Crosswinds Newsletter
May 20, 2020 I Volume 515
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Greetings Church,
The big question being asked in churches all across our nation is this: “When are we coming back?” This is a question to which there are many opinions and no easy answers. At the end of April, the Administrative Council made the decision to suspend in-person services through May 31
st
. The motivation behind that decision was to protect our church family. We wanted to do everything we could to ensure that our people were safe, even if that meant we refrained from gathering for a time. During that session, we also set another meeting on May 26
th
to consider the next steps for our church.
Before the council meets this next week, we want to give you an opportunity to share your thoughts. We’re distributing an online survey, which is attached at the end of this article. Another copy will be emailed out to the church on Thursday. We’re asking each household to fill one out. The survey is simple, but it’s also important because your opinion matters to us. We want to hear where you are before making another important decision. For your survey responses to be considered in discussion during the meeting,
please submit it by noon on Monday, May 25
th
.
There is another thing I want you to do for your church as we consider our next steps. I want you to be devoted in prayer and grounded in grace toward one other. There is so much divisive talk out there right now. Opinions and emotions are being tossed around like daggers. That is not the example Jesus’ Bride, the church, is to model for the world around us.
Ephesians 4:2-3 says, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
This is a season for us to shine the light of Christ as we hold up our church in prayer and extend God’s grace to one other. We look forward to seeing what the future holds.
Pastor Brady
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Spring Cleanup Day
THIS SATURDAY
May 23rd from 8 AM - 12 PM
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We'll be pulling weeds, cleaning the grounds, trimming trees and practicing social distancing. Please have a mask and gloves in case they are needed. Write your name on any tools you bring.
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Since 2007, we have awarded more than $8,000 in scholarships to FUMC seniors, funded through the generosity of our congregation.
Help continue that tradition by donating to the scholarship fund by May 27th.
To give to the scholarship fund, you can send a check to the church or go to
fumcmidlo.org
and click on “Giving”. Whichever method you choose, please note that it is for “Senior Scholarships.”
Graduates applying for these scholarships must complete an application detailing their church, community, and service activities by May 24th.
Scholarship winners are selected by a committee of educators and church leaders and will be announced in the coming weeks. Our goal is to award as many scholarships as God gives us the funds to allow.
For more information about scholarship requirements, contact Laurie Lundberg at 972-877-8838 or
laurie.lundberg@att.net
.
Scholarship applications may be downloaded or completed online.
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6:30 PM, Wednesdays - KIDSClub:
10 AM, Fridays - Story Time:
5 PM, Sundays -
Godly Play Sessions:
Family Sunday School
Elementary Students Remind 101:
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Please note that the format for Youth Group has changed!
6-7 PM - Junior High Youth Group:
7-8 PM - Senior High Youth Group:
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Email
Tatiana
for the Zoom link for Youth Hangout Fun Days!
Sign Up for Remind 101 for Youth!
Text @7b2dff6 to the number 81010.
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Click the Zoom link for audio access or if you want to see everyone, signup for a free Zoom account by visiting
zoom.us
.
We miss our kids & youth and look forward to seeing them!
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Weekly Discipleship Video
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Week 6 of "The Discipline of Joy"
Philippians 4, Part 2
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READ PHILIPPIANS 4:10-13
I wonder what the source of Paul's contentment was...
I wonder what the source of your contentment is...
I wonder what the image of the olive tree says to us about living out of Jesus' strength...
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2020 High School Seniors Send Us Your Pictures!
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We want to celebrate
ALL OF OUR SENIORS
! Please send us: a senior pic, a baby pic, and one or two other pics showing you at a different age or doing an activity you enjoy. Also, please send the following info along with the photos: graduate's name, parents names, one or two facts about future prospects and plans, hopes or dreams of your graduate.
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I just wanted to give the church an update and to say a formal thank you. The cards, letters, gifts, donations, prayers, and support has been beyond anything I could have ever asked for going on this journey. The donations have been a blessing not only to the residents, but also to nurses who were in need of items because we did not know we would be extending our stay here as long as we have. Things have been able to be gifted to staff members who work tirelessly even before this pandemic who have been so grateful. I've also been collecting food items from the hotel because some nurses have been demobilized and leave items behind. When I bring to the facility and set up a simple "food pantry" on my unit, everything is gone before the end of the shift because we give to the residents who are always hungry at night, or even the staff takes items home because they need for themselves. It has been such a gift to be able to give to these people, and most are so surprised and grateful. There is no way I would have been able to provide this service and gift without the support of FUMC.
This past year, Dustin and I were very disappointed that the international mission trip was cancelled with the church, but I'm telling you, God brought the mission trip right to me. I have been communicating with people from all over the world working here in New York City. I've met staff and residents that are from China, Haiti, Jamaica, Nepal, Thailand, Africa, The Philippines, Mexico, you name it. Surprisingly, God provides the ability to communicate and work together despite language barriers, and come to find out, I'm more fluent in Spanish than I ever thought. Google Translator helps though :) Ever so grateful for our community and thank you again to everyone for all of the help.
Specific prayer requests:
*Not all the people that I work with are believers. Since we are in a professional setting, sometimes it is difficult to have those conversations, but God is opening the doors and I am just continuing to serve and be a light. Pray that if a conversation is meant to be had, that God will give me the words.
*Many nurses have been demobilized due to the crisis calming down. Our current facility only has 9 COVID positive patients at this time. This is a praise in the fact that the city is on its way to healing! However, this means that we may lose our jobs earlier than expected. The facility is already short-staffed prior to us being there, so our prayer is that there will continue to be a need, and our contracts will be able to be fulfilled until the end. It is a life-changing opportunity for all of us who have chosen to stay, so I am just praying that God sees us all until the end.
*Please pray for all of our families while we are here, safe travels once we do go home, and continuation of the friendships that have been built. Also, one nurse requests that you pray about the nasal swabs we are now supposed to be getting done twice a week, haha!!!
We are all so grateful.
Love from New York City,
Anna Slayton
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WayPoint
is a guide to help you grow and expand upon the scriptures we are studying. Available at
Waypoint
and
FUMC Facebook
.
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Worship
LIVE
Sunday Mornings on Facebook
Traditional Worship, 8:30 AM Contemporary Worship, 10 AM
Recorded worship services can be found on our website, Facebook page and Youtube channel.
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New
Don & Becky Cameron (Missionaries to Kenya and Randall Hill's Cousin) - death of their son
Nick & Brittany Harp - death of 2 yr old daughter Mylah
Continuous Prayer
Jeline Pegram, Raymond & LaFerne Cuddy, Karen Wilson, Dorothy Wares, George & Dee Culps, Lee Wescott, Dave Swiedom, Don Lish, Rodger Keyes, John Lowe, Chelsea Peel
COVID-19 Crisis
,
All those who have to make important and wise decisions regarding reopening businesses, churches and all other places.
Military
ARMY - Matt Carroll, Tim Kruettner, Harold Barton, Josh Schenck, Austin Lockwood
NAVY - Matthew Price, Andrew Cantrell, Zachary Tucker, Thomas Shirley
AIR FORCE - J.D. Culps, Andrew Miller
MARINES - Collin Johansen, Josh Dunaway, Seth Allen, Bradley Perez, Elizia Delapaa
Remember in Prayer
Our world, our country, our community leaders, all our military troops around the world, our church, our pastors, the staff, church members, visitors, and Midlothian community
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Thank You for Your Generosity!
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Thank you for your generosity. We continue to do great ministry as a church because of you and your faithfulness. We encourage you to continue giving to the church's ministry either
by
mailing in your financial gifts or giving online by clicking on the button below. Every gift helps us do greater things for God's Kingdom!
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Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world!
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