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The SpireThe SpireThe Spire FIRST UNITED METHODIFIRST UNITED METHODIFIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCHST CHURCHST CHURCH | SULPHUR SPRINGS, TEX| SULPHUR SPRINGS, TEX| SULPHUR SPRINGS, TEXASASAS | JUNE 2017| JUNE 2017| JUNE 2017

PETE’S PLACE June is here. Can you believe it? The year is half

over. It has been an interesting year and we have

more to go.

This month is filled with activities for youth and

children. We won't see much of Adrienne and Ja-

son. We should pray for them.

We also will be saying good-bye to Debbie Chap-

man, our interim music director. June 4 will be her

last Sunday with us. We owe her a big debt of

gratitude. She has done an outstanding job the

past few weeks. Thank you, Debbie. I know Deb-

bie would appreciate your continued prayers as

she moves forward in her ministry and continues

to search for a church with which to share her gifts

and talents.

We also will say hello to Spencer Emmert as our

new Director of Music. You can learn more about

Spencer inside this newsletter.

Be sure to meet and welcome Spencer and his

family Sunday morning June 11th.

Pete

Remember a time

when your hopes and

dreams died.

Remember your

feelings of despair

and powerlessness.

Then remember your

surprise when

something stirred

within,

when new seeds of

hope sprouted forth.

That is the power of

the Holy Spirit,

the power of

Pentecost.

DEAN’S DESKTOP deanlibby@ssfumc.org Welcome to Summer! The tempera-tures are going up and the life of the church continues to build. It seems like we in church ministry try to “make it from New Years to Easter” so that we can have some down time. However, May was a month full of ministry op-portunities that only occur during this month. Confirmation Sunday (May 7) offered FUMC the opportunity to wel-come nine new full members into our church. It was a great day to celebrate with these awesome young folks! On Mother’s Day (May 14) Pete and I swapped pulpits for the first time in a while and I had a great time being in the Sanctuary again! The Youth led worship on May 21 as we celebrated their leadership and the eleven (11!) high school graduates from our congregation. What a great day to honor these young adults and send them onto the next chapters in their stories!

I look forward to being in worship and ministry with you this month!

Blessings,

Pastor Dean

Photo credits: Confirmation Class – Jamie Funderburk; Seniors – Jennifer Philo

NOTHY TRIP TO TYLER

QUICK BITS

First UMC Financial Update

Please note these numbers are through April 30th

YTD Budget Receipts $ 322,328

YTD Budget Expenses $ 348,764

The Not Over The Hill Yet group will be taking a day trip to Tyler on Thursday, June 8. The trip will include a stop at the Tyler Rose Garden and Rose Muse-um as well as a visit to the Goodman-LeGrand House and Museum. Lunch will be at Traditions cafeteria. Because the Rose Garden & Museum are free to the public and the Goodman-LeGrand House is a small donation ($2/person) we will not be collecting the money in the church office and each person going on the trip will pay at the venue. How-ever, space is limited in the vehicle so reservations are required. Please make yours by calling 903-885-2185.

Dinner Bell Summer Volunteers We have great volunteers

that work year round at the

Dinner Bell. Summer vol-

unteers allow them to take

a well deserved break. To

learn how you can serve in

this ministry please contact

Sally Hamilton at 214-478-

3712. Thank you.

MEMORIALS & HONORARIUMS In Loving Memory of Reid Adrian By: Kay Clifton, Bill & Peggy Dietze, Phil & Beverly Morgan, F.L. & Patricia Ken-nedy, Andy & Sue Anders In Loving Memory of Shirley Balkcom By: Tom & Pam Sellers In Loving Memory of Cathey Bryant By: T.C. & Sally Hamilton, Steve & Elaine Rutherford, Roger & Jayne Stone In Loving Memory of Kellene Dawson By: Kay Clifton In Loving Memory of Faye Day By: Ursula Campbell, Bob & Ann Gide-on, Juanita Hammond, Lee Levine, Zel-ma McCullough, Coy & Patsy Johnson, Bob & Nancy Kirkpatrick, Bob Cody, Gregg & Debbie Price, Paul & Twan Bennett In Loving Memory of JoBeth Dickerson By: Bill & Peggy Dietze

In Loving Memory of Juanita Wallace By: Kay Clifton In Loving Memory of Kathy Hipkins By: Mike & Mary Ellen Hoybook, Bill & Peggy Dietze, Kay Clifton, Bob & Nancy Kirkpatrick, Bob & Ann Gideon, Paul & Cerita Glover, Betty Gideon, Phil & Beverly Morgan, Tom & Pam Sellers, Steve & Elaine Rutherford, Coy & Patsy Johnson, Roger & Jayne Stone, Mes-sengers Class, Ken & Bonnie Burtch, Waverly Club, JoAnn Johnson, Ursula Campbell, Brad & Kristy Johnson, Juanita Hammond, Lee Levine, Andy & Sue Anders, Bob Cody, Rex & Barbara O’Dell, Paul & Twan Bennett In Honor of Sharon Hughes By: Bill & Peggy Dietze In Loving Memory of Frank Rettmann By: Kay Clifton

CHURCH MUSICIAN SEARCH We are in search of a new church musician to assist in worship at First UMC. Below is a description of the position. If you know of someone that is qualified and would be interested, please share this with them and have them contact the church office.

Accompanist/Pianist needed for two traditional worship services (8:30am & 10:45am)

Weekly choir rehearsals (Wednesdays 6:30-8:00pm) Some additional duties include playing for weddings & funerals (when re-

quested-honorarium paid by family) Occasional accompaniment of Children’s Choir, accompaniment of soloists

& ensembles during worship (as needed).

I would rather be what God chose

to make me than the most glorious

creature that I could think of: for to have been

born in God’s thought, and then made by

God is the dearest, grandest,

and most precious thing in all thinking.

~C.S. Lewis

Do you have a favorite quote or scripture that

encourages you? Share it with us and we will

include them in future issues of The Spire.

THE MAILBOX Dear Ones,

You will never know how much we appreciate the fact that you take your time and use your talents to sing for us at Hopkins Place. We always look forward to having you continue doing so in the future.

Dorothy Mitchell Dodie Johnson

My time as music director at Sulphur Springs is coming to a close and I wanted to take an op-portunity to thank you for your warm wel-come and hospitality. You are a wonderful, singing church! I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with you. May God continue to bless your ministry.

Rev. Debbie Chapman

Thank you for the dinner and all the leftovers you sent home with us. We appreciate your help during our time of grief.

Deby Adrian

UPCOMING EVENTS

Watson Wedding June 3

NT Annual Conference June 4-6

Sulphur Springs Workcamp June 4-7

Camp Brave Heart June 8-10

NOTHY Trip Thursday, June 8

th @ TBA

Young at Heart Monday, June 19

th @

10:30am

SUNDAY SCHEDULE

Communion Service—8:30 am

Sunday School —9:45 am

Traditional Service—10:45 am

Ignite Service—10:45 am

Handbell Rehearsal—6:30 pm

WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE SonRise Men’s Group—6:45 am

Dinner Bell—11:45 am

DivorceCare—6:00 pm

M&M & Mini’s (Kids)—6:00 pm

UMYF (Youth)—6:30 pm

Choir Rehearsal—6:30 pm

Small Group studies

are offered in the

Spring and Fall

and follow the

school calendar.

Registration for

Fall 2017 groups

will begin

in late August.

NEW CHOIR DIRECTOR

Spencer Emmert is excited to be coming to First Church in Sulphur Springs. He is finishing his third year as the director of bands at Winnsboro ISD. He is responsible for directing the WHS Marching and Concert Bands and also teaches at Memorial Middle School.

Spencer previously spent 12 years as a director in Sulphur Springs ISD. He became the head director at Sulphur Springs Middle School in 2007 and also had extensive involvement at Sulphur Springs

HS. Spencer holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Henderson State University. While at Henderson, Spencer was named Outstanding Performer his Sophomore and Junior Years by the Ellis College of Arts & Sciences.

Spencer has also been the Music Director at First United Methodist Church in Quitman for the past 14 years. There, he directed the Chancel Choir, which grew from 18 singers to over 40 singers. Spencer also led all musical activities at the 11:00 service, served as a worship planner and leader, provided direction at all special services, and directed the handbell choir for four years. He has experience directing the community chorus for their community Thanksgiving services in Quitman and collaborating with Jarvis Christian College choral department as well.

Spencer is married to Christi who teaches Elementary Music in Sulphur Springs. Christi has served as children’s director, VBS organizer, and provided children’s moments in worship at FUMC Quitman. They live here in Sul-phur Springs with their three sons Bro-dy (10), Mitchell (8), and Chip (3).

Spencer also is a Texas UIL music judge and a frequent Region clinician for Texas Music Educators’ Association.

YOUTH NEWS jasondietze@ssfumc.org The Youth summer schedule is “fluid”.

Sign up for text notifications by texting @ssfumc to 81010 and don’t miss a thing.

(If you have trouble signing up you may try texting @ssfumc to 4423337430.

So...Jason is a little swamped getting Sulphur Springs Work Camp...and a

Dairy Festival float...and church camp set to go.

Keep him, the SSWC leadership team, the kids, the homeowners,

and the volunteers in your prayers June 4-7.

Upcoming Events: Camp Anakainoo 2017—June 19th-23rd Registration is now open for Camp Anakainoo 2017. We are very excited as it promises to be another great year. You can register online at www.campanakainoo.com.

Congratulations

to the

2017

Confirmation

Class

JUNE BIRTHDAYS June 1

Helen Wilemon Donna Williams

June 2 Roxanne Campbell

Merle Highfield Ken Santjer

June 3 June McGrede

June 4 Nita Bowers Pam Sellers

June 5 Charles Osborn

June 8 Nathan Braddy

Jimmy Jones Judy Moore

June 10 Andy Anders

Sunell Comfort Danielle Cooksey

June 11 Martin Braddy

Gene Sims June 12

Nicholas Braddy Carter Charlton

Charles Helm June 13

Lanell Gerald June 14

Chuck Jones Clayton Jones

June 15 Ken Burtch

Sarah Goggans June 16

Carol Allen Kacey Batterton

Allison Martin James Morgan

Abigail Williams

June 17 Sherry Baxter

Robert McGuire Fred Watson

June 18 Cindy Elder

Phil Morgan June 19

Craig Johnson June 20

Caroline Prickette Davis Toliver

June 21 Sheila Funderburk

Ross Funk Larry Willmann

June 22 Billy Crowson

Addison Graves Dean Libby

Anne-Michelle Penson

June 24 Ryan Humphries

Mary Frances Watson

June 25 Perry Altenbaumer

Jack Bridges Jennifer Philo

June 26 Amy Harden

Truman Wilkerson June 27

Leah Conner June 28

Billie Rushin Myra Watson

Bo West June 30

Nell Crowson Lee Hamner

Glenn Irvin Harleigh Stegient

PRAYER CONCERNS CURRENT CONCERNS Ty Funderburk Kathy Crowson Nell Crowson Sharon Hughes Sam Gilbreath Bear Littleton Beth Shurtleff Ann Gideon Caroline Spellman John Kramer Ambria McArthur Bonnie Gilmer Marge Morrison Madison Williams Perry Sandlin

Jean Marie Rowell Marjie Giger Deanna Anderson Bob Edgar Ida Martin Cannon Scroggins Robert Fisher Bob Patterson Suzanne Bramlett Hodges Family Rev. Al Davis Bill Johnson Rev. Gaither Day

LONG TERM CONCERNS Sandy Martin Becky Graves

Jackson Bouquet Duncan Graves Billie Couthran Joyce Libby Claude Philo Pam Clayton Christine Street Billie Rushin Don Carbonneau Bo West Imogene Jacobs Helen Gumm Savoy Tutt Henry Preuss Max & Sherry Baxter Van Bell

To keep our prayer list up to date, please contact the church office if you have updates on those who are listed here.

THE KIDS’ PAGE adriennelilley@ssfumc.org

Kids' Camp Fundraiser

Our campers are so grateful for your generous support. With your help, they

raised over $1500! This will go a long way toward helping our kids go to

Bridgeport. THANK YOU!

VBC: July 10-14 We're going to Rome this summer! Or at least we're turning the church into

Ancient Rome so our kids can experience the underground church with Paul.

To make this happen, we need your help! It takes about 50 people to bring

Vacation Bible Camp to life. Will YOU be 1 of the 50? Call or email Adrienne

to lend your hand to the set up, or as a family leader, or a marketplace shop-

keeper. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day!

Back to the Cross Thank you for supporting our children's musical! The kids did a GREAT job

and learned a lot about the power of the cross!