greetings my friends in the name of the lord! · we must fight against the enemy, the devil, not...

The witnessThe witnessThe witnessThe witness A PUBLICATION OF TOMS BROOK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH– FEBRUARY 2017

Greetings my friends in the Name of the Lord!

The world needs Jesus. Wow, is that ever obvious. And we, my friends, have

been given the job of bringing the good news about Jesus to the world. In order to

testify about Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and His forgiveness of my sins, with in-

tegrity, I must show that I have been transformed by His mighty power and am a liv-

ing example of what God can do in a person’s life. This is what the Apostle Paul wrote

in Philippians 1:27 “Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting your-

selves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and

see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with

one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.”

Jesus even said in John 13:35, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that

you are my disciples.”

If we are to make a difference for the Kingdom of God, we must be unified.

We must fight against the enemy, the devil, not each other. As Paul writes in Ephe-

sians 6:11, “Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all

strategies of the devil.” Paul even says the shield of faith is designed to, “to stop the

fiery arrows of the devil,” (6:16). I not only wear the armor of God, but the Lord has

also given me weapons to fight with in the great battle with which we are engaged.

Paul writes in II Corinthians 10:4-5, “We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly

weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false ar-

guments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We

capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.” Wow, that does

not sound like church as usual, that sounds more like the church in the Book of Acts.

And so it is. We are the same church and face the same struggles now as it did then.

And the same Lord then is the same Lord now. Jesus continues to lead His church to

victory of which we also are a part.

Let us pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thank You for giving us

Your armor to wear, and Your weapons to fight with. Help us learn how to fight to-

gether as You lead us to witness for our faith in You. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

The peace of God be with you,

Pastor Stan

Wednesday Souper Suppers

Lenten Souper Suppers begin at 6:15 p.m. on

Ash Wednesday, March 1

Please bring donations for our weekly Mission Focus.

Pastor Stan Thompson will be the guest speaker for

March 1, but other Wednesdays will have

“surprise guest speakers.”

March 1 Ash Wednesday ServiceMarch 1 Ash Wednesday ServiceMarch 1 Ash Wednesday ServiceMarch 1 Ash Wednesday Service————7:00 p.m.7:00 p.m.7:00 p.m.7:00 p.m.

Supper Host: Hearts & Hands

Mission Focus: Lend-a-Hand (a free-will offering)

Speaker: Pastor Stan Thompson

March 8March 8March 8March 8

Supper Host: Master’s Choir

Mission Focus: A Small Hand (Items needed are sippy cups, children’s toothpaste, and/or donation)

If you haven’t helped in the past with hos�ng a meal and would like to help this year,

please contact the group that you would like to help or contact Shelba Funk (459-3919).

More groups will be listed in the March newsle(er.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.”

Matthew 5:9

Hearts & Hands

Hearts and Hands will meet on Tuesday, February 21, at 7:00 p.m.

Once again our program will be "Ask the Preacher" with Dr. Stan Thompson.

Emmaus Gathering

An Emmaus Gathering will be held on

Saturday, February 25, at 10 a.m. at Toms Brook UMC.

Winter Church

Closing Information

When bad weather requires cancella�on of

our church services or mee�ngs, please

look to radio sta�on WSVG (7.90 AM),

WHSV-TV, or their web-site:

www.whsv.com/closings,

or our church website:

www.tomsbrookumc.net

for up-to-date cancella�on

informa�on.

2017 Church Directory

The church office has published our new

2017 Church Directory. Please pick-up your

copy on the back table in the sanctuary.

However, if you are unable to pick one up

at the church and would like one mailed to

you please contact the church office (540-

436-9312 or [email protected]).

Read Through the Bible

This two-year read-through-the-Bible program was compiled by

our very own Pastor Stan Thompson. If you haven’t done this already, it

is a blessing. We hope you will be inspired to begin in 2017! You may find

copies on the back table in the sanctuary.

Lend-a-Hand Report - In December, the church had 12 calls or visits and spent $875.04 for

area outreach to 7 people/families with $100 being sent to Valley Christian Outreach.

Compassion Cupboard - The donations for January were: 3 (24) oz. cans of spaghetti sauce,

and 3 (1) lb. boxes of spaghetti pasta.

Bread of Life Food Pantry distributed 5,274 pounds of food in December to 85 families,

which consisted of 263 individuals.

Giving Tree totals were 45 hats, 63 gloves/mittens, 24 pairs of socks and 4 scarves donated to

the Shenandoah County Pregnancy Center and A Small Hand - thank you for giving generous-

ly!

Food Collections and Outreach ReportsFood Collections and Outreach ReportsFood Collections and Outreach ReportsFood Collections and Outreach Reports

Blessings From You

I thank you dear Lord for so many things; for puppies, for thumbs and butterfly wings. For pumpkins, for snowflakes and sunsets at night; for oceans, for coffee and dawn's early light.

Blessings, oh what would I do without all these wonderful blessings from you?

For smelling, for seeing, and hearing a tune; for crocus in March and fireflies in June. For hands that we hold and kisses on cheeks, for months of the year and days of the week.


For sleeping, for waking, and friends that we know; for sky up above and grass down below. For mothers, for children and husbands that love; for gifts that you give us from high up above.


And when I lay down my head for the night, I'm glad that you're watching and holding me tight.

~ Written by Jennifer Wieber

Children’s Valentine PageChildren’s Valentine PageChildren’s Valentine PageChildren’s Valentine Page

Inside Greeters: Leo & Gloria Ryman Steve & Ellen Kern

Acolyte: Natalee Peterson _____________

Ushers: Robert Neff Mary Fay

Leo Ryman Gloria Ryman

Kevin Keller

Visual Creation:

Run Visuals:

J.J. Funkhouser

Brian Funkhouser

Sharon McCarthy

Sharon Keller

Sound Board : Doug Midkiff Ed Smallwood

Communion: Diana Bauserman—Set-up

Dr. Stan Thompson,

Bobby Funkhouser—Servers

Ellen Kern—Set-up

Dr. Stan Thompson,

Rotating—Servers

Traditional Worship-8:30 a.m.

Lay Ministry for FebruaryLay Ministry for FebruaryLay Ministry for FebruaryLay Ministry for February

Note: This list will be posted on the church bulle�n board for your convenience. Please find a subs�tute if

you are unable to be present on a Sunday when you are scheduled to serve. Devo�on leaders should con-

tact the coordinator at the number provided.

S.S. Devotional Leaders/Pianists:

Coordinator: Shelba Funk-459-3919

February 5— Gloria Ryman/Marcy Bauserman

February 12—Jeff Delano/Marcy Bauserman

February 19— Sharon Maynard/Marcy Bauserman

February 26— Shelba Funk /Marcy Bauserman

Modern Worship-11:00 a.m.

Jesus said to him, “You shall love the LORD your God

with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”

Ma�hew 22:37

Sermons & Scriptures for FebruarySermons & Scriptures for FebruarySermons & Scriptures for FebruarySermons & Scriptures for February

February 5 “I Will Give You Authority Over All the Nations” Revelation 2:18-29

February 12 “I Will Give You a White Robe” Revelation 3:1-6

February 19 “You Will Be Citizens of the New Jerusalem” Revelation 3:7-13

February 26 “You Will Sit with Me on My Throne” Revelation 3:14-22

February

1 Emme( Umberger

3 Riley Gochenour

4 Larry Himelright

4 Nancy Moffat

8 Susan Moose

9 Elizabeth McCoy

10 Juli Kent

15 Kitra French

15 Jaden Murphy

16 Karaline Brill

16 Leta S�ckler

16 Abigail Davis

18 Debbie Buckley

18 Amelia Gochenour

18 Bill Menges

19 Dale McCoy

20 Derek Burgess

21 Rhonda Lively

21 Hunter Funk

21 DoLe Bradbury

23 Alyssa S�ckley

24 Shelba Funk

24 Phyllis Himelright

24 Alex Wieber

25 Stephanie Ryman

27 Sara McClelland

28 Brian Morefield

28 Mil Wallen

Anniversaries

2 John & Nancy Easto

5 Paul & Debbie Buckley

Birthdays & AnniversariesBirthdays & AnniversariesBirthdays & AnniversariesBirthdays & Anniversaries

Sermon PodcastSermon PodcastSermon PodcastSermon Podcast

You may now listen to Pastor Stan Thomp-

son’s sermons on Revela�on our website.

Just go to:

h�p://www.tomsbrookumc.net/ and click

on the latest media link.

TOMS BROOK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

P.O. Box 99 Toms Brook, VA 22660

Toms Brook UMC

3263 N. Main St.,

P.O. Box 99,

Toms Brook, VA 22660

Office Phone: 540-436-9312

Email: [email protected]

Web: tomsbrookumc.net

Minister:

Dr. Stan Thompson

Cell: 540-230-1897

Email: [email protected]

***

~ Sunday Worship Schedule ~

Tradi�onal Worship: 8:30 a.m.

Life Applica�on Classes: 9:45 a.m.

Modern Worship: 11:00 a.m.

~Monday thru Friday~

Morning Prayer Service: 7 a.m.

POSTMASTER: RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

What is the Walk to Emmaus?

The Walk to Emmaus is a spiritual renewal program

intended to strengthen the local church through the devel-

opment of Christian disciples and leaders. The Walk to Em-

maus experience begins with a 72-hour short course in

Christianity, comprised of fifteen talks by lay and clergy on

the themes of God's grace, disciplines of Christian disciple-

ship, and what it means to be the church.

The course is wrapped in prayer and meditation, spe-

cial times of worship, and daily celebration of Holy Commun-

ion. This “short course in Christianity” is a highly structured

weekend designed to strengthen and renew the faith of

Christian people, and through them their families, congrega-

tions and the world in which they live. It is a combined ef-

fort of laity and clergy and is non-denominational. The Walk

to Emmaus is a division of the Upper Room Ministries.

If you would like to know more contact Elizabeth Davis at

540-974-5512 or go to: http://vimeo.com/8697255 .

greetings my friends in the name of the lord! · we must fight against the enemy, the devil, not...

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