Stephen’s Strands Please thank God with me for the Vision Task Force that examined where God is leading our church and the Vision Task Initiative Teams that are addressing the areas of specific focus highlighted through the vision process. While we have only begun the journey to become what God is calling us to be, it is exciting to see the active strategies at work within our faith community.

The Stand, our Wednesday Night Live Praise and Worship Service, launched on September 27, 2017 under the leadership of all of the members of Sanctifying Grace: Cindy McDonald, Craig Greenberg, Corrine Johnston, Melissa Johnston, Kelly Newsome, Nick Carr, and Zach Hedges. The community and the church turned out for this inaugural worship experience including the Ignite Voices children’s choir, Ignite Kids, our Youth Ministry, members of the Chancel Choir, the Wednesday Night Live dinner service team, and many members and supporters of all ages. The Word of God was proclaimed by Leslie James as she shared the way that God coaxes and coaches us to move nearer to God when we find ourselves frozen in fear. It was a night of great beginnings! Plan now to attend The Stand on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at 6:30 p.m.

Please pray with the entire church for the Fall Family Fun Fest to be launched on Saturday, October 28, 1:00-4:00 p.m. We want to invite the whole community to enjoy themselves as together We Love God, Love Our Neighbors, and Change the World!

God is at work in the midst of us! Celebrate God’s presence with us!

God’s best to you,

Stephen Cotten, Pastor

Wednesday Bible StudyYou are invited to join Pastor Ste-phen at 10:00 am on Wednesday mornings in room 101 across the

hall from the church office.

Pastor’s Bible Study Classes

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 Ken Smith Yvonne Hampton Beverly Kelley Ed & Marilyn JoyceIn Memory of Troy Arterbury Monty & Carolyn Newsom Ernie & Ginger Venteicher Horizon Sunday School Class Harry & Nancy Thames Yvonne Hampton Stan & Jill Lowry Charles & Dorothy Winfield Darwin & Connie McGill Jerald & Mary Lou Mowery Willie & Mary Bane John Hicks Leon Schumacher Bob & Sharon Sehon Gail Reed Hal & Georgia Gibson Paul & Victoria Fletcher Benny & Bonnie Evans Earl Page Winers & Diners Club Maaike Plantinga Judd Scott & Jackie Stempel Beth Bolger Ernest Snapka Beverly Kelley Helen McMichael Steve & Pat Wright Laurene & Martin Tomcho Ed & Marilyn JoyceIn Memory of Billie Hamrick Ed & Marilyn Joyce

In Memory of Sandee Casey Jerald & Mary Lou Mowery Curtis & Lorna Henderson Hal & Georgia Gibson Beverly Kelley Neil & Carol Ann Scott Mike & Susan Little R. D. & Cindy Green Charles & Annette Rutherford Steve & Pat Wright John Hicks Jeff & Stephanie Farr Ed & Marilyn Joyce Jerry & Trish Cobb Lee & Janet Schumacher Tom & Barbara RaglandIn Memory of C. T. Penny Beth Bolger Beverly KelleyIn Memory of Zach Ross Beth Bolger Beverly Kelley Ed & Marilyn JoyceIn Memory of Julia Westrom Beth Bolger Beverly KelleyIn Memory of Phyllis Page Beverly Kelley Helen McMichaelIn Memory of Cole Barker Beverly KelleyIn Memory of Wilda Scott Beverly KelleyIn Memory of Oscar Reeder Helen McMichaelIn Honor of Tom Sample Hal & Georgia Gibson

Honors & MeMorials

Sympathy to: ... Larry Casey, on the loss of his wife, Sandee.

Tara AllenJoe AndersonDejah ArnoldDavid BrewerJanie BynumPatty CheatwoodTerri ColemanCarolyn DaltonNorma Jean DraperLila DreesKenny DuckJames DuckSharron Meek ElliottChuck EtheridgeVictoria FletcherJim FritzOleta Gann Travis GannJan Banman GraciaRuth HardenRichard HaynieCandy HolmesHailey HudsonSheryl HughesMargie Jaggers

Nadine JenningsJolynn JohnsonBlake JonesRobert JonesBob KerrKristi KeyCharles LowryLou Gene MaxtonDennis McBrideLanny MooreDonna NaberAllen NottinghamEarl PageDawn ParsonsLena Mae Reeder Dan Rembold Don RoseCarol Ann ScottPeggy Stutts Johnny TomLiam Wilmeth Wynne Family Melissa Zenteicher

To everyone who worked so hard to or-ganize, plan, prepare, cook, serve & clean up the New Mem-bers’ Luncheon: Bob & I want to thank you all. We have felt welcome from the beginning into this wonderful congregation...this luncheon has made us feel very special.

We are blessed to be a part of FUMC! Bob & Sharon Sehon

How can I ever express appreciation for the love and support this Church has given the family and I. The calls,

the cards, the texts, the flowers, the food, the donations and the HUGS. God has blessed us with this amazing Church and Church family.Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Becky Arterbury & family

Thank you for all the texts, calls, visits and food while i

was recovering. i am blessed to be a part of this Church family. Kristi Key

Rainbow ConneCtion

Rainbow has had a busy start to our new school year. On September 11th, we celebrated Grandparent’s Day. All of our Rainbow grandparents were invited to come enjoy a special breakfast with their grandchild. Some even “adopted” extra grandchildren! Our annual Rainbow Garage Sale was a success. We were able to raise a good amount of money toward purchasing new learning materials for our classrooms! Thank you to everyone who donated items for our sale.

On Saturday September 23rd, three of our teachers attended the Northeast Texas Childcare Association’s annual Fall Conference. There they received training on how to create great learning centers, how to use transition times as learning opportunities, and ways in which to take care of themselves so they can be extraordinary teachers. They came back with many new ideas to use in their classrooms. If you plan on being at Country Fest, stop by the Country Fest Stage at 11:10 to watch our Pre-K and School Age children perform.

The Rainbow children will be decorating pumpkins to sell. The pumpkins will be sold in a silent auction October 6 - October 15. Come by and make your bid! The money will be used to help pay for our new floors in the daycare.

It’s Patch Time!Donations and Volunteers Needed for

Pumpkin Patch October 23 - 27We are going to need supplies and volunteers for our upcoming 8th annual Pumpkin Patch. Please look over the list and see where you can help. The Pumpkin Patch will mostly be held in Rosemary Jennings Hall so as to avoid any inclement weather and there will be jobs for those who want to be active and those who prefer a rocking chair! There will be a collection box (look for the smiling Jack-O-Lantern) in the narthex for the smaller items by the first week of October. If there are larger items you can provide, please call Pam Greenberg at 214-236-4894 or email at children@FUMCMV.org to arrange pick-up or storage. We are hoping to welcome as many as 800 students and people from our schools and community and will need your prayers and support to make this event fall fabulous! Thank you for your incredible support.Volunteer Opportunities:Work at the pumpkin patch (October 23th – October 27th, 3 time slots from 8:50-10:20, 10:30-12:00 and 12:10-1:40, work one or work all three)Drivers for hay ride (October 23 – October 27)Help set up and decorate for the patch (Sunday evening October 22nd)Supplies/Donations Needed:Bags of candy corn, Crazins, M&M’s, mini marshmallows, chocolate chips and pretzel sticks.Sandwich size BaggiesSmall water bottlesSmall Pumpkins/Baby Gourds to use for decorating and pumpkin games.Hay Bales (we need a large number for setting up pumpkin patch and hay ride but all can be returned to owner after the 28th!)Corn Stalks

The Ignite Voices children’s choir will take the CountryFest stage on Saturday, October 14 at 11:10 a.m. in downtown Mt. Vernon. Our young singers are excited to share God’s love to our community through music. The choir will also sing at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 28 at FUMC’s Fall Family Fun Fest.

Our focus this Fall is on Psalm 100. Each month we will memorize part of the Psalm to help us

worship in spirit and in truth. October’s verse is Psalm 100:3 –

“Know that the LORD is God.It is he who made us, and we are his;

We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”

Ignite Voices meets every Wednesday from 5:30 to 6 p.m. For more information, please call Betsy Gekiere at 972-955-2026.

Ignite Voices Are Fired UP to Sing!

DO SOMETHING TODAY THAT YOUR FUTURE SELF WILL LOOK BACK AND SEE

THAT THE LORD HAD HIS HAND IN IT Teaching our youth to give of themselves is really not that simple. If only we had an easy button!! Teens are consumed with phones, selfies, you tube, snap chat, Instagram & much, much more! It is a battle & a struggle that we are competing with, but here’s the deal…if we can constantly feed them the word, the love that the Father has for them—I am confident we (all of the church) will win the battle!! Maybe down the road in their future lives, they can say thank you Lord for wisdom, grace, love and mercy. Our goal is to teach them to step outside of themselves by giving thru missions, hurricane aid (Umcor kits & flood buckets), or relief for the Puerto Ricans by installing a water well. Just when you think…I’m not sure they are getting it, they reach in their pockets, wallets & purses with no hesitation. WOW! It’s a liberating sight! Luke 6:38 tells us “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”Blessed in the Savior’s love,CindyPrayer Request—October 6-8 camping trip at Beavers Bend / October 20-21 JH Believe Event in Dallas

IGNITE KIDS 2017-2018IS OFF TO A GREAT START!

Over 50 kids have signed up to participate in our Wednesday night children’s program. Competing teams will face off in a variety of challenges including Bible memory work, Bible sword drills, games and so much more. We will also put our teams to work serving our community and church family all with the ultimate challenge of glorifying God! Kids enrolled in Kindergarten thru 6th grade are qualified to participate in these tests of endurance, mental abilities and skill. We also have a team especially for 3 and 4 year olds ready to learn more about God and His Word.We started the year off with an incredible service project; packing backpacks with school supplies for children in Rockport, TX who are victims of hurricane Harvey. These students lost all supplies they had prepared for the new school year as well as their elementary school buildings. Ms. Susan Hallonquist, the organizer of the drive, gave a quick presentation to the Ignite Kids about the devastation and loss from the hurricane. We then put our Kids into action filling over 150 backpacks with the gathered supplies. Ms. Hallonquist will deliver the backpacks to the Rockport ISD before they resume classes in portable buildings for the next 7 to 8 months.We would love for your children, grandchildren or neighbors to come join us! If you have any questions regarding our action packed program, please call Pam Greenberg at 214-236-4859 for more details.

Flood Buckets for UMCOR

Margaret Arnett Oct. 02Donna Massey Oct. 02Jean Duck Oct. 02Bruce Folk Oct. 02Kristie Blair Oct. 02Mary Bane Oct. 05Emmy Poppy McCamant Oct. 06Bill Moore Oct. 09Jeri Butler Oct. 11Elizabeth Russell Oct. 11Jack Abbott Oct. 12Monty Newsom Oct. 12Charles Lowry Oct. 15Carolyn Newsom Oct. 16Cindy McDonald Oct. 17Naomi Criswell Oct. 20McKlayne Cook Oct. 20Tom Sample Oct. 21Dailey Ross Oct. 21Ann Adams Oct. 23Dean Johnston Oct. 25Earl Page Oct. 25Bob Singer Oct. 27Robert Kennedy Oct. 28Jack Carlson Oct. 29Madelyn Easley Oct. 29Iley Mendez Oct. 30Jason Amick Oct. 31

Donate Now!

Finance Update

Finance CountersOctober

1 Linda Moore Tom Sample 8 Brian Ruyle Monty Newsom 15 Mike Fisk Randall Byrd 22 Linda Barnhart ??????????? 29 Gary Givney ???????????

Rainbow Board MeetingMonday, Oct. 9 @ 5:15 pm

Finance MeetingMonday, Oct. 16 @ 6:00 pm

Church Council MeetingMonday, Oct. 23 @ 6:00 pm

Administrative Meetings

Church Ushers are needed for both services, 8:30am and 11am. They are responsibile for welcoming parishioners into the church, letting them know the coffee bar is open and where copies of the newsletter and past bulletins are located. Ushers will give each person attending church the current bulletin and count attendance at each service.If you are willing to serve, please contact: Tim & Kathie Gutschlag @ 972-322-3581 or the Church Office @ 903-537-3616.

September Opening Balance $72,742.22Income thru September 30 $32,490.87Expenses thru September 30 $57,277.02 September 30 Closing Balance $47,956.07

Your Stephen Ministers have continued to meet twice a month all summer. We are now planning our annual Country Fest participation and will be sharing booth space with FUMCMV. Come by and say "hello".

As we gear up for the traditional holidays, we remember how difficult and stressful it can be to celebrate them, especially for those of our community that have lost loved ones during this past year. Our prayers will continue to be with you and your families. Please know we are here for you.

We are looking forward to 2018 and would like to offer a Stephen Ministry training class to begin in January. If you feel called to study this Ministry, please contact Jackie Stempel through the church office.

As the new, returning choir director, thank you for the generous welcome you have given me. I have been amazed and humbled by your many kind words, hugs and sweet smiles.

I’ve always loved all kinds of hymns and anthems, believing that they are a vital and inspiring part of worship. So, if you are of like mind, please consider joining us each Wednesday night in the sanctuary at our new rehearsal time of 5:30.

We have started our Christmas music and would love to have you be a part of us as we “Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord.Grace and Peace,

Marilyn JoyceMusic Director

If you haven’t had a chance to turn in your pledge card, you may mail it to FUMC@ P. O. Box 659 or drop it by the office.

The “EXPAND NEWCOMER SERVICES” vision team held a new member celebration luncheon on Sunday, September 17 honoring not only new members but the entire FUMC Mt. Vernon congregation as a whole. Guests of honor include:

Dave and Patti BrewerBob and Sharon SehonStan and Peggy Silva

Steve TownleyWe served a total of 88 people – a GREAT SUCCESS! We had a total of twelve first time visitors that Sunday, many of whom joined us for lunch and we celebrated them as well.

Success doesn’t happen without two things: God leading us and those who carry out HIS vision. Hat’s off to the following who were such gracious and humble servants:Charlotte Byrd, Randall Byrd, Shannara Easley, Kathey Gutschlag, Tim Gutschlag, Johnny Kirby, Judy Kirby, Linda Moore, Bruce Morris, Maaike Plantinga, Pat Wright and Chock Yates.We intend to have a semi annual new member celebration luncheon honoring those additional folks joining our Family.

Jean Ann Marshall, Chair, “Expand Newcomer Services” Vision Team

VISION TEAM AT WORK

Open Hearts. Open Doors. Open Minds.

Robert & Christy Jones4450 FM RD 3007

Scroggins, TX 75480Phone: 903-434-2384

The FUMCMV Vision Transportation Committee is developing a program to enable individuals who need assistance with trans-portation to attend services. We need volunteers in all areas of the community and the lake developments. If you would like to vol-unteer to provide a ride to someone as needed, please contact James King at 903-563-6369 or email JKINGIV@HUGHES.NET.

sUnday sermons onlineYou can view sermons at FUMC online:

www.fumcmv.org Go to Worship/Sermons

M.E.S.S. Bible Study

Returning Soon Date & Time - TBA

M.E.S.S – Moms Eagerly Seeking Sanctuary

Sanctuary is a place of refuge or safety, an especially holy place, the holy of holies. If you are a mom of any age try-ing to navigate the crazy times of parenting and relationships, meeting all the demands of work and family and want to “do it all” while seeking God’s path for your life, this study is for you. If you are interested, please call Pam Greenberg at 214-236-4894.

sUnday serViCes on Cd & dVd

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

Dinner @ 5:00 pm

Wednesday Nite Live

5:00 pm Dinner5:30 pm Nursery for young children in Rainbow Hall 5:30 pm Chancel Choir 5:30 pm Ignite Voices6:00 pm Ignite Kids6:00 pm Youth6:30 pm The Stand (2nd & 4th Wednesday each month)

October MenuOCTOBeR 4

Chicken enchiladas Beans, Rice, Salad, CakesPrepared by Sandy’s Team

OCTOBeR 11

King Ranch ChickenSalad, Bread & Dessert

Prepared by Upper Room

OCTOBeR 18Mexican Stackups Rice & Desserts

Prepared by Maaike’s Team

OCTOBeR 25Corn dogs or Hamburgers

Chips & Desserts Prepared by Roundtable

1 2 3 4 5 6 78:30am Worship Service 9:30am Refreshments 9:45am Sunday School 11:00am Worship Service 5:30pm Youth

6:00pm Cub Scouts 6:30pm M.E.S.S. 6:30pm Boy Scouts

8:30am Women's Bible Study 4:00pm Stephen Ministry

Rainbow Silent Auction on Decorated Pumpkins October 6th - 15th

8 9 10 11 12 13 148:30am Worship Service 9:30am Refreshments 9:45am Sunday School 11:00am Worship Service 5:30pm Youth

5:15pm Rainbow Board Meeting 6:00pm Cub Scouts 6:30pm Boy Scouts

8:30am Women's Bible Study 2:00pm Prayer Shawl

15 16 17 18 19 20 218:30am Worship Service 9:30am Refreshments 9:45am Sunday School 11:00am Worship Service 5:30pm Youth

6:00pm Cub Scouts 6:00pm Finance Meeting 6:30pm Boy Scouts 6:30pm M.E.S.S.

8:30am Women's Bible Study 4:00pm Stephen Ministry

Mt. Vernon Country-Fest

22 23 24 25 26 27 288:30am Worship Service 9:30am Refreshments 9:45am Sunday School 11:00am Worship Service 5:30pm Youth

6:00pm Cub Scouts

8:30am Women's Bible Study 2:00pm Prayer Shawl 6:30pm Boy Scouts

Fall Festival 1:00 - 4:00 pm

29 30 316:00pm Cub Scouts

8:30am Women's Bible Study 6:30pm Boy Scouts

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

9:30am Prayer Time 10:00am Pastor's Bible Study 5:00pm WNL Dinner 5:30pm Nursery 5:30pm Chancel Choir 5:30pm Ignite Voices 6:00pm Ignite Kids 6:00pm Youth

9:30am Prayer Time 10:00am Pastor's Bible Study 3:30pm Fellowship Games 5:00pm WNL Dinner 5:30pm Nursery 5:30pm Chancel Choir 5:30pm Ignite Voices 6:00pm Ignite Kids 6:00pm Youth 6:30pm The Stand

9:30am Prayer Time 10:00am Pastor's Bible Study 3:30pm Fellowship Games5:00pm WNL Dinner 5:30pm Nursery 5:30pm Chancel Choir 5:30pm Ignite Voices 6:00pm Ignite Kids 6:00pm Youth

9:30am Prayer Time 10:00am Pastor's Bible Study 3:30pm Fellowship Games5:00pm WNL Dinner 5:30pm Nursery 5:30pm Chancel Choir 5:30pm Ignite Voices 6:00pm Ignite Kids 6:00pm Youth 6:30pm The Stand

8:30am Worship Service 9:30am Refreshments 9:45am Sunday School 11:00am Worship Service 12:00pm Today's Christians Luncheon 5:30pm Youth

Oct. 23 - 27 Pumpkin Patch 9 am

NON-PROFITORGANIZATION

U.S. Postage PaidPermit #30

Mt. Vernon, TX

First United Methodist ChurchHwy. 37 North of I-30PO Box 659Mt. Vernon, TX 75457

Have you ever believed in something so firmly and confidently that you took A Stand on it? No matter how much work, time and effort it was going to take, you knew...that you knew....that you knew, you were being obedient to God’s call. Welcome to “The Stand”…a place to surrender your soul to a Savior that we all humbly STAND in awe of. The Stand is an accelerated Wednesday Night Live where twice a month, after the meal has been served, the plates have been cleaned and the kids have worshipped together, everyone, adults and kids alike, join each other in the Family Life Center for Praise Music and a very Special Guest Speaker. The Stand welcomed their first Special Guest Speaker, Leslie James, a motivational speaker from Winnsboro, to the stage this past Wednesday night.

It was a FULL house in the Family Life Center with just under 200 people lifting their hands in praise and prayer. This is a much-welcomed chance for First United Methodist to join hands with other local churches to worship together twice a month. Thanks to Melissa Johnston, Cindy McDonald, Corrine Johnston, Kelly Newsome, Craig Greenberg, Nick Carr and Zach Hedges for providing the Praise Music, along with a host of others who took A Stand and made this happen. Won't you join us for the next The Stand? October 11 at 6:30 pm in the Family Life Center, with guest speaker, Josh Hood! Put it on your calendar now, set an alert reminder, invite a friend and Take A Stand for Jesus!

The Stand