Monthly Bulletin First United Methodist Church Visit us at: www.toccoa

CHURCH STAFF
Dr. John Brown
Gloria Mathews-Caldwell
Jennifer Blasingame
Robin Parr
Rev.Don Thrasher
Susan Akridge
Thank You
Senior Pastor
Church Secretary
Secretary
Music & Youth Director
Minister of Congregational Life
Children’s Music Director
Nikolai Peek
Organist
Traci Hornick
Custodian
Terry (Flash) Young
Audio/Maintenance
In the recent death of
my brother, Jerry Loden
our family is so appreciative of a church family
that supports us and
each other in times of
sorrow.
—Bob & Betty
Troup
Neighbors 4 Neighbors/Food Bank of NEGA are planning four (4) MFP's
again this calendar year ….. and yes, we would love your help !!! The 1st
one is THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19 ….. 10 am …. Please check your calendar
and see if you can help to distribute food that morning ….and please let me
know asap ….. As soon as I know who can come and more details, I will be
back in touch …..
Thank you for being who you are, for continuing to volunteer, and thanks to
you …. life is good
Dee Scarborough
Feb. , 2015
Monthly Bulletin
First United Methodist Church
Visit us at: www.toccoafirstumc.org
First United Methodist Church
333 E. Tugalo Street
Church Office 706-886-9446
FAX: 706-898-5150
Pursuing God’s Dream
When I was in the Eighth Grade, I wanted to attend Southern Methodist University when it was time for me to go to college. I wanted to go where all the Methodists
went! In fact, I even had a poster of the SMU campus on my room’s bulletin board. A
few years later, my dream of going to SMU changed when our parents told the rest of
us that we could attend any state college or university of our choice within the university system of Georgia. My older brother was attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology on scholarship. With five kids for our parents to put through school, we understood. That is why I chose to go to Georgia College (GC) in Milledgeville.
On the whole, my years at GC were wonderful! During my years there, I developed leadership skills through the Wesley Foundation and other campus activities. My
faith grew and it was at GC where I accepted my call into the ministry. Before my graduation, I felt led to go to seminary. I wanted to go where God wanted me to go. After researching several United Methodist seminaries, I came to the conclusion that God was
leading me to the Perkins School of Theology at SMU in Dallas, Texas. I applied, was accepted, and received a partial scholarship there.
After my college graduation, I enrolled at Perkins. Within a week, I received a
letter from my Dad. He said, “We were going through a closet the other day and found
the old SMU poster. Dreams do come true, son”. I originally wanted to go to SMU for
college. However, God had other plans. I got to go but for seminary. Since then, I
learned it wasn’t just my dream. It was God’s dream, too.
I am honored to join and serve with John, Robin, Gloria, Jennifer, Flash, Traci, and Nikolai on staff here. I am also excited as we all (congregation and staff) explore, pursue, and
implement together God’s dream for this great church.
God’s Blessings, Don Thrasher
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Dancing with the
Congregation
Sunday, Feb. 22
Tickets are $25 per
person which includes supper and
February Sermons - Dr. John Brown
February 1
“God’s Love for Me is Determined by My Behavior”
Luke 15:11-32
February 8
“God is a Conservative/God is a Liberal”
Luke 18-1-8
February 15
“God Wants Me to be Happy”
1 Peter 3:3-12
February 22
“Give it Up for Lent: Bitterness
Matthew 11:28-30
Welcome Celebration
We will have a welcome celebration for Don Thrasher on Sunday Feb. 1. The celebration will take place
in the Cheek Hall and there will not be any SS that
morning. The celebration is for our kids and adults.
Don will take a few minutes to let us know what his
goals and vision for our spiritual growth, community
awareness, ministering to the non-churched, etc.
Prayer Service for our Schools
In light of the recent financial crisis and cutbacks in our school system we will host a
community prayer service this Thursday February 5th in our sanctuary at 7:00. We will
spend some time in worship and prayer on behalf of the students, teachers, parents
and leaders of the Stephens County School system. Please invite your friends and
neighbors to join us for this special service.
The flowers on the altar February 1st contest.
are given in honor of Roy & Leah ColliMenu
er as they celebrate their 50th wed(starts at 5:30 p.m.)
ding
anniversary
on
February Italian Stuffed Shells with Bolognese
7th. Their family and son & daughter,
Salad Bar
Christen Collier and Kimberly Brandon
Bread
extend special wishes to them.
Sherbet
Tea and Coffee
Calendar planning session is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, February
8th at 4:00 in the McNeely Fellowship Hall. All Wings Chairs, UMW,
UMM, Older Adult, Young Adult,
Youth and Children's Programs chairs
are encouraged to attend and help
plan out the Church's activities for
2015. In advance of this session,
please provide the office with any
dates that your group will be
meeting or has an event planned. If
the event is not currently on the
website, office staff will add the information to the Church calendar.
Dancing at 6:30 p.m. Tickets will go
on sale February 1st OR you can
make reservations by calling the
church office or emailing [email protected]. Groups may
reserve a table in advace.
Contestants:
Katie Jones & Ethan Masten
Katie Akridge & Lauren Voyles
Gracie Young & Sammy Hamon
Bailey Dickenson, Rylee Dickenson,
Kaile Copelan
Kelllie & Greg Savage
Toni & John Brown
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Page 3
Music Meditation
Ushers For February
February 4:
February 11:
February 18:
February 25:
Mark Scott
Dusty Scott
Keith Whitworth
Elwin Northcutt
Menu For February
Baked Chicken, Broccoli Casserole, Rice Pilaf, Rolls, Tea,
Mixed Salad and Dessert Kids: Hamburgers, Baked Beans
And chips
Pork Loin, Creamed Potatoes, Sweet Peas, Rolls, Tea and
Dessert Kids: Chicken legs, Cream Potatoes, Gravy, Rolls
Baked Potato Bar, Bowl of Chili, Tossed Salad, butter, sour
cream, Cheese, Chives, Bacon Bits, Saltine Crackers
Kids: same
Bourbon Street Pork Chops, Cream Corn, Field peas, Rolls,
Tea Dessert, Mixed Salad
Kids: Pizza
Feb. 1:
Feb. 8:
Feb. 15:
Feb. 22:
Altar Guild For February
8:30 a.m.
Karen Keane, Chairman
Dee Scarborough
Glenda Bullard
Kim Randall
11:00 a.m. Hosts
Feb. 1:
Feb. 8:
Feb 15:
Feb. 22:
Altar Guild For February
11:00 a.m.
Kim Hudgins, Chairman
Pat McCollum
Beth Rutherford
TUNE IN FOR A ‘METHODIST MOMENT
Tune in to the “ Methodist Moment” on WNEG Radio 630 AM and hear a
short message from Rev. John Brown. This is a 60 second spot and could be
heard Monday, Wednesday, and Friday anytime from 6:00 AM to 8:30 AM
and from 5:00 PM to 6:00 Tuesday and Thursday.
Katie Akridge
Phyllis Byrd
Phyllis Byrd
Katie Akridge
J. B. & Elaine Hudgins
David & Melissa Plaisted
Leon & Debbie Kay
Ben & Gail Cheek
Early Service Hosts
Feb. 1: Toni Brown & Dee Scarborough
Feb. 8: Karen & Tom Law
Feb. 15: Heather & Aaron Plaisted
Feb. 22: Joni & Mark Scott
Early Service Breakfast
Thank You
“Thank you for the many cards, phone calls, and prayers during the time of
my mother’s death. It’s a wonderful feeling to have the love and support of
so many people.”
—Phyllis Byrd
Feb. 1:
Feb. 8:
Feb. 15:
Feb. 22:
Joyce Harper, Sue Batton, Annette Fisher, Joyce Lockwood
Patti Joiner, Sue Rowell, Beth Roberts
Becky Bohannon, Brenda Kelley, Maribeth Rice, DeeDee Dill
Betty Moore, Toni Brown, DeAnn Evans, Valeta Dyal
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Page
Page 5
Other Important Dates
Clary & Wilkinson Centers
Sunday, Feb. 8 is the worship services at the Clary and Wilkinson
Centers beginning at 3:00 p.m.
Memorials
In Memory Of: Mr. Jack Webb
By:
Keith &Elaine Watson
David & Lynn Cox & Family
John & Becky Southerlin
Buster & Vicki Smith
John & Paula Dickerson
Roy & Leah Collier
Good News Sunday School Class
Worship Meeting
Grow Meeting
February 19 at 5:00 p.m.
The Adult Council will meet on
Thursday, February 5 at 5:30 in
the McNeely Hall.
WINGS will meet and
Administrative Board
February 26
W.I.N.G.S at 6:00 p.m.
Administrative Board 7:00 p.m.
Sympathy
Our sincere Christian sympathy to
Jeff and Kaymel Webb and families
in the recent death of Jeff’s father,
Mr. Jack Webb on January 20, 2015.
In Memory Of: Miss Monteen Brown
By
Melvin & Barbara Savage
Trogdon Curtis Wesley S. S. Class
Bill & Linda Hogsed
Arthur & Marilyn Davis
Dr. Kenneth Schneider
Herb & Doug Masten
In Memory Of: Mr. Carl Hall
By
Trogdon Curtis Wesley S. S. Class
In Memory Of: Mr. Jack Eldredge
By:
Maxine Felts
In Memory Of: Mr. Herbie Smith
By:
Bill & Linda Hogsed
In Memory Of: Mrs. Ila Burns
By:
John & Paula Dickerson
Buster & Vicki Smith
Herb & Doug Masten
In Memory Of: Mrs. Pat Atkinson
By:
Gil & Sue Batton
In Memory Of: Mr. Jerry Loden
By:
Gil & Sue Batton,
Roy & Leah Collier
Bill & Linda Hogsed
Maxine Felts
Herb & Doug Masten
New Arrivals
Our Presence
Date
8:30
Sunday
School
Brett and Kathryn Sanders announce the bir th of baby gir l. Ressie Gr ace was
born Monday, Jan. 12, 2015. Ressie has a big brother, Jacob. Proud grandparents
are Stan and Beth Robers and George and Sylvia Sanders.
Our Gifts
11:00
Received
Budget
2015
9,543.00 717,622.94
Needed to
Date
Rec’d YTD
13,800.44
9,543.00
1/4/15
133
144
82
1/11/15
123
125
85
12,366.00
27,600.88
21,909.00
1/18/15
134
143
115
11,625.00
41,401.32
34,034.00
1/25/2015
142
141
114
15,789.00
55,201.70
49,823.00
Dustin and Allison McClure announce the bir th of baby gir l, Kinley Paige was
born on January 8, 2015 in Midwest City, Okla. Proud grandparents are Tony &
On February 8 the flowers will be placed in the Sanctuary by Clay and
Lynne Fisher in honor of the marriage of their daughter, Mallorie
Michelle to John Albert Godwin.