The Window 07.01 2014Our mission is to create a grace-filled environment in which Christ transforms lives!

A Publication of First United Methodist Church 1411 Broadway, Lubbock, TX 79401 806.763-4607 www.fumc.com

John Wesley wrote, “I continue to dream and pray about a revival of holiness in our day that moves forth in mission and creates authentic community in which each person can be unleashed through the empowerment of the Spirit to fulfill God’s creational intentions.” This is a time when our community needs revival, mission and authentic community and I believe that FUMC will lead the way as we unite in prayer.

During the week of October 19th members of our church will be walking their neighbor-hood, praying for those who live there and placing prayer cards at each house. You will be able to pray for as many families as you would like and are able. The cards will assure families that all those within have been covered in prayer and will give them the opportu-nity to return a card with their specific prayer concerns. The cards will also invite them to our church and to the Prayer Walk event on the following Saturday. On October 25th, we will meet at the church for a 5K prayer walk that covers our downtown area in prayer. We will have a 1.2 mile route which we will walk 3 times. Please feel free to walk as much as you are able. For those who are unable to walk, we will have a driving event which drives the loop circling our city in prayer.

Walking Our Faith: Praying for LubbockOctober 19-25

“I don’t know what I’m supposed to feel when it comes to my relationship with God. I know I believe. I know what I think. I’m ready to feel what others feel when it comes to closeness to God and growing in God.”

This person was struggling in the swamp of his spirituality where he simply was frustrated as to what to do to get to what his soul was thirsting for, namely a place where he felt a friendship connection with God.

What is next for your discipleship growth? Are you in a good season with God, and if so, what is next? Are you in a spiritual swamp, and if so, what has you there? Grief, sin, negative emotions, fear…it’s amazing how these things seep into our ability to relate—especially relating with God—and put us into a place where we don’t feel connected.

Holy Spirit Study

Spiritual Swamp

Dr. Craig Curry

You are invited to join in on the inaugural ten week study about the Holy Spirit called “Pneumatos.”The Bible study will be offered on Wednesdays beginning September 17th at 6:00 p.m. in Rooms 106/107. This is an inductive study led by Dr. Curry that will take participants through both an understanding and an experience of who the Holy Spirit is in relation to Jesus of Nazareth. There will be daily devotions for participants to read and reflect on what they are reading. Unlike Xristos (a study on Jesus Christ by Dr. Curry) there will be no “ministry project,” but participants will be able to make practical application of their experiences in discerning the leadership of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Cost is $10 per person for materials. Nursery provided. To register, contact our Adult Ministry office assistant, Gloria Ashby (gashby@fumc.com) (see p. 3 for more studies)

Listen to how the Psalmists (sons of Korah) captured the spiritual swamp. “ As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng. 5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and 6 my God. My soul is downcast within me.” Psalm 42:1-6

My prayer is for you to give yourself permission to live in the swamp for as long as it takes. Living in that tension can be the wilderness that helps us learn more about ourselves. God is no stranger to any swamp—any wilderness.

And my prayer is that the day of awakening and peace comes where what you believe and what you feel seem consistent, and where you are stretched to new forms of service and Christian action, and where your connections with God (acts of piety) are richly blessing for you and for others.

I believe God is calling us all to grow, individually, corporately, and in community with each other. The groups, classes, and services that are a part of First Lubbock are designed to assist in that growth. What is your plan for growth this fall?

See you in worship! Pastor Craig

The Window 9-1-2014

Bible Studies

What could you do if you were debt free? Experience the freedom

to serve others, give generously, andlive without financial stress. Financial

Peace University begins September 9 at 6 PM. Watch the churchbulletins and

newsletter for more information.

Begin in Sept.

First United Methodist Church of Lubbock

A Publication of First United Methodist Church 1411 Broadway, Lubbock, TX 79401 806.763-4607 www.fumc.com

Preschool: God’s Got It! How often do we throw out the words, “I’ve got it”?

More often than we’ve actually got it, I would think. You know who’s actually “got it”? God. God’s got it. He is everywhere and has power over everything. That’s what we want our preschoolers to learn this month. No matter what’s going on, God’s got it.

They’ll learn God has the power to answer prayer through the story of Elijah and the fire. They’ll hear the story of Moses and the burning bush and learn that God has the power to speak to them. We’ll continue with Moses and tell the story of the pillars of clouds and fire to show our preschoolers that God has the power to show us the right way to go.

And finally, we’ll close the month with the super amaz-ing story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego where preschoolers will learn that God is so powerful that He can always be with them. Always. And, because He’s always there, He’s always got it!

Elementary: Opportunity Knocks- Responsibility

Have you ever walked through your local grocery store and noticed the potential just sitting on the shelves? You can head down one aisle and discover spices from around the world.

Over in the produce stands, you can find the ripest apples, cartons of blueberries, maybe even some obscure Dragon Fruit. Not to mention all of the staples on an-other aisle: flour, sugar, eggs, and milk.

Incredible ingredients that will sit there and go bad unless someone takes them home and creates something delicious.

You can speculate all day about the potential in that grocery store, but until there is some type of response to what you believe can really happen, it’s just potential. In other words, with the right kind of response, faith in a process I can’t fully understand, and a big mess of dishes,

those ingredients could turn into warm, sticky-sweet, apple cobbler goodness. But if those ingredients just sit there, even though they have incredible potential, the flour will just stay powdery and tasteless. The butter will soften. And those apples will turn brown. In fact, if you do nothing, they will lose their potential and turn into something that just makes your trash smell bad.

Think about someone’s life, with all of the God-given, God-created ingredients. You have time, talents, op-portunities, words, and resources. The point is, we can choose to either respond to what God has given us or we can ignore it. One of the most powerful things lead-ers and parents can do is to inspire their children to trust that God can do amazing things through the abilities He’s given them. Kids should grow up knowing that their faith in God’s ability to do that, can profoundly affect how they view and respond to their unique potential.

That’s why we’re taking September to look more closely at what the Bible has to say about responsibility. We define responsibility as: Showing you can be trusted by what you say and do.

In Week 1, we head back to the garden of Eden where God created Adam and Eve and gave them their First Job. Through passages in Genesis 1 and 2, we’ll see how they were put in charge of the entire world. They took respon-sibility and began to cultivate the earth.

Our Bottom Line is: Show you can be trusted by tak-ing care of what God has made. The first job God gave to Adam and Eve was a task that we can continue today.

September Sunday School

(continued on page 6--see “September Sunday School...”)

by Julie Reynolds

First United Methodist Church of Lubbock

MEMORIALS AND HONORARIUMS JULY - AUGUST, 2014

HOSPITAL REPORT: August 28, 2014

• Covenant Medical Center: Bettie Hensley; Jerry Bailey

• Dismissals: Hadley Phillips (Father of Donna Pruss)

Contact Gloria Ashby if your or a family member is admitted into a healthcare facility at gashby@fumc.

Read latest news about the FUMC Youth at the new website; click on fumc.com/youth located at the top of the opening page.

EVERLIVING CHURCH TRUST• In memory of James P. Moss by Bill Schweitzer, Steve

Schweitzer and Carol Terry• In memory of J.Davis Armistead, Lillian Robertson and

Mary Evelyn Hess by the Questers Sunday School Class• In memory of Jim Carpenter and Lillian Robertson by Jere

and Marisue Smith• In memory of Lillian Robertson by Prosperity Bank

Directors, Officers and Employees• In memory of Dr. Jim Carpenter and Lillian Robertson by

Dan and Kay Howard• In memory of Lillian Robertson by Linda Kahlich and

family• In memory of Sybil Biggers and Charlotte McKnight by

FUMC Community Group• In honor of Rob Allison by Eric and Cheryl McKnight• In memory of James Moss by Don E. McInturff• In memory of Bob Lile, Laura McMillan and J.Davis

Armistead by Steve and Olive Hester• In memory of James P. Moss by Lou Dunn Diekemper• In memory of James P. Moss by PlainsCapital Bank• In memory of James P. Moss by Robison, Johnston and

Patton, LLP• In memory of James P. Moss by Bobbye Shaw• In memory of George W. Hensley by Bill and Ruth Ramsey,

Pat and Sondra Arnold and Mark and Lisa Ramsey• In honor of Dr. Keith Wiseman by Mrs. Frances Moss and• family• In memory of James P. Moss by Dr. Robert and Betty Carr• In memory of James P. Moss by Tom and Margaret Nivens• In memory of James P. Moss by Esther Grace Circle UMW• In memory of Neely Wolffarth by Joe and Debby May• In memory of James P. Moss by Mrs. O.P. Harlan, Jr.• In memory of James P. Moss by John and Jana Thacker• In memory of James P. Moss by Robert and Marty Edwards

SECOND HELPINGS• In memory of Chauncey Robertson, Tommy Townsend and Gene Becknell by Jerry and Tobie Bailey

COUNSELING CENTER FUND• In honor of Sue Hunt by Glen Hunt

BAYLESS FUND• In honor of Sue Hunt by Glen Hunt

MISSIONS FUND• In memory of Dr. Jim Carpenter by Prosperity Bank family• In memory of James P. Moss by Dr. Robert and Betty Carr• In memory of James P. Moss by Tom and Margaret Nivens• In memory of James P. Moss by Esther Grace Circle UMW• In memory of Neely Wolffarth by Joe and Debby May• In memory of James P. Moss by Mrs. O.P. Harlan, Jr.• In memory of James P. Moss by John and Jana Thacker• In memory of James P. Moss by Robert and Marty EdwardsSECOND HELPINGS

• In memory of Chauncey Robertson, Tommy Townsend and Gene Becknell by Jerry and Tobie Bailey

COUNSELING CENTER FUND• In honor of Sue Hunt by Glen Hunt

BAYLESS FUND• In honor of Sue Hunt by Glen Hunt

MISSIONS FUND• In memory of Dr. Jim Carpenter by Prosperity Bank

First United Methodist Church of Lubbock

In Week 2, we’ll look at 1 Kings 19:16-21 and 2 Kings 2:1-15. Elijah was nearing the end of his work as God’s prophet. God chose Elisha to carry on the work. But first, Elisha had some things to learn.

Our Bottom Line is: Show you can be trusted to lead by learning how to follow. We all want to lead, but we need to learn from our leaders before we can be in charge.

In Week 3, we’ll hear from one of Jesus’ parables in Mat-thew 21:28-32. In the Parable of the Two Sons, a father asked his sons to do some work. One said “yes” but didn’t follow through with his actions. The other said “no” at first, but ended up completing the job anyway. We’ll dis-cover that it’s important to do what you say you will.

Our Bottom Line is: Show you can be trusted by what you do. You can’t just say you’ll do something; you actu-ally have to do it.

In Week 4, we’ll look at another of Jesus’ parables found in Matthew 25:14-29a. In the Parable of the Talents, a business owner went on a trip and put three guys in charge of some money. Each one did something different, but only two of them were found faithful and given more responsibility.

Our Bottom Line is: Show you can be trusted with more by taking care of what you have. If you want more respon-sibility, show that you can be responsible with what you already have.

Our memory verse this month is Luke 16:10a, “Who-ever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” (NIV)

September Sunday school teaches about Trust(continued from page 3)

When we show responsibility with the little things, there’s a good chance we’ll have opportunity for greater responsibility in the future.

God has created everyone with potential: talents, time, resources, opportunities. And we can either respond to God with our abilities in a way that honors Him, or we can waste what He has given. Think about the word respon-sibility. It really breaks down into how you respond with your abilities. And we want children to not only under-stand how to respond to the ability that God’s given them, but also how to respond to God’s ability to work through them to change the world around them.

First United Methodist Church of Lubbock

Question: “Why Should We Study the Bible?”

Answer: We should read and study the Bible because it is God’s Word to us. There are so many questions that philoso-phers have asked that God answers for us in Scripture. What is the purpose to life? Where did I come from? Is there life after death? How do I get to heaven? Why is the world full of evil? Why do I struggle to do good? In addition to these “big” questions, the Bible gives much practical advice in areas such as: What do I look for in a mate? How can I have a successful marriage? How can I be a good friend? How can I be a good parent? What is success and how do I achieve it? How can I change? What really matters in life? How can I live so that I do not look back with regret? How can I handle the unfair circumstances and bad events of life victoriously? The Bible equips us to serve God and grow in fellowship with Him. It is a book not merely for reading but for studying so that it can be applied. This fall find answers as you study God’s word by joining one of the following:

Pnuematos: a Study of the Holy Spirit. Led by Dr. Craig Curry begins September 17th at 6:00 PM

Spiritual Disciplines led by Rev. Bailey Barkley meets each

Wednesday in September at 6 PM Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts led by Dr. Shera Atkinson

meets each Wednesday in October at 6 PM The Disciple Pathway will be led by Bailey Barkley and

Shera Atkinson the first two Wednesdays in November at 6 PM

He Speaks to Me led by Dr. Shera Atkinson begins Wednes-

days at noon beginning September 17th Me, Myself & Lies-FUMC’s Womens Ministry Thursday

Morning Bible study resumes September 18th at 9:30 AM Thursday Morning Men’s Bible Study is ongoing and meets

in the Outreach Center. Tuesday Morning Ladies Bible Study resumes the 9th of

September in the Library. R2 Christianity a study of Romans 12 will begin on Sunday

September 21st and will be led by Dr. Shera Atkinson

Several Bible Studies Commence for the Fall

Dove Hunt: Coming! September 20 at The Fisher Ranch***Watch your Sunday Order of Worship for upcoming details!

It’s Time for the Fall Dove Hunt!

Where Do You Belong?What’s the first thing that comes to mind

when you think of spiritual growth? I think of transformation; change that goes beyond knowledge or even behavior.

From the time the Spirit of God descended upon the believers in Jerusalem, God has been

transforming the souls of individual believers in the context of local Christian communities. We are to become true disciples who experience fellowship with Jesus.

We begin as spectators and seekers and are called to go ever deeper in our relationship with God. Growth happens in many ways. Through study, prayer, authentic community, and missional service we increase in knowledge and experience the presence of God. One of the striking features of the earliest church is the sense of shared life. Healthy small groups create powerful venues for spiritual growth and transformation while beginning to unveil answers to difficult questions such as, “Who am I” and “How do I live my Life”.

This fall we will be forming life groups that offer community and support as we live out our Christian faith and beliefs in a secular world. To be placed in a life group contact Shera At-kinson or Bailey Barkley. You may also convey your desire to experience a life group by signing the Life Group Lists found on the table at the Education Intersection or outside the First Light worship space beginning September 7th. Find your place to belong in the community of Christ this fall.

Dr. Shera Atkinson

Twelve Step Prayer Station Dedicated in Serenity Garden

If you have yet to visit the 12-Step Prayer Station in the Serenity Garden that was dedicated on June 15, please take a moment and do so. It is with love and gratitude that we want to thank the following people and classes for their donations:

Janet AllredDr. Carl Andersen

Joyce AtteburyJames Dishman, Jr.

Mr. & Mrs. Ed FancherFUMC Quiltersl

Joe HowellMrs. Mamie Hurt

James ManMr. Chris ShaverMr. Matt Smith

Sherron S. StephensMrs. Hannah Tipps

The Twelve Step Sunday School Class

First United Methodist Church of Lubbock

Kid’s Night Out DatesSeptember 19, 2014

October 17, 2014November 21, 2014December 5, 2014January 16, 2015February 20, 2015

March 27, 2015April 17, 2015May 8, 2015

HOW DID I GET HERE? Years ago, I asked myself that question when I was

wandering in the desert. It was a desert that lasted for years, and I got through it in just a little under the number of years it took the Israelites to wander in their own desert! In reflection, it was the beginning of my spiritual transformation which is still a work in progress.

First, I was a believer, and then became a doer, and then a giver. It might be in a different order for each one of you. But, with each stage, FUMC helped me through the what and where God asked me to be by offering many resources – people of all ages, bible study, prayer, teachers, mentors, grace-givers, care takers of the soul through joyous times, and counselors during the rough ones.

Sharon Hinck, a Christian writer for Guideposts,

has written in one devotional about how lonely writing is…you are by yourself, and sometimes have a futile feeling when trying to solve the world’s needs. You wonder if you are making a difference - of which God does not necessarily show us the results.

Hinck states “I like to imagine there will be a time in heaven when God will page through a scrapbook with us, and He will trace the impact of some of the simple acts of love we offered, remind us of the hours of closest prayer we weren’t sure He heard, and show us the second act of the story.

I would love to hear how He breathed power into a word, a prayer, a gift – and multiplied it until baskets were needed for leftovers. God can make a difference through our lives. Not because of OUR greatness – relying on our own resources - but because of HIS ability to multiply.”

Our ministries and missions have grown at FUMC with opportunities for everyone. Every week, there is news about our ministries through an abundance of different forms of media.

We ARE God’s church…We BELIEVE and TRUST Him in His promises…and know with His GRACE, HE wants us to DO and GIVE joyfully whatever we have so that we can take a piece of bread and pass it on…so they can hand to another…and another…and somehow it doesn’t run out. HE poured life into us, to offer a word, a prayer, a gift – so that it multiples until baskets are needed for leftovers.

by Barbara Tarro

First United Methodist Church of Lubbock

OUR LIFE TOGETHERAUGUST, 2014

BIRTHS...• Congratulations to Blake and Kassidy Johnston on the birth of their daughter, Mara Michael Johnston. Mara was born July 18, 2014 at 7:56 a.m. at Covenant. She was 7 lbs. 15 ozs. and 20 inches long. Mara has an older sister, McLane Kate. Blake and Kassidy joined FUMC March 2, 2014. The proud grandparents are Danny and Pat Johnston.• Congratulations to Jarrod and Amber Miller on the birth of their daughter, Madeleine Ray Miller. Madeleine was born August 11, 2014 at Covenant hospital. She weighed 7 lbs. 6 ozs., and she was 21 inches long. This is Jarrod and Amber’s first child. They have been members of FUMC since November 14, 2010 and Amber is on the SPRC com-mittee. Proud grandparents are Jacky and Paula Miller.

SYMPATHIES TO...• The Boutwell family on the death of Kasi Boutwell’s fa-ther, Richard Kitchens. Richard passed away July 28, 2014 and services were held July 31, 2014 in Naples, Tx. • Robert and Jean Suddarth on the death of Jean’s mother, Leila Weaver. She passed away Thursday, July 31, 2014.

Her services were held Saturday, August 2, 2014 at Rest-haven.• The family of James P. Moss who passed away on August 2, 2014. Services were performed by Dr. Keith Wiseman and Rev. Josh Stephens at Resthaven Chapel on August 5, with interment at the Resthaven Memorial Park Mausoleum. James had been a member of FUMC since February 1, 1987. • Jerry and Mickey Gowler and family on the death of Mickey’s mother, Dorothy Jarrett, August 4. Services were held at Sunset Church of Christ on August 9.• The Hurmence family on the death of Bob Hurmence. Bob passed away, Tuesday, August 12, 2014. There was a memorial service at FUMC August 16 in the Sanctuary with Dr. Keith Wiseman officiating. Bob had been a member of FUMC since September 18, 1966.• The Hyatt family on the death of Dub Hyatt. Dub passed away Thursday, August 21. The memorial service was August 25 in the Bowman Chapel with Dr. Keith Wiseman officiating. Dub had been a member of FUMC since May 11, 1997.

The Ambassadors Sunday School Class, FUMC, has started an Ebola Glove Ministry for Liberia and we are asking you to participate in this life-saving mission project to help save the lives of those who are taking care of patients with Ebola. For lack of disposable rubber gloves, health care workers are dying. Gloves…something that we have at our almost immediate disposal. Gloves that provide us with protection in caring for sick individuals and yet allow us to remain healthy. Gloves that are so inexpensive that we use them by the dozens and never give our supply a second thought.

Your monetary donations to the Ebola Glove Ministry are greatly needed. We need Sunday School classes, youth, busi-nesses and anyone else who is willing to come to the aid of a people in great need.

Samaritan’s Purse, a Franklin Graham Ministry, is currently working in Liberia in West Africa. They have a national proj-ect team in place that is providing medical aid for the Ebola epidemic. You can make donations directly to the Ambassadors Sunday School class and note in the memo “Ebola Glove Project.” This money will then be sent to Samaritan’s Purse for the purchase of gloves.

Other medical supplies, such as gowns and masks, may also be purchased if enough money is received. For those of you who want to mail in your donation, the address is: Ambas-sadors Sunday School Class, First United Methodist Church, 1411 Broadway, Lubbock TX 79401. Please write “medical supplies” on the memo line.

Jesus is calling us to be His hands, His feet and His heart in

View of gloves and boots used by medical staff who treat Ebola patients, drying in the sun ...

For Want of Gloves, Health Care Workers Die

providing this special need to our brothers and sisters in Christ who are putting their lives in danger by caring for others who are sick with Ebola.

The time is short. The need is urgent.Please pray for the people who are working to stem the tide

of this disease in Africa.

The Ambassadors Sunday School Class, FUMC

“But whoever has the world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” 1 John 3: 17-18

1411 BroadwayLubbock, TX 79401Return Services Requested

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TIES STARTING IN SEPTEMBER! (see p. 3 inside)

Bayless

Elementary News:

FUMC’s mentoring program started last spring with about 30 participants. It was quite successful and we have been asked to participate again this year with a larger group of mentors. The school has a very large student enrollment and many need academic encouragement and/or adult mentorship. Faculty and staff recommend students for this program based on their needs. We will try to match you to a child based on your interests, the age of a child you prefer to work with in grades 1-5, and if you prefer to provide academic support or mentorship. You designate the day and time that work best in your schedule. Mentors meet with their students 3-4 times a month. We will begin mentoring students in October, so please contact us soon to fill out an information form and attend a brief orientation meeting in September. We found working and visiting with our two students to be a highlight of our week and think you will too! There are also other one-time events and special needs activities you can volunteer for during the year if you cannot make a weekly commitment. These include Dr. Seuss Day, Western Day, and other special events throughout the year. Bayless Elementary is located at 58th Street and Avenue U.

-Kim and Jeff Klotzman 806 786-1830 baylessmentor@yahoo.com

LAUNCH Kick-off! Launch is our pre-teen ministry for 4th and 5th graders, held once a month. Launch Kick-Off is September 14th from 6:00 PM- 8:00 PM in room 304. Don’t miss it!

Save the Date: Third Grade Bible Presentation The HI Robinson class is generously donating

Bibles again this year for the Third Grade Bible Pre-sentation, which will be held on October 5th in the 11:00 Traditional Service.