Ferris Heights United Methodist Church

Ferris Heights
United Methodist Church, Waxahachie TX
In God’s name . . . Build, Belong, Serve. It’s Our Legacy!
October 2016
Attuned to God . . .
Contact Information
108 Center St.
Waxahachie TX 75165
Church Office
972-937-2344
www.ferrishtsumc.org
Office Hours
8 :3 0 a. m. - 1 :0 0 p . m.
Mo n d a y - Frid a y
Our Staff
R e v . C a r o l Ro b e r t s
P asto r
C a rol_ Rob er ts2011 @
s b c glob al.n e t
9 7 2- 9 2 3-0 0 1 9
Dawn Davis
Organist
Shannon Goretska
Youth Director
Mary Lou Shipley
Choir Director
Angie Merrell
P ia ni st
Lisa Rodriguez
C u sto d ia n
Angie Heck
Secr et ar y
FH UM C @ sb c g lo b a l. ne t
Melanie Marrs
Abby Machuca
Nursery
After the soaring heat of summer, one of the things I look forward to are cool
autumn nights. When the temperatures dip below 70 degrees, I love to open the
window by my bed before I snuggle under the covers. I relish taking long, slow
breaths of cool air as I settle down. With the window open I am serenaded with a
variety of sounds: the pulsing chirps of a whole chorus of crickets, the occasional
barks of neighborhood dogs, the repeating sound of a freight train whistle, and the
crunching sound of tires rolling up and down the pavement on Brown Street. I find
that those sounds often influence my bedtime prayers in giving thanks to God—
thanks for seasonal changes, the air we breathe, the diversity of animals, the
unhindered transport of goods, the freedom of travel, and peaceful rest in an amazing
world God created. Somehow with the window open, my senses are sharper in
feeling God’s presence around me.
As I am attuned to the night sounds as reminder of God’s presence, I am aware
that I often shut the window on God. I close the windows of my mind and click the
locks in place so nothing can pry open my heart. I pull down the blinds to further
block the flow of God’s Spirit into my soul. Why? The reasons run the gamut from
despair and loneliness to overconfidence and self-sufficiency. They change from
day to day and even moment by moment.
I realize that I am not alone in these feelings. They are portrayed in the news,
social media, and daily interactions in the community and with family, friends, and
you in this congregation. There are many ways we distance ourselves from God,
who desires our love with our whole mind, heart, and soul.
One way back to God is through an intentional disciple of reflection. One model
I am revisiting is Ignatius’ Examen.1 This is a daily prayerful reflection on our
responses to the events of the day. It’s purpose is to see God’s presence and discern
God’s direction in our lives. In a comfortable, relaxing setting the Prayer of Examen
takes about 15 minutes and involves 3 parts.
One, ask God to bring to your awareness the moment today for which you are
most grateful. If you could r elive one moment, which one would it be? When
were you most able to give and receive love today? Ask yourself what was said and
done in that moment that made it so good. Breathe in the gratitude you felt and
receive life again from that moment.
Two, ask God to bring to your awareness the moment today for which you are
least grateful. When wer e you least able to give and r eceive love? Ask your self
what was said and done in that moment that made it so difficult. Relive the feelings
without trying to change or fix it in any way. Take deep breaths and let God’s love
fill you just as you are.
Three, give thanks for whatever you have experienced. It might be helpful to
record your thoughts in a journal. Rereading these notes will help you see God’s
grace at work in your life even when things seem impossible.
If possible, share the insights of your reflections regularly with a friend or loved
one. This sharing connects us not only with God but others as well. Together we
can feel and act on God’s presence and direction.
God’s blessings! Pastor Carol
1
More info on Ignatius’ Examen is available at http://prayer-center.upperroom.org/resources/resourcesarticles/53.
WOW is coming October 16
th
October 2016
!
What is Worshiping Outside Walls? WOW
Sunday is dedicated to going outside our church to
serve our community through various service projects,
and worshiping with those who are homebound or
reside in an assisted living center. WOW began
several years ago in the spirit of God being
everywhere, all the time, not just in our church
building on Sunday morning. FUMC Waxahachie,
Central Presbyterian Church, Ferris Heights UMC, El
Bethel Baptist Church, and God’s City, God’s Church
are partnering to WOW the community!! Together, we
will bring worship out of our buildings to share God’s
love!
You can sign up two ways: Go online to:
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F044DAFAD23A02worship and sign up for the project you would like to
do! OR fill out a registration form and place it in the
offering plate or turn into the church office. Please
sign-up by October 5!!
WOW Sunday looks like this:
 8:30 am—Breakfast and short commissioning in the
FUMC Family Life Center, 505 West Marvin Ave.
 9:15 am—Depart for worship/service project sites
 12:00 pm—Most projects are completed at this time.
All Saints Sunday
October 30, 2016
10:00 a.m. worship in the Sanctuary
Lunch in Wesley Hall following worship
Our worship service includes a time of
remembrance for those who have gone on to glory
before us. As is our custom, we will remember church
members and former church members who have died
in the past year by name:
Ida Duncan
Bobby Howard
Bonnie Johnston
Viola Fuller
Fritz Friday
We give thanks for the legacy that these saints
have passed on to us through Ferris Heights United
Methodist Church.
Families will be our special guests for worship and
the potluck lunch afterwards. The lunch is hosted by
the Adult Ministry Committee.
Page 2
Annual Forecasts and Assessments
October is a busy month for church leaders,
ministry groups, and administrative committees in
preparing forecasts for 2017 and completing annual
Charge Conference reports. This important work
helps our church assess the vitality of our mission and
ministries. The reports help this congregation set
directions and goals for the coming year which align
with our vision statement—In God’s Name . . . Build,
Belong, Serve. It’s Our Legacy! Individual ministry
groups and committees are in the process of meeting
to complete their reports (see calendar on page 5).
Below is the overall timeline:
Date Event/deadline
10/11 Due date—Ministry & Budget Forecasts for 2017
10/17 Due date—Charge conference report from
administrative committees
10/25 Administrative Council & Council on Ministries
meeting to discuss and approve reports
10/27 Due date—all Charge Conference forms and
reports to the conference office
11/13 East District Charge Conference, 3:00-5:00 p.m. at
Trinity UMC in Arlington
Leader Nominations
Part of this process involves choosing leaders for
2017. Everyone is encouraged to pray for the Holy
Spirit’s guidance is raising effective leaders and team
members to guide our church. Share your insights
with the Nominations Committee: Nancy Cannaday,
Chris Buse, Ruth Shugart, and Pastor Carol.
Also pray to discover where God is calling you to
serve in the this community of faith.
Embracing Ex-offenders
I would do anything to bring a lost soul to Christ!
Some of us were discussing prisoners served by our
Kairos team and the ex-offenders who have visited our
services. Are they welcome here?
As the poet said, “Stone walls do not a prison
make nor iron bars a cage.” As I said, “I would do
anything to bring a lost soul to Christ!”
Patsy Thompson
A small group of persons feel God’s calling to
reach out and embrace ex-offenders and their families.
If you are interested in joining the conversation about
this, accept this invitation to discussion on Sunday,
October 23, after worship (11:30) in Wesley Hall. For
more information, see Scott or Deborah Green, Gary
Bishop, Ed Love, Patsy Thompson, Ross Clayton, or
Rev. Carol Roberts.
October 2016
Hot Dogs! Get Your Hot Dogs!
Join us October 23 & November 20 after worship
for a hot dog lunch. Ruth & Walter Shugart will
prepare hot dogs and chips. You can either stay and
eat, or wrap your dogs to go. Classes or groups
providing supplies for upcoming hot dog Sundays are:
Date
Class/Group
10/23
11/20
UMW
Fellowship Class
3rd Grade Adopt-a-Class Adventures
Mrs. Cain’s 3rd grade students discussed
interviewing skills in anticipation of meeting a new
friend. On September 28, they put their skills to use
as they asked prepared questions to get to know their
class adopter, Pastor Carol.
Again this year on behalf of FHUMC, Pastor Carol
has signed up as WISD partner in education and has
adopted a 3rd grade class at Northside Elementary
School, just a block from the church. She plans to go
weekly to Mrs. Cain’s class to provide enrichment
activities for the students. These activities might
include a game, tutoring, reading, or creative project.
Pastor Carol also will help with special functions of
the class. For example, she will be accompanying the
class in October on their walking field trip to
downtown Waxahachie, and later she will help with
the 3rd grade holiday craft day.
Pastor Carol has been a part of the Adopt-a-Class
program since 2012. This program is a mutually
beneficial partnership between local businesses and
community organizations with classrooms in WISD.
WISD Adopt-a-Class seeks to actively engage the
community in the learning experiences in the schools.
Through this partnership, students learn more about
their community and benefit from the unique skills
and resources of their adopters.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study
10:15-11:30 a.m. ~ Friendship Classroom/102

As Christians, we talk a lot about faith. Jesus did,
too. This month we will examine several lessons on
faith that come from Luke, chapters 17 and 18. As we
study, we will ponder these questions: How does Jesus
define and describe faith? Who displays faith? How
do we apply these faith lessons in our lives as Jesus’
disciples?
October 4
Luke 17:1-10
October 11
Luke 17:11-19
October 18
Luke 18:1-8
October 25
Luke 18:9-14
Page 3
UMW Recognition
On an annual basis for many years, local UMW
units present offer special recognition. This year on
UMW Sunday, September 25, UMW president Ruth
Shugart announced the following:
 Gift to mission—honors Deborah & Scott
Green, David & Cheryl Lundeen, & Ed Love for
their work in the Kairos Prison Ministry
 Burning of the Candle—Jo Johnson, Kathryn
Harriman
 Gift in Memory—Ruth Parten, Ruth Gillespie
& Bonnie Johnston
 UMW Pin—Annie Johnson
On October 17 the UMW meeting will be at the
home of Kathryn Harriman, 7:00 p.m.
Youth News
Sunday Night Youth Meetings start at 4:30 p.m.
Come for a lesson and snack time.
The youth reprised their puppet show from last
spring and presented it on September 17 for the
residents of Pleasant Manor. Among those in the
audience were our own Wes Wright and Anita
Wheeler.
With the late summer rain, the raised garden beds
are still producing herbs, egg plant, and squash. Some
new fall plantings have spouted.
Be on the lookout for more upcoming youth events
including registration for Mid-Winter Retreat in
February.
Sacrament of Holy Baptism
Danielle Holbrook
September 4, 2016
October 2016
Mission Spotlights
Page 4
Celebrating with
Healthy Women,
Healthy Liberia
We have been plugging away at
with so many projects simultaneously
it has been quite a feat. Our church
building is finally having window bars
installed which is so necessary to secure the continued
investment we make inside. We are so excited that
when these bars are completed, we will see the 1st
floor come to completion quickly. We anticipate once
our kitchen is completed, growth will occur - it all
revolves around food- spiritual and physical which is
awesome!
Great Crowd as we watched the Jesus Film on a
little iPad mini. Everyone loved it! Running Average
of 65 every Sunday morning! Folks love the fact that
we now have a library installed and that it is theirs!
Great beginnings and looking forward to accelerating
this ministry!
* Excerpt from September 2016 The Panama Pipeline
Waxahachie CARE—Cornbread Mix
This year CARE’s goal is to put together 800-900
family dinner bags for the Thanksgiving, Christmas
holidays and for the WISD Night of Wonders.
FHUMC has committed to provide 400 cornbread
mixes. There are Waxahachie CARE donation bins in
the sanctuary foyer, in the education building by the
stairs and in Wesley Hall. Packaged mixes and
monetary donations are welcome (mark donations:
Waxahachie CARE—holiday dinners).
Sporting Clays Tournament
benefiting Daniel’s Den
Friday, November 11
Ellis County Sportsman Club




$525 entry fee per team of 5 shooters
8:30 am—registration; 9:00—shotgun start
Prizes, raffle, lunch provided
Sponsorships available
For more info & registration forms, see Pastor Carol.
Second Mile Giving—
September Report

Waxahachie Care—37 lbs
of food
A dream of Dr.
Chris Hena has finally
been realized with the
opening of the new
health center in Kakata, Liberia. Liberia’s Vice
President Joseph N. Boakai was present to formally
dedicate the center.
After treating patients at her mini health clinic at
her residence, the new facility has plenty of room to
support many services—pharmacy, dental department,
pediatric ward, eye department and an X-ray room,
rooms for adult screening, and diagnostic labs. There
is a triage area for screening patients before they are
allowed into the main health center.
According to a press
release
about
the
dedication1, Dr. Chris
stated that 95 percent of
her activities at the
health
center
will
primarily
focus
on
reducing
the
many
health
issues
that
women face in the country. She also disclosed that the
mean age of Liberian mothers ranges from 12 to 16.
This age factor is not only very dangerous to their
health, but also contributes to the increase in maternal
mortality and neonatal deaths in the country.
1“
Liberia: Women's Health to Feature Prominent At New Kakata Modern Health
Center”, available from http://allafrica.com/stories/201608220934.html
Stewardship Meets Vision
Our vision statement—In God’s name . . . Build,
Belong, Serve. It’s our legacy!—captures the
concept of stewardship. Stewardship encompasses
the giving of time, talents, skills, spiritual gifts, and
resources to honor God in all that we do as we create
a legacy of gratitude for God’s incredible generosity.
In response to that generosity, we have the privilege
to act and give generously. Besides, stewardship is
part of our DNA and the primary task God gave us
when humanity was created (see Gen. 1:28, 2:15).
This year our annual stewardship emphasis will
begin on October 23. Over the next four weeks we
will
explore and discern our individual and
collective responsibilities of stewardship for this era
and mission field. In addition to monetary pledges
to resource ministries, each person will be asked to
complete a survey of talents, skills, spiritual gifts,
and resources. A dedication celebration will take
place in worship on November 13.
October 2016
Attendance / Birthdays / Calendar
Page 5
Sunday Leaders for October
Worship Leaders:
Oct. 2
Oct. 9
Oct. 16
Oct. 23
Oct. 30
SEPTEMBER ATTENDANCE
Sunday Trustee:
Ann Moir
open
open
open
Nancy Cannaday
Sunday
For the Month:
Mike James
Worship leaders are needed for future months. Sign up
on the bulletin board by the stairs or contact Lay Leader
Chris Buse. The Sunday Trustee is the contact person in
case of facility problems & security issues.
Thank you
Thank you so much, ladies, for your contribution
of Box Tops and Labels.
Sheryl Marshall, McCurdy Ministries
Thanking God for you, all for the smiles you bring
and the sweet blessing of friendship we enjoy. Thanks
for al the prayers and thoughts.
Love to all, Elwanda Pevehouse
ECCHO is so very thankful for your kindness and
your service. Your service through ECCHO to the
local community is such a blessing.
Wendy Johnson, ECCHO
DeCorellis Emmaus Gathering
1st Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m.
 October 4
 November 1
FUMC Ennis
God’s House/Lone Elm
Happy Bir thday!
October
Nina Loftis
Vicky Dyess
Louise La Nier
Braxton Baker
LaJoyce Brown
Wes Wright
Greg Aday
Conner Loveless
Mitchell Adams
Mary Jo Odom
Bob Fitch
Dylan Baccus
Allie Thomas
Kaity Kelsey
Jimmy Dyess
Harold Pointer
03
04
04
06
11
12
13
13
15
19
23
24
24
27
29
31
Melinda Baker
Patricia Kelsey
Kara Pinkerton
Joe Ben Aday
Jo Johnson
Eason Green
Angie Heck
Elwanda Pevehouse
Carolyn Clayton
Judy Munoz
Elizabeth Almond
Tommy Cannaday
Kevin Hugghins
Janice James
Gavin Childs
Marilyn Adlof
Reese Pinkerton
George Lawton III
Emma Almond
Sept. 4
Sept. 11
Sept. 18
Sept. 25
01
01
01
02
04
05
05
07
08
10
11
13
14
16
20
21
21
24
25
53
54
62
79
Sunday School:
42
50
58
63
Finance Update: September, 2016
Giving—budget, Lord’s Festival, etc. =$9,919
Operating Expenses—Pastor Compensation, Salaries,
Utilities, Programming & Connectional Giving = $14,064
Connectional Giving paid for 2016—9/10ths
Calendar of Events
Weekly recurring:
Sunday School
Worship
Youth
Quilting
Bible Study
Intercessory Prayer
Choir practice
Sunday, 9:00 am.
Sunday, 10:00 am.
Sunday, 4:30 pm.
Monday & Wednesday, 10:00 am.
Tuesday, 10:15 am.
Wednesday, 6:30 pm.
Wednesday, 6:00 p.m.
Community Groups
NA (Narcotics Anonymous): Group Support—M, Tu, Th, F, & Sa, 8:009:00 p.m.; M noon-1:00 p.m. Birthday party/potluck last Th of
month, 7:00 p.m.
Daniel’s Den Board of Directors: Planned meetings
Habitat For Humanity of Ellis County: Last Tu. of the Month, 7:00 p.m.
Girl Scout Troop #9339: 1st & 3rd M —6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (Wendy Shappard)
Girl Scout Troop #5226: Th 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (Misty Scott)
Girl Scout Troop #5530: M bi weekly, 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. (Jennifer Bueno)
Ellis County Christian Home School Organization (ECCHO)—Board
meeting: 1st Thurs. of each month, 7:00 p.m. August 13—School
Convention
Phoenix Repertory Players: October: T, W, Th, 3:30p to 7:30 P
Monthly:
November
Worship:
Oct. 4
Oct. 6
Oct. 11
Oct. 13
Oct. 13
Oct. 16
Oct. 17
Oct. 18
Oct. 19
Oct. 19
Oct. 23
Oct. 23
Oct. 25
Oct. 27
Oct. 30
Nov. 13
Cut out and place on your fridge
DeCorEllis Emmaus, FUMC Ennis
Trustee Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
Ministry & Budget Forecasts due
Nominations, 5:15 p.m.
Finance meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Worship Outside the Walls Sunday
UMW, 7:00 p.m., Kathryn Harriman’s home
Finance meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Golden Teens Luncheon, 11:30 a.m.
SPRC, 7:00 p.m.
Hot Dog Sunday, after worship
Embracing Ex-Offenders, 11:30 a.m.
Administrative Council & Council on
Ministries, 6:30 p.m.
Charge Conference forms due to Conference
All Saints Sunday & Luncheon
Charge Conference, 3:00 p.m. at Trinity UMC
in Arlington
October 2016
Page 6
Ask them about Spiritual Gifts! Study participants included Patsy
Lord’s Day Festival 2016
Amy Cate,
Winner of
Quilt
Drawing
RETURNED SERVICE REQUESTED
108 Center Street
Waxahachie, TX 75165
Thompson, Lea Johnson, Deborah Green, Scott Green, Jo Johnson, Karen
Lawton & Kathryn Harriman; not pictured is Ruth & Walter Shugart. This
recent study was led by Rev. Carol Roberts and Chris Buse.
NON PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT #25
WAXAHACHIE, TX 75165