1st United Methodist Church Weekly Update - May 20, 2022
FOLLOW US & JOIN US THIS SUNDAY FOR WORSHIP LIVE AT 9:15 & 11 AM
This Sunday: May 22, 2022
Message: "Filled!"
Pastor Mike Loomis
Fifth Sunday Offering, May 22
Every 5th Sunday during the year, we take up a special offering to help support the Florida United Methodist Children’s Homes in Enterprise and Madison Ranch Florida. We will have special envelopes for you in the Life Center or you may mail your check to the church office or give online through the church app or on our website, whatis1st.com.  Thank you for being such an important part of these children’s lives through your support.
Harbour Heights Park, 27420 Voyageur Dr, Punta Gorda, FL 33983

Directions: I-75 N to Exit 167, Harbor View Road
Exit to the right, continue on Harbor View Road, park will be on the right.

Praise in the Park
Our 8:00 am worship service, "Praise in the Park" is held at Gilchrist Park, weather permitting. If we are changing the location to the Sanctuary, we will send out an email on Saturday night. See you Sunday at the park!
Special Announcement from Pastor Mike
Dear 1st Church Family:
 
It is with great pleasure that we announce that we have hired an Assistant Pastor who will begin at the end of June. Her name is Angela Hinchman. She is passionate about Jesus, discipleship, and spiritual growth. Angela will begin her ministry with us at the end of June. Along with her husband, Christian, and their three children, Ella (17), Aliana (14), and Caleb (9), she will be moving from Holland, Michigan. 
 
Angela grew up in the Reformed Church in America. She has been a short-term missionary, as well as having various ministry roles. She has a B.A. in Humanities/Religious Studies from California State University, Sacramento, and has had coursework at both Fuller Theological Seminary and Western Theological Seminary. She is the author of Come, Gather at the Table, an 8-week study on discipleship.
 
We want to thank all who have been praying as we have searched for the right person to fill this important role within our church.  
Help! Help! Help!
Dear Church Family,

As you can imagine, finding a home sight unseen can be pretty difficult. We are looking for help to find a home for Angela and her family to rent for 6 months while they look around the area for a home. If you or someone you know has a seasonal home that could be rented from the end of June to the end of December, please contact Kathy Butgereit in the church office. We would certainly like to make this transition as easy as possible for Angela and her family.  
A Note from the United 4 Him Youth Group
In a time long long ago (Pre-pandemic) in a land not all that far away (Port Charlotte), we'd meet friends at the movie theater. We would buy our tickets and popcorn, and then engage our minds, eyes, and ears on the sights and sounds of the latest feature film showing on the BIG screen. Does anyone else remember those days?

Well, our teens enjoyed the chance to do something most haven't done in a couple of years, go to the movies! They got to laugh alongside their friends on this field trip of sorts when they went opening weekend to see the movie "Family Camp". This movie was so much fun to watch!  The students talked about their favorite scenes some after the show, it was great!. Oh, the theater popcorn was yummy too!

This film was written and directed by Christian filmmakers who cast Christian comedians and lifelong friends Tommy Woodard and Eddie James as the main stars of the film. Many of our students, along with 86% of those who have already watched the movie rate this a "Must See" Film. If you are able, we recommend that you go out to see and support this Christian film as the message is excellent and the film is top-notch!

Click HERE to watch the movie trailer.
Operation Christmas Child
The Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Ministry Team will be collecting donations during the months of May & June to help defray the shipping costs for OCC shoeboxes packed during the Church Packing Party (date TBA). Our goal this year is to pack 100 shoeboxes at the party!  The shipping cost per shoebox is $10, so any amount you can give is greatly appreciated!  Please note in the memo line of your check ‘Shoebox Shipping’, or on your donation envelope.  God Bless You!
Nursery Worker Needed
A part-time nursery worker is needed to work every Sunday from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm. If interested, please contact Becca, becca@whatis1st.com.  
United Christian Women
On Monday, May 23rd, at 11:00 am, in Lenox Hall (please bring your lunch or a snack), the United Christian Women will hold their last meeting of the season.

Women played a special role in the life of Jesus. In this day and age we do too. There are women who make things better...simply by showing up. There are women who make things happen. There are women who make their way. There are women who make a difference. And there are women who make us smile. There are women of wit and wisdom who---through strength and courage make it through. There are women who change the world every day...WOMEN LIKE YOU!

The United Christian Women need you. Won't you please come to this, our last meeting, to voice your thoughts and ideas for the upcoming year?

We graciously invite you to the meeting on Monday, May 23 rd., at 11:00 am in Lenox Hall. We encourage you to come, bring a friend, and take a peek to enjoy a special program, fellowship, and fun.

All Christian women are invited.
Teen Mission Project was a Huge Success!
Did you know that our Youth Ministry recently help to facilitate and provide housing to accommodate 17 high school seniors from Grace Academy along with 3 adult chaperones for a local mission project? These students traveled to Punta Gorda from their hometown of Hagerstown Maryland and stayed with us last week. They slept on air mattresses, showered in the Life Center, ate breakfast in Lenox Hall, fixed themselves bag lunches, and traveled out to Crossroads Hope Academy each day. Once at Crossroads they dove into a variety of jobs like painting, cleaning, and working in the garden. When the work was finished each day and the Crossroads boys returned from school they were able to visit together and get to know one another. They played a variety of sports and games outside with the crossroads guys, ate dinner together each night, and even hosted an ice cream social for the boys. We were happy to be able to provide our facilities to them to stay here at 1st Church to help make their mission trip a reality. Congratulations to the Grace Academy Class of 2022 for a successful mission trip - Well Done!
Bargain Boutique - Summer Schedule
The Bargain Boutique will begin our Summer Schedule starting in May. We will be open 3 days a week, Monday-Wednesday-Friday 10AM-2PM.

Thanks to all of you who bless us with your donations, we are moved by your compassion to help us as we help others in our community.

When you see, Mary Jacobs, Judy Ewing , Jane Prevost, Ely Weaver. Barbara Cobb, Ruth Shaffer, Sandy Anderson, Bette Hanlon, Susie Krause, Trish Rusca, Arlene Waters, Pat Williams, Lynne Britton, give them a 'shout out'..."well done good and faithful servants."

A page from our Diary written by two of our volunteers...Sandy and Ruth:
We were working this past Wednesday when a gentleman came in looking for something for his wife. Ruth talking with him learned that his wife has dementia and is in a memory care unit. He said she liked colorful, bright things and with out hesitation Ruth gave him a lap mat (fidget) that we had on display and was given to us by those Crafty Ladies in Room 9. It was perfect for his wife, she could touch many things on it (buttons, zippers, pockets with keys in them etc. He was so pleased he had something his wife could actually use. He was so thankful. He continued shopping looking for other small things for his wife. Reaching out and touching others in different ways is as we say a 'God thing'. He is at work all around us. We just have to look. Putting two missions together the Bargain Boutique and those Crafty Ladies in Room 9 God does His math for us. And all of that happened on our Church Campus!

In Joy,
The Volunteers
Today Matters - May 21
Losing 2 brothers to suicide has inspired Laurie to spread the importance of deep listening, fearless transparency and non-judgmental acceptance.

Laurie is the bestselling author of Leading with GRIT Inspiring Action and Accountability with Generosity, Respect, Integrity, and Truth, endorsed by Don Miguel Ruiz (The Four Agreements) and Ken Blanchard (The One Minute Manager).

Laurie developed the formula G.R.I.T. to bring more to the grit equation – Generosity, Respect, Integrity, Truth.

Laurie has over two decades of executive coaching, leadership training and most importantly, real-life business and personal experience. Laurie is on a mission to improve lives through leadership, and she contends that anyone can stand and be a leader.

Books will be available for sale and autographed at the event. Visit LaurieSudbrink.com to learn more about Laurie.
We Need Sunday School Teachers!
Our Children's Ministry is in need of elementary Sunday School teachers. If you are willing to serve, please contact Becca: becca@whatis1st.com
Church Library
If you’ve walked into the church library recently, you might have noticed a few changes. Three new church library volunteers have been working on shifting books, reorganizing, and getting acquainted with our library collection. As we work with our church collection, we are thankful for the library volunteers who came before us. A special Thank You to Gail LaGro... we appreciate you.

Our goal is to serve the congregation in our Church library by maintaining our core collection. We will do this by organizing, weeding, and adding to the collection. If there is a particular title you think might be current, classic, or worthy of our library, please consider dropping off a note for our volunteers and placing it in the church library return basket and/ or donating such a book to our library.

Please stop in to find a book to borrow that will encourage your Christian faith journey.
We hope to have a church library open house sometime after Easter.
Vacation Bible School, June 6-10
Registration is now open for this summer's Vacation Bible School!
VBS is a wonderful way to introduce children to Jesus, and share 1st Church with new families in our area. Please share!
If you are interested in serving on a VBS volunteer team, please email Becca: becca@whatis1st.com.

VBS volunteers needed:
10 group leaders (teens welcome!), 5 rotation leaders, opening and closing leaders (also great for teens), and crafters! We will have a VBS planning meeting on May 19 from 10-11 in room 13. Decoration making from 11-2.
Crafter's Group - Come Join Us!
WE NEED Anyone who can sew on a button, crochet, knit, draw, design, or has ANY creative talent! We work together while enjoying each other's company.

We have made the following items:
*Baby blankets for Careline Pregnancy Center
*Crocheted octopus for preemie babies
*Greeting cards for our own Care Ministry team
*Walker bags for the veteran's home
*Activity mats for those suffering from Dementia and Alzheimer's donated to nursing homes locally

We meet in Room 9 every Wednesday from 1-3:30 pm.

Contact:
Diane Houston Sheppard, houstonfla04@yahoo.com, 941-740-1016
Janet Downing, janld25@gmail.com, 774-230-4460
Volunteers needed for Crossroad Academy
Every 3rd Saturday of each month volunteers from 1st Church cook food and take it to Crossroads Hope Academy to bless the young men who are residents there. We desperately need more volunteers to either cook food and/or help deliver the meal to Crossroads. We meet in the Church parking lot every month at 11:30 and load the food and go together to Crossroads. This ministry truly is a blessing to those we serve. If interested, please call Gail LaGro at 941-613-1745.
Receive Texts from 1st Church
1st Church Family... We are trying to improve our communication within the congregation and also looking for a way to keep everyone seeking devotionals each day. If you would like to receive daily devotionals from 1st Church or receive important communications, please sign up by calling the church office 941-639-3842. This will allow us to text you these messages and make it easy for you to receive them.
A Word from Worship
Greetings 1st Church friends --
  
Spring seems to be rapidly turning into summer, with the temperature rising and our northern friends heading back home. We have had a couple of rainy/ wet Sundays with the 8oclock service taking place in the historic sanctuary but the weather continues to be beautiful for our early morning worship service at Gilchrist Park. 
   
Please read through the Bridge for information on all events happening both on our campus and at the Park service. It is one of the best ways we have to keep you updated on Church happenings. 
  
Please be in prayer for our new assistant pastor, Angela Hinchman, who is preparing to move here with her family. Pray for safe travels, and housing arrangements. 
   
Even though our 24/7 prayer vigil has finished, I'd like to encourage you to continue to spend time in our prayer room.  You can continue to sign up for time slots that are convenient for you. At our prayer gathering on Thursdays in the sanctuary, we get new (and numerous)requests for prayer weekly. If you are blessed to have little or no life situations needing prayer at this time, I'd like to ask you to pray for our members and friends who might be struggling right now. If you'd like specific needs to lift in prayer, check out the prayer cards hanging on the wall in the sanctuary. Of course, the info is confidential, but prayer can happen anytime, anywhere, by anyone. We are blessed to have the peaceful spirit of the prayer room, but I believe God is listening whether we're there or in a small prayer closet, or while we're walking on the beach, or sitting in a chair in the largest space in your house. We just need to let God's love flow over us. He is waiting.  We can come as we are. Sometimes we think that the lack of a speedy answer to our prayer means God is ignoring us. I think that's because we live in such a quick fix world where we expect instant answers. I'm trying to learn to be persistent in prayer no matter how hard it is or how long it takes. I want to be relentless in prayer. I don't want to give up. I want to ask and keep asking. I want to seek and keep seeking. I want to knock and keep knocking. Sometimes I lose hope and want to give up. But I ask the Holy Spirit to keep me strong and help me be the kind of prayer warrior who prays through to an answer. I read once that when we pray for the Spirit's help... we will fall at the Lord's feet in our weakness and there will find the power that comes from His love.
  
Please join us on Thursdays at 12 noon in the sanctuary for a time of sharing and prayer. 
I'm praying for you!

Rosie Young
Worship Coordinator
The Eighth Note – Music Ministry in a Minute!
Greetings Everyone,
 
Are you musical? Consider joining one of our groups. This is a great way to serve the church, learn about music and get to know folks.
 
The Chancel Choir rehearses on Thursdays at 6:30 PM in the Historic Sanctuary and sings Sundays at the 11:00 AM Service.
 
Please contact David Bellows for more information or questions.
 
Soli Deo Gloria!
David Bellows
Director of Music Ministries

This Sunday's Music - May 22, 2022 - 11:00 AM Service
Prelude: Joyful Day – M. Hayes
Opening Hymn: 66 Praise, My Soul The King Of Heaven
Offertory Anthem: A Canon Of Praise – W.A. Mozart
Closing Hymn: 363 And Can It Be That I Should Gain
Postlude: Grand Chorus in B flat Major – T. Dubois
Discipleship Opportunities
View a complete list of groups at 1st Church HERE
Harmony Bible Study
The Harmony Bible Study Class will begin a new six-lesson DVD study on Sunday, May 22 in Lenox Hall at 10:30 am. “Five Marks of a Methodist: The Fruit of a Living Faith” by Steve Harper and Magrey R. deVega, will help us learn and live the five distinctive marks that John Wesley set forth in The Character of a Methodist”.   The class will also view an action-packed docudrama, “Encounters With John Wesley”, which captures major moments in his incredible life and includes four of his sermons as dramatized and depicted by Mark Topping (as John Wesley). Lesson materials will be supplied for each lesson so no study guides or books are required. Everyone is welcome to attend! If you have questions, please contact Debbie Harrington at 941-380-0213.
Men of Faith
A gathering of men who seek a more complete Christian understanding of the teaching of Jesus. Men of Faith meet in Lenox Hall on Thursdays from 9-10:30am under the leadership of Pastor Bill Grant. The group uses the daily study guide, My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers, as a start for each weeks' discussion. The daily study guide is available free at the gathering. Many of the group come from other churches, so invite your friends.
2022 Bible Reading Schedules
We want to encourage you to join us as we once again read through the Bible. Start your new year off right by committing to read God's Word!

Download the 2022 reading guide HERE.
Worship Service Information
If you are planning on attending our services please remember the following:

  • Masks are now optional for those that are fully vaccinated.
  • Social distancing is still encouraged. Families may sit together, but please leave three seats between you and others not in your family.
  • If you are feverish or not feeling well, we ask that you stay home and join us online on our Facebook and YouTube channels.

At this time, you may only enter the Life Center through the main entrance facing the Fellowship Hall courtyard. All other exterior doors will be locked. We'll see you Sunday!
Praise in the Park
Join us this Sunday at 8 am for Praise in the Park! Open to everyone, this is your opportunity to join us for "in-person" worship as we enjoy God's scenery from the lawn of the beautiful Gilchrist Park Pavilion, weather permitting of course. If it is or has been raining (or is too cold), Praise in the Park will relocate to our historic Sanctuary. Time may not always be sufficient to get the word out, so in case of inclement weather, please proceed to the Sanctuary.

Please plan to bring your lawn chairs and/or blankets, and, yes, we will be asking you to practice social distancing. Don't forget to join our "Praise in the Park" group on our Church App! As a reminder, our outside services are always subject to change due to the weather. Please make sure you are connected with us through the app, our email list, or social media to receive our updates concerning schedule changes. See you Sunday for Praise in the Park!
FOLLOW US & JOIN US THIS SUNDAY FOR WORSHIP LIVE AT 9:15 & 11 AM
Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 9am - 4pm
(941) 639-3842 | www.whatis1st.com