Wayne's Weekly Email #55

 Dear FUMC,

I hope this email finds you well.  Things are busy here at the church as we put the final touches on this Sunday’s worship and we finalize our plans for the fall. Here is what I will cover in today’s email:

1. This Sunday @ FUMC
2. Important Church Council and Finance Committee Meetings Monday
3. FUMC to Host Second Harvest Food Bank July 24
4. Memorial Opportunity

1. This Sunday @ FUMC

I am really excited about worship this Sunday @ FUMC.  We are continuing our sermon series, “Becoming Deeply Committed Christians,” by looking at the idea of loving God with our hands.  This, of course, will highlight our mission ministries here at FUMC.  Since Mt. T.O.P. is our most visible mission trip during the year we have invited our youth to help lead our worship service……and Whitney Mitchell, our director of Christian Education, will be our preacher.  Whitney and our youth will be telling you a little about their recent experience with missions at FUMC…..but they will also be sharing with you the many opportunities you have to be a part of a mission ministry and love God with your hands at FUMC.  I think you will be surprised by just how many mission ministry opportunities there are here at FUMC.  In fact, this Sunday during worship we will be announcing and exciting new opportunity for you to love God with your hands.

This is going to be an exciting worship service….and one very important to your faith journey.  So, plan to be here Sunday and worship with us!! 

2.  Important Church Council and Finance Committee Meetings Monday

On Monday, July 13, our Finance Committee will be meeting 5:30 p.m. and our Church Council will be meeting at 6:30 p.m.   The purpose for these called meetings is to hear a report from our Long Range Planning Committee.  

Over the past year our Long Range Planning Committee has been meeting regularly to evaluate where we are as a church, but more importantly where we want to go as a church.  They have been faithful to this process….and they have also been prayerful about this process.  On Monday night this committee, chaired by Joe Henry, will offer their first detailed report to our Finance Committee and Church Council.  If you are on either of these committees I encourage you to attend this important meeting.  If you are not a member of these committees I remind you that you are still welcome to attend.  Most of all I simply ask that you pray for our church.  We have some wonderful and exciting things happening here……and we no doubt have an exciting future.  However, the most important thing is that we work to become a place where everyone can become a deeply committed Christian.  Pray that we follow that vision as we seek to grow this church in the name of Christ.

3.  FUMC to Host Second Harvest Food Bank July 24

Once again FUMC will host the Second Harvest Food Bank Mobile Food Pantry.  We will host the wonderful event on Friday July 24^th.  This, of course, is the fourth time we have hosted this mission event and it has been tremendously successful.  The last time we hosted we fed over 300 families and 900 individuals.  Details concerning times and how to volunteer will be in your bulletin on Sunday.  This is a wonderful way to love God with your hands and heart…..and I encourage you to plan to participate.

4.  Memorial Opportunity

A couple of months ago we welcomed the Tyler and Taunia Green family into membership at FUMC.  Then, a few weeks ago, we announced the sad news that Kayla and Courtney’s (Taunia’s oldest daughters) father (Matt Hutto) who lived in Texas passed away in a tragic automobile accident.  Since then several of you have asked me how and where you might send memorials.  I want to share that information with you now.

Hawthorn Funeral Home
In Memory of Matt Hutto
307 West Wellington St.
Carthage, TX 75633

That is about it for this week.  Again, I hope you are having a great week.   As always, I look forward to seeing you in worship on Sunday…..

Wayne