The little boy was telling his grandmama how “everything” was going

Vol. 42
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Dr. John Page, Jr.
No. 03
John’s Page:
‘ The little boy was telling his grandmama how “everything”
was going wrong: school problems, family problems, health
problems, girl problems, Little League problems, etc., etc.
Grandmama was baking a cake as she was listening to her young
grandson. She asked her grandson if he would like a snack, which, of
course he did! “Here, have some cooking oil,” Grandmama said.
“Yuck!” the boy retorted. “How about a couple of raw eggs?” “Gross,
Grandmama!” Then she offered, “Would you like some flour then? Or
maybe baking soda?” The boy said, “Grandmama, those are all yucky!”
To which Grandmama replied: “Yes, all those things seem bad all by
themselves. But, when they are put together in the right way, they
make a wonderfully delicious cake!”
God works the same way. Often we wonder about our difficult
times, the bad things we endure. But God understands the
complete recipe and He has assured us that He will work with us
to make something good come from all of the bad. In the
meantime, our role is to “keep on keeping on” in the work which
He has called us, trusting Him with each “ingredient” life hands
us.
More often than not, God uses our friends to help bring about
the “delicious” things in our lives. It is often their words of
encouragement, perspective and sheer tenacity, added to the
recipe at just the right time, which prevent us from giving up or
quitting in the middle of the “baking” process. Friends,
extending the love of Christ, helping friends witness the hand of
God at work in every life...that’s the Church!
Our church is the Body of Christ reaching out to all with His
recipe, “In all things, God works together for good with those
who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans
8:28). No matter where you are in the “baking” process, His
friends and yours are here for you, and will help make something
“delicious” out of it all.’ (Copied from Dr. Randy Mickler)
Call me when you need me.
In His Name,
John
Thank you to each who made contributions last week to the
“Haiti” fund thru UMCOR. We collected close to $1000.00 that
will be used for relief in that area. 100% of those funds will be
used by UMCOR to provide relief. We continue to accept
donations. Please mark your gift “Haiti”.
MUSIC NOTES to the CONGREGATION!
The Chancel Choir is looking toward the Lenten Cantata in March and the
Community Choir Festival later this year. If you would like to join us,
choir practice is at 6:00pm on Sunday evenings in the music suite.
The flowers on the altar this Sunday
are given
given to the glory of God and in
loving memory of Jane Stallings in
remembrance of her birthday on
January 12th, by her sistersister-inin-law,
Ann Fields, and her niece, Julia Fields Maples of
Louisville, Kentucky.
Important Dates to add to your calendar:
January 29-Golden Age Group Meeting
February 12-Jr. Hi. Youth Lock-In
February 14- Scout Sunday
February 18-Youth Lenten Breakfast Begin
March 21-Chancel Choir Cantata
April 23-Youth Confirmation Class Retreat/Junaluska
VOLUNTEERS IN SERVICE
January 24, 2010
10:55 Service Greeters
The Fellowship Class
10:55 Service Ushers
Bill Hightower, Jimmy
Parrott, Mark Irvin, John
Mallory
Acolytes
Henry & Sophie Daniel
ATTENDANCE
Jan. 17, ‘10
8:30 am Worship
12
Contemporary Worship
58
10:00 Sunday School
138
10:55am Worship
121
Wed. Church Supper
60
Total Morning Worship
191
STEWARDSHIP
General Budget
Specified
Jan. 17, ‘10
$9,389.43
2,137.10
Faith Mission
Endowment B&G
Total
.00
.00
$11,526.53
Contemporary Greeters
John & Katherine Williams
BUDGET REQUIREMENTS ‘10
Youth Supper Chefs
John & Katherine Williams
Weekly Bud. Req.
Bud. Req. to date
Bud. Giving to date
NA
NA
NA
FIRST QUARTER
ACTIVITIES
SUNDAY SCHOOL – Each week 9:45-10:45am
LIVE B.I.G. for ages 3 years through 8th grade.
What can we do to help the Haitian people? What gift can we bring?
One United Methodist Church mission avenue is called UMCOR.
Below is a list of things we can bring to help children and their families in
disaster areas. If you can bring any of the items, please call or e-mail to
tell us what you will contribute. Then bring the items to SS or WW
and we will begin assembling the Health Kits to send to UMCOR.
These must be new items: please choose ONE set of items
or
or
or
or
or
or
or
or
1 - box of gallon sized zip-lock bags
6 - new wash cloths
6 - large sturdy combs
6 - nail files (no emery boards)
or fingernail clippers (no toenail clippers)
6 - hand towels 15" x 25" up to 17" x 27"
( no kitchen towels)
6 - bath-sized bars of soap (3 oz and up)
6 - toothbrushes (single brush only in the original wrapper,
No child-size brushes)
6 - adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages
$6.00 for UMCOR to purchase toothpaste in bulk
WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY – 3:00 – 5:30pm
For ages 3 through 5th grade
January 20 - Tell us about Frankincense and Myrrh; let’s make a
King Cake; begin learning “’Twas in the Moon of Wintertime”
January 27 - We’re still in the Christian Season of Epiphany
“The Story of the Fourth Wise Man”; we’ll paint our craft;
we’ll add the Jewish dance song – “I Will Celebrate”
NOTE: FEB> 16 – Upson is out. We’ll do 12:00 – 5:00
WW SNACK SCHEDULE: If you cannot help, just let me know
as soon as possible.
JAN.
27 - Olivia Pruett & Jamie Kay Grubb
FEB.
3 - Catie Evans, Natalie & Knox Miller
ACOLYTE SCHEDULE - Need to swap? Call Rhonda Ward.
Jan. 24 Jan. 31 Feb. 7 Feb.14 Feb. 21 -
Henry & Sophie Daniel
Lisa Davis & Meagan McMahon
Olivia Pruett & Gracie Ward
Boy Scouts
Ella Hix & Emily Siscel.
YOUTH NEWS
Hey EVERYONE!
Our first Sunday night meeting from 5:307:00 went very well! A lot of people were
sick or busy with holiday plans but we still
had a good crowd with some visitors in the
mix. Pastor John filled in as our recreation
leader and The Whitakers brought an amazing pot of chili, which was
exactly what we all needed! Remember, Jr and Sr High youth are
meeting simultaneously...that means BOTH groups start at 5:30pm.
We talked about not serving leftovers to a holy God. Our main
challenge was to offer God our best instead of making Him an
afterthought and also to stop charting our own courses when we claim
to be Christians (which are FOLLOWERS of God).
This Sunday- Same schedule! 5:30-7:00! John and Katherine Williams
are scheduled to feed us supper and hopefully everyone will be feeling
100% and we'll see each and every one of you 6th through 12th graders
this Sunday night.
UPCOMING EVENTS.
5th Sunday Blowout- BOWLING @ Magnolia Lanes in Griffin. Let us
know if you plan to go! Bring $10 for 2 hrs of bowling, shoes, and
food. We're meeting at 4:30pm and we will return by 8:00pm.
SOUP-ERbowl SUNDAY!
The youth are sponsoring a special food drive. There will be a display
table in the narthex where you can place canned goods which will be
distributed locally to those in need. Support the youth as we attempt to
make a difference in our community! The most efficient way to get
information and updates out to all the youth and parents seems to be
through this newsletter page and through the new youth e-mailing list.
You can sign up for the mailing
list by visiting our website www.thomastonfirstumc.org/youth and
entering your e-mail address. We've been sending out a couple a
week for the past couple weeks and it looks like all the kinks have
been worked out. So make sure you've signed up!
IMPORTANT DATES
COMING UP SUNDAY, Jan. 24th
Noon- Crosstrainers Luncheon
1:00PM Contemporary Design Team
Mtg./FH
2:00PM Missions Committee Mtg./Library
5:30PM Youth/Youth Center
7:00PM Evangelism Mtg./Library
SERMON AND SCRIPTURES FOR
SUNDAY, January 24, 2010
Scripture: Luke 4:14-21
“Good News”
8:30am –Traditional Service-Chapel
9:000am- Contemporary Service- Fellowship Hall
10:55am Traditional Service-Sanctuary
BIRTHDAY GREETINGS
January 21-January 27, 2010
Please let us know if we do not publish your birthday.
Jan. 21: Rebecca Yawn, Caden Murphy;
23: Helen Middlebrooks; 24: Betty Laird,
Sandy Doty; 25: Cecil Tyrone, Ann Britt;
26: Dana Knight, Henrietta DeFoor; 27: Jan Castleberry
Golden Agers Meeting
Friday, January 29
11:00am
Social Hall
Christian Believers Class, led by Dr. John Page, Jr.,
began Jan. 13th, after Wednesday Church Supper.
Plan to join us in the Step Room each Wednesday
evening. If you want to join the group that has
started, please let the office know so that we can
get the program materials for you.
Prayer Concerns
Please call to make us aware of those in need of
prayer. Thank you.
OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL: around the world
OUR MISSIONARIES: Tylers-Africa, Iveys-Peru,
Dearmons-Africa, Datwyler-Ecuador, Mixons-Kenya
SOUTHLAND HEALTH & REHAB: Opaline Woodson
(151 Wisdom Rd., Peachtree City, 30269).
CURRENT REQUESTS: Margaret Moseley, Doris Huckabee
FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES IN NEED OF PRAYER: Haiti; Steve Furtick (brotherin-law of Kathy Berryhill), Elaine Holloway (recurring cancer), Elaine Graves,
Wanda Hewitt, Dylan Brown, Hope Blackstock, Bo Storey, Kim Passeneau, Joan
Nell Marks, Charles Daniel, Lisa Taylor Lanxston, Bill Dallas, Sam Haygood
OUT-OF-TOWN: Marion Berry, Luella Boyers Jean Raines, Elizabeth Storey,
Opalene Woodson, Rev. Timothy Green
AT HOME: Chessie Rogers, Frankie Oxner, Ernest Gore, Ann Jenkins
PROVIDENCE: Carolyn Bowen, Elsie McKinley
RIVERSIDE: Dot Humphries, LaFayette Short, Hilda Koch
WEST VILLAGE: Willie Bentley, Betsy White, Gertrude Taylor, Katie Nell Pinkard,
Carolyn Knight, Robert Cravey
WEDNESDAY
CHURCH SUPPER
January 27th, 2010
5:30pm
CALENDAR
21: THURSDAY
9:00am-MMO & Preschool
7:00pm-Staff Parish Mtg./Parsonage
22: FRIDAY
9:00am-Aerobics /Step Room
24: SUNDAY
8:30am Traditional Service/Chapel
9:00am Contemporary Service/FH
9:45am Sunday School
10:00am New Member Class/Parlor
10:55am Traditional Serv./Sanc.
12:00 Noon-Crosstrainers Lunch/FH
1:00pm Contemporary Design Mtg./FH
“KANSAS DAY CELEBRATION”
Menu: Pot Roast w/ potatoes
& carrots, green salad,
dinner rolls, dessert- Kansas “Dirt”
2:00pm Missions Mtg./Library
5:00pm Handbells
5:30-7:00pm Youth
Prices: $6-Adults, $3-Children 12 & up
6:00pm Chancel Choir Practice
Family Maximum: $20
7:00 Evangelism Comm. Mtg./Library
Please make reservations by
25: MONDAY
9:00am Aerobics/Step Room
Tuesday Noon.
26: TUESDAY
9:00am MMO & Preschool
27: WEDNESDAY
AEROBICS CLASS
9:00am MMO & Preschool
MEETS MONDAY
3:00pm Wonderful Wednesday
AND FRIDAY
5:30pm Church Family Supper/FH
6:00pm Crown Ministries Study
MORNINGS AT
Library
9:00AM
6:30pm Bible Study/ (Revelations)
Social Hall
6:30pm Christian Believers Class
Step Room
Thought for the
week:
Nothing else ruins
the truth like
stretching it.
www.thomastonfirstumc.org
email: office@thomastonfirstumc.org
Office 706-647-3335
Fax: 706-648-2658
CHURCH STAFF
Dr. John Page
Pastor
Pat Dodson
Director of Ministries
Bonnie Douglas
Youth Director
Joan Thomas
Music Director
Sherry Rawls
Admin. Assistant
Henrietta Johnson
Financial Secretary
Rick McManus
Organist
Anita & Claude Fillingim
Church Hosts
Rosa Smith
Housekeeping
Kevin Cochran
Maintenance
OUR MISSIONARIES
Ron and Belinda Tyler-Africa
Arthur and Mary Alice Ivey-PeruThe Dearmons-Africa
Datwyler Family-Ecuador
George and Martha Mixon-Kenya
Published Weekly by the First United Methodist Church
132 Cherokee Rd., Thomaston, GA 30286
Second Class Postage Paid at Thomaston
Send Address Changes to: The Navigator, P.O. Box 707, Thomaston, GA