FIRST UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
New Curriculum, Kayaking Reschedule, Photo Invite
FUMC Newsletter 8/14/24
Worship
Topic: Eating Leftovers - Matthew 14:13-21
Speaker: Rev. Zach Moffatt
Time: 10:00am
Also available on WKSR Radio 100.9 at 10:00am, YouTube & Facebook Live!
Verse of the Week
Romans 5:3-5
Announcements
The Growing Tree would like to thank the New Creation Sunday School Class for providing funds to purchase books that accompany their new curriculum. The Growing Tree is very grateful for their involvement!
The Youth Kayaking Trip has been rescheduled for August 25th. Please RSVP to Mark by tomorrow night. Text: 931-371-7071
In honor of our current Sermon Series “God in Everyday Moments,” we are inviting you to email or text photos of yourself and/or your family participating in everyday moments to share with the congregation. This Week’s Topic: Eating Leftovers Email: info@fumcpulaski.com Text: 931-292-2159
Upcoming Events
Wed, 8/14 @5:30pm Social Talks Starts Back
Thurs, 8/15 @9:00am Circle of Care; 5:30pm RFD Packs Boxes
Fri, 8/16 No Events
Sat, 8/17 @9:00am RFD Box Distribution at the Ag Park
Sun, 8/18 @9:00am Sunday School; @10:00am Worship; @5:00pm Youth Group
Mon, 8/19 @8:15am Monday Morning Prayers; @2:00pm UMW Meeting; @5:30pm Table Program Meeting
Tues, 8/20 @5:30pm Wesley Sponsors Kona Ice Truck; @6:30pm Work in the Garden
Wed, 8/21 @5:30 Roots Meeting; @5:30 Social Talks
Welcome Our New Bishop
Bishop David Graves was appointed as the episcopal leader of the TWK Conference at the 2024 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference at Lake Junaluska in NC. Bishops play an important leadership role in ordering the life of the church and helping set the direction to fulfill its mission in the world. All are Invited to the Welcome Reception of Bishop David & Nancy Graves!
Here are some important details:
Date & Time: September 8, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (remarks at 5:00 p.m.)
Location: Brentwood United Methodist Church's Haney Hall (309 Franklin Rd., Brentwood, TN 37027)
Hosted By: Brentwood UMC, TWK United Women in Faith, Committee on Episcopacy, TWK Connectional Table, Cabinet, and Staff
A basket for cards of welcome will be available!
If you would like to attend, please RSVP using the link below.
What’s Up With Wesley?
Tuesday, August 20, 5:30pm -
Help promote Wesley on the Campus Green at the Wesley table near the Kona Ice truck. The first 50 students to check-in at the Wesley table will receive a coupon for a FREE snow cone!
Disciple Bible Study
Thursday, August 29th we will begin our Disciple Bible Study Class #1. Join us each Thursday from 5:30-7:00pm for the next 8 months as we read through and discuss the entire Bible--Genesis through Revelation. Books are on sale now in the church office for $40.00, but don’t let that stop you. If you can’t afford it, the church will help cover the cost. Join us as we dive deep into Holy Scripture, build relationships, and grow in our walk with Christ.
Theologian of the Month
Our first Theologian of the Month is none other than Rev. John Wesley (1703-1791). Wesley is most famous for founding the Methodist movement in England in the mid to late 1700s. While Wesley is known for writing thousands of documents in his lifetime including sermons, letters, articles, and even books, three of his most famous teachings continue to influence theologians and Christians today. 1) Christianity is not an individual religion. Wesley firmly believed you cannot be a Christian on your own. Wesley once said we are to grow in “social holiness.” Which leads us to number 2. 2) Wesley taught that our main duty as disciples is to love God and
The Methodists put love into action by building hospitals in mining towns, schools in rural areas, and orphanages in cities. Wesley called on Methodists to oppose slavery, long before the abolition movement in England or the Americas took hold. Wesley called on Methodist to abstain from alcohol, not because drinking alcohol is sinful, but because the more alcohol that was consumed, the higher the grain prices went up, which led to more expensive bread. In fact, Wesley told all of the Methodist societies that we must follow 3 General Rules: Do No Harm, Do Good, and Attend Upon the Ordinances of God. Wesley was notorious for teaching that faith is about connecting the head and heart. True belief isn’t shown by simply uttering creeds, but by living the way of holy love. 3) Wesley believed in a life-long process for salvation. Known now as the 3 experiences of grace, Wesley taught about God’s Prevenient, Justifying, and Sanctifying grace. Prevenient grace leads us to God. Justifying grace is us responding to God’s grace through Jesus Christ. Sanctifying is the work of discipleship, where we grow in God’s grace and mercy, deepening our trust in God’s goodness and love. Throughout our life, Wesley believed we could be made perfect in love—not on our own, but by grace—where God’s love is shed abroad in our hearts to where we “perfected in love.” As he writes in his sermon entitled “Scripture Way of Salvation,” “So that the salvation which is here spoken of might be extended to the entire work of God, from the first dawning of grace in the soul till it is consummated in glory.”
love our neighbor. Wesley believed in a practical theology. If our theology doesn’t lead us to love, we must rethink it.
Book of the Month
Our first Book of the Month is Good and Beautiful and Kind: Becoming Whole in a Fractured World. A simple, yet soul healing read, Pastor Rich Villodas tackles a problem we all have dealt with. He writes, “Hostility, rage, and offense is the language of our culture. How did we lose goodness, kindness, and beauty? And more important, how do we get back to them into our lives.” Throughout this book, Villodas weaves stories from his time as a pastor and the wisdom of the saints of our faith, into providing practical steps in how we embrace what God intends for all of creation: to live a life of goodness, kindness, and beauty.
Have You Read Any Transformational Books Recently?
Share your suggestions by emailing info@fumcpulaski.com with the subject line “Book of the Month.” Be sure to include the Title, Author, and an explanation why you like the book and/or how it helped transform you. You might see your pick as our next Book of the Month!
Opportunity to Serve
Prayer Shawl September 9th @ 10:00am in The Fellowship Hall Participants will meet to make prayer shawls for members of the congregation and community.
Nursing Home Worship September 9th @ 9:30am Join Alicia Gordon and Pastor Zach as they travel to local nursing homes to lead songs and lift up the elderly members of our community. Meet in the Fellowship Hall at 9:00am to participate.
Circle of Care Thursdays @ 9:00am in The Fellowship Hall Join Circle of Care in boxing & delivering hot meals to our neighbors. Anyone is welcome to show up and serve! No commitment required.
RFD Food Collection
RFD (Rural Food Delivery) is collecting donations in The Fellowship Hall. The item of the month is dried pasta & spaghetti. Please drop off pasta & spaghetti & other non-perishable food items on the shelf in The Fellowship Hall.