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“Come expectantly seeking Jesus. Follow Him boldly. Go witness intentionally.” December 2018/January 2019

The very first chapter of J. Oswald Sanders book “Spiritual Maturity” is entitled “The Overruling Providence of God.” The book is considered a spiritual classic written by an author of over 40 books. And Sanders insists that the first thing that the spiritually mature understand is the outworking of divine providence. Sanders cites Romans 8:28 And we know that [k]God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

That’s what the mature understand: that God causes ALL things to work together for good. We are easily (initially) beguiled by the immediate – whatever the circumstance may be. But the spiritually mature pause to remember the promise that God causes all things to work together for good. Sanders writes: “this sentence can bring unlimited comfort and cheer to the Christian in times of testing…It turned sighing to singing.. [ Paul believed that ] Everything, whether seemingly adverse or advantageous, would certainly turn out for the best.” This is the perspective of spiritual maturity. To us, the future is veiled in shadows. But we are called to a confidence that God will take whatever negative circumstance and go to work to cause them to work out for our good. On Tuesday morning I was a little overwhelmed by the immediate – water cascading down walls in JOY Hall; our sesquicentennial luncheon necessarily postponed; interruption of ministry. But it is to the principle and promise of God’s providence working in our circumstances that I turned – both in perspective and in prayer. I hope you will join me in praying that God will take this unfortunate circumstance and cause it to work toward our good. I believe that He will. Now we are turning the seasonal corner from thanksgiving to Advent. As we do, I am reminded that when Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem, the circumstances were far from promising. They found no room in the inn. But there was a manger and a stable and they have become one of the most heart-warming and endearing symbols of the season. May we too find, in God’s providential provision for us, something that will be so endearing and heartwarming as well. See you Sunday.

The Messenger

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USHER? Ushering at our worship services is an easy way to serve the church, especially when we have plenty of helpers on each team. If you are interested in joining us, please contact Darrell or Debby Slabaugh at 903-383-2392.

8:30 am Service Mike Gilmore

Tammy Gilmore Annette Wilbourn

11:00 am Service Carolyn Manning

Kevan Burroughs, Ben Burroughs, Ava Burroughs, Michelle Dobbs, Abby Dobbs

Bob Asmussen, Bob Blackwell,

Gary DeArmond, Bruce Grider,

Janet McGill-Faubion, Saundra Mott, Jan Nisbet,

George Rosewall, Gary Simpkins, Ron Wimp

.08:30 am Service Mike Gilmore

Tammy Gilmore Annette Wilbourn

11:00 am Service Carolyn Manning

Kevan Burroughs, Ben Burroughs, Ava Burroughs, Michelle Dobbs, Abby Dobbs

Third Monday of the month Meal at 6:30 pm

bring a dish to share

December 17, 2018 at Liberty UMC

Program: Wood County Master Gardeners

Host: Keith Zimmerman

WNL Announcement

The WNL adult class will be postponed until repairs are completed in JOY Hall.

Children and Youth will continue to meet in the Well

at their normal time.

Until JOY Hall repairs are completed, all Sunday School classes who volunteered to serve dinner will no longer be needed, as dinner for the Youth and Children’s

ministries will be provided.

Thank you for your continued patience and support as the repairs to JOY Hall are made.

Please join us for one of the following Christmas Eve services:

5 pm—6 pm Family friendly Children’s Worship Service and

Christmas Play presentation

7 pm—8 pm Traditional Worship Service

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December @ FUMC 12/2 1:30 pm—Trustee Meeting 12/3 2 pm—Writing Club 12/6 10 am—Crafty Christians at Liberty UMC 12/9 6 pm — Christmas Cantata 12/10 2 pm—Book Club 12/24 5 pm—Children’s Christmas Eve Worship 7 pm—Traditional Christmas Eve Worship

Weekly @ FUMC Sunday 8:30 am—Worship 9:30 am—Sunday School 11:00 am—Worship Monday 9:00 am—n-JOY Line Dancing 11:00 am—Covenant Prayer Group 5:15 pm—Bell Choir Rehearsal Tuesday 9:00 am—Coffee & a Chat Wednesday 5:15 pm—WNL Meal 5:45 pm—WNL Worship 6:00 pm—WNL Bible Studies 7:00 pm—Choir Rehearsal Thursday 7:00 am - Men’s Breakfast at Country Kitchen

General Fund Financial Update As of November 28, 2018

Year-To-Date Giving $334,518. Year-To-Date Budget $375,577.

FUMC Communion Rail Offering

November: $ 370 to Methodist Children’s Home, Waco

December: Christmas Sharing

The Book Club

“America’s First Daughter”

by Stephanie Dray & Laura Kamoie

2:00 pm, December 10 in the Life Classroom

12/1 Janet McGill Faubion 12/1 Parker Simpkins 12/2 Darrell Gary 12/3 Kenneth Fette 12/4 Mark Breding 12/4 Brooklin Benson 12/5 Ethel Kelley

12/6 David Dobbs 12/10 Dell Cox 12/10 JaNan Straznicky 12/13 Mikayla Hubbard 12/13 Gary Thurman 12/14 Heather Marcee 12/14 Brenley von Reyn 12/15 Kevan Burroughs 12/16 Becky Bradfield 12/16 Jan Lumley 12/16 Vanessa Simpkins 12/18 Jentri Jackson

12/18 Greg Taylor 12/19 Kayla Emmert 12/19 Kevin Emmert 12/20 Michael Hipp 12/21 Shelby Tackett 12/25 Stephen Fulce 12/26 Katie Pepler 12/27 Stephen Cates 12/30 Kay Robinson 12/30 Annette Wilbourn 12/30 Katie Hatcher 12/31 Allie Medlin

1/3 William Leake 1/3 Colton Otto 1/3 Maggie Styles 1/5 Lindsey Baker 1/6 Rita Reed 1/7 Donna Davis 1/8 Keaton Cameron 1/9 Sarah Medlin

1/9 Beth Moore 1/9 Sue Bonnette 1/10 Bill McPherson 1/10 Ron Wimp 1/12 Sandra Grider 1/12 Marilyn Robinson 1/12 BlakeThurman 1/14 Daniel Cainin Lee 1/18 Donna Martin 1/20 Sally Leake 1/22 Layni Marie Baker 1/22 Patricia Kostial 1/23 Beth Aikman

1/23 Chloe Hatcher 1/24 Lucas DeGorostiza 1/25 John Huffman 1/26 Bob Blackwell 1/26 Bert Blair 1/27 Melissa Bashioum 1/27 Sherri Young 1/28 Betty Dalhoff 1/28 Sue Edwards 1/28 Jodi Otto 1/29 Jani Taylor 1/29 Carley Tucker 1/29 Darrin Whiddon

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A Thanksgiving meal of turkey, dressing, gravy, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, rolls and dessert was prepared for distribution in the community. Some dinners were picked up by church members, and 16 others were delivered to seniors in the area. Additionally, eight meals were delivered to jailers at the Justice Center. A total of 28 people were served. This was a very successful outreach. Special thanks to Nan and Ronnie Vance, JoAnn and Keith Zimmerman, and the Denson family for all of the kitchen laughter and hard work.

The East Texas Food Bank recently sent a letter of thanks to our church for our contribution to the Quitman Backpack program. Below is an excerpt from the letter sent by their Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Dennis J. Cullianane. “Your support enables us to continue supplying food to more than 200 partner agencies and programs across 26 East Texas counties, feeding nearly 253,000 people each year. Your support also allows us to continue our targeted anti-hunger programs including BackPack, Kids Café, Afterschool Snack, Summer Food, Senior Box, Fresh Produce, Benefits Assistance, and Nutrition Education. Altogether, we provide approximately 21 million meals each year. The East Texas Food Bank has been fighting hunger and feeding hope in East Texas for 30 years. Our vision is the same as it has been from the beginning: ‘A hunger-free East Texas.’ As we look to the future, we are renewing our commitment to feed the hungry today and to solve the problem of hunger for tomorrow. We could never do this vital work without your help. On behalf of the East Texas Food Bank all all those we serve, thank you!”

FUMC choir members having fun around NYC.

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Hello All! Happy to give some updates on happenings for our children! We've had some changes due to the flood in JOY Hall. Breakfast with Santa will be at Liberty Methodist Church. Family Movie Night has been canceled, as a result of JOY Hall being closed. Children's Christmas Eve Service will be held in the sanctuary. Breakfast with Santa will be December 1st @ 9am. Please, come out to Liberty and take the time to have a picture taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and enjoy breakfast. It is a FREE event and always fun! I am happy to have the help of the Open Door Class with food, and the Life Class with decorations. Thank you so much! The Children's Ministry Garage Sale was a great success. We've had about $530 raised so far; from sales and two very generous donations. The money has helped purchase another glider, some decorative pillows, and wall decals for the nursery. In addition, pay for the changing table in the nursery, and purchase two new high chairs for JOY Hall. A HUGE THANK YOU to Brenda Powell and Carley Tucker for volunteering to help work the garage sale. We couldn't have done it without them and all of the generous donations. Despite the flood in JOY Hall and the cancelation of WNL; we still plan to meet with the children. We are excited to continue working on our Christmas Play for the Christmas Eve service. "Preach the Gospel always, when necessary use words." - St. Francis of Assisi Valerie McWhorter Children's Minister Calling All Heroes! Additional help organizing Sunday Kids Bags. Thank you for being a "real" hero! Carley Tucker & Brenda Powell for all your help with the Children's Ministry Garage Sale! To everyone who donated to our Children's Ministry Garage Sale! To those who provided donations to the Children's Ministry Garage Sale! I appreciate your kindness, generosity, and support! Lauren Tucker & Will McWhorter for helping out in the nursery, when Mrs. Joe was out!

Pictures from the garage sale held on November 10th.

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Ponderations by Roy Faubion

Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. It seems to me that it is a good thing when Christmas lights shine throughout the world. Oh, I feel the over-commercialization of the season, just as you do. Yet, it is important that followers of Christ express joyfully and excitedly that the King is coming. Helping to light the world is one way to make a joyful noise. As the song says, “If everyone lit just one little candle, what a bright world this would be.” Let the star shine in you. Merry Christmas!

Lepha

We left as just a little choir from a little Texas town. But something happened in New York that made us more, more than we ever expected to become. Twelve hours under the direction of a master conductor/composer has made a world of difference for all of us. His wisdom guided us to a new level of singing; a new appreciation for choral music and a desire to be better than we thought we ever could be. This entire process began in January with a phone call and it will end with a concert on December 9 at 6 p.m. Please make plans to joins us for that evening. Thank you, we truly could not have done it without your love and support. The coming year will bring opportunity for all to use these nuggets of wisdom and rise to a new level of singing. The opportunity to join us is available for you too, there's plenty of room in the choir loft and we welcome you with open arms. It's not all work and drudgery either - we do occasionally have fun and laugh. In this Christmas season may God's glory be revealed to you.

Much love, Lepha

FUMC choir members pose before their concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City, Monday 11/26.

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LIBERTY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: AN OLD CHURCH WITH A STRONG HEART

LIBERTY LINES By John Sparks

All of us in the local greater Methodist community were saddened by the death of longtime Liberty member Cathleen “Pete” Kennard. Pete observed her 97th birthday on October 29 just before her passing on November 7, 2018. Her passion for hats, her delightful sense of humor, her direct and outspoken thoughts and opinions--but most especially her hugs will be missed by all. Our sympathies are with her devoted daughter Neva and her extended and scattered family who share a long history within the Liberty congregation. Warm memories of this distinctly unique lady will continue to bring smiles to all of us for years to come. Our Northwest District Superintendent Reverend Marlin Fenn oversaw the annual district conference at the Mineola FUMC Community Building for the four Wood County congregations in the district—Mineola, Quitman, Hawkins and Liberty. Lay discussions were encouraged on the topics of Making Disciples among children, Making New Disciples and specific outreaches including: “Who outside our congregation is our church loving well?” “How are our communities more like the kingdom of God’’ “How is our church encouraging people in the community to deeper faith?” “With which other congregation(s) can we team up to share disciple making plans?” More on some of the answers to these thought provoking questions in later issues. Bishop Scott Jones offers a reading list as follows: “Autopsy of a Deceased Church” (Tom Rainer) “A Disciple’s Path” James Harnish and “Fresh Expressions” (Kenneth Carter & Audrey Warren. The annual seasonal decorating work session is scheduled for Friday, November 27. We’ll begin at Noon. Liberty’s annual Christmas Party will be held Friday, December 14 at 6:00 pm. featuring a “White Elephant” gift exchange. Admission is a pair of socks and gloves (children’s sizes). Those participating in the Christmas Caroling outreach will gather at Fellowship Hall at 3 p.m. Sunday, December 9. Two members of Liberty, Arlan Flake and Stuart Boswank, attended a workshop devoted to the issue of Church Security. The session, held at Hollybrook Baptist Church on Saturday, November 17, provided participants with suggested measures to protect lives and property.

Weekly @ Liberty Sunday

8:30 am—Early Risers Sunday School 9:30 am—Worship 11:00 am—Lunch Bunch Sunday School

Tuesday 9:30 am—Liberty Prayer Circle 6:00 pm—Snack ‘n’ Chat

Friday 10 am—Women’s Bible Study (not 12/23)

Liberty UMC Communion Rail Offering for December 2, 2018

Methodist Mission Home

For Liberty UMC

Dec. 2 – Liberty Choir will present selections from the Christmas Musial, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” Dec. 9 – Caroling – we will meet at the church at 3 P.M. and go caroling Dec. 10 — UMM meet @ QUMC 6 p.m. Dec. 12 — Trustee meeting 6 p.m. Dec. 13 — Council meeting 6:30 p.m. Dec. 14 – Annual Christmas Party, 6 p.m.– everyone please bring a “White Elephant” gift for the exchange. Dec. 16 – “Liberty Bells” Handbell choir will be presenting their Christmas Program

No Fellowship Dinner in December.

12/4 Stuart Boswank 1/19 Alice Lee 12/8 Jerry Hurt 1/20 Marie Folmar 12/14 Deborah Dopson 1/21 Elizabeth 12/14 Tommy Baxter Deuson 12/25 Anna Wilkins 1/25 Sally Huffman 12/26 Richard Clifton 1/30 Ann Flake 12/28 Woody Gasperin 1/30 Jim Gould 12/31 Patty Hurt 1/11 Lenora Gasperin 1/13 Patsy Alaniz 1/16 Vicki Ritchie 1/18 Jim Winkles

Liberty UMC is attempting to chronicle the efforts and contributions of our members and groups as we provide Christian outreach through individual service and monetary responses to the needs of those around us. A recording book is available near the bookcases on the west wall of Fellowship Hall. Please place your expressions of Christian Love in this book.

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First United Methodist Church 406 E. Lane Street

903-763-4127

Early Worship 8:30 am Sunday School 9:45 am Worship 11:00 am

www.fumcquitman.org

_________________________

Liberty United Methodist Church 2581 E. St Hwy 154

903-967-2510

Sunday School 8:30 am Worship 9:30 am Sunday School 10:45 am

www.libertyumc.info

“Transforming God’s Children Into Disciples”

HAVE YOU MOVED OR HAVE A NEW PHONE NO? If so, please contact the church office at 903-763-4127 to update our records.

Non-Profit Org. US Postage Paid

Permit No. 14 Quitman, TX

First United Methodist Church P O Box 1643 Quitman, TX 75783

2018 FUMC Contacts Back Pack Program Kevan Burroughs 903-850-2919 Children’s Programs Valerie McWhorter 903-763-4127 Church Council Chair Jack Robinson 903-763-5555 Crafty Christians Donna Guvernator 903-763-4314 Adult Choir Lepha Luttrall 903-366-1506 Endowment Chair Darrell Slabaugh 903-383-2392 Finance Chair Beth Aikman 903-878-2184 Handbells—FUMC Becky Bradfield 903-763-8003 Church Office office@fumcquitman.org 903-763-4127 Newsletter church office 903-763-4127 Missions Chair Keith & JoAnn Zimmerman 979-299-8047 Trustees Chair Bill McPherson 903-967-7263 Savor the Word Rita Johns 903-763-5744 Staff Parish Relations Teresa Dunn 903-312-1660 U M Men Keith Zimmerman 979-299-8047 Worship Chair Diane Blackwell 903-763-1227 -any others— church office 903-763-4127