Fir

st U

nit

ed M

etho

dis

t C

hu

rch

20

0 S

ou

th C

oll

ege

Aven

ue

B

luef

ield

VA

2

460

5

AD

DR

ES

S S

ER

VIC

E

RE

QU

ES

TE

D

No

n-P

rofi

t O

rgan

izat

ion

U

S P

ost

age

Pai

d

Per

mit

No

. 7

1

Blu

efie

ld,

VA

RECORD OF FAITHFULNESS—JUNE 2017

DATE 4 11 18 25

8:30 a.m. Worship 20 30 21 18

10:30 a.m. Worship 100 131 88 90

Total Worship 120 161 109 108

Sunday School 46 48 33 43

2017 BUDGET…….……….….….………………..…..$284,650.00

YTD BUDGET Needed……………….…………....…..$142,324.98

YTD BUDGET Tithes and Offerings Received……..….$112,144.54

YTD NON-BUDGET Receipts Received… ……….......$ 16,986.66

BLUEFIELD FIRST UNITED

METHODIST CHURCH 200 South College Avenue

Bluefield, VA 24605 Phone: 276-326-1466

E-mail Address: info@bluefieldfumc.org Website: bluefieldfumc.org

Like us on Facebook

Rev. Dr. Jay Ferguson, Pastor micahjin@hotmail.com 865-207-1163

Carolyn Quesenberry, Secretary info@bluefieldumc.org 276-617-1943

William Elliott, Music Dir./Organist welliott1@frontier.com 304-320-7265

Jack Goins, Choir Director jackrgoins@hotmail.com 276-722-2133

Amy Horne, Dir. Children’s Min. abhorne91@gmail.com 276-979-6424

Wade Dillon, Custodian wmd342014@gmail.com 276-322-2148

Dr. Don Scott, Pastor Emeritus wmds@wvva.net 304-320-7407

JULY 2017 NEWSLETTER

I have already loaded my books in the truck. Maylee has had her last cheer leading practice. Micah has played his last baseball game for the Pirates. And Kelly has sang her last song at Trinity UMC. By the time you read this we will have already moved into the beautiful parsonage in our hometown of Bluefield VA/ WV. Kelly and I grew up in the area. Our parents still live in Mercer County. We both graduated from Bluefield High School. So what do you do when the Lord calls you home.....well on this side of eternity? You go and you love it. My family has already met some of you at a picnic and VBS. We had a fantastic time together. And we have just begun. Let us cultivate a sense of urgent missional expectation tempered with God's peaceful provision. We are very grateful for Brad and Tammy's ministry at First Bluefield and to share in the fruit of their labor. The Fergusons

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

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 10 Corte Perry 13 Roger Rose 14 Forrest Shroyer 16 Jack Goins 23 Libby Perry 26 Sara Metcalfe 27 Colleen Page 27 Leon Devor

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! 1 Walter/Linda Shroyer 2 John/Pam Spracher 10 Roger/Pam Rose 12 Don/Peg Scott 15 Jack/Raye Goins 15 James/Diane Shott 24 Gary/Patti Wilkinson 27 Jim/Ruth Brewster 28 Carl/Lynn Burnette

NEW ADDRESS AND E-MAIL FOR PASTOR BRAD SCOTT P. O BOX 1003

TRENTON GA 30752 pastorbradscott@gmail.com

MONTH

OF JULY

The plans are in motion….the 2017 SONShine Celebration will be held August 16, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Registration and school supplies will be in the Farmer’s Market while the hot dog dinner will be served in Palmer Hall. Now…the work begins. We need monetary donations to cover the cost of this community outreach. Last year, our expenses totaled over $4,000. We don’t have a reserve to start this campaign so we have a long way to go in a short time. The countdown begins now, mark your calendar, set your budget, and plan to join in the mission trip we are taking right here in downtown. We need your prayers, contributions, and participation to allow God to use us in this endeavor. More news and updates to follow!

What does it mean for someone to be consecrated, ordained, or sanctified? These are important terms representing deep spiritual truths for United Methodists. They inform our lives together as clergy and lay. They also reveal the singlemindedness necessary to serve God in a world competing for our allegiance. What did the Apostle Paul mean when he taught the early church to be in the world but not of it? Join me as we reflect on God’s call to consecrate his people for joyful obedience beginning July 16th through August 13th.

JULY CHURCH ACTIVITIES/MEETINGS

2 Church Picnic—Covered Dish Meal at 5:00 p.m.

Gather at 3:00 p.m. for fellowship (Rodger Woodrum’s Farm)

4 July 4th Holiday—Church Office Closed

6 Martha Circle—10:30 a.m. in Library

10 Finance Committee –6:30 p.m.

18 Evangelism Team— 6:30 p.m.

19 Men’s Breakfast—7:00 a.m. in Palmer Hall

MEN’S BREAKFAST Wednesday, July 19, 7:00 a.m. in Palmer Hall.

Devotions: Rev. Ray Petty Cooks: John White and Crew The Mission Team is sponsoring A MISSION PROJECT AT THE WADE CENTER. They will provide a meal for 75 mission workers on Monday, July 24. Please see Myra Yates or Tom Graham if you would like to volun-teer for this local mission opportunity. Donations for purchase of food would be appreciated. Please mark envelope or check for Wade Mission.

IMMEDIATE NEEDS Fran Alba, Carly Rich Allen, Alaya Allen, Rudy Austin (Vera Lee Austin’s Brother), Chance Bailey, Becky Betts (Bronwyn Owen’s Mother), Sarah Bowling, Judy Cassady, Betty Chandler (Jessi Terry’s Mother), Ulysses Cundiff, Blair Deskins (Jean Miller’s Granddaughter), Richard and Patty Dillon, Richard Dillon Jr., Terri Dodson, Darlene Dolin, Linda Douthat, Jonathan Du, Doris Englmeier (Patti Wilkinson’s Aunt), Cathy Fuller, Vicki Furrow, Amanda Griffith, Mable Gum, Pat Hartley, Jerry Hickman & Family, Owen Howard (Brownie and Beverly Browning’s Great Grandson), Joe Kessler, Rev. Jim Kestner, Diana Kilber, Gloria Lowery, Dennis McClanahan, Mary Martin, Rick Mabry, Roy Mitchem, Rachel Mullins, Lynne Phelps, Johnny Puckett, Patty Ramage, Deb Sarver, Marguerite Smith, Jeanie Starcher, Doug Thompson, Will Thompson, Dalia Vidot, Patsy Welch, Betty White, Raymond Wymer OUR MILITARY Ryan Shott, Lucas Graham, Jeremy Woody, Jerome Moody, Michael Cox and those serving our country LONG TERM ILLNESS Marie Anderson, Barbara Bailey, Bobbie Bellamy (Margaret Elam’s Sister), Smokey Blaylock, E. C. Browning, Richie Childress, Joe Davidson, Leon Devor, Ethel Earls, Syd Ellison, Margaret Farmer, Russell Garrett, Tom Hodge (Shelby Clendenen’s Brother), Mary Virginia Lester (Linda Hash’s Sister), Charles Miller (Pam Rose’s Father), Gary Pardue, Gerrie Porter, Wilma Shay, Nancy Trenton, Irma Webb SYMPATHY Sympathy is extended to Charlynne Kovach and Family in the death of her husband, Dr. David Kovach.

The 2017 HOLSTON ANNUAL CONFERENCE was a busy three days packed with worship, business, mission and music. There was even a 5K walk/run to benefit Ishe Anesu Project in Zimbabwe (the recipients of the Hands on Mission offering). Bishop Mary Virginia Taylor opened the conference Sunday, June 11, 2017 with a worship service and Holy Communion and closed it Wednesday, June 14, 2017 with the Commissioning and Sending Forth Service. The Monday and Tuesday early morning teaching time and Holy Communion, with Dr. Samuel Roberts, was both educational and inspirational. As always, there were mid-day services honoring retiring clergy and a memorial service remembering clergy and spouses who had passed during the year. Monday evening worship featured Africana Live: Reflect, Reclaim, Rejoice. A Night of Inspiration was provided by the award-winning Central United Methodist Church Music Ministry of Atlanta, GA. Tuesday night’s worship was a Mission Celebration of the efforts of Holston Conference. Missionaries from several locations supported by Holston were on hand to report and celebrate. Business was fast and furious Monday and Tuesday of the Annual Conference. Quick bullet points of some of the action taken are: † The “Comprehensive Strategic Plan,” which includes re-sizing Holston’s 12

districts to 9 was approved. A printed copy of the entire plan is in the church office for review.

† A 2018 budget of $9.07 million was approved, reflecting a reduction from the approved 2017 budget of $9.7 million. The 2018 budget provides a 2% raise for district superintendents and conference staff.

† A resolution calling for a 4-week vacation policy for ministers was approved. † A resolution calling for the church to work to eliminate racism and advocate

against immigration policies excluding refugees “on the basis of their religion or national origin” was approved.

† A resolution calling for a moratorium on the practice of online communion was approved. The Denman Evangelism Awards were presented; the Frances Asbury award

for leaders in higher education was also presented. † Bishop Taylor blessed the 8,344 Hands-on Mission Kits valued at $211,112 for

people served by United Methodist ministries in Zimbabwe and Liberia. Each of Holston’s 12 districts exceeded their Mission Kit goal, with Tazewell District collecting 150% of its’ goal of school kits! Way to go… Tazewell.

† During the “State of the Church” address, Bishop Taylor reported that the General Conference will hear and act on a report from the “Commission on a Way Forward” during a special session of General Conference scheduled Feb. 23-26, 2019. The denomination has designated Sept. 24-30, 2017 for Holston Conference to pray for the special session.

† The Board of Ordained Ministry presented licenses to 19 local pastors. James Brooks, a native of Bluefield, VA was accepted into the Conference as an associate pastor.

For all reports, the complete 2017 Book of Reports can be downloaded in pdf format from the church office. Music for each session had something for everyone, from traditional hymns, contemporary Christian music, gospel to native African music. Thank you for the opportunity to represent Bluefield First United Methodist Church as an alternate member to the Annual Conference. The Theme of the 2017 Holston Annual Conference was BEHOLD. Behold, God is doing something New in Bluefield. As we welcome our new pastor, let us work together with God, Pastor Jay and each other to “…make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Pam Brewster, Lay Member to Annual Conference

NO GIFTS IN MEMORY OF OR IN HONOR OF THIS MONTH. BIBLE STUDY will resume on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. after Labor Day. Bring your Bible and come join us as Pastor Jay leads us in the study of the Gospel of Matthew. The Bible Study will be a time of fellowship and learning – growing through the sharing and understanding of God’s word. Pastor Jay challenges the regular attendees of the Wednesday night Bible Study to bring a friend. We will learn more about Jesus’ messianic purpose, what Jesus taught about his kingdom and discipleship.

Celebrate America!— Happy 4th of July!