December Attendance & Offering

December 1, 2019

Worship attendance 138

Sunday School 98

Offering $15,635.25

December 8, 2019

Worship attendance 161

Sunday School 122

Offering $10,463.50

December 15, 2019

Worship attendance 235

Sunday School 142

Offering $9,454.00

December 22, 2019

Worship attendance 153

Sunday School 109

Offering $7,238.71

www.pleasantretreat.org

Where Our Family Becomes Your Family

Pleasant Retreat United Methodist Church

January 2020

Monthly Newsletter 417 CR 1143, Tyler, TX, 75704

903-592-7183

January 8, 2020 Assorted Soups & Salad

January 15, 2020 Beef Lasagna

January 22, 2020 Green Chili Enchiladas

January 29, 2020 King Ranch Chicken

Sending out this article on the last weekend of 2019 I pause with you to consider the numerous blessings and achievements of our past, and I dream and vision our future with anticipation.

Our life and ministry together has given me some tremendous moments that witness to the ways of God, and on many occasions I have been amazed and reminded what God can do with available hearts and hands. I consider especially the occasions I have seen a life touched or changed in a spiritual way, whether it be a first time profession of faith or a renewed life of discipleship. In 2019 I celebrate the growth of faith as I have witnessed a growth in both the Body of Christ and our congregation at Pleasant Retreat UMC! God is good!!

Maybe the opportunity to witness such things is the very foundation we need to motivate us into living a vision and dream of what God will do next. Yes, I am for new beginnings and resolutions to do better, but I am also conscious of the need we share for a Godly vision of what God will do in the lives of the members of PRUMC….and all those who will feel the reaches of our ministry, worship and witness! I look forward to 2020 as a “year of focus and vision” (like my play of words there?) on what God is equipping and sending us for.

Being honest, I know that I physically have been putting off an eye exam and glasses. I’ve been more prone to mistakes as a result, and failing to do my best on some occasions. I have also made some things harder than it was intended to be. My mind knows that with improved vision, via an exam, prescription and glasses/contacts, I could do more in 2020, and with less mistakes or frustration.

In a spiritual sense we can find ourselves in the same situation. Have we yet seen what God is visioning for us? My heart says that, with the help of The Great Physician,…..2020 can be a year we see the vision of God for Pleasant Retreat UMC and the greater Tyler community more clearly.

Join me in praying for our goal of creating a vision team in 2020 to lead the way. Join me also in praying for the vision of your pastor and church leaders, and in every member. God is faithful!

Grace and Peace,

Richard Luna

richard@pleasantretreat.org

Richard’s Faith Reflection….

P r a y e r C o n c e r n s Ann Allen

RL Blackstock Mary Caldwell Cami Clements Patricia Coplan

Julie Darden Rita Dunn

Michael Edwards Cheryl Ellis

Curtis & Joyce Evans Chris Evans Family

Jacky Fair Stephanie Forbes Rhonda Gorrell

Tracy Hall Ted & Mary Hand

Vicki Hand PJ Hanke

Larry Hartman Katheryn Hetherly

Priscilla Holt Pauline Isham

Mickie Jennings Pam Jett

Claire Kudrick Cheyanne Langley

Katie Lockwood Cheryl McFarland

Margaret McFarland Shirley McFarland Sharon Moncrief

James Pendergrass Mark Powell Ruby Randall Clyde Rozell

Jill Seale Mary Slaton

Beverly Somes Dorothy Spath Laura Tedford

Jim Voit Susan Wilbur Glenn Wilkins

Steve & Kathy Wright

Sideline Saints: Helen Black

Jim Fairbanks Lynda Fowler

Hal McFarland Sam Murphy

Dona Wilkerson

Military Personnel: Jay Dunklin

Mitchell Moorehead Jackson Smith

Ryan & Samantha Stidham Daniel Westall

Please call 903-592-7183 or email secretary@pleasantretreat.org if you have any additions

or removals to/from the prayer list.

Baby Shower for Jesus Benefitting Methodist Children’s

Home Family Outreach Thank you all for your donations to the “Baby

Shower for Jesus” items that will be donated to

Methodist Children’s Home Family Outreach in

Tyler. We also collected $488.60 in donations!

Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

Here are the items donated:

24 Handmade receiving blankets

35 knitted blankets

8 fleece blankets

8 handmade quilts

2 hand knitted

jackets

25 hand knitted

baby hats

2 sleeper sets

12 onesies

6 pairs of socks

1 pair booties

94 diapers

232 wipes

2 cans formula

3 containers of

baby oatmeal

Donations made in memory of

Virginia Baker:

Annual Toy Drive Thank you to everyone who donated toys to our annual collection

for the children at Church Under a Bridge! A group from

Pleasant Retreat UMC delivered them

and helped serve dinner on Saturday,

December 21.

These donations

made Christmas so

much happier for

our community

friends who have

so little.

Thank you to the Friendship class

for their donation in honor of

their teacher Rita Megason!

Ron & Ann Allen Rudy & Hazel Ardis Mike & Wendy Baker Robert Cole Baker Dan & Lyn Benson Donna Breckel George & Cynthia Brumley Norris Buie Kay Butts Velma Cade Vicki Calicutt Don & Martha Copeland Gaylon Daughtry Mr. & Mrs. Charles Davis Billy & Martha Diviney Curtis & Joyce Evans Jan Garrett Larry & Dawn Hand Bret & Lurae Hart Katheryn Hetherly Jane Hills Mark & Dinah Hockman Meredith Holub Art & Mae Johnson Kay Johnson Charles & Barbara Kraft

Alvia & Linda Land Paul Latta Dan & Laquetta Lemmert K Steppers Stephen Malone Rick & Joann Marik Shirley McFarland Joe & Linda McKeever Harry & Lea McKnight Paul & Joyce Meier Robbie Ott David & Mahlon Parker John Pearson Lessie & Dwight Purtle Orvice & Anita Rozell Marvin Methodist Seekers Class Marshall & Doris Sharp Jim & Connie Sheridan Sue Smith Jen Stapf Kathlyn Story Steve & Kim Weaver Louise Wilkerson N. Wilkerson Class Rodney & Norma Wolf

The staff of PRUMC would like to thank everyone who contributed to the Staff Love Offering this

year. It was a very generous amount and we are humbled by the outpouring of love and support! Sincerely, Rev. Richard Luna, Otis Naron, Jeremy Dick, Johnnie Russell, Rani Wiley, Brenda Beaird

and Lindsay Brubaker.

A Thank You

A short note of thanks to every member of the Chancel Choir for their hard work on the Christmas Cantata. Special thanks to Johnnie Russell to whom I am forever grateful. A thank you also to Bob Wade for his narration. A thank you also to the members of the Praise Band for their hard work and dedication to the Fresh Start service.

Finally, thank you, members and friends of PRUMC for your incredible support, love, and encouragement you’ve given me.

There is more music ahead in 2020. Come along on this musical journey every Sunday in worship.

-Otis

Pictured: (front row L-R) Johnnie Russell, Pat Ventress, Jo Anne Ivy, Leslie Moorehead, Lyn Benson,

Connie Sheridan, Renee Butts & Johnnie Servis (back row L-R) Otis Naron, Rev. Bill Servis, Jim Dunklin,

John Hall, Frazier Carter, Dan Benson & Bob Wade.

On Wednesday, December 18th, our Youth, along with

Pastor Richard and Mrs. Melody

Hughes went Christmas Caroling to homes of a few of our members. This is a great way our youth are getting to know some of

our members and they are having a great time while

doing it!

Pleasant Retreat United Methodist Church Sunday Worship times: Traditional Worship: 9:00am Sunday School: 10:00am Fresh Start Worship: 11:00am

Church office phone: 903-592-7183 www.PleasantRetreat.org For pastoral emergencies, call 903-787-0585 https://www.facebook.com/groups/prumctyler/

Church Staff: Rev. Richard Luna, Pastor Otis Naron, Music Director Jeremy Dick, Youth Director Rani Wiley, Children’s / Nursery Director Johnnie Russell, Pianist Lindsay Brubaker, Secretary

Looking forward..

In January, PATH’s special drive

is Oatmeal & canned soup.

Donations can be placed in the PATH basket

in the church narthex.

January Worship Services

January 5, 2020 (Epiphany Sunday) “More Than You See”

Matthew 2:1-12

January 12, 2020 (Baptism Sunday) “Named and Claimed”

Matthew 3:13-17

January 19, 2020 “What Are YOU Looking for?”

John 1:35-42

January 26, 2020 “Invitational Evangelism”

Matthew 4:18-23

The communion offering

for January 5, 2020 will

benefit the Dixie Volunteer

Fire Department.

February 2, 2020 The Communion offering for

February will benefit a mission chosen and supported by our Youth group. This organization provides life-changing resources such as clean water, medical aid, food, equal educational opportunities,

vocational training and empowerment in the midst of unimaginable hardships. Our

Youth support a young girl named Lilian.

Special Request from the Worship Committee:

Worship Committee Chair Tammy Stidham is requesting special donations for a new brass advent wreath, stand and liquid wax candles for next year. Total cost for this will be approximately $2,500 of which we have collected approximately $1,800. If you would like to give to this fund, please mark your check memo line or cash offering envelope “Advent Wreath”.