First United Methodist Church Brewton
From The Pastor

Speaking Love
Anyone who has lived for very long (more than 30 or 35 years) has seen extraordinary changes in our world….and the changes keep coming. I remember (and it doesn’t seem like long ago) that cell phones were reserved only for the well off and really connected people. When you saw that little antenna on the back windshield, you knew that that was an important person. Things have changed. Believe it or not, there was a time when email did not exist…forget about twitter….or Facebook or…… The world has most certainly changed.
For all the changes that are taking place in our world and in our lives, some things never change. The human need for verbal expressions of love put into action will never change. People need to hear caring words of love spoken to them. Did you say warm words when you were dating? Some of you were silver-tongued orators!
It has been my observation, however, that in many families the language of love has been lost or forgotten or snuffed out. It has been replaced by a language that is not only foreign to love, but often lacking in common courtesy and civility. Dysfunctional families tend to communicate with the language of silent indifference. Some speak more and more with the language of criticism and fault-finding, using a well-developed vocabulary of harsh and hurtful words. The tone of such unloving communication, even virulent silence, seems to spread like a disease through the whole family. Children quickly learn the unloving language of indifference, silence, criticism and emotional violence. When they grow up and marry, looking for love, they take the language they learned at home with them. They use it to communicate; and their children learn that language. This language tends to spread from generation to generation until something or someone breaks the cycle.
Here is what we know – people need love expressed to them. Time passes quickly and my prayer is that you will, today, tell those you love how much they mean to you.  

Blessing to you – Pastor Bobby


FUMC Updates:
TODAY, February 13, 2019
  •   KFC @ 3 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
  • Prayer Team @ 4:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday Night Supper @ 5:15 p.m.
(meatballs& gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, roll, dessert)
  •  Adult Bible Study/small groups @ 6 p.m.-7 p.m.
  •  Children's Choir @ 6 p.m.
  •  Children/Youth small groups @ 6 p.m.-7 p.m.
  • Adult Choir @ 6-7 p.m. 
  • Youth Council @ 7 p.m.

Sunday, February 20, 2019
  • The Nine Worship Service @ 9:00 a.m. (Youth Center)
  • Sunday School @ 9:45 a.m.
  • Worship @ 10:50 a.m. (Sanctuary)
  • Handbell practice

Acolyte/Crucifer: Trent McGougin
Nursery Volunteer: Dean Sasser
Children's Church Volunteers : Jennifer Gaugler & Lawana Madison
Flowers : Barbara Comander Mandy McKenzie
Ushers: Sam Loduca, Jerry Kelly, Jr., Jerry Kelly, Sr., Charlie McDaniel
The new church directory portraits will be made on the following: Tues., Mar. 12 th -Fri., Mar.15 th —–- 1 p.m.– 8 p.m. & Sat., Mar. 16 th —— 10 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
If you have not already please sign up for your appointment with Myra Tatano before Sunday service from 10–10:30 a.m., in the fellowship hall, immediately after the service in the Narthex, on Wednesday evening before supper with Mary Kathryn Adams in the fellowship hall.
Dear Brewton UMC Cooking Team,
Thank you so very much for the meal you Provided our congregation. Being able to share stories and share food has been so healing for us.
-In Christ,
Lynn Haven UMC
Upcoming Events: .
Monday, February 18th: President's Day-Office Closed
Wednesday, February 20th: Trustees Meeting @ 6 p.m.
Saturday, February 23rd-Monday, February 26th: General Conference in St. Louis, MO
Wednesday, February 27th: Burning of the Palms
Thursday, February 28th: Primetimers @ noon
Sunday, March 3rd : UMM Prayer Breakfast
Wednesday, March 6th: Ash Wednesday Service @ 6 p.m.
Youth Ministry
  • Sunday Mornings @ 9:50 a.m. – Breakfast and Scripture Study
  • Wednesday, Night @ 6 p.m.– Worship & Small Groups

Feb. 13:  Youth Council meeting at 7:00pm in the Youth Room. Discussion topics for this quarterly meeting are as follows: Youth Sunday/Fundraiser preparation, Summer options, upcoming important dates.
Feb. 22: February birthdays eat free at Whataburger from 7:15-7:45pm. All youth invited!
Apr. 6:  All participating youth and parents needed to practice in the sanctuary on Saturday at 10:00am. Fundraiser meal preparation will immediately follow in the kitchen.
Apr. 7:  Youth will lead worship at the 10:50am service.
May 5:  Senior Recognition Sunday. Information available in the upcoming weeks.

Confirmation Updates:
Feb. 8:  Confirmand & mentor trip to Jewish synagogue in Pensacola, FL. Please arrive on Friday at FUMC by 4:00pm. Mentors RSVP to Jamie Sanford by next Wednesday evening.
Mar. 2:  Please gather Sunday evening at FUMC by 5:30pm for St. Maurice Catholic church visit.
Mar. 8-10: Blue Lake for Bishop's Confirmation Retreat . Registration form & $40 due per person by Wednesday, Feb. 20. See Jamie Sanford for forms and/or further details, please.
Mar. 17:  Contemporary evening service visit. Location TBA.
Apr. 27:  Confirmands, parents & mentors needed to practice in the sanctuary at 10:00am.
Apr. 28:  Confirmation Sunday during worship at 10:50am service. Celebration with congregation to follow at 3:00pm at the home of the Adam’s family.
Please be in continued prayer for our Confirmands as they finish their final weeks before Confirmation Sunday on April 28 . Below are the names for the class of 2018-19. Notes of encouragement from the congregation may be left inside the golden box of the portico entrance.
Kinsley Byrd
James Feeley
Jenna Fountain
Sumerlyn Gaugler
Madison Kelley
Jordan Kelly
David LoDuca
Landan Madison
Trent McGougin
John Moore
Michael Morgan
Cassady Scarborough
John Wesley Sessions
Brantley Woodson
Paige Young
Mid Hi Winter Retreat 2019
Mentone, AL
Senior Hi Winter Retreat 2019
Gatlinburg, TN
Children's Ministry
Children's Classes at FUMC:
  •  Sunday Mornings at 9:50 am (Preschool, K-2, and 3rd-5th)
 
Wednesdays at 6:00 PM
  •  Preschool Small Group
  •  K-5 Small Group
  •  Children’s Choir

Wednesday, March 6th: Children's Council @ 5 p.m. in the Parlor

Blue Lake Retreat 2019
Children’s Volunteers Needed:
Sunday mornings for Children’s Church, Wednesdays for KFC, and Wednesday nights for Pre-K class. All volunteers are on a rotation schedule and are partnered with other volunteers. If you are interested, contact the office or email Angel Fountain at angel@brewtonfirst.org .
Community Food Pantry
We accept all food donations except meats, dairy products, fresh fruit and vegetables and other items requiring refrigeration. Your donations will allow us to continue to meet the nutritional needs of Escambia Country. Thank you!
Primetimers
February 28th at noon. Celebrating Mardi Gras in purple , green , and gold and prove to the world that we’re not old.
Prayer Concerns
New Prayer Concerns for Church Members:
Lynda Leigh Stringfellow; Ron Rikard; Charlotte Alverson, Gail Ladnier
 
Ongoing Prayer Concerns for Church Members:
Beverly Stark
 
New Prayer Concerns for Family, Friends & Community:
Mildred Boland, mother of Sandra Neely; Becky Byard, sister in law of Barbara Page; Albert Haas, son in law of Bobbie Stokes; Sharon Kinsaul, niece of Sammye Jackson; Junior Ray Strops, step dad of Rene Mathews; Etheridge Smith, friend of Carolyn Hart; Johnny Feagin, nephew of Marguerite Northcutt; Janet Heartsill, sister of Debbie Hardee; Dianne Brissette, friend of Bobbie Stokes; Jason Diercks, nephew of Bob & Carin Diercks; Marlee & Taylor Zimmerman Diercks, daughter & wife of Cory Diercks.
 
Ongoing Prayer Concerns for Family, Friends & Community:
Kim Taylor, sister of Faith Ellisor; Marie Howard, mother of Heath Madison; Betty Booth, mother of Shellie Carden.
 
Please check for ongoing prayer concerns on the back of your monthly calendar .
 
Partner Churches in Red Bird Missionary Conference:  Thousand Sticks UMC, Beach Fork UMC & Lower Beach Fork UMC, Pastors Robert Amundson, Dan Griffiths
 
Partner Church in Cameroon:   The Hope United Methodist Church, Pastor David Njie.
 
Missionaries in Cameroon :   Rev. Dr. Andrew Molindo
 
Others in Foreign Missions: Ben Roberts, brother of Tom Roberts.
 
Military:  Justin Blocker, Air Force, Good Fellow, San Angelo, TX;
Robert McIntyre Stokes (Rob) Navy Officer Candidate School,
Newport, Rhode Island; Robert Reynolds, Army NG, Kuwait; Carter Kelly, Ballston Spa, NY at the Nuclear Power Training Unit; Corey Rilling, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana ; Tyler Hyde, Ft. Campbell, KY.
 
U.S. Consulate:  Matt Wall, Baghdad
 
First Responders: Monte McGougin, Dylan Byrd, Heath
Madison
Stay up-to-date with FUMC Updates to your cell phone via text message! 
Join one or more of the 3 FUMC Remind groups via Remind app:
  • FUMC Children’s activities and updates: text @childfumc to 81010.
  • FUMC Youth activities and updates: text @youthfumc2 to 81010.
  • FUMC General Updates: text @umcbrewton to 81010.

Get CONNECTED…Volunteer Opportunities (WE NEED YOUR HELP):
Sunday morning greeters – weekly at 9:30-9:45am and 10:30-10:50am [need 4-6 for side door and parking lot]. Contact the church office if you would like to serve!

First United Methodist Church Brewton
820 Belleville Ave.
Brewton, AL 36426
Office: (251) 867-8051
Fax: (251) 867-8557