July 2016 Newsletter - First United Methodist Church, Garden City

DISCIPLESdispatch
Monthly Newsletter of the First United Methodist Church
July 2016
MARK YOUR
CALENDAR
July
“Meet the Pastor”
Gatherings
July 8, 15, 22, 29
Summer Mother’s
Day Out
July 13, 20, 27
Hands On
7.16 & 17
Stuff the Bus
7.24 & 31
“The Meaning of
Marriage” Bible
Study
WHAT’S INSIDE?
2
Who is your new Senior Pastor?
Jesus: our surfboard in western Kansas
3
Letter from Pastor Natalie Faust
Ongoing Prayer Concerns
4
Children’s Ministry
5
Youth Ministry
Letters from Youth Directors
6
Jesus: our surfboard in western Kansas continued
A Letter from Wren and Jill Robinson
7
Announcements
May 2016 Budget Snapshot
8
Contact Information
Staff Parish Relations Committee Members
1
WHO IS YOUR NEW SENIOR PASTOR?
CONTACT TOD
C: (620)353-0036
O: (620)275-9171
tod@fumcgc.com or
tanthony@greatplainsumc.org
Y
ou may not
know me
yet, but I am
anticipating
us beginning a special
journey together! Let me
introduce myself. I am
Tod Anthony, your new
senior pastor, starting
July 1, 2016.
I grew up on a farm
in southwest Kansas,
attended school in
Satanta and was involved
in 4-H and rodeo in
Ulysses. I have received
an associates degree
from Garden City
Community College, a
bachelor’s degree in Ageducation at Kansas State
University and a master’s
of divinity degree at
Asbury Theological
Seminary. Since then, I’ve
been a United Methodist
pastor for the past 30
years.
You need to know, I
am a sinner in constant
need of the Lord Jesus
and the empowerment of
the Holy Spirit.
While on a summer
mission trip in 1985, I
met a young, beautiful
and spiritual Maryland
gal named Elaine Taber,
who married me 28 years
ago. She is a high school
math teacher, who will
continue to teach parttime at Lakin, the town
we have lived in for the
past twelve years. She
continues to be God’s
greatest agent of love in
my life.
The Lord has not
only blessed me with
a wonderful wife, but
has blessed us with four
precious children. Zac
(Zachary) is twenty-five
and soon will become a
missionary in Calcutta,
India, to reach unreached
people groups. Justine,
our 24-year-old daughter,
lives in Manhattan,
Kansas, where she
teaches at a Christian
preschool. Recently, she
became engaged to Kelly
Dyer. They plan to get
married this fall. Matt
(Matthew)is 21 years
old and majoring in civil
engineering at Kansas
State University. He is
currenly in Gulf Shores,
Alabama, working as
a leader at KALEO
(a summer work/
discipleship/evangelism
project). Ben (Benjamin)
is 19 years old and a
recent Lakin high school
graduate and a life-guard
at the Lakin pool. He has
enrolled at Kansas State
University majoring in
mechanical engineering.
I am looking forward
to meeting, knowing
and journeying with
you. Please come and
worship with us on the
first weekend in July. The
God fully revealed in the
Lord Jesus Christ who
gives us His best is worth
our time. If you have
already made other plans
for this weekend, please
worship with us the
following weekend or as
soon as possible. I believe
it will be worth your
time. Come and see!
— Rev. Tod Anthony,
new senior pastor
Jesus: our surfboard
in western Kansas
I lay, stomach
down, on the
surfboard, paddling
with my arms.
Careful to maintain
my balance, I grab
the sides of the board,
pull up onto my
knees, then hop onto
my feet in the surfer’s
stance I’d been taught.
Although the
younger men could
hop right onto
their feet from their
stomach, I still felt
good about my
movements. Over
and over I practice
this move and
didn’t fall once! The
sunbathers around
me may chuckle
at the sight of me
repeating these
moves — the board
still on the sand.
It was June 2014
and my family was
in California visiting
my wife’s brother,
Clyde, and his family.
This was not our first
time at the ocean.
Elaine, my wife, grew
up in Maryland and
took annual family
vacations to Ocean
City. Once we were
married we traveled
back to Maryland to
visit her family and
usually spent a few
days in Ocean City
and played in the salt
water.
Learning to catch
waves on a boogie
board was a blast for
this southwest Kansas
farm boy! However, I
quickly learned that
I could not make the
board go myself, and
I needed to select the
right wave to ride.
Jump to SURF | pg. 6
A Letter from Pastor Natalie
Have you ever gone through
something where you just
start to feel as though you’re
losing faith, losing hope that
anything is ever going to get
better? It’s easy at times to feel
so overwhelmed with all that
life may seem to be throwing
at you that you really just
don’t see any end to it, and
struggle and struggle to keep
your head above the water.
Recently, I was asked to
teach a Sunday School class,
and as I opened up the book
to begin preparing, I read
these words:
Thankfully, after two Bible
lessons hearing the relentless
pronouncements of divine
wrath and judgment, the
closing verses of Zephaniah
sing a different tune: joy.
Not just hope (which we
have gotten glimpses of all
along), but joy—the joy
of a faithful remnant of
Israel, at last recipients of
Yahweh’s redeeming love,
and the joy of the Lord now
reconciled to the people.
At last, an assurance rather
than a warning. This faithful
remnant will praise and
worship differently than
they had been. (Adult Bible
Studies Teacher Book, June
19th, 2016 pg. 39)
I had someone ask me
recently if I was okay, that
they just hadn’t seen the joy
that I used to exude. It really
hit me, that they were right.
That hope and joy haven’t
been a part of my life for a
little while. Believe it or not,
pastors too struggle with
seeing hope and finding joy.
Someone else also mentioned
to me that with Christ, we
always have hope. I may have
mentioned before that I feel
God by listening to music and
in that moment I heard the
lyrics to the song Neely sang
at Brian and I’s wedding: “And
I will call upon Your name.
And keep my eyes above the
waves. When oceans rise. My
soul will rest in Your embrace.
For I am Yours and You are
mine.” (Oceans by Hillsong
United)
I love this song for the
promise it brings. That’s
why Brian and I chose it for
our wedding. With Christ,
we always have the promise
of hope and joy. I just need
to allow my soul to rest in
His embrace. A scripture I
reminded myself that I love,
after rereading some posts on
my blog is this:
“Therefore, since we have
been justified through faith,
we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus
Christ, through whom we
have gained access by faith
unto this grace in which we
now stand. And we rejoice in
the hope of the glory of God.
Not only so, but we rejoice
in our sufferings, because we
know that suffering produces
perseverance; perseverance,
character, and character, hope.
And hope does not disappoint
us, because God has poured
out his love into our hearts by
the Holy Spirit, whom he has
given us.” (Romans 5: 1-5)
So take heart, my friends.
Know that the bible
says suffering produces
perseverance, perseverance,
character, and character, hope.
So find joy in knowing that
Christ has whatever you and
I are going through in his
control, and we will be okay.
Blessings,
Pastor Natalie
Ongoing Prayer Concerns
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Bryce & Diane Baker
Ervil Bradfield
Jack & Donna Bruns
Bob Corn
Gertrude Davis
Leighton Fairbairn
Ron Greathouse
Peggy Hands
Ivy Helpingstine
Jack Just
Lydia Kramer
Bob Krug
Geraldine Mann
Norma Meier
Beverly Olomon
Sylvia Orosco
Linda Rishel
Loretta Schultz
Dona Schwartz
Bev Sharp
Mary Lou Shea
Richard & Ruth Stroup
Scott Stegman
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Carol Taylor
Karen Valencia
Ron Wasinger
Kelly Widows
Regina Wilson
Jhayliegh Rosales (granddaughter of
Vicki Becker)
Frank & Evelyn Jackson (father & stepmother of Rebecca Claar)
Shirley Cloud (mother of David Cloud)
Twilla Siebert (mother of Christine
Dillingham)
Bonita Wurz (grandmother of Lisa
Dockter)
John Fisher (father of Ashley Freburg)
Ethel Heady (sister of Jane Johnson)
Bob Meyer (father of Brian Meyer &
brother of Don Meyer)
Juan Ortiz (grandfather of Sammy
Ortiz & uncle of Manuel Ortiz)
Layne Schiffelbein (daughter of Charlie
Sinclair)
Carol Martin (sister of Steve Smith)
• Grace Brown (mother of
Shelly Stroup)
• Matt McCarthy (cousin of Danna Claar)
• Delmer Speer (brother-in-law of Carol
Dalke)
• Carol Rodgers (aunt of Vicky Griggs)
• Dusty Sullivan (niece of Brian Meyer)
• Paisley Hill (cousin of Janice Parks)
• Llyod Leadbetter (brother-in-law of
Leona Peach)
• Glenna Parks (niece of Toni Snell)
• Katie Strickland (niece of Toni Snell)
• Wanda Hughes (friend of Glendene
Corn)
• Sandy Mott (friend of Norma Nolte and
Pauline Craft)
• Ruben Calderon (friend of Kevin Parks)
• Korbin Leon (5 year old friend of Tom
& Linda Rishel)
• Tanya Bernbeck (friend of Bob &
Kristie Tempel)
• Jairo Garcia (friend of Austin &
Amanda Maier)
3
Children’s Ministry
KidCheck goes live in nursery
We went live with KidCheck on
July 3. It is important you create
your account as soon as possible. If
you haven’t already created your free
account, please do so by going to
go.kidcheck.com, selecting “Create
Your KidCheck Account,” and
following the on-screen prompts.
Alternatively, you can download the
KidCheck Mobile Check-In app from
the App Store or Google Play Store
to create, manage, and update your
account right on your phone (does
not complete check-in).
You can create your account from
the comfort of home; it’s simple and
will only take a few minutes. Creating
your account prior to the above date
helps us have a smooth transition
and helps your first check-in go more
quickly so you can get on your way. Once you’ve created your account,
simply use your 10 digit phone
number to check-in with us. Thank
you for your participation.
VBSRECAP
Thank you, to everyone who
participated in Vacation Bible
School this year. We had more
than 200 kids and 45 leaders
throughout the week learning
God Creates, God Helps, God
Loves, God Calms and God
Sends.
Thank you, the Garden City
Fire Department for providing the
water fun on Friday morning.
Thank you, to everyone who
helped decorate, donated items to
used in snacks or crafts, and lifted
the week up in prayer.
We raised over $650 for Genesis
Family Health’s food pantry.
Hands On
Children aged kindergarten through 6th
grade, join us on Wednesday mornings from
9:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. for mission projects.
4
It is hard to believe a majority of our church kids have
already gone to camp. This year we had 41 kids go to
camp. As we have returned from camp, we have asked the
kids, “How did you see God at work in your life through
camp?” Their answers have been astonishing. Thank you to
those that have donated to camp scholarships. We will have
a Camp Scholarship Dinner in the future, where you can hear
camp stories firsthand. Thank you again for sending your
kids to camp and please continue praying for our campers.
JULY 13
We will visit nursing homes and share cards
with the residents.
JULY 20
We will pack beans & rice for Genesis Family
Health to distribute.
JULY 27
We will help a ministry around town in our
church building.
Youth Ministry
As the journey begins...
Let us not worry about what
might or might not happen, but
instead focus on what we face
ahead and Trust in God to guide
our path.
Last week, Justin and I took 16
youth to Eagle Lake Camp. We
were excited about the turnout
and couldn’t wait to go. We left for
camp at 8 a.m. Sunday morning
and arrived around 2 p.m.
We didn’t know what to expect
even though a few of the youth
had been in the past. We met
the counselors and they gave us
the run down, and told us not to
worry but focus on what we want
to get out of our time at camp.
With those words in mind, we
started the hiking and backpacking
trips. Hiking was not too bad,
we had to carry water in our
backpacks, which are like school
packs. We traveled 3.9 miles on
that trip and had lots of struggles.
During the backpacking trip, we
had150 pound bags strapped to
our backs and 350 miles of trails
(up, down and sideways across
mountains) to trek. It mostly felt
like going up, even on the way
back, and we ran out of water. Yes,
we ran out of water! Youth and
leaders both moaned and groaned
that packs were too heavy, saying
“I am so thirsty. Can we stop? I’m
so tired and where is the water?”
We wanted to give up, but the
group persevered and showed
their courage to one another by
saying,“Don’t quit. You can do it!”
The encouragements, positive
attitudes and focus on God made
us realize no matter what bad
situations we came across, we
could overcome it with God on
our side. We overcame weaknesses,
conquered our goals, had the
UPCOMING EVENTS
JULY 16
Stuff the Bus Community Event with
Genesis Family Health from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
& 1 to 3 p.m.
• Need 10 volunteers for lawn and parking
lot striping at Genesis Family Health
• Need 10 volunteers to hand out
donation fliers at Walmart that list
needed school supplies
• We will switch crews at lunch time
• Contact Manny or Justin to volunteer
TO BE DETERMINED
Life-size foosball pit construction
Ga-Ga Ball pit construction
satisfaction and glory of being
closer to God while standing atop
a mountain looking over a piece
of land God created for all. This is
what we are blessed to have. The
journey’s we take are not alone.
You are with us. God is with us.
Prayers can be heard across the
land. The counselor’s reminded
us many times that the outcome
would be worth it, and it was!
Justin and I have been praying
for not only our Youth, but for all
Churches, Communities and all of
God’s land! You have not been left
out! Our plan and God’s will is for
Him to be with us on this Journey,
as we lead, serve and love our
families, churches, communities
and all people across the world, so
we may all be witnesses of God’s
work through us all. God Bless!
— Manny Ortiz
DEAR FUMC,
My name is Justin Rogers. My wife
Jessica and I have 3 children; Adisyn
10, Kynslee 7, Karter 5. We have lived
in Garden City for 11 years. I work
full-time at Animal Health International
as a warehouse manager. In my free
time, I enjoy spending time with
friends and family, hunting, fishing
and watching Husker football. I am
really excited about taking on the
youth group with Manuel. We are
energetic guys that have big plans on
growing the youth program.
— Justin Rogers
5
SURF from pg. 2
When I would get off
balance and be submerged,
I would wonder which end
was up.
To increase our odds of
being successful surfers,
Clyde’s brother-in-law and
his friend came to coach us.
After matching us up with
boards, we practiced getting
from our stomachs to our
feet. Though it was a little
embarrassing doing this
over and over on the sand,
rather than in the water, I
was trusting that our coaches,
who were experienced
surfers, knew best.
Finally, with our boards
strapped to our wrists, we
waded about a hundred yards
into chest-deep water that
produced small waves just
right for beginning surfers.
I lay on the board, facing
the shoreline and ready to
paddle. Looking back, I wait
for a good wave.
Clyde’s friend stood at the
back of my large board to
push the board at the right
time. After a few attempts,
I stood up on the board
and rode a wave about forty
yards.
Leonard Sweet, in “Soul
Tsunami,” compared our
Lord Jesus to a surfboard —
an analogy I have come to
greatly appreciate.
Jesus keeps our heads
above water in a world where
many waves come our way.
Without Jesus, we often find
ourselves turning somersaults
under the murky water, not
knowing which end is up.
The Holy Spirit is to be our
coach, helping us practice
what Jesus commands us
and to discern which wave
God sends our way we are
to catch. Be aware that God
does not expect us to ride
every wave! Sometimes,
the wave God had us riding
comes to an end. Hopefully,
we dismount gracefully, but if
not, Jesus is there to help us,
if we let Him.
In Matthew 7:24-27 Jesus
said, “Everyone then who
“
hears these
“Everyone then who hears these
words of mine
words of mine and acts on them
and acts on
will be like a wise man who
them will be
built his house on rock. The
like a wise
rain fell, the floods came, and
man who built
the winds blew and beat on
his house on
that house, but it did not fall,
rock. The rain
because it had been founded on
fell, the floods
rock. And everyone who hears
came, and the
these words of mine and does
winds blew
not act on them will be like a
and beat on
foolish man who built his house
that house,
on sand. The rain fell, and the
but it did not
floods came, and the winds
fall, because
blew and beat against that
it had been
house, and it fell — and great
founded on
was its fall.” — Matthew 7:24-27
rock. And
trust the Lord Jesus as your
everyone who
surfboard to catch the waves
hears these words of mine
and does not act on them will God sends your way. And as
the Holy Spirit coaches you
be like a foolish man who
in this world where Jesus
built his house on sand. The
rain fell, and the floods came, made it clear that many
waves (i.e. storms) come our
and the winds blew and beat
way.
against that house, and it fell
Let us be doers of God’s
— and great was its fall.”
word
together and not just
If you get the chance to surf
hearers, for the glory and
this summer, give it a try. I
praise of God!
hope what I wrote will be of
— Rev. Tod Anthony,
help.
new senior pastor
Moreover, I invite you to
A Letter from Wren & Jill Robinson
GREETINGS FUMCGC!
Jill and I are so excited to be
serving along side you in the
coming months and years. God
has confirmed and affirmed our
move to Garden City in innumerable
ways and we are humbled and
grateful for the prayers of all
involved!
Jill and I have been singing and
ministering together for nearly 40
years beginning in college and
then serving churches in Kansas,
Oklahoma, Kentucky, Colorado, and
Texas where we have served 16 of
the last 18 years of ministry.
6
We love all types of music
and have performed, directed,
and led music from classical to
contemporary. Our soul desire
is to honor God and facilitate the
authentic and sincere worship He
is due.
We have three grown children and
four beautiful grandchildren that are
the pinnacle of God’s blessings!
Please know that we are coming
to lead as servants and we look
forward to serving God together
through music.
To God Be the Glory!
— Wren & Jill Robinson
Wren and Jill Robinson
INTERESTED IN JOINING CHOIR?
Wren is looking for talented singers to
join the choir. If you’re interested, email
Wren at wrenrobinson@gmail.com
Announcements
Bell choir seeks ‘ringers’
The Bernadine Bell Choir is in
need of more ringers. Some
musical background is helpful.
Rehearsals will be held from
7 to 8 p.m. Monday evenings
starting mid-August. If you are
interested, please contact Silver
Woodbury at (405)519-0331 or
silverbell@cox.net.
Mother’s Day Out
Join us for 3 more sessions of
MDO this summer from 9 a.m. to
1:30 p.m. July 15, 22, and 29.
If you are interested please call the
church office at (620)275-9171.
F U M C
H A S
P res ch ool
Open i ng s
ENROLL
TO D AY !
Bridges Out of Poverty
Training Workshop | Tuesday, July 19 | 9 am - 4 pm
with partial funding provided by the Western Kansas Community Foundation
First United Methodist Church
1106 N. Main St., Garden City, KS 67846
Bridges out of Poverty is a nationally recognized program
helping agencies prevent, reduce, and alleviate poverty.
This workshop is a comprehensive approach to
understanding the dynamics that cause and maintain
poverty from the individual to the systemic level.
Participants will review poverty research, examine a theory
of change and analyze poverty through the prism of the
hidden rules of class, resources, family structure and language; gaining insight
and strategies for improving outcomes for people living in poverty.
MAY 2016 BUDGET SNAPSHOT
This training is open to the public, but seating is limited, so please register
in advance.
Hosted by: EmberHope’s Youthville Foster Care
RSVP: bridgestraininggardencity.eventbrite.com
Ric & Carol Dalke will lead a Bible Study called “The
Meaning of Marriage” by Timothy & Kathy Keller
on Sunday nights at 6:30 p.m. on July 24 & 31 and
August 7, 14, 21 & 28. Childcare will be available.
emberhope.org
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First United Methodist Church
1106 N. Main St.
“Corner of Main & Kansas”
Garden City, KS 67846
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Garden City, KS 67846
Permit No. 36
Address Service Requested
CONTACT US
First United Methodist Church
1106 North Main Street
Garden City, KS 67846
(620)275-9171
www.fumcgc.com
/fumcgc
@fumcgc
Staff Parish Relations Committee Members
CHAIRPERSON
Dave Daniels
ddaniels4@cox.net
(620)290-4339
CLASS OF 2017
Dave Daniels
ddaniels4@cox.net
(620)290-4339
LAY LEADER
Steve Mayo
mayos@wbsnet.org
(620)272-1524
Ric Dalke
riccarol@cox.net
(620)640-3760
LAY MEMBER TO ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Mark Whitley
mwhitley5@cox.net
(620)272-7927
CLASS OF 2016
Jackie Miller
jacquelinemiller@catholichealth.net
(620)276-8654
Emily Burns
shane.burns@usd216.org
(620)805-1775
8
Kevin Linenberger
linenbergerk@yahoo.com
(620)640-1614
Sam Hands
jhands@wbsnet.org
(620)640-8487
CLASS OF 2018
Lisa Dockter
bearschic@yahoo.com
(620)260-8963
Millie Norman
millie.norman@ymail.com
(620)272-1131
Carolyn Henry
carolynhenry@cox.net
(620)640-0973