1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

Volume 36, Issue 10
From Sara’s Heart
By Rev. Sara McKinley
What a marvelous
celebration!
On Sunday, September 21st, we
celebrated our Fall Kick Off with a big
bang! Our campus was full of life and
energy! Our worship time was a true
blessing with our choir in full voice, our
instrumental ensemble leading us with
great gusto along with our organ played
with all the stops out, our bells ringing
loud and clear, our children's choir
singing like angels, and our New
Creation Praise band leading our 9:45
service with energy and joy. Our potluck
lunch was well attended with enough
food to amply feed everyone as well as
provide extras for our community meal
on Monday afternoon! Thank you to
our awesome Family Life Team (led by
Harriet Wise) and Kitchen
Coordinators (Joan Van Winkle and
Chris and Ed Hoffmann) who made our
Fellowship Hall look stunningly
beautiful, laid out all the food and
cleaned up after us all. What a blessing
you and your team of hard workers truly
are!
Thanks also to Lynda Knight our
photographer for our online pictorial
directory and Julie Cole and Alesia
Averill who were helping to update the
information in our membership data
base. I know many of you are looking
forward to seeing our new pictorial
directory. If you did not get your
picture, taken you can upload your own
picture via our website or submit an
electronic or print copy of your photo to
our church office. Don't be left out!!!
And then . . . There was an opportunity
to tour our campus and complete our
fun scavenger hunt that led folks to our
Tiny Town nursery, and our newly
renovated Parlor and Youth HQ on the
first and second floors of Epworth Hall;
our Kid's World FUMPers preschool and
our Kid's City Children's ministry on the
first and second floors of Bell Hall. So
much hard work has gone into
renovating these spaces. Carol and Joe
Ward, Scott Eccles, David and Amy
Watson and Tony Taylor did a
yeoman's job painting a large part of the
preschool, the first floor of Bell Hall, and
the music room in Epworth Hall.
Jennifer Steptoe has blessed us with a
creative and fun mural painting of our
Tiny Town Nursery area, Lynda Knight
spent hours producing the beautiful
Tiny Town Banner hung in the archway,
(Continued on page 2)
1
Inside this issue:
From Sara’s Heart (cont’d)
2
Thoughts from David
Music at First Church
3
A Poem by David
Wycliffe Discovery Trip
4
Children’s Ministry
5
United Methodist Women
United Methodist Men
6
Madison Youth Ranch Trip
7
Pictures of a Celebration
8
Young at Heart Fellowship
Letter from Tania & Isayde
9
Family Promise
Helping Hands Clinic
10
Christian Education
11
Youth HQ Fun Times
12
Community Outreach
Letter from Tania & Isayde
continued
13
Birthdays, Anniversaries
And Memorials
14
Calendar and Events
15
Back Page
16
Charge Conference Insert
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH - 419 NE FIRST STREET,
and the Averills repainted our Youth HQ area. The hard
work put in over long hours throughout the summer by
so many was coordinated by our Church Administrator,
Julie Cole. I am sure that there were others who
helped that I have not named. You know who you are.
All I can say is thank you from the bottom of my heart
for doing so much to make us look so good.
every second Sunday at 9:45 am we host our Holy
Grounds Coffee in the Parlor in Epworth Hall so guests
can get to meet the pastors.
Our goal is to be welcoming to everybody! At our most
recent Church Council meeting the following statement
of welcome was approved:
We still have a long way to go to grow our children's
youth, young adult and young parent ministries.
Much of this growth will depend upon you spreading
the word about the ministries we offer at First Church.
If you are a young parent we are particularly interested
in hearing from you! We would like to put together a
focus group of young parents to see how First Church
might be a support to you and your families and what
ways you might like to engage in the various ministries
of our church. If you are interested in helping to start a
young parent's group please contact Pastor David
Averill or me so we can talk about how to get this focus
group together. This would be a separate group from
our G.A.P. (Graduates and Professional) young adult
group because the needs of young parents are rather
distinct. Did you know, for instance, that each Friday,
First United Methodist Church, Gainesville, offers free
babysitting for parents who just need a few hours to
run some errands or maybe even take a nap! We offer
this service at no charge, because we believe in service
to others and following Christ's commission to love
each other! We have a great space for infants through
elementary school every Friday at our Tiny Town
Nursery in our Epworth Hall! Also on the third Saturday
each month we offer free babysitting so you can have a
date night! Just call the church office at 352-372-8523
and ask for Amy Watson to get more details.
We welcome all people to this congregation.
We believe that all persons are of sacred worth
and in need of God's love and grace. We believe
that God intends the church to be a community
of love, grace and justice for all. With open
hearts, minds and doors, we welcome those of
every age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation,
gender identity, socio-economic condition,
family structure and physical or mental ability
into all aspects of the life of this congregation.
Let's truly be the Body of Christ, actively welcoming all
people to come worship with us, grow with us and
serve with us as we seek to share the love of Christ in
the heart of downtown Gainesville.
With the Love of Christ, from your senior pastor who
feels so blessed to be serving this awesome
congregation!
Pastor Sara
Re-launching
Thursday Lunch Bunch
1st & 3rd Thursdays
11:30 am
This is an exciting time in the life of our church, but we
have only just begun to ramp up to reach 500 in
worship attendance in 5 years. Please consider making
a commitment to attending worship regularly whenever
you are in town and then look for new faces to greet
and welcome into the life of our Church. If you find
yourself sitting next to a guest who is having trouble
following our order of worship, please take the time to
assist them, directing them to the correct hymnal or
insert. Take time to talk with our guests after the
service and even consider asking them to go to have
lunch with you! If you are taking a guest out to lunch,
I'm always glad to tag along!!! And remind them that
Join us for a time
of devotion and singing,
great fellowship and food.
If you need a ride, please call the church office
to schedule (372-8523).
2
THE MESSENGER
T houg hts from Dav id
By Rev. David Averill
Dear First Church,
I want to share some of my
personal thoughts with you about
inter- religious relationships
between Christians and Muslims
because I think they may help, in a
small way, to allay your fear of
Islam. I find that there is much to
fear in the United States,
concerning the religion of Islam.
One of the great fears that many
Americans have is the fear of
ideologically-motivated terrorism,
perpetrated by Muslim extremists,
especially in the wake of the 9/11
attacks in 2001 as well as the
present emergence of ISIS in Iraq
and Syria in the last several
months. However, like the many of
the Crusaders in the Middle Ages
gave the majority Christians a bad
name then, so do Muslim
extremists (also called Jihadists)
give the majority of Muslims a bad
name now. Yet, from my
perspective, the problem is not the
religion of Islam per se.
Instead, the problem is the
malicious criminals who
appropriate Islam to provide a
moral justification for their heinous
crimes against humanity. As the
Crusaders hid their bloodthirstiness
behind their shields emblazoned
with crosses, so now the Jihadists
hide their viscous pursuit of power,
money, and vengeance behind the
facade of martyrdom or reverence.
Therefore, as in any case of
religious extremism throughout
history and during the present-day
emergence of Islamic terrorism,
the problem is not the religion, but
the people who wickedly distort
the religion for their own personal
gain.
presenting a vision for interreligious cooperation and
understanding, this poem echoes a
prayer of our Lord Jesus to the
Father on behalf of his disciples on
the night in which he was betrayed
and gave himself up for us: "That
they may be one as we are
one" (John 17:22). That being said,
remember what I preached about
on the Apostle Paul's concept of
the Body of Christ in 1 Corinthians
12 several weeks ago -- unity does
not equal uniformity. We are many
different and unique parts of one
body.
I wrote a poem several years ago
(see next page) that expresses this
common bond among the three
Abrahamic faiths, Judaism, Islam,
and Christianity. We hear plenty in
the news today, especially news
concerning the Middle East, about
conflicts between these three
religions. I hope that this poem
serves as a counterweight to this
narrative. I also hope that it offers
a vision of a better tomorrow in
terms of inter-religious
understanding and acceptance. In
Extremism of any form, whether
political or religious, tries to tell us
the lie that unity equals uniformity,
and imposes that lie with violence.
As Christians, listening to the voice
of truth from our Prince of Peace,
we are called to stand against the
lie of uniformity as "peacemakers",
that we might be called "children
of God" (Matthew 5:9).
Grace and Peace,
David
Music at Fir st C hu rc h
By Robert Jackson
On Saturday, October 25, at 3:00 pm, the Gainesville Pops,
under the baton of Dr. Steve Bingham and Dr. Gary Langford,
will once again be in concert in our Sanctuary presenting
their Fall Concert. The concert is free and open to the
public.
3
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 419 NE FIRST STREET,
O ne God , O ne L ove , One L ig ht
A Poem by Rev. David Averill (2000)
One God, One Love, One Light,
Then why do we always fight?
When can we learn to be three as one!
We bicker, we argue, we build walls in Zion,
We shoot; we kill; yet we still preach on as hypocrites,
As thieves stealing the solemnity of the Word.
When can we learn to be three as one;
We have one God, but not one faith,
We have one God, yet more than one hate,
Why can’t we love?
For yes we are different
But special still, watched over still
By one creator, one majesty, one mystery,
A Love that outlasts history.
Jesus, how can you stand to watch,
Look at your sheep they roam in the desert
Painfully lost,
You spoke the truth, you died the truth,
You rose up into the truth, the Kingdom of God.
Let us allow ourselves to pray,
Kneeling... Facing the glistening stairs of heaven,
With each other hand in hand,
Jew, Christian, Muslim,
Dwellers of the Holy Land.
Let us look at each other and smile,
Glowing... Opening our faces to the radiant bliss of
heaven,
Muhammad, how can you stand to watch,
Look at your nation, they still build idols,
They worship their rulers, dictatorships, and codes,
All in all, smashing your pillars,
And listen to Allah, the almighty, how he cries,
How his tears do flow.
As one people: Children of God.
Allah, Abba, Adonai,
We shall love each other,
We shall love and worship the most High,
Three faiths as one,
Three as one,
As one.
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses,
The forefathers, patriarchs among God’s chosen,
Did you ever think the chosen,
Would be chosen to die for unjust cause;
Would be killed for their belief
In the message, the Torah, your laws.
W yc lif fe Dis cover y Ce nter & As bur y Sem inar y Tr ip
By Rev. David Averill
Even if you missed this trip to Asbury in September,
there will be a representative from Asbury Theological
Seminary visiting First Church on the evening of
October 22, 2014 in the Fellowship Hall, from 5:30 6:30 p.m during Wednesday Night Dinners. This is part
of a program called "Asbury On the Road." Members of
Asbury's staff go to various churches to spread the
word that Asbury Theological Seminary has been in
central Florida for nearly fifteen years. Asbury is here to
serve all those who are being called into ministry and
are seeking further education in the areas of study they
offer. They offer not only the Master of Divinity (the
primary graduate degree to become a pastor in the
United Methodist Church), but also Master's degree
programs in a variety of other fields outside of pastoral
ministry, including diverse fields such as Mental Health
Counseling, Nonprofit Leadership, and Youth Ministry.
4
THE MESSENGER
C hild re n’s Minis tr y - Fall Fe stival
By Amy C. Watson
5
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH - 419 NE FIRST STREET,
Unite d Method ist Wome n
By Margaret Steptoe
Our Purpose
United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose PURPOSE is to
know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to
develop a creative, supportive fellowship and to expand concepts of mission through
participation in the global ministries of the church.
Circle Meetings
October 7
Day Circle
Circle 5
October 14
Circle 6
10:00 am
6:00 pm
5:45 pm
Bethany Room
Elizabeth Shaw, 8716 NW 4th Place
Conference Room
Look for special announcements concerning our upcoming Mission Studies. These
studies provide opportunity for prayer, learning, acting and transforming our lives
and our communities.
The United Methodist Women will continue to collect items in support of our Children’s Ministries project of
shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child and Children At the Border.
Unite d Method ist Me n
By Larry Shaw
The Men's Club at First Methodist will meet again in
November with Brendan Shortley speaking to us
about Helping Hands. Mark your calendar for
Saturday, November 8. For October, we encourage
you to attend one of the Conference's retreats being
held for men in Lakeland. Grab yourself a roommate
and Go Gators!
For the October 24 – 26 weekend, Dr. Timothy
Tennent, President of Asbury Seminary, will be
preaching and teaching lessons on the Prodigal Son.
He will be joined by the always inspiring Rev. Harold
Lewis, who will deliver an exciting message for our
times.
Get your registrations in as early as possible to ensure
the availability of your weekend choice!
Thanks to those of you who are already registered for
the October Men’s Retreats. Please spread the word
that we still have openings available in both
weekends.
Take this opportunity to renew and refresh your
body and soul…
…by getting a weekend away.
During the October 10 - 12 weekend, Rev. Scott Smith
will be joined by John Riley for an inspiring retreat.
For the latest information and details for making
reservations, go to
http://www.ummflconf.org/spiritual-retreats or call
the UMM office at 863-858-4985.
6
THE MESSENGER
Mad ison Youth Ranc h Ded ic ation
Excerpted from Conference Press Release/Pictures submitted by Lynda Knight
Dotson, CEO of FUMCH. “Now there will be one more
place for children who desperately need a Christian
environment, a place where they can grow up into the
healthy, productive men and women God created them
to be.”
New Youth Ranch Opens With Dedication
And Celebration
On Tuesday, September 23, the Trustees of the Florida
United Methodist Children’s Home (FUMCH) dedicated
two residential youth homes at the Madison Youth
Ranch, a new expansion campus which allows the
organization to serve more children who are placed in
situations of financial hardship, abuse and neglect, by
providing a home where each of them can feel safe, and
experience the love and care they need to succeed in
life.
This first phase, now opened, includes two residential
homes for children, along with a recreation area and
administrative offices. The continued growth plan of the
campus will be determined by the amount of funds
raised to support the additional projects, which include
more residential homes for children, a stable, campus
life center, chapel and more. Currently, the Youth Ranch
campus can welcome up to 24 youth. However, the goal
is to eventually serve over 100 youth ages 6-17 in the
residential program, with future inclusion of an
independent living program, and foster care services to
the surrounding area.
The Madison Youth Ranch is located on more than 400
acres of donated land in Pinetta, Florida, and will be
home to children from across the state. Referrals come
from local community based care agencies out of
Gainesville, Tallahassee and Jacksonville, as well as from
local churches and community groups, while others will
be placed by their families due to economic hardships,
behavioral issues or other family problems.
Members of our congregation, Linda Knight, Ernest
andMary Broske, Peggy Van Winkle, Flo Caldwell and
Dorothy Nation drove to the Madison Youth Ranch to
attend the dedication. Below are some pictures of the
group’s trip.
“Today is a special day in the life of the Florida United
Methodist Children’s Home ministry,” said Becky
First UMC delegation under the Madison
Youth Ranch entrance.
500+ gathered to celebrate the official
dedication of the Madison Youth Ranch.
One of the two residential homes...one for girls, one for boys.
7
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH - 419 NE FIRST STREET,
Pic tur e s of a Ce leb ration
Pictures submitted by Lynda Knight
8
THE MESSENGER
Young at Hear t Fe llow s hip
By Diane Loyless
internships and volunteer opportunities, cash and item
donations are always needed. Since October is Domestic
Violence Awareness Month this was a very interesting
program.
Shirley Vogt welcomed 19 people to the meeting and
thanked the hostesses, Cleo Abbott, Betty O’Byrne, Joyce
Stinson, who did the setup and provided the meal. Our
prayer concerns were for Grace Nelson, Joyce Stinson,
Carl Bogar, Ollie Craven, Chris Robbins, and Ray Daniel.
Our next meeting will be
October 14 at 5:30 pm
in the Bethany Room.
Diane led the devotion using Matthew 26: 59-68 and the
book Ever Been Misunderstood. As Jesus was
misunderstood for whom He was and why He came, so
often in life we too are misunderstood. Any time we hear
just one negative thing about a person it changes our view
of that person and often it is just over a
misunderstanding. We need to exercise discernment and
sort out the lies from the truth and the misunderstanding
from the facts. If you are the one who has been
misunderstood, Jesus understands how you feel. Pray that
the truth will be made known, and the explanation by you
or someone else will shed some light. God knows the
truth and he knows your heart. Leave it with Him.
Hostesses will be
Cleo Abbott & Mary Broske
The devotion will be by
Betty O’Byrne
Special Program
Jessica Baker
Senior Program Manager
Institute for Workforce Innovation
(See below)
Come join us for our
October celebration!
$58.00 was collected for Peaceful Paths.
Everyone is invited to hear a SPECIAL GUEST AND
PRESENTATION AT YOUNG AT HEART FELLOWSHIP'S
NEXT MEETING, Sunday Oct. 12th, 5:30 pm, in the
Bethany Room. We begin with a fellowship supper
(suggested contribution of $5), followed by our program
brought by our guest.
Cleo Abbott had the program. She introduced our guest
speaker Brandi Corbin, Director of Residents at Peaceful
Paths who has been there for 17 years. Peaceful Paths is a
state certified domestic violence center in Gainesville that
serves Alachua, Bradford, and Union County. It provides
free and confidential services to adults and child victims
of abuse who are seeking safety and support, and a path
to self-sufficiency. Peaceful Paths offers both emergency
shelter and transitional housing for victims who have
become homeless due to the violence in their home.
Brandi told us about the emergency shelter which is a 30bed communal living setting and the transitional housing
that is a 7-bedroom communal house. The average stay at
the shelter is 6-12 weeks, depending on the time needed
to obtain permanent housing. She spoke on what the
public can do to support this agency. There are
Our guest speaker will be Jessica Baker, Senior Program
Manager for the Institute for Workforce Innovation. Ms.
Baker is excited to be invited to come to our church to
meet with our older members and those who love them
and explain about the SNAP Program and all the benefits
for which we may qualify to stretch our budgets.
For questions, please contact Mary Broske (352) 2468889, or [email protected].
L etter from Tania and Is ayd e
Dear Peggy:
It made us very happy to receive your news. Since we
returned from Gainesville we have had a lot of trouble
with the access to internet. That´s the reason why we
sometimes delay to write. There I had access to
Facebook every day; here we have not even been able
to enter a time since we returned.
only for visiting your amazing country, that was
something extraordinary, but also for the love with
which we were welcomed by all. While we were there in
Gainesville, several times I was worried about us not
doing anything inappropriate because of our different
cultures. We didn´t want to damage at all so much love
and selflessness from you that we found there. We also
miss you very much so that we could enjoy living in
family among you. We speak to all the people of La
For us it was something wonderful to be with you, not
(Continued on page 13)
9
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 419 NE FIRST STREET,
Fam ily Prom is e
By Kim Hasko
Last month, we sadly
reported that Family Promise
of Gainesville (formerly
Interfaith Hospitality
Network) temporarily closed
its doors. This month we
have more encouraging
news! We have a plan and
we're building substantial
support to
re-open! The plan is to
re-open by April, 2015. We
have four goals to accomplish before re-opening:
Volunteers are being asked to join ONLY ONE team to
prevent burn-out. For more information on any of the
teams, please contact Matthew Umanos at
[email protected]. If you would like to
participate in the process, we ask for your prayers and
your attendance at the next meeting on October 7,
2014 at the First Presbyterian Church at 7 PM. You
can also contact Otto Johnston, FP Board Member, at
[email protected] or contact Tom Cioffi of Family
Promise National at 770-985-7353. If you’d like to
donate directly, please visit
https://familypromise.donordrive.com/index.cfm?
fuseaction=donate.event&eventID=565
IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS:
Communication has been an issue in the
past, but moving forward we will work to
improve our open door policy.
HAVE AT LEAST 13 HOST CONGREGATIONS:
If each host congregation commits to
hosting no more than 4 weeks (4 x 13 =
52), no one congregation gets burnt out.
HAVE AT LEAST $50,000 IN THE BANK with a
plan to fund the remaining yearly budget
($150,000/year).
GROW THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS from 8 to
12-15 and provide optimal training.
During this break, we'd like to take the opportunity to
thank all our Family Promise volunteers at First United
Methodist Church and to provide program status
updates to all those that are interested. Please join us
for lunch in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday, October
12, after the 10:55 am service. If you haven't been
involved but think you would like to be, then please
come as our guests and learn more about the program
and how you can contribute. For reservations, please
visit the Family Promise Luncheon Reservation table in
front of the church on September 28 and October 5 or
call the Church Office at 352-372-8523. If you'd like to
help with the luncheon, please call Sally Cravens at
352-378-7827 or Kim Hasko at 352-281-2496.
The plan will come to life with the help of each of you.
We have formed four teams to accomplish our plan:
Host Recruiting Team; Fund Development Team;
Communication Team and Leadership Team.
Many Blessings to you all!
He lp ing Hand s C linic Ce le br ate s 25 Ye ar s !
By Randy Stacey
On October 20, at 5:30 pm The Helping Hands Clinic will hold a gala celebrating its 25 years of service as the
“Medical Home of the Homeless.’ This will be an opportunity for us to say thank you to you as a supporter of the
clinic and for you to meet and greet other supporters, volunteers and recipients. The celebration will take place in
the Fellowship Hall from 5:30 - 7:30 pm. There will be a tour of the clinic in Selle Hall, light refreshments, remarks
by Alachua County Commissioner, Robert “Hutch” Hutchinson, a time line of the clinic’s growth and an opportunity
to sign on to continue supporting this valuable asset to the community.
As you know, over the years we have provided more than medical and psychiatric care, as the Women’s Clinic
Empowerment program has grown to be a safe place for homeless and poor women, a
source of showers, a meal, clothes and sundries, fellowship, arts and crafts, massage
and occasional talks on topics of interest. The men have also benefitted from the
expansion of the Monday program to include clothes and acupuncture treatments.
Please save the date and join us for this celebration.
10
THE MESSENGER
C hr istian Edu c ation at Fir s t C hu rc h
By Rev. David Averill & Mary Broske
The Christian Education Committee continues to plan
many exciting and interesting classes. Here is the
current list of offerings:
2. Disciple Fast Track, Part 1 of 2: The Old Testament
(8 sessions remaining)
Time: 6:15 pm - 7:30 pm
Location: Bethany Room, Bell Hall, 1st floor
OCTOBER & NOVEMBER
DISCIPLE is a program of disciplined Bible study aimed
at developing strong Christian leaders. The study
emphasizes the wholeness of the Bible as a
revelation of God. DISCIPLE draws upon the work of
scholars, the personal Bible reading and study of the
participant, and dynamic group discussion to aid
understanding of the Bible. See article on page 8.
TUESDAYS
Wired Word Group: The Bible’s Take on Current
Events
4:00 - 5:00 pm, Bethany Room
7:00 - 8:00 pm, The Village
WEDNESDAYS
1. Get Out of The Boat - 2 sessions remain
(2 sessions: Oct. 1, Oct. 8) Time: 6:15 pm - 7:30 pm
Location: Epworth Hall, Conference Room
Disciple FastTrack Part 2 will continue in Spring 2015
3. Life Journal Discussion Group
(ongoing, from September 10)
Time: 6:15 - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Amy Watson’s office, Bell Hall Preschool
In the study based on John Ortberg's 2002 book, "If
You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of
the Boat", we invite you to consider the incredible
potential that awaits you outside your comfort zone.
Out on the risky waters of faith, Jesus is waiting to
meet you in ways that will change you
forever, deepening your character and your trust in
God.
Life Journal is a 365 day reading plan for daily Bible
reading developed by Rev. Wayne Cordeiro, a pastor in
Hawaii, that incorporates the SOAP method of
scripture reading (Scripture, Observation, Application,
Prayer). Many people at First UMC have committed to
this reading plan for 2014. It's never to late to
get started. We offer this discussion group as a way to
encourage current practitioners of this reading plan as
well as develop wider adoption of this spiritual
discipline among the congregation. If you are looking
for a way to grow closer in your walk with God, look no
further than the Life Journal discussion group. For
more information about the Life Journal reading plan
go to www.lifejournal.cc on the internet.
Is There a Way to Heaven? NEW!!
(5 sessions beginning Oct. 15 running through Nov. 19)
Location: Epworth Hall, Conference Room
Topics: Oct 15, 6:15 - 7:15 pm, Calling
Oct 22, 6:15 - 7:15 pm, Conversion
Nov 5, 6:15 - 7:15 pm, New Birth
Nov 12, 6:15 - 7:15 pm, Justification
Nov 19, 6:15 - 7:15 pm, Sanctification
The great evangelist John Wesley believed there is, and
he developed his theology to help people make the
journey from sin to salvation. In Wesley’s “order of
salvation,” God’s grace is the keynote from start to
finish. In his book, "The Way to Heaven," Dr. Steve
Harper presents Wesley’s writings and the ideas of
Wesley scholars in language that is clear and accessible
but never simplistic. Written in the spirit of Wesley,
here are “plain words for plain people.” Join Pastor
David Averill and Dr. Mary Broske as they lead a 5
week exploration of topics related to this fascinating
book on Wednesdays evenings, 6:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.,
beginning October 15, in the Conference Room,
Epworth Hall. This class will start after the Get Out of
the Boat class concludes.
11
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH - 419 NE FIRST STREET,
Youth HQ Fun T ime s
By Rev. David Averill/Pictures submitted from Sarah Kelly
The Youth group at First UMC had an exciting September. On Saturday
September 6, eight youth and four chaperones traveled to Disney World for
the ‘Night of Joy’ Christian Concerts. Special thanks to Dan and Kay
Greathouse and Elise Costa for providing transportation and chaperoning.
On Sunday evenings the group could be found playing sock soccer in the
Fellowship Hall or having shaving cream fights in the parking lot.
12
THE MESSENGER
Communuity O utr eac h Ministr y
By Mary Kilgour
YOUR CHURCH’S COMMUNITY OUTREACH IN AUGUST
This month perhaps the saddest was a young woman
who had been working but who came down with a
serious pancreatic disorder. She was in the hospital for
a month, and then back in for more surgeries, while her
grandmother took care of her three children. She got
behind in her bills and was in danger of losing her
utilities. Family had been helping as much as they could.
We paid the last $100 to prevent disconnect and also
gave her Junior League vouchers for her and her 3
children. She was hoping to start looking for work after
one final surgical procedure.
We’ve already given out about half of the food you so
generously provided in response to our plea in July.
Please be thinking again of those BOGO deals as we’ll
need more food probably by October. It’s amazing to us
how many people are hungry. They all talk about the
cuts to the Food Stamp program and the expense of
feeding children.
In August we helped 23 people, compared to 27 in July,
but spent about $75 more, mainly because we put an
injured homeless man in a motel for a week. He was in
desperate need. That was our biggest single expense for
the month.
In all, we gave out 6 Junior League vouchers in August,
each worth $25 in clothes, as well as 6 local bus passes.
We gave a bike donated by an Oak Hammock resident
to a homeless man named Mike. This makes seven
bikes from Oak Hammock that have been distributed. A
couple more have come in directly to Helping Hands
Clinic from other sources.
We prevented disconnect of 7 families’ utilities and one
eviction. We sent two people to Jacksonville seeking
work. And we helped one man with good job prospects
to renew his HazMat certification Commercial Driver’s
License.
Thank you for your generosity. Please keep supporting
this vital church ministry to our homeless and needy
neighbors.
We hear many sad stories in the course of this ministry.
everything was easier and we could prepare
some presents for the children, besides. I´m also making
handicrafts, with women for the Sunday school of the
children, and for the activities
that women carry at every month. Many children come
to church every Sunday for the program that we carry
out and also for the resources that we have to make the
handicrafts.
(Letter from Tania continued from page 9)
Moza and of Cuba about how it was to spend that
month together with you. They all know that we have
very peculiar friends in USA: a famous painter, a
wedding coordinator, an Enghish reverend, a Belarus
woman and a child of 7 years old, and others. HA, HA,
HA, HA....
Our "signatures painting" in front of our writing desk at
the end of our living room reminds me every day to pray
for you and to ask God to thrive you abundantly for you
to continue supporting works like ours and all the works
that you support there. I confess you something, Isayde
and me talked many times about how Sarah would be,
how she would welcome us, but Sarah is great, big of
stature and with a great heart. It was a challenge to
work with Peggy, she came from ´the big offices of New
York´ but all our fears were taken away by love,
firstly God´s love and later your love. Here things go
well, now we don´t fit into the temple on Sunday, thanks
to God. That is a good problem. At the beginning of
august we carried out the vacation biblical school. We
had a lot of work, so that a week before we worked on
the setting of the yard and the handicrafts for every day
but as we had brought many things from Gainesville
Anita and Daniel have grown a lot this summer. They
became very happy with all your gifts. They began the
school again on September 1st. Belinda Luquis who is the
secretary of superintendent Sue, will be near our church
from September 10th on, she comes to the sister church
of Cuba with the people of Grace church of Rev. Rick
Thompson. She will be in our house one day of this
week. She works in Ocala and she is a friend of Lynda.
We visited her house for two days. Do you remember
that? Please greet David and Alesia, tell them that we
have prayed a lot for them. Greet our beloved Sarah. A
big kiss for Lynda and James, Meredith and the children,
we also remember them with a lot love. Isayde sends
greetings and his affection for all.
A big hug for you, with a lot of love, Tania.
13
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 419 NE FIRST STREET,
BIRT HDAYS , ANN IVERSARIES & MEMOR IAL S
1 - Marge Baker
2 - Derrick Nuetz
Ann Phillips
Lonnie Thompson
3 - Marlene Udell
4 - Jeremy Selvidge
5 - Carl Romey
7 - Annie Blay
8 - Julie Henderson
9 - Tristan Lasley
Yessic Spencer, IV
10 - David Hurse
11 - Heather Andrews
Harriet Wise
13 - Madison Forgey
Jeffrey Opalko
14 - Gregory MacDonald
Teddy Wilhelm
15 - Kristen Crisp-Neill
Katie Palmer
17 - Doug Close
18 - Sarah Palmer
19 - Bobbie Jo Fosby
Jeffery Gustin
Lewis Walton
20 - Michelle Driver
Sandy Lessl
Ruth Ann Wilson
21 - Levi Cissell
Don Rothwell, Sr.
22 - William Claus
Chris Sharp
23 - Betty Lee
Brian Thompson
Jody Thompson
Joanne Young
25 - Brittany Sorenson
26 - Robert Jackson
Randy Stacey
Rebecca Wolfson
27 - Jim Brogdon
John Krigbaum
Addie Watson
29 - Michael Cissell
30 - Beth Debarba
Russell Golly
Chris Griseck
Leonard Hooper
Karin Jeter
31- Anna Swearington
October 8 October 10 October 11 October 16 October 21 October 24 October 26 October 30 -
Christopher & Meredith Hall
Randy & Cynthia Stacey
Chris & Quin Hall
George & Muffet Emmanuel
Harold & Ruth Henderson
Ted & Doris Evans
Jody & Megan Thompson
Julian & Kristen Crisp
In Memory
Margaret Zeanah
Did we miss your important date? Is your information incorrect?
If so please contact the church office with the correct information
and help us update our records.
14
THE MESSENGER
OCTOBER CALENDAR AND EVENTS PAGE
WEEKLY CALENDAR
SUNDAYS
8:25 am Service of Holy Communion
9:45 am Sunday School Classes
New Creation Worship - Chapel
Holy Grounds - Parlor (2nd Sunday)
10:55 am Morning Worship Service
11:00 am Youth Small Group
5:00 pm Youth HQ
5:30 pm Young at Heart Fellowship (2nd Sunday)
MONDAYS
9:30 am
1:30 pm
2:30 pm
3:30 pm
4:00 pm
5:00 pm
5:30 pm
6:16 pm
7:00 pm
FUMPers Bible Time
Community Outreach Ministry
Helping Hands Clothing Closet
Communion Service
Community Meal
Helping Hands Clinic
Worship Committee (2nd Monday)
Girl Scouts (September—May)
Boy Scouts
TUESDAYS
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
5:00 pm
5:00 pm
6:00 pm
6:00 pm
6:00 pm
6:00 pm
7:00 pm
Staff Meeting - The Vine
Wired Word - Bethany Room
Stewardship Committee (2nd Tuesday)
Mission-Outreach Committee (4th Tuesday)
Trustee Committee (1st Tuesday)
Finance Committee (2nd Tuesday)
SPR Committee (3rd Tuesday)
Church Council (4th Tuesday)
Wired Word - The Village
Su Mo Tu We Th Fri Sat
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31
SPECIAL OCTOBER EVENTS
October 5
October 7
October 10
October 12
WEDNESDAYS
4:30 pm Kidz Music & Bible Club
Youth Praise Team rehearsal - Chapel
5:30 pm Fellowship Dinner
6:15 pm Christian Education classes or activities
as scheduled.
6:00 pm Instrumental Ensemble
7:00 pm Chancel Choir
THURSDAYS
9:30 pm
11:30 am
3:00 pm
6:30 pm
Community Outreach Ministry
Lunch Bunch (1st & 3rd Thursdays)
Helping Hands Women’s Clinic
Celebration Ringers
October 14
October 19
October 24
October 25
October 26
FRIDAYS
9:00 am Parents’ Morning Out
SATURDAYS
5:00 pm Parents’ Night Out (3rd Saturday)
October 29
October 31
15
- 17th Sunday after Pentecost - Worldwide Communion
8:25 am - Communion
9:45 am - New Creation Worship
10:55 am - Communion
11:00 am - Youth Small Group
5:00 pm - Youth HQ
- 10:00 am - UMW Day Circle
6:00 pm - Circle 5 - Elizabeth Shaw’s home
- United Methodist Men’s Retreat - LEC
- 18th Sunday after Pentecost
8:25 am - Communion
9:45 am - New Creation Worship
10:55 am - Worship Service
11:00 am - Youth Small Group
5:00 pm - Youth HQ
5:30 pm - Young at Heart Fellowship
- 5:45 pm - UMW Circle 6 - Conference Room
- 19th Sunday after Pentecost
8:25 am - Communion
9:45 am - New Creation Worship
10:55 am - Worship Service
11:00 am - Youth Small Group
5:00 pm - Youth HQ
- United Methodist Men’s Retreat - LEC
- Gainesville Pops Fall Concert - 3:00 pm
- 20th Sunday after Pentecost
8:25 am - Communion
9:45 am - New Creation Worship
10:55 am - Worship Service
11:00 am - Youth Small Group
5:00 pm - Youth HQ
- First Church FALL FESTIVAL 5:00 - 7:30 pm
- All Hallow’s Eve - Halloween
ALL ARTICLES FOR THE MESSENGER SHOULD BE EMAILED TO BJ @ [email protected]
NO LATER THAN THE 20TH OF EACH MONTH.
First United Methodist Messenger (USPS 552880) is PUBLISHED MONTHLY
by First United Methodist Church, 419 NE 1st Street Gainesville FL.
Phone (352) 372-8523. Periodicals Postage Paid at Gainesville FL 32601.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the First United Methodist Church,
419 NE First Street, Gainesville, FL 32601 Vol. 36 No. 10
Phone: 352-372-8523
Fax: 352-372-2524
E-mail: [email protected]
5:00 - 7:30 pm
Wednesday, October 29
FUMC has gone green! You may view the Messenger online each month at the church website, www.fumcgnv.org
instead of receiving a printed and mailed copy. An email will be sent to you when the newsletter is ready to view.
If you would like to participate in this effort to conserve paper and postage, please contact the church office at
372-8523 or email [email protected] and provide us with your e-mail address. A limited number of copies will be
printed and mailed for those who do not have internet access. Please contact the church office to request a copy.
16
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH - 419 NE FIRST STREET,
ANN UAL C HARGE CO NFERENCE - SAVE T HE DAT E!
By Sara McKinley
Charge Conference for Mission Field Priscilla
Date/Time : Sunday, November 16, 2014 at 6:00 pm
Place: First Gainesville UMC
Presiding Elder: Sue Haupert-Johnson
Mission Field Organizers: Geraldine McClellan/Rick
Thompson/Dan Johnson
A time of worship and celebration for what God has
done through United Methodist churches in the
Gainesville area within the last year. All are welcome to
attend. There will be a brief bit of business in the
beginning when only church members can vote. Come
support First Church at this event in our beautiful
Fellowship Hall as we extend hospitality to our fellow
United Methodists in the Gainesville area.
Participants include the following local churches and
Pastors:
Grace Fort Ft. Clarke - Rick Thompson, Rachel DeLaune
Greater Liberty Hill - JD Johnson
Hague - Johnny Arnette
Hall Chapel - Altheria Lenon
Mt. Pleasant - Geraldine McClellan
Trinity - Dan Johnson, Esther Rodriguez, Aaron Rousseau
Wesley - Harry Holloman
Bartley Temple - Mary Mitchell
Faith Mission - Joessa Merricks
First Gainesville - Sara Mckinley, David Averill
Gator Wesley - Narcie Jeter, Ryan DeLaune
Lasley, Mrs Cindy
Lawson, Mr Lary
Little, Mr Charles Owen
Magee, Mrs Shirley Lynn
Massey, Mr William Gardner (Will)
McFarlane, Mrs Mary Louise (Mary Lou)
McGeorge, Mrs Louise C.
Newberg, Velena Marie Decker
Nolen, Mrs Nata F.
Parker, Mr Steven Hamilton
Price, Ms Grace Elisia (Gracie)
Price, Jennifer Lynn
Rockwell, Mrs Sarah Beth Belew
Runkle, Mrs Sarah Margaret Deck
Smith, Mr Christopher Irby (Chris)
Spencer, Ms Jenneene S.
Stephens, Miss Caraline
Stephens, Mr Jacob
Swearingen, Caroline Elizabeth Kimsey
Tate, Mr Kevin A.
Tate, Mrs Tyson Renee
Toucey, Ms Claire Deslandes
Walker, Mr Harold Edward
Walker, Mrs Lorene Griner
Watanabe, Laura
Weaver, Mrs Doris Elizabeth
Whitaker, Mrs Brite
Whitaker, Mr John D.
Willms, Mr Bruce A.
Willms, Mrs Cynthia I.
Wood, Mrs Suzanne
The following is a list of inactive members whose
names will be removed from the church membership
rolls at this year’s charge conference. If you know of a
reason why any one of these persons should not be
removed, please contact the church office before
November 10.
Alford, Mrs Betty Jane
Anderson, Mr Robert (Bob)
Barrett, Mrs Mary Martha Palmour
Blakely, Lloyd
Bottari, Mr Paul Augustine (Paul)
Bottari, Mrs Rosario Villaraos (Rose)
Buzan, Mr Dale
Buzan, Mrs Vurla
Carden, Mrs Kameron
Cook Jr, Mr Donald Charles
Crews, Mrs Connie
Crews, Mr Lee
Dautel, Miss Jennifer
Dell, Mrs Courtney Moore
Dell, Mr Harold Lynn (Hal)
Dodd, Miss Rebecca (Becky)
Droll, Mr Michael Lee (Mike)
Guffey, Mrs Jamie Elizabeth
Guffey, Mr Jon Mark
Herbert, Dr Marshall Linton (Linton)
Hight, Mr Joe Wesley
Howard, Miss Margaret Lindsey (Molly)
Kilgo, Mr John Lee
Kilgo, Mrs Virginia Crews
17