Stephen’s StrandsBeing There for Others

There are moments in each of our lives when we desperately need to know that we are not alone. We need to know that God is with us and that God’s people are with us. Perhaps, nothing speaks to us with more impact than when God’s people show love and care to us even before we have received the love of God and the faith of Jesus Christ in our hearts.

Our need for a caring community of faith is easy to see in the story of Paul and Silas from Acts 16:16-34. Paul and Silas are arrested and publicly flogged because Paul ordered a spirit of divination “in the name of Jesus Christ to come out” of a fortune-telling slave girl. Her slave owners were making a good income from her fortune-telling ability. Without the fortune-telling spirit, their income from the young lady dried up and the slave owners demanded punishment for Paul and Silas on false accusations of “advocating customs for us that are not lawful as Romans to adopt or observe,” Acts 16:21.

After Paul and Silas were beaten they were thrown in jail with their feet in stocks. This is a challenging moment for Paul and Silas. They were trying to live their faith and do the right thing in the community. Paul had set this slave girl free from the spirit possessing her and it had brought them nothing but trouble. How would they maintain their spirit and attitude? They began to pray and sing hymns to God!

“About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake so violent that the

foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here,”” Acts 16:25-28.

Having been set free by an earthquake, after being beaten and thrown into jail, would our first thoughts be about the consequences our escape would have on the jailer? Would we be sensitive to what the Holy Spirit was doing? Paul, Silas, and the other prisoners were able to give the jailer something he might have never had before – a community of people who cared what might happen to him. Because Paul cried out to him, “We are all here,” the jailer was able to ask Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Providing communal loving care for the jailer results in him taking Paul and Silas to wash their wounds and he and his household being baptized. When we choose to be a caring community, God’s love is revealed.

For whom do we need to be a caring community? Who are those who do not know, “We are still here.” Let’s reveal God’s love to the people of our communities by being there for them in June!

Blessings,

Prayer List

In Memory of Lorraine Deaner Ruby Neely In Honor of Pam Greenberg Tom & Susan SampleIn Honor of Kelly Newsome Tom & Susan Sample

Honors & MeMorials

Please Note: Names added to the prayer list will remain on the list for 30 days if needed. They will be relisted by request.

If you would like to have a prayer request emailed out or would like to add someone to the prayer list, please email

the Church office at office@fumcmv.org

Members of First United Methodist Church

express our thanks to each of you who have recently given a special

financial gift in memory or in honor of loved ones.

Altar FlowersThe First Sunday of each month altar flowers are provided by Flowerland and given by the Charles Bruce Flower Fund.If you would like to provide altar flowers on any Sunday, in honor or in memory of, sign up at the info center. You may contact Flowerland (903-537-3755 or 903-588-4881), or you may bring an arrangement from another florist, or create an arrangement yourself on the special day you signed up for on the calendar.The office would like to recognize this special occasion and ask that you make arrangements 2 weeks prior to that special day.

Jack AbbottWillie BaneDavid BergmanJenny BergmanDavid BrewerPatti BrewerJanie BynumMark ChandlerCarolyn DaltonArdis DennisNorma Jean DraperKenny DuckBeulah DuweJoanna EarlBob FlandersVictoria Fletcher

Jan Banman GraciaKathey Gutschlag Tim GutschlagRichard HaynieC.E. JonesRobert JonesMike JordanJudy LindleyElexis LunsfordTodd LunsfordMargaret MannJean Ann MarshallLou Gene MaxtonDennis McBrideCharlotteWhitesides McFarlin

Kenneth McGeeSusan McGeeVivian Dennis MonzingoLanny MooreBen NewcombMarla NolleyBlaine NordinDawn ParsonsDorothy PriceJake Reeder Kip ReederPeggy StuttsNancy ThamesDorothy WinfieldSam Zarro

Church Emails

If you want to be on the

church email list, please

contact us at

office@fumcmv.org.

June 8 - 15 Youth Mission TripJune 24 - 28 Children’s Camp BridgeportJuly 1 - 5 Sr High Camp BridgeportJuly 8 - Aug. 7 Lunches of LoveJuly 15 - 19 Jr High Camp BridgeportJuly 22 - 25 Vacation Bible Camp

If you would like more information, please contact: Tina Meredith at 903-413-4273 or

Connie Hilton, Bridges To Life, Program Director at 903-596-7679

The Stephen Ministers of our community wish for all of you a safe holiday and fantastic summer break. We will continue to pray for our community and be available to anyone who needs a warm heart and listening ear. During the summer months we will continue to meet at FUMCMV on the first and third Tuesday

of each month. Plans are continuing to be made for our new class of Stephen Ministers with a “get acquainted” retreat in the Fall. If you feel that you are called to this service, please be sure your application is submitted to any Stephen Leader or the church office by August 1st.

Blessings to you all. In His name. The Stephen Ministers of your community.

Oh what a day we had honoring the Seniors! During this season, I think about each of them (more than they know) with their journey’s ahead. As adults we have so much advice to pour out on their lives, especially regarding their faith. Without a doubt so many family members, teachers, acquaintances have given words of wisdom and have prayed over them.

Now as they enter into a new phase, a new shift in their lives we can only continue to pray for strength to carry on, to recognize what is good in their lives, be very choosey when it comes to new friends, and when they are homesick they will realize they are not alone. My prayer is that they will know their church family is here to support them and they can always come home here at First United Methodist. Thank you Neil and Carol Scott for honoring our Seniors and for loving them!The Lord is good to all and His tender mercies are over all His works. Psalm 145:9Grace and Peace,Cindy

Thank you all for the wonderful cookies for the Baccalaureate!! The scripture really applied to this event…Matthew 7:7-8. Students look it up!! God is so good all of the time! FUMCYOUTH

Opening day jitters turned into a smash hit! Ignite Kids performed “Life School Musical” and shared the message that Jesus is the Key to Life with faith, hope and love to a congregation of over 220 on Mother’s Day! Thank you to the students, volunteers from Ignite Kids, Ignite Voices and Today’s Christians for all your hard work. The set was so much fun, the food was delicious, the lines performed beautifully and the songs loud

and heartfelt (even when there was no music!)

Ignite Kids celebrated their performance and the end of the Ignite year with a pizza party at Little Creek Park, an anticipated annual tradition. The students ate and played together then closed the year with shopping in the “pop up” Ignite store using the points they earned during the year by at-tending regularly, memorizing scripture and Bible stories, wearing their shirts and bringing their Bibles and competing as teams in games that challenged their Biblical knowledge and physical skills.

Summer plans for the children include a new Sunday Bible Time series called “Disciple Me” that teaches us no matter our age or what we have done in the past, we can always follow Jesus. We also will have a very full and busy summer with Bridgeport children’s camp, VBC the week of July 22nd and some other fun activities in the works

Thanks to everyone who volunteered with us this year and making this a great year learning more about God’s Holy Word and sharing the love of Jesus through our musical. Kids and congregation – be thinking of who you can invite to join the fun next year!

Summer Blessings, “Life School Musical”Ms. Pam

February 146:15 pmFirst United Methodist Church

WNL Dinner will return in the Fall

3:30 pm Fellowship Games5:30 pm Nursery, Chancel Choir

Wednesday Nite Live

Administrative Meetings

Trustees MeetingMonday, June 3 @ 6:00 pm

Church Council MeetingMonday, June 10 @ 6:00 pm

Rainbow Board MeetingMonday, June 17 @ 5:15 pm

Finance MeetingMonday, June 17 @ 6:30 pm

Finance Counters June 02 Steve Wright James King 09 Mike Fisk Linda Moore 16 Lindsey Hunnicutt Willie Bane 23 Nancy Craig Tom Sample 30 Gail Reed Steve Wright

Peggy Lowry June 01Jace Alphin June 04Cyndee Kindrick June 05Hadley Sears June 06Dylan Blair June 08Emerson Jordan June 08Hank Tullis June 08James Joyce June 09Dawn Parsons June 09Seamus Agee June 10Rex Tillery June 12Elaine Hinton June 13Lucas Hinton June 13Rex Norris June 13Brad Sears June 14Ginny Hamrick June 15Rhonda Banman June 16Kaylee Butler June 16Lamanda Griffith June 16Emily Floyd June 17Dorothy Winfield June 17Dan Auringer June 19Mary Lou Mowery June 19Linda Philhower June 19Easton Reed June 19Annette Rutherford June 19Jan Kindrick June 20Liz Etheridge June 22Deborah Morris June 22Brian Hunnicutt June 23Susan Sample June 23Ellen Jaggers June 24JoEtta Buck June 25Angela Russell June 25Olivia Wafford June 25Jan Andrews June 26Lou Daniel June 27Justin Grolemund June 28Alyssa Lueckemeyer June 30Jan Switzer June 30

$104,993

$46,220 $38,057

$113,156

$42,539 $40,539

$115,156

$65,968

$27,939 $30,212

$122,973

$- $20,000 $40,000 $60,000 $80,000

$100,000 $120,000 $140,000

March thru May

FELLOWSHIP GAMES (a variety of board games, card

games and domino games.) The Wednesday afternoon Game Day continues to be fun for an average of 12 people. They meet each Wednesday from 3:30 - 5:00 in the Family Life Center, Room 201, to enjoy Cribbage, Rummikub, Canasta, 42 and other games.

It is hard to believe, but The Stand has successfully completed its full second year! The music was melodic, the sound was pure, the words were perfect, the videos were dazzling, and the speakers were inspiring. We wish to thank all our supporters of The Stand, but of course, thank God for what He has done through us. All the glory goes to Him. We are excited what He has in His plan for The Stand and our beloved church. Be on the lookout for exciting news beginning this Fall season.

We are always looking for volunteers to help with the service. In addition, we need musicians – lead and rhythm guitars, keys, or drums. Also, if you can carry a tune when not in the shower, let us know. Perhaps you would only like to sing a song once in a while and cannot commit full-time. No worries - just let us know. Also, I plan on teaching an intro to rhythm guitar starting soon. If you have interest, please contact me. God gave His finest creation the gift of music. Playing an instrument has been such a blessing in my life. Make some time in your life for appreciating this gift, I promise, you will not regret it.

We wish you a safe summer with many blessings to you and your loved ones. God bless.

Craig and Members/Volunteers of The Stand 2019

The Stand is a praise and worship service organized, prepared, and executed entirely by volunteers who have a profound love for Christ, the community, and our church. Its mission is to expose the church to people who may not have a church, have had little exposure to the Gospel, or just need a time of simple worship with the Father. The atmosphere is warm, inviting, and truly moving. The Stand welcomes all people from all backgrounds, with ages ranging from two to ninety-two.

The Stand 2019 – 2Q19 Update

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 88:30am Worship Service 9:30am Refreshments 9:45am Sunday School 11:00am Worship Service

6:00pm Trustees Meeting

1:30pm FUMC Staff Mtg 4:00pm Stephen Ministry

3:30pm Fellowship Games 5:30pm Chancel Choir

9 10 11 12 13 14 158:30am Worship Service 9:30am Refreshments 9:45am Sunday School 11:00am Worship Service

6:00pm Church Council 1:30pm FUMC Staff Mtg 2:00pm Prayer Shawl

3:30pm Fellowship Games 5:30pm Chancel Choir

16 17 18 19 20 21 228:30am Worship Service 9:30am Refreshments 9:45am Sunday School 11:00am Worship Service

5:15pm Rainbow Board Meeting 6:30pm Finance Mtg

1:30pm FUMC Staff Mtg4:00pm Stephen Ministry

3:30pm Fellowship Games

23 24 25 26 27 28 298:30am Worship Service 9:30am Refreshments 9:45am Sunday School 11:00am Worship Service 4:00pm Youth

1:30pm FUMC Staff Mtg 2:00pm Prayer Shawl

3:30pm Fellowship Games

308:30am Worship Service 9:30am Refreshments 9:45am Sunday School 11:00am Worship Service 4:00pm Youth

June 2019

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Children's Camp - Bridgeport June 24th - 28th

Youth Mission Trip - Panama City, Florida June 8th - 15th

Youth Mission Trip -Panama City, Florida

June 8th - 15th

NON-PROFITORGANIZATION

U.S. Postage PaidPermit #30

Mt. Vernon, TX

First United Methodist ChurchHwy. 37 North of I-30PO Box 659Mt. Vernon, TX 75457

2019 Confirmation Class

C

O

N

F C

I O

R M 2

M P 0

A L 1

T E 9

I T

O E

N