first united methodist church of johnson city 08 18.pdffirst united methodist church of johnson city...
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First Uni ted Methodis t Church of
Johnson Ci ty
“Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors””
AUGUST 2018
“Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with God”
John Wesley
First United
Methodist Church
105 North LBJ Drive
PO Box 207
Johnson City, TX 78636
830-868-7414
Website:
www.fumcjctx.org
Angela Bacon
secretary
@fumcjctx.org
*
Carrie Anders
Youth Director
*
Ronnie Birck
Education Director
education
@fumcjctx.org
*
Cindy Leonard
Wesley Nurse
Mo-Thu 7-12 & 1-6
512-771-8783
*************************
Pastor Lee Romero
pastor@
fumcjctx.org
Cell: 361-205-5421
**************************
Worship Services
8:30 a.m.
Contemporary Service
10:50 a.m.
Traditional Service
Sunday
Christian Education Classes
9:40 - 10:30 a.m.
Planning for mission teams
We don’t need to count hands just yet, but over the next year, we’ll be asking for volunteers for mission teams to do home rehabbing and light construction.
First, there still are teams needed to rehab homes damaged in Hurricane Harvey, almost a year ago. Some jobs are major, some not quite so, but all of them necessary. Some don’t involve building anything — they need to tear down some of the most damaged homes so the owners can start rebuilding. Aren’t we about to run out of jobs after a year? Hardly; you’ll be needed for years to come.
Second, they had a secret disaster this summer in the Rio Grande Valley. It was a disaster because thousands of homes were flooded by a tropical system that came ashore in south Texas, and stayed put for a while, dumping rain on place that don’t usually see much rainfall. The result was thousands of homes in deep water. Why was it a “secret” disaster? Same reason most of us never heard about it: the news media doesn’t cover south Texas, unless it involves drug smuggling or undocumented immigrants. They’re not on many folks’ radars, which is why we need to help.
Third, the Hill Country District may put together a mission trip just across the border to Piedras Negras, opposite Eagle Pass. Or we may not. We still have a lot of investigating to do before committing to going to Piedras, not the least of which is satisfying ourselves it’s not as dangerous as some border towns. This town, however, has become a substantial city, and the Mexican Methodist Church has responded by building four new churches there. Problem is, they could afford to build churches, but not parsonages. No parsonage, no fully ordained minister, just a local preacher. They also have other mission needs, some construction, some social, some religious…but this one is first.
Timing is yet to be determined. A Piedras Negras trip probably wouldn’t happen until after the first of the year. South Texas, probably the same. A Hurricane Harvey team could go this fall, before Thanksgiving and Christmas clogs up everyone’s schedule. And other churches in our district have teams going when we don’t.
Plus the fall and spring medical missions with Misión de Candelilla, the youth mission trips, and our own construction volunteers. No shortage of opportunities.
We’ll keep you in the loop about those opportunities.
As members of this congregation, we pledge to faithfully participate in its
ministries by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service and our witness.
Our Prayers...Lord Hear our prayers: for those who are ill, grieving, or facing difficult times; for those
persons in nursing homes, assisted living and homebound; for our military and civilian men and women serving in
harm’s way and their families; for our leaders, and children everywhere.
Our Presence…
1st Service 2nd Service SS
July 1st 63 73 43 July 8th 72 60 55 July 15th 38 59 48 July 22nd 56 70 58 July 29th 56 70 95
Our Gifts…
Year to date as of July 21, 2018
Budget Requirements $173,362
Tithes Received $162,762
Mission with seniors
If we were to start a local mission with seniors, meeting needs of our oldest age group, what would that ministry look like?
We’ve been kicking the idea around for a year now, and expect to start some brainstorming meetings this month to answer that question. What do our seniors need? What needs do we have resources to fill? What new resources can we get to meet other needs? What role can seniors play in planning and running such a ministry? Lots of questions. Working on answers. Long way from getting there.
Yes, we still have our M&Ms (Marvelously Matures…or Marginally Matures) group which meets monthly. The Friday night game night we started way back there has spun off with a life of its own.
We hope to get information and advice from experts in older adult services, and from other churches and individuals with an interest. We don’t see it being a Methodist program, nor for Methodists, but for anyone who needs services and by anyone willing to help.
If you’re willing to lend your knowledge, experience, and ideas, we’ll be happy to have them. Let Angie know and you’ll go on the list to find out about thinking sessions and plans and startups. If you have to miss one, no problem…we’ll be at this for a while.
Kids’ Lunch Club
“You can put our names down right now,” said one of the cooking team leaders, “and we
want to take a Wednesday.”
Her team had served on Monday this summer, when the numbers of diners was better
than last year but not the big crowds we had on Wednesdays this year. She said her crew
wants to come back, and they want one of the big crowds.
This summer’s Kids’ Lunch Club served its last lunch of the year July 27th, leaving only
the KLC’s free pool party for all the kids and cooks at the city pool on August 3rd. Although
the after-action meeting for ideas and evaluations will be later this month, consensus
already seems to be the program was a success.
One measurement was that total numbers were higher than last year. Yes, we had some
days when the crowd was especially light…fewer than 10 a time or two…but we made up
for it with crowds of 50 and 60…mostly on those frantic Wednesdays. We fed more than
100 different kids, some only once, but some “frequent fliers” were there almost every time.
As always, meals were served Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays in our Activity Building,
prepared by nine teams of volunteer cooks, not all of them from our church. First Christian
Church sent a team; so did PEC. The Axtell family took a day in the rotation, as did one of
the Emmaus groups, and several teams made up of individual
volunteers.
The food itself included King Ranch
Chicken, burgers on the grill, the
best tacos in JC, chicken nuggets,
and chili dogs. And how was the
food? The best description is from
one of our teenaged diners, who is
working this summer in a local restaurant, where she could
eat free. Yet she preferred to come to the church for lunch before going to work.
She even had a sister deliver a to-go lunch to her at work. Not sure what the boss
thought of that.
Our thanks for a successful year goes not only to the cooks, but to the folks who helped
outside the kitchen — who checked in diners at the registration table, the elementary
school principal who plugged the program to her kids’ parents, the businesses who let us
post our flyers (even in restaurants), and all of you whose cash donations paid for the food
cooked all summer.
We all were horse-shoe nails, without any of whom our battle against childhood hunger
surely would have been lost.
The children thank you.
AUGUST
LECTIONARY
August 5
11th Sunday after Pentecost
2 Sam 11:26-12:13a
Psalm 51:1-12 (UMH 785)
Ephesians 4:1-16
John 6:24-35
August 12
12th Sunday after Pentecost
2 Sam 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
Psalm 130 (UMH 848)
Ephesians 4:25-5:2
John 6:35, 41-51
August 19
13th Sunday after Pentecost
1 Kin 2:10-12, 3:3-14
Psalm 111 (UMH 832)
Ephesians 5:15-20
John 6:51-58
August 26
14th Sunday after Pentecost
1 Kin 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43
Psalm 84 (UMH 804)
Ephesians 6:10-20
John 6:56-69
Sunday School Classes
FELLOWSHIP – led by Bill & Elaine Swiss.
New members and visitors are welcome to join in for
the Bible Study “Follow”. The class meets in Fellow-
ship Hall, located near the Sanctuary.
JOHN WESLEY – led by Barbara Hudson.
Please join John Wesley Class for a bible study on
“Fundamentals of the Faith” 13 Lessons to Grow in
the Grace and Knowledge of Jesus Christ. If you do not
have a class, please join us.
SEEKERS – The Seekers class is studying Bill Johnson's
Hosting the Presence, a book and DVD about
discerning what it means for each of us to be THE
BODY of Christ. We welcome know-it-alls because the
rest of us certainly are in the don't-know-it-all
category. Join us no matter who you are.
YOUTH - All 6th—12th graders join us in the Youth
Room for our study on “The Book of James” with
Francis Chan. Discussion, scripture, snack provided.
CHILDREN – PreK-5th Grade is studying “Not just in
Fairy Tales”. All classrooms are upstairs accessed from
the hallway by the church office.
Please remember and pray for our nursing home residents, those in the hospital and shut-ins:
Delores Bozeman Doris Hartmann
Elnora Kneese Yvonne Leonard Alice Wadsworth
Thoughts from the
Center Office
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Cindy Leonard (our Wesley Nurse) and her family in the death of
her father, Don Leonard, on July 24th. Services were held on Monday, July 30th. May God’s peace
and presence carry them forward in this time of loss.
We recently had the trees trimmed on the church property. They were becoming unruly and were
hitting and lying on things they were not supposed to be on: buildings; walkways; fences and such.
They did not look healthy or beautiful. The trees were feeling the weight on branches as they grew
further and further from the base of the tree. That weight become such that they drooped and
hung low. I wonder if that is ever our story.
We have so many things going on in our lives and we get to be heavy laden with them all. It can be
work, family events, social events, church events or any of a thousand things that we get involved
with or engage in. The Lord is our foundation and base. We are firmly rooted and grounded in our
Lord and Savior. Yet as we branch out, we begin to feel the weight that brings us down and seems
burdensome to bear. Those things that are on the outskirts, the far reaching branches and limbs, if
you will, are hard to support. They put weight and strain the relationship with the main body of
the tree, the very foundation from which they come. Is that our story?
“He says, "I removed the burden from their shoulders; their hands were set free
from the basket. 7 In your distress you called and I rescued you, I answered you
out of a thundercloud; I tested you at the waters of Meribah.” Psalm 81:6-7
As the weight and burden was removed from the trees, the branches that reached out to the
extreme perimeter, that placed excessive burden on the main trunk, the trees other branches
were lifted up. Those branches were better supported by the trunk since the load was reduced.
That can be our story. We become so weighted down by the things that are on the outskirts, that
we are pulled away from our very roots. If the things we engage in tear us down, are they the right
things to do? We need to find the balance that allows us to be a strong thriving tree, person that
does not get weighted down with the things of the world.
Do we need to do a little trimming or are we in good shape?
God’s Blessing,
Pastor Lee
A Note from your Wesley Nurse
Thank you for all your prayers for me and my family. I am truly blessed to have you as my dear friends
in Christ. We will have our Back to School event Saturday, August 11th from 10am-12pm in the Activity
center. We will also start GriefShare meetings on Tuesday, August 28th from 10am—11:30am and
another time offered will be 7pm—8:30pm. If you know anyone that could benefit from this program
please call Cindy Leonard at 512-771-8783. Thank you.
It is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Philippians 2:13
Back to School
Make Your Home a Healthy Eating Zone Eat healthy. Your children are watching. They will follow your lead. Stock your kitchen with healthy foods—fruits, veggies, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products. If you don’t buy unhealthy food, your kids won’t eat it at home. Cook meals with your kids. Eat together. Children who eat meals with their family more likely to eat healthy foods. Give your kids a healthy breakfast every day. Good choices are oatmeal or whole-grain cereal, fruit, low-fat milk and eggs. Get Your Family Moving Get off the couch and move. If your kids see you doing physical activity, they will want to move more, too. Encourage your children to be active. Help them figure out what physical activities they like and can do often. Start early in life. Kids are more likely to be active later in life if they start when they’re young. Plan activities the whole family can do together. Limit Screen Time Limit your kids’ time in front of TV, video games, and the computer. Setting rules can help cut their screen time by nearly 3 hours a day. Set a good example. Limit your own screen time. Kids who have more screen time are more likely to eat foods high in fat and added sugar (like sodas, chips, cookies) Sleep and School-aged Children (5-12 years) 69% of American children do not get enough sleep. A lack of enough sleep can cause: Hyperactivity, irritability, difficulty concentrating, emotional overreacting, and health problems including weight gain. Children aged five to 12 need 10-11 hours of sleep. School-aged children become more interested in TV, computers, the media and Internet as well as
caffeine products – all of which can lead to difficulty falling asleep, nightmares and disruptions to their sleep. In particular, watching TV close to bedtime has been associated with bedtime resistance, difficulty falling asleep, anxiety around sleep and sleeping fewer hours. Teach school-aged children about healthy sleep habits.
Sleep Tips for School-aged Children
Continue to emphasize need for regular and consistent sleep schedule and bedtime routine.
Make child's bedroom conducive to sleep – dark, cool and quiet.
Keep TV and computers out of the bedroom.
Avoid caffeine
Try reading before bed.
When parents are involved in their child’s life at school, children….
Do better in school
Go farther in school
Have fewer absences
Have improved behavior
Increased confidence
At Home
Ask questions about your child’s day and listen to your child
Encourage reading time
Promote their school attendance
Set aside a quiet place and special time for homework
Check their homework and folders
At School
Attend parent-teacher conferences, even if your child is doing good
Attend field trips with their class if possible
Be supportive of fund-raising events
Be involved with school activities
Have a wonderful, healthy, school year!
Cindy Leonard, RN, is a Wesley Nurse with Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. (MHM). MHM’s Wesley Nurse program is a faith-based, holistic health and wellness program committed to serving the least served through education, health promotion and collaboration with individual and community in achieving improved wellness through self-empowerment. Learn more at www.mhm.org.
Jill Taylor August 15
John Axtell August 17
Tracy Corpus August 17
Jaxon Riebesehl
August 17
Roger Danz
August 18
Kyle Porter August 18
Georgie Ann Polvado August 20
Susie McFarland
August 21
Karen Prather August 21
Bryan Anders August 22
Paula Moeller August 23
Dolores Bozeman
August 24
Matthew Schmidt August 24
Doris Hartmann August 26
Jan Garrett August 28
Jimmy Youdan August 28
Cooper Schnitz August 30
Happy Anniversary!
Walter & Melissa Baldree
August 4
Sim & Kara Moreno
August 7
Larry & Janice Fox - Balko
August 15
Jimmy & Andrea Fox
August 17
Rob & Ann Godwin
August 19
David & Kim Kurimski
August 21
George & Susie Birck
August 21
Clay & Patsy Simpson
August 23
James & Yvonne Leonard
August 26
George & Sheila Barnette
August 27
Pat Rumpf August 2
Judith Ebeling August 3
Jennifer Bacon August 5
Sandra Danz
August 6
Kay Odiorne
August 6
Tanner Beard August 7
Rob Reynolds August 7
Jamie Ballenger
August 8
Riley Beard August 10
Cammie Ockman August 10
Eric Porter August 11
Clay Simpson
August 11
Mary Ann Swafford August 11
Tisha Kolek August 12
Louis Broussard August 13
Tonya Dahmann August 14
Opal Goebel August 14
Lloyd Madison August 14
Happy Birthday!
First United Methodist Church PO Box 207 Johnson City, TX 78636 Return Service Requeste
August 2018
Hand folded and sealed with love especially for ...
Worship Services
8:30 a.m. - Contemporary Service
10:50 a.m. - Traditional Service
----------------------------------------------------
Christian Education: 9:40 - 10:30 a.m.
***************************************************
The church office is open:
Monday - Thursday 9 am - 12 & 1 - 4 pm
Office Phone: 830-868-7414
Pastor Lee’s cell 361-205-5421
Pastor’s email: [email protected]
Secretary’s email: [email protected]
Youth Coordinator: [email protected]
Education Director: [email protected]
Visit our Website: www.fumcjctx.org
The mission of the Congregation of the First United Methodist Church is to continue to be a
committed fellowship of disciples sharing the love of God through Jesus Christ and furnishing a
place of Christian worship, programs, services and facilities for its members and the people of the
Johnson City area.
“A Place to Grow in Christian Love”