The Messenger FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH APRIL 2017 PASTOR: KYLE BURNETTE ASSOCIATE PASTOR: NANCY HOBBS SECRETARY/EDITOR: SANDY RAMSEY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- In an article in The Christian Century, history professor Steve Ware asks the question, "When Is Easter this year?" For those of you who didn't learn this in confirmation class, the date of Easter corresponds to the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Seriously. In his article, Ware explains how this came to be. Here's the short version of the story: In 325 A.D., Constantine, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, convened the Council of Nicea. Among the business before the council was to establish a uniform date for Easter. Out of the discussion and debate came the "Easter Rule," setting Easter on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. As is often the case with church councils, the decision was not unanimous. The Eastern bishops wanted to schedule Easter in conjunction with the Jewish Festival of Passover since, after all, Jesus went to Jerusalem, in the first place, to celebrate Passover. The Western bishops preferred a date corresponding with the beginning of spring, because that was the time already established for a lot of pagan celebrations, and they figured to capitalize on the momentum. This is why, to this day, we have such things as the Easter Bunny and colored eggs associated with Easter. Well, on this, and other issues, the church eventually split. To this day, we, who are descendents of the Western line of Christendom, use a different calendar than the Eastern Orthodox churches. Sometimes our celebration of Easter falls on the same day, and sometimes it varies by as much as five weeks! 1 For me, here in the 21 st century in Lee County, VA, Easter isn t about a day, it is about a reason for the day. In Matthew 28:5-6 we are told that after the Sabbath some of the women came very early to the tomb for one final visit. They were completely taken back as the angel said, Don t be afraid, I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He isn t here, because he s been raised from the dead, just as he said. During these final days of the Lenten season may it be a time of preparation and repentance making us ready for Easter Day that we may rejoice in the assurance that He is risen, indeed! 1 ChristianGlobe Networks, Inc., When Is Easter This Year?, by When Is Easter This Year?
Mission Committee Report The Mission Committee met March 7, 2017. The monthly can offering for July, Imagine No Malaria has now become Abundant Health. Funds will go to all health initiatives. The committee decided to ask the congregation to contribute the following items to the Food Pantry during the following months: April oatmeal and cans of fruit; May box of cornmeal mix and cans of soup beans; June box of mac and cheese and instant potatoes. As we place these items on the altar each month it provides a time of celebration of what we do for others as well as an opportunity to explain to our youth and children (of all ages) why disciples of Jesus Christ take this kind of action. The committee looked at a summary of the 2016 giving to missions and discussed the donations to and expenses of our missions. The summary Mission by the Numbers for 2016 is printed below. Giving by Can Offerings Heifer Project $147.51 Appalachian Service Project $ 96.38 Change for Children $133.17 Native American Missions $ 25.00 Children in Poverty $144.81 Church and Community Worker $182.59 Imagine No Malaria $ 39.00 Pennington Gap Fire Dept. $169.50 Wesley Foundation $123.73 UMCOR $129.86 Red Bird Mission $ 63.23 Total $1,254.78 Other: Dryden Nursing Supplies $100.00 Christmas Baskets $1,007.10 Community Meal $490.00 from donations Plus $1,000.00 Grant (Total of $1,490.00) Food Pantry $598.33 donations Plus Memorial $100.00, Joy Circle $750, Grant $900.00(Total of $2,348.33) plus food Pennington Postal Service collected estimated value $2500.00 Christmas Play $200.00 Plus $480 ticket sales (Total of $680) Other information: If we exclude grants, memorials and ticket sales we supported major missions in our church by a total of $2,295.43. If we include KICKS into the mission picture they received $100.00 donation in 2016 plus a recent grant of $2,500 from the Holston Conference Change for Children to which we gave $$133.17 this year. This is the 2 nd grant of that amount they have received. They had an ending balance in 2016 of $4,845.50 last year and I imagine the $2500.00 will go into their balance. Three mission items are in the 2017 budget: Community Meal $500, Food Pantry $3000 and Children s Activities $800. The committee is making an effort to keep the congregation better informed and invites questions from the congregation.
NEWS KICKS K.I.C.K. S. would like to send a great big thanks to Jeff and Jan Harber for helping with the writing and helping us apply for the Change for Children Grant. We were awarded the grant for the second time. Thanks also goes out to The Methodist Conference for awarding us this grant. This money helps us feed all the children on Wednesday night, allows us to take Field Trips, buy supplies for the class and do extra things with the children at no expense to the church. K.I.C. K.S. visits the Nursing home, sends out cards, and many other things as their part in Mission Work. Thanks to all the members who support us by your donations and giving of your time on Wednesday night. God is working through our Wednesday night program. We can use help at any time. Sue Brown- Children s Coordinator SENIOR HIGH NEWS! The Senior High program on Wednesday night is very enjoyable for me. As a former school teacher and girl s tennis coach at Lee High I really like having this opportunity to teach again and be around the youth of our church. Pastor Kyle graciously found a program to use called Living in Christ published by Youth ministry Partners and Cokesbury. Found on the internet each week it has a new message in Christ as relates to what is happening in the present. For example the lesson from January 29, 2017 focused on change ; and God is the one stable and unchanging force in our lives. The question of the day was: When have you faced change? The purpose of the lesson was to help teens embrace change. The cultural connection was to the Presidential Inauguration. Students read and answered question about the following scriptures: Luke 19:1-10, John 16:4-13, James 1:22-27, and Mark 10:17-31. Games were also played that evoked questions about change and how it effects our lives. Students are encouraged to take home a student page entitled Working It Out. This page has exercises that relate to the lesson and suggest Bible readings for the next week. The majority seem to be enjoying the lessons and their time together. Plus, it is indeed a blessing to see how God is making a difference in their lives!--------------- Betsy Barron McElyea
FROM THE YOUTH COUNCILS The Youth Councils met and discussed the possible schedule of events for the youth, the cost for Resurrection 2018 and the need for early registration. Also discussed was the need for fund raisers, the youth participation in those fund raisers and attendance of youth meetings and church events, and a short term mission in the summer to be done by the youth. A questionnaire was handed out to the youth in February on the topic of a contemporary service, what they would like to see and if they would be willing to help. Below is what the Youth suggestions were. These suggestion will be discussed with the council members on Monday, April 10 th. The suggested date for the yard/bake sale was for Saturday, September 2 nd. They are however taking items for the yard sale if anyone has items to donate. They want to sell nuts again and still have some available if anyone would like to purchase any. The 16 oz. bags are $10.00 and the 12 oz. bags are $9.00. Check with any of the Junior/Senior High Members. They would like to have 2 dinners. One in September and the 2 nd in October. The Youth suggested the 1 st dinner to be a Spaghetti Dinner. The Youth would like to participate in the Palm Processional on Sunday, April 9 th in the 11:00 a.m. Morning Service. The Youth said they would like to hide Easter Eggs for the younger children on Easter Sunday, April 16 th during the 10:00 a.m. Sunday School Hour. The Youth also voted to continue through the summer and will be meeting on Sunday afternoons at 5:00 or 6:00 p.m. The mission trip will also be scheduled as soon as the information becomes available this will be for both the Sr. and Jr. High Youth and be scheduled in the summer. An Easter Sunday Egg Hunt (see below what has been suggested) is also in discussion and will be finalized as soon as possible. Please bring your Easter Basket with some empty plastic eggs on Sunday, April 16 at 10 a.m. and meet in the Fellowship Hall. There will be fun, prizes, stories and light refreshments. There will be three age divisions: preschool-first, second and third grade, and fourth, fifth and sixth grades. Prize eggs ($5) in each division. Other prize eggs as well.
APRIL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND MEETINGS For April our Can Offering is scheduled to go to Change for Children Our loose change benefits children s ministries in Holston Conference and in Africa. Change for Children grants support new and existing ministries with economically disadvantaged children, from birth to age 12. Our church has now received two of these grants. The United Methodist Men are scheduled to have breakfast on Saturday, April 1 st and on Saturday, April 15 th at a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The Circle of Joy is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, April 4 th p.m. Missie will be the Hostess. Saturday, April 8 th p.m. The Circle of Joy s Celebration of Women 1:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Monday, April 10 th Children s Junior and Senior High Councils are scheduled to meet. Members are: Children s Council -Sue Brown, Jan Harber, Anne Lawson, Jack Turner, Rachel Mullins and Deanna Robbins. Junior High Council Laura Sage, Jill Skidmore, Geraldine Turner and Mary Poe. Senior High Council: Betsy McElyea and Lori Watson. Saturday, April 29 th Lay Servant Training from a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Sunday, April 30 th We will receive an offering for Holston Home for Children during Morning Worship.
Big Stone Gap District 2017 Hands-On Mission Project Health Kits for Liberia Option #1: Make your own kit In a 2-gallon zipper bag (in stock at District office) place the following items 1 hand towel 1 washcloth 1 roll-on or spray deodorant (NO solids-they will melt) 2 soft toothbrushes, must be pre-packaged 2 toothpastes, 6;4 oz. or less 1 shampoo, 15 oz. or less 1 cocoa butter lotion, 18 oz. or less 1 small body spray/cologne/perfume (NO aerosol) In a sandwich-sized zipper bag, please put the following: 1 tube antibacterial ointment, 1 oz. (NO antifungal or anti-itch/hydrocortisone) 1 Tylenol/acetaminophen 24-100 ct; children s strength is acceptable (NO ibuprofen, NO caffeine-based, NO PM types) Each kit requires $5 for shipping. Churches should prepare 1 check to cover all of the shipping. OR Option # 2: Donate $20 for the District to make your kit Your $20 will do the following: $15 of it pays for 1 complete kit $5 of it covers the shipping Make checks payable to BSG District Mail checks to 21 E 5 th St. N, Big Stone Gap VA 24219 **Be sure to include the name of our church, so we will be credited!** Our District goal is 400, Jeff says let s try for 500! The deadline to receive Option #2 (monetary donation) is Friday, May 5 The deadline to receive Option #1 is Friday, June 2
APRIL 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 AA EVENING GROUPS 3:00-5:30 BIBLE STUDY 6:00 3 4 CUB SCOUTS N/A GROUP CIRCLE OF JOY 5 KICKS-JR & SR. HIGH 5:30 ADULT CHOIR 7:30 6 COMMUNITY MEAL 5:30 AA-PM GROUP MAUNDY THURSDAY 7 AA-AM GROUP -9:00 8 CIRCLE OF JOY S CELE BRATION OF WOMEN LUNCHEON 1:00 9 AA EVENING GROUPS 3:00-5:30 BIBLE STUDY 6:00 10 CHILDREN S COUNCIL 11 CUB SCOUTS N/A GROUP 12 KICKS-JR & SR. HIGH 5:30 ADULT CHOIR 7:30 13 COMMUNITY MEAL 5:30 AA-PM GROUP 14 AA-AM GROUP -9:00 GOOD FRIDAY 15 16 17 18 CUB SCOUTS N/A GROUP 19 KICKS-JR & SR. HIGH ADULT CHOIR 7:30 20 COMMUNITY MEAL 5:30 AA-PM GROUP 21 AA-AM GROUP -9:00 22 23 AA EVENING GROUPS 3:00-5:30 BIBLE STUDY 6:00 24 25 CUB SCOUTS N/A GROUP 26 KICKS-JR & SR. HIGH ADULT CHOIR 7:30 27 COMMUNITY MEAL 5:30 AA-PM GROUP 28 AA-AM GROUP -9:00 29 LAY SERVANT TRAINING A.M. 4:00 P.M. 30 AA EVENING GROUPS 3:00-5:30 BIBLE STUDY 6:00 HOLSTON HOME FOR CHILDREN 5 TH SUNDAY OFFERING APRIL 30 TH
The Church Family would like to extend sympathy to Barry & LeNoir Culbertson in the sudden death of their son, Ben. For you who don't know Barry, he grew up in our church (Charlie's brother). He was ordained here in his home church and Ben was baptized at that same time. The Church Family would also like to extend sympathy to Rob and Susan Widener and Family on the loss of Rob s dad, Bob Widener. First United Methodist Church 41880 East Morgan Avenue Pennington Gap, VA 24277 Telephone #: 276-546-1080 or 276-546-4525 Email: pgfumc@verizon.net Web Page: pgfumc.holston.org A Christian Fellowship Biblically focused on *Worship *Learning *Healing & *Serving! OFFER THEM CHRIST ---------------------------------------------------------------R Pastor Kyle s Hours are: Monday - Wednesday Friday 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Cell number 276-832-1795 Email kdburnette@gmail.com Nancy s Hours are: Monday 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Cell number 276-708-6110 Email nthobbs66@gmail.com Sandy s Hours are Monday Thursday 6:30 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Friday 6:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Cell number 276-219-9619 Email pgfumc@verizon.net