1. Art and Diseño

February 2015
BE OUR VALENTINE
Our Youth Group would like to cordially invite each
and every one of you to attend a special
Valentine’s Day Dinner
It will be held on Saturday, February 14, in the Family Ministry Center. H’orderves will
be served at 6:00 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.
The menu for adults is Chicken Cordon Blue, vegetable, rice, salad, roll and
Strawberry Shortcake or Death by Chocolate for dessert!!
The menu for children is Chicken strips, mac & cheese, roll and
Dirt cake with gummies for dessert!
Tickets are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children, 12 and under
Write your name on the back of the ticket and drop in our Valentine box for a chance to
win a door prize. We will also have a photo booth.
Please purchase your tickets by February 7th from any of our youth or from the office.
All proceeds will be used for the summer Youth mission trip.
Contact the Church Office at: [email protected]
Visit our web-site at:www.monticellofumc.org
The letter was signed by Oscar Hammerstein,
who was that evening on his deathbed.
When the play was over the cast rushed her
backstage and asked, "What happened?
We've never seen you perform that way before?" Mary read to them Hammerstein's note
and said, "Tonight, I gave my love away."
Heart Love Perspective
Try this! Put your fingertips from your right
hand up against the fingertips of your left
hand. You have just made a bridge. But if you
bend your fingertips together, and let your
joined thumb tips drop a little downward,
your hands create a heart.
Make the heart again with your hands and put
it up to your face. Take a look around and imagine taking a snapshot through your hand
heart of everything and everyone around you.
Now imagine going around every day doing
that. The challenge before us is to continue to
look at the world and people around us
through our Heart Love perspective that others might know and experience God’s Heart
Love through us.
How you formed this heart with your hands
is what Heart Love is all about - it joins together and bends a little to meet the other.
Heart Love is a love that gives of itself to another person then forgets the favor rendered.
It is a love that finds something to love in the
seemingly unlovable. Heart Love states, "I
love you and I want you to be happy and to
achieve the fullest stature of your being."
Heart Love is what God has given us, and
Heart Love is what we are called to give the
world.
It is the choice to love others and give love
away that matures and perfects each one of
us as Christians.
One night on Broadway, Mary Martin was
preparing to go on stage, as she had 1000
times before in Rodger & Hammerstein’s
South Pacific. Just before she took stage a
note was handed her. The note was short. It
simply said: "Dear Mary, A bell's not a bell
until you ring it. A song's not a song until you
sing it. Love in your heart is not put there to
stay. Love isn't love till you give it away."
It is not what we preach or pray, but what
we practice that makes us disciples.”
As one wise person once shared, “It is not
what we eat, but what we digest that
makes us strong.
It is not what we gain, but what we save
that makes us rich.
It is not what we read, but what we
remember that makes us learned.
Pastor John
The Boy Who
was King
A Bible Study on
2 Chronicles 24
It’s the story of Joash.
In verse 1 we read,
"Joash was seven
years old when he began to reign, and he
reigned forty years in Jerusalem." He was just a kid
when he took the throne of Judah. For the most
part, He was a godly king. In verse 2 we have a wonderful tes#mony of the kind of king Joash was: "And
Joash did that which was right in the sight of the
LORD."
Joash's background provides insight into why he was
the kind of king that honored God. In 1 Kings 11,
we learn that his family was slaughtered by the evil
Athlaliah. He was the only survivor because Jehosheba, the wife of Jehoiada the high priest, "stole
him from among the king's sons which were slain;
and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain" (2
Kings 11:2). For the next six years they would hide
him in the Temple chambers. For six years, the critical informative years of his life, he was daily surrounded by the things of God and godly examples. It
is not surprising that he did that which was right in
the sight of the Lord. His example reminds us how
important it is that parent's be a godly example and
keep their children in the house of God.
Whereas, the early years of Josiah were marked by
bright spots, regretfully, the ending years of his life
are marked by dark blots. Verse 2 tells that he did
what was right in the sight of the Lord "all the days
of Jehoiada the priest." I wish I could tell you that he
always did what was right in the sight of the Lord,
but after the death of the godly influence of Jehoiada,
things went south in his life. The story is told in
verses 17-21 of how certain leaders came to him and
persuaded him to make a compromise and tolerate
the worship of Baal. It began a spiritual decline and
downfall of both Joash and Judah. In the end, the
king that had began doing what was right in the sight
of the Lord was the object of a conspiracy and was
slain by his servants. The ending years of Joash's life
reminds us that when we compromise with sin it always leads to a downward path.
But, let’s go back to the early years and what we can
glean from Joash’s leadership when he was doing
what was “right in the sight of the Lord.” We read in
verse 4, "And it came to pass after this, that Joash
was minded to repair the house of the LORD." During the reigns of Joram and Athaliah, the Temple had
been pillaged to enrich the worship of Baal. All the
sacred vessels and items had been taken and devoted
to idol worship. In the process the Temple had been
desecrated and left in a tragic and terrible state. As
the years passed, the state of decay and deterioration
only worsened.
As the leader of Judah, Joash found the condition of
the sacred Temple of the
one and true God troubling. A burden that he
carried in his heart was
the repairing and refurnishing of the Temple.
His solution was to take
an offering. We read in
verse 5, "And he gathered together the priests
and the Levites, and said
to them, Go out unto the
cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of your God
from year to year." He had a chest built to receive the
offering. 2 Kings 12:9 tells us that he bored a hole in
the lid and set it by the right side of the altar of
burnt-offering. When the time came for the people to
bring their offering, they passed by the altar and put
their money in the chest.
Note that they gave “THEY GAVE JOYFULLY”.
They did not look at what Joash asked them to do as
a burden or inconvenience, neither do we read of anyone being upset or grumbling about the offering.
We read in verse 10, "And all the princes and all the
people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the
chest, until they had made an end." Notice very carefully the word "all." All the priests and all the people
rejoiced when they gave.
As we see in the case of Joash, the giving of the people of God was to repair the house of God. I couldn't
help but notice how personal was Joash's command
to give. It was not just the house of God, but the
house of "your God." He gave them a personal reason for giving. They were not giving to repair a
house. They were giving to repair THE house. They
were giving to repair the house of their God.
Giving is an
important part
of all we do
around
here.
Why is that?
There is a great
purpose in our
giving.
There are the
facilities that God has given us that we meet to worship in, as well as provide a place for all the many
activities that go on daily around here. These buildings have to be cleaned, things have to be fixed, and
there is constant upkeep and maintenance required.
How do we take care of the facilities that God has
given us? It is through the giving of God's people
But there is more. In 2 Kings 12:4 we have this account of their giving: Joash said to the priests,
“Collect all the money that is brought as sacred offerings to the temple of the LORD, the money collected in the census, the money received from personal pledges, and the money brought voluntarily to
the temple that comes into a person’s heart to give."
First, there is the giving that was commanded by
God, such as the tithe. This is referred to in the
words "the money that is brought as sacred offerings." There was a certain amount that had been set
by God for every man to give.
The measure of our giving is to be determined by
how "God hath prospered" us. In other words, we are
to give accordingly to what we have received. Personally, I believe the tithe of the Old Testament set a
standard of giving and that is 10%. Which is the king’s
portion. Even though that law was established in the
Old Testament, I find nowhere where God rescinded
that standard or lowered it in the New Testament.
In the Scriptures we learn that the giving that had been
commanded by God was for the purpose of providing
for the daily function and activities of the Temple. It
provided the financial resources for its daily operations
as well as those who carried out those operations.
One of the reasons we as members give is to provide
the financial resources to carry out the ministry of our
Church. There are light bills and water bills to pay.
There are programs and ministries that are funded by
your giving. As well, your giving allows us to pay staff
members that help us carry out the daily and weekly
functions of the Church. None of these could be done
if it were not for your giving.
In addition, there is the giving that "comes into any
person's heart." This is giving that exceeds the set
amount. This an offering or the giving of an amount
over and above our tithe and normal giving.
There are times when God puts an amount in our heart
to give. This is an amount that goes beyond what we
normally give or are required to give. I know for myself, it’s not uncommon for God to put an amount upon
my or Kathy’s heart that He wants us to give to a particular matter.
The initial reason we give to is to help maintain the
ministry and maintenance of the House of God. Other
giving reaches out to enable and bless special ministry
needs and possibilities.
One of the strong lessons from 2 Chronicles 24 is that
when we receive an offering, there is a great purpose.
As church members, we are able to provide the financial resources to carry out the ministry and needs of the
Church, which enables us to help advance the Kingdom. When we understand this great purpose, it
changes how we view our giving.
Our giving becomes an offering from our heart to honor God and bless others—given not because we have
to, but because we are able to!
We have begun our journey through the Bible as a church, using “The Story” as a guide! Each
week our Sunday School classes will study one of the chapters of “The Story” and Pastor John
will preach from some of the Scriptures of that chapter. We encourage everyone to get a book
and join us in this journey! Books of “The Story” are available in the Sanctuary, F amily
Ministry Center, and Pastor John’s office.
Please prayerfully consider making the commitment to be a part of this spiritual challenge
to go through the whole Bible together!
Feb. 1
5
New Commandments and
a New Covenant
10 Commandments
Exodus 19-20, 24-25
Feb. 8
6
Are we there yet?
A Real Road Trip
Wilderness
Numbers 10-14, 20-21, 25, 27,
Deut. 1-2; 6, 8-9; 29-34
Feb. 15
7
The Battle Begins
Joshua
Joshua 1-2, 6, 8, 10-11, 24
Feb. 22
8
A Few Good Men - And
Women!
Judges
Judges 2-4, 6-8, 13-16
Mar 1
9
The Kinsman Redeemer
Mar 8
10
Held Accountable as
God's Representatives
Samuel / Saul
1 Samuel 1-4, 8-13, 15
Mar 15
11
From Shepherd to King
David
1 Samuel 16-18, 24, 31, 2
Samuel 6, 22
Mar 22
12
David
2 Samuel 11-12, 18-19, 1
Chronicles 22,29
Psalms 23,32,51
Mar 29
Kingly Sins, Godly
Redemption
Palm Sunday
Ruth and
Naomi
Ruth 1-4
SAVE THE DATE
BRIDAL SHOWER IN HONOR OF
MISS ANNA FINLAYSON
WHEN:
WHERE:
TIME:
REGISTRATION:
REGISTERED AT:
HOSTESSES:
INQUIRIES TO:
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Family Ministry Center
Following 11:00 AM church service
In the name of Whitney Strickland and Anna Finlayson
Bed, Bath and Beyond
Macy’s
Cargo – 104 S. Broad, Thomasville, GA
Janegale Boyd, Megan Finlayson, Eleanor Hawkins and
Dianne Westbrook
Janegale Boyd 997-0783 or 320-4343
Dianne Westbrook 997-2973 or 528-6078
Healthy
May you walk in peace today
Lifestyle
and allow God to lead you…
NurtureNight
May you serve with humility today
and allow God to teach you…
JoinusonFriday,February
20, for dinner and a movie
focusing onmaking healthier lifestyle choices to nurtureyourbody.Wewillbeginat6:00PMwithacovered dish dinner (healthy choices encouraged), so
pleasebringdishestoshare,readytoserve.At6:30,
wewillwatchthemovie,“KingCorn”.Formoreinformation,pleaseseeLynnSalterorDianeFreeman.
May you hope with confidence today
and allow God to bless you.
Ladies:
It’s not too late to attend the Beth Moore
If you have a specific date
you would like to provide
live plants or flower arrangements for the Sunday
services, please call the office to sign up. First come,
first served!
Bible study class. We
offer two classes, one
at 9:30 a.m. and one at
6:00 p.m. The classes
are twice a month, the
first and third Thursdays of each month.
This month the dates are February 5th and
February 19th. We meet in the Family Minis-
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Him!
try Center. For further information, contact
Kathy Hicks at 997-2110.
FREE CHURCH LEADERSHIP AND
COMMITTEE TRAINING
Sponsored by the Northwest District Office
AED
Training
Class
We will have an
AED
Training
Class on Tuesday,
February 3, at 6:00 p.m. in the Family Ministry Center. It is recommended that those participating be
able to get up and down from kneeling positions on
the floor. If this is an issue, we will conduct additional classes that can be tailored for those with mobility
issues. The class has a limit of 15 participants. Call
Debra in the office to sign up. If we have an overwhelming response, we will schedule additional classes. For questions about the class, please contact
Travis Richards at 545-8598.
WHEN:
Saturday, February 7
WHERE:
Our own Family Ministry Center
TIME:
8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Complimentary lunch included
The training offered is: Church Finances 101, Children’s Home Representative Training, Trustees
Committee Training, Youth Ministry Training,
Staff Parish Committee Training, Church Administrative Training, Effective Children’s Messages in
Worship and Keeping The Faith: Creating a Church
for all ages.
Contact Jennifer at our District Office at 386-2154 to
sign up.
SAN JUAN de los YERAS
Please pray for our sister church, Iglesia Methodista de San Juan de los Yeras this month, and specifically for
these church members during February. Iluminada Ortega Benage, Angela Ruiz Perez, Ana Rosa Paez, Reyes Pablo
Marino Rivero Lopez, Dulce Maria Aparicio del Sol, Dora Marin Machado, Jose Garcia Ruiz, Lisis Garcia Marin, Misladys Rojas Gonzalez and Norka Ochoa Navarro
Do you know someone who is
Notes Of Thanks
Ours is a loving and caring Church with a big heart.
This was demonstrated clearly to me when my heart
chose to misbehave just prior to Christmas. Thank
you for the transportation, meals, visits, phone calls
and especially the prayers. They were all most appreciated.
taking care of a loved one
with Alzheimer’s Disease or
other related dementia? A
Support Group is offered at
the Family Ministry Center
the fourth Monday morning
of each month from 11:30 to 1:00. A light lunch is
provided and your loved one is provided respite
care during the group meeting. This month’s
Cliff Miller
meeting date is Monday, February 23. If you de-
Thanks to all who helped make the Angel Tree a
success. We served 16 families with gifts and a food
basket and everyone expressed thanks to FUMC for
this ministry.
sire additional information, please contact the
Alzheimer’s Support Project at 386-2778, or call
the Church office.
Have you prayed about it
as much
Jane Vollertsen
FAITHFUL
GIVING
Helped Us End
the Year in the
Black!
as you’ve talked about it?
HIDE AND SEEK
CONTEST:
Our winner from last
month was Peggy Day.
Congratulations Peggy!
Through generous and sacrificial giving by
faithful members and friends at the end of the
year, our church was able to fully
support
our ministries, our missions giving and missionary
support,
our
benevolences
(connectional apportionments ministry with
the Florida Conference), and end the year in
the black.
Inside this newsletter
you will find the word
“Kinsman”. It could be any where, so LOOK
carefully and be the first caller to call the
Church Office and speak to Debra. You must
give her the location to be eligible to win.
The prize is a free meal ticket to our
Wednesday night dinners. Remember - you
Great ministry for God’s glory happens
when God’s people respond in faith!
must be the first caller and have the loca-
Thank you for your heart in giving to help
make God’s ministry happen.
words, pictures or a symbol to locate. The
tion. Each month there will be different
contest is open to every one! Good Luck!!
I love this song
by
Babbie Mason:
FRANCES FELLOWSHIP
Tuesday, February 10, 6:00 p.m.
“EACH ONE
REACH ONE”
Today a man is somewhere proclaiming the
good news -- Winning families to Jesus all
around his neighborhood. He tells them
that God is able to make their house a
home. He wants to win his world for Christ,
but he can't do it alone.
But each one can reach one;
As we follow after Christ
we all can lead one.
We can lead one to the Savior
And together we can tell the world
that Jesus is the way
If we each one reach one.
The message is unchanging, Go ye into all
the world and share the love of Jesus far
away or door to door. You see, just like
somebody told you that Jesus loves you so.
You must tell someone, who will tell someone, -- Until the whole world knows -That each one can reach one;
As we follow after Christ
we all can lead one.
We can lead one to the Savior
And together we can tell the world
that Jesus is the way
If we each one reach one.
Reaching one with you,
Pastor John
Ladies, mark your calendars now for our next
meeting! It will be on Tuesday,
February 10, at 6:00 p.m. in the Family
Ministry Center. The theme is
"Friends and Chocolate",
two things that we as women
hold very dear!
Anita Ashworth will present a
devotion on the "recipe" for friendship.
We'll have white bean chicken chili for
dinner, and we're asking each lady to bring
something made of chocolate.
Plan now to come and enjoy this fun
evening--and bring a friend!!
SUMMER MISSION TRIP FOR
ADULTS July 19—25, 2015
Join Pastor John and Kathy in an opportunity to make
the difference in the life a special individual!
Camp Pioneer is a week long camp experience
portunity for mentally challenged individuals.
op-
What we are looking for are “Buddies”. As a “Buddy”,
you will be assigned some of our special mentally challenged campers. Your job for the week is to be with
them and help the campers have a wonderful week experience. Of course, we won’t abandon you in this mission! You and your campers will be part of a family
group and will receive plenty of support and backup
from staff members. What we need most is a willing
spirit and a loving heart. The only cost is transportation
to Leesburg. Contact Pastor John or Kathy for more
information.
Fellowship Group
Birthdays
3
John Gebhard
Marisa Duber
3
Diane Simpson
5
John Hawkins
Riley & Diane Palmer
Rudy & Laura Powell
Brad & Jill Richardson
Bobby & Marsha Plaines
Ron & Sheila Slik
Billie McClellan
Tracey Jackson
Bobby & Tata Ingram
Danny & Lisa Jackson
John & Eleanor Hawkins
David & Cathy Jackson
Paul Howard
7
8
Rebekah Slack
Children’s Sermons
Jay Finlayson
1
Kathy Hicks
4
J. T. Ward
8
Richards Finlayson
14 Tony & Becky Hogg
Elaine Kashmitter
15 Sally Pumphrey
17 Oswell & MaryAnn Maxwell
Virginia Blow
22 Ann Hatcher
24 Riley & Diane Palmer
Anniversaries
Roger & Alice Stadin
Guy Hood
9
Addison Braswell
12
Leighton Langford
13
Case Bulloch
Communion Elements
1 -
Acolytes
Ray & Juanice Hughes
Amrys Bishop
15
Greeters
Kevin Guidry
MacKenzie Wirick
1
- Ushers
18
Carrie Crocker
8
- Ushers
20
Judy Faircloth
15 - Ushers
22
Mike Sims
22 - Ushers
1
Hannah Richardson
8
Rommel Ingram
15 Georgia Mills
22 Spencer Richardson
Flowers
Bentley Braswell
1
Supplied by the Church
25
Mischa Bishop
8
Supplied by the Church
26
Linda Wolfe
February Cook Teams
4
- Cook Team #1, Alexander Team
15 Supplied by the Church
22 Supplied by the Church
11 - Cook Team #2, Manucy Team
Children’s Church
1 - Kathy Hicks, Lesson 5
8 - Nancy Whitty, Lesson 6
15 - Marilyn Youtzy - Lesson 7
22 - Andie Jerger - Lesson 8
18 - Cook Team #3, Bulloch Team
25 - Cook Team #4, Brown Team
Liturgist Schedule
1
Julia Price
8
Jeri Kimbrel
15 Jeri Kimbrel
22 Jeri Kimbrel
February 2015
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
6:00 - AED
Training -
8:30 - Praise & Worship
9:45 - Sunday School
Family Ministry
7:00 - Trustees
Center
9:00 - 2:00 4:30 - Bible Study
5:15-Prayer Group
11:00 - Traditional Worship
6:00 -Fellowship meal Cook Team #1
NOON - UMYF
6:45-Chancel Choir
6:30 - Missions
8
9
10
FREE District
Training at
Family Ministry
Center
9:30 & 6:00 Beth Moore
Study Class
6:45 - Youth Bible Study
11
12
13
14
Youth Rally
6:00 -
Nazarene
Valentines Day
Church
Dinner
Chuck Wagon Sunday
4:30 - Bible Study
8:30 - Praise & Worship
6:00 - Frances
Fellowship -
9:45 - Sunday School
Family Ministry
11:00 - Traditional Worship
Center
5:15-Prayer Group
6:00 -Fellowship meal Cook Team #2
sponsored by
6:45-Chancel Choir
the Youth
6:45 - Youth Bible Study
5:00 - UMYF
15
16
17
8:00 - Breakfast With Jesus
8:30 - Praise & Worship
18
4:30 - Bible Study
4:30 - School Board
5:15-Prayer Group
9:45 - Sunday School
11:00 - Traditional Worship
6:00 -Fellowship meal Cook Team #3
5:00- UMYF
6:45-Chancel Choir
19
9:30 & 6:00 -
20
21
6:00 -
Beth Moore
Dinner and a
Study Class
movie,
“King Corn”
6:45 - Youth Bible Study
22
8:30 - Praise & Worship
9:45 - Sunday School
11:00 - Traditional Worship
5:00 - UMYF
23
24
25
11:30 - 1:00 -
4:30 - Bible Study
Alzheimer’s
5:15-Prayer Group
Support Project
6:00 -Fellowship meal Cook Team #4
6:45-Chancel Choir
6:45 - Youth Bible Study
26
27
28
CHURCH STAFF
Pastor
John Hicks
CEC Director
Connie Swiggard
Administrative Assistant
Debra Roderick
Preschool Staff
Sue Ellen Beat
Praise & Worship Leader
Becky Stoutamire
Theodosia Blue
Chancel Choir Director
Amon Eady
Miranda Gillyard
Youth Leaders
Marisa Duber
Angie Morgan
Jamen Brock
Juanita Jones
Organists
Eleanor Hawkins
Linda Benedict
Pianists
Jane Freeland
Church Sexton
Tom Roderick
Church Phone
Church Fax
850-997-5545
850-997-6768
Laura Powell
Nursery Attendants
Tata Ingram
Pat Miller
Sally Pumphrey
Pat Johnson
First United Methodist Church
Non-Profit Organization
325 West Walnut Street
U.S. Postage Paid
Monticello, Florida
Permit No. 3
32344
Founded ca. 1828
Pastor John C. Hicks
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED