UMM and UMW News 2 Generosity/Finance Team News 2 Fourth Saturday Night Supper 2 UMM and UMW News 2 Choir News 3 Missions and Service Team News 3 Raising The Roof Update 3 Servers for September 4 Community News 4 Calendar for September 5 Thank You to Lee Street UMC 6 Good Samaritan Love Walk 6 List of Unwillingly Absent 7 Stewardship Report 7 Bus Fund/Deficit Fund Updates 7 September 2010 Volume , Issue YOU ARE INVITED!! It’s one of my favorite mes of the year when we begin preparing for Consecraon Sunday. This year our Celebraon will be on Sunday, September 26, and what a celebraon we are planning. We are all invited to celebrate in worship as Rev. Beckum leads us, then with a free catered meal, a Gospel sing, ice cream, and inflatables for the children. What fun! What cele- braon! And there’s more… We are all invited to enter into a few weeks of prayer centered on this queson – “What per- centage of my income is God calling me to give?” You are invited to pray – to be in conversa- on asking God this queson and listening for God’s answer. Engaging in prayer keeps us from just doing what we’ve always done, from pulling some arbitrary number out of the air, and from some meaningless mechanical calculaon. The queson we are asking is not what dollar amount I should give, but what percentage of my income is God calling me to give. Con- sidering percentage of income engages each of us to consider the sources through which God provides for us and giving a percentage of it to God as an offering of love and gratude. We are all invited to find joy in our giving. Our giving is not to be a begrudging responsibility – not an irritaon that the church is asking for money again. The scriptures speak of God loving a “cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7) and of Jesus saying “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). In 2006 the Naonal Instute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke funded a study of the effects of giving on the brain. Dr. Jordan Grafmann summarizes the study ’s findings by saying "You give from the heart and… it sasfies your brain." He also says, “…in some sense, you have to experience donaon, you have to be persuaded to donate in the beginning. But once you do donate you'll come back and give more because you'll realize what a pleasurable sensaon it was to donate." It’s scriptural and it’s scienfically proven that there is joy in giv- ing. Let us Chrisans find that joy. Let us witness to our children and to all the joy we have in giving to God who faithfully gives to us. We are all invited to be a part of the ministry of making disciples of Jesus through the ministry of Lee Street United Methodist Church. This past month we have studied Jesus’ Parable of the Sower. One of the ways we sow seeds is through our financial giving. We live out being disci- ples and we make disciples through our faithful stewardship of financial resources. As your pastor, I invite your family to join my family along with all the families at Lee Street UMC to know the joy and spiritual growth that comes through our financial giving. In 2010, Julia, Atalie, and I made an esmate of giving of $15,300 per year or almost 14% of our total household gross income. I am pleased to say that we have been faithful to that esmate this year. Currently, we are praying about our esmate for 2011 asking God, “What percentage of our income are you calling us to give?” I am not asking you to do the same percentage or amount. I’m not asking you to do something I don’t do. I am simply inving you to join our family and others in this prayer and in finding fulfillment through our financial giving knowing we make a difference in the world through this congregaon of Christ ’s Church. Mark the date – September 26 – A Day of True Celebraon! YOU are invited! Come join us as we celebrate in the joy of Christ – in the joy of giving! - Pastor Matt The Community Builder Building Community Through Communications The Monthly Newsletter of Lee Street United Methodist Church A Message from Our Pastor WEDNESDAY NIGHT SUPPERS START BACK ON SEPTEMBER 8 SUPPER AT 6:00 PM PROGRAM FOLLOWING SUPPER See Page 6 for Schedule We are starting a new reservations listing. Please call the Church Office at 924-5155 to be placed on the new permanent reservations list.
Transcript
UMM and UMW News 2
Generosity/Finance Team News 2
Fourth Saturday Night Supper 2
UMM and UMW News 2
Choir News 3
Missions and Service Team News 3
Raising The Roof Update 3
Servers for September 4
Community News 4
Calendar for September 5
Thank You to Lee Street UMC 6
Good Samaritan Love Walk 6
List of Unwillingly Absent 7
Stewardship Report 7
Bus Fund/Deficit Fund Updates 7
S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 0
V o l u m e , I s s u e
YOU ARE INVITED!! It’s one of my favorite times of the year when we begin preparing for Consecration Sunday. This year our Celebration will be on Sunday, September 26, and what a celebration we are planning. We are all invited to celebrate in worship as Rev. Beckum leads us, then with a free catered meal, a Gospel sing, ice cream, and inflatables for the children. What fun! What cele-bration! And there’s more… We are all invited to enter into a few weeks of prayer centered on this question – “What per-centage of my income is God calling me to give?” You are invited to pray – to be in conversa-tion asking God this question and listening for God’s answer. Engaging in prayer keeps us from just doing what we’ve always done, from pulling some arbitrary number out of the air, and from some meaningless mechanical calculation. The question we are asking is not what dollar amount I should give, but what percentage of my income is God calling me to give. Con-sidering percentage of income engages each of us to consider the sources through which God provides for us and giving a percentage of it to God as an offering of love and gratitude. We are all invited to find joy in our giving. Our giving is not to be a begrudging responsibility – not an irritation that the church is asking for money again. The scriptures speak of God loving a “cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7) and of Jesus saying “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts
20:35). In 2006 the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke funded a study of the effects of giving on the brain. Dr. Jordan Grafmann summarizes the study’s findings by saying "You give from the heart and… it satisfies your brain." He also says, “…in some sense, you have to experience donation, you have to be persuaded to donate in the beginning. But once you do donate you'll come back and give more because you'll realize what a pleasurable sensation it was to donate." It’s scriptural and it’s scientifically proven that there is joy in giv-ing. Let us Christians find that joy. Let us witness to our children and to all the joy we have in giving to God who faithfully gives to us. We are all invited to be a part of the ministry of making disciples of Jesus through the ministry of Lee Street United Methodist Church. This past month we have studied Jesus’ Parable of the Sower. One of the ways we sow seeds is through our financial giving. We live out being disci-ples and we make disciples through our faithful stewardship of financial resources. As your pastor, I invite your family to join my family along with all the families at Lee Street UMC to know the joy and spiritual growth that comes through our financial giving. In 2010, Julia, Atalie, and I made an estimate of giving of $15,300 per year or almost 14% of our total household gross income. I am pleased to say that we have been faithful to that estimate this year. Currently, we are praying about our estimate for 2011 asking God, “What percentage of our income are you calling us to give?” I am not asking you to do the same percentage or amount. I’m not asking you to do something I don’t do. I am simply inviting you to join our family and others in this prayer and in finding fulfillment through our financial giving knowing we make a difference in the world through this congregation of Christ’s Church. Mark the date – September 26 – A Day of True Celebration! YOU are invited! Come join us as we celebrate in the joy of Christ – in the joy of giving!
- Pastor Matt
The Community Builder Building Community Through Communications
The Monthly Newsletter of Lee Street United Methodist Church
A Message from Our Pastor
WEDNESDAY NIGHT SUPPERS START
BACK ON SEPTEMBER 8
SUPPER AT 6:00 PM
PROGRAM FOLLOWING SUPPER
See Page 6 for Schedule
We are starting a new reservations listing.
Please call the Church Office at
924-5155 to be placed on the new
permanent reservations list.
The Community Builder P a g e 2
CIR-CLES START BACK THIS MONTH, ON MONDAY—SEPTEMBER 13TH! ALL WOMEN ARE INVITED TO JOIN A PRAYER CIRCLE GROUP. The Willie Pittman and Virginia Sapp Cir-cles meet together on the 2nd Monday of each month at 11:00 a.m. in the Club-house at Magnolia Manor. All ladies are welcome! The Iona Bell Circle meets on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the homes of the members. Make plans now! We will provide lunch for students at the Wesley House at GSW
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, October 2 is the date for the UM Men’s Yard Sale in the Church Parking Lot! Please see any member of our UMM if you have items you wish to donate to the Yard Sale.
Consecration Sunday! What an exciting time in the life of Lee Street! We have finally reached that special time when we can show our appreciation for God's love and the many blessings he has bestowed up-on us all. During the next few weeks, our congregation will enter into a time of prayer and reflect upon God's grace to us and the Church. This is the time we will prayerfully decide the answer to the question - What percent of my income is God calling me to give? Then on Consecration Sunday, September 26, we will have our Celebration Lunch after church service. This is a catered lunch that is free of charge. We will be having some wonderful food as well as a couple of surprises this year. We hope everyone will join us on this day for fellowship and fun.
GENEROSITY/FINANCE TEAM NEWS Debbie Moore, Captain
UNITED METHODIST MEN Mike Fletcher, President
Our next monthly Men’s Meeting will be Supper on Monday, September 13th at 6:30 p.m. All men are invited and encouraged to attend.
FOURTH SATURDAY NIGHT SUPPER AT LEE STREET UMC
MENU
Barbecue Chicken
Potato Salad
Coleslaw
Baked Beans
Dessert
Catered by Billy & Beverly Groce
Reservations are recommended but not required! To make a reservation for your party call the church office by Wednesday September 22nd! 229-924-5155
UMYF Snack
Schedule for Septem-ber
September 12 – Yvonne Goggins September 19 – Janie Turner September 26 – Dorothy McMichael Then its, Faye Merritt, Betty Lee Scott, Nancy Smith, and Ann Bass
P a g e 3
RAISING THE ROOF UPDATE August 29, 2010
Raising the roof
GOAL: Roof all church buildings & parsonage by Fall 2010
COST: $28,800 = 160 squares of shingles ($180/square) = 480 bundles of shingles ($60/bundle)
TO DATE: $9,935.00 = 55.19 squares = 165.58 bundles
Wow! The summer months have really gone by fast. The Missions Team has continued to hand out cool water to walkers & runners each Wednesday evening throughout the months of July and August. This ministry has been well received by our community with many compliments and expressions of appreciation. We have even received mone-tary and water donations from some of our walkers. The team wishes to thank all of you who helped in any way on these Wednesdays; from those who made sure that the water was iced down in the cooler early in the day, to all who came and set up the tent & signs and to those who sat in the humid south GA. heat to be of service to our communi-ty. On August 14, we were present with a good force of volunteers at GSW on move in day. Although our main pur-pose was to help keep people hydrated during that very hot and humid day, some of our volunteers also assisted the college students and their families with the moving of their items into the dorm rooms. We hope we were a blessing to them, as we certainly received a blessing by being in service to others. Thanks to each of you who volunteered your time on that day! We are also excited to announce that our CD ministry is expanding to the radio on Sunday mornings at 10:30 A.M. The first of Brother Matt’s five- part “Sowing” series aired on August 22nd on WISK radio (98.7 FM). The series will continue each Sunday thereafter at 10:30 A.M. Please help get word to our shut-ins about this program. The Missions team sponsored the air time for the first week. We will need a sponsor each week for this ministry. If you or your organization is interested in sponsoring air time for this series, please contact Wilkie or Nancy Smith, or any other team member. The Missions Team received and once again was glad to grant a benevolence request to a family in need in our com-munity. Braylon Harris, young grandson of Rev. Norris Harris, sustained serious injuries over 2 months ago in an accident here in Sumter County. The Missions Team has given a benevolence to help with expenses incurred by the family during Braylon’s hospitalization and recovery. In His Service, Nancy Smith
Plans have been made for our Christmas Cantata and rehearsal began Tuesday, August 24th at regular choir practice time 6:00 p.m. This year’s Cantata will be “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” written and arranged by Russell Mauldin. Perfor-mance will be Sunday, December 12th at Magnolia Manor at 4:00 p.m. Please mark your calendar to plan to attend this
performance. Children’s choir will also participate with their rehearsals to begin in September. More to come in the weeks ahead!
C H O I R N E W S Myra Hardy, Director of Music Ministries
M I S S I O N S A N D S E R V I C E T E A M N E W S Nancy Smith, Captain
Serving in the Month of September
Please make arrangements to swap or call the church office if you can’t serve on your assigned Sunday. Thank You!
Community News
Happy Birthday To…
September 6: John Farley, Scott Roquemore
September 7: Myra Hardy, Brandon Mooney
September 10: Madison Garcia
September 13: Frances English, Faye Merritt,
Mary Michelli
September 14: Ashley McSpaddan,
Janie Mooney, B.D. Slappey
September 17: Maggie Fletcher
September 18: Keith Pinckard
September 21: Jerita Stalvey
September 23: Hope Henderson, Bill Stribling
September 25: Adam Fisher, Sarah Tesney
September 30: Joy Goodin, Chris Gorton,
Dennis Stalvey
Happy Anniversary To… September 19: Annette & John Royal
Prayer Gram Ministry
Please remember to sign the Prayer Grams (all pages) in the Sanctuary by the side entrance door. Also, if you know of someone who is in need of prayer, please contact Lucile Garrison at 924-3907 or write a new Prayer Gram. Thank you for participating in this very important min-istry of our church.
Remember in Your Prayers…
Cecilia Bailey—hospital
Doug Bendimire—cancer
Cindy Cason—hip replacement surgery Family of Farrah Castleberry
Lena Driggers—illness
Family of Frank Gilbert Rev. Steve Golden—cancer Candice Hancock Charles Henderson—Hope Henderson’s father
Virginia Holt Diana Isbell—(Toni & Ricky Durham’s Family) cancer Bernice Massey Aidan McSpadden—(Bob & Judy Klein’s grandson) leuke-mia Bill Merritt—Faye’s Husband
Doris Moore Becky Ragsdale—cancer
Scott Roquemore Annette Royal and son, Chad Royal Nadine Taylor—(Rebecca Craig’s sister-in-law) stroke Connie Tuning—cancer
Charlie Young
Remember that praying for your friends and neighbors is your most important gift to them.
We Extend Our Love and
Christian Sympathies to…
Robin Gilbert and family on the death of her husband, Howard Franklin “Frank” Gilbert III, who passed away on August 2, 2010 in Fayetteville, GA. Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes are just around the corner. Collection of the complet-ed shoeboxes is November 15—22.
The Community Builder P a g e 4
Nursery Volunteers
5th—Nancy Smith 12th—Sarah Cheek 19th—Janey Goodin 26th—Meg Usrey
Sound System Techs 5th—David Ragsdale 12th—Wilkie Smith 19th—Barry Price 26th—Chris Usrey
M O N D A Y M O R N I N G C O U N T E R F O R S E P T E M B E R
David Ragsdale
Congratulations
to Steve & Hope Buchanan on the birth of twin grandchildren who were born on August 15 in Columbus, GA. The twins are baby girl Charlee Elizabeth and baby boy Brewer Wayne. Their parents are Matt & Brandy Hussey.
Congratulations
to Matt & Mindy Battles on the birth of a son, Brett Connor, who was born on August 20. He weighed 7 lbs. 5 oz. and was 20 1/4 inches long. Congratulations to new grand-parents John & Annette Royal and uncle Chad Royal. His great grand-parents are Jim & Barbara Harris and Anne Royal. His great-great grand-parents are Dorothy Harris and Louise Goodin.
V I S I T A T I O N ( 1 S T T I M E V I S I T O R S ) F O R S E P T E M B E R
Mary Claire Reeves & Julia Stewart
September 2010 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 9:00 Pastors Lectionary
Group
2 3
4
5 15th Sunday after Pentecost
9:45 Sunday School 11:00 Worship
6 Labor Day Church Office Closed
7 10:30 District Meeting at Cordele FUMC 2:15 Perfect Care Devotion 6:00 Choir Practice
8 9:00 Pastors Lectionary
Group 6:00 Suppers Start Back/Program-Continuing Ed GSW (Karen Holloway) 7:00 Children’s Choir 7:30 Parsonage Com-
mittee meets at parsonage
9
7:00 Nomi-nations & Leadership Development Meeting
10 11
12 16th Sunday after Pentecost
Grandparents’ Day 9:45 Sunday School
11:00 Worship 5:00 UMYF Starts Back 5:00 Trustees Meeting
13
9:30 Staff Meeting 11:00 Virginia Sapp & Willie Pittman Circles Meet at MM 6:30 Methodist
Men’s Supper in Social Hall
7:00 Iona Bell Circle Meets
14 2:15 Perfect Care Devotion 6:00 Choir Practice
15 9:00 Pastors Lectionary
Group 6:00 Supper–BINGO
Night/Bring baked goods for prizes
16
17
18
9:00 AM Good Samaritan Love Walk at Magnolia Manor
Group 6:00 Supper–Mini Series Begins- “The Church’s Ministry in Death” led by Bro. Matt 7:00 Children’s Choir
Reservations due for 4th Sat. Night Supper
23 7:00 Nomi-nations & Leadership Development Meeting
24
25 7:00 PM Fourth Saturday Night Supper in Social Hall
26 18th Sunday after Pentecost
CONSECRATION SUNDAY
9:45 Sunday School 11:00 Worship—Rev.
Robert Beckum preaching
12:00 Celebration Dinner & Fun on Grounds
5:00 UMYF
27
9:30 Staff Meeting
28 2:15 Perfect Care
Devotion 6:00 Choir Practice
29 9:00 Pastors Lectionary
Group 6:00 Supper–Mini Series “The Church’s Ministry in Death”-2 led by Bro. Matt 7:00 Children’s Choir
30
P a g e 5
The Community Builder P a g e 6
Thanks to everyone who participated in providing and serving a meal to Magnolia Manor Nursing Center residents Sunday evening, July 25th. Thanks for preparing and bringing food, for serving, and for giving of yourselves to the resi-dents. Thanks to James Sosby and Ann Partain for leading us in the old wonderful hymns that the residents (and Lee Street members also) enjoy so much. A special thanks to the youth for their helpfulness and genuine willingness to serve. We had a great time! The Care Team Lee St. UMC Members, Wow! What an awesome way to fellowship. The food & company was awesome! I can’t begin to express my thankful-ness to each of you. The residents were still chatting about their delicious supper. Thanks again, hope you all will want to do it again soon. Even if you’d like to come sing with the resi-dents would be nice. Thanks for all of you being so helpful with serving. God’s Love, Missy at Magnolia Manor
Thank you for your prayers and cards during my surgery and recovery. I am getting better every day. I hope to see you soon. Love, Cindy Cason Lee Street United Methodist Church, We wanted to thank you for all of your thoughts and pray-ers during these uncertain times. Our prayers were an-swered, Truman received wonderful news. He has no brain damage or paralysis from the TIAs, his heart is in good con-dition, and cholesterol levels are coming down. Again we can not express our appreciation for your con-cern and prayers. Sincerely, Truman & Lisa Waters Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, cards, and concern during my recent shoulder surgery. I’m doing well and look-ing forward to cooking again for our Fourth Saturday Night Suppers. Sincerely, Billy Groce
Thank You to Lee Street United Methodist Church
Wednesday Night Suppers Start Back September 8 The Wednesday Night Suppers will start on Wednesday, Septem-ber 8. This is the first Wednesday after Labor Day. We have some interesting programs planned and we hope to see you there. The September Programs are: September 8 - Continuing Education from GSW (Karen Holloway) September 15 - BINGO Night / Please bring baked goods for prizes. September 22 - Brother Matt will start a mini series called "The Church's Ministry in Death" September 29 - Continuation of the mini series This is a time for fun, fellowship, and reflection. There is no where else you can enjoy such delicious meals.
W E D N E S D A Y N I G H T S U P P E R P R O G R A M S Debbie Humphreys , Coordinator
Good Samaritan Love Walk
Saturday, September 18, 2010 9:00 am
Bring your children 5K run - walk - ride a tricycle or bicycle
Meet at Clarke W. Duncan Wellness Center to start the event!
For more information, contact Andrea Walker 229-931-5922 or [email protected]
Lee Street UMC Members: Please contact Meg Usrey at 924-8980 if you are interested.
BUS PICK-UP ON SUNDAY MORNINGS AT MAGNOLIA MANOR
RETIREMENT CENTER BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 5, 2010 Please help us spread the word and encourage those who might be interested! Lee Street UMC has offered to drive our church bus to Magnolia Manor every Sunday morning in the month of September. We will pick up in front of the Retirement Center at 10:45 a.m. and return after church. For more information, please call the church office at 924-5155.
MEMORIAL GIFTS GIVEN
In Memory of Farrah Johnson Castleberry from Loveard & Dorothy McMichael and Family
In Memory of Joyce Harrod Dalton from Loveard & Dorothy McMichael and Family
In Memory of Frank Gilbert
from Bobby & Martha Bacon
Gregory S. Campbell Friends at the Levy Unit
Imogene Marchant Bill & Mary Claire Reeves
In Memory of Mary B. Jenkins
from Loveard & Dorothy McMichael and Family
In Memory of our parents, A.W. (Bully) and Sue Rigsby Smith from Suzanne Smith Burke and Wilkie, Nancy, & Adam Smith
In Memory of Carl Tanner from
John & Connie Linneman Imogene Marchant
OUR STEWARDSHIP FOR AUGUST 2010 REMEMBER THE UNWILLINGLY ABSENT IN YOUR PRAYERS AND IN ACTION
At Home Jerry and Aubrey Abbott
Louise Goodin Thelma McMichael
Ayleen Sumner Bennie & Georgia Tanner
Magnolia Manor—Americus Jane Canington
Doris Daniel Christine Ellenburg
Gladys Ellis Frances English Eddie George
Dorothy Harris Eloise Rentzell
David Willis
Perfect Care—Americus Mary Mask
Rachel Whitaker
Sumter Retirement—Plains Christine Addy Henry Casey
Frankie Hancock
Taylor Co. Health & Rehab.—Butler Virginia Holt
Orchard Manor—Pulaski William “Bill” Merritt
If you know of any corrections or additions to this list, please call the church office. Thanks!
P a g e 7
Average Worship Attendance for August 91 Average Worship Attendance for 2010 YTD 87 Average Worship Attendance for 2009 YTD 91 Budget Received Year to Date $127,570.12 Budget Needed Year to Date $157,329.20 Budget Received Year to Date–2009 $135,642.38 2010 Total Budget $233,746.57 Budget Needed Weekly $4,495.12 Members on January 1, 2010 215 Professions of Faith 8 Transfers from Another Denomination 4 Transfer from Another UMC 1 Removed by Death 5 Total Membership end of August 223
Price of the bus with tax $91,565.80 Loan fees and interest $1,668.20 Total $93,234.00 Cash on Hand $89,068.05 Pledges Being Paid $4,337.50 Total in cash & pledges $93,405.55
As soon as the pledges ($4,337.50) are paid in full by December 31, 2010
we will have money to pay off the bus along with any interest. Thanks for your support of this project!
BUS FUND UPDATE Effective August 29, 2010
Deficit Fund Balance 1/1/10 $13,994.53 Deficit Fund Collections YTD $5,738.50 Deficit Fund Balance 8/29/10 $8,256.03
DEFICIT FUND UPDATE
South Georgia Annual Conference Episcopal Leader .........................Bishop James R. King, Jr. Americus District Superintendent ................................................................. Rev. Ronnie Wills Pastor ([email protected])................................................ Rev. Matthew D. Stewart Administrative Assistant ([email protected]) ...................................... Andrea Pinckard Treasurer ([email protected]) ......................................................... Lucile Pilcher Director of Music Ministries ................................................................................... Myra Hardy Organist .............................................................................................................. Gloria Spence
Lee Street United Methodist Church 1102 South Lee Street
Americus, Georgia 31709
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
CHURCH STAFF
REGULAR SCHEDULE COMING IN OCTOBER
Sundays: 9:45 AM Sunday School for all ages 11:00 AM Worship
Holy Communion first Sundays
Tuesdays: 2:15 PM Devotion by Volunteers at Perfect Care Nursing Home 6:00 PM Chancel Choir Rehearsal Wednesdays: 6:00 PM Family Night Supper 6:30 PM Children’s Choir
October 2 ...... United Methodist Men’s Yard Sale
October 3 ............ UMM’s Breakfast and Meeting October 3 .................. World Communion Sunday October 10-13 ... Bro. Matt Preaching Revival at Lyons FUMC
October 11 ............................. UMW Circles Meet October 14 ..................................... SPRC Meeting October 16 ........ UMW Annual Meeting in Dublin, GA
October 17 ...................................Team Meetings October 20 ................ Church Charge Conference October 22 ........................... Newsletter Deadline October 23 ................. 4th Saturday Night Supper October 31 ............................... All Saints’ Sunday
