NOVEMBER 1, 2018

The Wesley ConnectorThe Yost Post The Yost Post The Yost Post The Yost Post The Yost Post

This Sunday we will celebrate All Saints Day. The celebration of All Saints dates back to 373 AD and has been celebrated on November 1 since the early 700’s AD. At All Saints we remember all persons who have died in Christ and uniquely we recall the sacred memory of those of our congregation who have passed away since last year’s observance. The term “saint” is not narrowly defined by a person’s behavior, rather it calls to mind the grace and power made real through a person’s life. Naturally for those who have lost a loved one or dear friend in the past year, this can be a tender worship service. Our prayer is that our celebration is cathartic and helps to completely (as far as it depends upon us) turn our loved one’s wellbeing over to the hands of God who loves them. It is to hear their name read and remember that in Christ they live on.

While some grieve death as the final and definitive exclamation point on existence, the Holy Spirit bears witness to eternal life in our current lives and points to life after death. The apostle Paul describes the Holy Spirit’s work as a down payment or “lay-a-way” type deposit on God’s full gift which greets us in holy dying. Christians face mortal death knowing the God who has walked with them so far will not be abandoned in our greatest hour of need. We are not smug nor calloused about the real pain we experience at the loss of our loved one. While acknowledging human loss, we witness to our faith in Jesus Christ that Jesus has indeed “gone to prepare a place for you.” They are not gone, rather those who have finished their race in faith now rest from their labors and surround us as a cloud of witnesses… in other words they now are the fans in the stands of our living (Hebrews 12:1-2).

One theological point I wish to share with you: this Sunday we will also celebrate Holy Communion. The Sacrament of Holy Communion is the gathering of all saints of all time at the table of our Lord. It is an accepted part of our tradition that at Communion we feast with Jesus, the people around us and the Saints… ie: we join even our loved ones who have passed away at the Lord’s table.

May All Saints’ Day this year lead us to a more holy living now so that as our eyes grow dim in this life, we may have eyes opened to the reality of what is next.

In Christ,

Chris Yost

All Saints Day

Wesley KidsChristian Based Early Childhood Development

For every drop of rain that fell in October, we have had ten times the amount of fun with

the kids! Pumpkin Patch visits, Wesley office trick or treating and Halloween parties closed out our month of learning and development. Pumpkin clean-out and carving taught a great lesson on the life cycle of plants with a seed germinating experiment that you can see on our windows.

November brings us a bike rodeo and many lessons on what we are thankful for and our daily blessings.

GOD’S MOB Jeff and the Youth are super excited for this years God’s MOB (Mission In Our Backyard). This chosen weekend in December (December 14 - 16) is packed full of community outreach with the families of Carver Elementary. A Christmas party with food, gingerbread house making and a visit from Santa are a few of the events planned.

We honor and remember...Gifted to the JOY Group In memory of Marilyn DeCeasar by Forrest & Pat Kennedy

Gifted to the Knockers by Knitwits Mission Fund In honor of Susan Wilson by Bill & Chiquita Weideman

Gifted to the Chancel Music Fund In memory of Peggy Travis by Betty Matteson

Gifted to the General Operating Fund In memory of Judge John Horn by Hunt County Master Gardeners

Gifted to the What If Building Fund In memory of Bernice Clayton by Hubert & Phyllis Lytle In memory of Judge John Horn by Hubert & Phyllis Lytle

A CULTURE OF SERVICE

In Ephesians 4:11-12 Paul tells the Believers that they should work together to be equipped to do better work for Christ, building up the Church to a position of strength and maturity.

Saturday night I had the privilege of serving at the SHINE Festival that Wesley presents to our community each year. This endearing activity is masterminded by our Children’s Minister Leslie Dick. You could say that it is part of Wesley UMC’s culture that we offer this fun activity to our community. What do I mean by that?

Webster’s Dictionary has a definition of culture that fits here: the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an organization.

As I see it, we as a church have a culture that follows Paul’s admonition to work together to be equipped to do better work for Christ. We have a well-defined job to do as members of Christ’s church.

Were we doing just that on Saturday night? Yes! We were showing the community that we love children and that we are here to teach and nurture them. I was so very happy to be a part of that. For those of you that came and helped Leslie carry this out, I was proud to be with you in ministry.

Blessings,

Joan Wright

TURN YOUR CLOCK BACK Daylight savings time ends at 2am on Sunday, November 4th.

GAME DAY Who knows what the weather will bring outside so come on up for game day! Bridge group meets in meeting rooms 1 & 2. Mexican Train Dominoes and Mahjong groups meet in meeting room 4. Upcoming Game Days: Thursday, Nov 1st: Mahjong @ 12:30pm Tuesday, Nov 6th: Bridge @ 12:30pm Tuesday, Nov 6th: Dominoes @ 1pm

WESLEY WORKOUT Stretch and Tone: Monday & Wednesday at 9:30am Chair Yoga: Friday at 9:30am All classes meet in mtg rooms 1 & 2. Class fee $1.

WW schedule for the remainder of 2018: Regular classes through November 16. No class the weeks of November 19 & 26. Regular class schedule the weeks of December 3 &10. Christmas break December 17 through January 4. Classes resume January 7. Any questions, contact Natalie.

KNIT & CROCHET GROUP Join the group to work on your yarn project in the company of other crafters. Susan Wilson is available for instructions. Mondays 1-3pm, Tuesdays 6-8pm and Fridays 10am-3pm. Group meets in the conference room.

WELCOME TO WESLEY Welcome to Wesley, second Sunday of each month, is time to learn more about Wesley United Methodist Church. Engage in open discussion about your faith journey and how Wesley can equip you to continue your spiritual growth. Welcome to Wesley is held in the Covenant Classroom at 4pm. Childcare provided. **The November session of Welcome to Wesley is Sunday, 4th (one week early due to a schedule conflict).

FOR THE CITY For The City is beginning to plan and build towards our

“2019 Hometown Mission” with a Joint Community-Wide Worship Service on Sunday evening, November 4th @ 6 PM. Grace Community Church will be our host for the evening with our message being brought by Rev. W. V. Gunn of Clark Street Christian Church. It is our hope that you and your church family will join us for a great evening in the Lord.

WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR Movie Matinee. Join us for Mr. Roger’s Won’t You Be My Neighbor. Thursday, November 8th at 1pm in the sanctuary.

Movie concessions will be available. Admission: bring a donation for the FISH pantry.

MEN’S DISCIPLESHIP Bible Study and Breakfast. Wednesdays at 8am in the conference room. Participants provide breakfast on rotation.

FINANCIALS Income as of 10/29 - $61,308.47 Attendance: 10/14: 355, 10/21: 348, 10/28:344 Capital Campaign: Received $687,108.90 (83%)

JOY LUNCH BUNCH With the hustle of the holidays, Lunch Bunch will resume in January. Watch for information on exciting outings in 2019 and a few yet in 2018!

TEXT YOUR TITHE Tithe by sending a quick text. Its that easy. Text the amount to 903-201-1549. Within a few minutes, you’ll be sent a text with a link to register. Click on the link and enter your cardholder name and credit or debit card information. Once your registration is complete, you will receive a text verification and a receipt via email.

SAVE THE DATE Mark your calendar! In addition to our weekly

scheduled events, there is a lot going on!

NOVEMBER 04: All Saints Sunday 04: Welcome to Wesley 08: Won’t You Be My Neighbor Matinee 11: East District Charge Conference 18: Membership Sunday 13: November Supremes 22: Happy Thanksgiving 30: Wesley Christmas Market DECEMBER 01: Wesley Christmas Market 02: Messiah Sing Along 09: Unwrapping Advent 14: God’s MOB Weekend 15: Follow the Star Rehearsal/Party 16: Follow the Star Children’s Performance 20: Christmas Caroling 23: Chancel Cantata 24: Christmas Eve Family/Childrens Worship 24: Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship 25: Merry Christmas 30: One Wesley

As we near the season of Thanksgiving, we are reminded that Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). With that message, it is important to put into action the lesson Jesus taught. And that is exactly what our kids are doing.

On Sunday, October 28th, each child in Kid’s Connection made a Blessing Jar. This jar, used to collect extra change throughout the month of November, is a symbol of putting faith into action. The money collected will be combined and used to buy staple items for those in need. The children will bring their Blessing Jars back on December 2nd and a shopping outing will be planned. Together we are making a difference.

If you would like to donate to a Blessing Jar, please reach out to Ms. Leslie.

BLESSING JARS

It’s more than a pumpkin, it’s a blessing......

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Pumpkins unloaded for the 2018 Wesley Pumpkin Patch. Big, small, orange, green. All varieties. All sizes.

Folks, young and old, enjoyed the SHINE festival this year. Games, hayrides, popcorn and fun had by all. thank you for the candy donations and to all who volunteered. Average number of seeds in every pumpkin. Who counted all the seeds for this study? Think those seeds were roasted afterwards?

9 And counting. Inches of rain Greenville received in October 2018. Has this been the wettest October in History? White Christmas?

countless

7 Feet. The distance between the longhorn tips of Mike’s bull that visited the Pumpkin Patch. Sweet boy, gentle as a lamb.

Number of memories made, new friendships formed and community outreach. Thank you for another awesome October at Wesley!

brian@fumccommerce.org www.commercewesley.webs.com 1504 Lee St, Commerce, TX 75428

@tamucwesleyan

michellemwood15@gmail.com www.pjcwesleycenter.org 214-304-1645 1130 24th St. SE, Paris, TX 75460 @pjcwelsey

Did you notice that both Michelle and Brian were active in campus ministry as college students?! In fact, both of them heard a calling to ministry as members of the Denton Wesley

Foundation. Campus Ministry Makes Ministers!

The Campus Ministries of the East District

The Wesley Center at PJC

We are a faith community committed to journeying together, boldly questioning and deepening our

beliefs, and living in a way that makes the world more like God's dream.

The Wesleyan Campus Ministry at TAMU-Commerce

Making disciples of Christ for the transformation of the world; by offering students an inclusive and welcoming faith community where ALL God’s diverse children can Belong, Believe, Become!

Meet Michelle Wood, Director of The Wesley Center at Paris Junior

College Michelle Wood is from the Dallas, Texas area. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in development

and family studies from the University of North Texas in Denton and was a member of the Denton Wesley Foundation. Michelle has work experience with the refugee and empowerment services of Catholic Charities of Dallas. She was commissioned in 2012 as a mission intern with the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church for 3 years. She served in South Africa with the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, doing research around unaccompanied minors’ migratory concerns. Then, Michelle served in chaplaincy at the Salvation Army Emergency Lodge in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In May 2018, she graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in DC. She is excited to continue developing relationships and learning people’s stories in Paris.

Meet Brian Dierolf, Pastor of The

Wesleyan Campus Ministry

at Texas A&M – Commerce

Brian was ordained as an Elder in Full Connection in June 2015 and was then appointed to serve as Campus

Pastor of the Wesleyan and ¼ Associate Pastor of FUMC Commerce. He began ministry as a college student at

the University of North Texas, were he was the Pastor’s Assistant at the Denton Wesley Foundation. Brian has a

B.A. in Psychology from UNT and a Master of Divinity from Brite Divinity. He has years of experience serving

in associate roles in youth ministry and leading mission/outreach ministry. He is married to his college

sweetheart Lauren! She is a middle school English teacher with a background in journalism. Brian loves

listening to jazz, reading Science Fiction, playing chess, watching crime shows along with funny movies and

eating all kinds of food!

12:15 Campaign

Every day college students from around East Texas are finding a home away from home at one of our two campus ministry settings. These campus ministry centers are places of spiritual refuge and belonging for diverse students of all backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, and life goals. College students may come in to these United Methodist campus centers for the free meal or they may come in to find a place where they can be themselves without judgement and to deepen their relationships with God.

To continue being able to do the powerful ministries that God has made possible, they need your prayers and financial support! The North Texas Conference’s Center for Leadership Development generously covers most of the salary and maintenance needs of the campus ministries. Then, the majority of programing funds and capital improvements for their facilities are fundraised thorough donations from individuals and families who have a heart and desire to see a quality United Methodist ministry presence on these campuses.

You too can support these ministries by joining our new 12:15 campaign. We hope that you will commit to praying for these campus ministries every day at 12:15pm. Also, we hope that you will prayerfully consider giving at least $15 a month to either or both campus ministries for at least 12 months. With your financial contribution, we can continue to transform the lives of young people by providing worship, fellowship meals, Bible studies, mission trips and so much more at these two campuses. Who knows… years from now you could learn that your support helped to raise up a new pastor!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12:15 Pledge Card

Send my support to: PJC Wesley Center Wesleyan at TAMU-C Both!

Name: __________________________ Church affiliation: _____________________________

Mailing Address: ______________________________________________________________

Email: __________________________________Phone Number: ________________________

I/We Pledge to pray for campus ministry at 12:15p.m. everyday ___

I/We Pledge to contribute $15/month___ $15/week ($60/month)___ $15/day ($450/month)___

I/We pledge to contribute $____ /month, $_____/year, or a one time contribution of $_______.

Checks can be made out to the North Texas Conference Attn: Center for Leadership Development. PO Box 866128, Plano, TX 75086. Memo: PJC Wesley or TAMUC Wesleyan or Both! You can also donate online at www.bit.ly/EastDistrictWesleysDonate and enter your donation amount next to your desired ministry.

1200 East Joe Ramsey Blvd. PO Box 864 Greenville, TX 75402

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wesleyumcgreenville.org

Wesley United Methodist ChurchC O N N E C T . L E A R N . L E A D . S E R V E .