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ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE UPCOMING GENERAL CONFERENCE-AND MORE THAN YOU PROBABLY WANT TO KNOW!
Well folks, we are now just a little over 2 weeks away from the General Conference where the denomination will seek to determine how we interact as a church family for the future. The Conference beings on Saturday, 2/23 and concludes on 2/26. Here's some information for you to be aware of:
You can watch the General Conference live is you wish: http://www.umc.org/who-we-are/general-conference-2019-live-video-stream-english
There is an article about the General Conference in the Tuscaloosa News., You can read its here: https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/20190205/united-methodists-face-vote-on-lgbtq-issues-will-it-rip-church-apart
On March 2, our Bishop Wallace-Pagett will hold a Called Clergy Meeting at Clearbranch UMC in Birmingham from 10-noon. Following that, will be a Laity session from 1:30-3:30. Here she will lay out for us what the vote at GC was, what it means for us in North Alabama going forward, and what our next steps should be. I encourage our lay leaders and all other interested church members to attend and hear for yourself what these results mean.
On March 10, beginning at 2:30, we will gather here as a church and talk through GC 2019 and what that means for us a church family.
For those who haven't been following, here is what we are talking about: Our current set of beliefs, called the Book of Discipline, states that homosexuality is not in line with Christian teaching, that our church will not ordain self-confessing homosexuals into ministry, and that our pastors and churches are not to be used for homosexual weddings or ceremonies. It also reminds us that all people, which includes homosexuals, are people of great worth to God and his church. We are not to discriminate against their desire to worship with us, just as we don't discriminate any others. However, over the years these rules have been challenged, up to the point where in 2016 an openly gay woman was selected as the Bishop of a UMC Conference in the western US in violation of the Book of Discipline but without any challenges from the leadership of the church. So while our church remains united, there has been a division within along the lines of theological debate based around the issue of homosexuality for decades. Now that is hard come to a head so to speak, a special called General Conference will meet wit the aim of voting for a plan that will help the church move on and settle this issue for us, once and for all. Seems simple, right?
Three or four plans are going to be offered: a Modified Traditional Plan that will keep the beliefs the way they are and enforce those who break the rules, a One Church Plan that allows individual churches and clergy to follow their own beliefs in regard to homosexuality-including weddings and ordination, A Three Conference Plan that will divide the US into three conferences so that churches and pastors can align themselves with either a progressive, a unity, or a traditional conference and Book of Discipline (all under the same denomination of UMC), and a Simple Plan that aims to just take out of the BoD all references to marriage and sexuality, therefore removing the issue we argue over. There are many nuances of each of these I am not covering here for the sake of keeping it simple. Some of these plans offer a graceful exit plan that will help churches and pastors leave the denomination if the vote doesn't go the way they can live with. Some churches are already leaving or have left, others are waiting for the vote but are prepared to walk away from the denomination.
A new wrinkle in this journey is that the Wesley Covenant Association, a group of conservative UM's, was formed and is planning to hold a convening conference in April for a new Wesleyan-Methodist denomination. Many churches, some in AL, have already spoken out to be included in that body as they break off and form a new denomination. Their announcement proved to bring an end to many who held out hope that we could remain united through this.
SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR FAYETTE FUMC? Between now and the end of February-nothing. After the vote, we will know what lies ahead and we will begin that conversation on March 10. You as a church will have to pray, study, discuss, and potentially even vote at some point. But nothing is eminent for us at this time. We're just getting closer to that conversation.
In the meantime, we are still going to worship Christ, serve his people, and live in love with each other and the world around us. We are going to feed the hungry, help those held captive by life find freedom in Christ, nurture our youth, children, and young adults into the faith, and spread the Good News in every way we can, anywhere we can, anytime we can. So while you need to be aware of what is going on, you do not need to let the enemy turn this into fear, cause you to walk away from this church family, or steal our energy and joy for his service. while we will walk through this together, God has already begun to make straight our path forward-for his glory. In that we can all rest!
I love being your pastor. I am here if you want or need to talk about this or any other issue. And I'm joining you in prayer for our church.
Pastor Scott
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Our Story Over The Last
Two Weeks:
Attendance:
9 AM: 1/20-124. 1/27-156. 2/3-138
11 AM: 1/20-47. 1/27-55. 2/3-52
CR: 1/17-52. 1/24 56. 1/31-95
Offering:
1/20- $3212.00
1/27- $6020.00
2/3-8016.32
YTD-$ 32296.32
Small Groups:
456: 1/23-7
JAM: 1/20-8. 1/27-14
Sun. Youth:
Wed. Youth: 1/27-27
FUEL College:1/29-18
Sun. Small Groups: 1/20-34. 1/27-39. 2/3-29 (few groups reporting)
Weekday Small Groups:no reports
Outreach and Missions:
Fishes and Loaves meals served-n/a
Families served through In As Much Fund:
Amount invested:
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Fishes and Loaves will prepare and distribute over 500 meals to those in need around the Fayette and Berry communities. The next date they will gather is on February 16. Meal prep begins around 8, distribution about 10:30. This is a great ministry for all ages to be involved.
Christian Center of Concern needs: purple hull peas, toilet paper
In As Much Fund: donate on Communion Sunday or through church office
Youth Service Project 2019: volunteers with construction knowledge needed as we set a course for youth missions in home repair for needy residents of Fayette in the summer of 2019 and beyond
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Sundays-
Sunday Morning Small Group-K4-6th,
10-10:45 in the workroom
Jesus And Me (JAM), 4-5:30 PM,
Fellowship Hall
Wednesdays-456, 6 PM at McDonald's
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Sundays at 5 PM
Wednesdays at 6 PM
Special dates:
2/13 4:30 PM "A Night Out" fundraiser
2/16 10 AM Fishes & Loaves delivery
2/17 NO YOUTH
2/20 6 PM Fellowship Meal at Huatulco's
A Night Out YOUTH FUNDRAISER – FFUMC will be hosting a fundraiser on Wednesday, February 13th at 6:00 in the Fellowship Hall at First Methodist. Tickets for the event are $15 each and include grilled chicken or grilled pork chop, salad, baked potatoes, roll, dessert and drink. Tickets are on sale in the church office and will also be available Sunday, February 10th outside the Fellowship Hall after both worship services. Youth need to be at the Fellowship Hall at 4:30 the afternoon of the 13th to help set up. If you have any questions or need additional information, please call or text Ms. Dana at 205.270.2725.
BigStuf Summer Camp will be June 24-28 and will be $260.00 total per person. Several have paid deposits but the balance will be due by May 28th. If you have paid your deposit, your payments will be $50 per month due on the 28th of each month starting in February. If you have NOT paid your deposit, your payments will be $65 per month due on the 28th of each month starting in February. If you have any questions or need information about scholarships, please see Ms. Dana.
Long range dates:
Senior Sunday-May 5
Youth Mission Week-June 10-14
VBS-June 15-19
BigStuf Camp at PCB-June 24-28
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Young Adult Ministry
Tuesday Nights at 7:00 PM
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Gather this Sunday at 6 PM at the country club as Kevin Rhudy leads us to start a new kind of men's ministry-one that you'll want to be a part of! Bring your favorite snack or eat before you come-see you there!
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Admin Council meting on February 17 at 3:00 PM. Finance team will need ton meet together for an hour prior to this meeting.
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Celebrate Recovery had a great 6 year Birthday Party/Anniversary Celebration with 95 people attending - The most participants ever! The Common Ground Band helped to lead the worship time along with vocalists - Sam Junkin, Rachel Taylor, and CR worship leader, Sarah Smyth. Mike Marion and Pastor Kathy Griffith shared a little about the history of Celebrate Recovery and how it got started at our church. Through Celebrate Recovery we have had the privilege of getting to know some of the most courageous and most real people on earth! It is such a wonderful thing to see God's children experience hope and healing as they overcome their hurts, destructive habits and hangups. The highlight of the night was the cardboard testimonies - where participants shared the pain and struggle in their lives written on one side of the cardboard and then, with great joy, flipped over their cardboards to share the healing they've received.
Mrs. Anita Morris was presented with a Celebrate Recovery Service Award token for the wonderful meals she prepares on the first Thursday night of each month. Mrs. Morris has been consistently preparing these meals for CR for 6 years! Our other CR leaders, past and present, were thanked for their service as well. The names of all those serving are numerous; from those who help serve and prepare meals, decorate tables, greet people, prepare handouts, lead groups, teach lessons and sponsor individuals, it really does take a village! - It takes a church full of God's children who recognize that no one is any better than another and we are all in need of God's grace.
Thank you church for supporting this ministry with your prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness!
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We are in desperate need of some volunteers to run the audio for our services as well as work to record the services for our TV spot. Please see Karon ASAP to volunteer and receive training for this important ministry. Without your help, we may not be able to continue these parts of our service.
No choir or handbells practice on Wednesday 2/13 so that all can attend the "A Night Out" dinner.
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with Common Ground worship band
February 24, 2019
6:30 PM
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