First United Methodist Church

Service Times

9am Contemporary | 11am Traditional

10 Ways to Act more like Jesus this Thanksgiving…

In lieu of a typical pastor devotional this morning, I was thinking this week about how we can be salt and light this Thanksgiving weekend to our family and friends. I don’t know all of your stories, and so I don’t know if there is joy and excitement wrapped up in your hopes for this holiday, or fear and anxiety. We all have family that are difficult to be with or draining to spend time around. We all have friends that make everything about themselves and struggle to find the positive in life. And so, in the honestness of that reality, I offer you 10 Ways to Act more like Jesus this Thanksgiving that I hope will make you both laugh and think twice.

10. Know that Jesus loves you just as much as He loves the family member that causes so much drama year after year. You can’t fix people; only Jesus can do that!

9. Wounded people wound others. When we are hurting, or lonely, or broken, we act out of that woundedness, and so extra patience and grace should be shared. Grace upon grace for yourself and others.

8. Bring enough to share. While Jesus is more than capable of feeding 5,000 plus women and children, don’t go in expecting that and buy enough or make enough so that there are extras.

7. Don’t be the one to bring up politics, vaccines, masks or the justice system. By all means speak up and speak into them from a place of humility, but for the love of all that is good in this world, don’t be the instigator.

6. Take pictures. Jesus would want us to remember the moments and mark the memories because life is short.

5. Laugh a lot, sing if you can, and give hugs (if you feel comfortable). We are the light of the world, but sometimes we take ourselves a little seriously. Enjoy life!

4. Slow to Anger. When a friend or family remember says something you completely disagree with, don’t role your eyes and shout, “Get behind me Satan…!” Instead, look deep into their eyes and remember that Jesus died for them too. Then maybe take a walk.

3. Model service and get the kids involved. Followers of Jesus are marked in how they serve others, so get the kids to help lay the table, place the silverware, carry the bread-basket and then let them pray for the meal.

2. The “Urgent Call” Trick. When all else fails, if the conversation turns caustic or if things get uncomfortable, you can always pretend you have an urgent phone call to take by leaving the table with your phone to your ear If not, just say, I need to be excused so I can go to my Father and spend some time in prayer… remember, Jesus did that ALL the time!

1. Remember this week is ultimately about Thankfulness. Write down 2-3 things you are thankful about each immediate family member you will be interacting with this week and pray that you will be given an authentic and natural time to share with them why you are thankful for them.

I hope these tips made you laugh and give you hope. We are in the people business and people are complicated and we are all figuring these things out together. I will be praying that God reveals Godself to you in a new way this Thanksgiving week!

AMEN

Show Me the Way I Should Walk In – Recap

What do you do when you lose your way?
Do you run? Double down? Blame? Wait it out? Settle?

I certainly hope you found your way to “Show Me the Way I Should Walk In,” a multimedia art installation and contemplative journey which was open for four nights in October. The Reeves Center played host as we modeled an imaginative approach to spiritual formation, something we take very seriously at the Center for Creative Discipleship. We are always seeking new ways to illustrate the path from humility to wholeness.

 

 

If you missed the installation, I hope you can get a firsthand account from one of our inspired guests, volunteers, or collaborators. We divided the journey into three parts: a centering practice of listening and walking through a burlap-and-hallway labyrinth, a contemplative encounter with video, and a collective response to our grounding question “What do you do when you lose your way?”

 

 

These responses show a bit of the candor and wisdom that was written and hung on our tree by participants. I also had rich conversations about mortality, adolescence, church backgrounds, and the ways in which Christ sees us and knows us no matter how lost we might be.

 

 

If you’d like to read more about “Show Me the Way I Should Walk In,” please visit davidbwitwer.com/artist. And I would love to talk more about this and other efforts of the Center for Creative Discipleship. Find me on Instagram @davidbwitwer29 or on Realm.

Photography by Sebastian Rojas. Additional photos by David B. Witwer.

 

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Meet Pastor Leah, Our New Director of Children’s Ministry

Panua – Post #4

Greetings from Kenya! Today is the third day in our journey to give our Pastors David Miller, Scott Smith, and Roy Terry a glimpse of Panua; the OVC (youth of Panua), the neighborhoods they live in, the groups that they now call their families, and the businesses they are doing to make a sustainable life for themselves and their siblings.

This morning we visited some of the businesses the youth are training for. We saw furniture making, welding, group gardens and a hair salon. We also visited the KCC group and took a tour of the community including the garden they farm for an income generating activity for their group. One of the highlights was the house that Panua built for Joseph. It is certainly the nicest house in the community and you can see how proud he is to show it off by the smile on his face.

After eating lunch at one of the favorite local establishments, Mother’s Kitchen, we went far into the hill country to see the home of George Munene. Most of you have already been introduced to George. He is the youth that we show in our Panua video (click here to watch) which explains how he lived with his 3 siblings in their grandfather’s house and had little to eat since he was only doing small jobs. Panua gave him some support of onions and potatoes. Within a short period of time he had doubled his crop and the amount of money he was making. He was on his way to being a successful farmer and grateful for the support he had through his participation in Panua.

Today, Larry Brown (Panua board member since its inception) and I witnessed how God has truly used Panua to change a life. George is one of the first Panua graduates. When he started in 2010 he was living in a mud house lined with newspaper. Now, 6 years later, he has a farm of 8 acres, which is large in Kenya, 6 cows, 3 sheep, chickens galore, fields of onions, maize, potatoes and something else. He employs 9 people to help him work the farm. He has connected solar panels to his house to provide electricity and has multiple rainwater collectors for irrigation. He now has a house, a barn, and several other buildings. George, his wife, and 2 daughters are one of Panua’s great success stories!

Larry and I have seen Panua come a LONG way. I think we were both overcome with emotion as we walked through George’s fields, petted his cows, took pictures of his beautiful wife with one of their daughters, and saw the face of a man who was truly grateful for what Panua has done. All we could do was just put our arms around each other and cry. Not only was George grateful, but we were, too. Panua IS a transformational ministry for all! God is good!

-Susie Rush, Panua Board Member (2010-present)

JANUARY CLASSES

There are a variety of options on our website. Some classes and groups are at church and some are off campus. Below are some new class options. Be sure to log on and see what else is available. fumcwp.org/classes


 

WOUNDED HEART SMALL GROUP BOOK STUDY

Jan. 11–Mar. 28, 7:00-8:30pm, Wesleyan 236 (Monday nights for 12 weeks)
Restoration Circle is hosting a study based on the book Wounded Heart by Dan Allender. It “explores the secret lament of the soul damaged by sexual abuse.” This is for anyone, 18 years of age and older and will be facilitated by Mary Ann Andrus.

LUNCH STUDY: THE CLOCK IS TICKING

Begins Wednesday, Jan. 20-Feb. 24, 12:00-1:00pm, (316 MFLC)
All ages are welcome to join us for a lively discussion of a “how to” approach to aging, with practical and realistic steps towards an inevitable process. Facilitated by Professor Jim Armstrong. No child care.

COVENANT BIBLE EXPERIENCE (PART TWO)

Begins Wednesday, Jan. 13 – Mar. 16, 6:30-8:00pm, (316 MFLC)
Whether you participated in Covenant Bible Experience Part I not, all are invited to join us for the next eight weeks as we continue on our journey to read through various sections of both the Old and New Testament. The weekly group meetings will allow you to discuss and better understand the scripture you have read and the ways it is relevant to our lives. The facilitators: Jacque and Michael Kormanicki and Janet and Jack Hays. Childcare is available.

Lay Leadership

Lay Leadership Announced for 2017

The Committee on Nominations and Leadership Development is responsible for identifying, developing, deploying, evaluating, and monitoring Christian spiritual leadership in our congregation. This year, the committee unanimously recommended retaining all of those who are current serving in lay leadership positions with as few changes as possible. Keeping our committees intact in the coming year will provide stability and clarity as the committees adjust to our pastoral leadership change and will help us to become more intentional and united in the way we operate. At our annual Church Conference on November 11, 2015, this recommendation was voted on and approved by the church members present. We are grateful for the service and commitment of our lay leadership, and we appreciate your prayers for their vital ministry.
Download the 2017 Lay Leadership pdf Here.

 

 

 

Family Promise: A Heartfelt Letter from Richard

Today is Labor Day and my alarm went off at a regular time. I am used to, by now, to get up and moving by 7:30 AM. The house is quiet as my wife and kids are sleeping. I started the coffee and breakfast. The smell of scrambled eggs and toast went all around the house, and one by one started to wake up. Luis was first, of course. He recently discovered the extraordinary combination of salty and sweet of peanut butter and jelly so he told me that he would pass on the eggs. I responded with a smile, but completely understood where he was coming from. Yahaira was next, coffee gets her every time. It is after a few sips that she starts realizing that she is up. Linda was last, also no surprise there. She wanted to go back to bed, but the eggs had her name written all over it. She says I make the best eggs in the world while opening her arms as wide as possible. I happen to agree.

What a morning! We sat at the table, looked at each other…

View the full article HERE.

 

 

 

 

 


 

Elevate: Night of Joy

Every year, Night of Joy gathers some of the biggest names in Christian music for an awesome time at the “Happiest Place on Earth”. Elevate took on Magic Kingdom and had a great time getting to know each other, eating turkey legs and listening to rocking, positive music focused on Christ. Our adult volunteers, who made the whole night possible, also had a great time. What we lost in sleep (we stayed out pretty late!), we gained in great memories.

UMCOR

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THE SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS. HURRICANE KATRINA. EBOLA CRISIS IN WEST AFRICA. HOW DO WE HELP?
The good news is – you belong to a church that has a system in place to help in situations such as these. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) brings God’s hope, healing and renewal to people whose lives have been disrupted by war, conflict or natural disaster. UMCOR provides humanitarian relief and disaster response to people in more than 80 countries, including the United States.

WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?
UMCOR is working with local partners to provide emergency food vouchers in Sicily and food packets and hygiene kits on the islands of Kos and Lesbos. Methodists in Italy have contributed funds for a migrant project called “Mediterranean Hope.” In Hungary, The United Methodist Church is a member of the Hungarian Interchurch Aid, whose volunteers have been working at refugee camps.
After the flood waters have receded, wounds have been tended, basic needs met, and the world’s attention has faded, UMCOR continues to be present by providing ongoing assistance for temporary relief, and long-term education, training, and support.

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:
Your contributions to your local church support your local church’s work and regional ministries. It also supports national and international programs, agreed upon by General Conference. All United Methodist churches share the cost of these ministries, with each local church being responsible for contributing a fair portion, or “apportionment.” This makes it possible for 100% of your UMCOR donation to go to the projects specified. There are no administration costs taken from the gift.

Methodism’s founder John Wesley encouraged his followers to spread the good news, transform hopelessness into hope and assist God’s children wherever they may be. When UMCOR donors give their time, money, and supplies, they join UMCOR as the hands and feet of Christ. Our own mission team just returned from serving at the UMCOR depot in Sager-Brown, LA.

To learn more, serve or donate, please go to umcor.org.

SOUL TO SOLE

Many thanks to Cheryl Loft who saw a need in our community, started our Soul to Sole ministry and has served faithfully for 6 years! Cheryl is moving on to other commitments, and Sandy Havron will continue the efforts of supplying gently-used athletic shoes to those in need in our community. Thank you Cheryl! If you have shoes you wish to donate, please drop them in the large red bins in the courtyard on Sunday mornings.