The Visitor The Visitor The Visitor First United Methodist Church 320 West Main, Magnolia, Arkansas 71753 www.magnoliafumc.org To invite all to know the love of God, to share grace, and to develop relationships January 10, 2018 Sunday 8:30 a.m.—Chapel Worship 10:45 a.m.—Sanctuary Worship Noon—Cable Channel 13 KVMA-AM 630 KVMA-FM 99.1 5:00 p.m.—Chapel Worship 6:30 p.m. —Youth Worship Wednesday 7:00 PM—Broadcast of previous Sunday’s 10:45 Service Cable Channel 13 How to Reach Us: Church Office Hours Monday—Thursday 8:00–4:00 Friday 8:00–Noon 870-234-4530 Our Staff: Pastor Pam Estes, 501-617-4887 [email protected] Jeremy Carter, Children & Families; Shelly Burgess, Interim, Children & Families; Michelle Anderson, Youth Director; Tracie Nipper, Administrative Secretary; Amanda Franks, Business Manager; Dr. Kim Shirey, Director of Music; Dr. David Crouse, Organist; Children’s Music: Melanie Allen, Tabitha Lewis, Anne Couch J.D. Martin, Building Superintendent; Kenneth Manning, Custodian Gwendolyn Reed, Director Child Development Center Barbara Lewis, Director, The Caring Place Stewpot: Valerie Sanders, Libby and George Gilbert Nursery: Burlene Easter and Kathy Easter FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH THURSDAY, JANUARY 11 10:00 AM THE CARING PLACE 4:00 PM STEWPOT SUNDAY, JANUARY 14 8:30 AM CHAPELWORSHIP 9:30 AM SUNDAY SCHOOL 10:45 AM SANCTUARY WORSHIP 4:00 PM LEARNING TO USE MY BIBLE (AVERITT HALL) 5:00 PM YOUTH 5:00 PM CHAPEL WORSHIP 5 PM to 7AM MONDAY CONFIRMATION CLASS LOCK-IN MONDAY, JANUARY 15 OFFICE, CDC AND STEWPOT CLOSED TUESDAY, JANUARY 16 4:00 PM STEWPOT 5:00 PM CUB SCOUTS 5:00 PM SPIRITUAL FORMATION COMMITTEE (AVERITT) 6-6:51 PM ALL CHURCH TRAINING (PEACE) WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17 1:00 PM INTERCESSORY PRAYER (MARILYNN BLACKWOOD’S) 4:15 PM CHILDREN’S HANDBELLS (3RD-6TH GRADE) 5:00 PM SNACK SUPPER (PEACE) 5:30 PM CHILDREN (PRESCHOOL—6TH) 5:30 PM BIBLE STUDY (LIFETREE CAFÉ) 5:30 PM JUNIOR HIGH YOUTH 6:30 PM SENIOR HIGH YOUTH 6:30 PM J.A.M. (PRE- K—2ND GRADE) 6:30 PM INTERCESSORY PRAYER (CHAPEL) 6:30 PM ADULT HANDBELLS 7:15 PM CHANCEL CHOIR Non Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Magnolia, AR Permit No. 84 Address Service Requested First United Methodist Church 320 West Main Magnolia, AR 71753 BIGS THINGS HAPPENING IN THE CHILDREN’S DEPARTMENT On January 10, 2018, new classes began on Wednesday Night for Children ages 3 to 6 th grade. We are excited to have each child learning at their own age level. Classes will be age 3 to Pre-K, Kindergarten to 1 st grade and 2 nd to 3 rd grade. These classes will be learning about Jacob, Joseph, Ruth, Hannah, Samuel, David, Jonathan, and some of the Parables. The 4 th to 6 th grade kids will study Creative Journaling and Holy Conversation. The 6 th graders will visit the Jr. High Bible Study a few times to transition them into Youth by June. To have a large Children’s Program it takes people. YOU are needed to be a part of this exciting time in our children’s ministry. Adhering to our safe sanctuary policies requires two adults for each group of children. You do not have to “be a teacher,” but you can be a loving presence. Contact the church office (234-4530) or Shelly Burgess to explore how you can participate in this ministry. PS You don’t have to sign your life away. This is not a permanent, life-time commitment. The Church Office, the Child Development Center, and the Stewpot will be closed Monday, January 15, in observance of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Pastor Pam’s Ponderings. . . .As we begin a new calendar year, my thoughts have returned to the scriptures which surely formed Jesus as a child in Nazareth as well as in Bethlehem and Egypt before his family returned to Nazareth. His parents would have operated as a family who followed the words of Moses recorded in Deuteronomy 11:18-25(New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 18 You shall put these words of mine in your heart and soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and fix them as an emblem [a] on your forehead. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. 20 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the LORD swore to your ancestors to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth. These words continue to guide Jewish and now Christian parents who seek to lead their children, whatever their age, to follow the principles of Godly living. We, no matter our age, do well to understand that what we focus on shapes us. What we practice becomes our habit. What we do with constancy and intentionality becomes who we are. The Apostle Paul advised his converts to put on Christ, to let the Holy Spirit transform the mind to be the mind of Christ so that every action, thought, and desire will be aligned with the loving grace and mercy of God. Our vision is to be a congregation where the stranger-neighbor and the sibling- friend find welcome, grace, and support. We do this by opening our hearts to the continual work of the Holy Spirit. We do this by opening our minds to the Wisdom of the Living Word. We do this by seeking to keep the doors of our hospitality open wide to all God’s children. Monday, January 8, a group embodied Jesus by moving 9,000+ cans of food given at the public school for Stewpot. Those ministers of food distribution served because they have received the Bread of Life who has directed us to feed the hungry. Wednesday, January 10, children, youth, and adults will gather to study the Word, be in fellowship, sing the praises of God, and embody the Presence of the Ever Present Eternal God. On Sunday, January 14, children, youth, and adults will gather to study the Word, be in fellowship, pray and praise God in corporate worship. We will remember our baptism in Jesus Christ and we will renew our vows of membership. Will you pray before Sunday to receive what God will give as we worship together? I encourage you to read Mark 1:4-11 before you come so that worship may be more meaningful. I encourage us to be ready to worship when we come together as Christ’s body. And, dear brothers and sisters, when you are not present, the Body is incomplete. I was glad when they said to me, Let’s go the house of the Lord! Let’s be glad we are free to worship together. Surely, God is blessing us as we minister in blessing others with our lives together. Let us be bold to bless the world so that all may know Jesus our Lord and Savior. Shalom, Pastor Pam