Page 1 The Calling VOL 23 ISSUE 15 October 5, 5, 2018 SEMI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF ARDMORE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Church Events October 7 United Methodist Women 3:00-5:00pm October 11-14 TrueNorth Base Camp Cross Point Camp October 13 Emmaus Gathering 4:00pm H20 Church - Ada October 21 United Methodist Men 6:00-8:00pm October 28 Fall Festival 5:30-7:00pm October 31 No Wednesday Programs November 4 United Methodist Women 3:00-5:00pm November 22-23 Church Closed November 27 Preschool Chili Supper 5:00-7:00pm 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God---this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God s will is---his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2 NIV Praise the Lord!!! What a time it is to be involved and participating in the ministries of the First United Methodist Church of Ardmore, Oklahoma. Through your sacrificial giving, we have received to date $87,442.00 pledged for our Faith Promise ministry. One of the things I learned during our Global Impact Celebration was that there is no substitute for having a missionary in the flesh. When you can ask them questions and hear and see their joys and their struggles, it makes giving to missions so much more exciting. Thank you to our Global Impact Celebration team and to our Global Outreach Team for a job well done!!! I ve got to tell you, our study on Nehemiah is awesome! One of the reasons I love preaching and teaching this book of the Bible is that Nehemiah is a builder and one who restores. He is not just restoring brick and mortar, he is a catalyst that God is using to do great things for the holy city of Jerusalem and the Jewish people. If you haven t been to Sunday School lately, this Sunday would be a great day for you to come and join in on the lesson. The lesson this week comes from Nehemiah 4:11-23. We are talking about how Nehemiah addresses the various attacks from those who are opposing the rebuilding of the walls and gates in Jerusalem. Perhaps there has been a time when you have been ridiculed, discouraged, intimidated or fearful. Honestly, I don t know anyone, male or female, who hasn t experienced these conditions at home, school or work. I m praying that this Sunday will be a Sunday where we can celebrate how God s hand of protection and faithfulness can become more real in our lives and in the life of our congregation. You know that Jesus came to destroy the works of the Devil. In other words, He came so that we would be set free from the fear of death or what anyone would say or do to us. Enclosed in this newsletter, you will find the three plans that the Commission on the Way Forward are presenting to a special General Conference in February 2019. I m going to present these three plans at our Administrative Council meeting on Tuesday October 16th, at 6pm in our Fellowship Hall. Please know that not only are you invited to this meeting, but a member can attend all of our Administrative Council meetings. I hope that you can come and participate in this meeting. Continued to Page 2 READ ON YOUR DEVICE! DOWNLOAD THIS NEWSLETTER AT WWW.FUMCARDMORE.COM
Page 2 The Calling October 5, 2018 Continuation from Page 1 Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. The weather begins to turn cooler and the leaves began to change their colors. It marks our move towards the end of the year. Please continue to support our ministries with your prayers, presence, gifts, witness and service. Ginger, Annie, Josh and myself are blessed to be your parsonage family. Jesus is Lord David D. Stephen Ministry Training Beginning January 8, 2019 If you are interested in becoming a Stephen Minister, please contact Louise Daniels at 580-465-5958 or the church office at 580-223-5390. Christian Joy - Air Force (Fairchild AFB) Jerry Bright - Navy (Little Creek, VA) David Seals - Army Seth Haynes - Air Force (Eglin Base, FL) Paxton Killblane - Army (Fort Bragg, NC) Wesley Patzkowsky - Army (Pilot, Deployed) Tyler Black - Army (Iraq) If you have a loved one serving in the Armed Forces, please contact the church office. We want to acknowledge and be in prayer for each of our service men and women. October 11-14 - True North Base Camp for Men - Cross Point Camp November 22-23 - Thanksgiving Holiday Church Closed December 24 - Christmas Eve Services @ 4pm, 6pm, 8pm December 25-26 - Christmas Holiday Church CLOSED January 1, 2019 - Church CLOSED 2018 Report from Finance Through the Month of August Budgeted Actual All Giving Received: $1,060,001.45 $934,465.65 Expenses: $1,080,785.43 $1,004,494.66 % of Apportionments paid: 66.667% 66.737% Although our apportionments and bills are paid as budgeted, we currently have a deficit of $70,029.01. We appreciate the continued support of the congregation, and ask everyone to prayerfully reflect on their giving and support of the ministries of the Church
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Page 4 The Calling October 5, 2018 SYMPATHY Our thoughts and prayers are with Shanon Robinson with the passing of her husband, and with Sally and Wade Robinson with the passing of their father, Johnny Robinson Jr, on September 10th. His Memorial Service was September 13 at Harvey Douglas Centennial Chapel, with Rev. David Daniel officiating. Our thoughts and prayers are with Lori Capshaw and family, with the passing of her husband, William (Bill) Capshaw on September 12. His services were September 18 in our Sanctuary. Our thoughts and prayers are with Rev. David and Ginger Daniel, with the passing of David s uncle, H. E. Shorty Murphy, on September 21. His services were September 26 at the Criswell Funeral Home Chapel in Ada, with Rev. David Daniel officiating. Interment followed at Highland Cemetery in Stonewall. Our thoughts and prayers are with Chase Brooks with the passing of his grandmother and Robert Brooks with the passing of his mother-in-law, Jeri L Watts. Her memorial service is currently pending. SYMPATHY Our thoughts and prayers are with Mary Smith, with the passing of her mother, Joyce Payne, on September 30. Her service was October 3 at the Craddock Memorial Chapel. MEMORIAL In memory of Bill Capshaw, contributions have been received from Louise Daniels for the Handbell Choir and from Maytha Mead for the Memorial Fund. HONOR In honor of Henry Daniel Mandell and Jonathon Abram Hamill, a contribution has been received from Joe and Diane Hamill for the Memorial Fund. In honor of Jay and Melissa Grace, contributions have been received from Robert & Martha Shear and James & Mary Niven for the Mission Fund.
Page 5 The Calling October 5, 2018 A Rudder to Guide Us I have served as the acolyte helper for almost ten years now. Participating in this church tradition has helped me appreciate the deeper meaning behind many of our church traditions, symbols and celebrations. As children, many of us asked why? often. For some of us, we couldn t appreciate the lesson or do what our parents ask without knowing the answer. The why behind these traditions is fascinating and can deepen your and your family s worship experience. For our acolytes, many of their traditions are rooted in Jesus words, I am the light of the world. John 8:12. When the acolytes carry the light into the sanctuary, it is to remind us that Jesus presence is with us during worship. Our church has two candles on the altar to symbolize that Jesus was both a human being and God. At the end of the service, the acolytes carry the light out of the sanctuary and into the world to show that Jesus is for people everywhere, and that we are to carry His light to others in Christian service. Showing our reverence for the acolytes as the fire is carried into and out of the sanctuary is important, because this is a symbol of Jesus! In addition to the acolytes that light the candles and help with our tithes, we also have an acolyte that carries our processional cross. This special acolyte is called a crucifer. You may not know that our lovely cross and the new candle lighters were a gift to the church from one of our choir members. An acolyte s dress is also symbolic and coincides with the colors of the Christian season. The acolyte s robe is called a vestment or alb. Their belt is called a cincture and matches the color of the paraments (altar cloths, etc.) throughout the Christian season. The Christian year can be divided into two cycles: The Christmas Cycle (Advent-Christmas-Epiphany) and the Easter Cycle (Lent-Easter -Pentecost). During Advent and Lent, an acolyte wears purple to represent both royalty and penitence. At Christmas and Easter, white or gold is worn to symbolize purity, joy and festivities. Green is worn during Epiphany and represents growth. And finally, red is worn during Pentecost to symbolize fire and the Holy Spirit. During Holy Week, red represents the blood of Christ. I was led to write this piece for two reasons. First, as of September 30th, the acolyte helper baton will be passed to Tessie Ellis. Tessie and Chad have two beautiful children that are faithfully serving as acolytes and crucifer. She will do a great job in carrying on this ancient tradition at FUMC Ardmore. Secondly, our Nehemiah study reminded me about the significance of tradition- page 34 in Be Determined: Standing Firm in the Face of Opposition: Nehemiah was a true patriot whose dreams for the future were motivated by the values of the past. He did not try to duplicate the past, for that was impossible, rather, he built on the past so that Israel would have a future. To Nehemiah, the past was a rudder to guide him and not an anchor to hold him back. If you have a child 3rd-5th grade who is interested in becoming an acolyte, please contact our Director of Children s Ministry, Amy Hopper, at 580-223-5390 ext.319 or email children@fumcardmore.com. Blessings, Shelly Aljoe May 31-June 3 - Disciple Camp (entering 6th-8th) June 10-13 - Vacation Bible School (4 by 9/1/18-5th grade) June 16-21 - Ardmore Youth Fore (entering 7th 12th) July 5-8 - Dayspring Camp (entering 9th-12th) 2019 July 19-21 - Declare Camp (entering 1st- 5th)
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Page First United 8 Methodist Church David The Daniel, Calling Senior Pastor October 5, 2018 501 W Main Brad Dery, Pastor Ardmore, OK 73401 John Hollon, Pastor Sunday Services 9:00 am Traditional 10:00 am Sunday School 11:05 am EPIC Prayer Chain Lenny Frank 580-465-7515 frank.lennylisa@yahoo.com Wadell & Sheila Altom 580-223-7272 Call or email us: (580) 223-5390 info@fumcardmore.com Televised at 11:00am on CableOne, Channel 56, Broadcast at 9:00am on KVSO AM www.fumcardmore.com Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Ardmore, OK Permit No. 183 Children s Christmas Play 2018 Our children s ministry department would like to invite all children of our church, 3-yearsold through 5th grade, to participate in our Christmas Play on Wednesday, December 12, at 6:00pm in the Sanctuary. Please sign up your children to participate, online at http:// fumcardmore.com/childrens -christmas-play/ Stephen Ministers have been trained to care for those who are suffering. Please call Louise Daniels at 580-465-5958 or the church office at 580-223-5390.