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 411 Church Street

Columbia, MS 39429

601–736–7121

www.fumccolumbia.org

CHURCH STAFF

PASTOR Brother Mike Sahler

601–731–8235

CHOIR DIRECTOR William “Billy” Endicott

YOUTH DIRECTOR Angel Herring

ORGANIST Barbara Lott

CHILDREN’S DIRECTOR Keleigh Oglesbee

PIANIST Beth Pierce

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Debbie Graney

CUSTODIAN Mike Rogers

N E W S L E T T E R S E P T E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

First United Methodist ChurchFirst United Methodist Church exists to bring people to Jesus and membership in His church, help them to mature in Christ and grow in grace, and equip them to discover and to use their gifts in ministry in the church and in the world for

the glory of God.

We have taller buildings but shorter tempers; wider freeways but narrower viewpoints; we spend more but have less; we buy more but enjoy it less; we have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, yet less time; we have more degrees but less sense; more knowledge but less judgement; more experts, yet more problems; we have more gadgets but less satisfaction; more medicine, yet less wellness; we take more vitamins but see fewer results. We drink too much; smoke too much; spend too recklessly; laugh too little; drive too fast; get too angry quickly; stay up too late; get up too tired; read too seldom; watch TV too much and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values; we fly in faster planes to arrive there quicker, to do less and return sooner; we sign more contracts only to realize fewer profits; we talk too much; love too seldom and lie too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; we've added years to life, not life to years.

We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor. We've conquered outer space, but not inner space; we've done larger things, but not better things; we've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul; we've split the atom, but not our prejudice; we write more, but learn less; plan more, but accomplish less; we make faster planes, but longer lines; we learned to rush, but not to wait; we have more weapons, but less peace; higher incomes, but lower morals; more parties, but less fun; more food, but less appeasement; more acquaintances, but fewer friends; more effort, but less success. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but have less communication; drive smaller cars that have bigger problems; build larger factories that produce less. We've become long on quantity, but short on quality.

Continued on page 2

Continued from page 1These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; tall men, but short character; steep in profits, but shallow relationships. These are times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure and less fun; higher postage, but slower mail; more kinds of food, but less nutrition. These are days of two incomes, but more divorces; these are times of fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, cartridge living, throw-away morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies and pills that do everything from cheer, to prevent, quiet or kill. It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stock room. Indeed, The Paradox of Our Time!

I believe there is an appropriate response to The Paradox of Our Time and it plays out like this: Give God all you’ve got; love one another, serve one another; and take care of yourself while not taking yourself too seriously…Specifically, these Seven Faith Disciplines focus us in going deep and reaching out: 1) Luxuriously Pray; 2) Leisurely Read Your Bible; 3) Lovingly Worship; 4) Liberally Give; 5) Lavishly Serve; 6) Laughingly Play, 7) Longingly Learn! I’ll see you at Columbia First Church and in the parish doing church…Love All Around, your friend and pastor, Mike…

PLEASE CALL SCARLETT

GAFFORD AND SIGN UP

601-736-0244

We only have about 10

persons signed up to give.

We’re not even halfway there.

PLEASE GIVE!

*Sonny Wood, *Clifton Bond, *The family of Molly Kuykendall Carey, John & Billie Flynt, Karon Ryals, Monique Goar, Michelle

Pritchard, Wesley Moudy, Lisa Beech McGloflin, Bobby Thornhill, *Sabastian Blanchard, Rev. Roy Eaton, *Sarah Davis,* Mary Thompson, *Steve Vikery (nephew of Nell Barnes), *William Rowley, *Brenda Griner, Tom Griffith, Rev. Tim Parker,, Shannon Pigott, Debbie Price, Martha Stephens, Kim Fink, Phyllis & Julia K. Price, Shirley Grace, Shirley Wooten, Madelyn Grace Halford, Logan Byrne, Gary Rush, Tom McNeese, Blake Bauer, Mary Ann Nicholson, Tom Shows, Jane Martin, Theresa Edwards, Toni Marino, Faith Johnson, Abbey Tallia, Peyton Grooms, Kalyn Boyd, Edith McMurray, George Burchfield, Angela Lewis, Kenneth Eaves, Michelle Prichard, Joan Berry, Doris Phelps, Lucas Porter.

SHUT INS The Grove - Greta Dick, Georgette Kuykendall, Helen Oglesbee, Angela

Varnado The Myrtles - Frank Little

Wesley Manor - Lina Fortenberry, Maryann Hyatt The Claiborne - Carolyn Powers

PLEASE CHECK THE PRAYER CONCERNS AND IF SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE ADDED OR REMOVED CONTRACT THE CHURCH OFFICE.

ATTENDANCE & CONTRIBUTIONS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2016 Worship 134 Sunday School 74

Contributions $3,959.39 Youth $ 50.00

ATTENDANCE SEPTEMBER 25, 2016 Worship 146 Sunday School 79

Contributions $ 3,809.81 Apportionments $ 20.00

Radio $ 300.00 Memorials $ 25.00

Youth $ 60.00

We extend Christian love and sympathy to the family of Molly

Kuykendall Carey.

!

SEPTEMBER

26 - Jackson Lintner, Janet Price

28 Charles Rogers

29 Cass Barnes

OCTOBER

1 - Hal Kittrell

6 - Porter Price, Mary & Wayne Sturdivant

8 - Dawn & Burt Rowell

9 - Rebecca Stovall, Jackie & Dude Stovall

10 - Lyman Fite, John Wooten

11 - Mary Lee McArn

13 - Sue Simmons

15 - Edith McMurray, Kathy & Mike Bryant

16 - Patty Dantin, Amber Haik

20 - Sophie Beisel, Helen Little

22 - Laurie Harvey, Rand Mikell

26 - Ollie Herring

27 - Ann Pittman

30 - Heather Singley

UPCOMING EVENTS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2016

9:45 a.m. – Sunday School

10:00 a.m. – Youth Sunday School

10:55 a.m. – Worship Service

5:00 p.m. – Jr. High Performing Arts

5:45 p.m. – Jr. High Youth Choir

5:45 p.m. – Sr. High Youth Bible Study

6:30 p.m. – Youth Snack Supper

MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2016

No Scheduled Activities

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2016

8:00 a.m. – Methodist Movers

3:30 p.m. – UMW Executive Board Meeting

6:00 p.m. – Worship and Book Study

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2016

9:00 a.m. -XYZ

3:00 p.m. – Children’s “WWW”

5:15 p.m. – “WWW” Supper

6:00 p.m. – Sr. High Youth

6:00 p.m. – Family Prayer & Devotion

6:00 p.m. – Kouth

6:30 p.m. – Chancel Choir

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016

8:00 a.m. – Methodist Movers

9:30 a.m. – Worship & Book Study

4:30 p.m. – Worship Meeting

5:30 p.m. – Trustee Meeting

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

No Scheduled Activities

SUNDAY,OCTOBER 9, 2016

9:45 a.m. – Sunday School

10:00 a.m. – Youth Sunday School

10:55 a.m. – Worship Service

12:00 p.m. – Children’s Family Pumpkin Patch Trip

5:30 p.m. – Jr. High Performing Arts

5:45 p.m. – Jr. High Youth Choir

5:45 p.m. – Sr. High Youth Bible Study

6;30 p.m. – Youth Snack Supper

MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2016

4:00 p.m. – Blood Drive

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2016

8:00 a.m. – Methodist Movers

9:30 a.m. – Morning Circle

12:00 p.m. – Agape Circle

5:30 p.m. – Staff Parish Meeting

6:00 p.m. – Worship & Book Study

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2016

9:00 a.m. -XYZ

3:00 p.m. – Children’s “WWW”

3:30 p.m. – Jr. High “WWW”

6:00 p.m. – Sr. High Youth

6:00 p.m. – Family Prayer & Devotion

6:00 p.m. – Kouth

6:30 p.m. – Chancel Choir

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016

8:00 a.m. – Methodist Movers

9:30 a.m. – Worship & Book Study

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2016

No Scheduled ActivitIes

Getting Ready for the SHRIMP BOIL

It takes a VILLAGE!!! See Lisa Sims as to

how you can help us get ready for this event. We need

workers and desserts just to name a few!

NO “WWW” SUPPER There will be no “WWW” Supper

on Wednesday October 12th due to the Shrimp Boil. We will resume

our regular schedule on Wednesday, October 19th.

It is that time of year again when we are planning our budgets. The budget requests for 2017 needs to be turned in to the church office by the next Finance Meeting that will be held

on Thursday, October 20th.

If you haven’t gotten your XYZ Cookbook there is a couple in the church office. They are $15 each and who knows, your

favorite church-wide dinner recipe might be in here. See Kathy Bryant or any XYZ member. It’s for a good cause!

The Fall Book Study and Worship Series begins this week. Tuesday for morning

services and Thursday for evening services. If you haven’t signed up it’s not to late. You may sign up and pick up your books in the church

office.

UMW RADA SALE Starts September 6th and Ends November

1. Help Support Local Missions. See Scarlett Gafford or Linda Struck for a

catalog or to place an order. A wonderful product and you can’t beat the prices!

Our “UMW” United Methodist Women Unit invites you to join

in its semi-annual Wings Shelter paper products drive.

Containers will be in the Wesley Center October 1st - 12th. Bathroom, kitchen,

personal goods and diapers are needed and appreciated.

Thank you to all the chaperones who made our Okatoma float trip a success last weekend! Without Mr. Wronal’s and Mr. Jeff’s know-how and guidance, I probably would have backed out, given the forecast that day! We made our final decision to go at 7 A.M. that morning, knowing thunderstorms were forecasted for early afternoon. They helped guide us to the best departure time and the most reasonable float to attempt given the timeframe of the anticipated weather, and they called it perfectly. We had a beautiful, largely overcast (some blue sky every now and then) day, which meant we also didn’t swelter away, and only had about 15 minutes of soft rain while on the water. The kids and the adults (20 total) enjoyed the day outdoors; and the

teenage girls and I were keenly aware of all the “lovely” surrounding us. (Our current Bible study is titled “Looking for Lovely”.) I WISH I had pictures to share- of Leia riding backwards on her mom’s kayak almost the entire day, of Luke right after he flipped on that last waterfall, of Helen after she spotted the snake, and Wronal guiding everybody down the falls. I just didn’t trust myself with my phone on the water, though!Thank you to Mr. Jason Howell for leading the first part of our boys’ Wednesday night study, Virtuosity. His heart for the Word and for sharing it with our youth is definitely appreciated! Mr. Drew Foxworth has now

taken over the last part of the study, and I know the boys will enjoy his perspective, as well.Another thank you goes to Ms. Cathy Edwards for leading our junior high craft time Wednesday, 9/14. We were just finishing up our Back to School Essentials Bible study, and Cathy pulled together an awesome craft to reinforce our lessons of prioritizing and locking away Scripture in our hearts. Last Wednesday, our junior high youth got out and about for a service project and cleaned up the Beisels’ yard after they mistakenly got rolled during CA’s Homecoming week! These kids are a joy to have each week, and they like to stay busy!Junior high youth will begin a new study this week entitled Drama Queens and Blow Up Kings, a Bible study with a fast-food theme that will have us considering how what we “put in” our bodies and minds ultimately comes out in the form of DRAMA. Senior high youth will continue Looking for Lovely and Virtuosity through the month of October on Wednesdays. Congratulations to Liza Hathorn, CHS Junior Maid, and Maggie Herring, CHS Academic Maid! In addition, congratulations to Nathan Foxworth, who will be escorting Bailey Fornea, CHS Maid of Honor,

and to Peyton Carver, who will be escorting Maggie. And I hope all of you got to see how handsome Spencer Stovall was escorting CA’s Football Maid this past week! Love these kids and proud of them!! Take note of all the fun outings we have planned in October! We would love to have you join us for any and all- and as always, friends are welcome!Have a great week!Mrs. Angel

Wednesday, October 19th: Senior High to Franklinton FairFriday, October 21st: Junior High to Franklinton FairSunday, October 30th: Outdoor Halloween movie and activities at the Howells’ home

CHILDREN’S CORNERThanks to all who have supported our Band-Aid

drive for Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital! As of today, Monday, we have raised a total of 116 boxes of Band-Aids! That’s much more than the 50 boxes I expected to collect! Thank you! As you know, the competition was between girls and boy to see who could collect the most boxes. It looks like it will be a close race but we will find out for sure Wednesday afternoon!

I want to say thanks to Mrs. Laura for her hard work with the kids in music each week. If you

missed “Arky, Arky” this past Sunday, you really missed a treat! They are all currently working on music for Children’s Sabbath where they and the youth will help lead our service, not as a performance, but as a time for us to be blessed by their gifts as we worship together.

There will be no WWW from 3-5 for K4-5th grades on October 5th due to 60% day at the city schools. We will return to our regular schedule from 3-5PM on October 12th.

Our Fall Fundraiser is right around the corner! Mrs. Lisa has graciously agreed to help prepare the meal on October 19th with all proceeds going toward our children’s department. If you would like to donate food items for our taco bar, please let me know ASAP. I have a sign up list and will be asking for volunteers in person in the next few weeks.

It’s almost time for our annual costume parade and trunk or treat! Our costume parade will start at 5:30PM and Trunk or Treat at 6PM. We are in need of two things: candy for trunks, and trunks for candy! If you would like to decorate a trunk, please be parked in the smaller lot by the playground no later than 5:30 on the 26th. This year, an award will be given for the best decorated trunk! We hope that you’ll join us in this fun event!

Have a great week! Keleigh

Acolytes 10/03 Brayden & Sophie 10/09 Ollie 10/16 Kate10/23 Frances 10/30 Davis

Nursery Volunteers10/03 Lisa Sims & Amanda Thornhill 10/09 Lori Beisel & Shelly Blackard10/16 Kathy Bryant & Allison Foxworth 10/23 Liza Hathorn & Sara Russell10/30 Luke Stogner & Kayla Barber

NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT # 33 COLUMBIA, MS 39429

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHRUCH P.O. BOX 585 411 CHURCH STREET COLUMBIA, MS 39429

ANNUAL SHRIMP BOIL 2016

Thursday October 13, 2016

3 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

If you need tickets you can get them from any church member or come by the church office. The deadline to turn in your tickets is Sunday,

October 2nd.

WE NEED YOU!!!!!

Don’t forget to sign up for the Blood Drive! It will me held on Monday,

October 10th from 4:00 pm till 8:00 pm. See Scarlett Gafford for more

details or to sign up.