A Publication of First United Methodist Church, Athens , Texas

Blessing of the Backpacks

Sunday, August 21 Bring your back pack to worship with you and receive a key tag to add to your collection. Come and allow your church to help you prepare for the school year ahead. Backpacks will be blessed in both the 8:30 and 10:50 services.

Childrens’ Promotion Celebration August 21, 9:45 am August 2016 Volume 9 - Issue 8

All children are invited to gather in the last room on the right in the Owen Building for refreshments to celebrate their move to a new Sunday school class.

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Front Porch will be held August 14 at 9:30 am in the ATTIC. Youth will host. A BIG THANK YOU to the UM ARMY who stayed in our church last month. In addition to all of the work done in our community, they found time to resurface the children’s tricycle path on the play ground and replace the cord on the flagpole. They are grateful to our church for allowing them to use our facilities and to Methodist Men for the Sunday meal and to the Discovery Class for the Lake Party at the Abadie’s.

Thank You Blood Donors Thanks to the following for giving blood Sunday, July 17, during our drive: Cathy Burgess

Vance Anderson

Lisa Giesey

Karen Jones

Jim Streifel

Cindy Ostransky

Shellie Jones

David Odom

Richard David

Thomas Faulk

Gary Reaves

Nick Nichols

Paul Sharrock

Guyana Priestley

Charlotte Morgan

Mike Gibbs

Gin Daniel

Communion offering taken in August goes to the Ark Campus Ministry.

Thanks to all of you, The outpouring of love, comfort, help and support during this time of sorrow and grief in the passing of my beloved husband (Stanley J. Cherry) and grandfather of the boys. It has truly been a blessing and greatly appreciated. Frieda Cherry Sabre & Nathan Heinemann Dear Nancy & FUMC, The family of Anita Jones would like to thank everyone at FUMC for your love and hospitality after Anita’s passing. Everything was so beautiful and we all appreciate you very much. Please accept this donation to the Bereavement Committee for their incredible work. Thank you all, Van Cleave Family

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PASTOR’S PEN HOT! HOT! HOT! The temperature seems to keep climbing and the humidity continues to linger. As the summer continues I am still humbled by your dedication and willingness to serve the Lord in so many new and exciting ways. We have been opening our doors to “Pokemon Go” players. This is a new game for cellular phones that has become the largest game and most downloaded application in the world. Players are drawn to places called “Pokestops” to pick up supplies and to catch rare Pokemon. Our church is the home of 2. When I found that people are coming to church again on their own I challenged you to welcome them in and you have! In January we began the process to change the culture of our church and become focused on the community around us. We accepted a vision for our church that plays off our passions and strengths to see the families of Athens come to know Jesus Christ. The closest ministry we have at the moment to this vision is our Methodist Children’s Learning Center. This day school serves over 130 children every day. There was a great misconception by both the school and the church that neither wanted anything to do with the other. We have rectified this and with our new Director, Nancy Ward, we look forward to the great relationship that awaits our church. The school has already begun a clean-up and they are putting Jesus back in the curriculum and up on the walls! It is our hope that the children and their families know that our church loves them as Christ loves us! I want to thank the Methodist Men for all their donations towards the landscaping lights that illuminate the building at night and the new freezers in the activities building. The Crafty Ladies and Methodist Men continue to show their love as they sponsored scholarships for the youth to go to camps and mission trips this summer. Thank you all for your continued support! Doug Blythe and his team have done amazing work this summer with the trustees to beautify and clean up our campus. We can’t thank them enough for their hard work and willingness for the sake of Christ. I want to continue to thank everyone who has helped us in moving forward and finding our place in Athens, TX. You are all a part of something greater than yourself. As we begin to look at ways to improve worship and implement our new discipleship pathway I hope you will embrace the new way forward! Thank you, Rev. Jason Smith MYSTERY TRIP HERE WE COME! The group left Thursday, July 28, with stops planned in Dallas, Abilene and Austin. Keep them in your prayers this weekend as they travel the highways and byways of Texas. They return to Athens Saturday evening.

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Upcoming Events & Field Trips: August 2 - 4 Field trips to Discovery Science Place in Tyler August 5 - St. Jude’s Trike-a-thon August 7 - National Kids Day August 9 - 11 Field Trips to the Brookshire Museum in Tyler August 10 - National Smores Day August 16 - 18 Sports Day for boys & Spa day for girls August 16 - 19 PreK field trips to Kiwanis Park August 22 - Back to School!

MCLC Garage Sale - September 10 Bring donations to the church during office hours. HELP - Volunteers are needed to sand and make small repairs to bookshelves and other furniture items. They can then be painted and returned to the classrooms. You may pick up something and take it home to work on it in your own shop, or come by and take an item to the covered area behind the parlor and work on it onsite. We hope to have this project complete by the time school starts.

Special Gifts to Our Church: In memory of Charlotte Owens from Thomas & Beth Faulk, Larry & Celia Smith In memory of Anita Jones from Sara & Cay Cox, the Fincher Family, Michael & Jennifer Neill, Dr. Joe Ed & Mary Lynn Smith In memory of Mary Jo Tanner from Don & Donna Bennett In memory of Evelyn Tanner West from Sam & Pat Fowler In memory of Max Logan from Kathy Killingsworth, Katie Smith, Bubba & Renee Smith, Eric & Tracye Smith, Staff of First State Bank, Ron & Glenda Baugh, Bill & Nancy Rogers, Woody & Donna Meredith, Jerry & Judy Oglesby, Earl & Judy Locke, Sam & Pat Fowler, Linda George

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YOUTH SCHEDULE FOR AUGUST: August 15 - Mission Day at East Texas Food Bank August 18 & 19 - Water for AHS & Cayuga HS Bands August 22 - First Day of School Congratulations to Melvin & Judi Bateman on the birth of Evan Woods Bateman. Evan was born June 29 and weighed 6 lbs 4 oz. Proud parents are Ross and Meghan Bateman.

IN MEMORIAM Max Logan

Congratulations to Richard & Diane David on the birth of granddaughter, Kathryn Diane David. She was born on July 12 and weighed 6 lbs 6 oz. Proud parents are Daniel & Julie David. She was also welcomed by brothers Joshua & Caleb. Deepest sympathy to Ken & Sarah Braswell on the death of their niece, Karen Braswell

July 15, 2016

IN MEMORIAM Anita Jones July 5, 2016

We Appreciate Our Sunday School Teachers All Sunday School teachers from Nursery through Adult are invited to a brunch in their honor on Sunday, August 28 from 9:30 to 10:30. The event will beheld in the Children’s Sunday School room (last room on the right in the Owen Building). Your classes will be covered by subs so come and enjoy being appreciated.

N E W

Karen & Bill Jones joined July 17 coming by transfer from another UMC.

M E M B E R S

Nathan & Frieda Cherry joined July 24 transferring from another UMC.

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august birthdays 1st

Sloane Bateman

3rd

Earl Anderson

4th

Dee Gemmel

5th

Carol Armstrong Randy Erwin

6th

Mike Gibbs

7th

Melinda Thomas

8th

9th

Dr. Marylyn Wright Brian Schutt Megan Bateman Brenda Grand-Lienard Jim Ben Faulk

10th Wanda Lackey Howard Thomas

11th Patti Smith Jacquelyn Fisher Clark Fincher

22nd Phyllis Hall Eleanor Landrum

12th Sarah Braswell

23rd Sharon Blackmon Clary Smiley

13th Cliff Barrett Stanley Ferguson

25th Sandy Poarch Elizabeth Trammell

14th Nancy Rogers Debbie Vickery

26th Anne Adams

15th JoDelle Magers 16th Brenda Davis 18th Frank Roup Kathy Middleton Seth Murphy 20th Janie Sweeden

27th Kathy Sanders 28th Jeremy Perkins 29th Leon Spencer Pamela Pruitt 30th Rudy Pittman Dennis Schmidt 31st Betty Gore

METHODIST MEN: MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Barbecue Lunch Fundraiser for Disciples Clinic - September 10 - Activities Building. Sponsored by Methodist Men. . . 35 men attended the breakfast meeting on July 27. Rev. Jason Smith presented the program about the VCI (Vibrant Church Initiative) Program and a vision for our church. Thanks to our Methodist Men for purchasing two freezers for our church. Thanks also for providing scholarships for camp. They meet every 2nd & 4th Wednesday for breakfast at 6:45 am and every 1st, 3rd & 5th Wednesday for Bible study at 6:45, led by Dr. Mike Murphy.

CHURCH STAFF

Office Hours:

Pastor - Rev. Jason Smith Associate Pastor - Rev. Andrew Wolfe Director of Programs - Kathy Middleton Church Secretary - DeeAnne Adams Bookkeeper - Tyna Gore Music Director - Doty Warms Journey Director - Virgil Feinsod Organist - Dr. Marylyn Wright Pianist - Nancy Hicks

Monday - Thursday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Friday 8 a.m. - 12 noon

Methodist Children’s Learning Center Director - Nancy Ward Administrative Asst. - Mary McDonald

Phone: 903-675-5161 Fax 903-675-9524 www.athenstxfumc.com Sunday Worship 8:30 Contemporary - 10:50 Traditional 9:45 Sunday School Methodist Children’s Learning Center 6:45 a.m. - 5:45 p.m. (Mon - Fri) Monday - Friday Phone: 903-675-8664 or 677-2911

SUN

August 2016

MON

TUE

Place events on 1 this calendar by calling the church office by the 3rd Monday of the month.

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7

9

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21 8:30 & 10:50 Blessing of the Backpacks 9:45 Children’s Promotion Celebration

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3 6:45 Men’s Bible

THUR

4 9:30 Crafty Ladies

FRI 5

10 6:45 Methodist 11 9:30 Crafty 12 Men’s Breakfast Ladies 4:30 Bell Choir 5 pm Journey 6 pm Chancel Choir

17 6:45 Men’s Bi-

SAT 6

13 4 pm Aggie Moms Howdy Dinner

18 9:30 Crafty 19 Ladies

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24 6:45 Methodist 25 9:30 Crafty 26 Men’s Breakfast Ladies

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ble Study

2:00 to 5:00 4:30 Bell Choir pm Terrific 5 pm Journey Tuesday 6 pm Chancel Choir

22 23 First day of School 6 pm Citizenship Class

29 28 9:30 10:30 Teacher Appreciation Brunch

WED

Study 11 am-4:40 pm Photos for Directory 4:30 Bell Choir 5 pm Journey 6 pm Chancel Choir

2 pm UMW Reading Circle at 722 Mulberry 14 9:30 Front 15 Porch 12 noon Missions Comm. 1:30 Trustees

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30

4:30 Bell Choir 5 pm Journey 6 pm Chancel Choir

31 6:45 Men’s Bi-

ble Study 4:30 Bell Choir 6 pm Citizen- 5 pm Journey 6 pm Chancel ship Class Choir

Remember our website www.athenstxfumc.com Check it out!

Reading Circle will meet Tuesday, August 9 at 2:00 pm at the home of Eleanor Landrum, 720 Mulberry Drive (come see her new kitchen). Thanks to all who purchased UMCOR Layette Kits in honor or memory of their mothers on Mother’s Day. Kits will be assembled in September and delivered to Lakeview where they will be transported to Sager Brown UMCOR Warehouse in Louisiana. They will then be distributed to countries with limited income and resources. This is an annual mission project for our United Methodist Women..

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First United Methodist Church P. O. Box 911 Athens, Tx. 75751

ADDRESS SERVICE

August 16, 2:00 to 5:00 pm Activities Building All children age 3 through 5th Grade are invited to come to the Activities Building for an afternoon of movies, games and snacks. Please make your reservation by Thursday, August 11 if you can attend. (903-675-5161)