SPRING CLEANING
The UMW will be cleaning the kitchen and fixing drawer labels on June 6 at 2:00 p.m.
Any help is greatly appreciated!
“An Afternoon in the Park.”
Below is one of my favorite stories. It is by Julie A. Manhan and originally appeared in A 3rd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul.
There once was a little boy who wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of root beer and started his journey.
When he had gone about three blocks he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink of his root beer when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry, so he offered her a Twinkie. She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Once again she smiled at him. The boy was delighted!
They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling and never said a word.
As it grew dark the boy realized how tired he was and got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old woman and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever.
When the boy opened the door to his own home, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face.
She asked him: “What did you do today to make you so happy?”
He replied: “I had lunch with God.” But before his mother could respond, he added: “She’s got the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen.”
Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home.
Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked: “Mother, what did you do today that makes you so happy?”
She replied: “I ate Twinkies in the park with God.” But before her son responded, and added: “You know, he’s much younger than I expected.”
May the eyes of our faith allow us to see God in unexpected places.
Purposed Change in Worship.
As you probably know, worship attendance has been steadily declining for several years. It has now reached the point where having two worship services is impractical and really makes no sense.
Therefore I am asking for your input, your thoughts as well as any concerns you may have. Please do not be afraid to share what you are thinking with me.
I am purposing that we go back to one worship service. This will be at 10:30 a.m. with Sunday School beginning at 9:30 a.m. I am purposing this time as a compromise so that neither the 9:15 nor the 11:00 people will feel that we simply did away with their service.
Reasons for this move are: A.-We are one church yet many people do not know each other. I have been asked twice in the past little bit who someone was and they are regulars at the other service. Having one service will bring us closer together. B. -Our sound techs and music director will not have to pull double duty. [Please know that they have never complained.] C. – I get really discouraged preaching to empty pews. The combined attendance, while we will in no way fill our sanctuary, will look like a larger congregation.
Reasons against the move are: A-Those attending 9:15 like getting out earlier. The new time will help with this concern. B. – These two different styles of worship. While 9:15 is less formal it is still a traditional worship service. C. – The 11:00 service is longer. Really there is not that much difference and worship should not be governed by a clock. D. – We have always had worship at 11:00 a.m. There is nothing sacred about the eleven o’clock hour and the church that will not change is the church that will die. However if this comes about we will really need to get word out about the time change.
Tentative plans are for this to begin the first Sunday of the new Conference Year-July 2nd. Or we could continue with the two services through the summer and begin the new service after Labor Day. Remember that if attendance increased enough to support two services we can always go back to that.
Please, let me know your thoughts.
Email your thoughts to fumcgalax1@gmail.com.
Richard
UMW News – May 2017
Our next UMW meeting will be May 9th at 10:00 am in the UMW room. Norma Haynes has the program. Lunch plans will be announced later. Please plan to attend. We will be leaving for Lake Junaluska on May 18th for Holston UMW Spiritual Enrichment Experience. There is still time for you to make plans to join us on this trip. If you have never been to “the lake”, now is the time to go as this is the last UMW event to be held there. Future events are being planned in the area of Pigeon Forge, TN.
2017 Hands-On Mission Project Health Kit – Zimbabwe
Thank you all for helping us in this mission!
Please pack all items in a 2-gallon Ziploc bag and bring them to the church annex by June 4th:
- 2 bars soap
- 2 toothpaste (6.4 oz or less)
- 2 toothbrushes
- 1 children’s chewable Tylenol, 80 mg/160 mg (30ct)
- 1 washcloth
- 1 Delsym 12-hour for children/adults (3 oz or less)
- 1 Tylenol, 500 mg (24 ct)
- 1 Benadryl, kid’s liquid (4oz) OR adult tabs (24ct)
- 1 Aleve, 220 mg (24ct)
1 Listerine, adult OR children’s Smart Rinse (250 mL or less)
Memorial/Honorariums Can Be Made to Following Groups
Memorial/Honorariums Can Be Made to Following Groups:
- Health & Welfare
- Kid’s Junction
- United Methodist Women
- Prayer Shawl (Knitting) Ministry
- Adult Counsel
- Youth Group
- Children’s Group
- Camperships
- Sanctuary Choir
- Special Restoration Project-(ex. Parlor Restoration, but please contact the church office to inquire about active projects or with any questions you have)
Children’s Ministry News – May 2017
We are thankful to God for working through our church to serve children in our area.
The Children’s committee would like to let you know that our Easter event was definitely a success. There were 17 children!!! YAY! The activities included the story about Jesus riding the donkey through the street on Palm Sunday, a parade with the children shouting and waving palm branches, an egg hunt, petting live bunnies, the Easter story and refreshments.
We also had lots of good help from our youth and our committee members. We would like to thank the youth for hiding the eggs, Jolene for bringing 3 of her live rabbits, and our church family for prayers and contributions. Because of all the contributions made by so many we sent the children home with plastic eggs filled with candy but also A LOT MORE!
Mom 2 Mom Diaper Drive
Where: Galax Walmart, 1140 East Stuart Drive
When: Thursday, May 11th from 2pm-7pm
Benefits Tri-Area Pregnancy Center
Details at http://www.spiritfm.com/ or you can call the Spirit FM offices at: 800-774-9798, (434-237-9798) or email office@spiritfm.com. Thank you!
Please join us for our CHILDREN’S EASTER EVENT
Please join us for our CHILDREN’S EASTER EVENT
SUNDAY, APRIL 9
3:00-5:00
THE EASTER STORY
Egg Hunt
Refreshments
Bring a friend-rain or shine.
We will meet in FELLOWSHIP HALL downstairs.
Any questions call: 233-7841 OR 236-6008
If anyone would like to donate covered candy, stickers or small toys to be placed in eggs there is a box in the annex area by April 5th. Thank you for helping make this an enjoyable event for the children!
UMW News – April 2017
Our April UMW meeting will be on the 11th at 10:00 am. Irene has the program and has invited a guest speaker, RN Beth Sproul, who will talk about her time on the Mercy Ship that was docked off of Africa. Everyone is invited to attend. Following the meeting the members are encouraged to attend the Easter week service at First Christian Church. FUMC will be responsible for the meal on Wednesday, April 12th. If you can send sandwiches, chips, cookies or drinks for that meal, please let the church office know or call Peggy Chappell at 233-0809. And thanks in advance for your help.
