Vision Statement:

First United Methodist Church is

a loving, supportive family of

faith working together to share

God's love.

A Taste of What’s Inside

2,6 Church facts

2 Meet the Olives

3 Children's Corner

3 Youth News

4 Remembrances of Vacation

Bible School

5 Music Notes

6 Healing and Wholeness

Service

6 College Scholarship

Information

6 Newsletter Deadline

Mark Your Calendar

5 Chancel Choir and Jubilation

Bells Resume - July 27

5 All Church Luncheon - July 31

6 Healing and Wholeness

Service - July 31

6 College Scholarship Deadline -

August 1

6 Newsletter Deadline - July 22

Friends . . . how great it is to look back and reminisce about the joy of being part of our 2016 Vacation Bible School. This year’s theme revolved around the love of God through the means of “Surf Shack,” with the specific challenge to “catch the wave of God’s amazing grace.”

Once again it was my privilege to provide details of a mission opportunity for which an offering could be taken up. I studied a few possibilities and finally found my way to a project which fits three of my basic criteria: A project which is United Methodist-based, is fo-cused on children, and is local.

After doing some serious research and investigating I chose The Foster Care program of our own Methodist Children’s Home. First off, and obviously, it is a Methodist-based operation, secondly it is certainly a child-focused ministry, and finally even though the Methodist Children’s Home is and has been in Waco since 1890, there is a local presence with a representative in Tyler.

During Vacation Bible School week participants such as our children, adult leaders, parents and friends contributed to the “Foster Care” ministry of Methodist Children’s Home.

Thanks to Chandra and her team of willing volunteers for an amazing “Surf Shack” experience.

Regards and God Bless . . . See you Sunday if not before . . .

Richard

Pastor, Richard Laster pastorlaster@etex.net

Secretary, Carol Craddock gilmerchurch@gmail.com

Financial Secretary, Lamon Geddie fumcacct@etex.net

The Methodist Messenger Volume 72, Issue 13 July 15, 2016

First United Methodist Church

Contact Us

105 N. Montgomery St Gilmer, TX 75644 903-843-2610

www.gilmer-fumc.com

P age 2

WE SHOW OUR LOVE

By Our Prayers . . .

Becky Campbell, Millie Feller, Jennifer Madl Gonzalez,

Sarah Greene, Nat Harrison, Dr. David Jenkins, Susan

Lee, Betty Slocum, Wayne Wightman

Remember ongoing prayers for loved ones with seri-

ous illnesses, our shut-ins, family and friends in the

military service and the leaders and staff of our

church and our country.

Remember to check our Web Site for up-to-the-minute prayer requests.

Prayer Ministry

Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about

everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget

to thank Him for His answers. -- Philippians 4:6

Submit requests to Church’s web page:

www.gilmer-fumc.com

Or Call: Church Office – 903-843-2610

*New Prayer Contact* Betty Parish – 903-843-3865

Annette Breazeale – 903-790-1131

Date Visitors Sunday

School Worship

June 19 32 123 175

June 26 23 96 166

Average Year to Date

28 97 174

Average Last Year

23 87 171

Statistically Speaking

Our Presence

Month Total

Income Total

Expenses

Income Over/

(Under)

June $34,205 $35,325 -$1,120

Year to Date $200,272 $220,837 -$20,565

Our Presents

www.gilmer-fumc.com

Th e M ethodi st Me s se nge r

Our Worship Service is broadcast

on ETEX, Channel 999, Sunday, 6 p.m.

and Monday, 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Joe and Kathy joined June 19, 2016

Joe and Kathy

Olive

5697 Aspen Trl

Gilmer, TX 75644

903-734-5824

1

www.gilmer-fumc.com

P ag e 3

The Methodist Messenger P age 3

Hello everyone! We are not that far

removed from Impact Weekend. First off I

want to thank everyone who helped make

the weekend great and run smoothly. Big

thank you to Matt and Esther Faggione for providing meals, thank you to

George and Angie Heath for opening up their home for the girls to stay,

Brett Williams, Jana Pritchett, Jane and Russell Wilson, Ashley and Zack

Meyerson, Carla Potter and Katie Potter. We had a small group this year

but that did not stop us from having a great weekend. The main focus of

our weekend was the mission project out at The Work. Our group worked

hard painting, and moving/cleaning out work areas to prep to get sheet-

rocked. I was very proud of the group and their willingness to work and

help especially with it being as hot as it was. Like I told our crew, it only

takes one person to make an impact but imagine what kind of impact we

could make if each of us committed to making a difference, helping others

and sharing God's love. I challenge everyone reading this to commit to

making a difference like our youth did at Impact.

Matthew

Wow! God's amazing love was

felt by all at Surf Shack VBS this

year. We learned about how

God's love is for everyone. Our

mission project this year was to

raise money for the foster chil-

dren at the Methodist Children's

Home in Waco.

Thank you to all the volunteers

that helped out this year. Your

gift of time and love for these

children showed through each of

them this week.

Mrs. Chandra

Making an Impact at The Work

Youth News by Matthew Potter

Children’s Corner by Chandra Sorrells

Th e M ethodi st Me s se nge r P age 4

www.gilmer-fumc.com

Vacation Bible School

Music Notes by Lora Robison

P age 5

www.gilmer-fumc.com

Th e M ethodi st Me s se nge r

start on bells. Jubilation Bells will meet at 6:00 p.m. and Chancel Choir will meet at 7:00 p.m. New music has arrived, handbells are back from Irmo, South Carolina, new bell music is here and Christ-mas Music is on the table!

We have a great time preparing for worship in Music Ministries here at FUMC Gilmer! Why don’t you join us for choir this fall and receive a special gift of the JOY OF SINGING from the Lord?

See you at rehearsals and in WORSHIP!

In Christ’s love,

Lora

We are in the midst of our summer activities here at FUMC. We have been enjoying our July informal services. Many thanks to Annette Breazeale and Lauri Woodson who sang

beautiful solos for our first two Sundays in July! We look forward to hearing Mark Feller sing on July 17.

Our service for Sunday, July 24, the choir will be made up of anyone who would like to sing “for just one Sunday”! The soloist for the day will be Cori Beasley, home for a brief sabbatical from her graduate vocal studies. We will be opening our service with “The Church’s One Foundation” and continuing our service with a medley from The Unit-ed Methodist Hymnal including “Close to Thee,” “O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee,” and “Seek Ye First.” Our closing hymn will be “Take My Life and Let It Be.” Annette Breazeale will be directing music that day because Rob and I will be returning home from the Texas Choral Directors’ Association Con-ference in San Antonio where our granddaughter, Christina Burkhalter, will have sung with the State Honor Children’s Choir. (Needless to say, we are proud of her!)

Get ready for the RICHARDSONS (Darren and Melanie) who will be returning for their annual gospel concert in worship on July 31! They will be singing various solos and duets during the wor-ship service, a treat for all who hear! We will be joining their singing with a gospel medley from Wor-ship and Song hymnal, including “Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord,” “Just a Little Talk with Jesus,” and “Give Me Jesus.” Our closing hymn will be “Jesus Paid It All.” The Chancel Choir will fill the choir loft on this Sunday.

We will be having an ALL-CHURCH LUNCHEON after the service on July 31, to help us finish up paying for our handbell project. This will be a perfect time to greet the Richardsons as well as to enjoy another wonderful luncheon prepared by Lamon Geddie. (Thanks SO MUCH, Lamon!)

Chancel Choir and Jubilation Bells will resume rehearsals the last Wednesday of the month, Ju-ly 27! This will give us TWO rehearsals to be ready to sing the first Sunday in August and a head-

ALL-CHURCH LUNCHEON

to benefit Music Ministries

Sunday, July 31st

in the CLC

Following Worship

Singing at VBS!

Flowers for …

July 3 Mr. and Mrs. Larry Morse

July 10

July 17 Mr. and Mrs. Milton Monk

July 24 Mr. and Mrs. Charles Winn

July 31

Greeters… Lynn Davis, Rob Robison

Lay Readers… Our Youth

Ushers… Our Youth

The Sanctuary Flowers for…

June 26 were given by Larry and Carol Craddock in

honor and in memory of loved ones.

July 3 were given by Mr. and Mrs. Larry Morse and

family, in memory of Charles and Marie Morse.

Th e M ethodi st Messenger Fol low us on F aceboo k - Fir st Unit ed Methodi st Church o f Gi lm er

Deadline for Newsletter Articles…

July 22, Noon

P age 6

College Scholarship applications are now available on the table

outside the church office. If you have graduated from high school, are con-

tinuing your college education, and are a member of FUMC, please stop by

and pick up an application. The deadline for submission is 5:00 p.m.,

Monday, August 1, 2016. If you have questions or need additional in-

formation, please call Carol in the church office at 903-843-2610.

Please contact the church office (903-843-2610) if you would

like to provide flowers for our worship services on July 31st.

The emphasis for our Service of Healing and Wholeness will include prayers and hymns to heal our land, for those suffering for Christ’s sake in the world, and for personal needs.

As we are called to pray for our land, let us reflect on 2 Chronicles 7:14 - “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Underlying all healing is the great mystery of God’s love for others and for our broken world. God does not promise that we shall be spared suffering but does promise to be with us in our suffering.

The basic purpose of spiritual healing is to renew and strengthen our relationship with the living Christ.

If you wish to receive it, anointing, the tangible expression of the presence of the healing Christ, will be available.

Please join us for this time of worship and prayer. Healing and Wholeness services will be offered each quarter.

Annette Breazeale

Healing and Wholeness for our Land

Sunday, July 31 at 6 p.m.