|
|
|
|
Volume 30 - Issue 3 / March
- 2017
|
|
|
The recent tragic losses occurring in our community in the early part of this new year have touched so many lives. It is a sobering reminder, again, where we realize the frailty and uncertainty of this life. It is an event that shakes us and hopefully moves us to build our lives on things eternal. The real treasures and priorities in life are not our earthly possessions but as Jesus said...to store up treasures in heaven. It forces us to assess our lives and at least ask,
WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IN LIFE? WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IN MY LIFE?
Do the activities of our lives have anything eternally significant about them?
I mentioned in a sermon recently the 80/20 principle: 20% of the people do 80% of the work in most institutions, churches included. But reference is also to spending 80% of our time on things that have no lasting value. Perhaps shocking events will cause us to live more consciously with eternity in mind.
I think another thing about what I have seen is the importance of knowing how greatly we need each other in community. We might enjoy our privacy and independence and we put up privacy fences, which are ok, but the greater reality is that we truly need each other. I do not think it is by accident or happenstance that God has put us together. I am beginning to see this... not just for the church... but for our entire community. God has placed us here for each other, especially in times when we experience tragic loss. And, here I am thankful for the people God has placed alongside us so that we can offer support, encouragement and Christ's love in the midst of profound losses that we have, and will yet experience. It is good to be in community with you! Thanks be to God for all your efforts to help others in their time of need.
|
|
|
Join Us Sundays for Worship & Fellowship
Traditional Worship - 8:45 AM (Sanctuary)
Contemporary Worship - 11:00 AM (Sanctuary
|
|
|
A Note from Your Associate Minister:
Beginning March 5th, we will begin using four stations for serving intinction style (dipping the bread in the cup) communion. The ushers have been trained on how the new “people flow” will happen.
Please allow them to direct you. We will begin with the back pews first and move forward. If you would like to preview the flow chart for how this will work, please click here.
Each station will have available both pita bread (wheat) and gluten free bread. Unless you indicate otherwise to your server, pita bread will be distributed. Thank you for your patience with us as we work out the glitches and allow you to receive the sacrament.
Rev. Rebecca Rutherford
|
|
|
Lilies will decorate the Sanctuary on Easter. They are $10.00 for each name honored or memorialized. Please click on the button for a link to download the order form. Place the form and your check in the offering plate, or come by the church office to place your order. Deadline to order is Palm Sunday, April 9.
|
|
|
A new Tuesday Women’s Lunch Bunch Bible Study will begin March 7th. They will be studying “Present Over Perfect” by Shauna Niequist. There is a cost for the study guide.
If you would like more information please contact Michele Chapman at born2educ8@gmail.com.
|
|
|
Beginning April 5th Rev. Rebecca Rutherford and her father, Rev. Dr. Jim White will be co-teaching a course on prayer. This will be a short seven week series covering why we pray, ways to pray, listening to God and Scriptural study of prayer. Please click the link below to register for the class or contact Rev. Rebecca at rebecca@spanishfortumc.org. Space is limited so be sure to sign up ahead of time. We will accept sign ups until all the spots are taken.
|
|
Creed – Lenten Church-wide Series & Study
Every Sunday during our worship services we recite the Apostles' Creed. It is filled with our history and what we believe. For some of us, we can recite it without ever thinking about what we’re actually professing. We say it, though, as a part of collective memory as Christians. In our distracted culture, we are challenged with remaining focused. Creeds help us re-center ourselves individually and as a body of believers. They provide us with instruction, correction, understanding, healing, revelation, and transformation. What we believe matters. Therefore, Creeds matter.
Would you join us in a journey through the Apostles' Creed during the season of Lent, beginning March 5th? We will be preaching the seven Sundays during Lent on the major themes of the Creed and invite you to participate in this church-wide study. We will be using Creed, by J.D. Walt, as the format for our series. We have purchased these books for your individual use or to use with a group (Sunday School, small group, Bible Study, etc.) You can purchase these from the church office for $10. If you would like to use these for a study group, please let Rev. Rebecca know so she can assist you with the creation of a study guide in addition to the book. We are excited to remember together. We hope you will join us on the journey.
If there are any individuals interested in joining a group to study this book, please let Rev. Rebecca know by March 5th. There are some Sunday School classes and small groups doing this book together in addition to individuals reading it as a devotional during the season of Lent. We welcome the formation of any short term groups for the purpose of studying this together, as well.
|
|
|
SARA SHEPARD CIRCLE
Please join Sarah Sheppard Circle, Thursday, March 9, in the Fellowship Hall at 10:00 a.m. to hear Dr. Norman McCrummen speak on “Radical Muslims Justification for ISIS.” He says no one can understand the concept of ISIS without knowing the “Quran’s Verses of the Sword.” Dr. McCrummen had a Fellowship at the American University in Cairo for 3 years and holds a PhD in Middle Eastern Studies. This talk is open to all who would like to know more about this topic. Please join us to hear Dr. McCrummen and have time for questions and answers. For more information, please call Faye Hill at 625-1730.
|
|
|
Beginning March 19, during the Sunday School hour, we will be offering Financial Peace University for 9 weeks. It will conclude on May 21. This course will be led by Hamilton and Kelsey Moody. If you would like more information about the course, click on the button to view the video.The class will be held on the West Campus from 10:00 -11:00 a.m. in PD 102. Seats are limited so please register with Kelsey if you are interested in purchasing a kit (cost is approximately $100) or have questions, you can email her directly at kelseymoody1@gmail.com.
|
|
|
|
Confirmation
Dates to Remember
March 01 - Confirmands will participate in the Ash Wednesday Service at 6:30 p.m. We will meet in the Sanctuary at 6:00 p.m. to rehearse.
March 05 - Confirmation Class at 3:30 p.m.
March 12 - Confirmation Rehersal at 4:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary (parents need to attend)
March 19 - Confirmation Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Worship Service. Lunch will follow for confirmands and their families. RSVP to Beth Allen at beth@spanishfortumc.org with the total number attending.
|
|
CHECK IN & CHECK OUT PROCEDURES
SFUMC is proud to be a program that abides by the United Methodist Church's Safe Sanctuary Policies regarding Children's Ministry.
In an effort to continue moving in the direction of these policies, this is a friendly reminder of the following policies regarding the signing in and signing out of your child.
Policy Reminder:
ALL Children ages Nursery - 5th grade must be signed in by a parent / guardian at the start of programming and signed out by a parent or guardian at the conclusion of programming. To comply with safe sanctuary policies an adult is considered someone who is 18 years or older.
Older siblings are NOT allowed to sign in or check out children from Wednesday programming, Sunday School, Children's Church, or the Nursery.
Please make arrangements to accompany your child into the building to sign them in and out in order for them to participate.
Shuttle Revisions:
If your children are planning to ride the shuttle on Sundays or Wednesdays from the Main Campus to the West Campus, you will need to accompany your child to the bus and sign them in with the bus driver. For those children who are riding the shuttle from the West Campus to the Main Campus following Sunday School, a parent / guardian must be present to sign them out with the bus driver.
In addition, we ask that you be mindful and courteous regarding the time of sign in and sign out times. We hope that your children are excited to come each week and at the same time want you to have the opportunity to fellowship with others.
We thank you in advance for your cooperation in this effort. We want to ensure the safety of all children while they are on our church campus so that they can embrace their learning of God's word and grow further in their faith!
Please contact Jennifer Robertson if you have any questions or concerns regarding these policies at jrobertson@spanishfortumc.org.
|
|
|
|
|
March 01: Missions Spaghetti Supper Fundraiser
March 08: Soup, Salad, Subs
March 15: Salisbury Steak
March 22: Baked Ham/Mac & Cheese
March 29: Spring Break, No Mid Week Meal or Activities
|
|
|
Join us on Ash Wednesday, March 1, for dinner from 5:00-6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Dinner will be followed by the Ash Wednesday worship service in the Sanctuary at 6:30 p.m. There will be no other regularly scheduled Mid-Week activities.
|
|
|
Spots Available for Teams!
|
|
If you want to
enter your team
, please contact Joann Logan at 604-9532
or 626-1720.
The rest of us get to taste the varieties of chili in the Fellowship Hall and vote for our favorites. Tickets are $10 and members of the mission teams are pre-selling tickets or you can also purchase tickets at the door the day of the Cook-Off.
|
|
|
|
We are looking for volunteers and sponsors for the many activities taking place
at our annual Community Easter Celebration. Please contact Beth Allen at beth@spanishfortumc.org or 626-1334 for more information.
|
|
|
We are excited to share that we will be highlighting our Preschool Ministry on April 23rd. If you have a child or grandchild in this ministry, you won’t want to miss this Sunday!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bill Price - Senior Pastor
bill@spanishfortumc.org
Rebecca Rutherford - Associate Minister
rebecca@spanishfortumc.org
Candler Cain - Congregational Care Pastor
candler@spanishfortumc.org
|
|
|
Beth Allen - Director of Family Ministries
beth@spanishfortumc.org
Josh Howard - Youth Director
josh@spanishfortumc.org
Jennifer Robertson - Children's Director
jrobertson@spanishfortumc.org
|
|
|
Zack McCraw - Young Adult Program Coordinator
zack@spanishfortumc.org
|
|
|
Church Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday / 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. |
Friday / 8:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
251-626-1334 phone |
251-626-1325 fax
***when you unsubscribe you are unsubscribing from all email/electronic
communications from Spanish Fort United Methodist Church***
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
