry Morse Ushers Jimmy Bedard, Gary Patterson, Norman Hastings, Mark Boddie Puppets for Jesus by Babs Crombie The Sanctuary Flowers for January 7 were given by Elaine Kimbrough and Thomas Buie McClain and family in memory of Hollie and Genice McClain. January 14 were given by Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Brannon in memory of and in honor of loved ones. January 21 Deadline for Newsletter Articles February 7, Noon P age 6 Frozen powdered sugar frosted the earth and trees. Dollops of it covered the wooden railings and my stairs. Our little town was cocooned in silent softness. Doors and windows kept people cozy indoors. We experienced a rare couple of snow days here in east Texas. I wonder what it is about snow that brings out the magic in an otherwise ordinary world? Maybe it s because it encourages us to pause and appreciate it before it disappears. We are all captivated by it. Pantries are stocked because Texas cleans out the stores at the first hint of a chance of snow. There are lots of comfort foods and mugs of hot cocoa. The snow acts as a pure and chilly salve for a battered world. It requires us to slow down. It asks us to remember the magic of childhood. I hope you all enjoyed this rare wintry gift, and cherished the memories you made for a lifetime. The puppet team performed two skits for our last well-attended children s church. The theme was of stories the children have been learning about Daniel and the Lions Den. Used By God was performed by Ben and Adam Fenlaw. A Tale Without a Lion was performed by: Seth Ball, Jacob Fenlaw, Hagen Hagler, Ben and Adam Fenlaw, Nick Sorrells, Ceci and Babs Crombie. The team is preparing for our next children s church based on the story of the Good Samaritan. We have a very good script planned that they will surely enjoy. A Make it and Take It puppet making workshop and training day is scheduled for Saturday, February 3rd from 10-2 and a snack lunch will be provided. The teams will make an original puppet from a selection of notions and materials of their choosing, then present an impromptu performance with their newly made puppet. Congratulations to our Senior puppeteer Nick Sorrells for his recent Eagle Scout Court of Honor award ceremony. Nick is not only graduating in the spring but is also earning his Master Puppeteer Achievement Level certificate from the puppet ministry. This award has a scholarship for his continuing education that will be presented to him as well. We all are so very proud of him. Job well done Nick! Blessings, Babs Take care and be kind to one another. 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