GOOD News Letter

Brandon First United Methodist Church February 2018

“This is the Day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and

be glad in it. – PSALM 118:24

In a recent Jesus Calling devotional I read these words.

“Let Me bless you with my grace and Peace. Open your

heart and mind to receive all that I have for you.” What

a wonderful statement in light of how God has continued

to bless us, individually and as a church.

At our recent Chili Cook-off we had an amazing

evening. It truly was a night in which God blessed us

with grace and peace. It was a night that saw over

$6,000.00 raised for the mission outreach of our church

in the name of Jesus. It was a night of fellowship with

friends of all ages and it was a night of joy, laughter and

the Spirit of our Lord. Yes, it was a day (night) the Lord

had made, and we did rejoice, and I believe we can all be

glad in it.

I want to thank Mr. Bob Morrow and his team from the

missions committee, the Breakfast Club Sunday School

class and many other volunteers. Thanks to all who

helped, your efforts made this night a blessing and

success for the glory of God.

As the month of February comes we are preparing for the

season of Lent. The Lenten season begins with Ash

Wednesday, February 14 this year. I pray that we will

all join in the activities of the Lenten season with the Im-

position of the Ashes all the way to the celebration of the

Living Cross prepared for us on Easter Sunday, April 1,

2018.

During the season of Lent we will begin a series in wor-

ship entitled “Wilderness Time”. We will be exploring

how we spend our time in the wilderness. Just as Jesus

spent time in the wilderness we also are faced with learn-

ing opportunities, challenges and times of discomfort.

How do we face our “Wilderness Times?”

I look forward to us sharing the season of Lent and re-

joicing in the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus

Christ!

See you in worship and in our community.

Mitchell

Mitchell’s Moments Rev. Mitchell B. Hedgepeth, Senior Pastor

mitchell@brandonfumc.org

In our

church

family

Thanks to all those who made deserts and participated in the Chili Cook-off.

Winners of

Chili Cookoff

2018 Tweens.

Deaths

Men

uM

enu

Men

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February 7 Boston butt, potato salad, baked

beans, roll & dessert. Chef salad with pimento cheese. Kids: corn dogs & pudding cups.

February 14 Spaghetti, green beans, garlic bread,

dessert. Chef salad with diced chicken.

Kids: Hot dog & Chips.

February 21 Hamburger steak, rice & gravy side sal-

ad, cornbread & dessert. Chef salad with ham & turkey.

Kids: Hamburger & Fries.

February 28 Chicken casserole, butterbeans, corn

salad, roll & dessert. Chef salad with chicken salad.

Kids: Hot pockets & corn.

Baptisms

Allison Lewis January 14

Walt Pennington James Anderson January 14 January 15

Sylvester McLaurin January 23

Recent Member HappeningsRecent Member Happenings Wednesday

5:15 pm | FLC Fellowship Supper

Bring your family & friends and enjoy a great meal together.

6:00 pm | FLC Table Talk

Walk thru the Old Testament lead by Rev. Mitchell

6:00 pm | Sanctuary Genesis

Following Abraham life and descendents Lead by Rev Steve McDonald

Finance Report Budget 2017

$1,285,822.97

Received 2017

$1,307,158.76

Budget 2018

$1,310,366.17

Received to Date

$83,690

$6,406 was raised

for Missions.

Children’s Corner Haley Baumgartner

Director of Children’s Ministries

children@brandonfumc.org

Text brandonchildren (no spaces) to 95577 to join the text

blast group

Happy February! When I think of February, the first thing that comes to mind is that we will celebrate Val-entine’s Day this month. Something my parents al-ways instilled in me is that Valentine’s Day is NOT all about romance – it is simply about showing and sharing love with others. They taught me that the love of God and family were most important and that we should share God’s love with everyone. Oh, how I want my children to learn and value this lesson as well! God’s love is the ONLY love they will ever need if they will accept it! Knowing you are loved is important to EVERYONE – not just children. However, they need to learn from the very beginning just how much they are loved – not just by us, but by their Heavenly Father. While trying to come up with a creative way to focus on God’s love this month, I found this! I plan to do this as well as add a heart to their bedroom doors each day that tells them something I love about them!

Borrowed from Kim at https://www.notconsumed.com/14-days-gods-love/#_a5y_p=3181514

Valentine’s Day is all about love, of course. But before we can pour out love on others, we must first fill up with the only source of TRUE love…God. Most of us struggle daily to really grasp how deep and how wide the love of God really is. Why not count down to Val-entine’s Day by filling up on God’s love? This is what I wanted for my kids, to focus first and foremost on God’s love. So, I created a little count-down. It’s simple. It HAS to be. SIMPLE is an abso-lute must when it comes to getting anything done. Of course, each day the countdown presents the opportunity to talk or read about various things about God and even extend this kind of love to others. But the core of the countdown can be done in as little as 5 minutes a day with as little as 10 minutes total

preparation for the entire countdown. Yes, that’s perfectly simple!

Using the countdown…. Simply, print the pages on cardstock paper if you have it. This will make them durable enough to use next year too. I even laminated mine. If you don’t have a laminator yet, what are you waiting for? It’s my favorite household appliance. Ha! Next choose how you will display your countdown. Look for a great place in your home that gets frequent traffic. Below, I’ve taken a picture of a few of my favorites: *On the fridge door (tape or magnet) *On a mirror in the family room *On the bathroom door (you know everyone goes in there every day!) *On a bookcase in the school room

How we use the countdown each day… 1.Each morning when the kids wake up, they know to search for that day’s heart. I hide it somewhere in the house and it’s such fun to find it. I tell them that we are going on a treasure hunt for God’s love. .2. Once we find it, we add it to our display and then look up the verse in the Bible. The kids take turns reading the verse. 3. I have them write the verse in their “God and Me Journals” and write or draw something that they think of when they read that verse. REAL LIFE—> Yes, sometimes we skip stuff like this. It happens and I’m totally ok with that. In fact, there is much benefit in just reading the verse and no reason to feel obligated to this step at all! 4. Together we talk about what they wrote or drew in the journals and then brainstorm some of the ways we should respond to God’s amazing love as we’ve seen in this verse. This can be as simple as saying kind words to your siblings. But it also is a great time to think of a way that your family could serve someone else today.

Valentine’s Day

Who: Children ages Preschool – 4th grade

What: A Valentine’s themed Devotion, the movie - Lady and the Tramp,

a Spaghetti dinner, popcorn, and drinks

When: Friday, February 9th from 6:00 – 8:30pm

Where: The Youth Annex

Cost: $5 per child – No more than $10 per family.

Tween’s Topics Beth Howe & Julie Parker,

Co-Directors of Tween Ministries

tweens@brandonfumc.org

Text brandontweens (no spaces) to 95577

to join the text blast group

“Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is being certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1

Sooooo, What is a Tween? The definition of a tween is a child between the ages of 9 and 12. A tween is no longer a little child, but not

quite a teenager. The Tweens at Brandon First United Methodist Church are 5th and 6th grade students who are

learners, teachers, prayer warriors, designers, and children of God. Our Tweens receive a blessing from visit-

ing our friends and shut-ins. They love sending birthday cards to our church family and they are hungry to

learn how to be more like Jesus.

Please join us in praying for our tweens as they continue to grow:

5th grade

Lanie Bowen

Abby Clark

Katie Deckard

Paige Deckard

Taylor Dickerson

Kayla Earls

Fisher Enis

Clara Guess

Savannah Henson

Cambell Herrington

Hailey Law

Mailey McAlpin

Addyson Grace Moss

Logan Parkman

Sophie Sharp

Jerry Turner

Georgia Weems

Breelyn Wright

Will Wyatt

Tween For The Day We are very fortunate to have some amazing people who have come and shared their gifts, stories, and testi-

mony, with the tweens. We send our love and appreciation to these church family members who have been a

“Tween for the Day”:

Murphy Adkins

Nell Farmer

Dot Crow

J.T. Rowell

Sarah Nolan

Leslie Sirmon

Cynthia Ware

If you would like to be a Tween for the Day, please let Julie Parker or Beth Howe know.

Sunday Nights

6pm

Wednesday nights 6:15pm

6th grade

Ben Blaylock

Abigail Briggs

Anna Grace Corcoran

Emma Deckard

Carter Everett

Lawson Ketchum

Sydney McAlpin

Addison Nash

Milla Pace

Lila Parker

Aubrey Tigrett

Davis Tharp

Mike Vinson

Darlene Dotherow

Richard Henley

John Conner

Leslie Bounds

Denise Pouncey

Flint Minshew

Johnny Beck

TWEEN Dates to Remember:

Super Bowl Pre Game Party Sunday, February 4th 3:30-4:30pm

Tween’s Place

Tweens should make or help make a Super Bowl dish to share

at our party. We will vote on the best dish.

Delivering Valentine Cards to our shut ins Sunday, February 11th. We will go to lunch (dutch treat) and then deliver Valentine Cards given by church family members.

6th graders can attend Collide Weekend

Collide is the March 2-4, 2018 Collide is the City Wide (DNow like) weekend. Our youth group is participating and

while most other churches include 6th grade in youth and in years past several of "our" 6th grade kids go with other Brandon churches, we have decided to open registration to our

6th graders too.

Our hope is that this weekend will be a great opportunity for our 6th graders to experience

a youth event, although having time together as a class. We are working with William to make this a time for the tweens to interact with our youth as they will be joining youth this

summer and we want a smooth transition for each student.

Beth and I will be attending everything with our group the entire weekend. Register online at the website below . You may pay online or at church.

http://collideweekend.com/

Tween’s DNOW

For students in grades 4th-6th April 3-4 with our good friends at Crossgates UMC.

Guest Speaker: Thomas Toole

Our host homes include:

4th grade girls-We need a host home

4th grade boys-We need a host home 5th grade girls-We need a host home

5th grade boys-We need a host home 6th grade girls- We need a host home

6th grade boys- We need a host home

If you would like to host, please let us know. Host homes have BFUMC kids spend the night at their home and feed the group breakfast. Also, help provide transportation.

Youth News William Cooke, Director of Student Ministries

will.fumc@gmail.com

Text Brandonyouth (no spaces) to 95577 to join the text blast group

Do It Now 2 Corinthians 6:2 Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation

I know we’ve all heard the expression that “timing is everything.” Time is something

that was created for us while we have this brief season on the earth, and timing is cer-

tainly a critical component of dealing with the challenges of life. But if you want to

know how to unleash a God-response and make a difference for the Kingdom of God,

the consistent invitation of Scripture is now. And that would be my invitation to you: In

whatever way God has been inviting you, respond to Him now. Stop debating, or look-

ing for a book on the subject, or polling your friends to see what their opinion is. Just

say yes to the Lord.

PRAYER Heavenly Father, thank You for inviting Your children to participate in Your purposes in

the earth. May the first words on my lips always be, “Yes, Lord,” and may I always say

them with a willing heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Wednesday Night Small Groups

6:15pm | Annex

MUSIC MINISTRY The Music Ministry of Brandon First is off to a great start in 2018. Our choirs have all resumed rehearsals and plans are being made for the upcoming seasons of Lent and Easter. The Praise Kids will be meeting each Sunday evening at 5:15 p.m. in the Choir room followed by pizza supper and devotion and recreation time. The PKs will be working on songs to sing in worship services and making plans to go and sing for area nursing homes. I hope to see all of our children in grades 1st through the 6th at Praise Kids. The Handbell Choir has begun working on music for the Ash Wednesday service, Maundy Thursday worship and a spring concert. The Chancel Choir rehearses each Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. in the choir room. Please join us as we prepare music for our Sunday worship services and the approaching seasons of Lent and Easter. This is a great time to join our choir family. Come and sing with us!

Donna

Music Notes Donna Beasley, Director of Music Ministries

Donna@brandonfumc.org

Text brandonchancel (no spaces) to 95577 to join the text blast group

01 Ruby Ponder John Tucker Chris Hansen Amanda Leigh Sydney Stone 02 Lucy Henley Susie Wimberley Sarah Ashley 03 Charlie Mohler Mike Duke Shannon Stanton Haley Watters Thomas Steen Jr. Lily Chapman 05 Brenda Davis Tom Leddy Kelli Adcock Hunter Smith 07 Carolyn Adcock Lindsey Harris 08 Richard Henley Buzz Deckard Jr. Crystal Westbrook Linda Trewolla William Stanton 09 Bob Allen Hannah Nolan Callie Minshew 10 Clara Tatum Patsy Warren Mel Coxwell Josh Conner

11 Danner Goodwin Josie Hutton 12 Madison Tigrett 13 Richard Johnson Mike Jones Jennifer Mitchell Georgia Weems 14 Haley Ruffin Gentry Tigrett 15 Bonny Tigrett Carter Smith Audrey Baker Landon Smith 16 Sidney McLaurin Jr. Anna Kate Carter 17 Betty Howard Ruby Holland Linda Stokes Susan White Will Hedgepeth Anna Grace Rogers 18 Johnny White Jr. Tripp Wyatt III Carter Cumberland Nick Gardner 19 Anna Peoples David Guyton Sydney Cumberland Cooper Herrington

20 Philip Warren

21 Bryson Jones 23 Mike Hamilton 24 Tyson Tigrett Abby Clark 25 Ruthie Guyton Will Martin 26 Jean Carlisle Tommy Steen Brennan Dongieux II 27 Patrick Beatty Dylan Conn Sam Dykes 28 Bill Mitchell Jr. Joe Richardson Natalie Griffith 29 John Pierce

David Bailey

Marian Bardwell

Gene Clements

Ann Marie Cossar

Sid Cox

Dorothy Crow

Pat Dampier

Madge Duke

Mike Duke

Esther Fabbricante

Nathan Ferriss

Kay Gatewood

Toby Gatewood

Ruthie Guyton

Doris Hammons

Charlotte Hogue

Barbara Hopper

Patricia James

Aileen Johnson

Brian Maske

Ken Millis

David Morrow, Sr.

Robert Morrow

Donna Noblitt

Lois Parker

Robinette Parker

Sherrell Pope

Sam Sandifer

Peggy Shumaker

George Smith

Ruby Smith

Dan Tucker

Susie Wimberley

CONGREGATIONAL CARE

Pat Walker

(601)-540-1565

Charlotte Wallace

(601)-214-8108

PRAYER CHAIN

Pete & Marilyn Hughes

(601) 502-3190

umreb56@bellsouth.net

PRAYER QUILT

Brochure

available at Greeter Desk

BirthdaysBirthdaysBirthdays

First United Methodist Church 205 Mary Ann Drive Brandon MS 39042

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID Brandon, MS Permit No 2

February 1

BMK & MDO Registration open

to general public

February 4

Scouting Sunday

Tween’s Pre-Super Bowl Party/

3:30-4:30p

February 5

Scout’s Den Meeting / 6p

February 6

DMA Luncheon / 11:30a

February 7

Prayers & Squares Quilting / 2p

Fellowship Supper 5:15p

Handbells, Kids & Tweens/6p

Chancel Choir Rehearsal / 7p

February 11-17

Texas Relief Trip

February 14

ASH Wednesday

Fellowship Supper /5:15p

Handbells, Kids & Tweens/6p

Chancel Choir Rehearsal / 7p

February 18

Men’s Breakfast / 7:15a

Ultreya / Noon

February 21

Prayers & Squares Quilting / 2p

Fellowship Supper 5:15/p

Handbells, Kids & Tweens/6p

Chancel Choir Rehearsal / 7p

February 27

Ruth Circle /9:30a

February 28

Fellowship Supper /5:15p

Handbells, Kids & Tweens/6p

Chancel Choir Rehearsal / 7p

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