A monthly publication of the First United Methodist Church

The Voice Rev. Dr. Brian Bosworth, Pastor

Rev. Zack Landis, Associate Pastor

(940) 627-3362; info@decaturmethodist.org

The past few weeks have seemed like a blur in many ways. There were numerous days when it seemed like Christmas and Epiphany were just a couple of weeks ago and Ash Wednesday the other day. While it is true that Lent and Easter came earlier this year than most years, maybe it is because there has been so much going on that it seems like the calendar has been in the fast

lane for much of 2016. We have completed the church's Self-Study, which is a key piece to the Healthy Church Initiative Weekend Consultation (April 22-24). We had a number of weeks to complete questionnaires and surveys and finally gathered quite an array of data that will provide the consultants some useful information they will then give back to help shape and guide our future. Our building project, having experienced several minor delays since the Christmas holidays, appears to finally be free of those hurdles and poised to begin. We have finally made application with the City of Decatur for a building permit. While we wait their review and approval, dirt work and other initial or preparatory construction tasks will begin very soon. The actual permit issuance is expected with fourteen days. Even though Spring Break and Holy Week were back-to-back this year and some usual activities were canceled, the Methodist Women's Fellowship found time to make Easter baskets for the Wise Hope Crisis Center, the Youth made a quick trip to Oklahoma, the Chancel Choir beautifully performed their Easter Cantata, and Holy Week noon and evening services offered meaningful experiences for numerous worshippers. Adding District Leadership Training, Souper Bowl and Scholarship Committee auction, Women's Conference at Oak Grove UMC, Kingdom Man Conference, another wheelchair ramp build, and so much more to the list you can see why these weeks have been part of a blur for me. Yet, as we embark on the 50 days of the Easter Season, I am blessed to see more people getting reinvigorated and involved in more activities. I was especially pleased to see young people in church on Good Friday. School was out that day and the idea that young people made worship a priority gave me confidence people are following where the Holy Spirit is leading. Please look for ways to grow and serve. Also please pray for the church and how we will hear what God is trying to say for us as we prepare for the future. And don't forget to thank God for what is happening in and around us. We are blessed in countless ways. See you in worship, Brian

Issue 4 of 12

April 1, 2016

Youth: Laura Landis Children: Ashley Craven

Administrator: Bonnie Wohlleben Secretary: Raymona Kirkpatrick

Consultation Weekend April 22-24 As our HCI weekend approaches, there are activities that we hope everyone will plan to participate in. Friday April 22 includes a 7pm Focus Group for young people, regular guests, and church members who are not elected leaders in the church. The Sat-urday 9am Focus Group is for the Administrative Board and will be held in the Wesley Center. At 10am Saturday, the All-Church Workshop will be held in the Fellowship Hall from 10am-3pm. Nursery is provided for the Friday and Saturday events, but we need you to RSVP to ensure we have adequate staff available. The Saturday workshop also includes lunch, but we need an RSVP to ensure adequate food is available. The sign-up sheets for these events are in the Narthex. On Sunday, following the 10:50am service, the Lead Consultant for our weekend will read the Consultation Report and the church's prescriptions. There will then be 3 Town Hall meetings in the week following so that the prescriptions can be dis-cussed and questions regarding the prescriptions addressed. Finally, on May 22nd at noon, we will have a Church Conference to approve or reject the prescriptions that we are given. Your participation is important. Thanks for being involved!

Administrative Board Meeting

Sunday, April 3 12:00 p.m., Fellowship Hall

Preschool Board Meeting

Monday, April 4 6:00 p.m., Upper Room Classroom

Wise County United Methodist Men

Tuesday, April 5 7:00 p.m., Paradise UMC

Czech Committee Meeting

Tuesday, April 12 6:00 p.m., Character Builders Classroom

Decatur Methodist Women’s Ministry

Tuesday, April 19 6:00 p.m., Fellowship Hall

Trustees Meeting Tuesday, April 19

6:30 p.m., Character Builders Classroom

Staff Meeting Thursday, April 21

12:00 p.m., Character Builders Classroom

HCI Consultation Weekend April 22- April 24

Methodist Men’s Breakfast

Saturday, April 23 7:30 a.m., Fellowship Hall

CHURCH FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Vicki Gordon, Carolyn Kidd, Family of Sue Merritt,

Family of Fred & Sara Melear, Kim Conklin, Ed Hoffman, Carrie

Oberle , Rylan Macomb, Norma Dornack,

Bob Boland, Tim Rieger, Noah Smith, Kyle Williams,

Ryan Mims, Charlotte Boland, Matthew Roberson, Family of Al

McFadden, Family of Charles Cocanougher

In the Military: Charlie Fortenberry, Michael Jordan, Jake Logue, Garrett Muelstein, Josh Murphy,

Matthew Roberson, Kolin Rottner, Joshua VanNoy and Matthew Broker

2 - Eva Stephens 3 - Hannah Martin 4 - Tracy Salmon, Jenn Sanders 5 - Mati Hornback, Theresa Thornton, Shirley Watson 6 - Robbie Cartwright 7 - Jenna Renfro, Chance Walther 8 - Meiwen Brannan, Regina Stone 9 - Emily Boyd, Michael Carillo, Michael Pate, Emily Smith, Jordan Walker 10 - Stefanie, Keese, Carolyn Rhea, John Shenkir, Bessie Bell Watson 11 - Cliff Dudley, Ellie Miller, Luke Summers 12 - Andy Galloway, Madelynn Goss, Emma McAlister 13 - Ron Silvers 14 - Kennedy Hafer, Ronnie Keown, Benjamin Lunday Alden Sandford, Brian Swanson, Zach Trant 15 - Joyce Kirk, Stephen Short 16 - Dave Evans 17 - Gordon Hofstra, Jeffrey Short 18 - Zachary Knox, Sis Renshaw 19 - Marianne Henderson, Kathy Smith, Greg Walker 20 - Connie Arnold, Hanna Galloway, Craig Hutson 21 - Mary Helen Boyd, Mike Stone 22 - Bob Boland, Josh Grace 23 - Lamont Cunningham, Kelly Shrull 24 - Trey Klose, Tim Murphy 25 - Michael Little 27 - Emily Young 28 - Judy Deaton, Kirsten Eaton, Michael Smith 29 - Katie Koch, Lynda Trow 30 - B.V. Hammond, Trey Milliman

Reconnect Spring Schedule

4/6 – Week 9

4/13 – Week 10

4/20 – Week 11

4/27 – Week 12

April

Happenings

April

Birthdays

WORSHIP ASSISTANTS

April 3rd 8:30 a.m. Worship Service

Scripture Reader: Barbara Haley Communion Servers: Virginia Caraway & Sharon Meyer

Acolyte: Eleanor & Ben Bond 10:50 a.m. Worship Service

Scripture Reader: Murvelle Chandler Communion Servers: Austin & Valleri Sewell

Acolyte: Kathryn Highlander & Kennedy Hafer Counters: Jennifer Vaughan & Cary Bohn

April 10th 8:30 a.m. Worship Service

Scripture Reader: Virginia Caraway Communion Servers: Marguarette Roberts & Thomas Laird

Acolyte: Noah Holt 10:50 a.m. Worship Service

Scripture Reader: Valleri Sewell Acolytes: Nolan & Shelby Sewell

Counters: Casey Edwards & Gary Cocanougher

April 17th 8:30 Worship Service

Scripture Reader: Youth Communion Servers: Youth

Acolyte: Zoey Craven 10: 50 a.m. Worship Service

Scripture Reader: Youth Acolyte: Wiley Stone & Emma McAlister Counters: Dwight Reeves & Fred Renfro

April 24th 8:30 a.m. Worship Service

Scripture Reader: Rita Tucker Communion Servers: Asa Johnson & Ronnie Walker

Acolyte: Eleanor & Ben Bond 10: 50 a.m. Worship Service

Scripture Reader: Fred Renfro Acolytes: Julie Stone & Parker Deaton

Counters: Jennifer Vaughan & Mason Woodruff

April Communion Set Up: Seekers

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Every Monday, 1:00 p.m.

At the home of Mary Lambert

197 Emma Call Ct., Decatur, TX

Willing hands needed to knit or crochet prayer shawls

for the elderly and/or ill.

Demand is up and supplies are dwindling.

Call the church for more information.

All MEN INVITED We invite all men in our church (feel free to bring a guest) to meet in the Fellowship Hall on the fourth Saturday of every month at 7:30am for a time of fellowship and share a great hot breakfast prepared fresh by several of the guys in the group. Our next meeting will be April 23rd.

NEED HELP WITH SOMETHING AT YOUR HOME?

The Methodist Men's group in our church is offering to lend a hand or two or three to help you with a chore or small project, some-thing which one or a few of us could accomplish on a Saturday morning. Contact the church office and leave a message for us describing what we could help you with and we will get back with you to set it up.

Donations for WARM Canned Meats

Sunday Refreshments

Character Builders

Sunday Morning Greeters Life Builders

Visitor Follow-Up

Jeffrey Seal

Care Corp Margaurette Roberts, Notifier

Judy Deaton, Cynthia DesRoches, Sally Rieger, Dena Silvers, Barbara Haley, Sally Renshaw

To Our Church Family

Thank you for the cards, calls, visits, food and

especially your prayers while Sam was in the

hospital and is now at The Hills. Hopefully he

will soon be home and back to church.

The Renshaw Family

Lord, Thank you for our special relationship with our sister church in The Czech Republic. I pray as we begin to plan our trip to visit our sister church that you

will pour your Holy Spirit in the hearts of the participants. I ask for guidance and for all involved to be an example of your Love. Thank you for the oppor-tunity and as we enter the season of Spring and new beginnings, I pray we all remember the blessings you give us each and every day. In Christ’s Holy Name I pray, Amen.

Submitted by: Laura Landis

Prayer 2016 Walk to Emmaus Dates

Women’s Walk #115 October 13th to 16th

Men’s Walk #116 October 27th to 30th

If you are interested in attending a walk or would like more information about Emmaus, go to Red River Emmaus on

Facebook or redriveremmaus.com.

The next Gathering will be HERE, at FUMC Decatur, May 21st at 5:00 p.m.

Pot luck dinner with worship to follow All are welcome!

VISIT TO STRASNICE UMC IN PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC

AUGUST 2016 The Strasnice Church Committee is planning a visit tentatively scheduled for August 11 – 24 or 25. We have openings for at least three people. While the Committee is planning fund-raising events to cover air fare, room and board, persons desiring to go may have to share in these expenses. We have been invited to attend their summer camp to be held in south-ern Bohemia August 13 - 20 and participate in camp activities to possibly include English conversation classes with adults and children. Attendees will include members of Strasnice’s congregation as well as

other UMC congregations in the Prague area. The remainder of the time will be spent in Prague visiting our sister church and congregation and taking side trips, touring historical sites, shopping, etc. There will be no expenses during the summer camp portion of the trip. We are exploring the possibility of staying at the church-provided dor-mitory while in Prague. The camp is a beautiful facility in the mountains of Bohemia with all of the amenities you would expect of a sum-mer camp. Betty Jo Johnson of our Committee has been to the camp several years ago and can answer your questions concerning the camp.

Members of the congregation desiring to visit our sister church in the Czech Republic in August should contact

Dave Eaton at 817-403-3177 or david.g.eaton@gmail.com.

Check out the Czech News! The Czech Committee recently met and the following items were discussed:

We are going to visit this Summer! We are looking for people who would like to help lead an English Speaking Camp. The trip will take place August 11th - 25th. The cost of the trip will be approximately $2,500 per person, but we are raising funds to help aide in the cost of the trip.

We will have a dinner after church on May 15th followed by a dessert auction.

We look forward to learning more about the ministries of our sister church through our visit as well as continuing to grow our relationship.

Remember, you are always welcome to attend the meetings. We are looking for people to help build our relationship with our sister church!

Upcoming Events

Wednesday, April 6

UMYF—Wesley Center @ 5:30 - 7:30

Sunday, April 10

Bible Study at Laura’s House 5:00

Wednesday, April 13

UMYF—Wesley Center @ 5:30 - 7:30

Sunday, April 17

Bible Study at Laura’s House 5:00

Wednesday, April 20

UMYF—Wesley Center @ 5:30 - 7:30

Sunday, April 24

Bible Study at Laura’s House 5:00

Wednesday, April 27

UMYF—Wesley Center @ 5:30 - 7:30

Sunday, May 1

Bible Study at Laura’s House 5:00

Wednesday, May 4

UMYF—Wesley Center @ 5:30 - 7:30

July 17th - 23rd

Youth Mission Trip

In New Orleans and throughout the

outlying areas, families continue to rebuild their

lives in a city that still bears the scars of Hurri-

cane Katrina and the destruction it left behind.

As the recovery process ends, the process of

reestablishing communities continues. Our

group will join others from around the country

by completing home repair projects such as

basic repairs, painting, drywall, roofing and

building wheelchair ramps. Youth will also have

the opportunity to serve alongside area minis-

tries to help reach out through Christian service

to an area still in need.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!

We are sponsoring a Youth Day at Bridge-

port Camp for all youth of the Northwest Dis-

trict on May 7. Please consider helping with

the day. You can come out and enjoy the

wonderful camp!

Donations Needed - Cookies, Hamburgers

and fixings, water, and chips. We also need

We are “Singing” into

with the Children of First United Methodist Church

Children’s Choir will perform the song,

I am a Promise during late service on April 3rd. Please join us!

Children’s Campers will be hosting a bake sale April 17th.

This is the LAST fundraiser to help fund kiddos going to camp this summer!

The bake sale table will be set up in the Fellowship Hall before both services.

Please stop by and check out the goodies the kiddos baked.

We need your support!

This Spring our children will learn about many things.

Jesus Lives John 20:18 We Believe John 20:29

How to Spread Good News! Acts 2:47

Please join us for Sunday School as we bloom into the Lord!

Our annual VBS has been scheduled for June

26th-30th . We kick off celebrations starting at

5:45pm and we will wrap it up each day at 7pm.

Please join us for this amazing quest as we

follow Jesus the light of the world!

We are in need of volunteers. Please see me to

sign up to help with this amazing event!

If you have any questions please contact me at

(682) 201-6234

Thank you for sharing your with me.

They are truly a blessing, each and every one of them!

Ashley Craven

After Easter

Wow! We just got through one of our busiest times of the year. From Palm Sunday to

Easter Sunday, we hosted 12 services, that’s a lot in case you were wondering.

Despite this being a very busy season, I was able to spend some time with my family on the Saturday before Easter.

One of the things that we ended up talking about was what my parents used to do after Easter. In my mom’s family,

they always did the same thing on Easter afternoon. After church and lunch, they would do yard work. In Ohio, Easter

always seemed to be around the right time to start getting the yard in order after the long winter. For my mom, this

was something that they usually always did on Easter afternoon, and as a reward or treat for helping out, they would

end the day by going to the Dairy Queen.

This year, Laura and I did some work on the outside of our house as well. Our yard needed to be mowed and we also

wanted to clean up a bit. It took me a while to get the mower and weed eater going, but I eventually did. Also, thanks

to Parker Cullop, I didn’t have to mow. As Parker (you rock by the way) mowed, Laura and I work picking up a few

odds and ends in the yard, and we worked on our patio set which we want to start using more. It was nice to be outside

a bit and get things ready for the spring, and it was nice to connect to my mom’s family tradition.

But another question still lingers in my mind. What are we supposed to do “After Easter?” In Pastor Brian’s Easter

sermon he kind of addressed this question. Many of us spent the season of Lent deepening our spiritual lives through

different spiritual disciplines. However, many of us get through this busy time and we are ready for a break, but is that

really what we are supposed to do? Brian talked about how many of us “Settle” for the empty tomb. Did you go

through this season but then go right back to life as usual? Are you settling for an empty tomb or are you living your

life like the empty tomb makes a difference?

For me, it was nice to have some time to rest after Easter, but that doesn't mean there is no work for us to do. Maybe

the family tradition that my mom’s family had can teach us a few things, and I’m not talking about yard work. I think

this after Easter tradition can be a helpful reminder that there is still work for us to do after Easter. Be “After Easter”

people who don't just settle for an empty tomb but keep working for the kingdom.

In Christ’s Service,

Zack

All Church Workshop

Saturday, April 23rd Fellowship Hall 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Please RSVP so adequate provision may be

made for lunch and the nursery.

Sign up sheet is located in the Narthex.

Make plans to attend this important workshop.

www.decaturmethodist.org

Like us on facebook FUMC Decatur, Texas

Follow us on Twitter @fumcdecaturtx

Follow us on Instagram fumcdecaturtx

For any submissions in The Voice, email Scan here for

administrator@decaturmethodist.org online giving! or call the church office at (940)627-3362.

First United Methodist Church Presorted Standard

104 South Miller Street Non-Profit Organization

Post Office Box 302 U.S. Postage Paid

Decatur, Texas 76234-0302 Permit No. 166

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

THIS NEWSLETTER CREATED ESPECIALLY FOR

YOU!

Monday, April 25 at 1:00 p.m.

Thursday, April 28 8:30 a.m.—Character Builders Classroom