Stephen’s Strands

The Apostle Paul tells us in

2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by

faith, not by sight.” This is a good

description of what it means to have

the vision of the Lord in order to walk

with God. Our spiritual vision can be

dulled by the culture in which we live

and the practices of a world that is not

following Jesus.

As a church, we have been

gathering all of our members’ thoughts

on the direction the Lord is moving

us. We have honed them down to six

initiatives: 1) Programs for Young

Families; 2) Expand Programs for

Youth; 3) Community Services; 4)

Transportation for elderly and youth;

5) Newcomer Services; 6) Expand

Adult Fellowship. The Vision Task

Force saw clearly that these initiatives

could not be accomplished without

Advertising and Marketing Support.

In order for God’s vision to be

expressed in our church, it will need

your personal involvement and passion.

The planning and accomplishment of

these Vision Initiatives depends on you

being the passionate leaders that God

has called you to be. Which of these

initiatives is most important to you as

we move into the future? That is the

initiative in which you need to become

a leader.

All of us need to undergird our

desire for God’s vision to be expressed

in our church with daily prayer. Prayer

is the most significant force that we can

express in this process. God is at work!

As we pray, we understand increasingly

more about how we can accomplish

God’s purpose.

Thank you for becoming

involved in the Vision process. You are

the hands and feet of Jesus upon the

earth always striving to walk by faith

and not by sight. God bless you as you

endeavor to see God’s path clearly!

Prayer List

Please Note: Names added to the prayer list will remain on the list for 30 days if needed. They will be relisted by request.

If you would like to have a prayer request emailed out or would like to add someone to the prayer list,

please email the Church office at office@fumcmv.org

In Memory of Phyllis Page Tom & Susan SampleIn Memory of Oscar Reeder Patricia Obaugh Tom & Susan SampleIn Memory of Julia Westrom Gail Reed Lisa Lowry Steve & Pat WrightIn Memory of John Love Gail ReedIn Memory of Billie Hamrick Gail ReedIn Honor of The Van Alstyne Youth Mr. & Mrs. Charles WinfieldIn Memory of Rena Asimakis Steve & Pat WrightIn Memory of Kathy Martin Steve & Pat WrightIn Memory of Ila Faye Patrick Ed & Marilyn JoyceIn Memory of Chris Long Ed & Marilyn JoyceIn Memory of Keith Drummond Ed & Marilyn Joyce

Members of First United Methodist Church express our thanks to each of you who have recently given a special financial gift in memory or in honor of loved ones.

Honors & MeMorials

Sympathy to: ...Jill Lowry, on the loss of her mother, Julia Westrom. ...Linda Philhower, on the loss of her brother, John Love. ...Family & Friends of Keith Drummond.

Tara AllenJoe AndersonDejah ArnoldTroy ArterburyDavid BrewerJanie BynumBrandon CantrellPatty CheatwoodTerri ColemanCarolyn DaltonElaina DavisBarbara DanleyNorma Jean DraperLila DreesKenny DuckJames DuckSharron Meek ElliottChuck EtheridgeVictoria FletcherJim FritzOleta Gann Travis GannJan Banman GraciaTommy HeardHailey HudsonSheryl HughesMargie Jaggers

Nadine JenningsJolynn JohnsonBlake JonesRobert JonesBob KerrCharles LowryLou Gene MaxtonDennis McBrideLanny MooreDonna NaberAllen NottinghamDawn ParsonsLena Mae Reeder Dan Rembold Don RoseAngela RussellCarol Ann ScottPeggy Stutts Johnny TomJune WeaverRick WelkerCharles Winfield Liam Wilmeth Wynne Family Marilyn YoungMelissa Zenteicher

Your Stephen Ministers have continued to care for the community while summer often slows activities. We meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays to share prayer concerns and have continuing education year round. Our current study, "Don't Sing Songs To A Heavy Heart", by Kenneth Haugk, PhD, has been led by our Stephen Leaders Steve Wright and Linda Sech. Stephen Ministry is a constant reminder to us that heartbreak, unexpected crises, and human suffering can occur any time of the year and does not take the summer off. If you or someone you know is in need of a Stephen Minister, please contact the church office, or a Stephen Minister. Jackie

Rainbow ConneCtionIt’s hard to believe that summer’s end is rapidly approaching! Our summer camp kids have been able to enjoy many fun activities this summer. Our final camp activity was Paul and the Underground Church here at Vacation Bible Camp. It is such a blessing seeing all the kids excited about VBC and we are so thankful to all the people who worked so hard to make it happen! The children are not the only ones who have been busy this summer. Our teachers are working hard to prepare their rooms, and all of Rainbow, for the upcoming school year. Along with sprucing up our indoor environment, we would like to add some interest to our playgrounds with music walls (see picture for example). If anyone has any old pots and pans, kitchen utensils, or anything else that would make interesting noise when banged on we would be glad to take them off your hands to create our music walls! We are looking forward a great new school year!

Join a Mowing TeamFUMC has 4 teams that rotate mowing

during the growing season. We’ve lost several members to moves, illness, etc. It appears we are down to just two teams at present with perhaps one or two others from the previous teams. So we desperately need volunteers to start

now as the mowing season is upon us.Each team is in need of help.

Call Cody Bradford @ 903-452-1135

Grace Fellowship Ministries in Winnsboro, as a community outreach, has started a non-denominational program designed for wid-ows. They have extended their loving hand of friendship to any widow in our church. They meet at Grace Fellowship Ministries on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 11am. It’s a safe place to surrender and a fun place to be. For additional information contact Jean Ann Marshall at 903-537-4569 or Beverly Kelley at 903-285-0980.

Widow Support Group

...about Wednesday Night Live Dinners??

We would like to offer WNL Dinners, but we need volunteers. Call Kathy with your ideas, or if you would be willing to volunteer to help pre-

pare the dinners. FUMC: 903-537-3616

Bob & Sharon Sehon691 Eagle Point Dr. EMt. Vernon, TX 75457903-860-3206 903-767-5399 Bob903-767-3464 Sharonsehon@peoplescom.netsehon2@peoplescom.net

Steve Townley50 CR 3227Mt. Vernon, TX 75457903-572-5935ythmin@aol.com

Stan & Peg Silva196 CR NE 2040Mt. Vernon, TX 75457903-270-2075505-331-1094 Stan505-401-9436 Pegs.silva7485@suddenlink.net

Dave & Patti Brewer110 Kim Dr.Mt. Vernon, TX 75457903-860-7577Brewer903@gmail.com

Donate Now!

Finance Counters

Finance UpdateJuly Opening Balance $66,389.30Income thru July 31 $53,369.00Expenses thru July 31 $51,807.36July Closing Balance $67,950.94

sUnday sermons onlineYou can view sermons at FUMC online:

www.fumcmv.org Go to Worship/Sermons

sUnday serViCes on Cd & dVd

You can pick up a previous week’s service on CD or DVD in the narthex.

August 6 Neil Scott (or Linda Moore) Bob Singer 13 Linda Barnhart Tom Sample 20 Brian Ruyle Neil Scott 27 Mike Fisk Monty Newsom

Ken McGee Aug. 01Todd Lunsford Aug. 01Samantha Hamrick Aug. 01Beverly Kelley Aug. 05Darwin McGill Aug. 06Danny O'Hara Aug. 06Cameron Greenberg Aug. 06Lauren Anne Newsome Aug. 06Elizabeth Stone Aug. 06Barbara Olson Aug. 07Jana Auringer Aug. 07Mike Fisk Aug. 07Alyssa Sparks Aug. 07Ashlyn Woods Aug. 07Jackson Amick Aug. 09Kathy Moore Aug. 10Wendy Standridge Aug. 11Brandon Easley Aug. 11Savannah Ross Aug. 11Katie Jaggers Aug. 11Kara Wood Aug. 12Connor Johnston Aug. 12Gary Givney Aug. 13Douwe Plantinga Aug. 13Cameryn Findley Aug. 14Mickie Hunter Aug. 17Gail Reed Aug. 17Rachel Dunn Aug. 18Ann Holland Aug. 19Tonya Woods Aug. 19Allen Nottingham Aug. 20Ernie Venteicher Aug. 20Samuel Newsome Aug. 20Corrine Johnston Aug. 21Kay Frazier Aug. 22Kathey Gutschlag Aug. 23Charlotte McFarlin Aug. 26Edward Pamplin Aug. 26Robert Moore Aug. 27Tom Standridge Aug. 28Verna Curry Aug. 28Nancy Craig Aug. 28J.R. Alphin Aug. 29Waymon Newsom Aug. 30Stephen Cotten Aug. 30Nadine Jennings Aug. 31

I recently received a thank you card from the Team Effort Mission staff to our FUMC family. They shared many sweet words of love for our students and their participation. Our youth worked on building a wheelchair ramp, re-roofed a porch, cleared off many trees & debris, removed tree roots, cleaned a community center and worked on the grounds of the passion play. Not only am I very grateful for their hard work, you should be too!! It was incredible as with all mission trips to see their faith in action. I can confidently assure you that many lives were changed in Eureka Springs Arkansas and the lives of our participants. Of course we work hard and we play hard…floated the Buffalo river, toured the onyx cave & downtown Eureka Springs and attended the Passion Play. Thank you for supporting our youth this summer and for loving them with Christ love. Blessed beyond comprehension! Cindy McDonald

1 2 3 4 54:00pm Stephen Ministry

9:30am Prayer Time

6 7 8 9 10 11 128:30am Worship Service 9:30am Refreshments 9:45am Sunday School 11:00am Worship Service 6:30pm Grace Notes

6:00pm SPR Meeting 2:00pm Prayer Shawl

9:30am Prayer Time

13 14 15 16 17 18 198:30am Worship Service 9:30am Refreshments 9:45am Sunday School 11:00am Worship Service 6:30pm Grace Notes

5:15pm Rainbow Board Meeting

MVISD Teacher Luncheon 4:00pm Stephen Ministry

9:30am Prayer Time

20 21 22 23 24 25 268:30am Worship Service 9:30am Refreshments 9:45am Sunday School 11:00am Worship Service 6:30pm Grace Notes

2:00pm Nomination Meeting 6:00pm Finance Meeting

2:00pm Prayer Shawl 6:30pm Boy Scouts

9:30am Prayer Time

27 28 29 30 318:30am Worship Service 9:30am Refreshments 9:45am Sunday School 11:00am Worship Service 6:30pm Grace Notes

6:00pm Church Council 6:00pm Cub Scouts

6:30pm Boy Scouts

9:30am Prayer Time 6:00pm-7:15pm Ignite Kids and Youth - Back To School Bash!!

Friday Saturday

August 2017

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

Lunches of Love July 10th - August 10th