1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

Capital City Methodist
www.firstumcfrankfort.com
From the Hilltop
G
reetings in the name of our Lord destroy God’s creations.
and Savior Jesus Christ!
It brings absolute joy to
my heart to witness what
Happy Bicenquinquagenary! That’s God is doing through the
right,
2015 is the 225th Anniversary of talents of so many at First
January 8, 2015
First United Methodist Church in Frank- Church.
fort. God has been using people of many On the last Sunday of 2014, I issued a
GLORIFY GOD
generations at First Church to spread the challenge for 2015. In my sermon on
by
CONNECTING PEOPLE
gospel. Those of us who are working Psalm 46:10, I encouraged all of us to
with
now in the church are a product of a begin to pray like we have never prayed
JESUS CHRIST
foundation that began literally out of the before. It is my conviction that prayer
through
earth. Today in 2015, we continue to changes things and one of things it
SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT
provide ministry and mission around the changes most is the pray-er! I invite you
and
DYNAMIC OUTREACH
globe.
to bring all things to God in prayer this
I’ve noticed recently on Social Media year. Nothing too small or too large can
that people seem to be rallying around be submitted to God for a blessing. ToIn this issue:
the idea that people are leaving the gether, we begin to lay a strong foundachurch in droves. My mother used to tion for that generation of God’s people
• From the Hilltop
• Adam Hamilton’s Revival say, “If you can’t say something nice, who will serve in the Frankfort area
• United Methodist Women you need to keep your mouth shut!” It through the ministry and mission of First
saddens me many people without and United Methodist Church. What exciting
News
• Toy Sale Wrap Up/Thanks! within the church seem bent on trying to opportunities await us!
break it down. Yet, once again, Satan is Blessings,
• Upcoming Events
known to use the weakest links to try and drPHIL
• Sympathy
• Congratulations
“REVIVAL” has come to
• Wesley Center Day School
News
First United Methodist of Frankfort!
• Hope Circle News
• First Spark News
• 2015 Church Officers
• “God Things 2015”
• Morrisseys Speaking
at FUMC
• An Invitation to Prayer
First United Methodist
Church of Frankfort
211 Washington Street
Frankfort, KY 40601
502.227.7430
office hrs: 8:30-3:00 M-F
www.firstumcfrankfort.com
Don’t miss this great series taking place each Wednesday night!
Glorify God by
UMW ‐ Faith, Hope, Love in Action
A
ll women of the church are invited to join us for
our first meeting of the year, a soup/salad luncheon on Tuesday, January 13th at 11:30 am in
Asbury Hall. The annual “Call to Prayer and Self Denial” program will be led by Cindy Littleton, Spiritual
Growth Coordinator. This program will highlight a special mission project designated by United Methodist
Women, and an offering will be collected in its support.
Another important part of this meeting is our annual
Pledge Service which will be led Julia Hughes. We will
have the opportunity to make our 2015 giving commitment to UMW. If you are unable to attend, you may contact Julia Hughes, Treasurer, or your circle chairs to
present your pledge. We hope you can come and join us
for the beginning of another wonderful year of missions!
Our unit of United Methodist Women is fortunate to
have seven circles that meet and have mission projects
in addition to our unit meetings and projects. Below is
a listing of the Circle Chairs and meeting times. Would
you like to join a group in 2015? Contact one of the
Chairpersons below, and they will give you any information you may need.
• Faith Circle: Carol Anne deCallies-4th Monday, 10:00
A.M. in the Todd House Parlor
• Family Circle: Patsy Kenner-Meetings as Announced
• First Needles: Gayle Alvis-6:30 on Wednesdays in conjunction with Wonderful Wednesdays
• Hope Circle: Julie Riddell- Monthly meetings as scheduled
• Triangle Circle: Lynn Grogan and Kindra Stark- Meetings as Announced
• Variety Circle: Sarah Williams- 3rd Tuesday, 10:00
A.M. in the Todd House Parlor
• Wesleyan Guild: Arba Kenner- 4th Tuesday, 11:30
A.M.-Pot Luck Luncheon, Todd House Parlor
Additionally, our unit has a Reading Club which meets
the first Thursday of the month. Please contact Arba
Kenner if you are interested.
Connecting People with Jesus Christ
Thank
You!
On Saturday, December 13, 2014, disadvantaged parents shopped for toys for Christmas. The parents were
able to purchase two $20 toys per child at a cost of 25
cents each. Additionally, each child received the following:
• one sweatshirt,
• a cap/glove set, the majority of which were knitted or
crocheted by First Needles,
• candy canes, donated by Paul & Betty McNees,
• school supplies donated by the Upper Room Sunday
School class,
• backpacks, donated by Sturm Insurance,
• a new children’s book donated by Joe and Mary Ann
Burgess, and
• a used toy or two.
Each family received a fleece throw (donated by our
youth group), a Christmas activity book (donated by the
Friendship Class), and wrapping paper, bows and gift
tags from the Boy Scouts.
Gideon Bibles (donated by Iris Winkler) were distributed and the Eads family donated pens inscribed with
our church’s name and an inspirational book.
Finally, we had a prayer request table for those parents
who wished to fill out a form or stop and pray with our
volunteers.
Altogether, 140 children were served.
On behalf of the children who had a merrier Christmas
because of you, thanks for your prayers, contributions
and hard work.
Check us out on Facebook
Looking for a few (GNN) Mugs!
We're missing several of the coffee mugs with our First
United Methodist Church logo. If an errant mug has found
its way into your home, please return it to the kitchen.
www.facebook.com/fumcfrankfort or
www.facebook.com/groups/fumcfrankfort
through Spiritual Nourishment
and Dynamic Outreach
Upcoming Events
Support the Team!
Our Youth Spark "United" basketball team begins the
season on January 11 at Frankfort Christian Academy
gym. Come cheer on our youth!
• January 11: 1:30 vs Buck Run
• January 18: 1:30 vs Capital City
Dining for Women (and Men are invited!)
Our Dining for Women group meets on Tuesday, January 13 at 6:30 in Asbury Hall. This non-profit educational group meets for potluck and information via video
on a project that helps women all over the world. Donations for what a dinner would cost are taken for the
project. Arba Kenner and Tonya Kenner are the leaders
for this group. It is open to all women and men in the
community.
Women Invited for Study and Fellowship
Our new women's study on "Jeremiah: Daring to Hope
in an Unstable World" begins on January 8 at the Averill
House. Workbooks to prepare for the video and discussion are available in the church office for $11. Tonya
Kenner leads this group from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
each Thursday. We will not meet if Franklin County
Schools are canceled due to weather.
Living Longer, Loving It in Winter
Triple L members...Are you feeling frisky? FRYSC,
Family Resource and Youth Services Centers, serve the
needs of students all across Kentucky. Many of you are
familiar with the Backpack Snacks program, which provides students with food while they are not in school.
This is just one of the many programs that FRYSC coordinators offer to students. Come learn about FRYSC
services on Thursday, January 15 at 11:30. Amy Nance,
FRYSC coordinator at Franklin County High School will
be our presenter. Chili lunch ($5)
Join the Wonderful Wednesday Revival!
Our Wonderful Wednesdays resumed on January 7
with a potluck meal followed by our children's JAM
(Jesus and Me groups), youth Spark Bible study and our
adult series by Adam Hamilton, "Revival: Faith as Wesley Lived It." This video/discussion group includes insights and video travel in England, home country of John
Wesley and our Methodist roots. This six week series
includes sessions on Precursors for Revival: Epworth;
A Longing for Holiness: Oxford; A Crisis of Faith:
Georgia and Aldersgate; The Necessity of Grace: Bristol; The Works of Mercy: The Foundry, London; and
Persevering to the End: City Road Chapel, London. Dr.
Phil, Tonya and David will share in the leadership.
Note that we will begin serving supper at 5:30 with
groups beginning at 6:15 and ending at 7:00. Potlucks
are planned for the first Wednesday of each month (meat
provided) with catering by Celebration Catering/Peggy
Williams on the other weeks. Cost is $6 for adults, $3
for children and $15 families. We need volunteers to
help serve the food each week and we are looking to add
volunteers to provide desserts on the non-potluck weeks.
We will NOT meet if Franklin County Schools are
closed. If inclement weather begins in the afternoon,
please pay attention to emails, Facebook posts, and announcements on the radio and television (WHICH STATIONS??) or call the church office, 227-7430.
Kids Konnection
Bible Black Belts: Scripture with a Kick
Our kindergarten through fifth graders are invited to
be a part of the new study on Wednesdays from 3:30 to
5:15. Children will be challenged to learn certain scriptures and bible knowledge as they earn patches through
the levels of difficulty.
Volunteers are needed to help with the transportation,
snacks, program and homework. If you are interested,
please contact Tonya Kenner through the church office.
We pick up at all county elementary schools and Second
Street provides bus transportation.
In Sympathy
We express our sympathy to the familiy of Bob Flener.
Bob passed away on December 19th.
You may send your condolences to his wife Sue Flener
at 1149 Kiowa Trail - Frankfort, KY 40601
We express our sympathy to the family of Bob Hutchison.
Bob passed away on December 23rd.
You may send your condolences to his wife Sue Hutchison
at 1300 Seneca Trail - Frankfort, KY 40601
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Nathan and Alexa Stepp on the birth
of Felix Gregory Stepp on December 23rd.
Proud grandparents are Greg and Lorri Stepp,
105 Morgan Court - Georgetown, KY 40342
Glorify God by
Connecting People with Jesus Christ
2015 CHURCH OFFICERS WORKSHEET
First United Methodist Church • Frankfort, KY
The number in ( ) is the first full year of service. Members of the Church Council appeared in bolded type.
Church Council Chair = _ Edgar Adams_
Church Council V. Chair = To Be Elected by the Council
Recording Secretary = Sandy Parker (2014)
Lay Leader = __Debbie Ison__(2015)
Lay Members to Annual Conference = Rosie Doerting (2013), _Bill Elam_ (2015)
Alternate Lay Members to Annual Conference = Rebecca Turner (2013), Patsy Blevins (2014)
Bereavement Team Leader
Congregational Care
Timothy Team Leader
Stephen Ministry Team Leader
Prayer Team Leader
Age Level Coordinators:
Children’s Coordinator
Youth Ministry Team Leader
Young Adult/College & Higher Education
Senior Adult Ministry Team Leaders
Leisure Ministry Team Co-Leaders
Boy Scout Team Leader
United Methodist Women Co-Presidents
United Methodist Men President
United Methodist Youth Representative(s)
United Methodist Children’s Home
Library/Archives/History
Shirley Norfleet/Sally Knight
Betty McNees (cards)
__________________________
Sarah Williams (Elected by Team)
Edgar Adams
Karen Nance
Greg Hardison
Holly Brunson
Arba Kenner
David & Robin Lawhorn
Jeff Howson (2013)
Nancy Howard and Kindra Stark
Ron Alvis (elected by local UMM)
Catherine Clements, Joe Meyer Jr., Courtney Woodyard
Carol Anne deCallies
Gayle Alvis
*Staff – Parish Team Chair = Sheilah Kurtz_ Vice Chair - Secretary 2015
2016
2017
Rick Moreno
Mike Sebastian
Sandra Bush
Sarah Gaddis
John Moreland
R.B. Brown
Jill Burton
Sheilah Kurtz
John Heltzel
Ex-officio = Lay Member to Annual Conference
*Nominations Team
2015
Leon Townsend
Shawn Foley
Ken Miller
Chair = Pastor; Co-chair = (To be elected by committee)
2016
2017
Jerrie Bradshaw
Junior Lewis
Jane Christopher
Ashli Watts
Corky Herbert
Jean Farrisee
*Finance Team
2015
Charles Bush, Jr.
Jana Sturm
Lindsey Briggs
Chair = _Jana Sturm__ ; Vice Chair- ; Secretary2016
2017
Kenny Graham
Bob Doris
David Lawhorn
Dick Smothermon
Don Hughes Jr.
Kim Wilkerson
Other voting members include: Pastor, Lay Member to Annual Conference, Church Council Chair, Chair of the SPR, Representative from Board of Trustees, Lay Leader
Treasurer - Paul McNees (See Paragraph 258g(17)4)
Assistant. Treasurer = Clara Wade
Financial Secretary - Julie Clouse (voice w/o vote)
Continued on next page...
through Spiritual Nourishment
and Dynamic Outreach
*Board of Trustees
Chair = TB Elected by Committee, V.C. 2015
2016
2017
Bobbye Brown
Steve Woodruff
Joe Meyer
Mike Whitaker
Gary Grogan
Steve Criswell
Allen Jackson
Jeff Hancock
Carolyn Nemeth
Grounds Supervisor: Ron Alvis (voice w/o vote)
Outreach (Mission) Ministry Teams Chair = TB Elected by Committee; Vice Chair - ; Secretary
2015
2016
2017
Paula Miller
Margaret Doyle
Terry Magel
Danny Garland
Pat Bacon
Sandy Jackson
Willie Lile
Rosemary Center
Cate Collett
ex-officio members:
Evangelism Team Leader
Larry Epley
SIMON House
Trevor Hanson
ACCESS Men’s Shelter and Soup Kitchen
Andrew Baker
Kings Center Team Leader
Kay Scott
Mission Education and Action/VIM Coordinator
Jim Burris & Cindy Littleton
KSU Wesley Foundation Representative
Edgar Adams
Conference Mission Support Coordinator
Bill Elam
Toy Sale
Brenda Rue
Cinderella’s Closet
Amy Nance
Franklin County Women’s Shelter
Jonell Soporowski
Worship Team Chair = (To be elected by Team)
2015
2016
2017
____Keith Goins________
Jason Powell
Jane Christopher
Marcia Garland
Jennifer Reynolds
Abbie Meyer
Patricia MacDonald
Jan Wright
John Heltzel
Audio - Chris Woodyard
Video - Don Pollock
IT - Greg Ramey
Acolyte Coordinator - Erika Hancock
Welcome Team Leader - Sylvia Elam
Head Usher = (8:30) Jim Drake; (11:00)
GNN Head Greeter= Corky Herbert
Wesley Center Day School Board Chair – Valerie Smith; Laura Leigh Goins (Executive Director)
2015
2016
2017
Nancy Graham
Holly Lewis Brunson
Mary Pat Dobbins
Valerie Smith
Eric Kennedy (Vice Chair)
Beth McDonald
Susan Coblin
Ryan Watts
Barb Lambdin
Ex-officio - Pastor
Minister of Christian Education
Board of Trustees Representative
Parent of a Child in the Child Care
Transitional Consultant - Karen Nance
Permanent Endowment and Planned Giving Ministry Committee (per ¶ 2534) - Chair - elected by Committee
2015
2016
2017
David Sturm
Cleland White
Ramona Newman
Bob Whitaker
Russ Wright
Arba Kenner
Addie Stokley
Mildred Browning
Ken Miller
Kitchen Oversight Committee Chair: To be Elected by the Committee
2015
2016
2017
Carole Wilson
Ken Ison
Cheryl Meyer
Joan White
Shirley Lewis
Laura Leigh Goins
Patricia McDonald
Rhonda Deaton
Ron Hazelett
WCDS Representative:
April Douglas
First United Methodist Church of Frankfort
A
s of today, we are for all intents and purposes full. The WCDS has
86 full or part-time students enrolled. Our current waiting list contains three infants, two 1-year olds and two children who will begin
when they turn two-years old in February (our one year old room is full
indefinitely as a result of our two nurseries). In addition to that wait list,
we have holds placed for five infants to be born in 2015. We employ 21
full and part time staff members, including our cook and custodian. We
maintain two substitute teachers who are paid only when they work and
one part time substitute.
FINANCES
We are committed to not only being financially independent of the church
this year, but of also beginning to make regular payments to the church
for use of the facility. Our Board and team realize what an incredible
blessing the Wesley Center is and feel that part of our mission should be
to help retire its debt.
We have two exciting fundraisers coming up this year. The first, which
you’ll be hearing about in the weeks to come, is a Ten Dollar Talent Challenge. One of our (very gracious) supporters has donated seed money,
which will in turn be offered to our team, parents, church members and
church organizations to help raise even more money. For example, one
group is considering using their seed money to finance a bake sale with
all of the profits going back to the Wesley Center. Proceeds from the Ten
Dollar Talent Challenge will be used to pay for Wesley Center priorities,
including technology, programming and helping maintain our facility.
Our second fundraiser is a fun event and promises to be popular. We
are hosting a Daddy/Daughter Spring Fling. This will be a special night
for young girls and their fathers (or father figures). If you are interested
in serving on this committee, please let me know.
CURRICULUM & LEARNING
We are approaching the mid-year mark for our new curriculum and will
be performing the Brigance tests on our three and four year old classes
in January. Our teachers will be challenged to expand the use of technology in the classroom for the first quarter of 2015, hopefully putting our
tools to work in greater ways.
On December 1, we took another leap of faith and opened a preschool
classroom, aimed at serving children who are young threes or preparing
to turn three. This group is essentially the kindergarten class of 2017. The
room currently has nine children but will grow as our children grow.
We continue to offer a Snow Bird program for days when Franklin County
Public Schools are out due to inclement weather.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Please continue to keep the Wesley Center Day School, our children,
team and families in your prayers.
DONATIONS
We are in need of two high chairs and any classroom supplies – including
construction paper, disinfectant wipes, crayons and chalk.
HOPE CIRCLE
The Hope Circle is excited to announce that it’s now even
easier to help out the women and children in our community by simply shopping at Kroger. As most of you know
the Kroger Community Rewards system has changed and
now all you have to do to help Hope Circle is use your normal Kroger Plus Card! Please take just a few minutes and
go to Kroger.com/communityrewards and register your
Kroger Plus Card. The name is First UMC-Frankfort Hope
Circle and the NPO is #23319. We greatly appreciate your
support and are so happy to be able to continue such a wonderful program that benefits our community.
First United Methodist Church of Frankfort
First Spark News!
On New Years Eve, the combined youth of several local
churches anxiously awaited the close of 2014 and the
beginning of 2015. Our own youth group, First Spark,
comprised the majority of the group. It has become a
tradition to partner and plan the annual New Year lock‐
in. After several opening games and fun in the Wesley
Center, we journeyed across the singing bridge, past the
Access Soup Kitchen, and finally arrived at South Frank‐
fort Presbyterian Church. Though most of the program‐
ming for the event happened on the FUMC campus, we
enjoyed the opportunity to visit and worship with other
Christian teens in our city.
It was cold, and many teens weren’t dressed properly.
I wondered, as they complained, if they could em‐
pathize with the homeless men we passed. As they anx‐
iously entered the Presbyterian Church their energy was
hard to contain. So much had happened in the last year
of their lives, and there they sat with the rest of their
young lives ahead of them. Their youth pastor Jason
Shaw spoke about how we should strive to be God’s
light in the world, and encouraged us to let go of our
burdens and let His light shine. Each teen lit a candle
to light our way back, and they were each given a rock
to represent our burdens. As we walked, each teen took
precautions to keep their light burning. It wasn’t easy,
with cold fingers and a strong wind. As we crossed
again over the bridge, each teen took a moment to re‐
flect, and then cast their burdens (the rocks) into the
river. (No boats were harmed in the making of this mo‐
ment.)
So many people have contributed to our youth pro‐
gram in the last year. Had the teens noticed the meals
lovingly prepared by parishioners who selflessly wanted
only to show their love for them with food? Did they
appreciate the time and talents given by those who
have worked tirelessly to renovate and repair the Light‐
house for their use? Was all of this lost on them?
No, I say with great faith, it was not a lost cause! We
are First Spark: a name chosen by our teens to reflect
their desire to be the spark that starts the flame. The
Christmas program this year centered around this very
theme. Our teens have volunteered at the Soup Kitchen
and many other charitable organizations, and they con‐
nected with the people who do God’s work in those
places and with the people they serve. The light from
these teens has sparked growth in the program, and has
brought many new teens to God and to our church. We
had over 30 teens at our meeting last Sunday. These
teens have shared their light through the energetic wor‐
ship programming, and have challenged our congrega‐
tion to let their own light shine.
Don’t keep your light under a basket. Let it shine. The
burdens of life are heavy, but through God and the fel‐
lowship of others we can get through in the darkness.
Thanks for a GREAT year, and we look forward to the
challenges of a new year.
Greg and Melissa Hardison
Your Youth Leaders
First United Methodist
Church of Frankfort
211 Washington Street
Frankfort, KY 40601
502.227.7430
www.firstumcfrankfort.com
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Dr. Phil Hill
- Pastor
James Shepherd
- Pastor in Residence
Tonya Kenner
- Christian Education Minister
David W. Goins
- Director of Music & Worship
Laura Leigh Goins
- Wesley Center Day School Director
Regina Hellard
- Administrative Assistant
Roy Nance
- Organist
Meredith Goins & Raye Hurley
- Children’s Choir Coordinators
Greg & Melissa Hardison
- Youth Directors
Doug Eades
- Communications Specialist
God Things - 2015
I am compiling a daily blessing book to be titled God Things
2015. You will be the authors. I invite you to contribute
your “God experiences”, no matter how small. Please be
aware of times when God prompts, soothes, encourages, or
reveals to you or just makes you smile (yes God is a wit) –
any time God touches your heart. As you experience them,
please give them to me, e-mail to vickieasterly@yahoo.com,
text or call 502-803-1010, mail them to me at 401 W. Main
Street, Frankfort, KY 40601, or drop them off at the church
office. You can remain anonymous if you wish. I will edit
them if you need help. This will be a year of blessings – our
shared blessings. – Vicki Easterly
Morisseys to Speak on
January 11th
Mike and Sherri Morrissey will be the guests of the Outreach Team on Sunday, January 11 at 6 PM in the Todd
House Parlor. They spoke to the United Methodist
Women in November 2013 on their mission in Chonburi,
Thailand. They will give an update on their Blessing
Home and Pioneer Pastors ministries. The church family
is invited to attend and meet the Morrisseys.
An Invitation to Prayer
You’ve heard drPHIL invite you to be a part of the
new prayer ministry at FUMC. Prayer Warriors. Maybe
this sounds a little intimidating. Maybe you’ve thought,
“I’m not qualified to be called a prayer warrior. That’s
for those REAL prayer warriors in the church!!” Well,
I don’t feel ‘qualified’ either!! But I felt a nudge.
Maybe you’ve felt a nudge. Maybe you’ve considered
being more involved, to do ‘something’, but don’t like
public speaking or whatever the reason just haven’t .
If you’ve felt that nudge, you should respond to that
nudge and say YES. Don’t be intimidated. Give HIM
your YES. All we need is a willing heart and the Holy
Spirit will take it from there! HE can do mighty things
when we give him our YES.
We will have copies of the prayer guide at church if
you’d like to take a look. Contact me if you’d like to
sign up to pray for a GNN service, Peggy McClure, at
502-330-2277(cell) or 502-875-5667(work), or email
me at edandpegmac@fewpb.net. Sandy Parker is coordinating the 11:00 service and she can be contacted at
502-227-3560
or
email
at
sandyparker4974@yahoo.com . Joan White is coordinating the 8:30 service and she can be contacted at 502875-2221 or email at clejoan@earthlink.net.