Bi-W

eekly

LIX

N

o. 14, Ju

ly 2

7, 2016

fait

h f

riendship

fellow

ship

follow

ers

hip

fru

itfu

lness

ww

w.first

sayyes.

com

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “I have a plan for your life,” says the

Lord. “A plan for good and not

for evil that I may give you a hope and future.” When

Jeremiah was inspired by God to write these words times were

difficult for the people of God. They had witnessed the fall of

their nation and they, as a peo-

ple, were scattered to the winds. These words must have

meant so much to people who were living in troubled times.

Sometimes people have a mis-

taken notion about God. They think that God is out to get

them, just waiting for them to

mess up and then God can pun-ish them. That couldn’t be fur-

ther from the truth. While God hates sin, God loves people

even more. That is why I love

the words: God’s plan for is for GOOD and not for evil. To be

sure evil is everywhere. But God is not the author of evil and He

doesn’t bring it upon our lives. When bad things happen to

people, God stands with us.

God forgives us, comforts us, loves us and draws us closer to

God’s self.

But the other part of Jeremiah is this…”to give you a hope and

future.” These words are signifi-

cant! God wants us to believe in the future, OUR future. This

could sound like bad news if we think the future is filled with

heartache, pain, suffering and sadness. Some could be cynical

and believe that life is never

going to get any better. Things

Firs

T are bad now and are only go-ing to get worse (could be

their motto). BUT I believe

differently! The Gospel (God’s good news) is that no matter

how bad things may be now, there is always HOPE! There is

an UP to our down. There is a way through when we get

stuck. There is a light in the

darkness.

We can live a few days without water. We can live a few

weeks without food. But how long can we really live without

HOPE!

All throughout the New Testa-ment people are encouraged

to hold onto hope. To believe

in hope. To LIVE with HOPE!

Romans 15:13 is an incredible

verse of blessing. I would in-

vite us to begin praying this verse over our lives, our fami-

lies, our community, nation and world. Pay particular at-

tention to the word hope:

May the God of hope fill you

with all joy and peace as you

trust in him, so that you may

overflow with hope by the

power of the Holy Spirit.

Don’t lose heart. Don’t give up

HOPE! God is with us and God is for us. Our peace and joy

are not dependent upon every-

thing going right in our lives. But when we are right with

God the future unfolds with hope. See you at the “hope”

place this weekend! ~jimd.

A FA FUTUREUTURE WITHWITH HOPE!HOPE!

The window to the right is “The Jesus Window” from First Church Downtown. Every week since the 1940’s this window

greeted worshippers who came together to praise God. A woman in our church would go on adventures with Jesus when she

looked at this window. She related that she would imagine going on Bible adventures with Jesus as he took her through the door to

places across the landscape of Scripture. SO WE are doing the same! These next several weeks we are

Journeying Through the Door with Jesus. Join us for this fun and faith filled message series. See you soon!

EEXPLORATORYXPLORATORY BBUILDINGUILDING TTEAMEAM ISIS CCONTINUINGONTINUING WORKWORK Your Building Team is con-tinuing to meet and gather information regarding re-building at our Downtown site. We are grateful for your prayers and your in-put. We are at a stage now of inviting architects to look at our ideas and help us devise a plan to bring to the congregation. With this we are looking at space to accommodate existing ministries and ministries which could emerge in the future. RISE UP!

HEARTBEATS

31 Days of Prayer Opportunities

During the month of August, join hundreds of Christians all over the nation praying for Haiti Orphans. Prayer guides will be available on the Welcome Center; online at www.strongtowerorphanage.com; and on Strong Tower Orphanage’s Facebook page. When we pray, all things are possible.

VVOLUNTEERSOLUNTEERS

NEEDEDNEEDED ~If you would be interested in occa-sionally helping to run sound or computers for the weekend ser-vices, please contact the church office (827-2993) or Rodney Iuchs. Training is available. ~Would you be interested in being a part of the team delivering altar flowers following the 11:00 a.m. service to First Church shut-ins, nursing home residents, etc.? For more information or to volunteer please call Liz Rooks, 660-281-3333.

CCHILDRENHILDREN’’SS

SSUMMERUMMER

SSUNDAYUNDAY SSCHOOLCHOOL Children’s Summer Sunday School began June 5. For 13 weeks (June, July & August) all 2nd, 3rd & 4th Grade Children’s Sunday School Classes meet together in the Friendship Hall during the 9:40 a.m. Sunday School hour. Come be a part of the fun!

Our Children’s Church is held every Sunday at 11 a.m. It starts in the Sanctuary with their families and then they will be excused after the offering to go to the Castle Room (4 & 5 Year Old Room.) It is for ages 4 yrs—4th Grade. Madalyn Cramer is our Sunday School Teacher. For confidential, spiritual, and emotional support in a 1-on-1, caring relationship, contact a Stephen Minister at 620-4484. We still have openings in our Carpenter’s Kids after-noon Preschool Class for 4-Year Olds. It meets Monday, Wednesday and Fridays from 12:30 to 3 p.m. beginning Sep-tember 7th at the Celebration Center. Cost is $85 a month. Call the church office (827-2993) or stop by the church of-fice for enrollment forms.

BBACKACK TOTO SSCHOOLCHOOL PPRAYERSRAYERS FORFOR OUROUR CCOLLEGEOLLEGE SSTU-TU-DENTSDENTS On the weekend of August 6-7 we will be praying for our college stu-dents as they head back to classes. We would love to get your addresses so we can stay in touch with you. Please feel free to send your contact information to: beckyr@firstsayyes.com

PPRAYERSRAYERS FORFOR OUROUR

CCHILDRENHILDREN ANDAND

YYOUTHOUTH On the weekend of August 13-14 we will pray over our children and youth as they return to school. In each of our services we will pray for kids, teachers, administrators and staff of our area schools. We still have a little summer left, but we want to start off the school year with prayer support of our kids and families.

RREFRESHINGEFRESHING

SPACESSPACES We are in the process of remodeling and refreshing some areas of our fa-cility. If you would like to help, please contact Jim at 827-2993. We would love to have your assistance. Light construction, painting, cleaning and design needed. Thanks!

Our regular Sunday evening Youth MPact meetings are in recess for the summer. In place of that time we have other opportunities to stay connected with our youth. On Fri. Aug. 5 (Movie Night), our youth will be watching Woodlawn in the eYESee Theater from 7 to 9 p.m. On Wed. Aug. 10, our youth will go fishing from 1 to 4 p.m. You can pick up a Youth Summer Events flier from the church (at

youth room doorway cubby). Join us!

Youth Summer Events

July 31 Dorothy Bass, Anne Imler, David Miller, Vicki Weaver, Jeremiah Lentz Aug. 1 Vanessa Davis, Sheryl Lazenby, Don Luper, Jr., Shelby Pummill, Eunice Seek, Edward Stewart, Mariah Alverson, Garrett Stratton Aug. 2 Jennie Cheffey, Don Beyer, Michelle Gerken, David Woolery, Easton Hewett, Tracy Harms Aug. 3 Matthew Doty, Chaundra Shults, Glenda Gleason, Melvin Cramer, Katherine Kruckow, Mike Pomajzl, Linda Semler, Katherine Sisemore, Paige Zinck, Desiree Mallory, Alexis Mateja, Brady Roy, Doug Wirt, Kerry Boh-ling, Rick Chambers, Madison Hesseltine, Carla White Aug. 4 Dan Homan, Bryce Paxton, Claraisse Tackett, Isaac Schroeder, Lisa Baker Aug. 5 Michelle Ferguson, Martha Morton, John Schwartz, Chelsea Turner, Jimmie Welch, Austin Gerken Aug. 6 Reva Woodward, Sandy Goff, Kory Gonzales, Joyce Williams Aug. 7 Kimberly Buescher, Zachariah Wagenknecht, Jennie Rode-wald, Sean Doogs, Jason Price, Ty Hart, Buck Lynn, Ty Barth-Fagan, Joshua Mattson-Gilmore, Katie Wurtz, Pete White Aug. 8 Joseph Snelling, Carmen Amren, Jim Richwine, Cole Remington, Mary Hart, Gayle Oehrke, Dylan Schilb, Kenric Washburn, Todd Pettigrew Aug. 9 Amy Gibson, Marshall Nicely, Andy Beyer, Brad Kumpf, Pam May, Dan Smith, Ahfton Rupe Aug. 10 Stepha-nie Moore, Kent Miller, Peggy Blake, Mikayla Wiley, Lily Cassidy Aug. 11 Judy Ragan, Ryan Gerrish, Mark Willadsen, Laura Darrah, Tom Dugan, Claudia Ir-win, Joshua Kroeger Aug. 12 Drake Remington, Julie McQuade, Jeanne Schwartz, Wanda Trauschke, Trinity Engles, Patrick Zeisset, Wyatt Schroeder Aug. 13 Ashley Wasson, Emma Pettigrew Leadin

g p

eople

to a

n a

cti

ve f

ait

h i

n J

esus C

hri

st.

FIRST STEPS

July 16-17, 2016 Sunday School 112

Worship 677

July 23-24, 2016 Sunday School 102

Worship 697

Our Family

Our Prayers for: Betty Rose Thompson, Steve Emory, Darlene & Virgil Burgess, Kenneth Bur-gess, Sue Coleman, Jacob Gerken, Annabell Hackman, Clifford Smith, Jennie Chef-fey, Glenda Horne, Kristina Johns, Sandy Smith, Leo-nard Craig, Steve Goldsmith, Mary Matz, Cansata Arnold, Lois Meisner, Jim Richwine, Our Military Families, Strong Tower Haiti Orphanage, and our covenant churches in Mozambique. Please be sure to notify the church office (827-2993) if you are in the hospital. We would love to visit or pray with you. Our hearts go out in Chris-tian love and sympathy to the family of Dale Kearney. Dale Kearney died on July 16, 2016.

WWEE CCELEBRATEELEBRATE THETHE DDAYAY YOUYOU WWEREERE BBORNORN If your birthday is not listed, please let us know so it can be added!

STO HSTO HAITIAITI MMISSIONISSION OOPPORTUNITYPPORTUNITY If you are interested in being a part of a mission team traveling to Strong Tower Orphanage in Caracol, Haiti, November 4-12, 2016, please visit www.strongtowerorphanage.com, or contact Krista Corbett at ei-ther tatacorbett@gmail.com or by phone at 660-287-3702. The minimum age requirement is 16, and those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult relative. The deadline to submit an application, background check and a deposit of $150 is August 15, 2016. The purpose of our mission is to al-ways explore God's heart for the orphan, while sharing the love and grace of Christ with everyone we meet. During this mission, we'll also attend worship at Church of the Redeemer, do some light electrical work, explore micro-financing in Caracol, and hold medical clinics (medical personnel is filled at this time). Please pray and seek God's will for you!

PPRAYRAY FFIRSTIRST Our ministry, Pray First, is an effort to lead each one of us into a deeper relationship with Christ through a lifestyle prayer. Everyone is invited to come to the sanctuary at the Celebration Center for prayer and worship from 6:00-7:00 a.m. and 6:00-7:00 p.m. the first week of each month and following the first Saturday evening worship. Our next dates are August 1st thru 7th.

TTHANKHANK YYOUOU:: (On display at Welcome Center Bulletin Board) We received a thank you from: JoAnn Lambirth

We will be reporting

Finances monthly.

YEsToday Bookstore Hours:

Sat. 4-7 pm Sun. 8-11am

Celebration Center, 1701 W. 32nd St Worship //Saturday 5:30pm //Sunday 8:35am 9:45am // 11:00am // & 12:30pm Listen on the Radio at 1490AM Sundays 10:05am or on our Website at www.firstsayyes.com (messages) Email us at email@firstsayyes.com Phone // 660.827.2993

First United Methodist Church Office: 1701 West 32nd Street

Sedalia, MO 65301

Non-Profit Organization

US POSTAGE PAID

SEDALIA, MO 65301

Permit #208

FirsT

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

EENDND OFOF SSUMMERUMMER PPOOLOOL PPARTYARTY

ANDAND FUNFUN ININ THETHE PPARKARK!! On Sunday, August 7th, everyone is invited to a pool party at Centennial Park from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Please feel free to bring fin-ger foods to share and then join in the water fun! This is our end of summer celebration and a good excuse to get together as a church family! We will have games for people who prefer not to swim. Let’s all get together!!

2016 L2016 LAKEAKE CCREEKREEK CCAMPAMP MMEETINGEETING

July 31-August 7, at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday Morning Services, July 31 and

August 7, at 9 a.m. Vacation Bible School

August 1-5, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Check out the schedule located on the bulletin board at the Celebration Center (behind the rock wall fountain). On Wednesday, August 3rd, First UMC praise team will be leading worship and Pastor Jim will be preaching. Take hwy 50 east toward Smithton. Turn right on hwy W into Smithton and continue south on W about 10 minutes to Lake Creek Rd. Turn left and you will see Lake Creek UMC on the right. Hang a left through the gate and down the hill to the camp

ground. Come join in the longest running camp meeting this side of the Mississippi!