VOLUME 46 No. 13 MARCH 30, 2016

Happy Easter!

EASTER is not just one day but a season of fifty days, beginning with Easter Sunday and continuing through Pentecost. The central theme of the Easter season is both the resurrection of Jesus, and his life giving presence in the Church by the power ofthe Holy Spirit. Easter is a seven-week (eight Sundays) celebration encompassing the resurrection, the ascension, and the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Mark Your Calendars April 16-17: Hill T.O.P.

Sunday, April 17: Sesquicentennial Kickoff of 150 Years of Ministry, Rev. Prentiss Gordon here Wednesday, April 26: Children’s Choir Program—6:00 p.m.—Sanctuary

Jubilee Singers and Jubilation Choir will present The Troubbable of Zerubbabel with special music from the Carol choir

Thursday, April 21: District Lay Rally, Wesley Hall Sunday, May 1: Confirmation Sunday—All Services

Wednesday, May 4: Spring Fling—5:30 p.m.—East Lawn Sunday, May 8: Youth Choir Program—8:45 & 11 a.m. Traditional Worship

Sunday, May 15: Baccalaureate Sunday—All Services Monday, June 6—Friday, June 10: Vacation Bible School

Thursday, June 9—Saturday, June 11: Annual Conference—Jackson

Sesquicentennial Celebration

The Sesquicentennial committee is pleased to announce our first event in the celebration of our yearlong 150th anniversary celebration. Reverend Prentiss Gordon Sr., our beloved pastor from 1983-1994, will be preaching at our church on Sunday, April 17. Reverend Gordon’s walk with Christ started in Choctaw County on December 23, 1925. He graduated high school in Weir and joined the U.S. Air Force as a gunnery instructor during World War II. Reverend Gordon married his wife of 64 years, Mary Lee Blain Gordon, on November 29, 1942, and they were blessed with four children. He attended Wood Junior College, Mississippi State University, and Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Reverend Gordon was an active minister in First United Method-ist Church’s across Mississippi from 1955-1994. He is now a pastor emeritus of First United Meth-odist Church, Starkville and continues his ministry to others through outreach to those who cannot attend church and through weddings, baptisms, and funerals as he has done for over 68 years. We invite you to make attending the service on Sunday, April 17, 2016 a priority as a part of our sesqui-centennial celebration. Fun Fact for Wednesday, March 30 – Reverend Prentiss Gordon is credited with significant mile-stones in helping to develop our church. Did you know that the new organ and chapel became a part of our church through his support during his tenure as our Senior Pastor?

If you have any photos of Rev. Gordon while he was in ministry at FUMC Tupelo, please email these to marystewart@fumctupelo.com or bring them by the church office.

The Call by Adam Hamilton,

a four-week study on the life and ministry of Paul

March 30: The Man, The Conversion, the Early Ministry

April 6: Called to Go – Paul’s 1st Missionary Journey

April 13: Called to Suffer – Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey

April 20: Called to Give – Paul’s 3rd Missionary Journey

This study includes short DVD footage following Adam Hamilton’s walk through Paul’s journey, as well as dis-cussion from scripture and from Hamilton’s book, The Call.

From the road to Damascus to the sun-drenched lands of modern-day Greece and Turkey to a Roman prison, go with Adam Hamilton as he follows the journeys of Paul in a four-week study about Christianity’s greatest teacher and missionary. You’ll see exactly where some of the most dramatic events in the spread of Christianity took place.

Wednesdays Dinner begins at 5:15 p.m.

$6 per person/$20 per family Study is at 6:00 p.m.

Friday, April 1—11:30 a.m. Wesley Hall

Have lunch with The Most Interesting Man in Lee County on April 1—no fooling! Our very own Emmy Award-winning newscaster Judd Hambrick will entertain and enlighten with a walk through history. If you have heard Judd speak before, you will not want to miss this and if you have never heard him, you will be thrilled you decided to attend! You really don't want to miss this church-wide spring luncheon sponsored by Primetimers. Bring a friend! Any attendees not a member of FUMC will be our guest and eat free. Lunch is $5 and reservations are needed. Email reservation to helen@fumctupelo.com or call 690-8100.

Thanks to all of you for your generous support of the FUMC Library through the Usborne Book Fair. We received numerous free children’s books for the preschool and the library. We have picture book sets of fairy tales, beginning readers’ sets of animals and much more. Stop by and check out the new material soon!!

Youth Parents, we want to keep you in the loop! If you are currently not receiving updates about youth news, text @fumct to 81010. This will allow you to receive text up-dates about the Youth without being in a group text!

During the month of April, Older Children will be collecting bars of soap for Helping Hands! Bring your donation to Sunday School!

EASTER LILIES If you ordered Easter Lilies and have not paid for them, please bring your payment to the church office or mail it to FUMC, P.O. Box 854, Tupelo, MS 38802. The Lilies are $10 each.

Vacation Bible School 2016 June 6-10, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Registration for children begins THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 3.

Volunteer sign-up forms are located in the Gathering Room and Wesley Hall. Join us as we teach our children that God is with them—wherever they go!

Tuesday, April 12 6-8 p.m. in the CLC Kitchen

Theme: “Spring Salads”

Due to the upcoming retirement of Lee McKenzie, we are currently accepting applica-tions and resumes for a Financial Secretary. Applications and a job description are avail-able in the church office. Please contact Shannon Turner, Church Administrator, at shan-non@fumctupelo.com if you need more information.

Mary Richey Circle

Monday, April 11

1:30 a.m.

Gathering Room

Hostess:

LaDonna Shepherd

1 George Booth Elaine Lovorn

Smythe McCoy Ellen McGregor

2 Swan Burrus Grace Clark

David Copenhaver Ann Gibbs

Miriam Ogg Miller Ogg Bill Spencer

3 Bennett Mize

Shirley Neuhaus 4

Sandy Avent Joby Collins

Ansley Garner Howard Hinds

5 Brett Pund Mac Smith

Dawn Southworth 6

Cameron Cole Stephen Spencer

7 John Guyton

Joyce Johnston Susan Pilgrim

8 Maggie Oxford Phillip Williams

9 Lauren Briscoe Charlie White

10

Angela Britton Clay Crabb

Lauren Zuelzke 11

Smitty Harris 12

Julie Gough Tommy Green Lavenia Moore

Leigh Anne Moore David Rather

13 Audra Atkins

McKenzie Denton Madison Weatherford

14 Rachel Becker

Ruth Hollingsworth 15

Emily Addison Millie Daniel Judy Jones

Benton Hilbun, III Zeke Neuhaus

16 Noah Carpenter

Lauren L. Darsey Brock Kelly Stella Parker

Kaylee Waldrip 17

Abrielle Carnathan Kirk Presley Polly Pund

Ty Robinson 18

Andy Anderson Jack Babb

Mickey Gousset Anthony Mayfield

Ben McAlilly Angelia Thomas

Dick White 19

Tony Gaines Jr. Mary Katherine Harris

Betty Huddleston Matt Jordan Josh Martin 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

Allison Spencer 24

Dudley Carr, Jr. David Irwin Chad May

Paul Mize, III 25

Elizabeth Biddle 26

Johnny Lippincott Bonnie Mize

Jim Stone 27

Kalyn Lake Hayden Palmer Ashley Prince Jacob Prince

Mary Stewart Rhea Jack Trumpore

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

SUNDAY, APRIL 3 8:45 Worship, Sanctuary 8:45 The Invitation, WH 10:00 Sunday School 11:00 Worship, Sanctuary 4:00 Cub Scouts 5:00 Earthkeepers, 216 5:00 Youth Choir 6:00 Youth Small Groups 6:00 6th Grade Small Groups MONDAY, APRIL 4 2:30 CASA, CLC 5:00 Book Group, CR TUESDAY, APRIL 5 8:00-11:30 Clothes Closet Open for Donations 9:00 Invitation Worship Planning, CR 10:00 Faithbuilders, 207

10:30 Staff Meeting, CR 2:30 CASA, CLC 3:00 Carol Choir 5:30 Christian Formation Meeting, CR 6:00 Hill T.O.P. Meeting, FH WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6 7:00 Youth Prayer Breakfast, Connie’s 2:30 CASA, CLC 3:00 Children’s Choir 5:15 Refresh Dinner, WH 6:00 “The Call” Paul Study, WH 6:00 Sanctuary Handbells 6:00 Youth Worship, CLC 7:00 Chancel Choir THURSDAY, APRIL 7 8:00-11:30 Clothes Closet Open for Donations 9:00 Invitation Worship Planning

1:15 Traceway Van 2:30 CASA, CLC FRIDAY, APRIL 8 7:00 Prayer Group, Chapel 2:30 CASA, CLC SATURDAY, APRIL 9 9:00-12:00 Helping Hands Open

SERVING SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2016

ACOLYTES & CRUCIFERS: 8:45 Traditional: Madison Denton(c), Carter Brown(a) 11:00 Grace Pitcock(c), Clark Atkinson(a) SANCTUARY SOUND: 8:45: Wes Partin 11:00: Robert Marion TV OPERATORS: David Dillard, Jim Karrant, Lee McKenzie GREETERS: 8:45 Traditional: David Brevard The Invitation: Dana Foster 11:00: Dianne and Barney Guyton USHERS: 8:45 Traditional: Chris Hill, Lindsey Leake, George Rutledge The Invitation: Nat Leathers, Jamie Osbirn, Kevin Rose, Bill Spencer 11:00: Jeff Short

STEWARDSHIP

2016 Budget Goal.........................................$2,331,817.43 2016 Needed Weekly .......................................$44,842.65 2016 Three-Month Budgeted Amounts...........$582,954.08 Last Week’s Offering through 3/25...................$27,812.57 2016 Offering through 3/25.............................$639,690.79 Spent to Date 2016 through 3/25.....................$494,049.34

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH—TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI CALENDAR FOR APRIL 3-9, 2016

\GIVEN IN HONOR OF …Jack Reed, Sr. By: M/M Jim Black D/M Jack Foster M/M Nat Leathers M/M Mike Ferris M/M Mickey Akers M/M Brian Steger Dona Porter M/M Bob Laney Carolyn Perry M/M David A. White M/M Coy Livingston …Edward Warren By: M/M Jim Black …Sara Biddle …Kirk Caldwell By: D/M Jack Foster …Leslie Threadgill By: M/M Mickey Akers Jane Riley M/M David A. White M/M Coy Livingston …Betty Childers By: Dona Porter M/M Coy Livingston

…Addie Mae Jamieson By: Carolyn Perry …Wright Poland By: Carolyn Perry M/M Coy Livingston …Laverne Commer By: M/M David A. White …Lee Rogers By: D/M R.A. Peace …Margaret Hight By: W.E. Pegues Funeral Dir. GIVEN IN HONOR OF …Jack Foster By: Dorothy Fairbank …Samuel Reid Waldrip By: M/M Smitty Harris