News

SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS FOR SEPTEMBER

Adult -                                 Timothy Webster, Sr.

High School -                     Virgil Powell

Pre-Teen -                          Gail Empert

Children -                         Terra Wilson

Pre-School/Nursery -      Kaitlyn Eastis

                                      Carissa Hutsell

 

DISCIPLE BIBLE STUDY .  We have launched another exciting and inspiring Disciple Bible Study!

Under the Tree of Life concentrates on the writings – Ruth, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Lamentations, and  Daniel.  Torah, Prophets, and Writings make up the Hebrew scriptures.  Writings include all the books not in Torah or the Prophets.

New Testament scriptures include the Gospel of John, 1,2, 3 John; James, Jude; and Revelation.

Scripture in this study speaks to both heart and head and carries the reader toward the climax of the message and completion of the promise.

We had our orientation meeting on Thursday, August 25^th and 26^th , and received our books for the training.  This is going to be a fabulous 32-week study.  The study will be offered at Lemoore UMC Wesley House, Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., and Armona UMC Social Hall Thursday, 10:00 a.m.  

The books are $35.00 each; do not let this keep you from attending.  There is a scholarship fund.

PASTOR THOM

BIBLE STUDY, WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 1,  6:30 P.M.,

AND THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2,10:00 A.M.,  ARMONA  UMC

LESSON 1

Redeem the Inheritance

 

CALL TO PRAYER.  I believe with all my heart that a spiritually healthy church is a praying church, and this health is directly proportional to the prayer life of the congregation and its pastor.

I am asking each one to join me in prayer by

1.  Praying for me, your pastor, each month on the day of your birth.  For example, someone who was born on July 10^th would pray for me on the tenth day of each month.

2.  Pray for the spiritual health of your church.

3.  Pray for the success of our focus on the Five Practices of Fruitful congregations.

OUR YOUTH GROUP.  The youth (5^th grade and up) join together for a fun and inspiring time in Faith Hall on the 2^nd and 4^th Wednesdays of each month from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  For more information to volunteer to help or to sign up your youth, please call Terra Finney at 582-9588.

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN NEWS.  The ladies have taken a rest from their monthly meeting during the summer, but it’s almost time to begin again.  The time really flies quickly.  The first fall meeting will be tomorrow,  Wednesday, September 1st, 10:00 a.m., so please plan to be there.

It’s getting to be that time of the year again when the ladies are getting ready for our October yard sale (October 1st and 2nd.)  You may begin bringing your sale items in whenever you wish so they can begin pricing them, etc., and they won’t have to do everything at one time.

Also, don’t forget the fall festival (bazaar) which will be held on Saturday, October 23^rd.  Be sure to put this date on your calendar.  The ladies will need plenty of help on each of the events (yard sale and bazaar.) 

Keep in mind, also, that the ladies will be selling raffle tickets for a beautiful quilt, (70 X 90) with a quilt rack to go with it.  Ticket donations are $1.00 each, and you may begin purchasing the tickets at any time.  The drawing will be at the fall festival on October 23^rd.  See Pat Parry or any of the UMW ladies for the tickets.

Any questions you may have may be answered by Pat Parry, 924-8832.

 

TRUSTEES’ NEWS.  The Trustee Committee wants to keep you apprised of our number one project at this time.

While Pastor Thom and Debbie were away at Family Camp, the next-door neighbor noticed a flood of water coming from the church property, near Faith Hall and the parsonage.  Upon investigation, it was discovered that our water pipe in that area had literally blown apart.   This pipeline runs from the meter to Faith Hall, the parsonage and on to Wesley House.  We have been operating with a “patched system” and are able to maintain necessary amounts of water, but this is only a stop-gap.  We are getting bids from three plumber companies to replace the line which is about 500 feet.  Due to our sewer, gas, and electrical lines, part of this will require hand-digging.  Our first bid for the entire line is $7,500.00.  Even by cutting out Wesley house from that amount, we would only cut the cost by $1,000.  We are almost certain that $7,500.00 is probably the lowest bid as we have dealt with this company before, and they have consistently been the low bidder, and they are very reputable.

The building fund bank account is pretty well depleted.  Therefore, we are coming to you again to help us get the money we need for this project.   We remind you, the pipes that blew out and collapsed, were installed when we first built Faith Hall, the Parsonage,

and soon thereafter, Wesley House.  The year was 1961.  The scary thought is that though the pipes for the church itself are not affected by this as they are on a separate meter/line, they, too, are almost as old.  We hope and pray they hold together for some time now.

The bottom line is:  We need your help!  To cover the $7,500.00, we need about $6,000.00.  If you can give more then you usually do for the problem, please do so, and join us in prayer for this situation.  Thank you, and in God’s love we are:

THE TRUSTEES

 

MONDAY NIGHT GROUP.  Monday, September 13^th, will be the start date for a very special time of fellowship and Bible Study.  The group will be meeting in the home of Carole Adams at 695 Farallen Lane in Lemoore.  Each session begins at 7:00 p.m.

The group will be exploring the Divine Conspiracy:  Jesus’ Master Class for Life, by Dallas Willard with John Ortberg.  Our prayer is that these six sessions will provide an understanding of the gospel that will open the way for us, the people of Christ, actually to do what Jesus said to do.  Let us learn together how to live in God’s Kingdom as Jesus indicated was best.

Please call Carole at 925-9722 to let her know that you will be attending the first session on Monday, September 13^th, at 7:00 p.m.

 

The following is this week’s article written by Hazel Abrahamson.  Thank, Hazel, for providing these thought-provoking articles. 

PSALM 121

This week I would like to share with you Psalm 121 which is another of God’s wonderful promises.

I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip – He who watches over you will not slumber, indeed He who watches over Israel will neither slumber or sleep.

The Lord watches over you – the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over you coming and going; both now and forevermore.

PASTOR THOM will be away on retreat on Wednesday, September 15th, and Thursday, September 16th.  There will be no Bible Study on those days.

VI, THE ADMINISTATIVE ASSISTANT, will be out of the office on Wednesday, September 1st, Thursday, September 2nd, and Monday (Labor Day), September 6th.

CHRIST-CENTERED COUNSELING ON OUR CAMPUS.  White Stone Christian Counseling is a non-profit ministry dedicated to helping people walk through life’s difficulties with certified Christian counselors. 

We now have a White Stone counselor available on our campus.  White Stone Christian Counseling believes:  No one is perfect -  only perfectly loved.  Romans 5: 8.  God wants us to love and be loved.  Mark 12: 29-31, God knows who we are now and has a glorious future available to us.  Revelation 2: 17.

If you find yourself dealing with something you think you could use help working through, please call 559-227-4810 and ask for an appointment with Jill Sippell.

 

CHRISTIAN ONE-LINERS

Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.

Don’t wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.

God grades on the cross, not the curve.

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

The Will of God never takes you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.

We don’t change the message; the message changes us.

The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.

A lot of church members who are singing “Standing on the Promises” are just sitting on the premises.