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A lot of families have a member of the family who is especially funny. They might tell jokes, share funny stories, or say humorous things. They might not even always intend to be funny – they just are. In my family, the “funny uncle” was Uncle Norval, my dad’s older brother. Uncle Norval had a lot of funny sayings, or at least they were funny to me. He called a loaf of bread “loafer’s bread.” Quoting the Gettysburg address, he would say, “Four score and several years ago…” It was a while before I learned that wasn’t what Abraham Lincoln actually said.
Some of us are like that with the Bible. We misquote the Good Book or we put things in it that aren’t really there, like “Cleanliness is next to godliness” (some credit this to John Wesley) or “This too shall pass.” Someone might say, “As it says in the Bible, ‘God moves in mysterious ways’” (that’s a quote from a hymn, not Scripture). Sometimes these misquotes are harmless. But sometimes we try to make the Bible say things that are really opposite to its message.
In January, I will begin a series titled, “Does the Bible Really Say That?” We’ll look at some of the most common misquotes and misunderstandings of the Bible and its message, such as, “God helps those who help themselves” and “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” I hope you will come and learn what the Bible really says, unless you’re trying to be funny like my Uncle Norval.
Grace and peace,
“DOES THE BIBLE REALLY SAY THAT?”
First United Methodist Church of Gainesville January 2016
Rev. Don Yeager, Pastor
Worship Services
8:30 and 10:45 a.m.
Sunday School 9:45
Rev. Don Yeager Pastor
Prayer Requests 2 Missions and Ministry 2 Children’s Ministries 3 Student and Family Ministries 4 Student and Family 5 Ministries Church News 6 & 7
Inside this Issue
The Informer
JANUARY 2016WORSHIP
Prayer Concerns: Dorothy Proffer, Don Estes, Pal Hildebrand, Larry Noland, Reita Miller, Van Hedrick, Karla Denny, William Cowdrey, Minnie Flemming, Mike Murphree.
Sympathy to: Lisa Reaves for the death of her grandfather, to the family of Margaret Bewley.
Ongoing Concerns: Avery Flowers, Brad Chrustawka, Carl Dunlap, Don Howeth, Bill Hawke, Pat Peale, Sara Billie Tyler, Bob Brown, Marge Priest, Kathleen Heffley, Kristin Hatton, Joanna & Taylor Williamson, Misty Beaver, Sam Meeks, Mia Delarosa, Betty Bennett, Jacey Schmidt, Velia Hernandez, Rod Miller, Allen Pierce, Nancy Williams, Harold “Bud” Sutton, Jerry McWilliams, Gloria Pierpont, Walter Boeko Jr., Kelly Dill, Becky Haines, Madison Clark.
Military Personnel: Ben Davis, Jerry Horn, Bradlee Brackeen, Stephen Ruzicka, Jason Brown, Craig Fiske, Jacob Freeman, Kelsea Stafford Louisiana, John Enderby, James Embrey, Tim Deater, Aaron Krewson, Kennedy Pierson.
WE HOLD IN OUR PRAYERS...
Page 2 Miss ions and Min istry
Jan. 3 NEW WORSHIP SERIES: “DOES THE BIBLE REALLY SAY That?” (A series on common biblical misunderstandings) Sermon: “God Helps Those Who Help Themselves” (Matt. 16:21-26) Holy Communion
Jan. 10 Sermon: “God Wants Me to Be Happy” (Romans 8:18-28) Baptism of the Lord/Renewal of Baptismal Vows
Jan. 17 Sermon: “God Won’t Give You More Than You Can Handle” (Matt. 11:25-30)
Jan. 24 Sermon: “When You Die, Heaven Gains Another Angel” (1 Peter 1:3-12)
Jan. 31 Guest Preacher – Pastor Don on vacation
Thanks to everyone for your generous gifts to this year’s Christmas Offering for Missions. With your help, we will be able to share God’s love with many people. We will have a report on the total in an upcoming Sunday bulletin.
2015 CHRISTMAS OFFERING FOR MISSIONS
Several of the committees in the church will hold their first meetings of the year during Janu-ary. Here are the meeting dates: Jan. 5 Staff-Parish Relations Committee, 6 pm Jan. 12 Trustees, 6 pm Jan. 19 Finance Committee, 6 pm Jan. 25 Learning Tree Board, 5 pm Jan. 26 Administrative Council, 7 pm
JANUARY 2016 CHURCH MEETINGS
Page 3 Chi ldren’s Min istry
Page 4 Mus ic Min istr ies
CHANCEL CHOIR
AND
WEDNESDAYWEDNESDAYHERITAGE RINGERS
REHEARSALS WILL RESUME ON WEDNESDAY, JAN. 6.
IF YOU HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT JOINING EITHER OF THESE GROUPS, NOW WOULD BE A GREAT TIME
TO START!!
Page 5 Student and Fami ly Min istr ies
Page 6 Church News
NORTHWEST DISTRICT LEADERSHIP TRAINING DAY Jan. 31
THANK-YOU FROM THE YEAGERS
Suzanne and I would like to say “thank you” for the Christmas cards and gifts you shared with us. We hope that everyone had a Merry Christmas. We wish you all the joy and peace of the New Year. Don Yeager
GWEN’S GROUP
On Saturday, January 23, the group will travel to see Wise County Heritage Museum. The van will leave at 10:30 from the front parking lot. We will stop to eat at the Whistle Stop Restaurant for lunch before going to the museum. $20.00 per person should cover lunch and admission to the museum.
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS
This year our district training day for local church leaders will be held on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2016 from 3:00-5:30 pm at Whaley UMC. The day will include workshops on a variety of topics for local church leaders including: SPRC, Trustees, Finance, Lay Leaders and Admin. Council, Children’s Youth, and Family Ministries, Missions, Adult Ministry, Discipleship, Websites/Media and Spiritual Formation for Adults. There is no cost for this event and everyone is invited! Childcare will be available if requested.
It is a joy to welcome Shannon and Julianna Jeffcoat to our church family. The Jeffcoats attend the 8:30 service most often and joined by transfer of membership from other denominations. They have three children: Ava (9), Ashton (9) and Carson (8). Julianna teaches for the Gainesville ISD.
CHILDREN’S SNACK TABLE UPDATE
We have placed the sign-up sheet for snacks on the Missions Bulletin Board in the kitchen hallway. Anyone may sign up to provide snacks. There are still some spots to be filled if this is your calling. Need 2016 sign-up’s please.
ATTN: ALL CHILDREN & YOUTH PARENTS
I am setting up a REMIND service for you to receive notifications regarding the events and functions pertaining to your children. Since this is a first time for me using this phone app, if you see a notification from Mrs. Cuellar that notice is from me. It requires you to sign into the service. I have heard from several teachers this app works really well for them. I hope everyone will sign in so we can all stay connected and informed.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Page 7 Church News
November 30, 2015 November YTD November Annual Budget Percent of Budget Income $81,186 $804,115 Budgeted Expenditures $55,344 $656,467 $757,031 86.72% Designated Expenditures $ 8,602 $243,204 (Not budgeted)
Subtotal Over/(Under) ($17,240) ($95,557)
Debt Reduction Gift $ 4,771 $129,771
Over/Under $22,011 $ 34,214
Notes Payable:
Sanctuary Restoration $ 66,638 Phase I & II Building $679,124
END-OF-YEAR FINANCIAL UPDATE
As we near the end of the year, we can use your help meeting our financial goals for mission and ministry in 2015. Please consider making a special “above and beyond” gift to the church budget for 2015 to make sure that we meet all of our obligations and finish the year on a successful note. Thanks in advance for your generosity.
REMIND SERVICE FOR GROUPS
Parents and Volunteers of Children, Youth, and Sunday School Teachers: The REMIND SYS-TEM is set up to help keep you as up to date as possible. Want to join a group? Call me for the codes you will need to input to get connected. Call the Church Office# 940-665-3926 or Greta Cuellar C# 940-727-2221.
To the Agape Quilters: Thank you for the beautiful quilt. My mother was a quilter, so I know much work went into the making of this one. Also, I would like to thank Towana & Don for bringing it to us. We enjoyed their visit as well. God Bless All of You, Bobbie Presley
THANK YOU
To all our church friends & family, Randy & I can not begin to thank you enough for your prayers, love, thought & gifts. We are truly blessed to call the First UMC our home. all of our love & prayers to you all. Randy & Debbie Jones
Dear Prayer Ministry, thank you so much for your outpouring of love to our family during Tricia’s illness. The cards that were sent and the food that some members of your congregation brought in was greatly appreciated. But the prayers are what lifted us up. During this time of sorrow god has blessed our family with people like you. The Family of Tricia West
We appreciate your generous donation. Your contribution is vital to promoting a compas-sionate community! Exe. Dr. Bekki Jones VISTO
214 S. Denton Street
Gainesville, Texas 76240
We’re on the Web! www.firstumcgainesvilletx.com
Phone: 940-665-3926
Fax: 940-665-4372
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
First United Methodist Church Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage PAID
Permit No. 146 Gainesville, TX 76240
Your Church Staff
Rev. Don Yeager, Pastor Greta Cuellar, Christian Education Director Mary Jarvis, Finance Administrator Jean Smelcer, Church Office Administrator Jordan Dietz, Dir. Student Ministries Melodye McLeroy, Church Accompanist Susan Beall: Music Ministries Director Debra Poore, The Learning Tree Director Staff E-mail Addresses: Don Yeager: [email protected] Susan Beall: [email protected] Mary Jarvis: [email protected] Greta Cuellar: [email protected] Jordan Dietz [email protected] Jean Smelcer: [email protected] Debra Poore: [email protected]
105 S. Denton Street Gainesville, Texas 76240
Monday / Tuesday / Thursday / Friday 10:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m.
665-7939 Volunteers welcome!
Second Time Around Informer Article Deadline
All articles and information for Jan 2016 issue of “The Informer” need to be submitted no later than Friday, December 20. you may drop off your information to the church office or e-mail to [email protected]
01/2016
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The Mission of First United Methodist Church is to know Christ and make Him known.