First Edition Newsletter - March 7

A Newsletter Publication of First United Methodist Church, Jackson, Tennessee

March 7, 2012 | Volume 11 Issue 5 jacksonfumc.org

SEEKING GOD | KNOWING CHRIST | SHARING HIS LOVE

FIRST EDITIONFIRST EDITIONDOWNTOWN JACKSON

FUMC is Giving Up by David Hollis

By now you have heard about the project of the Missions Team called “The Giving (Up) Card.” The congregation was asked to make a commitment during Lent to give up time in order to serve in Jesus’ name. The response has been inspiring. We have received over 115 cards from people. More than half of those who responded committed to more than one serving opportunity. Some members have even shared that this is the first time they have felt called to serve in this way. They are truly trusting God will use them in order to bless those in need. The serving opportunities on the card started this past Saturday with two projects: painting at Area Relief Ministries’ “HUB Club” and hosting Room in the Inn. Continue to pray for this exciting project, share your stories with us, and give your time in these opportunities and others.

Daylight Saving Time Begins

March 11Set your clocks forward

one hour Saturday night!

Palm Sunday | April 1 9:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship Service 10:00 a.m. Sunday School for all ages 11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship Service 2-4:00 p.m. Family Easter Egg Hunt U of M/Lambuth (in front of Chapel)

Holy Wednesday | April 4 12:00 p.m. Noon Holy Week Service Complimentary lunch to follow 5:00 p.m. Dinner - $6 adult, $3 children $20 Family Max. - Gym 6:00 p.m. Reflecting Christ’s journey through a “Labyrinth Walk” - Clayton Hall

Maundy Thursday | April 5 6:00 p.m. Communion Worship Service

Good Friday | April 6 6:00 p.m. Good Friday Worship Service

Easter Sunday | April 8 9:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship Service 10:00 a.m. Sunday School for all ages 11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship Service Brass Quintet & Timpani

at FUMC

Find Us Faithful

Painting at the HUB ClubFirst “Giving Up” ProjectMembers making a difference

Resumes March 27

At the home of Betsy Dement,

401 Bascom Road

Tuesdays, March 27-May 1Fellowship begins at 9:00 AM

Study from 9:30-10:30 AM“Simply Relevant: Savor the Moments”

Mugs & Muffins

First Edition March 7, 2012 page 2

Greeters for Sunday, March 11Mike & Pat Fox, Chuck & Mona Miller, Joy Weiss, Joe & Anita Jo Byrd, Pam McCarty, Bob & Shirley Maniss, Heath & Sherry Harpole

Greeters for Sunday, March 18Bill Hetzler, Heath Rabun, Pete & Nancy McLemore, Bill & Becky Baxter, Linda Seely, Daryll & Jenny McGuire, Bruce Maley, Steve Mischke, Ernest LawrenceIf you are unable to greet, please find a replacement.

Greeters

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

BAPTISM

Casey and Hallie McCallum transferred from other Methodist churches their membership to FUMC on Sunday, March 4. Sponsors are Pat and Wanda Scanlon.

David and Melinda Posey come to FUMC from another denomination on Sunday, March 4. Sponsors are Mary Beth and Jay Bernheisel.

Mike Millson transferred his membership to FUMC from another Methodist church on Sunday, March 4. Sponsors are Cecil and Tharon Kirk.

Elliot Milton Pulliam received the sacrament of baptism Sunday, March 4. He is the son of Adam and Tracye Pulliam.

Prayer BreakfastTuesday, March 27

7:00-8:00 AMBreakfast Donation $5

Clayton Hall

You’re invited

Tennessee Performing Arts CenterJames K. Polk Theater - Nashville

Call the church office, 422-4002, or sign up at jacksonfumc.org

April 28 • 4:00 PM

SympathySympathy is extended to:• Bob Koehler and family in the Feb. 27 death

of his mother Joyce in Louisville, KY.

Altar Guild MemorialsFUMC Altar Guild is now accepting memorials and honoraria for use in decorating the church during the Easter season. If you would like to make a gift in memory or honor of a loved one, please mail or bring your contribution to the church office by Friday, March 23. Names will be listed in the Easter Newsletter, which will be mailed on March 28, and the Easter Sunday bulletin, April 8. Please mark your check “Easter decorations” and include a note with the name(s) as you would like them to appear. Contributions may be sent to: FUMC, Attn. Charlene Barnett, 200 South Church St., Jackson, TN 38301. If you have any questions, please call Charlene at the church office, 422-4002.

Way to go for Soup Kitchen

sign-ups!

First Edition March 7, 2012 page 3

Getting Acquainted With Our Membersby Bobbie Mays

Can you recall when you were ten years old? Remember riding a bike, going to the movies on Saturdays, having friends over to play or better still to spend the night? Enjoying a family vacation together? Try to imagine being separated, at age ten, from your entire family for three years?

Carl Determeyer was born in Amsterdam, Holland in 1930. As a baby, he, his mom, dad and sister moved to the Netherland Colonies (then) known now as Indonesia. His father was a banker whose early career took him and his family to various Dutch colonies. In 1940, Carl vividly remembers when his father was taken away to a Japanese prison camp. Life as this family knew it was no longer to be enjoyed. Soon after, his mother, sister and he were all taken as war prisoners and they, too, were sent to a prison camp. After a few months though, the Japanese decided to remove all boys ten years and older from the camps, taking them away from their families to a separate prison camp.

His memories of the living conditions are as follows: “We lived in old army barracks that were long wooden structures with beds down each side and a center aisle in between. The mattresses were really thin. There were “blood lice” hidden in the wood that would come out at night and bite us while we were sleeping. We would awaken covered with horrible red spots all over our bodies. The heat year round was unbearable. There was no school. Occasionally, we could leave the camp to work on a farm. A typical day was “hanging out” together, walking around the camp, surrounded by barbed wire and guards with guns and just waiting for the three meals a day.”

What food they were given consisted of a little bread, some rice, the “local” sweet potato and soup which was more like water to pour over the rice. He still struggles to eat sweet potatoes. “They were huge hard blocks of potato that were just awful!!!” Because of their poor nutritional diets, he and many others had Beriberi disease.

When asked if he had any contact with his family, he said once in a while they were allowed to send a post card with one sentence he selected from five or six choices. He would then write it in his own handwriting, sign the card and mail. Going for weeks at a time, Carl wistfully said, “It was always soooo good to hear back from my mom and sister.” A very heartwarming memory, that remains with him to this day, is that of his little buddies with whom he became fast friends at the prison camp. Carl was brought up as a Roman Catholic. As he got to know these three boys better, they realized they were all Catholics. So, when any one of the four celebrated a family birthday or special family memory, together, they all went to church to be there for that friend and the remembrance of that occasion.

Reminiscing further about his mother, soon after he had learned that “they”, the prison guards, had given up on her life due to her deteriorating health condition, the war ended. His mother was going to be sent directly to Holland to receive treatment but she was determined to wait until her husband and all of the family could be reunited. Her health improved and together they all returned to Holland.

Because of Carl’s imprisonment and no formal education during those three years, a special high school was established to help students “catch up” on lost learning. Closer to the end of the war, the “camp leadership of the 10,000 prisoners,” decided to give all the boys an exam. The Japanese said they couldn’t have an exam. Carl passed and he was told to say that he had passed the test when he returned to school. With a twinkle in his eye and sheepishly grinning, he said he graduated from high school in 31/2 years when it would normally have taken him five years.

Following high school, he applied and was accepted to the Royal Netherlands Naval Academy for which he attended three years. He was stationed in various locations including the United States as a part of a crew. During this time, he met and married an American girl from Virginia in 1955. Together, they went to Holland and lived in New Guinea for 1 & 1/2 years where he served with the Submarine Division. In 1958, he was released from the service

and as a civilian, he and his wife decided to make their home in the States, moving to Norfolk, Virginia. He began looking for employment and was soon hired by Sears, the beginning of a twenty-five year career.

In 1968, he was transferred to Jackson, TN where he, his wife and their three children, happily lived and made many friends during those five years. Sears began expanding their business overseas though and in 1973, Carl was transferred with the company to Brussels, Belgium. After working and living there for three years, another move was made back to the States; this time to Hattiesburg, MS where they stayed until his retirement from Sears in 1984. Wanting to be closer to family, they decided to go back to Virginia. Carl wasn’t ready to completely retire, so he taught classes as a substitute teacher until 1998. His wife died in 1992. Having stayed in touch with friends, he visited with them occasionally and spent some time with his grown children who lived in other states. On his way to Houston in the mid-90’s, as he passed through Jackson, he “reconnected” with an old friend from his Sears days.” The rest is history… he and Betty (Jim Freeman’s sister) were married May 30, 1998 at Jackson FUMC!

Both Betty and Carl beam when sharing about their blended family that includes seven grandchildren. As for their church involvement, Carl readily admits that Betty was instrumental in his participating in the Wednesday morning Pastors’ Bible Study with her, a time he too, looks forward to each week. He also feels a connection to the traditional worship service in the sanctuary each Sunday, sitting in the same pew, right next to Betty, Jim and Emily. As Carl best says it, FUMC is “just a good anchor place!”

Carl Determeyer

First Edition March 7, 2012 page 4

Frequently Asked QuestionsAbout Stephen Ministryby Tharon Kirk

Over the next few issues, we will address some of the most common questions that are asked about Stephen Ministry. We hope this will give you a better understanding of this ministry within our church and encourage you to call on us whenever you are struggling or could use a friend to walk through a situation with you.

What is Stephen Ministry? Stephen Ministry is a ministry in our

congregation in which trained lay persons, called Stephen Ministers, provide one-to-one Christian care to individuals facing life challenges or difficulties, i.e., loss of a job, a spouse, a child, a divorce, a difficult diagnosis , or any change that creates a great deal of stress, to name a few possible situations.

What do Stephen Ministers Do? Stephen Ministers are caring Christian friends who listen, understand, accept, and pray for and with care receivers who are working through a crisis or a tough time.

Can I Trust a Stephen Minister?Trust is essential to a caring relationship, and Stephen Ministers are people you can trust. Confidentiality is one of the most important principles of Stephen Ministry. What a care receiver tells a Stephen Minister is kept in strictest confidence.

To be continued in the next issue.

Rebekah Circle MeetingMarch 19 • 10:00 AM

At the home of Carolyn Clayton5 Ridgefield

Co-hostess - Margie Thompson“Secret Church”

Janet Guy, NSUMC

90th Birthday

Celebrationfor

Grailyn Brooks

Saturday, March 242 PM-4PM

Morningside Assisted Living1200 N. Parkway

Your presence is your gift…

Memorials & Honoraria

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Robert Currey (Father of Carol Ryan) Allycin & Greg Alexander

Alystine Hare (Mother of Ed Hare) Mike & Pam McCarty (Capital Improvements)

Dodds Family Susan, Floyd, Deanne & Betty

Betterman (Easter Offering)

IN LOVING HONOR OF

Price McKnight – On Receiving his Eagle Scout Award May Scott

March Mission Chest: Birth Choice• Parents Choice 10 Pack Bib Boy/Girl• Parents Choice Diapers Jumbo Pack Sizes 2-5• Parents Choice Baby Wash/Shampoo/Lotion 20 oz• Parents Choice 3 pk Feeding Bottle (9 oz) and Printed Bottle (5 oz)• Bright Starts Starry Teether Beads• Bright Starts License to Drool Keys• Other items may be found at the baby registry at Wal-Mart by entering Birth as the first name and Choice as the last name.• Baby wipes• Good Start formula• Baby socks and footies• Baby food and juice

Items may be left in the mission chest in the church lobby through the end of the month.

Mission Notes

Youth News & Events

Lakeshore Night atMarch 27, 2012 • 4:00 - 9:00 p.m.

6 Stonebridge Blvd, Jackson, TNQuestions? Contact Bill Walker, [email protected]

First Edition March 7, 2012 page 5

Receiving the Sacraments: This Holy MysteryFeb. 29th-March 28thReligion for Life, Rm 118Led by David Hollis

Wednesday EveningFellowship (WEF)

Dinner 5-6:00 p.m. • Clayton Hall$6 Adults, $3 Children, $20 Maximum

Classes/Activities 6-7:00 p.m.

Children/Youth

Angel Choir (Preschool)5:30-6:00 p.m.Worship Room

Good News Choir(Grades K-1)6:30 - 7:00 p.m.Gathering Room

Celebration Singers(Grades 2-5)6:00-6:30 p.m.Gathering Room

Children’s Programming “First Kids”Wednesdays, 5:00-7:00 p.m. Supper, Gym, Choirs, and Bible Class.

Youth Programming “The Current”Wednesdays and Sundays, 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Study of II SamuelThrough April 4Chapel, Newman CenterLed by Dan Camp & Cecil Kirk

Yoga Pilates Fusion ClassThrough April 18Led by Certified Instructor, Rachel WhiteMezzanine • Fee: $5 per class

April 18 Last WEF until Fall

Program 11:00 a.m. • Luncheon 12:00 noon • Clayton Hall • $6.00/personTo make reservations, call the church office at 422-4002 or sign up

online at jacksonfumc.org by Noon, March 12. Please remember to call and cancel your reservation should you be unable to attend.

FRIDAY, MAR. 16

presents

“The Innovations”under the direction of Ester Lemus

Jackson State’s Innovation Ensemble’s repertoire ranges from traditional choral music and anthems to Motown, vocal jazz and doo-wop.

Adult OpportunitiesContact Pam Jaco, [email protected], 422-4002

Print copies available in church lobbies. To receive as e-news, subscribe at

www.memphis-umc.org

FUMC FOUNDATION“Giving to the Church through a Last Will and Testament is the most common way to continuesupport beyond your lifetime. When your estate plan is prepared, consider a gift to the Church”To learn about FUMC’s Foundation and Planned Giving, contact Jim Scott, Chairman. 668-4775 or e-mail [email protected]

• Single rooms with private bath are provided for each participant.

• Garner Creek is fully handicapped accessible.

• Three Continuing Education Units are available for a small additional cost.

Cost includes lodging, meals, & program Before August 1st: $495After August 1st: $550

Go to jacksonfumc.org under “What’s New” for an informative brochure.

EXTENDED

First Edition March 7, 2012 page 6

Weekly Opportunities

Sunday, March 11 8:30 AM Kids Who Care Club - Heifer

Equals Hope (table) 9:00 AM First Awakening Service 10:00 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Traditional Service 5:00 PM “Current” UMY Worship and

Dinner Out

Monday, March 12 1:30 PM Staff Meeting 5:30 PM Sr. Olympic Basketball 6:30 PM Women’s Ministry Committee Mtg. 7:00 PM Boy Scouts - Troop 12 7:30 PM Men’s Basketball

Tuesday, March 13 7:00 AM UMM Weekly Bible Study 4:15 PM Zumba 6:00 PM Evangelism Committee Meeting 6:00 PM Stephen Ministry Meeting

Wednesday, March 14 9:00 AM Invitation to Presence 10:00 AM Pastors Bible Study 12:00 PM Mid-Week Worship Service 3:30 PM WINGS (Witnessing IN God’s

Sanctuary) 3:30 PM WEF Open Gym 5:00 PM WEF Dinner 5:30 PM Angel Choir Practice 5:45 PM Confirmation Class 6:00 PM WEF Programs/Activities 6:00 PM Good News Choir Practice 6:00 PM Prime Ringers 6:00 PM First Awakening Band Rehearsal 6:30 PM Celebration Singers Practice 7:00 PM Sanctuary Choir

Thursday, March 15 4:15 PM Zumba 5:30 PM Sr. Olympic Basketball

Friday, March 16 11:00 AM Adventures in Learning - Jackson

State “The Innovations”

Saturday, March 17 4:30 PM Room in the Inn

Sunday, March 18 8:30 AM Kids Who Care Club - Heifer

Equals Hope (table) 9:00 AM First Awakening Service 10:00 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Traditional Service 5:00 PM “Current” UMY Bible Study

Monday, March 19 8:00 PM Maryville College Bike Group 10:00 AM Home from Hospital “Cooking

Day” 1:30 PM Staff Meeting 5:30 PM Sr. Olympic Basketball 7:00 PM Boy Scouts - Troop 12 7:30 PM Men’s Basketball

Tuesday, March 20 7:00 AM UMM Weekly Bible Study 8:00 AM Older Adult Ministry Training

Event 4:15 PM Zumba 6:00 PM Stephen Ministry Meeting

Wednesday, March 21 10:00 AM Pastors Bible Study 10:00 AM Invitation to Presence 12:00 PM Mid-Week Worship Service

FUMC Kids’ NewsProverbs 22:6 - Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Distribution ofRemaining Items:• RIFA• Goodwill

Total Sales: $1800

Thanks to all who made donations and to everyone who volunteered and those who bought items at the sale!

Special thanks to Jim Weaver and his crew!

UMW

Helping Hands... Helping Others

District Choir

Festival

March 11 • 6:00 PM

Northside United Methodist Church

2571 N. Highland Ave.

Everyone Invited!

Kids Who Care Club has begun their spring fundraiser! They are raising money to buy a cow from Heifer International to send to a family in poverty. Support our awesome 4th and 5th graders in the church lobby during and after church on Sunday’s. This month’s fundraiser: “Name that Heifer!”-Donate money to pick a name for the donated cow.

Save the Date: Easter Egg Hunt will be on April 1st from 2-4 in front of the UM Lambuth Chapel! Egg Hunts, Crafts, and a Fun time for the whole family!(Don’t forget to bring kid friendly filled Easter Eggs to the Children’s Wing!)

Kids Music: Parents! Don’t Forget! All of our children’s choirs will be singing in both services on March 18th!

We are still collecting jars of peanut butter for RIFA! Don’t forget to pick up an extra jar next time you are at the store to help us reach our goal of 500 jars!

COME EXPERIENCE A REFLECTIVE AND MEDITATIVE LENTEN EVENING We will have a walking Labyrinth and some experiential stations to help us remember the meaning of this Lenten season. This will be a relaxed, quiet, come and go evening. April 4, 6:00-7:00 PM Clayton Hall, following WEF dinner

First Edition March 7, 2012 page 7

Weekly Opportunities

Wednesday, March 21 (continued) 3:30 PM WINGS (Witnessing IN God’s

Sanctuary) 3:30 PM WEF Open Gym 3:45 PM Girl Scout Meeting 5:00 PM WEF Dinner 5:30 PM Angel Choir Practice 5:45 PM Confirmation Class 6:00 PM WEF Programs/Activities 6:00 PM Good News Choir Practice 6:00 PM Prime Ringers 6:00 PM First Awakening Band Rehearsal 6:30 PM Celebration Singers Practice 7:00 PM Sanctuary Choir

Thursday, March 22 4:15 PM Zumba 5:30 PM Sr. Olympic Basketball

Friday, March 23 6:00 PM Art & Soul

Saturday, March 24 No Church Events Scheduled

Sunday, March 25 8:30 AM Kids Who Care Club - Heifer

Equals Hope (table) 9:00 AM First Awakening Service 10:00 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Traditional Service 4:00 PM Junior High Youth Council 5:00 PM “Current” UMY Family Night

Monday, March 26 9:30 AM Monday Mission Group 10:00 AM Tennessee Conference UMC

Cabinet Meetings 1:30 PM Staff Meeting 5:30 PM Sr. Olympic Basketball 7:00 PM Boy Scouts - Troop 12 7:30 PM Men’s Basketball

Tuesday, March 27 7:00 AM United Methodist Men Meeting

and Breakfast 9:00 AM Tennessee Conference UMC

Cabinet Meetings 4:15 PM Zumba 6:00 PM Stephen Ministry Meeting

Wednesday, March 28 9:00 AM Tennessee Conference UMC

Cabinet Meetings 10:00 AM Pastors Bible Study 10:00 AM Invitation to Presence 12:00 PM Mid-Week Worship Service 3:30 PM WINGS (Witnessing IN God’s

Sanctuary) 3:30 PM WEF Open Gym 5:00 PM WEF Dinner 5:30 PM Angel Choir Practice 5:45 PM Confirmation Class 6:00 PM WEF Programs/Activities 6:00 PM Good News Choir Practice 6:00 PM Prime Ringers 6:00 PM Security Training 6:00 PM First Awakening Band Rehearsal 6:30 PM Celebration Singers Practice 7:00 PM Sanctuary Choir

Thursday, March 29 4:15 PM Zumba 5:30 PM Sr. Olympic Basketball

Friday, March 30 No Church Events Scheduled

Saturday, March 31 4:30 PM Room in the Inn

SEJ College of Bishops ‘strongly recommends’ merger of Memphis and Tennessee Conferences by Benjamin R. Chamness, Interim Bishop, Nashville Episcopal Area

The Southeastern Jurisdictional College of Bishops, in consultation with the Southeastern Jurisdictional Episcopacy Committee, approved a statement of resolution at its Jan. 5-6, 2012 meeting in Wilmington, NC “strongly recommending” the Memphis and Tennessee Conferences begin moving toward merger. The officers of the College of Bishops and I conveyed this message to our Conference Lay Leaders and our representatives to the two conferences on the Jurisdictional Episcopacy Committee who were present in Wilmington at the time. There is a strong feeling in the College that these two conferences would be a more viable witness and a stronger participant in the Jurisdiction and The United Methodist Church if they would unite structurally, spiritually and economically. With the denomination moving into the Call to Action/Vital Congregations (initiative), it is felt that this is an appropriate time to move forward on this matter, as well. I am aware that the conferences have voted on merger twice in the past. The last time was about 20 years ago. Since I have been here, I have heard a great deal of undercurrent from

people in both conferences that they should merge.

It is my intention in response to this statement by the College to have the two conference cabinets begin meeting regularly as the Nashville Area Cabinet to do business, make appointments and lead the conferences as one Cabinet.

Additionally, after consultation with the Cabinet and others, I intend to appoint a Committee to Study Uniting the Memphis and Tennessee Conferences. This committee will have representation from both conferences. They will explore the best way to move forward.

“I would ask that everyone be prayerful about the future as we explore where this may take us. We certainly want to seek God’s will for us at this time and at this place. Please pray for the Study Committee and for all who are engaged in exploring the roadmap to God's future for us.”

The desire and intent is to see a healthier arm of the church in what is now the Tennessee and Memphis conferences, and to exercise better stewardship of resources.

Handy Resources for 2012 General Conference 2012 General Conference Web site: www.umc.org/gc2012

Free Training: 'Exploring General Conference"“Exploring General Conference” (EGC101) is a free, basic online course that outlines how General Conference operates and how it can affect the lives of United Methodists.

First Edition March 7, 2012

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDJACKSON, TENN.PERMIT NO. 116

jacksonfumc.org

Sunday Morning Worship

First United Methodist Church200 South Church StreetJackson, Tennessee 38301 Address Service Requested(731) 422-4002

A Stephen Ministry Congregation

A Safe Sanctuaries Congregation

Traditional Worship ServiceSanctuary • 11:00 a.m.

First Awakening Contemporary Worship Service Clayton Hall • 9:00 a.m.

Sunday School

10:00 a.m.

DOWNTOWN JACKSON

Like us on FacebookFUMC Jackson TN

Follow us on Twittertwitter.com/jacksonfumc

SundayMarch 11

SundayMarch 18

SundayMarch 25

“Character Welcome: Passion”Dan Camp, preaching • Scripture: Matthew 5:17-20

“Character Welcome: Priorities”Dan Camp, preaching • Scripture: Matthew 6:19-34

“Character Welcome: Honesty”David Hollis, preaching • Scripture: Matthew 7:1-12

Next newsletter publication is March 28

Daylight Saving Time Begins March 11Set your clocks forward one hour Saturday night!