Lytle United Methodist Church P.O. Box 608

Lytle, Texas 78052-0608

(830) 772-3345

Lytleumc.com

Facebook.com/lytleumc

JANUARY 2018

Youth ―Homemade Lasagna‖ Fund Raiser

Sunday, January 28, 10 AM to 2 PM The youth Group will be hosting a Lasagna Dinner Fund Raiser on

January 28, from 10 AM – 2 PM. The money raised will go toward the

2018 Summer Mission Trip. Plates will consist of homemade Lasagna,

salad, garlic bread, and tea. Desserts will also be available. Dinner will be

served in the Fellowship Hall and you may choose to eat it there or take it to

go. Tickets are being sold ahead—but you can get the meals ―at the door‖

as well. For more information, talk to Nan Boyd or Diana Jackson.

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Leadership Retreat – Saturday, January 20

On Saturday, January 20, the church is hosting a ―Time of Reflection‖ open to everyone. This

leadership retreat will take place at the home of Glenn and Connie Norton from 9 AM to 4 PM, and will

include a free lunch. If you need child care (which would take place at the church) please call the church

office at (830) 772-3345. The outreach and In-reach activities of the church will be the focus, with the

object of setting goals for the coming year. All church leaders, or potential leaders, are asked to attend.

Let us, as a church, discern God’s will, and develop the plans needed to make God’s will for us a reality.

Adult Mission Trip February 2-3, Friday & Saturday

The Outreach Team is putting together another weekend mission

trip for adults. The date for this trip is February 2-3, Friday through

Saturday. We will be going to Refugio to help people affected by

hurricane Harvey. Please mark this date today and participate.

Methodist Food Pantry Fund Raiser

Dinner Theater and Silent Auction, April 7 & 8

Armed with a sharply judgmental attitude and a pair of binoculars,

homeowner Leona Crump is consumed with anxiety over her new

neighbors. Will they be California beatniks? Or paroled drug pushers? Or

more frightening yet, perhaps someone with children?! Her worst fears are

realized when an odd-ball "hill-folk" family move in across the street.

Adding to Leona's exasperation are her daily dealings with her

refrigerator-raiding neighbor Paul, the local real estate saleswoman, the mailman, an Avon lady, a police

officer, and a paper boy... all, she is sure, who were only put on this earth to annoy her.

This new dinner theater, a fund raiser for the church’s food pantry, will take place on Saturday

Night, April 7, at 6 PM and Sunday Night, April 8, at 5 PM, and will include dinner. There will also be a

silent auction each night – so think about what items you could donate for the food pantry ministry.

A sign-up sheet to volunteer to help with the play is posted on the church bulletin board. Rehearsals will

be on some of the Sundays in February and March. Please keep this ministry in your prayers.

Church Schedule January 7 - Epiphany Sunday. Youth Breakfast Tacos.

January 8, Monday - First United Methodist Women meeting of the year, at 2:30 PM at the home of Jeanice Farmer. All the ladies of the church are invited.

- Food Pantry, 6 to 7 PM.

January 12, Friday - Koinonia Emmaus Community gathering at our church. Singing starts at 7:30 PM.

January 13, Saturday - First team meeting for men’s Walk to Emmaus #4.

January 14 - Baptism of the Lord Sunday.

January 16, Tuesday - Trustees meeting at 7 PM.

January 20 - Church Leadership Retreat. 9 AM to 4 PM at the home of Glenn and Connie Norton. This will take the place of our regular January Outreach and In-reach meetings.

January 21 - Sanctity of Human Life Sunday.

January 22, Monday - Food Pantry, 6 to 7 PM.

January 23, Tuesday - Administrative Council and Finance meeting.

January 27, Saturday - Adopt a Highway Pick-Up Day. Meet at the church at 7:30 AM for breakfast tacos and a safety video, with litter pick-up afterwards.

January 28 - Faith Commitment Sunday. - Youth Lasagna Dinner Sales.

February 2-3 - Adult Mission Trip to Refugio for Hurricane Relief.

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Youth News

January 2018 January 21: Bonfire at the Boyd’s house. Meet at the church at 3:00 pm or you may be dropped off at the Boyd’s house at 3:15 pm. We will have a scavenger hunt and bonfire. We will return to the church at 7 pm or you may be picked up at the Boyd’s house at 6:45pm. January 27: We will put the lasagnas together for the Lasagna Dinner Sale on Sunday. We will begin after the Contemporary Worship Service and finish up by 8:30. If you haven’t tried the Contemporary Worship Service yet, this would be a good time to come and experience it!

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2

3

4

5

6 Contemporary

Worship Service 6:00pm – 7:00pm

7 U.M.Y.F.

At The Church

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

8

9

10

11

12

13 Contemporary

Worship Service 6:00pm – 7:00pm

14 U.M.Y.F.

At The Church

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

15

16

17

18

19

20 Contemporary

Worship Service 6:00pm – 7:00pm

21 U.M.Y.F

3:00pm – 7:00pm

At the Boyd’s

22

23

24

25

26

27 Contemporary

Worship Service 6:00pm – 7:00pm

Prepare for Lasagna Dinner

7:00pm – 8:30pm

28 Lasagna Dinner

after church

No U.M.Y.F

29

30

31

January 28: Lasagna Dinner to be served following the worship service until 2:00 pm. This is a fund raiser for the mission trip next summer. If you plan on going on the mission trip, then your help Is needed! No Youth Group that afternoon

February 9-11: Spiritual Retreat at H.E.B. Foundation Camp

June 23 – 30: Mission Trip to San Augustine County, TX.

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Youth Breakfast Taco Sales

Moving to 1st Sunday each Month

Communion Sunday and breakfast tacos sounds like a good combination—after

all, the last supper was a meal. The breakfast taco are made and sold by the youth group

in the fellowship hall after 9 AM worship to raise funds for their summer mission trip.

The next sale is this Sunday, January 7th. Come hungry and support our youth.

Worship in January (9 to 10 AM on Sundays)

Epiphany Sunday – January 7th

Baptism of the Lord Sunday – January 14th

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday – January 21st

Faith Commitment Sunday – January 28th

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M.A.D. Club Starts Again February 7 (Music, Art and Drama)

Our children’s ministry program, M.A.D. Club, went great in the

fall. Children from 2nd

grade through 5th

grade gathered every Wednesday

from 4 to 6 PM to do art projects, play games, eat snacks, and work on a

Christmas musical. This musical, called ―Counting Down to Christmas,‖

was about a children’s Christmas party at the home of math teacher Mrs.

Marlin, who shared the Christmas story as only a math teacher could. The

performance went great on December 6 and we thank all of you who came

to watch and to help support our newest ministry.

We will be having a spring session of MAD Club as well in 2018, again meeting on Wednesday

afternoons from 4 to 6 PM. It will meet from February 7 through April 4, with a musical performance

on April 4th

at 7 PM. Please get the word out to all the families you know, and we can always use

more volunteers. We need people to provide snacks at 4 PM, publicity, people willing to help with

art, a video/computer operator and people willing to help with music and drama. Help us reach the

children and families of our community with the Good News of Christ through M.A.D. Club.

SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY NEWS

Being a part of a small group Bible study is uplifting,

encouraging and fundamental to Christian growth. We have several

small groups presently meeting, including three on Wednesdays (at

the Bennets at 10 AM, at the Farmers at 6:30 PM and at the Martins at

7 PM). In addition we have Sunday morning groups and the United

Methodist Women, who meet once a month on the 2nd

Tuesdays at

2:30 PM. We also encourage you to start your own group. All it takes is someone willing to be a host.

The church will provide materials that are easily used or you can select your own study. If you are

interested in being part of an existing group, or starting one, please call the church at (830) 772-3345.

Adopt a Highway Pick-Up Day, Saturday, January 27 at 7:30 AM

Our church has adopted highway 463, starting from the Lytle water tower

and heading out beyond Lake Shore Estates, and we are responsible for

picking up litter four times a year. Our next ―Adopt a Highway Day‖ is

Saturday, January 27. We will meet at the church at 7:30 AM for breakfast

taco provided by the church. We will then head out to clean up as a service

to our community. We will be done before 10 AM.

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Children’s Sunday School Program Our children’s Sunday school program is ―VBS Style‖ where

the children rotate through three stations in groups that are age

inclusive (Kinder through 5th

grade) just like in our summer VBS

program. The first station is opening music, games and movie clips

which introduces the Bible story and Bible truth for the day. Then the

children move to the Bible Station where they ―dig-in‖ to the story and

the Bible truth. Finally they move to the third station for crafts and

other activities to drive the truth home. Bring your children so they

can take part in the fun and grow in their faith.

Thank you to all our Sunday school teachers for their dedication. We have classes for children, youth and adults, 10:15 to 11:15 AM.

New Contemporary Worship Service

The first three months of our new Saturday night contemporary service has been a blessing. Saturday

nights are a great time for folks who work on Sundays and for the younger crowd. The service features

uplifting and encouraging praise songs, prayer, and preaching from Pastor Scott Martin. Please get the

word out to anyone who might be attracted to a contemporary Saturday night worship service.

Tuesday Morning Prayer Group

at the Church, 9 to 10 AM

Please come and join the weekly one-hour prayer group, led by the

pastor, on Tuesday mornings. The group meets from 9 to 10 AM to

pray for those on the church prayer list, for the families of the church,

and for the city, the country and the world. OH GOOD… YOU’RE NOT BUSY

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Prayer Concerns Bethel Kay Bateman—recovering from knee surgery Linda Bahlmann—surgery rescheduled Nancy Burns

John Yorke—home from rehab after fractured hip Beverly Miller—broken leg, in wheelchair till March 2018 Summer Mathis—having heart tests Roger Meyer (Brent’s father)—cancer not responding to therapy, pray for wisdom of doctors Molly (Malcolm Brown’s daughter)—diagnosed with brain tumor, recovering from surgery Don Taylor (Linda Bahlmann’s nephew)—mass on back, waiting for biopsy results Lena (Debbie Pruett’s aunt)---aging, difficulty getting around Rose Thuman (Nan Boyd’s mother)—small stroke Nan Boyd—severe neck pain Terry Kray Chandler—brain tumor Wayne Morgan (Escalante brotherin-law)—return of lung cancer

Yolanda Garcia—hospitalized Roger Lockhart—on hospice Penny (Suzie Sollock’s aunt)—cancer, not responding to chemotherapy Dale Edwards (chemo buddy of Lisa Wells)—on hospice Tammy Yorke—recovering from extensive lung surgery Phyllis Mayhew—recovering from severe leg fracture Lee Craig (Linda Bahlmann’s brother)—COPD, now home Marsha Boener (Michelle Keith’s aunt)—breast cancer Marta Becerra (Lollie’s sister)--cancer Gwen Dominguez (Jim and Karla Dominguez’ niece)—stage 4 brain cancer Lisa Wells—on chemo again, good scan results Jay Bateman (Jack’s son)—mouth cancer

Dana Dominguez (health) and her mother Brenda Dominguez (stress and worry) Jean Rouse—breast cancer, hip surgery Rose Lynn—health, and for David Our missionaries serving in many nations Pastor Scott Martin and all the church staff and families For our nation and for the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ For persecuted Christians around the world For victims of human trafficking and for an end to human trafficking

Our Church Family Soldiers and Civilians Working with the Military

Ian Simons—Air Force

Ross Moffitt (Chris and Fred Brauchle grandson)—Air Force William Reichel—Army, in Germany

Forrest Keith—Kevin Keith’s son, Navy Kyle Pringle—Army

Josh Orbinati—Michele Brown’s nephew, Coast Guard Craig Wolf—Air Force

Jonathan Heiman—Navy Jon and Brianna Hartwig—Army, Jill Daggs’ daughter and son-in-law Joyce Biggs (George Bahlmann’s great-niece)

Emmaus News The Walk to Emmaus is a very special Christian retreat. Many of our church family have attended

and we would recommend it for anyone interested in deepening their faith. Men’s and women’s ―walks‖

are scheduled all year round, but our church is part of the Southwest Texas Koinonia Emmaus Community

that sponsors two of the walks, one for men and one for women, at Mt. Wesley in Kerrville. Men’s walk

#4 will take place May 3 through 6, and the Women’s walk #5 will take place in October. Applications

for being a ―pilgrim‖ on these walks, or any walk, are located in the church entranceway, or online.

For those who have already attended a walk, it’s time to start thinking about being part of a team.

Applications for being a team member can be found online, or can be obtained from the church office.

Team selection is right around the corner for the women’s walk in October, which our very own Michelle

Keith will be leading as lay director. Get your applications in. It is also time to start recruiting pilgrims to

attend the men’s walk in the spring.

The next Koinonia Emmaus gathering will be here at Lytle UMC, on Friday evening January 12.

Singing begins at 7:30 PM. If you would like more information about Walk to Emmaus, call the church

office or pick up a brochure from the information rack in the church entranceway.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Food Pantry Ministry

Our food pantry continues to help over 70 families twice a month. In January,

because of how the Mondays fall, the food pantry days are January 8 and 22. Our

workers have been terrific, but we can always use

more. Just come at 2:30 PM to help sack or at

5:30 PM to help prepare for the 6 to 7 PM rush. Thank you for

supporting the Methodist Food Pantry.

We would also like to thank the Community National Bank for

a nice monetary gift to the food bank, and for caring about the hungry

in the Lytle Area. We would also like to thank the City of Lytle for

providing food and money to the food bank from the very successful

Christmas hay ride held on Saturday, November 25th

.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Christmas Updates and Thanks!

Hanging of the Greens Thank you to all those involved in our Hanging of the Greens service (especially Irma Bayne and the

choir). The whole ―Hanging of the Greens‖ was wonderful, as was the reception afterwards.

Congratulations to our cookie contest winners: McKinzy Bazan, Zachary Davis, Summer Mathis,

Samantha Mathis, Jim Alexander and Diana Jackson.

The Angel Tree/Project Hope and the Christmas Offering The Angel Tree/Project Hope is bringing the light of Jesus Christ to more lives. 95 children (29 families)

were helped this year by our church—that’s over 300 presents! The church would like to thank all those

who took part in this important Christmas ministry of our church, including those listed below:

The Stewarts The Escalantes The Boyds The Kirk Jacksons Vicky Mathis

The Wells Family Gloria Johnson The Ralphs The Mathis Family The LaFonds The Nortons

The McMillans Betty McGinnis The Simons Family Emily Milam The Daggs

The Bob Wagners Chris Brauchle The Wanjuras The Martins The Baynes The Broaches

The Hendricksons The Keiths The Nolls The Gomez Family The Bennets

The Moores Terry Miles The Browns The Kyle Jacksons The Alexanders

The Dominguez Family The Morenos The Pruetts Rhonda Brown The Scotts

Linda Bahlmann The Villarreals and everyone else

Thanks also go to those who put together, worked as hosts, and provided cookies for our Angel Tree Open

House and ―Good News Walk-Though‖ on December 19th

and 20th

.

A big thank you as well to all those who gave to our Dec. 17th Christmas Offering for local missions.

Choir Sunday, December 17 Thank you to Irma Bayne and the choir for the beautiful music all through the Christmas season, but

especially for the special music on December 17. It truly was beautiful. Sopranos: Bethel Kay Bateman, Marty Bennett, Emily Milam and Debbie Pruett. Alto: Connie Norton. Tenor: David Lynn and Danny Ohlhausen. Basses: Carl Ernest and Jim Pruett. Accompanist: Annette Nixon.

Guy’s Group

The Guy’s group meets

regularly on Monday

nights from 7 to 9 PM at

the church for a time of

fellowship, mentoring, and

study. God calls us to

support and encourage one

another and everyone is

welcome. Dinner is

provided.

Thank You!!

To all who helped prepare

the church for Christmas.

Special thanks to Rose

Lynn for procuring all the

poinsettias. Thanks also to

all those who served with

such grace as church

leaders in 2017.

To My Church Family

I want to thank you for the beautiful

service you all did for Ernie. It was

perfect. It was an amazing tribute to him

and we were so honored and comforted

by your words.

Irma was my rock during this time and

has continued to be. She found the

perfect music. Ernie would have loved

it. My special thanks to Connie Norton

who sang my favorite hymn. I will

always cherish that music and the people

who made it happen.

We are so thankful for the food that

was prepared after the service. It

sustained us and gave us a fellowship

time with people who are feeling his loss

also. Thank you for doing this for our

family. Thank you for your prayers,

food, comfort and kind words. My

family and I are so grateful.

Betty Kroeger and family

UMW This month’s meeting of the

United Methodist Women will

be on Monday, January 8, at

2:30 PM at the home of Jeanice

Farmer. There will be a program

as well as a time for fellowship

and refreshments. A new year is

beginning and all the women of

the church are invited to be part

of the UMW. Call Linda

Bahlmann at (210) 837-0650 for

more details about this January

meeting.

The Creative Team

The Creative Team designs the

worship services and series and

we are always looking for new

people to be part of the team.

Our next meeting will be this

month.

Christmas Poinsettias From Jim and Kitty Alexander

in honor of Chris and John

Alexander and in in memory

of Ann and Larry Jackson

From Linda Bahlmann

in memory of George

Bahlmann and Iva Craig

From Chris Brauchle

in memory of Fred Brauchle

who is spending his first Christmas with Jesus

From John and Trisha Broach

in honor of Edith Broach

From John and Trisha Broach

in honor of Merna May

From Catherine Carroll

in memory of Alfred Carroll

and in honor of her kids and grandkids

From Ricardo Castillo in memory of

Encarnacion and Francisca Castillo

and Nikki Holley

From Felix and Becky Escalante

in memory of Tony G. Mendoza

From Felix and Becky Escalante

in memory of Marcelino, Fortunata, Antonio and

Ray Escalante and Dale, JoAnn and Ricky Honn

From Ruble and Jeanice Farmer

in honor of Scott and Linda Martin

From Ruble and Jeanice Farmer in memory of

Jeffrey Lee Farmer and Guy and Juanita Mayhew

From Ruble and Jeanice Farmer

in memory of Richard Chandler,

Alfred Lee Carroll and Arliss C. Britt

From Ruble and Jeanice Farmer in memory of

Jim Boone, John McGinnis and Joe Morrow

From Scott and Linda Martin

in memory of Ann Jones and Les Martin

From Scott and Linda Martin in honor of

Vera Martin, and John and Rachel Martin

From the Mathis Family

in loving memory of William Cogburn

From David and Lori Ralph

in honor of Bob and Garnett Wagner,

Carolyn Diedrich and Coy Ralph

From Billy and Linda Stewart

in memory of J.D. and Frenchy Grant

From Ann VanWinkle

in memory of Howard VanWinkle

and in honor of their children (Linda and Don)

From Lois Wanjura

in memory of Franklin Wanjura, Sr.

and Mr. and Mrs. James Mangum

From Pam and Franklin Wanjura, Jr.

in memory of Richard and Helen Wanjura

From Mike and Lisa Wells in memory of

Don and Barbara Smith

From Mike and Lisa Wells in memory of

Pat Wells and her parents

In memory of Ann and T.E. Williams

Strong Faith Produces Christian Action

Christian Action Produces Strong Faith Join us on January 28 as we listen to Jesus as He speak to us through the scriptures about the spiral of

faith: Faith produces action, action produces stronger faith, which produces more effect action, which

produces… During the service we will be invited to come forward to place a faith in action card on God’s

altar as we rededicate ourselves to growing in faith and action.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Backpack Ministry Thank you Thank you to all the people helping provide food to children and their families through the school

backpack ministry. Each week a backpack filled with food is taken to the school to help 14 families.

Thank you to all who help, and to Nan Boyd for coordinating this effort.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Trustee News and Thank-You’s

The Trustees have been very busy in the last part of 2017. Special thanks to trustees head Glenn Norton

and to Nan Boyd, who ramrodded through a number of projects, including getting bids for upgrading our

sanctuary sound system. We would like to bring your attention to some projects that were completed, and

thank some people who made it possible:

1. Thank you to Dustin Noll for installing a new faucet in the kitchen sink in the fellowship hall.

2. Thank you to Ricardo Castillo, and his assistant Steve Mathis, for replacing one of the parking lot lights

attached to the fellowship hall and fixing the external light at the food pantry.

3. Thank you to Kyle Jackson, and Connie Scott, for the planting of new trees in the Lytle Community

Cemetery (owned and run by our church), and especially for the new tree planted by the entrance to the

church parking lot. This tree is a memorial to our beloved Ruby

Reichel and a name plate honoring her will be installed next to it.

4. Thank you to all the trustees for the new air conditioning/heating

system for the Fellowship Hall. The old system, from when the

building was first constructed in 1994 finally gave up. In addition,

the capacity was increased from two 5 ton units to three. Good bye to

the ―hot times‖ we had at our interactive dinner theaters. A big thank

you to AlexanderDavid Mechanical who installed the system at great

savings to the church. They are a true blessing.

Please Join the Outreach or In-reach Teams The Outreach team is responsible for ―reaching out to our community and beyond to share the Good News

of Jesus Christ in word and deed,‖ and meets the first Tuesday of the month at 7:30 PM. The In-reach

team is responsible for ―welcoming people into this Body of Christ where we might all be filled with

God’s strength and vision,‖ and meets the first Tuesday of the month at 6 PM.

Please consider helping with one of these teams.

Our Church’s Purpose To reach out to our community and beyond to share the Good News of Jesus Christ

in word and deed, and to welcome people into this body of Christ

where we might all be filled with God’s strength and vision.