Newsletter ofFirst United Methodist

ChurchIsle of Palms,

South CarolinaAugust 2014

Our mission is to discover, celebrate and share God’s love!

First United Methodist Church P.O. Box 807 21st Avenue & Palm Boulevard Isle of Palms, SC 29451 (843) 886-6610 iopmethodist@bellsouth.netwww.iopmethodist.comOffice Hours: Monday – Thursday9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.Friday 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Thomas Smith, Pastor,iopthomas@bellsouth.netKristen Lesesne, Director of Ministry,iopchildren@bellsouth.netHarry Sewell, Director of Youth,iopyouth@bellsouth.netCarol King, Director of Outreach,iopmembership@bellsouth.netJan Pickens, Director of Music Ministries,janpickens@hotmail.comMargaret Herlihy, Administration,iopmethodist@bellsouth.netJanis J. Crosby, Finance,iopfinance@bellsouth.netChristine Lites, Contemporary Worship,litesc@comcast.net

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDISLE OF PALMS, SC

PERMIT No. 1

WORSHIP SCHEDULE

8:30 - 9:30 First Service (traditional)

9:00 - 10:00 First Friends (fellowship time)

9:15 - 10:00 Island Praise (contemporary)

10:00 - 10:45 Sunday School

10:15 - 10:55 Show Up Choir

11:00 - 12:00 Third Service (traditional)

Evensong, Wednesday nights at 5:30 in sanctuary

While in college I had the opportunity to join a United Methodist Volunteers in Mission trip to Honduras. Late one afternoon a group of six of us finished a project at a school where we were working and began the 45 minute drive back to the mission station. We were about halfway home and in the middle of nowhere when the driver, more accustomed to driving on expressways than dirt roads, slid off the road and into a ditch, where both tires on the right side of the van sank in mud up to the axle. We were stuck and our efforts to free ourselves only seemed to make things worse. We were six American college students, literally stranded in the jungle. The sun was sinking and cell phone coverage was unheard of. There was not another person for miles around. It seemed like the beginning of a horror movie.

We had about decided to start walking when we heard a car coming. In rural Honduras, the sound of an approaching car is not always a good thing. While all the people we met were kind and hospitable, we had been warned about gangs that preyed on travelers. The folks in the car were probably wonderful people who would be happy to help, but what if…

Before I realized it had happened, my five companions decided I had the best Spanish and declared me their spokesperson. I began practicing phrases in my head, trying to figure out the best way to explain our predicament and hitch a ride. After what seemed like hours, which was in actuality less than two minutes, a jacked-up Ford F-150 came around the curve and stopped about 25 feet from our car. With my heart beating in my throat I began walking toward the truck. As I opened my mouth to stumble through my prepared Spanglish, I heard an unmistakable Appalachian twang call from the driver’s window, “Y’all need some help?”

Within minutes our new best friend, a missionary from Tennessee, had a chain around our van, pulled it out of the mud, and we were on our way. Sometimes it seems that the world is ending when in fact God is grabbing you by the lapels, looking you in the eyes, and saying, “I’ve got this.”

Yours in Christ,

A Special Request to All . . . If you see someone who is struggling to make friends or being bullied because he/she doesn’t have many friends or because they are shy or not as pretty or not dressed in the most “in” clothes -- PLEASE step up. Say hi or at least smile at them as you pass. You never know what that person might be facing. Your kindness might just make a BIG difference in someone’s life!

Greetings from Carol

PRAYER LISTIf you are interested in receiving our weekly e-mail

prayer list, please contact Carol King: iopmethodist@bellsouth.net.

FUMC IOP MEN

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, August 7, at 6:30 PM in Lupo Fellowship Hall.

Fall Festival: Scheduled for October 4th. Please see the vendor letter and application included in this month’s newsletter. If you or someone you know is interested in selling wares at our Fall Festival, please complete the application and return it, along with a check in the amount of $35, to Cindy Carpenter. We need vendors to make this festival a success!

UMW Meeting: Our next meeting is August 5th at noon in the Fellowship Hall. The guest speaker will be Jean Siewicki who works with the East Cooper Faith Network. The vision of this organization is “to build a community where all of its members are safe, healthy, and have the opportunity to achieve their full potential”. Be sure to join us as we learn about the mission and programs of this organization. Hope to see you there!

Leadership Board Meeting: September 16, 2014.

Welcoming folks as they enter the Church for worship is more than just standing at the door and shaking people’s hands. It is a ministry. 1st Corinthians 12:28 calls it the ministry of helps.You help people feel joy. You help people feel love. You help people feel needed. You help people feel wanted. You help people feel important. You help people feel peace and comfort. You help people feel, most of all welcomed.The vacation season at First Church is a unique opportunity to reach out to those who are here for a short time, attend each year when visiting the Island or are new to the community. As a congregation may we all be involved in the “ministry of helps”, both here at church and within the community.Blessings,Carol

What is your TALENT? First Church needs YOU!Listed below are some of the opportunities where you can use your talent to help out!

Greeters & Ushers8:30 Traditional Service9:15 Island Praise & Worship Service11:00 Traditional Service

First Friends Fellowship (Sunday mornings)Set upHostClean upSing in the Choirs

Student ActivitiesWee Worship volunteers (one service, every other month)Sunday School teachers (weekly)Volunteers for Children’s Programming (monthly or one time)Acolyte volunteers (4th grade and above)Nursery Backup volunteers (as needed)Dinners for Youth/Children’s programs

Our Ministry Fair will be held on Sunday, August 24th,where you can come and discover the many ministry areas to participate in for faith development, including Bible Study, Sunday School, Mission opportunities,

Children’s Ministry, Youth, UMW, Men’s Club, Music, etc.

First United Methodist

12 Twenty-First Avenue

Isle of Palms

Umw Fall Festival

October 4, 2014

Name ___________________________________________________________

Name of Company _________________________________________________

Type of Merchandise You Sell ________________________________________

Phone Numbers ___________________________________________________

Email ___________________________________________________________

Do you require electricity? ___________________________________________

Do you need a table? _______________________________________________

What is the item and its value you will donate for the Silent Auction? We will

collect this on the day of the event. ______________________________

________________________________________________________________

Please return this completed form along with your check for $35 ($45 if you need a table) made out to First UMC UMW to the address below to secure your space. You will receive an email to confirm once we have received your form and check.

Please send this in by August 1, 2014. Thanks.

Fall Festival Committee First UMC P.O. Box 807 Isle of Palms, SC 29451

Welcome New Members

Carrie and Brian Wilson with John Patton and Harris

Cameron and Calvin Craft with Anna Grace, Jackson, and Riley

There will be no senior Luncheon in

August.

I will see everyone again in September.

NEW MEMBERS Are you interested in joining the First Church family?

There are several ways you can join the Church.Transfer Letter of Membership,Profession of Faith & Baptism,

Affiliate (United Methodists) or Associate (Other Denominations) Membership

is available for those persons who desire to keep their main church affiliation in another community.

Please speak to Pastor Thomas or Carol King for additional information about membership.

FINANCE REPORT

The financial results at the mid point of the year, June 30, 2014, are as follows:

Contributions year to date are $276,579, which is $14,564 greater than last year, but $12,434 less than this year’s budget.

Operating expenses, net of apportionment payments, are $7,553 less than last year and consistent with the budget.

Year to date contributions to the Sing A New Song account are $4,500. These funds are used to help reduce the existing debt.

Thanks for your continuing financial support of the church.

For questions about any of our programs, to volunteer to help or register for an event, please contact our Ministry Director, Kristen Lesesne, @ 843-209-0631 / iopchildren@bellsouth.net

KIDS CORNERIt’s not too late . . . we still have two more Church Beach Days!

Join us Thursday, August 7th and/or August 14th, from 2:00 - 4:00.We will meet at the 21st Ave. Beach Access.

Parents: please watch for and complete the Children’s Programing survey coming soon!

We are making plans for the new school year at our next Children’s Council meeting: August 14th @ noon.

All teachers and students: be sure to join us for worship on Sunday, August 17th,for Blessing of the Backpacks. Let’s get this school year started right!

Monthly Programs for KIDS resume in September . . .Sunday, August 24th: Find out about all our fall programs during our Ministry Fair!

Sunday School Update: Fall Classes begin Sunday, September 7th, at 10:00 am! Bibles will be presented to all 2nd grade students during worship.

Judy and JR Abbott 3 Ann and Bill Emery 5 Mary Helen and Hoyt Rowell 8 Dale and Theron Hegler 10 Lynne and Cal McCombs 13 Wessie and Bill Mitchell 14 Liz and Bill Crocker 17 Tammy and Guy Powell 19 Pam and Doug Van Scoy 20 June and Nick Murphy 21 Sylvia and Pat Neeley 24 Laura and Andy Barnes 25 Debra and Pete Taylor 25

Carlton and Wayne Whelan 25

HALOS – RETURN AUGUST 3

Remember to purchase a backpack along with the clothes as indicated on the HALOS card. If you would like to purchase school supplies, there are lists of grade appropriate supplies in the narthex.

Tamara Bryant 1C.H. Riley, III 1Clyde Mauldin 1Tom Buckhannon Sr. 4Cal McCombs 4John Jones 4Boden Hamill 4Colby Hamill 4Mark Glore 5Don Hill 5Theron Hegler 7Susan Dangerfield 10Anna Neipp 11Clara Wooters 12Jerry Courtney 14Maggie Garrett 14Hitch Garrett 14Clayton Lawhon 15Valerie Mauldin 17Lindy Garrett 17Cooper Holsapple 17Richard Powell 17Lenny Branch, Jr. 18Griffin Lites 18Megan Wooters 19Emma Larsen 20Elmore Thomas 20Andy Barnes 21Whit Nelson 21Ginna Beall 21George Hartzell 22Stefani Timmerman 22Riley Lanier 22Allen Tucker 23Linda Walters 23Moose Morris 24Gabe Runza 26Delaney Shellnutt 26Ben Holsapple 27Suzanne Glore 28Timothy Buckhannon 28Laura Whitley 31

CRAFTY LADIESThe Crafty Ladies will be

meeting all summer on Wednesdays,

from 10:00 to 2:00, in Lupo Fellowship Hall.

CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS MUSICALIn August, I would like to have a meeting of all parents (watch buuletin) whose children would be interested in

participating in this year’s Christmas Musical, which will take place on December 7th. It’s entitled “Shepherds, Sheep, and a Savior,” is twenty minutes long, and requires very simple costuming and stage

sets. It’s also quite funny, and the music is great! Children participating should be in kindergarten through fifth grade. Rehearsals will begin in mid-September and will be held in the choir room.

Let’s meet and talk. Thank you so much! Please contact Jan Pickens, janpickens@hotmail.com.

“SHOW-UP” CHOIR NEEDS YOU!Please consider joining us on a Sunday morning at 10:15 in the Choir Room to sing, rejoice and fellowship as we

prepare an anthem for the 11 a.m. worship service. We so enjoy this time together since we are not rehearsing Wednesday nights this summer.

You will, too! Come on now, it’s not the time to be shy!