The VisitorThe VisitorThe Visitor First United Methodist Church

320 West Main, Magnolia, Arkansas 71753

www.magnoliafumc.org To invite all to know the love of God, to share grace, and to develop relationships

January 10, 2018 Sunday 8:30 a.m.—Chapel Worship

10:45 a.m.—Sanctuary Worship

Noon—Cable Channel 13

KVMA-AM 630

KVMA-FM 99.1

5:00 p.m.—Chapel Worship

6:30 p.m. —Youth Worship

Wednesday 7:00 PM—Broadcast of

previous Sunday’s 10:45

Service Cable Channel 13

How to Reach Us: Church Office Hours

Monday—Thursday 8:00–4:00

Friday 8:00–Noon

870-234-4530 Our Staff:

Pastor Pam Estes,

501-617-4887 pam.estes@arumc.org

Jeremy Carter, Children &

Families; Shelly Burgess, Interim,

Children & Families;

Michelle Anderson, Youth

Director; Tracie Nipper,

Administrative Secretary;

Amanda Franks, Business

Manager; Dr. Kim Shirey, Director

of Music; Dr. David Crouse,

Organist; Children’s Music:

Melanie Allen, Tabitha Lewis,

Anne Couch

J.D. Martin, Building

Superintendent; Kenneth

Manning, Custodian

Gwendolyn Reed, Director

Child Development Center

Barbara Lewis, Director,

The Caring Place

Stewpot: Valerie Sanders,

Libby and George Gilbert

Nursery: Burlene Easter and

Kathy Easter

FIRST UNITED

METHODIST

CHURCH

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11 10:00 AM THE CARING PLACE 4:00 PM STEWPOT SUNDAY, JANUARY 14 8:30 AM CHAPELWORSHIP 9:30 AM SUNDAY SCHOOL 10:45 AM SANCTUARY WORSHIP 4:00 PM LEARNING TO USE MY BIBLE (AVERITT HALL) 5:00 PM YOUTH 5:00 PM CHAPEL WORSHIP 5 PM to 7AM MONDAY CONFIRMATION CLASS

LOCK-IN MONDAY, JANUARY 15 OFFICE, CDC AND STEWPOT CLOSED TUESDAY, JANUARY 16 4:00 PM STEWPOT 5:00 PM CUB SCOUTS 5:00 PM SPIRITUAL FORMATION

COMMITTEE (AVERITT) 6-6:51 PM ALL CHURCH TRAINING (PEACE) WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17 1:00 PM INTERCESSORY PRAYER (MARILYNN BLACKWOOD’S) 4:15 PM CHILDREN’S HANDBELLS (3RD-6TH GRADE) 5:00 PM SNACK SUPPER (PEACE) 5:30 PM CHILDREN (PRESCHOOL—6TH) 5:30 PM BIBLE STUDY (LIFETREE CAFÉ) 5:30 PM JUNIOR HIGH YOUTH 6:30 PM SENIOR HIGH YOUTH 6:30 PM J.A.M. (PRE- K—2ND GRADE) 6:30 PM INTERCESSORY PRAYER

(CHAPEL) 6:30 PM ADULT HANDBELLS 7:15 PM CHANCEL CHOIR

Non Profit

Organization

U.S. Postage

PAID

Magnolia,

AR

Permit No. 84

Address Service Requested

First United Methodist Church

320 West Main

Magnolia, AR 71753

BIGS THINGS HAPPENING IN THE

CHILDREN’S DEPARTMENT

On January 10, 2018, new classes began on

Wednesday Night for Children ages 3 to 6th

grade. We are excited to have each child

learning at their own age level.

Classes will be age 3 to Pre-K, Kindergarten to

1st grade and 2nd to 3rd grade. These

classes will be learning about Jacob, Joseph, Ruth, Hannah,

Samuel, David, Jonathan, and some of the Parables.

The 4th to 6th grade kids will study Creative Journaling and Holy

Conversation. The 6th graders will visit the Jr. High Bible Study a

few times to transition them into Youth by June.

To have a large Children’s Program it takes people. YOU are

needed to be a part of this exciting time in our children’s ministry.

Adhering to our safe sanctuary policies requires two adults for each

group of children. You do not have to “be a teacher,” but you can

be a loving presence. Contact the church office (234-4530) or

Shelly Burgess to explore how you can participate in this ministry.

PS You don’t have to sign your life away. This is not a permanent,

life-time commitment.

The Church Office,

the Child Development

Center, and the Stewpot

will be closed

Monday, January 15, in observance of

Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Pastor Pam’s Ponderings. . . .As we begin a new calendar year, my thoughts

have returned to the scriptures which surely formed Jesus as a child in Nazareth as

well as in Bethlehem and Egypt before his family returned to Nazareth. His parents

would have operated as a family who followed the words of Moses recorded in

Deuteronomy 11:18-25(New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 18 You shall put these

words of mine in your heart and soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand,

and fix them as an emblem[a] on your forehead. 19 Teach them to your children, talking

about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and

when you rise. 20 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, 21 so

that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that

the LORD swore to your ancestors to give them, as long as the heavens are above the

earth.

These words continue to guide Jewish and now Christian parents who seek to

lead their children, whatever their age, to follow the principles of Godly living. We, no

matter our age, do well to understand that what we focus on shapes us. What we

practice becomes our habit. What we do with constancy and intentionality becomes

who we are. The Apostle Paul advised his converts to put on Christ, to let the Holy

Spirit transform the mind to be the mind of Christ so that every action, thought, and

desire will be aligned with the loving grace and mercy of God.

Our vision is to be a congregation where the stranger-neighbor and the sibling-

friend find welcome, grace, and support. We do this by opening our hearts to the

continual work of the Holy Spirit. We do this by opening our minds to the Wisdom of

the Living Word. We do this by seeking to keep the doors of our hospitality open wide

to all God’s children.

Monday, January 8, a group embodied Jesus by moving 9,000+ cans of food

given at the public school for Stewpot. Those ministers of food distribution served

because they have received the Bread of Life who has directed us to feed the hungry.

Wednesday, January 10, children, youth, and adults will gather to study the Word, be

in fellowship, sing the praises of God, and embody the Presence of the Ever Present

Eternal God. On Sunday, January 14, children, youth, and adults will gather to study

the Word, be in fellowship, pray and praise God in corporate worship. We will

remember our baptism in Jesus Christ and we will renew our vows of membership.

Will you pray before Sunday to receive what God will give as we worship

together? I encourage you to read Mark 1:4-11 before you come so that worship may

be more meaningful. I encourage us to be ready to worship when we come together as

Christ’s body. And, dear brothers and sisters, when you are not present, the Body is

incomplete. I was glad when they said to me, Let’s go the house of the Lord! Let’s be

glad we are free to worship together.

Surely, God is blessing us as we minister in blessing others with our lives

together. Let us be bold to bless the world so that all may know Jesus our Lord and

Savior.

Shalom, Pastor Pam

A Record of Our Faithfulness

Worship S.S.

December 31 100 8

January 7 154 63

Having promised to be loyal to Jesus Christ through The United Methodist Church and to do all in our power to strengthen its ministries, we live out our promise by God’s grace together—participating faithfully in the ministries of

First United Methodist Church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness, making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world!

Inviting all to know the love of God, share grace, develop relationships

Our Prayers of Intercession Our Witness

Our Presence

STEWPOT VOLUNTEERS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11

Host/Hostess: Whitney Whitelaw

Servers: Delta Sigma Theta c/o

Virginia Todd

MONDAY, JANUARY 15

STEWPOT CLOSED

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16

Host/Hostess: Mary Helen Martin

Servers: Joyce Crane, Judy Munn, Fannie King

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18

Host/Hostess: Miriam Leman

Servers: Cynthia & Jim Boswell, Stacy Parham,

Lewisville Juvenile Treatment Center—Cassandra

Henry

Our Weekly Service in Worship

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24

Acolytes: Heath Lewis and

David Burgess

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE

Acolytes: Heath Lewis, Caden Elledge,

Landry Carter, Brandon Hill

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31

Acolytes: Brandon Hill and David Burgess

SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2018

Acolytes: Landry Carter, Caden Elledge,

Heath Lewis, Gabby Nelson, Brandon Hill

Offertory Prayer: Landry Carter

Psalter Reader: (8:30) Richard Wood, (10:45) Ella

Williams

ALTAR GUILD—Sanctuary

Elizabeth Tye

ALTAR GUILD—Chapel

Whitney Whitelaw & Linda Wood

Our Prayers of Praise We ask for God’s help for those who—

To participate in our prayer ministry, please contact

Tracie at the office. She’ll add you to the email

network or the phone notification list.

Sympathy is extended to the family of Jean

Edwards

Sympathy is extended to the family of Carol

Liberty

Sympathy is extended to the family of Billie

Dadgar in the death of her mother, Pat Bowersock

We praise God for…

*New year, New beginnings

*Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Alden DeLoach

who were united in holy matrimony, Saturday,

December 30, 2017

*Congratulations to Justin and Sarah Routon on the

birth of their son, Bowman, born Thursday,

January 4, 2018

*Dr. David Crouse service as organist for the past 24

years. We honor him Sunday with altar flowers and a

donation to a music scholarship at Southern

Arkansas University.

Our Service

Our Gifts

A Record of Our Faithfulness

Offerings

December 31 $17,071.64

January 7 $14,486.50

Learning to Use My Bible continues Sunday after-

noons, January 14 and 21. We are learning that

“The Bible is a Treasure Book” and it is a special

Library of God’s Acts which helps guide our life.

Children will be paired with parents or adults to walk

through this amazing study. We will see you at 4

p.m. on Sunday to begin Learning to Use My Bible.

Meet us for the adventure in Averitt Hall.

First United Methodist Church

Child Development Center

New Director—

Gwendolyn Murphy Reed

Gwendolyn began work on Wednesday, December

27, 2017. Gwendolyn grew up in Emerson and graduated

from Emerson High School. She was a paraprofessional

aide at Walker Pre-Kindergarten Center.

Formerly a teacher at FUMC-CDC from

2011-2013, she also worked at FACT Inc. and the

Emerson Head Start program where she was the director/

lead teacher from 2007-2010. She was also the assistant

director of the University Assembly of God center from

2006-2007. Let’s give Gwen a warm welcome. Pray for

our director, staff, and children. Tell someone about our

day care! We have room for children!

1/3 Saundra Lewis 1/17 John Adkins

1/4 Diana Courson 1/19 Janice Jetton

1/5 Kristal McDonald 1/19 Santo Petitto

1/6 Jeff Brantley 1/22 Bill Nielsen

1/8 Jennifer Adkins 1/23 Carolyn Clegg

1/8 Billy Brummett 1/24 Mitzi Bagwell

1/9 Laurel Adkins 1/24 Larry Burrow

1/10 Steve Nipper 1/24 Laurie Chandler

1/11 Luke Genestet 1/26 Dan Marsh

1/13 John Boreing 1/28 Mickey Pittman

1/13 Landry Carter 1/30 Mike Shemas

1/13 Justin Gill 1/31 Pat Souter

1/15 Richard Kirkpatrick

1/15 Kathy Sharp

Group of volunteers loading donated cans for Stewpot.

Thank you, Barry Ribble and Cecil McConnell for

trailers. Thank you FFA, Boy Scouts, Youth and other

congregants. Come help sort these cans at 10 a.m.

Saturday, January 13 in Couch Bus Barn

John Wesley believed that

Christians needed to practice faith in

order to demonstrate faith. That’s what

we do through our missions— practice

our piety. By showing love directly, we

are being formed into the fullness of

Christ. Through our methods, we grow

in Christ and in effective, fruitful ministries.

How do we do that thing we do? Why do we do those things we do, the way we do them?

Can we do these things better? What else is God leading us to do?

Everyone who is a member of any committee of the church including altar guild,

Stewpot volunteers, etc. is encouraged to attend the Second Annual Let’s Learn Training on

Tuesday, January 16 from 6:00 p.m. to 6:51 p.m.

Committees will organize. We’ll explore answers to pressing questions.

Why wise men still? Epiphany is not simple one

Sunday. Epiphany is the season

which lasts from January 6 through

February 11. That Sunday we cele-

brate as Transfiguration Sunday.

During the season of Epiphany, our worship fo-

cuses on the full revelation of God in Jesus Christ to and

for the whole world. As we worship these Sundays, let us

be intentional to pray for all the world. Choose a different

country for each day this season and pray for its people.

Let’s read the Bible together!

Check in the children’s department for a

family handout with questions to ask as you read

these scriptures each week during January.

Genesis 1:1-5

I Samuel 3:1-20

Johan 3:1-5, 10

Mark 1:21-28