Crossville FUMC Newsletter Save-the

Crossville FUMC Newsletter
Crossville First United Methodist Church– the church with the window on the heart of our town.
Privilege of a Contemporary Sabbath
July 25 2016
Need to email a staff member?
Drew Shelley:
[email protected]
Sommer Worley:
[email protected]
Eliud Martinez:
[email protected]
Kimberly White:
[email protected]
Jill Kemmer:
[email protected]
Drew Shelley, Senior Pastor
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Shannon and I returned July 21 from our summer time away for rest and renewal. We are grateful for the privilege of this Sabbath time, and we prayed daily for
you while we were away. We missed you surely, and now look forward to seeing you
on our first Sunday back, July 24.
Thanks to the generosity of some friends, we spent our time at their home on
Ramrod Key down in the Florida Keys. It was a new experience for us, and one we
enjoyed.
We spent most of our time in Key West, eating good food and people watching.
Believe me, there was a lot to see! We made one 8-hour round trip to Miami just to see
the sights. Shannon found the most delicious Cuban restaurant in a ‘sketchy’ part of
town, but the food was worth the danger!
The highlight of our trip was eating the best Cuban sandwich in the world at a
combination sandwich shop-laundromat. Thanks to Sharion Mercer for the tip to this
unique place! We were frequent customers.
As I say each time I go somewhere, I thank God for the staff of our church. We
are so blessed to share ministry with these folks! I returned to my office on Friday July
22 with only a small stack of mail and just 37 emails.
Now, on to more pressing matters! August 14th is less than a month away, and
we’re making great progress toward our ability to Make Room for the folks God is
sending our way. Servant Rosters are being created, folks are being trained, and plans
are falling into place as we live into God’s call on our lives.
Please continue to join us in our 40 Days of Prayer initiative – daily emails are
available for you if we have your email – OR we can send a paper copy to you.
Know that I hold each of you in my prayers. Your faithful witness to the love
of God is powerful here in Crossville. People see Jesus in you, and their lives are better for it. Carry on!
Love , Drew
Carol Bond:
[email protected]
Rhonda Phillips:
[email protected]
Crossville FUMC
P.O. Box 752
Crossville, TN 38557
(931)484-3537
Website: www.crossvillefumc.com
Email: [email protected]
Facebook & Twitter: Crossville FUMC
Promotion Sunday August 7, 2016
Save-the-Date
August 14, 2016
Making Room…
8:30 a.m. Worship
Service
9:40 a.m. Sunday
School
10:45 a.m. Worship
Blessings on our children will rain down as
they assemble in the sanctuary at 9:00 a.m. on August 7
with parents, extended family members, and supporters
on Promotion Sunday
The recognition of children and youth deserves a special hour as the church celebrates their educational and spiritual growths. It is a time for gathering
and receiving blessings across the age spans of our off
spring and a time for praising their teachers and leaders.
Promotion Sunday is an annual event with
personal memories for many worshipers. In the spirit of
New Generation Ministries, the August 7 celebration
denotes one marker for the start of our increased focus
on children and youth in the Crossville FUMC congregation.
Crossville FUMC
FUMCNewsletter
Newsletter
Crossville
Page 22
Page
FUMC Next Generation Ministries
Want to guarantee
that your child grows into a
strong, committed Christian?
Few guarantees
come with raising children, but
you can endorse increasing the
Open Hearts,
chance of having an awesome
kid when you have a goal and a
Open Minds.
plan to raise your child to love
and serve the Lord.
Open Doors.
Certain Old Testament scriptures declare that in
only two generations the Israelites forgot what God did for
them. Lest we forget, we could
be one generation away from
godlessness as foretold similarly in Deuteronomy 4:9 and
in Judges 2:10: “And in time,
death overtook all that generation; and another generation
came after them, having no
knowledge of the Lord or of
the things which he had done
for Israel."
How do we stop spiritual negligence and denial today? Not wanting that to happen, we offer "Next Generation
Ministries”—a re-emerging
strategy. Our congregation’s
charge is to make disciples of
Jesus Christ for the transformation of city, state, and world,
but we must emphasize making
such disciples of our children,
youth, and young families.
Scott Looney and I,
co-leaders, knowing that we
must have a plan to
Mission:
get us to the next
level of growth,
voiced a mission
statement.
Next Generation
"Crossville First
Ministries exists to
United Methodist
partner with families,
Church Next Generation Ministries
caregivers and church
exists to partner
members to make
with families, caredisciples of the next and givers and church
members to make
future generations of
disciples of the next
and future generachildren, ...
tions of children, so
that they can make
disciples of Jesus
Christ for the
transformation of Crossville
and the World."
Our promise is to
work in partnership with you,
Doug Hensley
members of our congregation.
children. Our mission and
We will walk with you and
vision statements address the
help you in this journey. We
first questions that many peowill teach you, pray for you,
ple ask. In explaining our
and explain in detail what we
dedication to children and parare trying to do. We feel that
ents, they will want to come.
the more you understand what
Walt Disney once
our plans are, the easier you
defined teamwork as, “You
can tell others about Next Gen- can design and create, and
eration Ministries at Crossville build the most wonderful
First United Methodist Church. place in the world. But it takes
Collectively, you and people to make the dream a
we are a team. When a proreality."
posed work is difficult, compliOur church is ready to
cated, and important--such as
move to that level of reality
building a bridge, flying a
where many people want to
spacecraft to the moon, or
come to a wonderful place.
building next generation minis- We are ready to get off the
tries--people turn to a team.
bench and get into the game.
When a group becomes a true
Every Sunday we can feel the
team, it transforms into a
complex, adaptive, dynamic, Vision:
task-performing system.
Teams are groups, but not all
groups are teams. Therefore, ...to connect children
Scott and I stated a vision for
to Christ and to grow
this team.
"Our vision for the them spiritually … We
Next Generation Ministries
desire to combine the
at Crossville First United
Methodist Church is to con- influence of both the
nect children to Christ and church and the home
to grow them spiritually. We
to incite wonder,
believe that parents and
caregivers are the greatest
provoke discovery, and
influence in a child's life,
ignite passion in the
but we also know that they
are not the only influence.
hearts of children as
We desire to combine the
influence of both the church we teach them to
and the home to incite won- follow Jesus."
der, provoke discovery, and
ignite passion in the hearts
of children as we teach them
pull of the spirit and see God
to follow Jesus."
We want to connect
working in our church. We
children and others to Christ.
can feel that God is ready to
We want to collaborate with
pour ever more of his blessings
you, our church parents, to be a on each one of us.
positive influence in your chilOur church’s goal of
dren's lives. Within our vision, celebrating two worship serwe look to teach scripture, rea- vices provides space and opson, and tradition, and to genportunity to realize our vision
erate spiritual experiences for
of adding 200 new people or
children and young families.
more. This move on August
These goals will take time.
14 is our chance to be on the
Scott and I want to
ground level of a new and exmake sure that the congregaciting time.
tion understands what we are
The legacies we leave
doing and is able to tell persons reflect the simple things we do,
in the community what we
Continued page 3 Next Gen
offer to young families and
Continued: Next Gen
such as helping, teaching, being
present with encouragement, or
being a mentor. We may never
know the impacts we leave in
this world, but one day we will
hear Jesus say, "Well done my
child."
We need everyone’s
help in praying about abilities
and talents to share with the
Next Generation Ministries.
Together we can build something transformative, creating
beacons of light for this community. When you are ready to
help, please contact through the
church office or the email:
[email protected]
A challenging quote,
modified by one word, is from
John F. Kennedy’s inaugural
address. "Ask not what your
church can do for you, but ask
what YOU can do for your
church."
Crossville FUMC Newsletter
Page 3
NEXT
GENERATION
MINISTRIES
Crossville FUMC Newsletter
Page 4
Include Church in Your
Vacation
Whether your plans for
summer vacation include a brief
hide-away, get-away, or travel with
days-away at a bucket-list location,
you want to include the church in
your pre-planned package.
Pastor Drew Shelly informed us by letter July 8, 2016 that
FUMC is within its budget, but we
are not meeting our budget. Estimated income for funding budgetary
demands is falling short about
$50,000. The factors cited include
expenditures for several long deferred maintenance items and engaging higher numbers of people in
tangible ministries.
The stretch of days in summer, when many members take time
away, affects the level of stewardship through the weekly/monthly
gifts and tithes. Dips in the church’s
budget occur during the summer
months when congregants are absent
from worship services.
The Finance Committee
and Church Treasurer, Cathy Camera, exercise very close over sight to
managing expenses, cash reserves,
and designated funds. They forecast
increased giving when summer
changes to fall and when members
return with renewed focus and regularity to their pledged gifts.
As your vacation plans are
budgeted, the regular contribution to
your home church is important to
maintain. While the church building
and the rest of the congregation
await your return, what they keep in
place is part of your practicing stewardship and connection through an
even level of giving.
An additional suggestion
for your vacation plan is visiting a
local church along the way or at
your destination and worshipping
with that congregation. Thus, you
will twice include church in your
vacation.
FUMC Annual 127 Yard Sale August 3-6
John C. Brown
The FUMC Annual 127 Yard Sale,
organized by the Methodist Men and Associates, will be in the church Annex August 3
through 6. The dates and hours of operation
for the yard sale will be August 3 through 5
from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and on August 6
from 8:00 am to 12 noon.
Anyone who wishes to donate
items, such as furniture, toys, sheets, towels,
tools and appliances, should do so by
Wednesday July 27. We accept your items,
except for clothing and electronics, which
can be dropped off at the annex between
8:00 am and 12-noon on any Wednesday
through July 27. Afterwards, we need the
remaining few days to set up operations and
arrange the goods for sale during the popular 127 Yard Sale event that annually attracts value seekers among many vendors
along US Hwy 127.
We hope to increase the amount of
sales raised in 2015. The receipts from the
Methodist Men’s yard sale support scholarships for selected students who need assistance to attend colleges and universities.
If you have serviceable items or appliances in working order and no longer need
them, please bring them to the FUMC annex
on Wednesdays before noon through July 27.
If you have items that need picking up and
delivery to the annex, please call John Bockhorn (931-788-6346) or Scott Davis (931-3359936) for accommodations before the due
Ranching at C & T Ranch
Wannabe farmers and ranchers, city folks
and fun-seekers, persons of all ages and abilities
appeared as happy picnickers at the C & T Ranch on
Taylors Chapel Road Saturday, July 9. Hosts Cathy
Robertello and Tim Vandagriff invited members of
the church to their extensive grounds for a feast and a
day of play from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm.
The main course was Tim’s specialty—
Chicken Cacciatore with pasta catching the defining
sauce. A sturdy table groaned with side dishes and
hors d’oeuvres added by guests who brought food to
make a potluck menu. When the dinner bell rang,
folks gathered in a circle to hold hands, and paused
for a blessing lifted by Horace Burgess. Under a tent
for shade and sitting along tables set for the crowd,
members took leisure time to enjoy food and togetherness.
Cathy and Tim prepared for their visitors
by arranging yard spaces with fittings and equipment
date.
We can furnish tax receipts that allow
you to list your donated items. We thank you
for the items already donated and for other
suitable ones donated by July 27.
Your Yard Sale Team sincerely thanks you!
for numerous games and creative
activities. The warm weather enticed
bathers and boaters to enjoy the cool
pond with its varying depths for
swimming and kayaking.
Horseshoe pits begged for old-fashioned
tournaments of clanging metal, shoes hitting and
ringing the spikes. A farm tractor enticed people to
pose as drivers after they donned pioneer style garments for their fashionable looks. The possibilities
for various outdoor games meant that revelers had to
make time for shade tree resting and gossiping.
Cathy and Tim’s ranch is picturesque with
spa-like amenities that define rural comforts on the
Cumberland Plateau. Their invitation was generous
and their location was inspiring. Accolades fall
short, but appreciations
grow with reflections on
the fellowship.
Recent legislation has changed the date of Tennessee’s annual sales tax holiday. Tennessee’s sales tax
holiday will now be one weekend earlier than it has been in the past. Starting in 2016, and continuing annually, the sales tax
holiday will be held during the last Friday in July through the following Sunday. The dates for this year’s sales tax holiday
are July 29 through July 31, 2016. The new law did not change any other aspects of the sales tax holiday. As in prior years,
consumers will not pay state or local sales tax on clothing, school and art supplies that cost $100 or less per item and computers that cost $1,500 or less. Tennessee had its first sales tax holiday in 2007.
For more information about the sales tax holiday, please visit www.tntaxholiday.com. You may also search for
answers to questions or submit inquiries to the Department through the Revenue Help application at https://