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JUNE 2020 NEWSLETTER

Greetings, Church! On Sunday, May 31, First United Methodist Church hosted a Drive-In Worship Service on the Historic Square of Gonzales’ downtown. Hundreds gathered to celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, and to share in a time of worship and Holy Communion. This was a first for me in my time serving in Gonzales…but I can assure you it will not be the last! It was so powerful to stand on our stage and look out to a square full of people worshipping The Lord with joy. We even had a pretty good breeze to keep the morning cool! THANK YOU to our music teams, to the army of volunteers it took to get this set up and torn down, to Brian and Shannon Sample for donating the use of their trailer for our stage, to Ed Perez Music for the amazing sound system and staging, to James Garza for media production, and to everyone who prayed and attended. The video of the service is on YouTube and Facebook if you missed it, check it out! Although it may have looked quite different from that first Pentecost, I’m thankful for a Church that wants to be together. I’m thankful for a Church that wants to pray together. I’m thankful for a Church that longs to gather around The Lord’s Table and receive the love, grace and Power provided to us through our great God. When the Spirit came with Power, the Church became a reality…a movement…that’s exactly who we’re going to continue being. As we move back into our Sanctuary, may we not allow ourselves to get complacent in our own faith development. May we not give up meeting together, but may we also not cease meeting with The Lord privately, and may we not stop meeting with The Lord as families and in small groups of people. We need to be connected in intimate and smaller groups of people as well as the whole Body. Over the course of the next weeks and months, we will help each other on this journey to continue to grow deep in our relationship with Christ as a Church family. I can’t wait for the journey ahead!

I’m grateful and honored to be your pastor. Blessings, Pastor Matt

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Dear Prayer Shawl Ladies, Mary delivered the beautiful prayer shawl recently. I want to thank you all for your prayers. I am truly blessed to know you. We are well and blessed. The shawl feels like a warm hug and will be such a comfort through these times.

Much love in Jesus Christ, Kim Strozier

Dear First UMC, Just a note to tell everyone how much we all enjoyed the worship service led by our seniors. They are such a joy to know. Thank you again to Matt, our pastor, & all those who work so hard so that all of us can still worship together. Thanks again.

Love to all, Sandra

Earth Angels, Thank you so very much for the beautiful quilt. I know it was made with love and lots of prayers and comforting thoughts. I appreciate all of your comfort and thoughts. I will cherish it always. Thank you so very much for keeping me in your prayers.

Sincerely, Betty Carley

Dear First UMC, Our hearts have been overwhelmed with all the love you have shown our family during Jimmy’s accident and final journey to his heavenly home. So many calls, cards, memorials, food, visits, and mostly we thank you for your prayers, then, now, and continued prayers during this year of first we experience. The nurses in ICU were so kind to let family and friends visit most anytime. They told me he must have had lots of friends, and they had never seen a patient communicate so much with his eyes. If only they knew how much we heard him every Sunday in the back of the church. Again thank you for all your support.

Kathleen, Keith, Kristi, Kelly & Families

Book Club News

Wouldn't it be nice if reports of actual meetings could be given? Instead, this is a reminder that there is a book club and we normally meet on the fourth Thursday at 9:30 in the church library. Hopefully, we will resume in June. Until then, the good news is that our wonderful city library has re-opened and what better way to spend your isolation than to read a book that can transport you to other places, introduce you to new people, teach a skill or craft, inspire a hobby or new vocation, connect you to spiritual enlightenment, or just entertain. The library has DVD's of movies, too, and lots of stimulus for children, also. The gun collection and Texas room are other places to explore in your city library.

Happy reading and God bless! Martha Jo Whitt

Staff

Rev. Dr. Matt Pennington, Lead Pastor

Brian Sherman, Dir. of Youth & Family Ministries

Katrina Sherman, Dir. of Youth & Family Ministries

Allison Davis, Dir. of Children & Family Ministries

Felicia Cantu, Office Manager

Rosemary Hindman, Business Manager

Janelle Lester, Wesley Nurse

Christina Menking, Organist

Bill Meadows, Pianist

Sandra Jandt, Happy House Director

Earth Angels

The women of Earth Angels continue to sew for themselves and others. Thanks to Pastor Matt for his acquisition of elastic for anyone wishing to make face masks. Members have made and donated face masks to others: to those in nursing facilities, to hospital workers, to patients in hospitals, and to any individuals who need a mask. Also, we continue to make and donate quilts to those who may be in need of being wrapped in God's love. Earth Angels also encourage all to pray for the end of the pandemic as soon as possible.

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More pictures from Drive-In Worship

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Altar Flowers for June are given by:

June 7-John and Edith Lucas ~ In Honor of Our Children and Grandchildren

Ronnie and Christina Menking

June 14-Jim and Linda Arledge ~ In Memory of Linda’s Dear Mother, Audrey’ and Aunt Dede’s Birthday

June 21-Mary and Steve Willman ~ In Honor of Our Mothers, In Memory of Our Fathers

Garland Tenberg, Jr. Family ~ In Memory of Garland and Dorothy Tenberg and Alfon and Stella Barta

June 28-Derrick, Janelle, Dixie Rea, Ellie Mae, Stayton, Maverick, and Rustin Lester ~ In Memory of Abby Lee and Bella Lynn Lester

These are the flowers that were previously scheduled. We will follow this schedule once we resume in-person worship. We will work to reschedule any flower orders that are missed.

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Please contact Felicia at the church office, 672-8521, if your information is missing or incorrect.

June Birthdays 6/1 Corie Connell Briggs Gindler Megan Tenberg 6/2 Jeffrey Mills Kirk Bennett 6/3 Susanne Bennett Camden Bryant 6/4 Braden Clampit 6/5 Jeanette Pruett 6/6 Doreen Fink Marge Frye Katie Garcia Kenna Oates Weldon Holub 6/8 Julia Oakes

David Pruett

6/10 Cooper Russell 6/11 Cody Stowers 6/12 Kay Burrough Stephen Tenberg Brent Gindler 6/13 Janie Massey John Parr Alexis Cerda 6/14 Easton Daniel Addisyn Lipke Sage McMahon 6/16 Connor Pruett 6/17 Roland Escobedo 6/18 Gena Bennett Ashtyn Kardosz Grady Hilbig

6/19 Royce Towns, Jr. Lisa Ehrig Jennifer Pennington 6/20 Debbie Fogle 6/21 Michelle Lavender Steven Gottwald 6/22 Lilah Coke 6/23 Pam Lester Emma Morgan Joshua Fogle 6/24 Maydell Pankey Dixie Lester Cotton Russell 6/25 Victor Brown, Jr. 6/27 Irene Oakes 6/28 Sonya Crawford Grace Pennington

6/1 Chris & Rachelle Pearson Billy & Sue Boothe 6/2 Royce, Jr. & Terry Towns 6/3 Cody & Noelle Stowers 6/4 Greg & Dee Dee Sengelman Seth & Christi Fullilove 6/5 Bill & Willa Keck 6/6 Brent & Kayla Gindler 6/7 Leon & Mali Ivey 6/8 Leslie & Deanie Ploeger Todd & Sonya Crawford 6/10 Bryan & Ellen Denman Al Wayne & Nila Ehrig

6/11 Mike & Irene Oakes Bill & Jeanette Mayer Wayne & Erin Baker 6/13 Mike & Sarah Miller 6/16 Jay & Donna Gray 6/18 Steve & Mary Willman 6/22 Bubba & Lisa Ehrig 6/24 Mike & Jennifer Rosenauer 6/25 Commie & Donna Hisey 6/28 Ross & Sarah Gottwald 6/29 Keith & Judy Schauer 6/30 Tom & Pam Lester

June Anniversaries

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STATISTICAL REPORT APRIL 2020

Children’s Corner

Children’s ministry has experienced much success with our virtual gatherings. Kids have faithfully logged in each week for spiritual time together. I enjoy and look forward to our visits each week. We will discontinue our mid-week Wednesday gatherings for now and only meet on Sunday Mornings for the Sunday School hour. Vacation Bible School has been posted until later this summer. We are currently working on finding a new week later in the summer. VBS will most likely take on a different more condensed approach in order for us to make it happen. Stay tuned for details to come. Basic Training Camp has been cancelled for this summer. After much discussion, we decided that it was in the best interest of all involved. We are all very disappointed that we will not host camp but look forward to bringing it back next summer. Lego Day Camp is scheduled to take place August 3 – 7. Registration forms will be available in June. We will be offering both morning and afternoon classes. Of course, all plans are subject to change at this point. Current Kids Virtual Gatherings Sunday Mornings at 9:45 am – Sunday School

We’re Hiring

Open Position Church custodian (full-time)

First United Methodist Church is seeking the right person to join our team as church custodian. To inquire about the position or to receive an application email fumc@gvec.net.

Finance Jan - Apr

Ordinary Income/Expense

Income 216,699.43

Gross Profit 216,699.43

Expense

40000 · Facility Operations 34,317.07

60000 · Ministry Work Areas 6,344.04

65200 · Lawn Care 1,090.00

66000 · Payroll 116,039.53

66100 · Staff Benefits 7,226.26

67000 · Church Clergy Expenses 15,484.43

76000 · Apportionments/Conf. Treas. 21,841.60

Total Expense 202,342.93

Net Ordinary Income 14,356.50

Net Income 14,356.50

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Youth News

WHAT’S BEEN GOING ON? Sunday on Instagram Live @10am for Sunday School Devo

Monday Devo w/ Jordan: One of our Servant Team members shares

what God puts on her heart each week on Instagram

TikTok Tuesdays w/ Lindsey: Another one of our Awesome Servant

Team members ministering to her peers in a trendy way!

Wednesday Zoom & Small groups @6pm: Links sent out via texting

service. See information about Sendhub below.

Thursday 3 Mins Videos on FB & Instagram: Enjoy as we eat weird

food and share God’s Word.

Welcome Incoming 7th Graders! I think we found a decent replacement for our usual Shrimp Boil Party… personally delivered Sweet Bs cookies!!

SUMMER CAMPS are TBD

CONTACT: Brian Sherman Katrina Sherman Director of Youth and Family Ministries Director of Youth and Family Ministries (830)377-2279 (956)202-9992 bdsherman7213@gmail.com ksherm0331@gmail.com

Sendhub To get weekly updates of youth events…. Parents, text the word “parents” to (956)752-3909 and follow instructions. Youth, text the word “gonzales” to (956)752-3909 and follow instructions.

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PRE-SORTED Standard Non-Profit U.S. Postage Paid

Gonzales, Texas 78629 PERMIT NO. 4