February 2015 Island in the Son UNITED METHODIST CHURCH SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2015 IITS’ Mortgage Burning Celebration Worship and catered luncheon following (**for those who signed up**). It began in January 2012 with the “Take $5 and Multiply” program - when $5 bills were handed out with the idea that those who took one would do something to multiply that money and bring the result back to the church to give toward the pay-down of the building loan. Due in large part to the diligent efforts, many announcements and prodding by our Treasurer/Finance Chair Donna Satterwhite, and with some extremely generous donations, plus two grants from the First United Methodist Church~Corpus Christi Foundation, the IITS building loan (mortgage) was paid in full as of December 1, 2014. Many thanks to Donna and to everyone who donated gifts both large and small, identified and anonymous, that enabled Island in the Son UMC to achieve this once considered impossible goal! CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS Communion Offering To Help Veterans, Families Our February 1 communion offering will be used to benefit veterans and their families. It is designated for Mount Sequoyah Ministry for Veterans and Their Families in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This ministry provides for affordable lodging for families visiting veterans in the VA Hospital of the Ozarks. Before the program began, families had to stay in hotels that were either unaffordable or inappropriate for them. Now they can have a safe, clean, and spiritually nourishing place to stay while visiting the veterans. Mount Sequoyah notifies area churches, the VA Hospital, and veterans’ groups that the ministry is available to qualified applicants and their families. It also publicizes through print, online, and TV advertising. This commendable organization is our 2015 “Project Elsewhere in the United States” for the UMC Five-Star Giving Church Program. Please prayerfully consider giving to this ministry on Sunday, February 1. Betty Thomas, Thomas Worship Team Chair Beach Treasures Page 2 February 2015 Join us for We were happy to welcome Ken & Kathy Merchant into the membership of Island in the Son UMC on January 4. Kathy was reinstated as a former member, while Ken transferred his membership from a church of another denomination in Missouri. Ken and Kathy are already active in the life of IITS, so chances are you already know them—but if not—please be sure to introduce yourself! February 18, 6:30 PM “You Are The Man” Psalm 51:1-17 The Abuse of Power Lenten Study Next Meeting: Wednesday Feb. 11, 10AM The Island in the Son UMC United Methodist Women will have their next monthly meeting on Wednesday, February 11 at 10:00 AM at the church. All ladies are invited to attend! Begins Sunday, February 22 Rev. Smith will facilitate a study on Sunday nights at 6:00 PM during Lent (February 22 through March 29) using Adam Hamilton’s videobased “24 Hours That Changed the World.” In this study, Adam Hamilton guides you through the last 24 hours of Jesus’ life, designed to help you experience and understand the significance of Jesus’ suffering and death in a way you never have before. All are invited to participate—please sign up at the Opportunities table. A companion 40-day devotional book will be available for $10 each. Feb 8 ............. Buddy Powell Feb 13 ............ Lora Maddox Feb 15 ............. Maxine Cory Feb 27 ...... Joyce Tagliaferro Don’t see your special day mentioned here? It just means we don’t have it on record. Please let us know the date so we can update our database. The “Beach Treasures” newsletter is sent out monthly by email. In addition, members are kept updated with weekly email updates, sent out each Thursday. If you would like to be added to either (or both) of these email lists, please drop us a request at [email protected]. Beach Treasures Page 3 February 2015 Causes of All Fatal Accidents Do NOT ride in automobiles: they cause 20% of all fatal accidents. Do NOT stay home: 17% of all accidents do occur in the home. Do NOT walk on the streets or sidewalks: 14% of all accidents happen to pedestrians. Do NOT travel by air, rail, or water: 16% of all accidents happen on these. Only .001% of all deaths occur in worship services in church, and these are related to previous physical disorders. Hence, the safest place for you to be at any time is CHURCH. (Bible study is safe, too—the percentage there is even less.) Go to church! IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE! At this time of year, it is good to stop and give thanks for all the blessings that we have received. The new Coastal Bend District is blessed to have a new banner made by Emily and Javier Canales of the Kingsville El Buen Pastor UMC. As you can see in the photo this banner was designed to capture the uniqueness of our District. I praise God for Emily and Javier and all the hard work that went into making this beautiful work of art. COMBINED Linda Morrow CHURCH COUNCIL AND WORSHIP TEAM MEETING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 6:00 PM Director of District Ministries AT THE CHURCH. Many are cold! A wife texted her husband on a cold winter’s morning: “Windows frozen.” Her husband texted back: “Pour some lukewarm water over them.” The wife texts back five minutes later: “Computer completely messed up now.” Registration forms available on Opportunities table or online at www.ccdistrictumc.org under EVENTS. Registration is NOT mandatory. Beach Treasures Page 4 February 2015 Island in the Son UNITED METHODIST CHURCH SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Thursdays, 7 PM (in the Portable Building) Ash Wednesday, February 18—Lent Begins Contact Cynthia Riewe, 361-949-1788 1 2 9 AM-Sun Sch Combined Worship & Church Council Mtg 10 AM—Worship Communion 8 9 AM-Sun Sch 3 6 PM— 9 10 4 Timons 5 6 Timons 4 PM—Small Group 5 PM—Prayer Mtg 6:15 PM—Praise Team Rehearsal 7 PM—Al-Anon 11 10AM-UMW 12 7 Ministry Workshops at Grace UMC AP/Payroll Chks 13 Timons 14 20 Timons 21 Timons 10 AM—Worship 4 PM—Small Group 5 PM—Prayer Mtg “Mortgage Burning” 16 BANK HOLIDAY 15 9 AM-Sun Sch 10 AM—Worship Guest Preacher: Rev. Greg Hackett 17 23 18 Timons 19 Ministry Workshops at Port Lavaca FUMC 4 PM—Sm Grp/PM 5 PM—PT Rehearsal 6:30 PM— PM—Ash Wednesday Svc 24 9 AM-Sun Sch 25 Timons / 7 PM—Al-Anon 26 27 Timons Communion 10 AM—Worship Rev. John attending Bishop’s Convocation At Mount Wesley, Kerrville 6 PM— PM—Lent Study 7 PM—Al-Anon AP/Payroll Chks Celebration & Catered Lunch 228 AM-Early PT Reh. 6:15 PM—Praise Team Rehearsal 4 PM—Small Group 5 PM—Prayer Mtg 6:15 PM—Praise Team Rehearsal 28 It’s a Girl Thing! Conference 9 AM-4 PM Annapolis Christian Academy 7 PM—Al-Anon www.itsagirlthing.org The first names listed are “greeters” and the second names are “clean up.” You may trade with other greeters, or if you need a substitute or have questions, please contact Marge Foster at 361-949-2489. Feb. 1: Feb. 8: Mike & Patty Baker Brent Curtis & Estella Curtis Bev Firmani & Marge Foster Karen Poynter & Joyce Tagliaferro Feb. 15: Feb. 22: Larry & Kathy Bassett Pam Burnette & Donna Satterwhite Deanna Byers & Sara Hinojosa Mike & Patty Baker Beach Treasures Page 5 February 2015 Nacel Open Door IITS Health Watch Seeks Host Families Our “health” report for December 2014 Nacel Open Door, Inc. (NOD) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting international understanding and language education. NOD believes it is essential for young people to develop a deeper awareness of their role as citizens of the world through direct experience in other cultures and languages. Homestays are the foundation of most NOD programs. The friendships that result from living as a member of a Host Family encourage continued communication and understanding of other peoples. NOD is committed to providing accessible and affordable programs. A message from Kyra Hicks, Representative, Nacel Open Door: I work with high school foreign exchange students and I am looking for a few good host families in the south Texas area for the 201516 school year. I am looking for families to share their heart and homes with students, age 15-18, from many different countries such as Spain, Germany, France, Sweden, China, Thailand, or even Venezuela. Prayers: We celebrated many answered prayers and joys in worship, including: birthdays and anniversaries; visiting family and friends; and medical improvements. Presence: December average attendance: Worship ..................... 97 Sunday School ............ 5 (these figures do not include Christmas Eve) Christmas Eve Svc .. 133 Gifts: December Received ................. $39,196 Expenses ................ $ 6,155 Net income............ $ 33,041 This large “net” income was due primarily to 2 large gifts received in December, one designated for the A/C fund. General Offering Received: As of 12/31/14 ....... $169,926 % of offering goal .......86.3% Building Loan (mortgage) as of 12/31/14: Total paid on loan in 2014: $32,797 Building Loan Balance: $ 0 Apportionments paid in 2014: 100% Additional Benevolent Giving in 2014: Outside SWTX Conference ............. $2010 Through the SWTX Conference ...... $2240 ** 5-Star Giving Church for 2014 ** Students all speak English, have health insurance, and will attend high school where the host family lives. They are coming for a school year and will arrive about a week before school starts and leave once school is over in the spring. The host shares their home and meals with the student, and the student has their own spending money. For more information, contact Kyra at (361) 658-1898 or [email protected]. www.nacelopendoor.org Service: Christmas for “adopted” family; Congregational and community care; lunch service, food pantry, and communion for Timon’s Ministries. Air Conditioner Replacement Fund Gather your loose change and drop it in the big container to aid in advancing our fundraising for new air conditioning units! You can also celebrate birthdays and/or anniversaries by giving to this fund—just specify “A/C fund” in the memo of your check or on the envelope with your donation! Island in the Son UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 10650 Highway 361 Corpus Christi, TX 78418 (361) 749-0884 Email [email protected] Website ..........www.islandintheson.com Office Hours ...Monday—Thursday, 9AM-2PM Ministers ......................... All members of the congregation Pastor ............................. Reverend John P. Smith Administrative Assistant.. Connie Harris Maintenance ................... George Costanzo SUNDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE Celebration Worship Service at 10 AM Adult Sunday School at 9 AM The “Beach Treasures” monthly newsletter is EMAILED to the majority of our recipients. To be added to the email list or to get a mailed copy, please call the church office. DEADLINE FOR ARTICLES IS THE 20TH OF THE PRECEDING MONTH; please email to the church at email address [email protected]. Beach Treasures Page 6 February 2015 Y 15 R A U FebR points” i ng 0 “Tipp ark 9:2-1 ckett, ARY 1 U R b Fe rity” o h t “Au rk 1:21-28 f a eg Hacher r G . e t Pr Rev M o ntity e d I The esus J Ma G ue Y 8 ION” R A U FebR F DIREC;T E O 40:21-391 S N E “A S Isaiaahrk 1:29-3ervant S irst F ’ s Jesu M s F “The huma ebRUARY 22 n 1 Pet er 3:1 race b God’ 8-22; G egan enes ane s Fir Erad st Attem is 9:8-17 w” p i cate Evil t to