FIRST UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
Worship Time, Casual Worship, Open House at The Table
FUMC Newsletter 8/28/24
Worship
Topic: Sitting in Traffic
Speaker: Rev. Zach Moffatt
Time: 10:00am
Also available on WKSR Radio 100.9 at 10:00am, YouTube & Facebook Live!
Verse of the Week
Announcements
There will be no Youth Group Sunday, September 1.
Social Talks will not meet next week.
Courageous Girls has been delayed until October.
Trustees will not meet in September.
The Back 2 School Picnic has been moved to September 22nd.
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: Sitting in Traffic
Email: info@fumcpulaski.com
Text: 931-292-2159
Events
Wed, Aug 28th
@5:30pm Social Talks
@5:30pm Table Programs Meeting
Thurs, Aug 29th
@5:30pm Disciple Bible Study
Fri, Aug 30th
No Events
Sat, Aug 31st
No Events
Sun, Sept 1st
@9:00am Sunday School
@10:00am Worship
Mon, Sept 2nd
Labor Day: Church Office Closed
Tues, Sept 3rd
@5:00pm Wesley Gathering
@6:30pm Work in the Garden
Wed, Sept 4th
No Events
Worship Time
At the beginning of this Summer, we transitioned to one worship time at 10am in hopes that it would increase unity in our church body. Thanks to your flexibility and dedication - it has done just that. In light of the overwhelmingly positive responses we have received regarding having only one worship time, Worship Committee and Church Council have decided that we will continue to host one service at 10am - with Sunday School beginning at 9am - for the foreseeable future.
Casual Worship
Casual Worship at The Table will begin again on September 15th. We will have games and fellowship at 4pm and worship will begin at 5pm. Our leadership team recognizes that our church can be intimidating to people who have never been to church or have been hurt by the church - The Table helps reach people by providing a more casual atmosphere to build relationships and get involved in the community. If you haven’t been to Casual Worship, or to a game night, we would highly recommend giving it a try... or come to The Table Open House on September 8th.
What's Up With Wesley?
Wesley students are settling into another year of college at UT Southern & TCAT. Please keep them in your prayers as they attend new classes, meet new professors, and make new friends.
Wesley students will meet again on September 3rd for food and fellowship. Thank you to the UMW group for providing this meal to our Wesley students!
We will be having a pumpkin fundraiser as soon as pumpkins are ready to raise money for Wesley programs and activities throughout the upcoming school year. More information to come!
If you would like to provide a meal for Wesley Student Gatherings on Tuesday, September 24th or Tuesday, October 1st, please reach out to Laura McMasters at 931-309-6156.
Disciple Bible Study
Tomorrow, August 29th, we will begin our Disciple Bible Study Class #1. This group will meet each Thursday from 5:30-7:00pm for the next 8 months to read through and discuss the entire Bible--Genesis through Revelation. Join us as we dive deep into Holy Scripture, build relationships, and grow in our walk with Christ.
The Table Open House
Haven’t been over to The Table yet? Come visit after church on Sunday, September 8th and see what The Table is all about. We will have food, games, and music to enjoy. During this time you can also take a peek at our upcoming renovation plans for The Table corner building - which will be starting this Fall.
Blessing Boxes
Did you know there are at least 3 Blessing Boxes already established in our community? And, these Boxes regularly need single, serve nonperishable food items, as well as personal hygiene items.
Take your items to one of the Boxes in the following locations:
Second St. Church parking lot
North Third St.
Philadelphia Seventh Day Adventist Church on East Washington
Or Our Church Office
Join the Explore Community group in painting our first box on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 5:30pm at The Table.
Theologian of the Month - August
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 love our neighbor. Wesley believed in a practical theology. If our theology doesn’t lead us to love, we must rethink it.
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.”
Book of the Month - August
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 transforming 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!
Opportunities 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 mac n’ cheese.
Please drop off mac n’ cheese other non-perishable food items on the shelf in The Fellowship Hall.