The Circuit Writer March, 2013

Volume 2, Issue 3

Imagine you’re a teenager and you’ve just been

asked to go without eating for 30 hours. It’s usually a

shock for most young people to think about. That’s

exactly why we do it. Everyday people around the

world go hungry, and not because they choose to do

so. Because they lack food, they also deal with vari-

ous medical conditions and, on average, 29,000 people

die everyday due to issues relating to

malnutrition. This is not okay!

The 30 Hour Famine is a program

designed to help raise awareness and

funds for children around the world.

Participants go without eating for 30

hours to share in the struggle of others.

We host the famine as a lock-in for JR

High and High School students. No,

we don’t eat, but we do have fun, learn

about what we can do to help others

and we begin making our difference.

Consider this an invitation to every student you

know to join us. The Famine is scheduled for May 10

-11. We have our first informational meeting sched-

uled for Thursday, March 21st at 6:30pm. This is for

students and parents to hear more about what we’re

doing and ask any questions about the Famine. Con-

tact our office or speak with John or Gloria Fletcher

for more information.

30 Hours Without What?

The Reverend Terrence Hayes is completing his final

year as our Victoria District Superintendent (DS). His

term will be completed and a new DS will be ap-

pointed at Annual Conference in June. In the mean-

time, we have the blessing of welcoming Terrence to

our congregation once again before he is appointed

elsewhere. On Sunday, March 24th he

is scheduled to preach at our Palm

Sunday worship service. Terrence is a

gifted preacher; without a doubt you

will appreciate his words. Make sure

you’re with us to welcome and show

our appreciation to Terrence.

Make your plans to celebrate Easter with us.

• Mar 27: Bible study about the last night Jesus spent

with his disciples. We meet at 6:30pm

• Mar 28: Maundy Thursday worship service at 7pm

• Mar 29: Good Friday worship service at 7pm

• Mar 31: Easter Sunrise service at 7am

• Mar 31: Fellowship breakfast following

sunrise service

Easter Schedule

• A Cause for Celebration, page 2

• Theological Word to Know, page 2

• Church Calendar, page 3

Inside This Issue: • Church Worship Schedule, page 4

• Faith is Fun, page 5

• BeADisciple.com, page 5

For the message about the cross

is foolishness to those who are perishing,

but to us who are being saved

it is the power of God.

1Corinthians 1:18

Superintendent to Visit FUMC

March is full of exciting holidays. Here are a few: Pea-nut Butter Lover’s Day; If Pets Had Thumbs Day; Holy Experiment Day; Frozen Food Day; Extraterrestrial Ab-ductions Day; Goof-Off Day; Something on a Stick Day; I Am in Control Day. Laugh now, but we’ll see how you feel come Chocolate Covered Raisin Day! Of course, calling these days holidays might be a stretch. Still, these made-up days help us break the monotony of each day and give us something to celebrate. So, enjoy them if you like, but also recall there is another day in March that gives real meaning. For many, Easter first brings images of eggs and choco-late, or some combination of both. Bunnies and baskets are a must, as are family barbecues, too. These help us enjoy the day and the opportunity to meet with family and friends to celebrate. So, enjoy them, but know that our true meaning as God’s people is celebrated in Christ’s Resurrection. That’s why some people call it Resurrec-tion Day; we are Resurrection people. God’s love was proven on Friday and we see the power of God on Sun-day. Christ’s Resurrection brings hope and new life every day. That’s worth a celebration!

Blessed Beyond Belief,

A Cause for Celebration

Regeneration

In theological terms, this is the concept of God’s

work in us that brings new life. Think of spiri-

tual rebirths or the phrase “growing in grace.”

"While I was preaching at West Street in the afternoon there

was one of the most violent storms I ever remember. In the

midst of the sermon great part of a house opposite to the chapel

was blown down. We heard a huge noise, but knew not the

cause; so much the more did God speak to our hearts; and

great was the rejoicing of many in confidence of

His protection."

Journal, March 15, 1752

Theological Word to Know

Your Ad Board At Work

Words From Wesley

The Administrative Council is the hub for all the

ministry of our church. It is the group that helps

the various ministry leaders fulfill their commit-

ment to serve. It is a group that fosters encourage-

ment, spiritual discernment and accountability so

that our church can move forward with God’s

plans. Members of the council are elected each

year and others are appointed by virtue of another

leadership office.

These people are charged with the responsibility

of leading our church. We hope you are in the

habit of praying for and encouraging them. You

should also know that you are invited to attend any

of our council meetings; meeting dates are posted

each month. Your voice and opinion matter and

help our leaders make faithful ministry decisions.

The Circuit Writer Page 2

According to his great mercy, he has caused us to

be born again to a living hope through the resur-

rection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

1 Peter 1:3

MARCH 2013

Shiner First United Methodist Church

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

1

2

3 Communion Sunday

3pm Nursing Home Worship

Service

4

5

8am, Men’s Break-

fast

6pm, Administrative

Council Meeting

6:30, UMW

6 6:30, Bible Study

4pm, F.U.S.E.

7 9-11am Food Pantry 8

9

10

11

12

8am, Men’s Break-

fast

13

6:30, Bible Study

No F.U.S.E.

14

9-11am Food Pantry 15

Quilt Show

9:30 am –3:30 pm

16

Quilt Show

9:30am—3:30pm

17

Lunch Bunch @

Kloesel’s

18

8am, Aerobics @

AC

19

8am, Men’s Break-

fast

Emmaus @ Shiner

FUMC

20

6:30, Bible Study

4pm, F.U.S.E.

21

9-11am Food Pantry

6:30, 30 Hour Famine

info mtg @ Fellowship

Hall

22

23

24

Palm Sunday

25

8am, Aerobics @

AC

26

8am, Men’s Break-

fast

8am, Aerobics @

AC

27

6:30, Bible Study

4pm, F.U.S.E.

28

9-11am Food Pantry

7pm, Maundy Thurs-

day Service

29

7pm, Good Friday

Service

30

31 Happy Easter

7am, Sunrise Service

Breakfast to follow

www.shinerfumc.org

Teaching Children to Pray

It is never too early to teach children to pray.

"Bible stories and prayer are the two greatest gifts we can give to children," said the Rev. Leanne Hadley, minister to children and their families at First United Methodist Church in Colo-rado Springs, Colo. "Prayer is that anchor that is going to hold them when life's

storms hit."

Even the youngest "children have very real experiences with God in very simple ways," she continued. "We help children

knock on the door and God opens it."

Hadley and her team often lead contem-plative prayer with the children they serve. One adult dims the overhead lights and lights a candle. "We just sit in the light of the can-dle and ask God to be present with us," Hadley said. She often ends the prayer time by asking if anyone felt

God's presence.

"Prayer tools," such as prayer beads, can calm children

and help them pray.

Hadley has children pull beads as they repeat a phrase, such as "Jesus, bring peace to my life," 10 times. Then the group enters a time of si-lence to soak in the peacefulness. "Their lives are so busy – they really are fasci-

nated with stillness," she said.

Prayers can be in pictures, songs, art, movement and dance, said the Rev. Melanie Gordon, director of children's ministries for the General Board of Disci-pleship in Nashville, Tenn. "We have to make sure that we honor that there are other ways (than words) to show God how

thankful we are."

Children's pure intensity and earnestness in prayer of-

ten inspire her.

The Circuit Writer Page 4

Lay Reader Prayer Ministers Ushers Flower

Donor Organist/pianist

3rd Carolyn Hil-

scher

Karen & Elson R.

Schreiber

Jerry Black, Paul Koone, Tom Bays, Howard

Esse

Joe & Betty Sestak Irene Cerny

10th Eva Eddy Robert & Shirley

Wittman Deborah Richmond

Don Minear

17th Jerry Black Betty Britsch Dennis & Kay Simmons Irene Cerny

24th Clarence Little-

field

31st Howard Esse

Eva Eddy & Carol

Gambrel

Joe & Betty Sestak

Emi Bozka

Easter Flowers

Don Minear

Irene Cerny

Sunday Worship Schedule For March (Please let us know if changes are necessary)

Faith is Fun United Methodist Women

The UMW held their monthly meeting on Tues-

day, February 19th. Pam Brooks provided the meal

which included chicken spaghetti, salad and garlic

bread. Karen Schreiber provided a birthday cake for

all members who had a birthday in February. Dis-

cussed at the meeting was a thank you note from the

Methodist Mission Home and Winford Lott family

for donations made. The treasurer reported a total of

$850.00 in the UMW fund and Barbara Tieken also

reported a total of $3,840.00 in the Millard

Kuykendall Scholarship Fund.

The ladies also discussed the upcoming Quilt

Show to be held on March 15th & 16th. They will

have the concession stand and any help will be ap-

preciated. There is a sign up sheet in the Narthex.

Betty Britsch, Secretary

The Circuit Writer Page 5

It’s fellowship because we’re together. It’s uniting

because we have people from all walks of life. It’s

Shiner because that’s where we are. It’s energeti-

cally because it’s fun. Put all that together and you

have F.U.S.E. (Fellowship Uniting Shiner Energeti-

cally) Each week our church hosts F.U.S.E. for ele-

mentary aged students in and around the Shiner com-

munity. There are no fees and everyone is invited.

Here is a glance at our usual schedule:

4-4:30—>Free Time

4:30-4:40 —> Warm Up (Walk/run the lines to

jumpy/active music)

4:40-5:00 —> Organized Games (Relays, skill games,

team games)

5-5:20 —> Snacks

5:20– 5:30 —> Devotional

5:30-6:00 —> Free Time

There are several ways you can help our church con-

tinue this program.

• First, you are praying, right?

• Second, we are always in need of powdered drinks

and snack items (chips, popcorn, animal crackers,

etc).

• Third, the more volunteers we have the better. More

eyes help us ensure the safety of all the children.

• Finally, we need people to help lead. There are

times when John & Gloria attend and they do not

like to cancel F.U.S.E. just because they’re not

there.

So, consider how you can be involved; you might

have ideas for us. Let us know how you would like to

be a part of the fellowship that unites Shiner energeti-

cally.

F.U.S.E. Sparks Fun and Fellowship

Shiner First United Methodist Church P.O. Box 122

102 Church Street

Shiner, TX 77984

/ShinerFUMC

Phone: 361: 594. 3830 | Fax: 361. 594. 3660

Sunday School 9:30 am | Sunday Worship 11:00 am

Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 9am-1pm

www.shinerfumc.org

Circuit Writer: March 2013

Rev. John Fletcher, Pastor

Mary Kristynik, Church Coordinator

Happy Birthday

Pat Lee 3/7

Jade Kurtz 3/10

Robert Wittman 3/12

Sharon Kelton 3/13

Doug Myers 3/14

Tracy Kurtz 3/16

Bruce Bayliss 3/29

Happy Anniversary

Dana & Pam Cimrhanzel 3/14

The Christian faith, Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola

argue, has been made to be about a lot of things. What

is needed to counter the imposing “self-centeredness”

in the church, is a more faithful look at who Jesus

really is. A higher Christology (study of the nature &

person of Christ) is needed to revive God’s church.

John blogs at www.anotherjohn.com

Jesus Manifesto