First United Methodist Church

201 E. Hospital Street, Nacogdoches Texas 75961

NEWSLETTER
Volume 8, Issue 2
February 2015

FEBRUARY
09 - Primetimers at 10:30 am
- FLC
11 - Common Ground
Wednesdays: 5:30 pm Meal;
6:00 pm Church Communion
Service/Meeting - Youth
Lounge NO Studies and Activities
12 - Heart-to-Heart Chorus
practice at 9:00 amChoir
Room; performance at 10:30
amGarrison Nursing Home
13-15 - Youth Zombie
Apocalypse @ Lakeview SH
Retreat)
15 - Coffee with the Pastors
(New Members) at 4:30 pm Parlor
18 - Common Ground
Dinner @ 5:30 pm; Ash
Wednesday Service at 6:00
pm - Sanctuary
23-27 - Preschool
Registration for FUMC
Members
25 - Common Ground
Wednesdays: 5:30 pm Meal;
6:00 pm Communion
Service - Chapel; 6:30 pm
Studies and Activities
26 - Heart-to-Heart Chorus
practice at 9:00 amChoir
Room; performance at 10:30
amOak Manor.
28 - East Texas Emmaus
Gathering at 2 pm - FLC

MARCH
01 - Umw Bake Sale @ 8 am
- Gathering Area
Confirmation Class @
6:30 pm - Rm 211
02-06 - Preschool
Registration for Currently
Enrolled Students
04 - Common Ground
Wednesdays: 5:30 pm Meal;
6:00 pm Communion
Service - Chapel; 6:30 pm
Studies and Activities
08 - Daylight Savings Time
Begins

WORSHIP/SUNDAY SCHOOL TIMES

8:45 am
Contemporary Worship Service
9:45 am
Sunday School
10:55 am
Traditional Worship Service

Church Office (936) 564-8308

Fax (936) 564-8582
Email: info@fumcnac.org
Website: www.fumcnac.org

Office Hours: Mon-Thur: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm; Fri: 8:30 am - 12:00 pm. Closed for lunch 12:00 -1:00 pm

SCOUT/CELEBRATION SUNDAY
Join us on Sunday, February 8, 2015 during both the
8:45 am Contemporary Worship Service and the
10:55 am Traditional Worship Service as we honor our Scouts.
Celebration Sunday for Scouting on February 8th! Following the late service, we will
gather in the FLC for a covered dish lunch and celebrate the scouting programs in our
church and community. Bring your favorite dish to share. Your presence will offer
encouragement to these children and their faithful leaders. You will have the opportunity to
learn what they are doing and the results of their work. We encourage any adults who have
been involved in scouting to bring their memorabilia for display, and to also share their
scouting stories with those at their lunch table. There might even be an opportunity to eat, or
buy, Girl Scout cookies!! Contact Julee Comer at 936-554-5909 for more information.

CHURCH WORSHIP/MEETING
On February 11 we will have an all-church celebration in the newly-remodeled Youth Center. We will
worship with the youth praise band, have communion together, and hear about some exciting next
steps for our church. We will eat together at 5:30
pm in the Family Life Center (make sure to call in or
sign up online for the meal count, $5 for adults and
$3 for kids/students) and then make our way to the
Youth Center for worship at 6:00 pm.
Common Ground Meal by Open Door Sunday
School Class - Meatloaf, Mash Potatoes, Green
Beans, Rolls, Banana Pudding
6:00 pm Worship/Meeting in the Youth Center
No Classes

ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE - FEB 18

On February 18 we will have an Ash Wednesday service. Ash Wednesday marks the
beginning of Lent, a 40-day period where we prepare for the celebration of Easter.
Dinner will be served in the FLC at 5:30 pm; be sure to call in or sign up online for
reservations, and then we will move to the sanctuary at 6:00 pm for worship.
Common Ground Meal by Round Table Sunday School Class
Ham, Pineapple Salad, Green Beans and Dessert
6:00 pm - Ash Wednesday Service in the Sanctuary
No Classes

A Note From The Pastor

What is Lent and why does it last forty days?
Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is a time of self-examination and reflection. In the early church, Lent
was a time to prepare new converts for baptism. Today, Christians focus
on their relationship with God, often choosing to give up something or volunteering and giving of themselves for others. The forty days represents
the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring a series of temptations.
Sundays in Lent are not counted in the forty days because each Sunday
represents a "mini-Easter" celebration of Jesus' victory over sin and death.
Lent is early this year and will begin on Wednesday, February 18. We will
have an Ash Wednesday worship service at 6:00 pm with an imposition of
the ashes a very meaningful service to begin the season.
I will be continuing sermons from the Gospel of Mark throughout Lent and
Easter.
Peace,

A Note From The Associate Pastor

And theyll know we are Christians by our love, by our love; yes theyll know we are Christians by our love.
[The Faith We Sing #2223]

I am sure many of you immediately recognize the words to this hymn. Its been a favorite in Methodist churches for
quite some time, and for good reason. Love for Christians is something that we shouldnt take lightly. Its something
that is more than a mushy feeling we get in the pit of our stomach. Its active and empowered through the work of the
Holy Spirit. Love means reconciliation and redemption. Its about bringing people closer into community.
I read an interesting article the other day that said that when asked what words or phrases best describe Christianity,
the top responses among Americans ages 16-29 were anti-[fill in the blank]. For a staggering 91 percent of nonChristians, the first word that came to their mind was more about what Christians were against than what we are for.
Jesus said, You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind. This is
the first and greatest command and the second is like it: You must love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and
the Prophets depend on these two commands.
Friends, we have a long way to go, but the good news is that we dont have to go at it alone. We have a God who
demonstrates love for us every day. Our task is to live empowered by the Spirit, as disciples of Christ, and learn from
our heavenly Father, so that one day the whole world truly will know we are Christians by our love.
Blessings,

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Newsletter

LENTEN STUDY
Beginning on Sunday, February 22, Jeff and Trent will be leading a study for Lenten season entitled Listen:
Praying in a Noisy World. We live in a world of noise. Everywhere we go, we hear sounds that compete for our minds
and hearts. Listening to God requires a deliberate choice to shut out the chaos around us and focus our thoughts.
Listen, by Rueben P. Job, is a 40-day experience created to offer help to those new to prayer, those with a daily
prayer routine, and those whose lives seem too busy to pray. With a focus on listening prayer and prayer as a two-way
conversation, the experience will help people in building and deepening a personal prayer practice and spiritual discernment. As we learn to listen, we find a new depth and fulfillment in our relationship with God and a new experience of God
as guide and companion in our lives.
We will meet for the six Sundays of Lent from 5:30 6:30 pm. If you would like to purchase the participant copy
of the book, please call the church office, 936-564-8308, and we will have it for you the first evening of the study.

MISSIONS
Love In the Name of Christ, Love INC, needs strong volunteers to help at the warehouse with pick-up and delivery.
There are also opportunities to help organize and unpack items as they are given. If you can give one day or more a
month to assist with this, please contact Patti Goodrum at 936-569-8555. They are open Monday thru Thursday, 9 AM
till 4:30 PM. Lets not forget the assistance Love INC provides for our church.
In our effort to help the hungry in our community, we will hold a food drive each first Sunday of the month, affectionately
named I CAN Sunday. As this is the day that our church Celebrates at the Lords Table, we think its fitting that we
share our tables with others. Our next I CAN Sunday will be March 1st. Please bring your non-perishable food items
and place them in the baskets located near the entrances to the Sanctuary. Examples include: peanut butter, canned
meats, canned vegetables and fruit, baby food, mac-n-cheese, dried and canned milk, dried foods, rice, cereals and
soups. Detergents for dishes and laundry are also needed.
LITTER BUDDY
Ray Johnston is looking for a "Buddy" to help him pick up litter around town. Litter is a passion of his, but he does not
like collecting it alone. If you are interested, kindly call/text Ray Johnston - 936-462-3057.

Coffee with the Pastors - February 15

Our next Coffee With The Pastors, new member class, will be held on Sunday, February 15 at 4:30 pm, in the Parlor. If
you are interested in becoming a member of First United Methodist Church or just want to find out more about what it
means to be a United Methodist Christian, please join us. For more information, or to sign up for child care, contact
Jeff at the church office, 936-564-8308 or email him at jeff.m@fumcnac.org.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Bill and Jade Richardson (Reese, Jack and Olivia)
234 Boulder Lane, Nacogdoches, TX 75965
Linda Bianco
3002 FM 343, Nacogdoches, TX 75964

THANK YOU
A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who turned out to help with the East District Training. It was a huge success!
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Newsletter

MEMORIALS
Memorial Gifts were given:
IN MEMORY OF:
FROM:
IN MEMORY OF:
FROM:
IN MEMORY OF:
FROM:
IN MEMORY OF:
FROM:
IN MEMORY OF:
FROM:
IN MEMORY OF:
FROM:
IN MEMORY OF:
FROM:
IN HONOR OF:
FROM:

Adarene Burrows
Floy Bousman, Martha & Robert Burrows
Brownie Covin
Floy Bousman, Marilyn & Bill Larison, Judy Williamson
Ann Franks
Floy Bousman, Marilyn & Bill Larison, Nita Turner, Carolyn & Jack Mathews, Mary Akin,
Will & Deborah Allen
James Leon Smith
Cathy Johnson, Marilyn & Bill Larison, Nacogdoches Photographic Association,
CHB Insurance Agency, Inc., Charlene Kraemer, Carolyn & Jack Mathews, Mary Akin
Joseph Canins (Audry Quicks nephew)
Pat Almany
Molly Appleberry
Carolyn & Jack Mathews, Bill & Gene Pierce
Virginia Abernathy
Mark & Tania Watson Family
Sue and Nena Smith
Nacogdoches Photographic Association

SUMMER SCHEDULE
YOUTH MINISTRY
May 17 Graduate Sunday
June 7-13 SH UMARMY to Navasota, TX
June 20-27 Jr./Sr. Mission Trip to Belmopan, Belize
June 21-27 Hosting UMARMY at FUMC Nac
June 22-26 East District Camp at Lakeview
July 16-19 JH Mission Trip to Big House, Longview, TX
July 27-31 SH Beach Retreat to Laguna Beach, FL.

PRESCHOOL
FUMC Preschool Registration - For the 2015-2016
School Year
Monday, February 23 - Enrollment will open for church
members and preschool staff.
Monday, March 2 - Enrollment will open to
currently-enrolled families.
Monday, March 9 - Enrollment will open to the public.
For additional information, please call the
Preschool Office, 560-4631.

UMW - BAKE SALE

Sunday, March 1st from 8:30 am -12:30 pm in the Gathering Hall. We hope that youll consider making something for
the sale and/or purchasing some of the delicious items.
Proceeds benefit local missions such as Love Inc., CASA,
Solid Foundation, Christmas Blessings, the Angel Tree Ministry, and Christian Womens Job Corp.
Page 4

CHILDRENS MINISTRY
Faith/Family/Fun Summer Activities beginning in June:
Meet for SFAs 2 pm Wednesday Movies
Meet for Skate-O-Rama 6 pm $1.00 Way Back Wednesday
Thursday Afternoon Swims @ SFA Recreation Center Pool
Stay tuned for summer playdate opportunities
June 22nd- 26th - Lakeview District Camp
July 4th - Childrens Choice Ice Cream Judging at Ice
Cream Social
July 20th-July 24th - VBS
August 21st - Back to School Bash
August 30th Promotion Sunday and 3rd Grade Bible
Celebration ~ Summer Workshops To Be Announced

UMW
Texas Conference/East District UMW - 2015 calendar!
Feb. 27-28 Conference Spring Spiritual Growth Meeting at

Lakeview Pre-registration deadline is Fri, Feb. 13th. Registration

forms available on the UMW Bulletin Board. Rev. Terry Smith and
Katherine W hitbeck will present Focus Groups.
Mar. 21st - East District Spring Meeting at Livingston FUMC
July 23-25 Conference Mission u at Lakeview
Aug. 15 - East District Mission u at Crocket FUMC
Sept. 18-19 Conference Fall Festival and Annual Meeting at
Lakeview
Oct. 17 - East District Fall Meeting at Ryan Chapel UMC
Carpool transportation available for each event. Please contact Local Organization President Ashley Johnson
(johnsonar@rocketmail.com, 615-6054) or District Secretary
Jo Taylor (jtaylor@sfasu.edu, 465-3901) for more info.
Newsletter

FUMCNAC CALENDAR
FEBRUARY
05 - Church Council Meeting at 5:30 pm Parlor
08 - Confirmation Class @ 6:30 pm - Rm 211
09 - Primetimers at 10:30 am - FLC
10 - UMW Circle VI Meeting at 6:00 pm
11 - Common Ground Wednesdays: 5:30 pm
Meal; 6:00 pm Church Communion
Service/Meeting - Youth Lounge NO Studies and Activities
12 - Heart-to-Heart Choruspractice at 9:00 amChoir Room;
performance at 10:30 amGarrison Nursing Home

Evangelism Committee Meeting at 4:30 pm - Library

13-15 - Youth Zombie Apocalypse @ Lakeview SH Retreat
15 - Coffee with the Pastors (New Members) at 4:30 pm - Parlor
Confirmation Class @ 6:30 pm - Rm 211
16 - UMW Circle III Meeting at 6:30 pm
17 - UMW Circle I meeting at 9:30 am - Library
UMW Circle II & IV meeting at 9:30 pm
UMW Circle VII meeting at 10:00 am - Parlor
18 - Common Ground Dinner @ 5:30 pm; Ash Wednesday Service
at 6:00 pm - Sanctuary
23 - 27 Preschool Registration for FUMC Members
25 - Common Ground Wednesdays: 5:30 pm Meal; 6:00 pm Communion Service - Chapel; 6:30 pm Studies and Activities
26 - Heart-to-Heart Choruspractice at 9:00 amChoir Room;
performance at 10:30 amOak Manor.
28 - East Texas Emmaus Gathering at 2 pm - FLC

MARCH
01 - Umw Bake Sale @ 8 am - Gathering Area
Confirmation Class @ 6:30 pm - Rm 211
02-06 - Preschool Registration for Currently-Enrolled Students
03 - Worship Committee Meeting at 5 pm - Library

04 - Common Ground Wednesdays: 5:30 pm Meal; 6:00 pm

Communion Service - Chapel; 6:30 pm Studies and Activities
08 - Daylight Savings Time Begins
Confirmation Class @ 6:30 pm - Rm 211

ROOM RESERVATIONS
If you are planning to reserve a room in the Church for a
meeting, gathering, etc., a request can be made either by
completing a Building Use Form that can be found in the
Workroom or online www.fumcnac.org, scroll down to the
bottom of the home page and click resources, church forms
and then building use.

ACCESS ACS

To obtain an ACCESS ACS user ID, logon to

www.fumcnac.org, click the ACCESS ACS link at the bottom of the page. For more information, kindly contact
Sharon Bright at 936-564-8308 or email
sharon.b@fumcnac.org.

Articles Due for Next Newsletter

The next Newsletter will be dated Wednesday,

March 4, 2015. Articles for this issue should be emailed to
sharon.b@fumcnac.org by 3:00 pm Wednesday,
February 25, 2015.

BULLETIN and E-News DEADLINE

Please email all information to sharon.b@fumcnac.org

for our weekly Bulletin/E-News by 3:00 pm on Tuesdays.

Regularly-Scheduled Meetings
Mondays:
Mens Emmaus Reunion Group meets at 6:30 am in the Parlor (1st, 3rd, and 5th Mondays)
HRT Emmaus Reunion Group meets on Mondays at 5:15 pm - Barbara LaFours
Girl Scout Troop 1406 meets on Mondays at 6:00 pm in the Scout Lodge
Tuesdays:
Girl Scout Troop 1016 meets every other Tuesday at 5:30 pm in the Scout Lodge
Celebrate Service Rehearsal at 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary
Wednesdays:
Christian Writers Fellowship at 5:45 pm in the Room 206
YoWe (Youth on Wednesday Evenings) at 6 pm-Worship and Message; 7 pm-Small Groups
Bell Choir Rehearsal at 6:00 pm in Room 207
Chancel Choir Rehearsal at 7:00 pm in the Choir Room.
Thursdays:
Grace Emmaus Reunion Group meeting at 8:30 am in the Library
Heart-to-Heart Chorus at 9:00 am in the Choir Room and performances at Nursing Homes at 10:00 am (2nd & 4th Thursdays)
Sundays:
Youth Praise Band practice at 4:30 pm in the Youth Lounge
Cub Scouts meets at 5:00 pm in the Scout Lodge
Youth on Sunday Night 5:30-Youth Open Gym; 6:30 pm-Youth Snack Supper; 7:00 pm-Youth Bible Study
Volume 8, Issue 2

Page 5

Our Staff
DR. JEFF McDONALD
Senior Pastor
jeff.m@fumcnac.org
REV. TRENT OLIVER
Associate Pastor
trent.o@fumcnac.org
JEFF CAMPBELL
Director of Youth Ministry
jeff.c@fumcnac.org
ELSA JORDAN
Director of Childrens Ministry
elsa.j@fumcnac.org
LISA LABOSKY
Director of Preschool
lisa.l@fumcnac.org
DR. TOD FISH
Director of Music Ministry
tod.f@fumcnac.org
DR. GARY WURTZ
Celebrate Worship Leader
gary.w@fumcnac.org
DR. ANDY PARR
Organist
andy.p@fumcnac.org
SHARON BRIGHT
Office Manager
sharon.b@fumcnac.org
KATHY THOMAS
Financial Secretary
kathy.t@fumcnac.org
JIM JENKINS
Building Manager
jim.j@fumcnac.org

PRAYER CONCERNSUPDATED, Monday, February 2 (am)

For a more up-to-date Prayer List, kindly contact our Church Office564-8308.
Slaton Smith, Carolyn Mitchell, Katelyn Wolf (John & Gale Whites granddaughter), J. R. Wright,
Marsha Woznock (Ernestine Fountains daughter), Tabatha Bienman (Cathy Johnsons granddaughter), Amy Ames (Debra Bankstons niece), Jana Lafour, Scottie Branch (Vikki Boatmans
sister-in-law), Laverne Creech, Ernestine Fountain, Mark Holl, Olivia Rowe, Quinn William, Jeanette Johnson, Bryant Goodall, William Franklin, Pat Stephens (Pat Stephens-Williams grandmother), Alli Babaneaux (Tom & Dorothy Franks great niece), Ab Abernathy, Jack Matthews, Caceal
Dean (Mary Harbordths niece) Audre Smith (Natalie Andersons mother), Jim Morris, Charles
Shepherd, Fred Sullivan (Martha Sullivans brother), Savannah Coonts (Jerry & Mary Lynn Andis
great-granddaughter), Erik Robberson (Rev. Barbara Robbersons son), Wilda Dorsey, James
Scott, Claudia Whitley, Scott Molandes, A. L. Mangham, Larry Breageale, Alicia Ross (Natalie
Andersons co-worker), Kalynn Cole (friend of Carolyn Davis), Jarrell Grout, Bill Tucker, Jonathan
& Jennifer Coppinger, Kittie Dobbs, Candyce Wagnon (Rev. Terry Smiths daughter), Sue Smith,
Richard Carter.

Military Personnel in Combat Zone

John Lewis, Bo Russell, Mark Escoe, Bill Stephens (Pat Stephens Williams brother)

Names will remain on a published prayer list for 90 days. The prayer team appreciates current updates on requests. Please email your requests and updates to info@fumcnac.org If
you know of a member of FUMC who is in the hospital or who will be having surgery, kindly contact the Church Office - 564-8308. EMERGENCIES, call 936-585-2294.

The mission of the First United Methodist Church of Nacogdoches is to make disciples through
Christ-centered service and outreach. With Gods help, we will do this through witnessing,
teaching and loving.

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

First United Methodist Church

201 E Hospital Street
Nacogdoches, TX 75961

NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
NACOGDOCHES, TX
PERMIT NO. 11