ALTAR FLOWERS The altar flowers this Sunday are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Margie and Allen Stiles by their son Dan. STEWARDSHIP

September ‘14 Giving General Budget/Rec’d 9/21/14 $ 6,193.

Budget Needs ( thru Sept.’14) $ 38,826.

Received Month –to-date $ 29,582.

YTD Budget Requirement (thru Sept.) $ 349,436.

Rec’d Year–to-date $ 354,825.

Worship Services Sunday September 28, 2014 8:30am-Traditional 9:00am-Contemporary Rev. Herb Flanders Rev. Herb Flanders

Scripture:Matthew 5:13-16 Topic: Life Preservers & Lighthouses

11:00am-Traditional Rev. Herb Flanders

VOLUNTEERS IN SERVICE ATTENDANCE Sunday September 28 September 21 9:00 AM GREETERS 8:30 21 Doug Head, Russ Head 9:00 83 11:00 AM USHERS 11:00 71 Youth Representatives Total Worship 175 ACOLYTES Lily Baity, Rachel Jordan YOUTH CHAPERONES Mark & Lauri Irvin

NURSERY VOLUNTEERS Jeremy & Amy Daniel

CELEBRATION OF THE ANIMALS SUNDAY, SEPT. 28, 2015-4PM IN THE WEST LAWN. (near the play yard).

Thomaston First

United Methodist Church 132 Cherokee Road, Thomaston, GA 30286

(706) 647-3335 Fax: (706) 648-2658 Website: www.thomastonfirstumc.org

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

TO WORSHIP GOD, TO PROCLAIM THE MESSAGE OF JESUS CHRIST,

TO WELCOME AND MINISTER TO ALL PEOPLE.

THIS Week at Thomaston First: Sept. 24-Oct. 1 WEDNESDAY 24 3:00 pm Wonderful Wednesday 5:30 pm-Church Supper & Devotions 6:30 pm- Fillingim Bible Study/Library 6:30 pm- Bible Study/Grace Café

FRIDAY 26 11:00 am Golden Ager’s Meeting/Social Hall

SUNDAY 28 8:30 am- Traditional Worship

9:00 am- Contemporary Worship

9:45 am- Sunday School

11:00am -Traditional Worship

3:00 pm Acolyte Training

4:00 pm Celebration of the Animals

5:00 pm-Youth Activities5:00 pm-Handbells

6:00pm- Chancel Choir Rehearsal

9A0

THE NAVIGATOR September 24, 2014 FROM OUR PASTOR HERB FLANDERS

Regina and I spent Sunday morning with the people of Lanier Church, the congregation we were blessed to start in 1989 and then serve for ten years. What a joy it was to walk on that ground and to hear stories of lives touched and souls changed in that community through that church. It was hard for me to wrap my mind around the passage of 25 years since that first worship service; sitting there, I had an even harder time imagining what the church might look like in another 25 years. As difficult as that mind exercise is, it’s surely worth the effort. What will Thomaston First be in 2039? Who will be here? What ministries will take place? How will worship be conducted? Will the pews or chairs be filled with children and youth? Or families? Or older folks? Will there be excitement for the future or will folks just be trying to hang on? I can’t really answer those questions today but I think asking them is important because it expands our thinking beyond this moment. It demands we wrestle with other questions, actually more important questions – What is the purpose of the church? What is our vision for our church? Why does the church exist? Why do people participate in church? Those are not nearly as easy to answer as they may at first appear. Answering these more important, more fundamental questions will go a long way toward determining what things actually look like around here in 25 years. Now that’s really something to think about . . .

God bless, Herb

Published Weekly by the First United Methodist Church 132 Cherokee Rd. Thomaston, GA 30286 Second Class Postage Paid at Thomaston Send Address Changes to : The Navigator, PO Box 707, Thomaston, GA 30286

UPCOMING EVENTS

COOKIES AND PRAYERS-With school back in

session, we are going to reach out to the teachers, staff, and faculty with our prayers and our cookies! Bring them to the church kitchen on Sunday September 28. We will

need volunteers on Monday September 29 to pack the cookies and deliver them. Don't forget to pray for our teachers and administrators who serve our community children. Any questions please call Regina Flanders (706-938-0735).

The JOY FM is sponsoring an evening of restoring hope and renewing relationships with the “Refine Us Tour”. Justin and Trisha Davis know all too well the dangers of settling for an ordinary marriage. Their “Refine Us”

tour is igniting a movement to build healthy marriages and families. We hope to get a group from our church to go grab some dinner and have a “date night”. It is WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 7PM, PEACHTREE CITY UMC. Tickets are $21. Please let the office(647-3335) or Amy Kelly know by Thursday morning (25th) if you would like to go. Hope you can go.

BIRTHDAYS September 24: John Williams, Jonathan Sandlin, Andy Rawls, Ansley Rawls, Shaw Daniel; 25: Wilma Hooper, Jenna Wilson; 26: Ricky Tucker, Bert Truesdale, Elise Delli-Gatti, Jackson Rogers; 27: Jane Varner, Kyle

Penny, Hallie Berryhill;28: Ginny Reddick, Stephen Anderson; 30: Ann Jenkins PRAYER CONCERNS OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL & MISSIONARIES

CURRENT REQUESTS: Wyna Watson, Angela Chambers , Al Langham, Florine Watson (requests prayers). FRIENDS AND FAMILY: Lamar Etheridge , Pat Jordan, Melissa Kirby, Jeanette Bedford, Beverly Irvin Dupree, David Stevens (friend of Siscels).Please pray for and send cards to him. He had a stroke in July, has no family in NC where he ‘s living. He will be moved within 30 days to his family in Indiana. Address-Libertwood Nursing Ctr, 1028 Blair St.,Thomasville, NC 27360.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES PAT DODSON

ACOLYTE TRAINING SESSION - This Sunday

All children interested in serving as an ACOLYTE- Are invited to meet, re-group and train for service.

SEPTEMBER 28 – 3:00pm – sanctuary just before the blessing of the animals. All children 2nd grade and older

(whether new or presently serving) and their parents are asked to attend so that we can know just how to prepare for

special days, communion, baptisms, Christmas, All Saints’ Day, etc. Each young person is needed and welcome.

NURSERY VOLUNTEER LIST: We ask each church family w/ children of any age who do not presently teach or serve with the band, to take a

turn caring for little ones. If you are not able, just let us know. Thanks 9/28 – Lance & Katie Ellington 10/5 – Anna & Laura Siscel;

10/12 – Lindsey & Judson Mathews; 10/19 – Jessica & Murray Deen

SUNDAY SCHOOL at 9:45am EVERY AGE IS WELCOME

WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY SNACKS Refreshment LIST: Dates arbitrarily chosen to allow each family to contribute the cookies and/or chips or about $15 for one week. Whichever is easiest for your family. Snacks may be brought any time before 2:00pm on Wednesdays (even the Sunday before if you wish). Church provides the soft drink. 9/24 – McKenzie, Campbell & Addison; 10/1 – Emma Kate & Karsen; 10/8 – Ellie Kay & Sydney Beth; 10/15 – Larkin & Cason; 10/22 – Anna Grace & Kaitlyn ; 10/29 – Brianna, Landon & Lilly; 11/5 – Madelyn & Kenneth; 11/12 - John & Zach

GETTING READY for FALL FESTIVAL -

OCTOBER 26 – 5:00pm If you are interested in helping work with us on a committee to plan Costume

Parade, Bingo game, cotton candy machine, donate pies or baked goodies, call for the cake walk, help organize the Trunk ‘N Treat contest prize awards, man the bouncy game or a corn hole tournament just let us know as soon as you can. Thanks

YOUTH NEWS JASON WEEMS

BELIEVING, LIVING OPENLY FOR GOD

September 22nd, 2014

!!!!THIS WEEK IS OUR FLAG FOOTBALL GAME AND TAILGATE!!!!

BE AT CHURCH SUNDAY NIGHT AT 5:00 We need youth USHERS this Sunday at the 11:00 service!

It has been one of those weeks that God has been working

heavily on me, chipping away the parts that are not producing fruit for His kingdom. My soul has seemed to be in

an unrest for some time, and with each day a new layer is pulled back and the pain comes, but the fresh new ways begin to grow, thus any amount of pain or discomfort, or uncertainty is wholeheartedly worth every second of this

wondrous process of each day becoming anew in Christ. It is in the still of prayer that I'm reassured this will be for my gain, it will be for the good of all those I come in contact

with, it will be another step in preparing my soul for a life of eternity with God. In all of this God has comforted my soul, even in the unrest i still knew HE was there with me, it was

then that I knew He was the closest to me, in my wondering and struggles I stand not alone, but am HELD by the one that

sustains my every breath. Oh praise you my God!

If trouble stirs your soul, rest in the fact that God is with you and holding you so ever tightly, it too will shine anew in due

time, TRUST in Him,

jason

EVENTS Youth each Sunday 5-7...

!!!!SEPTEMBER 28th.. FLAG FOOTBALL GAME ON THE FIELD!!!!

OCTOBER 18th Fright Fest!!! SIX FLAGS

Fall Festival