Therefore go and make disciples of all nations
  ...teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
Greetings!
The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. 

When I was in high school I played on the varsity tennis team. I spent many hours of my teenage years trying to improve my skills on four concrete courts located just two blocks from my home.
The last time I visited that city, one of the first things I did was drive to the tennis courts, hoping to watch others play and reminisce for a moment. But the old courts, so familiar to my memory, were nowhere to be seen. In their place was a vacant field, inhabited only by an occasional weed waving silently in the breeze.
That afternoon remains in my mind as a stark reminder of the brevity of life. One of the places where I expended some of my best youthful strength no longer existed! Reflecting on that experience later brought me to this truth, expressed by an aging King David: “The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him” (Psalm 103:15–17).
We grow older and the world around us may change, but God’s love doesn’t. He can always be trusted to take care of those who turn to Him.
Faithful Father, thank You for Your love that never changes! Help me to love You by serving You faithfully today.
In our changing world, we can always depend on our unchanging God.


INSIGHT
In the middle of Psalm 103 a potentially dark subtheme surfaces: life passes by all too quickly (vv. 15–16). As David poetically responds to this sobering awareness, we might well expect his song to become one of resignation or despondency. Yet the psalm remains joyful from beginning to end. Is David in denial? No! He frames the psalm, and his whole life, with praise to God, beginning and ending with this phrase: “Praise the Lord, my soul” (vv. 1, 22). The truth of God’s goodness provides the platform from which David’s whole life becomes a song of triumph.
Our awareness that life is fleeting need not cause us to panic or sink into despair. Rather, it can remind us that our life is in God. We find joy and meaning in singing His praises.
As seasons change and we sense life’s transience, what questions come to mind? Do those big questions cause us to reevaluate our priorities? Are we finding joy and fulfillment in relationship with our Creator?

Read:  Psalm 103:13–22  | Bible in a Year:  Proverbs 1–2; 1 Corinthians 16
September 9 @ 10:30 AM

If you cannot make it, you can watch the
service LIVE online at 10:30 am.
FYI:
Zacchean Class is on break until
Oct 6th. 
Please join Ages & Stages in the Parlor on Sunday mornings at 9 AM.
When Zacchean Class returns, Rev. Howard Sallee will be presenting Romans as a bible study.
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The church Nursery is now open and staffed by background checked and conference approved staff on Sundays, during worship, and Wednesdays, 6:30—9:00 PM, for bible study and choir practice.
Sundays nursery is for ages 0-3 and Wednesdays is open for kids ages 0-12.
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Parlor Kitchen Update:
It’s coming along but as with all construction projects, we’ve had some set-backs. One cabinet didn’t arrive and two cabinets were the wrong size and had to be reordered. Sets us back another couple of weeks! 
Oh well, so it goes,
Patti Gee
Project Manager
Activities for September 7 - 15:
Lunch Bunch returns. THIS Sunday, we will meet at O’Bricks Irish Pub,  427 12th St W., after worship. 
Join us every Sunday after church for lunch and fellowship. Each week we will visit a local restaurant. The restaurant of the week will be on Facebook, in the Friday weekly email and bulletin. Have a suggestion, see Tom Hillard. See you there!
Fairy tales can come true
It can happen to you if you're young at heart
For it's hard, you will find
To be narrow of mind if you're young at heart

If this sounds like you, come join us on Tuesday, September 11. We will meet for lunch at The Clam
on 59th , 1830 59th St. W. at 11:30 AM. 
For more info., contact Bev Clapper @ 756-9091.
A Grief Support Group now meets on Tuesdays from 6-7 PM. through September 25th. This group is led by Counselors Richard Vantrease and Catherine Sykes and meets in the Parlor. Your Church cares about you and wants to provide these ministries for you.  
For more information call Catherine at 941-730-7092.
Menu this week is Meatloaf

Wednesday Evenings...
Beginning Sept 5th, Fellowship Dinners will start back up with our Chef, Sam Simpkins at 5:30 PM. Check the Sunday bulletin or Friday email for menu. 
Cost is $7 pp or $18 for family of 3 or more.
Reservations requested by 4 PM on Mondays. 


At 6:15 PM, Pastor Clark will be leading GLS Next training in the Parlor. Come find out what it’s all about.
Blessings to my sisters of the South West District! Our next 2018 District event is scheduled for September 15, 2018 at ECHO Global Farm in Fort Myers.  

September 15, 2018 10 am to noon (Please arrive 15 minutes before the tour begins.)
 
ECHO Global Farm Tour
17391 Durrance Road
North Fort Myers, FL 33917
                                   
Tour: $10.50
 
Registration is required TODAY .

While this is a walking tour, please note there will be a golf cart available for those unable to walk the distance. ECHO also asks that all visitors have a refillable water bottle, closed walking shoes, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
 
The tour will be completed by noon. You may bring a lunch if you desire (we have access to a large screened in area until 2pm) or may leave for lunch at a local restaurant! There will not be an additional program after the tour.
                                   
Your attendance will be appreciated for this fascinating event! United Methodist Women members and any non-member guests (including gentlemen) are invited to attend.

Please call Joyce Shelso, 941-525-7094, or Pat Roberts,
941-896-5483, to register or with any questions.
COMING SOON:
September 16

Moving Forward meeting and FREE Lunch, after Worship on Sept. 16th. 
No Voting, just great information on “Where do we go from here?” 
Everyone is encouraged to attend. Please sign up for lunch at the Sanctuary doors, by email or call the church office.
There will be a regional gathering with Bishop Carter from the Florida Conference on Wednesday, September 19th, 6:30 PM at Harvest UMC, 14305 Covenant Way, Lakewood Ranch. 
He will speak and people can submit questions beforehand, followed by a reception. The theme will be the “Cross and the Flame” and being “On Mission Together” and there will be focus on Resilience as a way to move into the mission, vision and mindsets (in terms of core purpose, integrity and changing circumstances). 
You can learn more about this at: https://www.flumc.org/regional-gatherings-2018.

Boy Scout Troop 8 is having an Eagle Ceremony and Lunch on Sunday, Sept 23rd at Noon in the Fellowship Hall.
The congregation is invited. 
RSVP’s are  needed by September 16th. 
 
New Member Class
If you have been worshipping with us, and would like to learn more about First Church, or if you think you might be interested in becoming a member, we invite you to join us for lunch on Sunday, Sept 30th, following worship in FH. 
Participation in the class does not commit you to church membership, but it is an opportunity for you to find out more about the life and ministry of First Church and to give prayerful consideration to whether you want to enter into membership.
Please let us know you are coming by Sept 25th.
Congratulations!  Justin Halas has been nominated for the 2018 Champion of Prevention – Faith Based Recovery Award.  
His leadership in the addiction recovery groups, High On Jesus , here at First Church and Oneco UMC, is impacting lives and making a difference in our community.     
The Champion of Prevention winners will be announced at the 16th Annual Red  Ribbon Breakfast on Wednesday, October 10, 7:30 AM, at Pier 22 Restaurant , 1200 1st Ave W. 
If you would like to attend, please sign up at the Sanctuary doors, email or call the church office. 
The cost is $25.00 per person and due by September 28th.
MISSIONS AND OUTREACH:
Next Sunday, Sept 16th, is Mission Giving Sunday at First. Bring your blue envelope or one will be supplied for you. 
Each month the Mission Committee will highlight a ministry that is church supported. Your monthly mission giving helps support many missions.
High on Jesus , the drug recovery ministry and Hands Up to Victory , the associated non-profit organization that helps support people in recovery is highlighted this month. 
The Gathering, Homeless Ministry
’Gathering at the Water Fountain’  
This ministry is held every Sunday
morning at 7—8 AM. A full breakfast, listening to, and praying for the men and women that attend. They are given a lunch to go and can get a change of clothes and, or toiletries. Please consider volunteering or donating.
 
As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:  1 Peter 4:10 

NEEDS: MEN’S T-SHIRTS, LG, XL & XXL; RAZORS; ALL TOILETRIES
S amaritan Counseling Services is a part of our ministry at FUMC and is available for appointments on Tuesdays, 3-6 PM.
United Methodists Volunteer in Mission (UMVIM)
September 8 -  The Florida Conference Center , Lakeland

Are you interested in leading or participating on a mission team from your church or organization? Do you want to lead or participate on a team to Haiti, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Kenya, Sager Brown or somewhere else here in the states and be the hands and feet of Christ?
UMVIM Mission Team Training prepares volunteers to be part of a Volunteer in Mission team, to projects in the United States and around the world. The training will help the Leader know their role, as well as help the team members to understand their roles on the team. You will learn the "ins and outs" of organizing a mission trip from recruiting the team, to picking the location, getting support, staying safe, planning the work and much, much more. The training will also go into ways to make sure you are having a healthy impact on the community you are serving, helping you find ways to get involved in healthy missions.
Not sure if you are ready to be a part of a team? Come and learn - you will be well informed and a better team member!   Click HERE  to register.
Questions? Contact Molly McEntire  mmcentire@flumc.org .
This year, Centerstone is excited to present the 16th Annual Life;Story 5K/10K Run and Walk. This signature event raises critical funding and awareness for depression and suicide prevention in our community.
Life;Story will be hosted at  Nathan Benderson Park  in Sarasota on Saturday, September 22 from 6:00-11:00 AM with the 5K/10K races starting at 8:00 AM. While the subject is serious, the mood and atmosphere is full of hope.
Click on the balloons to watch First Church's 125th Anniversary Video. Check out what's special about our past, present, and future...
  First United Methodist Church of Bradenton 
603 11th St. West
Bradenton, FL 34205
941-747-4406
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