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First United
Methodist TOWER
June 2015
J
une is the month for graduations, weddings, end of
school year parties and thank-yous – all kinds of
endings and beginnings. But this year, I’m mindful
of vacation planning in June. This year’s summer
vacation has taken on a very special significance for our
family. Last summer we didn’t take a family vacation
because of our move to Sebring and everything that goes
with relocating. Then, last October, Alison and I
“celebrated” our twentieth wedding anniversary with
surgery to remove the tumor in her right breast.
These past eight months have been difficult but also rich in important lessons. We have been reminded of the importance of
faith during tough times. We have learned what a loving and supportive church family we have here at First Church, Sebring.
And we have been reminded of the importance of taking time to cultivate those relationships that matter most. And so,
when the last school bell rings we’re headed out to my hometown of Murfreesboro, Tennessee to spend time with my family
whom I have not seen in two years. Then, Alison and I are doing something we’ve never done before… we’re leaving the kids
with my parents and taking a vacation of our own to London! Thanks to my wonderful parents and generous friends in
England who are loaning us their London flat, Alison and I hope to rediscover the joys of just being a married couple for
seven days!
Summers are made for time with family, time with friends, time alone. TIME! Summers and vacations are sort of like
Sabbath – only extended. God built Sabbath into creation – “and on the 7th day God rested.” And the 10 commandments
express the same intent – “honor the Sabbath” – God built rest into our week, each and every week – so that we might have
a rhythm of work, rest, work, rest.
I have come to realize that, in the hectic, high-pressure worlds where most of us live these days, Sabbath and vacation and
rest are in short supply for some of our friends and families. However, God STILL desires for us to find time to rest – no, to
MAKE time to rest – each and every week.
So – what are YOU planning for your summer
vacation? How are you going to fulfill God’s
command and more importantly, take care of your
body and soul this summer? Hopefully with work,
rest, work, rest. And so, whatever you do this
summer, come back rested and refreshed ready for
a wonderful Vacation Bible School, Bahamas
Mission Trip and all the great things we have
planned for the fall here at First United Methodist
Church of Sebring.
I love being your pastor!
126 S. Pine Street • Sebring, Florida • 33870
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www.sebringfumc.com
FIRST CHURCH FAMILY NEWS
THANK YOU
The United Methodist Women wish to express their
thanks to all who attended the Mother-Daughter
Banquet May 5th.
A special thank you to Katie Fassler and all those who
responded to our request for help. It was a
wonderful, magical evening!
Men’s Breakfast— Tuesday, June 2
All men of the church are invited to join Pastor David
at 8:30 AM Tuesday, June 2, at Dee’s Restaurant for
Faith, Food and Fellowship.
The Scholarship Committee would like all students
who are members of the
church to be aware that
college scholarships to
Florida Southern College
are available and any
college students who plan
to transfer to Florida Southern College and are
accepted by July 1, 2015 are eligible to apply.
Students should email the Scholarship Committee at:
sebfumcscholarship@embarqmail.com.
God Bless,
Anna Miller, Scholarship Committee Chairperson
Ladies Night Out - June 4
All ladies of the church are invited for an evening of
fellowship and dinner. The monthly gathering will
be June 4 at the Garden Café.
Call Jo in the Church Office (385-5184) to make your
reservation.
NO MORTGAGE PAYMENTS!!
Our goal is to have NO MORTGAGE PAYMENTS!
See the thermometer rise as we track our progress
for the “matching fund” campaign to eradicate the
Family Life Center debt.
Marge Brown, Business Administrator
Extravagant Generosity:
Mortgage Balance (May 1)
Extra Giving (4/15/15 —5/15/15)
Pastor’s Discretionary Fund
Children’s Home
Lake Junaluska Fund
Bereavement Fund
Radio Ministry
126 S. Pine Street • Sebring, Florida • 33870
$220,955
$1,792.00
$305.00
$250.00
$200.00
$100.00
www.sebringfumc.com
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Vainglory:
The forgotten Vice
By Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung
Julia Roberts on the red carpet at the Oscars. Lady
Gaga singing “Applause” to worshipful fans at one of
her sold-out concerts. And you and me in our
Sunday best in the front row at church. What do we
have in common?
Chances are, says Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung, that
we all suffer from vainglory -- a keen desire for
attention and approval. Although contemporary
culture has largely forgotten about vainglory, it was
on the original list of seven capital vices and is
perhaps more dangerous than ever today.
In Vainglory: The Forgotten Vice DeYoung tells the
story of this vice, moving from its ancient origins to
its modern expressions. She defines vainglory, gives
examples from popular culture, explores
motivational sources, and discusses other vices
associated with it such as hypocrisy and boasting.
After exposing the many ways in which vainglory can
rear its ugly head, she explores personal spiritual
practices that can help us resist it and community
practices that can help us handle glory well.
Pastors David Juliano and Ron De Genaro (St.
John United Methodist Church, Sebring) seal the
deal for a Habitat House to be built on our
property located at 212 S. Pine Street. The two
churches will be co-sponsors, sharing the
expenses and sweat-equity labor required for
the build. Groundbreaking is expected in July.
United Methodist Women
Shirley Young, President
During the months of June, July, and August
there will be no formal unit meetings. But on
the first Tuesday of the month we will meet
for lunch. Please check your Yearbook for the
person in charge to take your reservation.
Denise Feagin will be accepting your Reading
List to be turned into the SW District by July 1,
2015.
Keep saving your labels. Lois Berry, Social
Action Chairman, will be checking the boxes
periodically.
Note: The September Unit Meeting has been
changed from September 1st to September
8th . The Program will still be "The Roma of
Europe" led by Mary Lee Kragt from St. John's
UMC. Mary Lee will be using the Study Book
and videos for her presentation.
126 S. Pine Street • Sebring, Florida • 33870
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www.sebringfumc.com
Creation
Station:
Katy Fassler,
Director of Children’s Ministry
Hello, Creation Station Friends!
It’s summerrrrrr! I hear Olaf singing that, don’t you? Gotta
love Olaf, but we have no snowmen in our summer theme
this year. We do however have water—and lots of it!
It’s time for Camp Splish Splash!
Camp Splish Splash will run through both
June and July and introduce our
preschoolers to lots of interactive Bible
stories that all teach us God’s way is
perfect. And, they all have something else
in common—water! So, get your tubs,
buckets and towels ready. The water
activities are coming.
In June, preschoolers will hear about Noah,
his ark, the multitude of animals and the
rainbow. This one’s always a preschool
favorite, Noah’s story is such a great one of
how one man trusted God and did
extraordinary things. And, the animals—
they’re lots of fun too.
Then, preschoolers will learn about Jonah
and that very BIG fish. Oh Jonah, why
didn’t you listen the first time? Jonah truly
shows us that God’s way is perfect, even
when we don’t want to do it.
The month will end with Gideon and his
dwindling army. Now, here is a man who
really trusted that God’s way is perfect. He
listened to God and allowed his scared
soldiers to leave. Then, God told him to
only keep the soldiers who drank from the
river in a certain way. Gideon trusted and
listened, and God led his army to victory.
What an awesome story!
As we share these stories with
preschoolers, we want not only to have
fun, but to show them solid examples of
people following God’s way and it being
the perfect way. We want to teach them to
trust God’s way in the easier things so that
when life gets harder, they will know that
God’s way is perfect, and that’s the way
they should choose.
126 S. Pine Street • Sebring, Florida • 33870
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www.sebringfumc.com
Children’s Ministry
Katy Fassler, Director of Children’s Ministry
G
But doing the right thing often made Jesus stand
apart from some of the rich and powerful people of
His time. They didn’t always like what He was doing
or saying, but Jesus never let those crowds persuade
Him to go against what God, His Father, wanted Him
to do. Even when it meant going to the cross to die,
Jesus knew that it was the right thing, and He did it.
rowing up, I always thought it’d be cool to be a
superhero. Mostly because, well, flying sounded
like it would be AMAZING. But also because
superheroes stood
up for what was
right regardless of
how dangerous or
how scary the
situation. Their
conviction drove
them to find the
courage to stand
up to evil, even
when no one else
seemed to care or
stood petrified
with fear. No
matter what, the
superhero came to
the rescue.
Jesus was able to live with conviction because He
knew the will of His Father, and that gave Him
strength and
courage. In the
same way, God
has given us the
ability to know
what is
right and the
ability to do it.
You see, when we
are fueled by
God’s character,
we will stand up
for the things that
matter to God.
Because showing
conviction and
standing up for
what’s right isn’t
Given the chance, I
always easy, we
thought that
thought it would
jumping into the storyline of my favorite superhero comic be a great idea for the kids to memorize
book sounded like something I would want to do with my 2 Thessalonians 3:13 “Don’t ever get tired of doing
life. I guess it’s because when I was kid, I didn’t realize
the right thing.” The best place to find out how you
that I was already part of an amazing story. No one ever
should show conviction is God’s Word. When you
told me that it didn’t take some super power to act like a know what God says, it makes it easier to figure out
superhero.
when and how you should stand for what’s right.
We’re looking forward to a great summer of helping
I have a feeling there are a ton of kids out there who feel kids discover that God created them in His image to
the same way. That’s why we’re taking the months of
join the story that He’s telling in the world. We hope
June and July to discover what it means to Stand Up: Get they figure out how they can Stand Up and have
in the Story as we learn more about conviction.
conviction in their lives as well.
126 S. Pine Street • Sebring, Florida • 33870
www.sebringfumc.com
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Vacation Bible School 2015
July 20—24; 6pm—8pm
Ages:
(potty trained)
3 yrs olds
thru 5th Grade
Lab Journal
At the amazing SonSpark Labs, children will
explore God’s life-changing plan as they find
out the answers to life’s most important
questions. They will discover that God loves
them and that through Jesus they can be
members of God’s family and personally
experience God’s plan for each of us …..
GP4U=J!
REGISTER by going to our website:: WWW.SEBRINGFUMC.COM
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www.sebringfumc.com
help when Pastor David is away or unable to visit.
Along with Joann, First Church will soon have
eleven other members trained to help with
visitation.
Getting Started—The First Step
Care Ministry To Begin
Danielle Crawfis, Care Ministry Coordinator
Eleven members of First Church Sebring are enrolled
to begin Care Ministry training in June and four
others will be taking the class this fall. In this
training, we will help these members to be lay
ministers who provide quality
and caring ministry and be
equipped to bring Christ’s
healing love to people who are
grieving, in crisis, or
experiencing other stresses of
life. We all experience the
challenges of life when we could
benefit from the support of a
caring Christian friend.
Our Care Ministry will reach out
in a very personal way to those
who are going through any
number of life situations.
Whether it be a family who is
grieving, church family members
who are home-bound, in nursing homes or facing
other life-changing issues. Our Care Ministry is
committed to reminding each of these people that
their church is here for them.
As many of you know, First Church was fortunate for
many years to have Joanne Springer serve as a
Visitation Pastor. Many have voiced how helpful and
caring she has been extending a loving touch to
those faced with medical emergencies, surgery,
hospitalization and rehab. As Joann retired from this
position in 2014 as a paid employee, it left a void in
extended visits following these circumstances. We
are blessed that Joann has asked to be a member of
the Care Ministry Team as a volunteer to continue
her joy in serving those in need of pastoral care and
Although visitation to those following scheduled
surgery or hospitalization will be the focus of the
first phase of training, the Care Ministry Team will
visit nursing facilities, shut-ins and homebound
members. The challenge is finding out who (and
where) they are!
Each member of the Care Ministry Team was given
homework before they even began their training.
We divided up the
membership list into age
groups, then listed all those
who were over 90 years old
(65 members), and then
separated those who we
knew were attending and self
sufficient. The names of the
remaining 60 members over
the age of 90 were divided
among the team who were
challenged with finding these
individuals through phone
calls, home visits, and some
investigative work. The
results of this effort will
hopefully give us a starting point for visiting
homebound members and connecting them back
to the church.
We Need Your Help
If you know of someone (any age) who would
benefit from regular visits, is facing difficult
decisions, or who needs encouragement and
prayer during a crisis, with their permission, call
Danielle in the Church Office (863-385-5184). In
the near future, there will be Care Ministry
Referral Cards in the Sanctuary and Life Center.
Look for more information about this new
ministry in July. In the meantime, please pray for
those who are taking the Care Ministry training.
126 S. Pine Street • Sebring, Florida • 33870
THE TOWER