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the Voice
April 15, 2015
The newsletter of Longview FUMC | 903-753-4463 | longviewfumc.org
400 N. Fredonia Street, Longview, Texas 75601
Dear Friends and Members of First
Church
In January, David Dunaway went before the Board of Ordained Ministry (BOM)
to continue his candidacy for ordained ministry in the United Methodist Church
by asking them to commission him for ordination to Elder. Commissioning was
the next step in his ministry path.
The BOM is a group of clergy and Laity who listen to candidates for ministry, and
the BOM discerns with them the calling God has for their ministry in the Church.
They sometimes move things forward because the Board discerns the person to be
“right” for ordained ministry. Sometimes they discern that the person would be
better to return to the lay ministry of the church. The BOM discerned that David
can best serve God through Lay Ministry.
All of us are in ministry. Lay and clergy all do ministry. Neither is better nor
higher than the other. They are different ministries. The clergy person is set apart
to Re-present the traditions of the gospel and church by keeping the order of the
church, administering the sacraments, and preaching and teaching the Word of
God. The Layperson is a part of the general ministry of the church, and has the
added gift of being wide open to the community and connections beyond the
church. He or she can use the gifts God has given him/her to do ministry in ways
no clergy person could imagine.
Calling has two parts. First, how we feel God is calling us. Secondly, how the
church sees that calling working in the church. The BOM, and recently, our District
Committee on Ministry, listened to David and discerned that his ministry is best
suited to lay ministry in the church.
Their action changes David’s direction and future such that David will no longer
be working as an Associate Pastor in our church. The church has long understood
this as a transitional time for such persons. David will be seeking his future, and
we will be supporting him in that endeavor.
I ask for your prayers to be with David and his family as they make this transition.
You are invited by the Dunaways to contact David and Lori at their home at 1200
Heather Ln. or call David on his phone 713-204-4333.
Grace & Peace,
Roy
Please send all submissions for The Voice to smays@longviewfumc.org
The Voice (ISSN-USPS 662-420) is published bi-weekly by Longview’s First United Methodist Church, 400 North Fredonia Street,
Longview, TX 75601. Periodicals Postage paid at Longview, TX.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE VOICE, 400 North Fredonia St., Longview, TX 75601.
Part Time Kitchen
Assistant Needed
The Kitchen Assistant is responsible
to the Kitchen Manager and the Faith
Center Coordinator. This person will
assist in the preparation and serving of
meals and refreshments as well as the
cleaning all food service areas.
If you are interested in applying for this
position, please contact at Teresa Cotton
at (903) 753-4463.
Applications will be available in the
church office.
Learn to be a Spiritual ‘Paramedic’
TACCOR Training Focusing on Survivors
Friday, April 24, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Longview FUMC
Cost: $30 for training materials and
lunch
CARE (Caregivers Actively Responding
in Emergencies) Teams are faith based
on-going teams trained to provide
spiritual and emotional care following
disasters. CARE team members
offer peer-to-peer listening, support,
information and referral to help disaster
survivors connect with personal and
community spiritual, emotional, and
basic life resources. ERT certification,
background check, and Safe Sanctuary
are required for CARE team certification.
Persons ideally suited to serve on a
CARE team are existing public safety
personnel and first responders (police,
fire department, EMS, emergency
room nurses), active and retired clergy,
Stephen Ministers, Parish Nurses,
mental health providers who are active
in United Methodist churches, and other
persons trained in crisis intervention
models who want a deeper theological
application of their skills.
Contact Noel Denison at noel-denison@
att.net or (832) 541-7480 to register or for
more information.
CHURCH NEWS
The Gathering, Sundays at 7 p.m. in
Nicholson Chapel
The lights have been lowered, the candles have been lit, and communion is ready!
Every Sunday night in the Nicholson chapel, a small group meets for a quiet, simple,
yet powerful worship service. The Gathering takes a “less is more” approach to
the standard worship service. With acoustic music ranging from classic hymns to
current worship songs, an authentic and impactful message, and Holy Communion,
the Gathering is a worship service designed to be a free and open space for you to
encounter God. We hope you take a Sunday evening to check out this powerfully
simple service.
Thank you from UMW!
On behalf of United Methodist Women, thank you very much for supporting our
annual Garden Sale and Lunch. We appreciate your help with delivering takeout lunches (all 462 of them), sharing your baked goods and plants, serving food,
purchasing items, and having lunch with us. This fundraiser assists us with our
gifts to missions. We cordially invite women of the church to join us as we meet
the second Tuesday of each month at 9 a.m. in the Heritage Room for fellowship
and inspiring programs.
Thank you, Karen Ward, Chairperson of the Garden Sale
Thanks!
A huge thank you to Rene Berkley, Ann Bonham, Janet Day, Susan Gardner, Jane
Guillory, Mabelle Henderson, Kristi Koonce, Sherry Miller, Mary Price, and Karen
Ward for their help in delivering 50 Easter lilies to our church members unable
to attend our Easter service.
Did You Know?
You can watch our 10:50 a.m. Traditional Service on any of the following devices:
Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, or online at longviewfumc.org/worship/worshiponline. For those interested in viewing the Contemporary Services online, stay
tuned!
MISSION OPPORTUNITIES
Blood Drive, April 19th
The gift of Life
Blood is a life giving gift. Many of us have personal stories of how that gift saved a
life or improved health. As of this printing, we have had only four people sign up
to give blood. Please give. If you do not sign up we will not be able to participate
in this ministry of our community and people who need help may not have it.
Please.
Call the church office at 903 753-4463, email schapman@longviewfumc.org, or sign
up on the sheets in the Welcome Center, the Cook foyer. Every Sunday school class
has a sign-up sheet and you can also go to www.carterbloodcenter.com .
If you physically can...give.
Threads of Love
Blue Sunday
A day of prayer for Abused Children
April 26, 2015
Blue Sunday is a day when we make time
to pray for victims of child abuse and for
those who rescue them. We pray because
they should not have to pray alone.
Please stop by the Welcome Center or
the Cook Foyer to pick up a prayer card
and blue ribbon. No donation request,
no requests for supplies…. Just prayer.
“Whoever receives one little child like this
in my name receives me.”
Matthew 18:5
Child Abuse Statistics:
Can you knit or crochet a baby cap, or perhaps sew a simple pattern? The Threads
of Love ministry needs help fulfilling requests from our local hospitals for infant
items. If you possess basic skills in any needle arts–sewing, knitting, crocheting–
please consider joining us.
For more information, contact Becky Wallace at (903) 452-5924 or Mary Carol
Etheridge at (903) 241-1247.
Do you or someone you know need a helping hand? Carpenter’s Helpers are ready
and willing to help. Carpenter’s Helpers provide small home repairs and odd jobs
around your home. If you need help moving a piece of furniture, trimming some
shrubs, replacing light bulbs, or replacing batteries in your fire alarm, then this
is the team to help.
• 1640 Children died from abuse in
2013, most were under the age of
three.
• 6 million children become NEW
victims of abuse annually.
• Two-thirds of those in drug
treatment report being abused as
a child.
• 80% of the prison population was
once in foster care.
• Within one year of aging out of
foster care, 66% will be homeless,
in jail, or die.
Asbury House Annual Clay Shoot
Carpenter’s Helpers express their love of Christ through their work. This team
may be contacted by calling the Church Office at (903) 753-4463 or coming by in
person to request assistance. You are part of a loving church family… let us help!
Saturday, May 2
Prairie Creek Sporting Clays
Registration 7:30 a.m.; begins 8:30 a.m.
Food of the Month
This event is one of three very important
fundraisers that help the Asbury House
Child Enrichment Center thrive.
Asbury House is an outreach ministry
that provides education and care for
approximately 60 children of financially
disadvantaged families. Our support
is vital to their success in preparing
children for a productive future. So,
join us on May 2 at the Clay Shoot! For
more information contact David Green
at (903) 238-4307.
Each month, we will be asking that you
bring canned goods for the food pantries
in our community. This month we are
needing canned corn.
Please consider bringing a few cans of
corn to the yellow carts at the Welcome
Center and Cook Foyer.
CHILDREN & YOUTH NEWS
High School Senior Celebration is
Sunday, April 26
We will honor our graduating high school
seniors in the 10:50 traditional service
followed by a catered luncheon in the
Heritage Room. All FUMC members are
invited to join us for this special event.
Tickets ($12 each) must be purchased
by April 21 from the church office. We
encourage past Friends in Faith to join us
in honoring our graduating high school
seniors.
If you have a high school senior and
they would like to be recognized, please
contact Janice, Youth Director, at (903)
753-4463 or jcrane@longviewfumc.org.
Batter UP!
The Longview FUMC youth will be
attending the May 3 Texas Ranger game.
Tickets are $42 and include the “all you
can eat seats” and a Casting Crown
concert after the game. Youth earning
3 MOM points will receive $10 off their
ticket purchase.
There are only a few remaining tickets,
so if you have not reserved your seat,
please contact Janice ASAP at (903) 7534463 or jcrane@longviewfumc.org.
Reminder!
SOS and BIG HOUSE Registration forms
and fees are due by April 30 to avoid a
late charge!!!
SOS Mission Story
This summer, Anna Callender will be going on her third SOS Mission trip. In
her first year, Anna survived almost falling off a ladder. In her second year, she
overcame her fear of heights and made it onto the roof of our assigned house. This
year, she looks to add to her mission experience by spending more time up on the
roof and hammering shingles. However, if you ask Anna what the best part of
SOS is, she will tell you it’s the people.
Last year, Anna and some other youth were assigned to a household of 8 children.
Chatting, working, and laughing with the teenage girls of the family, playing
with the younger siblings, and even celebrating one of the teenager’s (Alaurah,
15) birthday built deep bonds in a short amount of time.
Another time, on our free afternoon in Memphis, Anna met one of the managers at
the Peabody Hotel. We had gone to see the ducks and Anna began talking to this
manager about why our youth group was in Memphis. Amazingly, this manager
had been helped by SOS in the past. He explained to Anna that had it not been
for the help of SOS, he could not have finished school and bettered his life.
We look forward to serving with the SOS Mission every summer! We thank you
for your support by purchasing SOS stock in order that we can fund our trip and
help our neighbors in Memphis, TN. If you have not purchased stock, youth will
be selling it in the Welcome Center every Sunday through May.