A U G U S T 2 0 1 3

V O L U M E 2 1

I S S U E 8

August 4th @ 5:00p— Stephen Ministry Covered Dish Dinner (Phillips Farm)

August 6th @ 7:00 p— PPR Meeting in Church Office

August 11th @ 11:00a— Promotion Sunday Voices of Hope Choir @5:00p-Youth Scavenger Hunt

August 12th @ 6:30p-- “Great Day of Service” planning meeting

August 14th @ 5:30p— Youth Bible Study Begins

August 17th — Emmaus Gathering

August 18th @ 5:00p-- Youth Swim Party

August 19th @ 7:00p– Circle 3

August 20th@ 10:30a— Hannah Circle trip @ 7:00p– Circle 5

August 24th— “Great Day of Service”

August 25th @ 8:00a— Men’s Breakfast @ CFUMC

August 26th @6:15p— Stephen Ministry

August 27th @ 6:00p- Altar Guild meeting @7:00p— Trustees meeting

F I R S T U N I T E D

M E T H O D I S T

C H U R C H O F

C O M M E R C E

HOW WILL YOU SERVE?

One of the observations that people make about our

congregation is how many ministries, missions, and

activities we have going. Ain’t that the truth!

Yet, one of the really important ministries of our

Church is most often unnoticed and unobserved…at least by most.

That is the ministry of those committed individuals who serve on

teams, task forces, boards, working groups, and yes, even those

committees that some Pastors talk about in sermons.

The Nominations and Leadership Development Team of Commerce

First UMC is looking for at least twenty persons willing to be com-

mitted to a ministry of serving. During the Sundays in August your

worship materials will include sign-up opportunities to receive a

phone call about serving on a team, a task force, a board, a work-

ing group, or yes, even on a committee.

Will you begin praying or will you continue to pray about your

serving as a part of your faith walk with Jesus Christ?

~David

IT REALLY WAS TEN YEARS AGO, WASN’T IT?

It was 2003. It was late fall. It was Monday night at the Flemings’

home. The members of the group had been meeting for several

years to study the Bible and to share their faith in Jesus. It was obvi-

ous that something needed to happen to move the members of the

group out of their comfort zones and into ministry/service in Jesus’

name. The something turned out to be Stephen Ministry which is a

Christ-centered, person to person, ministry of caring. Two invita-

tions: If you have been trained as a Stephen Minister, please watch

for your invitation. If you want to know more about being a Stephen

Minister, please contact Al Fleming, Joyce Phillips, or David Bowen.

Our mission. To serve our God by serving His people, reaching out in love to assist with basic physical, relation-

al, and spiritual needs through person-to-person and community ministries.

Program highlights.

Vacation Bible School – Younger children from Willoughby Homes and Bellview Homes have an

opportunity to experience a half day of music, storytelling, recreation, crafts and more.

Cookie Coloring – Children and parents join assisted living seniors at Peachtree Village to decorate “face”

cookies using candy eyes, frosting and sprinkles.

Little Dresses for Missions –Volunteers at CFUMC use colorful materials to sew beautiful skirts for young girls.

Dresses will be sent to the needy in Honduras and Guatemala.

Feed Our Sheep Food Drive. Church volunteers solicit food contributions from church members, local gro-

cery stores and Food Bank for distribution to needy at Warren Chapel UMC.

Community and Chapel Prayers –Those wishing to serve through prayer conduct a community prayer walk

and/ or meet in the CFUMC Chapel to pray for the success of the day’s programs.

Letter Writing – CFUMC Seniors write letters to overseas military and shut-ins. Everything is supplied by the

church to conduct this valued service.

Jubilee Partners –Church volunteers provide essential property care services to this Christian community that

has provided a temporary home to refugees from over 30 countries.

Wellspring Camp – Church volunteers provide lawn care to this Christian camp for children and adults with

special needs and their sponsors.

Peace Place Inc. – Peace Place. Church member’s stock shelves, clean the store’s interior and improve the

center’s exterior for this community based resale store.

In-Community Cleaning and Yard Services –Church members visit local homes to do cleaning, repair and

outside lawn work for individuals in Jackson and Banks counties.

Homemade Bread Baking – Home baking for delivery to community residents. Volunteers bake bread and

bring it to CFUMC for further distribution to the needy.

How to participate. Register on Sunday mornings at Warren Chapel UMC and CFUMC or contact Libby

Christiansen at the CFUMC Office (706-335-4018) with your specific interests.

Christian focus. Great Day of Service is only one day a year but it reminds us of the tremendous needs that exist

in our community and enables us to work together in Christ to make the lives of others better and helps church

members understand ways they can support others year round.

Financial Update:

Receipts YTD (July 15, 2013) $235,750.39

Expenses YTD (July 15, 2013) $231,499.85

Surplus: $4, 250.54

Prayer and Praise: Prayers for healing and peace:

Bill Lehman, request of knitting group

Madison Hoxit, request of Michelle Karles

Owen Newman, request of Stephanie Barnett

Alberta McMurray, mother of Lance McMurray

Mike Hand, brother-in-law of Brenda Meadows

Janet Rzewnicki, Joyce Phillips’sister

Zedta, 3 month old grandson of Carol Schilling

Nell Shedd, mother of Dale Shedd

Molly Jewell Farmer

Judy Beasley, friend of Billie Bowen

Ronnie Bagwell, brother of Linda Lamb

Greg Hodges, request of Gina Hagan

Nelson & Dale Grams, request of Jeff Sheffield

Sissy Landross, request of Jeff Sheffield

Swayne Anderson, father of Maxine Seagraves

Charles Jones, request of Trish Edwards

Sewell family, request of Disciple 1

George Blake, brother of Annabel Seltzer

Prayers for infant, Wesleigh, friend of Susan Gieler

Danielle Fraser

Anne Bumgardner, request of Debbie Manus

Humbert Family, request of Brenda Meadows

Charles Matthews, brother of Carolyn Stephenson

Ray Wright, friend of Art & Rose Richard

Kay Franklin, sister of Att Stephenson

Joel Benton, son of Lucy Benton

Joy Hodges, friend of Gina Hagan

George Rodriguez, request of Rose Richard

Judy Buffington

Constance Thieme, daughter of Linda & Ches Howard

JP Stanley, request of Peggy Purcell

Peyton Minish, friend of Billie Bowen

Susan Wuerzner, sister of Billie Bowen

Charles Hutchins, request of Judy Paugh

Melissa Black, niece of David and Billie Bowen

Judy Gibson, sister-in-law of Judy Paugh

Wayne Jackson, grandfather of Josh and Beverly Miller

Kent Studdard, request of Michelle Gaissert

Mary Margaret Mudge, Aunt of Susan Gieler

Joseph Gibson, nephew of Judy Paugh

Gwyn McClintock, mother of Rory McClintock

Jessica Rice, request of Anna Diemond

Emily Booth, request of Kathleen Hooper

Sandra Sheffield, sister of Jeff Sheffield

Ed Sweeney, request of Mike Sales

Marie Sweeney, request of Mike Sales

Hawk Harrison, infant son of Katie and John Harrison

Lynn Simonton, mother of Michelle Karles

Cathleen Anderson, mother of Maxine Seagraves

Joan Dumas, request of K. Ellen Hagan

Cathy Martin

Yolani Ramirez, request of Louellen Besuden

Newburn Parham, grandson of Shirley Parham

Christian Canup

Stanley Seagraves

Betty Branson, friend of Tom and June Murphy

Early Bonds, request of Janet Hodsdon

Inez Mize

Brenda Hay,

Mildred Daniel, Jenny Sheffield’s mother

Marty Cauley, Jenny Sheffield’s cousin

Jessie Sheffield

Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Hasbrouck, request of Barbara Sweetser

Annease McDuffie, request of Billie Bowen

Ray Sears, brother of Betty Fisher

Helen Siegel

Linda Brake

Jane Bramlett

Prayers for Healthy Pregnancies and Births: Elizabeth and Jason Philips

Kristen and Daniel Hill

Carly Aldrian, granddaughter of Louellen Besuden

In Memory of:

Bobby Hooper, brother of Jimmy Hooper

Ruth Shaw, great-aunt of Cathleen Hill

SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS IN AUGUST

August 11th, 11:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE

LEE ARRENDALE VOICES OF HOPE CHOIR

SINGING FOR GOD AND FOR US

Come to show love and support for our sisters in Christ at Lee Arrendale.

Travel Opportunities in 2014!!

Billie and David Bowen will be leading a trip to Israel on February 10, 2014. Would you like to join them? Please call Billie at 678-230-9427 for details.

Reminder: Choir Practice will resume on Wednesday, July 31st.

Is July gone already? It has been a busy month full of cleaning, evaluating, and planning. As

I am typing this, it is raining for seemingly the 100th day in a row and I am looking forward to

seeing sunshine again. All this gray makes me feel gloomy…and then… it is Sunday morn-

ing and there are all these bright shining faces that don’t seem to care that it is raining. Rain

brings more frogs…more bugs…puddles to stomp in…really good mud! Ahh, to see the

world through the eyes of a child! That’s the ultimate goal of this ministry. To experience

Jesus as a child should – with wonder, excitement and love. To provide spaces they are com-

fortable learning in. Lessons they experience and take home with them. Days of fun, friend-

ship, and service to others. To get there, we have set immediate goals, first year goals and long-term goals. Here

they are!

Immediate Goals Clean it up, Spruce it up, and Update it!

From Sunday school rooms (do you have a decorating bug and are willing to paint?), to Curriculum, to Children’s

Church, and Wonderful Wednesday. All of it will have a fresh new look and feel - very soon!

First Year Goals Establish a Children’s Council, Involve children in worship and ministries of the church, Re-establish regularly

scheduled fun activities and mission work, Improve communication with families and volunteers, and Safe Sanctu-

ary training.

Really Big Goal To be so lively in Children’s Church you ask us to leave!

To outgrow our Sunday school rooms so you have to re-locate us!

Do you have ideas or resources you want to share or time to volunteer?

We look forward to working with you to not only reach these goals, but more importantly, to teach our children the

way in which they should go and raise them to be disciples of Jesus Christ! You can reach me at (706) 654-6489 or

gmhagan@windstream.net

In His Love,

Gina Hagan SOS: Commerce Kids Can You Help?

Saturday, August 24th, Great Day of Service

Children will participate in Camp Day at Willoughby Homes and Cookie

decorating at Peachtree Village – details to follow!

Children’s Wonderful Wednesday Programing will

resume September 4th.

Volunteers needed for Food Bank: As you may have heard, the Bank-Jackson Food Bank has decided to close. The area churches have

decided to help and take over operating the food bank. Donations of food are still needed as well as

volunteers to work at the food bank. If you are interested in volunteering, please call

Dr. Carlton Allen at First Baptist Church (706-335-4083).

The Women of Faith event this year is being held at the Gwinnett Center Arena, 6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy, Duluth, GA 30097, October 25-26th, Friday: 7pm – 10pm and Saturday: 9am – 5pm. If you have signed up to attend, please see Billie Bowen at Church, or call her at 706-335-4242 or 678-230-9427. PAYMENT IN FULL IS DUE TO BILLIE ASAP!

It’s hard to believe that summer is almost over and school will be starting

soon. I hope that everyone has had a great summer. Please mark your

calendar for the upcoming youth activities for August, as we will be start-

ing back our regular Sunday and Wednesday activities then.

Promotion Sunday is August 11. We will be meeting at 5pm for our Scav-

enger Hunt and will also have a hamburger/hot dog dinner. All parents

are welcome and I will need assistance in driving and cooking. If you are

available to help in any way, please let me know. We are looking forward to our new 6th graders joining us!

We will start Wednesday Night Bible Study on August 14th. It will be held from 5:30-6:30. Parents, please

note the time change on this. I feel like this will accommodate everyone’s schedule just a little bit better.

The middle school will be doing a study called Scary, Gross and Weird Stories from the Bible. We did this

study a few years ago and the kids really enjoyed it. We are still looking for a study for the high school, but

should have that shortly.

August 18th we will be having a swim party at K Ellen’s. We will meet at the church at 5:00 pm and ride over

together. If parents want to come hang out, that’s fine. We will be back at the church at 7:30 pm for parents to

pick-up kids.

August 25th we will meet at the church for activities here. 5-7:30pm.

Also don’t forget Sunday School. We will be starting a new study called Books of the Bible which is a 72 week

walk through the Bible starting with Genesis. This study will start on August 18th.

Again, I am looking forward to all the familiar faces and the new ones that will be in our youth group this year.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to give me a call, send a text or write an email.

We would also like to hear suggestions that the kids have for activities and for future studies. Some of the best

things the youth group has done were suggestions from the kids. Please see me for an updated copy of the

required permission slip for all youth activities. This is a different one then before, but I think that this suits the

needs of our group better. This form only need to be filled out one time and will be valid until Dec. 31, 2013. It

does have to be notarized in order to be valid. If you have any questions, please contact me.

Jan Roe

Circle 3 will meet on August 19th at 7:00 pm.

Hannah Circle will be traveling to Lavonia to 211 Main Street Restaurant on

August 20th . If you would like to go please contact Linda Lamb at

(706) 335 6121. We will be taking the bus and will leave the church at

10:30am and we have an 11:30 am reservation.

Circle 5 will meet on August 20th at 7:00 pm.

Week 1- Emily Aiken

Week 2- Maddie Fowler

Week 3- Tatum Jones

Week 4- Abigail Suarez

K. Ellen Hagan, Kathleen Hooper,

and Sheila Sales

TBA

John Cassidy

August 4th-

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

August 11th-

Matthew 28:19

August 18th-

James 2:14-26

August 25th-

Micah 6:6-8

Week 1- Joanna & Sam Suarez

Week 2- Rory & Jennifer McClintock

Week 3- Gina Hagan

Week 4- Tara & Trey Wood

Week 1- Dave Moon, Art Richard

Week 2- Tom Murphy, Al Fleming

Week 3- Jack Legg, Marty Seltzer

Week 4- Jimmy Bolton, Lee Hagan

Barbara Hendricks, Marie Canady,

Jean Mitchell

08/01 Kim Savage

08/02 Bo Holland, Larry Meadows,

Libby Christiansen

08/03 Donna Wilson

08/04 Michele Gaissert

08/05 Elton Collins, Betty Minish

08/07 Allison Roe

08/08 Arlene Bolton

08/09 Charlotte Massey– Williams

08/11 Doris Parr, Roger Waters

08/12 Billie Bowen, Martha Evans,

David Nichols

08/13 Nancy Gaines, Tom Murphy

08/14 Todd Mize

08/15 Steve Savage, Beverly Mansfield

08/16 Kelly Parham, McKenzie Smith

08/17 Edith Nix, Katie Savage

08/19 Abigail Suarez, Kelly Cassidy

08/20 Linda Brake, Emma Julia Mansfield

08/23 Bill Davis, Rita Hodges

08/29 Linda Lamb

08/05 Mr. and Mrs. David Moon

08/06 Mr. and Mrs. Roger Beauchamp

08/07 Mr. and Mrs. Tony Barnett

Mr. and Mrs. Joel Beauchamp

08/10 Dr. and Mrs. Kinsey Phillips

08/11 Mr. and Mrs. Charles McMullan

08/20 Mr. and Mrs. Robbie Griffith

08/27 Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Hooper

08/31 Dr. and Mrs. Larry Meadows

Get the most from

August sermons!

Read the book, The

Call: Living Sacra-

mentally, Walking

Justly, available in

the Church Library

and as an e-book

($5.35).

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage Paid

Permit No. 3

Rev. Dr. David G. Bowen, Senior Pastor

16 Cherry St. (Church Office)

54 Cherry St. (Church/Preschool)

Commerce, GA 30529

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

706-335-4018 (Office)

706 335-2031 (Fax)

www.commercefumc.org

Email us at: cmcoffice@windstream.net

Like us on at facebook.com/commercefumc

Second Sunday Report

The Results:

July 7th-

11 Bags of Mac & Cheese and assorted food items!

Our Next Challenge:

August 11th –

Canned Vegetables

Also, there is always a need for Breakfast Food and Instant Potatoes.

Please remember, if for some reason you cannot attend church on the second Sunday,

you can always drop items off at the church office.

Cash contributions are also accepted and appreciated.

Please see information inside the newsletter about helping with the food bank.

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat…” Matthew 25:35