January 1, 2018

Worship with Us

Sunday

10:00 a.m. - Sunday School

11:00 a.m. - Worship Service

5:00 p.m. - Jr. High Youth

6:30 p.m. - Youth Snack Supper

6:30 p.m. - Sr. High Youth

Wednesday

5;15 p.m. - Children’s Choir Rehearsal

5:45 p.m. - Wednesday Night

Dinner

6:30 p.m. - Gravity / Youth

6:30 p.m. - Children’s Bible Study

6:30 p.m. - Adult Bible Study

6:30 p.m. - Chancel Choir Rehearsal

Phone: 903-389-2225 www.fumcfairfield.org

Pastor

Dr. Richard Heyduck

Youth Director

Scott Grow

Director of Music

Mykle Ann Wright

Organist

Cynthia Outlaw

Secretary

Tonya Roberts

Noah's Ark Director

Cynthia Outlaw

The Staff of

First UMC Fairfield

First United Methodist Church

The Servant Charging into the New Year

How do you evaluate 2017? As a nation, it’s been a tough year. We’ve had multiple devastating hurricanes, including Harvey wiping out so much just to our south. The fires in California have ravaged that state. We know our local economy will be taking a hit with the closure of Big Brown. Our conflict with nuclear-armed North Korea keeps escalating.

Looking more narrowly, at what’s been happening here at the church, we see many positive signs. We’ve had new people join us. We’re getting clearer about our mission of “making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” Even as Bishop Scott Jones has called the churches of the Texas conference to “love all God’s children,” we’ve been expanding our children’s ministry.

Our mission outreach continues as well. We’re feeding the hungry, taking supplies to the homeless, building wheelchair ramps, visiting those in nursing homes, and doing storm recovery work in Houston.

If you haven’t heard, we have a Task Force working with our Trustees to do work around our church properties. Though we still have to get outside professionals to do some things, the Task Force has saved us thousands of dollars.

Financially, we’re stronger than we have been. Because of your generous and obedient giving, we’ve made a significant dent in our debt, paid off our apportionments, and are meeting the financial needs of our current ministries.

Going into the New Year, we have some things to work on.

First, we still have much work to do in fulfilling our mission of making disciples. One way to measure how we’re doing (and there are several methods) is to consider how many of our people are active in worship, in personal growth, and in service. Considering Sunday morning worship attendance, we’re doing better than a couple of years ago, but we’re currently plateaued. We have 488 members – and our average attendance is 173. We also need to work on helping our people get into small groups where they can be in face to face discipleship relationships. We also need more people to step out in ministry. If we want more people to be involved in small groups, we’ll obviously need more leaders. We also need more who will invest in the lives of our children. That investment will take us outside the building and into the schools.

Second, if our disciple making work only deals with those already on the inside, we’re missing the boat. We need to put more work into building relationships with and inviting them into the life of the church. Some will come in through attending Sunday worship. Others will come in through one of our groups or classes. Still others will come in by joining in a ramp build or other mission project. (continued on next page)

(Continued from previous page) Third, we need to keep trusting God in the area of finances and being generous in our giving. As we grow, we have more expenses. For some of us, giving has become easy with years of practice. For others of us, learning to give is more of a challenge. Chances are, God will be calling all of us out of our comfort zone in this area (and others).

Finally, we need to work on our relationships. Jesus said that the world would know that we are his disciples by the love we have for one another. We’ll need to set aside gossip and backbiting, and take up ways of encouragement. We’ll need to be up front when we’ve been hurt and open ourselves to the reconciling ministry of the Holy Spirit.

I’m expecting 2018 to be a great year for us – a year in which we see God do new things and in which many

come to faith in Christ! I’m praying for you and your family to experience firsthand a fresh outpouring of the

December was a busy month for the music department. I am so proud of the volunteers we have and everything they do for our music ministry.

We will take a break and resume all music rehearsals the week of January 8th.

We are still in need of bell ringers and a piano accompanist. Please be in prayer for these people to step forward.

Thank you for being such a supportive church family! Happy New Year,

Mykle Ann

Asher Young, Luke Morgan and Owen Grow

Welcome to our Church Family Ralph & Cindy Hale

Jason, Brady, and Logan Williams were baptized December 24. Jason joined the church on profession of faith.

Sunday Servers Dates December 31 January 7 January 14 January 21 January 28

Acolytes

Anderson Cruce Luke Cruce

Chance Herren Brady Williams

Dafne Haigler Rhett Ralstin

Lydia Morgan Lily Steward

Mason Copeland Cole Coufal

Lay Readers

Bob Anderson Kevin Benedict Cameron McVeay Ellen Jones Robbie Robertson

Ushers January: Dick White, Bobby Daniel, Chad Morgan, Maurice Burleson

OFFERING

December 3 December 10 December 17 December 24

$ 11,204 $ 5,389 $25,028 $ 2004

Estimated Monthly Expenses $40,000 to $45,000

Total $43,625 (as of printing)

Happy Birthday!

Date Name(s)

1/1 Stephen Summersill

Gilbert Gatlin

1/2 Robin Davis

1/3 Chris Horton

Olivia Hughes

Richard Davis

Cale Myers

1/4 Brenda Farber

Carolyn Robertson

Summer Moore

Beverly Awalt

Guy Ward

1/5 Candice DeFriend

1/6 Scott Schick

Hayden Hill

Date Name(s)

1/7 Alicia Berger

Betty Milligan

Liz Thornton

1/10 Bob Whiteman

1/11 Karen Sims

1/13 Sherry Burns

1/17 Greg Sims

1/18 Barbara Anderson

1/19 Robbie Robertson

1/20 Carolyn Newberry

Harry Moore

David James

1/23 Jordan Myers

1/24 Clay McKee

Daniel Filis

1/25 Grace Wathen

Date Name(s)

Jared Schlabra

1/26 Matt Mooneyham

Nick Mooneyham

Leonard Isaacs

1/27 Colbie Cherry

1/28 Brayden McKee

Rosemary Whiting

Joe Bond

Seth Anderson

Jerrod Broussard

1/30 Will Fernandes

Barbara Bass

1/31 Vicky Cheek

Caleb Wilson

Ellen Jones

That's right, as previously mentioned, registration for summer camp 2018 is already open! We will be at-tending week 4, July 8th-14th, and you can register online at https://lakeviewmcc.org/summer-camp/parents/. Once you register make sure to chose pay by check and then let Julie Myers or Scott Grow, scott@fumcfairfield.org, know that you have registered so we can keep you informed of fundraisers and pass along important information to you as we get closer to time for camp.

If you have multiple kiddos going, or think you might need some help covering costs for summer camp, it is important for you to register now so that you will then be able to apply for scholarships through the camp. These scholarships are limited so make sure to register early if you think this will be a need!

If you have a student in 6th-12th grade who has not been through confirmation class and would like to find out more information, contact Scott Grow at scott@fumcfairfield.org. You can also mark your calendar to join us for our introductory class on either January 7th or 14th at 12 p.m. (lunch will be provided).

Memorials & Honorariums

Gifts to Capital/General Building Fund

In memory of Jean Born by Judy Wardle

In honor of Janie & Burt Richards at Christmas by Hugh & Bitsy Stone

In honor of Jan Collins by Donna Senter

In honor of the Birthday Girls by Jean Galley

**Remember to indicate the person or persons for whom your memorial or honorarium is dedicated and to what fund it is to be

credited: General, Capital Building, Choir, Youth, Music, etc.

Thank You From Angel Tree

Thank you for your support of Angel Tree 2017. We provided a brighter Christmas for 33 families with 78 children this year. The parents and guardians of the Angels you adopted expressed their heartfelt appreciation to you as they picked up presents for their children.

Society of St. Stephen 4thQuarter 2017

We have been able to help individuals in need through our Society of St. Stephen Fund again this quarter. Assistance was given in the following ways:

Electricity 8 individuals - totaling $1,362.84 Rent 3 individual - totaling $1,136.26 Water 2 individuals - totaling $ 194.28

Total 13 individuals $2,693.38

Dear Church Family,

We would like to take a minute to reflect and say “Thanks Again” for all the love and prayers sent our way this past year.

We have been showered with delicious food, cards, calls, visits and so many kind and uplifting words. We are truly blessed with a wonderful church family and we are thankful for each one of you.

We would like to wish everyone a “Very Merry Christmas” and “A Blessed 2018.”

We miss all of you and hope to see you soon. Love to all, Jimmy & Paula Clark The Banks Family and The Pickens Family

College Care Package Thank You

Thank you for reaching out to the college students in our church. Your thoughtfulness while they studied their fall finals was appreciated. If you missed adopting a college student this time, look in late April as our college kids prepare for spring

finals.

Nurture Committee

WEDNESDAY, January 3rd, NOON

If you’re over 50, bring a covered dish and join others for lunch in the

Fellowship Hall. You don't have to be a member of FUMC to attend. Bring a friend!

Winning People

One of my fundamental convictions is that everyone is winnable. “How unrealistic,” many of you would say. I’ll reluctantly agree with you. But so what? Why should I value being realistic over considering people winnable?

In John 4, we see Jesus “wasting” his time on a Samaritan woman. She wasn’t just a Samaritan woman; she also showed signs of being on the margins of Samaritan society. Surely Jesus, committed to realism as he was, would spend his time with Jews. As a man who knew his own culture, he’d also skip women altogether. Men weren’t supposed to associate with unrelated women. Much better for him to spend his time with Jewish men. At least they’d be winnable.

Surprise of surprises, Jesus wins the woman. That’s not the end of the story. By winning the woman, Jesus wins her whole town.

Too often we Christians don’t think like Jesus. We look at various populations and mark them as unwinnable. I could ask, How do we know they’re unwinnable, but let’s try another question. What is God’s attitude toward them? If what we read in the Bible is true, if the basic claims of the Christian tradition are true, if Jesus died for the sins of all , that is, what would God say about their winnability? Obviously too tough? Those pagan ancestors of ours, the ones who martyred the first generations of Christian missionaries, they were winnable, but not these folks now? I have trouble imagine God saying that.

So what do we do if we come to believe all are winnable? Here’s what I do:

1.I assume that God calls me to love my neighbor as myself. If Jesus’ definition of “neighbor” from his parable of the Good Samaritan is taken as the standard, then the neighbor I am to love is the one who stands in need of love.

2.I have to treat people with respect. If I’m going to treat people with respect, it means they’ll be more than objects. I’ll need to converse with them and get their feedback. I may have to change my ways.

3.I have to take things for the long haul. Some people will be won over easily and quickly. Some can take years – even a whole lifetime (or more). If I love people – and consider them winnable – I’ll have to take the time.

4.I need to be part of a team. For me, the most important “thing” I want to win people to is allegiance to Jesus and his kingdom. Other things – politics, sports, cuisine – these things matter to me, but not enough to let them get in the way of the more important thing. I need people on my team who share my allegiance to Jesus and seek to join in my disciple-making efforts.

5.I final thing I need to do: I need to change. John Wesley, the chief guide of the Methodist movement, wrote of a continual need for “repentance in believers.” I can’t be happy with my current state, but need to continually submit myself to the work of the Holy Spirit. More painfully (sometimes), I need to submit myself to the work of the Holy Spirit through other people, maybe even people I don’t want to listen to.

What about you? Do you think other people are winnable? Is anyone willing to serve on the team to win them with me?

Adult Bible Study is starting I Corinthians on January 10th. Wednesday Night Activities will resume Wednesday, January 10th at their regular schedules.

STRENGTH AND ENCOURAGEMENT

Michelle Adams

Patsy Ahlfinger

Katie Anderson

Sharon Anderson

Dale & Eunice Barker

Prissy Bautista

Debbie Blair

Joe Bond

Billie Bond

James Bosman

NeKeisha Chin

Eleanor Clark

Jimmy & Paula Clark

Juliette Coleman

Bill & Jan Collins

Sheri Cuba

Julie Curington

Shelia Dove

Arthur Griffin

Debbie Hamilton

Luke Harris

Bob & Frances Henley

Nick Henley

Mary Heyduck

Reed Jackson

FUMC PRAYER MINISTRY

Gina Jameson

Betsy Keller

J.B. Mason

Randy Mitchael

Sue Montgomery

Harold Moore

Nancy Nichols

Margaret Orand

Oliver Osborn

Chris Perona

Carolyn Robertson

Judy Schick

Gwen Schlabra

Vito Schlabra

Larry Smith

Lester Smith

Mary Smith

Jerry Speed

Jesse Terry

Carolyn Thorne

Gary Toothman

Megan Turner

Keith Wedige

Bill Whitson

PERSONS IN LOCAL NURSING HOME FACILITIES

Jeane Beasley

Claudine Gibbs

Edith Gillen

Norma Helm

Don McLeod

Bob Pearson

Eva Beth Shinn

THE MEN AND WOMEN SERVING IN OUR ARMED FORCES

Ryan Aiken

Dalton Barker

Daniel Barker

Damon Box

Jordan Burton

Robert Cortez

Brandon Cruce

Kyle Grecu

Brady Jackson

Chris Marr

Brandon Read

Ty Salazar

Mike Steward

The worship services are available on CDs. Worship CDs may be picked up at the church office. If they are not available,

please tell the church secretary and she will make sure you get one.

Sermons are available for listening on the Church web site: www.fumcfairfield.org/media/sermon-audio

Breakfast Sunday, January 14th 7:30 a.m., Fellowship Hall

First United Methodist Church 201 North Mount Street Fairfield, Texas 75840 903-389-2225 www.fumcfairfield.org

Non-Profit Organization

Bulk Rate U.S. Postage

PAID

Fairfield, TX

Return service requested

Time value mail please expedite

We thank God for………………….

January 10 Chicken Piccata 17 Braised Beef Roast 24 Baked Tacos 31 Honey Sriracha Chicken

February 07 Chicken Pot Pie 14 Pasta Carbonara 21 Chicken Fajita 28 Meatloaf

“Upcoming Sermons?”

Dec. 31 - "Why Bother?" Jan. 7 - "Why Baptism?" Jan. 14 - "Why Forgive?" Jan. 21 - "Why Suffering?" Jan. 28 - "Why Faith?"

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

January 2018

to show Your love!

TUESDAY January 23 How’s the weather so far? Cold? Or is it regular Texas weather? Up one day and down the next? Don’t let our praise of God be that way! Tell Him you will love and serve Him everyday! The weather doesn’t affect His love for us! Can’t we be the same? Yes!

WEDNESDAY January 24 Half way through this week - and God is still taking care of us - His children! Has He ever not taken care of us? If you think back - I believe you will remember His constant care - even when, you didn’t realize the time! How good He is praise His name!

THURSDAY January 25 Do you enjoy devotional books? I do! My children send me so many! I try to read them all each day, but I do better rotating them! I get blessing from each one! If you don’t have any try Max Lucado or Billy Graham or Streams in the Desert by L.B, Cowman (the new one!) God does bless us in so many ways thank Him now!

FRIDAY January 26 Not many days left in this first month of this new year! Do today what you said you’d do 26 days ago! Add a promise to God to lean harder on His love and then do it! He has broad shoulders that will hold us all! Please God, please!

SATURDAY January 27 Oh our Dear God– stay with us as we get older in your love - show us what we need to do for You and give us the strength and love we need to witness for You! Thank You oh our God!

SUNDAY January 28 Ah! Sunday - a day to be in our Lord’s house! Oh God if you can’t see us there you can look in our hearts to find yourself. Thank You Lord for under-standing our frailties. We love You so! Yes!

MONDAY January 29 As we near the months end, Lord we ask to be for-given for the times we’ve failed to do Your word and work! Please forgive us and hold us closer to You as the months go by! We praise Your name, oh God - Yes!

TUESDAY January 30 This month has just “flown by!” Has it flown by so fast that we’ve forgotten our Lord and Saviour? We pray today that we may forget lots of things, BUT NEVER - that God Loves and cares for us! Thank You our Lord and Saviour.

WEDNESDAY January 31 This month as we’ve sung praises to our God, and prayed for His good qualities to be seen in our lives, let’s also thank Him for wiping the tears from our eyes, that we’ve shed as we’ve humbled ourselves before Him! Thank You oh our God - thank You! Amen!

MONDAY January 1 Another New Year! Isn’t God good to us to keep giving and giving us years and days to praise His Holy Name? Yes - so praise Him now for all of His goodness and love toward us! He’s always with us even when we can’t feel His touch. Thank Him now for all He does for us! Yes! TUESDAY January 2 Oh God, sometimes we think things are all going wrong, but keep us to always remember that YOU are in control and You will take care of us - your children! Thank You oh our God! Yes - and we praise Your name - daily!

WEDNESDAY January 3 Do you think about your God only on Sundays? Do you forget that He loves us as much on Wednesday? Pray to-day that you will KNOW in your heart that your God loves and cares for you everyday of your life, oh what a fantas-tic fact! Thank You for being our God!

THURSDAY January 4 Some of us are lucky (especially as we get older!) That our children live close by! Not all of us have the privilege of being near our loved ones! Thank God in prayer today that you will love them as God loves You! Sound hard? Probably - but ask our God for this love - Praise Him now!

FRIDAY January 5 Oh Dear God, today we pray (again!) that you will give us the patience with others that You have with all of us! Help us Lord to emulate all of Your good-ness! Be with us Lord - - - keep loving , patient and forgiving! You do all of this for us - could we do less for others? Help us Lord!

SATURDAY January 6 Do we try to live as God wants us to? Today, put forth a special effort to please Him in all you do! It won’t be easy, but if we remember from whom our help comes!! Please God - stay with us!

SUNDAY January 7 Today in church say a special prayer for someone sitting near you - a teenager - a parent - a visitor - a stranger - please God help us to always pray for others to know You! Please!

MONDAY January 8 Do others disappoint you by their actions? Remem-ber - we disappoint our God by what we do - too! Forgive others as God forgives us! Remember - we’re trying to live as our Christ lived! Please God - help us!

TUESDAY January 9 We can learn a lot by listening to Christian T.V.! We may not understand the “way its said” - but Christ is preached as God’s Son who died to save us! Praise His name - no matter who says it - Its true! Yes God and we thank You for Your Son!

WEDNESDAY January 10 Today read Psalms 48:32 “Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth - - -” Yes we will sing unto our God - today! Sing “Praise Him, Praise Him - - ”

and let Him know that He is our God - today and for-ever! Yes!

THURSDAY January 11 Some days, does it seem as if God is leading you in all you do? Well - He is! Remember to thank Him for those days and pray that you will have more of them by living close to His love and teachings! Yes Lord!

FRIDAY January 12 Please God - help us to live closer to Your will just for today! Tomorrow we’ll pray the same thing and we know you’ll be with us! Yes, Lord - everyday you are holding us close to You and we can feel Your love. Thank You Dear Lord - Thank You!

SATURDAY January 13 Another week has gone by - what did we do for our God? Can’t remember? Maybe our memory needs a good “shaking” - or we need to do something we can remember! Our God is so good to us can’t we take some time out for Him? Please God show us what to do for You!

SUNDAY January 14 I’m afraid that the older I get - the more “wordy” I get also. Maybe because as I age, I remember more of the things He’s gotten me through and I feel like - sharing! God is so good - just look back over your life and see the times He’s been right by your side - even when you didn’t realize He was there! Praise Him today for never forgetting our needs! Yes Lord!

MONDAY January 15 This new month of the new year is half gone already! Have you already lost your new year zeal for keeping in touch with God? Don’t - He’s not losing touch with you - can’t you feel His hand on you just when you need Him? I can thank Him today for loving all of us!

TUESDAY January 16 I just finished reading “Just As I Am” the biography of Billy Graham. What an inspiring book! Surely the Lord led Him His whole life and Billy gave God credit for all He did! Do we do the same? Just think how our lives would be without our God and Lord. Praise Him now for His love and care and answered prayer! Yes Lord!

WEDNESDAY January 17 I’ve started working with my plants again and don’t have them like I used to, but they bring me pleasure! I wonder if it brings God pleasure that I pay more at-tention to His laws and ways than I have in so many years past? I may have neglected Him, but He’s never left me! Think about it today - God doesn’t want much from us just to feed and water and fertilize our love for Him so it will grow! Please God help us!

THURSDAY January 18 Do you read your Bible everyday? Today, turn to Ro-mans 12 and read all 21 verses. This is what Paul relates to us from our Lord. Especially pay attention to the last verse! We do this in so many ways - Lord today help us to live more like you! Please God!

FRIDAY January 19 When was the last time you hugged your spouse and told them that they were loved? When was the last time you said that to Christ? In your prayers, tell Him of your love for Him and all He’s given you! How blessed we are! Yes!

SATURDAY January 20 Have you “spouted off” to any one lately? Especially a loved one? Did you regret it later? We always do don’t we? Why not just bite our tongues or walk away? That’s what Christ does for us! Walks away and then forgives! Aren’t you grateful? I am!

SUNDAY January 21 Another Sunday to be in God’s house! Sometimes we have to miss, but that shouldn’t keep us from showing the love of Christ the rest of the week! Pray about it today - we’re not just Christians on Sundays - you know! God is not our God only on Sundays either! Praise His name!!

MONDAY January 22 Start this new week off with a bright Christian smile on your face so folks will know you love your Lord! Of course it can be seen and heard by your grace, for-giveness, care for others the way you talk and act and live your whole life! Please God help us all to live