July 20, 2016 - First United Methodist Church

The
Word
A publication of Dyersburg First United Methodist Church
Volume XLII
Pastoral Thoughts
July 20, 2016
Ed White, Senior Pastor
Dell King, Associate Pastor
The Congregation, Ministers
On Sunday, our FUMC Search Team delivered some great news. For
nearly six months, this team has worked hard to be able to announce that
we have hired a Full-Time Director of Music & Worship Arts, Dakota Hill,
who’ll start August 1st.
Dakota is originally from Huntingdon,
TN. He attended Lambuth in Jackson and
went on to earn a Bachelors in Church Music
from Martin Methodist College. Dakota is
almost finished with his Masters of Music
Education at Belmont University in
Nashville, which will be very valuable when
working
with
our
younger
generations! When he visited our campus a
few weeks back, people of all ages were
quite impressed with the gifts God has
developed in Dakota over the years.
Announcements like this always have a
background of many things that brought us to
this place. Most of you will remember our
“Listening Sessions” last Fall, when our
Vision Team asked some questions about how so many churches, including
ours, is noticing younger generations are less active in church. They asked
us questions like, “What will reach and connect younger generations back
into church?” or “What new things should we offer?” Of all the answers
we received, the most common response was music and worship. Our
leadership then began covering the bases of budgets, staffing, job
descriptions and searching to discern who God would lead to us in this
critical area.
We formed what some called, hopefully in jest, our FUMC “Olympic
dream team” of leaders. It included Allison Schroeder, Liz Dickerson and
Steve Carmichael from the Vision Team, Kristen Bird, Sara Wolfe and
Patrick Heckethorn from Staff-Parish Relations, Joe LeMay, Liz & Steve
from our choirs, then Mackenzie Lowrance, Coleman Self and Wilkes
Kirby from our Youth, plus a pastor, Ed White. Over the months that
followed, this team carefully reviewed about 30 resumes (from 5
continents!). After a series of meetings, follow-up interviews with 10-12
candidates and on-campus visits from several very gifted individuals, the
Search Team and Staff-Parish unanimously discerned the selection of
Dakota.
As they made the announcement Sunday, Allison and Sara, extended a
heartfelt thanks to God and FUMC folks like you—for hosting, preparing
meals, transporting, giving tours of the church and community and for
simply extending Christ-like love and hospitality to everyone who visited.
They also gave a special thanks to our choirs and musicians who went out
(Continued on page 2)
Copy 25
Sunday Servants
SUNDAY, JULY 24
8:30 A.M.
10:50 A.M.
ACOLYTES
Caroline Gentry
Dylan Stewart
Rebecca Gentry
CROSS BEARERS
Charlotte Weaver
TBA
SMALL TALK
Nancy West
PRAYER WARRIORS
Jackie Gullett
Cindy Taylor
SOUNDBOARD
Steve Guttery
Joe Jennings
VIDEO DIRECTOR
Logan Collier
VIDEO RECORDER
David Wagner
BACK TO
SCHOOL
MISSIONS
We have popped the
top off the school
house, thanks to all
the donations! We
have raised $2,429.10. Watch this
space for an upcoming article on Back
to School in Dyersburg and Dyer
County.
OLDER ADULT SUNDAY
THIS SUNDAY, JULY 24
Older Adult Sunday will be July 24, at
both morning services. If you are 65 or
older, you are invited to our Older
Adult Appreciation Luncheon at noon
that will be catered by Blackberry Hill.
Entertainment will be provided by
“Women of Faith.” Sign up sheets are
on the bulletin boards and in Sunday
School classrooms. Any questions,
please call Barbara Stephens at 731676-7194.
(Continued from page 1)
of their way to help the candidates and the search
committee. Every candidate who visited was sold on
Dyersburg because of the love you so eagerly shared and
the commitment they saw in us all to serve God with our
very best. We as a congregation celebrate God’s gift of
everyone here and gladly welcome Dakota to the FUMC
family the first Sunday of August—if you want to
“welcome him by unloading boxes,” come to 414 Troy
Ave at 10 a.m. this Friday :-). Either way, have a blessed
week and we’ll see you Sunday in Christ: Ed, Dell & the
First UMC Family
RECORD OF LOYALTY
ATTENDANCE 7/17/16
8:30 A.M.
10:50 A.M.
Combined Morning Worship
Sunday Evening
Sunday School
OFFERING
Approved Budget, 2016
Weekly Needs
Weekly Giving, July 17
173
131
304
32
229
$1,152,681
22,166.94
21,391.00
FLOWERING CROSS POSTCARDS
Acts 29 Sunday School class is selling note
cards depicting the Flowering Cross. One
design is a watercolor type rendition and the
other is a photo. Price is $10 for 8
(envelopes are included) and cards will be
available between services or from any class
member.
METHODIST MARKET NEWS
OCTOBER 22, 2016
This summer as you preserve and freeze those delish
jellies, relishes, veggies, and casseroles, please remember
to add a few extra to donate to the Bake Sale. Let’s have a
great Bake Sale this year!
Proceeds from the Methodist Market will go to Reelfoot
Rural Missions. We need your help. Please start saving
your items to donate (no clothes or shoes) to this
wonderful cause.
WELCOME!
On Sunday, May 15,
Lee and Penny Garner
joined our church.
They are pictured with
their two daughters,
Mary Burks and
Laney, who were
baptized this past
Sunday, July 17. Join
us in wishing them a
warm FUMC welcome when you see them.
AN AFTER-THOUGHT (FROM SUNDAY)
Last Sunday, we talked about St. Paul’s letter to the
Colossians. He urged them, and us, to remember that
“Christ in you” is the “mystery" of God’s salvation. This
mystery becomes much easier to comprehend when
followers of Christ allow the Holy Spirit to guide us and
grow us toward maturity in Christ. As part of our
Wesleyan emphasis on growing, I mentioned a prayer I
learned long ago while sitting in the pews under the
leadership of Rev. John Clarke. Maybe you could try this
prayer in the days ahead. It goes something like this:
Come, Holy Spirit, Come. Come like the fire and burn.
Come like the wind and cleanse. Come like the light and
reveal. Convict, Convert, Consecrate until I am holy, until
I am wholly thine, until I am whole. Amen.
SALT & LIGHT KICK-OFF
Wednesday night
August 10
Fellowship Hall
5:00 p.m. – Alvino’s Pizza and Salad
Info and Sign-up for Salt and Light Classes
6:30 p.m. – Live Entertainment
There will be no charge for the meal or concert.
PROMOTION SUNDAY
Sunday, August 7, is promotion Sunday in our children’s
and youth Sunday School classes. Children will begin in
their current Sunday School class and will be promoted
during the Sunday School hour.
FOOD PANTRY
Suggestions:
Mac and Cheese, Stew and
Canned Pasta, Canned
Tuna/Treet
PLACE IN PLASTIC TUBS
Y CORNER
by Michaela Smith
O Constructive criticism is hard to take. Even the
of leaders have a hard time hearing about their
U best
faults. This week the youth group looked into how
T we deal with constructive criticism. We asked each
other how we decipher between helpful and hurtful
H criticism. What should we take to heart and what
should we just shake off? Deciding when to listen
to people’s criticism is tough because not all
helpful criticism feels good when you hear it. My
grandfather is the best at telling me like it is and I
don’t always like it. He has broken my hopes, and
dreams with some of his feedback. It is not because
he hates me. He says it is out of love, but he just doesn’t
voice it in a way that my heart enjoys. So I have to listen
beyond the pain of my initial reaction which is not an
easy task. I hold back smart remarks and rash actions so
that he can voice his full concern. I could tell him to be
quite, because he’s rude in his delivery but then I would
miss out on the beneficial insight that can only come
from his life experience.
The youth applied this same mindset to the cop
shootings and the Black Lives Matter protests. It is hard
to hear the societal criticism of the black communities
past the tragedy of so many police deaths. It is also hard
for ethnic minorities to remain peaceful when they feel
their voices go unheard unless radical actions are taken.
Fixing systemic issues such as police ethnic bias and
minority societies’ distrust of the justice system will not
be an easy task. In times like these, God is asking us to
look to Him for guidance. God asks us to hold our
tongues/fists until we can hear Him beyond the pain. In
order to make the necessary changes to bring God’s
kingdom to Earth, we must be willing to listen to things
that are not comfortable. I am not saying that either sides’
actions are right, but I am saying that a societal criticism
has been voiced and that we need to look to God when
we decide to respond. So I ask you the same questions I
asked the youth…how do you decipher between helpful
and harmful criticism? What benefits are you missing out
on because you shook off criticism that you needed to
take in?
Grace and Peace, Michaela
Upcoming Youth Events
Wednesday, July 20th
Movie Night in FLC from 6:30-8 p.m.
Please call the church with updates for the prayer list when
someone becomes sick or their health improves.
Dianne Roberts
Mary Lynn Deere
Milton Rice
Charles Finley, Jr.
Bob & Peggy Mayfield
Bonnie Holt
Gene DeSaulniers—Lynn Young’s brother-in-law
Larry Voss—Ginger Voss’ brother-in-law
Lillian Snuggs—Mary Wells’ sister
Allen Hester
William “Bill” Troy—Cherry Robertson’s son
Naomi Rushing
Carol Hendren Disney
Please remember our homebound members. A list of
homebound members will be included in the newsletter
periodically.
If you have a child going off to
college, please let us know their
address or email. We’d love to
send them a church newsletter
every week. Call Karen in the
church office at 285-6454, or email
[email protected].
MISSION MINDED
As you travel this summer, please consider sharing the
travel sized toiletry items provided in your hotel room
with our Assistance program. We especially need travel
toothpaste, toothbrushes and disposable razors to round
out the toiletry items we have on hand. Through a
generous gift, we have some soap, shampoo, conditioner,
lotion, and some mouthwash.
All donations are
appreciated.
CHURCH DIRECTORIES ARE HERE!
Directories can be picked up in the church offices during
the week, Monday—Friday from 8 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Sunday, July 24th
UMYF 6:30-8 p.m.
Wednesday, July 27th
Ice Cream Social/Parent Meeting in the FLC
6:30-8 p.m.
Our weekly worship service on cable television
Channel 12, airs on Thursdays at 1 p.m.
FAMILY LIFE CENTER NEWS
UMYF Back
to School
Bash
Sunday, July 31
6:30 p.m.
1445 Rambo Rd (the Bradshaw Farm)
All UMYF are invited to join us for games, swimming,
slip and slide and more.
Bring a bathing suit, towel, and life vest if you have it.
ARTICLES FOR THE NEWSLETTER
Do you have information to be printed in the newsletter?
Please give your information to Karen in the church
office. It’s easy. Call—285-6454, fax—287-7870 or
email— [email protected]. Articles must
be turned in by Tuesdays at noon to be in that week’s
newsletter.
MEN’S SOFTBALL GAME SCHEDULE
It is softball time again for our men’s team. We won our
first game and are off to a good start. We would love to
see more fans in the stands as we go through the
remainder of the season. This is not only a good time to
cheer the team on but a good time for fellowship for our
church. So come on out to the games and let’s show the
other churches the unity of First United Methodist
Church.
July 28 6:15 p.m.—FUMC vs. Finley Baptist—Field 1
Aug. 1 7:30 p.m.—FUMC vs. Harvest—Field 3
Aug. 5 7:30 p.m.—FUMC vs. Presbyterian—Field 3
All games will be played at the Dyersburg Activity Center
ball fields located at 1101 Shelby Drive.
PLEASE CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE
● When a member of your family is admitted to the
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HELP ST. JUDE
Bring your canned drink tabs to the basket in the
Sellers class.
Sunday, July 24, 2016
Older Adult Sunday (green)
Hosea 1:2-10; Psalm 85;
Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19);
Luke 11:1-13
SUNDAY SERVICES
9:45 A.M. Sunday School
8:30 &10:50 A.M. Worship
Hosea 1:2-10; Gen. 18:20-32;
Luke 11:1-13
“Grace, Faithfulness and when
nothing else works, Prayer ”
No Evening Worship
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hospital.
When there is a death in your family.
When your class or group plans to use the church
facilities for a meeting or a function.
When either your home or business phone number or
address changes.
When a new baby arrives in your family.
When a member of your family leaves for college or
establishes their own residence.
When you change your name.
When a new family moves into your neighborhood.
When you feel the pastor, staff, or church can assist
you in any way.
Send form #3579 to The Word, P.O. Box 452, Dyersburg, TN 38025, FUMC
Weekly published by
First United Methodist Church
100 McGaughey, P.O. Box 452, Dyersburg, TN 38024
Church: 731-285-6454, Family Life Center: 731-285-4794
Web Page—www.fumcdyersburg.com
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