UMW News June 2018
The UMW will not meet in June due to Annual Conference. We will be having our annual UMW Sunday on June 24. Morgan Tompkins will be speaking to us about the Mission Trip she went on to Houston, Texas in March. We hope you will all come for our 10:30 worship service and hear about Morgan’s experiences on the trip. Our next meeting will be on July 10th at 10:00 a.m. We will begin making plans for the Fall Annual UMW meeting which will be held at FUMC, Galax on October 20, 2018.
UMW President, Peggy Chappell
“Whom Shall I Send, And Who WIll Go For Us?” ISAIAH 6:8
“Whom Shall I Send, And Who WIll Go For Us?” ISAIAH 6:8
For 40 years when Richard heard this call he answered with – “Here I am! Send me.”
We have been very fortunate that God placed Richard in three churches in our region, including FUMC. His dedication to his congregations was evident on Sunday afternoon. The reception to honor Richard’s years of service was well attended by the people of Oakland, Floyd and Galax churches. In addition, there was a surprise visit from his sister and her family. People took the opportunity to share with Richard the many ways he positively impacted their lives. In addition to the visits, prayers, and support he has extended to us, his Bible studies and Sunday school class have been extra blessings. The congregations presented Richard with a “gift certificate” for a trip to the Holy Lands with District Superintendent Kim Goddard. Fortunately, Richard will still be in the area so we can enjoy his friendship in the years to come.
“Change”
I am such a creature of habit. I hate change. I get upset when Head & Shoulders changes their shampoo bottle. I almost went into shock when Food City rearranged their aisles. So you can imagine how the major change in my life, going from Full Elder Status to Retired Elder Status, is affecting me!
For the past forty years my identity has been that of the preacher. I have served United Methodist Congregations as the “Pastor in Charge.” After this Annual Conference this may not be the case. My life has also been centered around the Sunday Worship Service so I will need to make a major readjustment in how I spend my time. This will not come easily for me.
Now my head knows that the change has to come. Especially in our United Methodist itinerant system. We know we are not appointed to stay an any one church or charge but realize that eventually there will be a change. However, this head knowledge never found its way into my heart!
So if I seem preoccupied or “not quite right” during the next few weeks, please bear with me. The Second Sunday in June will be my last time in the pulpit. However I will be “on call” to be your pastor should the need arise, until the new minister takes over July 1st.
Even though I will no longer be your minister I hope to always be your friend.
My new mailing address is: 412 ½ West Center Street, Apt C, Galax, VA 24333
Know that I will always love you.
—Richard
Mission Trip
“I would like to thank everyone for all their generosity and kindness in helping make this trip possible.” – Morgan Tompkins
I attended a mission trip from March 3 – 9 in Texas. Working with a group from Memphis, Tennessee, we cleaned up debris, painted, and renovated houses during the day in Port Arthur that were damaged by the hurricanes in 2017. I learned so much about resilience in faith, working through diversity, and how to love others exactly where they are. It was an amazing opportunity, and I am extremely grateful for the chance to help others in their time of need.
UMW NEWS – April 2018
Daniel Hass / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA-3.0
We had seven members and one guest who attended Spiritual Enrichment Experience at Lake Junaluska April 12-14. We enjoyed the beauty and peace at the lake and experienced a very inspiring retreat. It’s always great to go to the lake. Our next UMW meeting will be May 8th. Norma is in charge of the program. Lunch plans will be announced closer to meeting time. We will be making plans for UMW Sunday which will be on June 24th. Morgan Tompkins will be our guest speaker sharing her mission trip experiences.
“The Merry Month of May”
May is one of my favorite months of the year. The promise of Spring is usually finally realized. Yet the weather is not as hot and humid as it gets later in the year. The school year is ending but vacation season, when so many are away from the church that attendance suffers, has not yet begun. Flowers are blooming and all of creation seems to be praising God.
However May is special for two important events that happen during the month. The first is Mother’s Day. The second Sunday of May is the time set aside to honor our mothers. As a child, I remember getting ready to go to church on Mother’s Day and going out to what we called the “Bubby Rose” bush and picking one of those red flower to wear. Red was the color you wore if your mother was still living and white was worn if she was deceased. I remember feeling really sad when Daddy wore a white flower after Grandmother Gregory died. A mother’s or grandmother’s love is very special.
Another childhood memory is tied to the date May 10th, for mother would never let us go barefoot until that date. Even though I resented it then, especially during those hot days of late April and early May, I came to realize that mother really had my best interest at heart. Often we resent the limitations God places on us without realizing that God has our best interest at heart as well. It is true that a Mother’s Love is the closest thing on Earth to God’s love.
So this May 13th take time to let your mother know how special she is if you are fortunate enough to still have her. If your mother has passed away, take the time to honor her memory.
The second important event is May is Pentecost. This is the birthday of the church. The Holy Spirit filled that Upper Room and changed a group of frightened powerless disciples into the mighty Church of Jesus Christ! With the fire and power of the indwelling presence of the Spirit they were bold enough to change the world. Heat what even those who opposed them had to say: “Those who have turned the world upside down have come here too.” [Acts 17:6 N.K.J.V.]
What a wonderful testimony! How it puts us to shame! Maybe the church needs to wake up and realize that he Holy Spirit can give us the power to turn our world upside down for Christ. Let us claim that power, not just of Pentecost Sunday, May 20th, but each and every day of the rest of our lives.
Richard
Easter at FUMC
Easter activity and egg hunt will be Palm Sunday, March 25 in Fellowship Hall from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
All children 12 and under are invited to come celebrate the coming of Easter. We look forward to a great day of fellowship, fun and learning about Jesus.
Plans include: Crafts, story time, egg hunt, and refreshments. We will have prizes and surprises.
We will meet in the fellowship hall and the egg hunt will take place rain or shine.
EVERYONE WELCOME.
UMW News – March 2018
The pancake supper was a success thanks to all of you who participated and to all the great help. Our next UMW meeting will be March 13th in the UMW room. This will be our Call to Prayer meeting and Judy White is in charge of the program. Lunch plans will be announced. New handbooks are ready thanks to Sandy and Elaine so don’t forget to pick yours up. March 17th is the Spring Mini-Retreat at Dublin UMC. Pat Farrell is the speaker. All are welcome to attend. Please let Peggy know if you want to go to this meeting.
We’re going back to Lake Junaluska April 12th for SEE. Please join us for this event.
UMW President, Peggy Chappell
Pastoral Ponderings : March 2018
“The wind blows wherever it wishes; you hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. It is like that with everyone who is born of the spirit.” [John 3:8 T.E.V.]
The poet may have been reflecting on these words of Jesus when he wrote: “Who has seen the wind? Neither you nor I. But when the trees bow down their heads, the wind is passing by. “ Wind has often been the symbol of God’s presence. We readily remember the day of Pentecost when: “when suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.” [Act. 2:2 K.J.V.] Therefore the blowing wind should remind us of the Holy Spirit.
However, often we only think of the destructive nature of the wind rather than the good it does. I grew up on a farm in Barren Springs that was name, “Spreading Oaks Farm.” The old farmhouse was surrounded by many huge old oak trees. Some were in pretty bad shape; hollow and rotten. Now I enjoyed the cool shade they provided and moaned and griped when I had to rake their leaves in the fall. But some of my most vivid memories are of covering my head and being so afraid as I lay in bed when the March winds would blow. I just knew that one of those hollow oak trees was going to come crashing through my bedroom at any minute.
Well one night one of those trees did fall! By the grace of God it fell away from the house. My father and some of the neighbors sawed up that tree into firewood and cleaned up the mess that it had made. Soon all that was left was a three foot high stump about six feet across and hollow in the middle. My mother filled that stump with dirt and planted flowers in it. Soon from the destruction the wind had caused, new life sprang forth bringing beauty and joy where there had only been decay and rot.
Sometimes when the wind of God’s Spirit blows across our lives there are areas of decay, rot and sin that must be swept away before new life can occur. So this year when you hear the March winds blow, think of God. Allow the Holy Spirit to come into your life. For you see, even when the wind causes destruction, new life awaits!
– Richard
