WEEKLY CONNECTION VOLUME 47 No. 13 MARCH 29, 2017

Donations will be accepted to offset costs.

A Message from the Sesquicentennial Committee

The Sesquicentennial Committee is eagerly anticipating our official 150th Anniversary Celebration on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017. Bishop James E. Swanson Sr. of the Mis-sissippi Conference of The United Methodist Church will be here to preach on Easter Sun-day. Bishop Swanson is a native of Houston, Texas. He graduated from Southern Bible College with a B.S. degree in Christian Ministries and from C. H. Mason Seminary, ITC with a M. Div. degree. Bishop Swanson served as Pastor of St. Mary’s Road United Meth-odist Church in Columbus, GA for 14 years. He served as Superintendent of the Savannah District of the South Georgia Conference starting in 2001, and he was elected to the Epis-copacy in July 2004 by the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference and was assigned to the Holston Area. After serving the Holston Area for 8 years, he was assigned to the Missis-sippi Area in 2012. Bishop Swanson is married to the former Delphine Yvonne Ramsey. They are the proud parents of six children: Karen, James Jr., Shondell, Carlton, JaNaé and Joshua, and they have ten grandchildren. Fun Fact for Wednesday, March 29 – Did you know that FUMC once had a Kitchen Guild whose members cooked for all church meals? In the “olden days”, members of the Kitchen Guild (who were all female) cooked and served the church family for Wednesday night suppers, Administrative Boards, church committee lunches and dinners, and special

events like Dinner Theater. Come to Sesquicentennial Church Family Celebration on April 2 to eat and enjoy food prepared by many of our own “church ladies” and maybe a few gentlemen!

-The Sesquicentennial Committee

CAMP LAKE STEPHENS 2017 Camp Lake Stephens brochures for 2017 are now in the office. You may also go online to www.camplakestephens.com or call the camp office at 662-234-3350 to register. Be sure to register

early because camps fill up quickly!

LENTEN LUNCHEON SERIES

Thursday, March 30 St. Luke United Methodist Church, 1400 Clayton Avenue

Thursday, April 6

First Presbyterian Church, 400 West Jefferson Street

The community will gather at noon. A light lunch will be served. Donations accepted to offset the cost of lunch.

WEDNESDAYS @ FUMC

Wednesday, March 29 5:15 p.m.—Dinner

Menu: Chicken Strips and Chicken Gravy, Beef Strips and Brown Gravy, White Rice, Buttered Pasta, Steamed Mixed Vegetables, Chicken and Cheese Crispoes, Dinner Roll, Salad Bar, Peach Cobbler

6 p.m.—Rev. Smith Lilley & Rev. Lynn Mote will share about their recent trip to the Holy Land.

Wednesday, April 5 5:15 p.m.—Dinner

Menu: Chicken Nuggets, Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Peas and Carrots, Corn, Bread Sticks, Salad Bar, Cookies 6 p.m.—Healing and Prayer Service, Chapel

Wednesday, April 12: No Programming Due to Holy Week Services

No cost! An offering will be received

to cover expenses.

The service of Tenebrae, meaning “darkness” or “shadows,” has been practiced by the church since medieval times. Readings trace the story of Christ’s passion, music portrays his pathos, and the power of silence and darkness reminds us of Christ’s suffering and death.

On this night Christians commemorate the supper Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion and instituted the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.

***Daily Prayer in the Chapel at 12 p.m. *** (Monday, April 10 – Friday, April 14)

CHILDREN’S NEWS VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2017

Mark Your Calendars

June 5-9 A Mighty Fortress

Thank you to everyone who has picked up a box to fill. Completed boxes can be returned at any time to the church office, with the goal of April 2-9 for final return of all boxes for shipping. Shipping has been covered. So, bring your box and we will get it shipped.

~~Kathryn Gatlin, for United Methodist Women

***SPOTS FILLING UP FAST!***

APRIL 11-14; 2—9 P.M. (FULL) APRIL 15: 10 A.M.—5 P.M. **NEW**APRIL 26-27; 12—7 P.M.

APRIL 28; 2—9 P.M. APRIL 29: 10 A.M.—5 P.M.

The United Methodist Women will collect Soap for Helping

Hands during April. Please bring these donations

to the Old Fellowship Hall and Wesley Hall.

LIBRARY NEWS

All ages enjoying the FUMC children's library!

Come check us out!

We will begin a Prayer Bible Study on April 19 at 12 p.m. in the Chapel. This study will using The Workbook of Living Prayer by Maxie Dunnam.

The cost of the workbook is $6. To order, please contact Jarie Thompson at jarie@fumctupelo.com or 662-690-8100 by March 29.

1 George Booth

Jo Frazier Elaine Lovorn

Smythe McCoy Ellen McGregor

2 Swan Burrus Grace Clark

David Copenhaver Ann Gibbs

Miriam Ogg Miller Ogg Bill Spencer

3 Maggie Clark Bennett Mize

Shirley Neuhaus 4

Joby Collins Ansley Garner Howard Hinds

5 Katherine Ray

Mac Smith Dawn Southworth

6 Cameron Cole

Stephen Spencer 7

John Guyton Joyce Johnston Susan Pilgrim

8 Phillip Williams

9 Lauren Briscoe Charlie White

10 Angela Britton

Clay Crabb Lauren Zuelzke

11 Smitty Harris

12 Julie Gough

Tommy Green Lavenia Moore David Rather

13 McKenzie Denton

Madison Weatherford 14

Rachel Becker Ruth Hollingsworth

15 Emily Addison Millie Daniel Judy Jones

Benton Hilbun, III Zeke Neuhaus

16 Lauren Darsey Brock Kelly Stella Parker

Kaylee Waldrip 17

Abrielle Carnathan Kirk Presley Ty Robinson

18 Andy Anderson

Jack Babb Anthony Mayfield Angelia Thomas

Dick White 19

Tony Gaines Jr. Mary Katherine Harris

Betty Huddleston Parker Rish

Mike VanBuskirk 20

Landon Asa Gavin McCoy

Tays Heyer Jim McGraw Betty Rogers

21 Clete Brekke Joe Geddie

Taylor Hilbun Abby Hunt

Connie Marion Kimmie Moscato

Susan Nelson Kristen Partin

Walt Rose Sophia Scott

22 John Michael Herman

Carter Kulp Emily Mote

Sam Hughes Thompson Faye Wiygul

23 Jason Pannell

Andy Ray 24

David Irwin Chad May

Paul Mize, III 26

Bonnie Mize Jim Stone

27 Kalyn Lake

Hayden Palmer Ashley Prince Jacob Prince

Mary Stewart Rhea 28

Jackson Edwards Craig Horrocks Lindsey Leake

Ann Milam 29

Grace Bryan Kathryn Cayson Benjamin Davis Lisa Lippincott Ned McGraw

30 Batton Barber Collins Foote

Barney Guyton

2 M/M Heath Childs

M/M Louis Lee 3

M/M Mac Smith 5

M/M Michael Eidt M/M Barrett Lovorn

6 M/M Wesley McCullough

7 M/M Lynn Holland

M/M Charles Talley 12

M/M Rick Caldwell M/M Charles Carter

13 M/M Bennie Hankins

M/M Butch Harris 14

M/M Ken Gillentine 16

M/M Keith Morris M/M Wesley Partin

17 M/M Charlie White

18 M/M Chan Brown

20 M/M Todd Underwood

22 M/M Mike Sowers

24 M/M Justin Robinson

25 M/M Scott Reed

M/M Crofton Sloan 27

M/M Eddie Lomenick M/M Brian McGraw

28 M/M Phillip Gough R/M Smith Lilley

APRIL BIRTHDAYS

APRIL ANNIVERSARIES

SUNDAY, APRIL 2 8:45 Worship, Sanctuary 8:45 Worship, Wesley Hall 9:45 Fellowship, Gathering Room 10:00 Sunday School 11:00 Worship, Sanctuary 4:00 Scouts, FH 5:30 Church Family Celebration, WH MONDAY, APRIL 3 9:00 Preschool/MDO/Kindergarten 2:30 CASA, CLC 5:00 Library Book Group, CR 7:00 Boy Scouts, Scout Hut TUESDAY, APRIL 4 8:00-11:30 Clothes Closet Open for Donations

9:00 Preschool/Kindergarten 9:00 Invitation Planning, CR 10:00 Faithbuilders, 207 10:30 Staff Meeting, Conference Room 2:30 CASA, CLC 3:00 Carol Choir 5:15 Trustees, CR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5 6:45 Youth Prayer Breakfast, Connie’s 9:00 Preschool/MDO/Kindergarten 2:30 CASA, CLC 3:30 Jubilee Singers/Jubilation Choir 5:15 Dinner, WH 6:00 Healing/Prayer Service, Chapel 6:00 Sanctuary Handbells

6:00 Youth Worship 7:00 Chancel Choir THURSDAY, APRIL 6 9:00 Preschool/Kindergarten 9:00 Invitation Planning, WH 2:30 CASA, CLC 5:15 Missions Committee, CR FRIDAY, APRIL 7 7:00 Prayer Group, Chapel 9:00 Kindergarten 2:30 CASA, CLC 6:00 IF Gathering, WH SATURDAY, APRIL 8 9:00-12:00 Helping Hands Open 9:00 IF Gathering, WH

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH—TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI CALENDAR FOR APRIL 2-8, 2017

SERVING SUNDAY, APRIL 2, 2017

TV OPERATORS: Jim Karrant, Lee McKenzie, Jason Pannell SANCTUARY SOUND: 8:45: Ansel Mote 11: Butch Dendy GREETERS: 8:45: Elsie/Dick White 8:45 Invitation: Brenda Chase 11: Dianne/Barney Guyton USHERS: 8:45: Chris Hill, Lindsey Leake, George Rutledge 8:45 Invitation: Nat Leathers, Kevin Rose, Jamie Os-birn, Bill Spencer 11:00: Jeff Short

STEWARDSHIP 2017 Budget Goal ............................................ $2,424,213.45 2017 Needed Weekly ............................................ $45,739.88 2017 Three Month Budgeted Amount ................ $606,052.62 Last Week’s Offering through 03/23 .................... $36,282.93 2017 Offering through 03/23 .............................. $658,698.83 Spent to Date 2017 through 03/23 ...................... $511,952.69

GIVEN IN MEMORY OF …Jean Harper By: Katie Cox D/M Richard Warriner …Loretta Monts By: Lisa, Kathryn & Neely Johnson M/M David Brevard …Sylvia Ross By: Melinda Bell …Harry Morphey By: M/M David Brevard D/M Richard Warriner Dona Porter …Stephen Hall By: D/M Richard Warriner …Fred Strange By: D/M Richard Warriner …Rev. B.F. Lee By: D/M Richard Warriner M/M Charles Grace M/M Howard Hinds D/M Joe Edd Morris …Bonnie Adams By: M/M Ben Orr

GIVEN IN HONOR OF …Steve Holland By: Lisa, Kathryn & Neely Johnson …Dr. Jack Foster By: Dorothy Fairbank …Henry Brevard …Henry McMillan By: M/M Felix Rutledge, Sr.