Week of March 20 - 26, 2016

Prattville FUMC

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Calendar for the Week of March 20-26, 2016

Through Our Prayers

Church Family- Hunter Baxter, Clara Birchfield, Brasel Family, Frank Lamar, Jessica McDonald, Louise Moody, Eddie Pope, Angie Sargent, Joe & Claudia Storay, Blake Striplin, Jean Taylor, Joan Taylor

Extended Family- Davis Boswell, Eric Cates, Bridgette Coley, Pamela Cooper, Phil Easter, Oliver Joseph Harp, Robbie Holley, Beatrice Jenkins, Deanna Mann Lamb, Linda Morgan, Rob Needham, Sue Pruett, Wayne Roberts, Betty Sansom, Tommy Sargent, Dalton J. Smith (new to prayer list) Katie Donahue & infant sons, Laura Mielke & new baby Laura Kelly, Agnes Mills

Sunday, March 20th8:30 am Traditional Worship Sanctuary9:45 am Sunday School 11:00 am Traditional Worship Sanctuary11:00 am The Well Pratt Hall4:00 pm Prayer Ministry Team WES 2125:00 pm Congregational Care Team 7:00 pm Men's Basketball EPW 101Monday, March 21st10:00 am Covenant Bible Study WES 10212:00 pm Congregational Care Team WES 1025:30 pm Trustees Meeting WES 1027:00 pm Men's Study Bell HouseTuesday, March 22nd12:00 pm Lenten Luncheon Pratt Hall5:30 pm Alpha Handbells Sanctuary6:00 pm GriefShare ParlorWednesday, March 23rd10:00 am Fifty Forward Singers7:00 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal Music Suite7:00 pm The Well Band Rehearsal Pratt HallThursday, March 24th10:00 am Disciple III WES 21010:00 am Games Day and Luncheon WES 1026:00 pm Maundy Thursday Service Sanctuary7:00 pm Susannah Wesley UMW Circle ParlorFriday, March 25th 7:00 pm Good Friday Service Pratt HallSaturday, March 26th10:00 am Easter Egg Hunt at Spinner's Park

There will be no Chestnut Cafe this week.

A Gift Was Given in Memory ofVera Johnson by Mr & Mrs Henry Foster, Mrs. Linda MissildinePaul Crawford by Mrs. Linda MissildineMarie Phillips by Mr & Mrs John Dennis

The Grief We Share

I hope most of you have already heard the news. On Monday of this week I received a call from our District Superintendent, Rev. John Brooks, which informed me that I was being appointed to become the Senior Pastor of Christ United Methodist Church in Mobile, AL. As most of you know, Christ UMC is where I once served as the Associate Pastor. Crystal and I were married on May 20th 2000 and moved to Mobile three weeks later to serve our first appointment as a married couple. The founding pastor of Christ UMC, Rev. Jeff Spiller, has served the church as its pastor for 37 years and is retiring due to health concerns.

As you can imagine we are feeling a mix of emotions. We love First United Methodist Church and we love Prattville. You have taken us into your hearts and lives in deep and wonderful ways. Our children love their schools, their friends, their neighborhood and, of course, their church. To think of leaving here has caused all of us to shed many tears. Even though we are deeply honored to be chosen to serve Christ UMC, the first church we served after seminary, the uncertainty, the challenge, and the overall prospect of uprooting our families, finding new schools, getting a place to live is, at times, overwhelming.

I know many of you are feeling a mixture of emotions as well: anger, sadness, disappointment. Some of you have even expressed congratulations and joy for us. When pastors leave churches these familiar and sometimes confusing feelings of grief are to be expected. Dr. Edwin Friedman, in his book From Generation to Generation, says that the grief a congregation and pastor feel when a pastor leaves a congregation can sometimes feel as intense as if a death has occurred. The grief we share is real, powerful, and natural.

In the midst of this grief, my best advice is for all of us to pray. I hope you will pray for Crystal, David, Ethan, Ella and I as we prepare to leave this wonderful place we love to follow where God is leading. We covenant to pray for you as you ready your hearts for the next great chapter God will be writing for FUMC. Pray also for Rev. Bobby Ellisor and his family as they prepare to come to us in July, and pray for his congregation, the Gadsden Street UMC in Pensacola, FL, as they too go through this transition.

Thank you for the love you’ve shown us in these five years. We will cherish the next three months we have together.

Peace,

Rob

This Sunday, March 20, 2016

Through Our Gifts2016 Operating Budget

$1,198,139.76

Total Received For 2016 as of 03/06/16:

$181,833.04Total E-Giving Received For 2016

as of 03/06/16:$6,643.92

This Week's Prayer Focus:

Help to turn away from sin and turn to God.

Worship. Children's Ministry

This Weeks Message:

Words From The Cross:Finished

Key Scripture:John 19: 30a

andLuke 23: 43-47

AnnouncementsAdult Sunday School Attendance ContestCan anyone de-throne the Friendship class from 1st place? They came in on top again this week at 70%. This coming Sunday, March 20, is the last day to be counted. Get everyone here for Palm Sunday.

Please text or call Avery Beatty (782-4992) or Molly Noble (320-7651) if you would be willing to make sausage balls, pigs in a blanket, brownies or mini muffins for a Resurrection Run on April 9th.

Fifty Forward Games Day and luncheon is Thursday, March 24th at 10:00 pm. Call Barbara Howe at 365-4900 for reservations.

On April 21st, Fifty Forward members will tour the Karl Harrison Museum, which contains George Washington memorabilia. Following the visit, we'll eat lunch before returning home. Cost is $5.00 for transportation. Contact Luann McQueen at 365-1069 for information.

Join us each Tuesday during Lent for a Lenten Devotion and Lunch. Dates: February 24th- March 31stTime: Noon-1:00 pm

Our Speaker for March 22nd is Rev. Dr. Wayne Perry Retired United Methodist Pastor, Professor Emeritus at Northcentral Univ.

Menu: Chicken & Artichoke Casserole, Marinated Green Beans,Wild Rice, Strawberry Shortcake w/Lemon Curd Creme

A new GriefShare group will begin meeting on March 22 on Tuesday nights at 6:00 pm in the parlor. This is a 13-week class for anyone who is struggling with the loss of a loved one. If you know of someone not in our church who could benefit from this, please let them know about it. Everyone is welcome.

There will be a UMW General Meeting on April 4th at 6:30 pm in WES 104. Please join us as we welcome Dr. Rob Couch as our speaker for our annual Prayer and Self Denial meeting. This will also be our kick-off for the Spring No-Bake Sale!

Say CHEESE! Throughout the month of April, Nancy Taylor and her team of photographers will be taking photos to update our pictoral directory. Perhaps it's been a few years and it's time for a new family directory photo or you have new contact information that you would like to have in the directory. Meet Nancy or a member of her team in the courtyard during Fellowship Time (9:45 am).

SCREEN TIMEHelping parents navigate technology and social media with their kids

How young is too young for a smart phone? Are your kids on Instagram? How much screen time is too much? Should they have a computer in their room? Who is sending you pictures?On April 3rd parents of children of all ages are invited to hear the answers to these questions…some of them.SCREEN TIME is a one-time seminar/discussion designed to help parents walk with their child through the stages of development (pre-school, elementary, middle, high school) where it concerns the use of internet, social media and technology. SCREEN TIME will take place on April 3rd from 5-6pm in the Youth Room and will be led by Justin Grifford. While the focus in on parents, adults of all ages are welcome. Invite a friend and bring your questions.

Calling All Children! Help celebrate Jesus’

triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

Join In the Parade!Children are invited and encouraged to participate in the Palm Sunday Processional at the 8:30 and 11:00am worship services on Sunday, March 20th. Meet in

the parlor 15 minutes prior to the service.

Important Sunday School Note:-We will have a special combined Sunday School on Easter Sunday. Children will report to the following rooms: •2years-4yearswillmeetinEPW106 •K-6thgradewillmeetinEPW107

2016 Holy Week Schedule Palm Sunday: Celebrate Jesus' Entry into Jerusalem.

Tuesday: Lenten Devotion and Luncheon at Noon. Our guest speaker will be Rev. Dr. Wayne Perry, Retired United Methodist Pastor.

Maundy Thursday: Service of Worship & Communion at 6pm in the Sanctuary. This service weaves the liturgy of Holy Week with our favorite Lenten music. Good Friday: Service 7pm in Pratt Hall. This will be a prayerful service to reflect on the crucifixion. Saturday: Community Wide Easter Egg Hunt at Spinners Park. 10:00-Noon. Easter Sunday: Traditional Service at 8:30am & 11:00am in the Sanctuary and The Well at 11:00am in Pratt Hall. Celebrate with friends and church family at the Easter Reception in Pratt Hall during the Fellowship Hour. Don’t forget to bring flowers for the cross located on the front lawn.

March 20 - 26, 2016

Time to Help the Easter Bunny!Yes, it’s that time to bring in your small,

individually wrapped candies to help fill the Easter eggs for the Community Easter Egg Hunt on March 26th. Bags of candy can be dropped off

in the church office. No chocolate, please.

Baked goods, brownies and cookies will also be needed.

THANK YOU!

There Will be No Children's Evening Activities on the Following Dates:

Sunday, March 20th - Spring BreakWednesday, March 23rd- Spring Break

Sunday, April 27th- Easter Sunday

Regular Evening Activities will Resume March 30th

A New Session of Wednesday United Begins 3/30/16

The Great Divorce- In the final session of Wednesday United, Dr. Rob Couch will lead a five-week small group study of C. S. Lewis’ soul challenging book, The Great Divorce. The class is limited to 20 members and will require the purchase of The Great Divorce prior to the start of the first class meeting. You can register for the class by calling or visiting the church office or by emailing leslie@prattvillemethodist.org. The class will fill on a first come basis. Meets in WES 102.

How to Read Your Bible- Rev. Dan Pezet, the AL West FL Conference Coordinator of Church Vitality and member of FUMC, will lead a class with an emphasis on Bible Study in Pratt Hall.

Your Body As A Temple of God- This class will be coordinated by Leslie Lewis with various leaders and will study ways to discover our spiritual, mental and physical connection to God. Meets in WES 104.

Linus Project- This group of all skill levels will be making blankets for children at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham. Meets in WES 211.

Come GROW with us as we fellowship and study together at Wednesday United!