Margaret`s Musings - First United Methodist Church

For God So Loved
THE WORLD!!!
On the morning of December 16, I attended a
Catholic Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic
Church, for the purposes of eulogizing little
Zachary Scott Rivera. Sitting here in this
beautiful church overwhelmed me and inspired
me all at the same time. I was overwhelmed at
the task of mourning with and comforting the
family, while trying to maintain my own
composure from the loss I personally felt but
could not express at the time. I was inspired by
the priest’s words of comfort given to the
family, but not only to the family but to all of
us who were there. The priest emphatically declared “Trust God! God is with you!” At once I realized
that those words came as words of peace to all of us who trust in Jesus Christ.
All the while listening to what the priest was saying, I began looking around the room, noticing people
from all walks of life and of varying faith traditions – Catholics, Methodists, Baptists – all gathered
together under one roof, unified by the One who came to save the world, Jesus Christ. As I listened to the
Mass, and as the priest led us through the liturgical acts and words, some things said were familiar to me:
The Lord be with you…Lift up your hearts to the Lord… Looking down at the kneelers and noticing the
Catholic hymnals, I searched for more things familiar to my own Methodist tradition. In this hymnal I
saw song after song that I knew and that everyone in any Christian church would know. I saw songs like
“They’ll Know We Are Christians”, reminding me that as Christians we have a lot in common, in our
songs, in our liturgy, and in our acts of devotion. This all reminded me of a Christian organization which
my mother introduced me to called Church Women United (CWU). Church Women United meets
together, usually on a monthly basis, gathering to worship and to praise God as one united body of
believers. Baptists, Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, all gather under one roof to remind
each other and the world that Jesus Christ is the One who unifies and brings us all together for the
purpose of declaring to the world the Good News that God So Loved the World!
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life” is a continual reminder that all of us, regardless of the faith tradition we
come from, have this promise, that God loves us and God sent Jesus to save us. Under the name of Christ
all of a sudden we become one! By the power of God’s Holy Spirit, it is Christ Jesus who brings us
together and makes us one. What a beautiful picture of heaven God gives us to look forward to. I think
little Zachary must be smiling at that. I am too.
Rest in peace, Zachary,
God’s angel.
I’m glad I got a chance to know you and to see your smile.
Pastor Rosie
Happy New Year!
God’s Peace Be with You All!
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SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
1
SATURDAY
2
3
9
10
16
17
23
24
30
31
EXERCISE
10:00
Office
Closed
Christian Men’s
Fellowship
8:30 AM
4
COMMUNION
5
EXERCISE
10:00
NOMADS Project
Jan. 5-22
11
Men’s Sunday
Celebration
8
EXERCISE
10:00
13
14
EXERCISE
10:00
EXERCISE
10:00
15
EXERCISE
10:00
EXERCISE
10:00
BIBLE STUDY
11:30 AM
&
6:00 PM
UMW
Meeting
2:30 PM
18
7
RX Program
1:00 PM
12
EXERCISE
10:00
COVERED
DISH
LUNCHEON
6
EXERCISE
10:00
Trustees
Meeting
5:30 PM
19
EXERCISE
10:00
Finance
Meeting
5:30 PM
20
21
EXERCISE
10:00
EXERCISE
10:00
EXERCISE
10:00
BIBLE STUDY
11:30 AM
&
6:00 PM
CHURCH
COUNCIL
22
Consecration of
Church Leaders &
Committee Members
for 2015
25
26
EXERCISE
10:00
27
EXERCISE
10:00
28
BIBLE STUDY
11:30 AM
&
6:00 PM
29
EXERCISE
10:00
EXERCISE
10:00
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Hello from the COGS!
We’ve delivered the books, crayons and coloring pages to Driscoll Children’s Hospital. Dorothy Calloway,
the volunteer coordinator, met me at the hospital on Thursday, December 18. She was very excited about
the donations and looks forward to our continued help with the coloring pages/crayons mission. She told me
they give out 100 of the bags each day! So, all of our help is appreciated.
We would like to thank Brianna and her mom for helping with stuffing the bags, and the donation of the
stuffed animals. While the new stuffed animals can be given to the children, gently used donations are put
up for sale at their Cottage Shop to help with fund-raising for the hospital.
If you would like to donate crayons and coloring books, we will accept them at any time. The books will be a
once a year drive, during the Christmas season (though we wouldn’t say no if you find a really good deal on
children/young adult books!). Also, we use sandwich bags, so if you find a deal on those and would like to
donate them, it would be a big help!
We look forward to the coming year, and our continued efforts to find more and more ways to give back to
our community and to help where needed in the church.
Happy New Year!
Mary Anne Hartung
Youth Director
ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPCOMING EVENTS
Bible Study is back! Beginning Wednesday, January 14, 2015, we will begin Bible study in the new year,
offering two times on Wednesdays: 11:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Books for the study "Before Amen: The Power
of Simple Prayer" are being ordered now! Group order deadline will be Sunday, January 4, 2015. Please
contact Pastor Rosie if you have any questions. I look forward to studying the word of God with you!
Our Youth Group, C.O.G.S., is collecting coloring books, crayons, and children’s books to donate to Driscoll
Children’s Hospital. If you would like to donate any of these items, please, leave them in the church office
or call Mary Anne Hartung at 361-229-4631. Your donations are greatly appreciated!
Announcement time has changed! If you have a special announcement that needs to be made in Worship,
please contact the Pastor by the Tuesday prior to the service so that it may be included as a Special
Announcement in the Order of Worship. All other brief announcements can be made just prior to the
benediction. Thank you!
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Dear Sinton FUMC,
I would like to say thank you to everyone for all of the love & support shown to
me and my family during the loss of my grandson, Zachary. During this difficult
time I have felt God’s love through every kind word, card & expression of
sympathy.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Sincerely,
Missy Nañez
Dear FUMC,
The staff would like to thank everyone for the generous
Christmas Love Offering!
Thank You!
Pastor Rosie Grattan, Missy Nañez,
Isabel Encinia, and Mary Anne Hartung
Dear First United Methodist Church
Thank you so much for your gift to U.M. Army
through approved Advance Special #2026. Your gift
will help us accomplish our goal of 9 camps this
summer that help folks in need & promote spiritual
growth & leadership development in youth.
Peace,
Jenny Monahan
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Prayer List:
 Kevin, Betty & Irene Wahl Richter
 Teresa Schubert
 Neta Deleon
 Ryan Rivera, Jr.
 Sam Nelson
 A.L. Nelson
 Denice Hadwin
 Stephanie Jetton Brezina
 Dale Umland Drawe
 Karen Reilly
 Patsy Bremer
 Matt Terhune
 Greg Rossignol
 Donelle Bethel & Hope Bethel
 Marilyn Moore
 Tracy Medlock
 Jeane Wolfe
 Tommy Hartung
 The Family of John Cuevas
 Carrie Shedd
 The Family of Hester Hatch
 The Family of George Rotzien
 Phylis Austin
 Gary Potter
 Linda Boswell
 The Family of Zachary Rivera
 Betsy Dane
Nursing Home,
Assisted Living,
Long-Term:
 Sallie Brewer
 Arlan Maley
NOV. 9:
NOV. 16:
NOV. 23:
NOV. 30:
Worship -37 Sunday School-15
Total Offering: $2,026.00
Worship -38 Sunday School-14
Total Offering: $2,414.55
Worship -36 Sunday School-13
Total Offering: $3,760.49
Worship -53 Sunday School-20
Total Offering: $6,320.22
Worship -41 Sunday School-11
Total Offering: $6,183.45
(Received December 1-31, 2014)
SAM MAY
Military:
Charlotte Tee Walker
 Wesley Hartung
 Cameron Collier
 Rachal O’Cañas
 Crystal O’Cañas
 Matt Lowder
 Kevin Campbell
JOE KIOUS
Nina DuBose
Alleta Waters
DAVID MILLER
Alleta Waters
If you would like to add a loved
one to our prayer list, please,
call the church office at
364-2031, or email us at
umc@att.net.
ATTENDANCE & OFFERINGS
NOVEMBER 2014
NOV. 2:
Memorials
GIVING TO FUNDS
NOVEMBER 2014
APPORTIONMENTS FUND= $140.00
BUILDING FUND=$100.00
CHILDREN’S WORK=$50.00
COMMUNION RAIL FUND= $21.00
GENERAL FUND= $15,880.25
MEMORIAL FUND=$120.00
SPECIAL-COOK BOOKS=$10.00
SPECIAL OFFERING=$4,213.46
WESLEY NURSE=$150.00
YOUTH FELLOWSHIP=$20.00
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FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
P. O. Box 276
Sinton, Texas 78387
SINTON METHODIST NEWS 2015
A Publication of the First United Methodist Church of Sinton
Email: umc@att.net
Website: www.sintonfumc.org
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