Note from Pastor Abril &
Pictures from the Churchwide Meeting
on August 28th!
If you have been unable to attend church recently you have not had the opportunity to share your thoughts about FUMCD'S Core Values. Click below to complete the online form, or call the Church office and we'll record your choices over the phone! (972-298-6121)
CASA Quilters made their first delivery of quilts and blankets to Dallas CASA in a year and a half. However, that didn't mean these ladies weren't working on donations. On September 2nd a bus load of 301 quilts was donated to CASA. And 3,848 quilts have been delivered in the 10 years since the first donation. CASA will give these to children in foster care that they advocate for and to the trafficking nonprofits they work with. These provide something made specially for them and a little comfort to children that have been sex trafficked, sexually abused, or severely physically abused. Thank you to Bob Talbot for loading the bus and driving, to Pastor Abril Goforth for blessing the quilts, and to the many church members who support this project.
MISSIONS
Happy Feet 2021
September Communion Rail Offering
Happy Feet provides over 100 pairs of shoes to underprivileged children in Duncanville Independent School District!
A $50.00 donation will provide a new pair of shoes and socks for a child.
Happy Feet will take place on November 20th at Famous Footwear in Cedar Hill from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm.
Thank you for your continued support of this mission.
FALL FESTIVAL - OCTOBER 16 - 17, 2021
We are so excited Fall Festival is back! This event is such FUN, and FUMCD missional projects depend on this annual event to fund the following year’s missions…Open Table, PIP Days, Central Elementary Partnership, Project Transformations, Duncanville Outreach Ministry, Meals on Wheels, Happy Feet and our missionaries in Panama, South Africa & Japan to name a few.
Remember, you can help by:
1) Cleaning out that garage, closet or shed – donations are needed for the Garage Sale, Re-gifting Booth, and the Dig It Garden Shop. NOTE: We do not have a place to store donations, so we must ask that you hold on to your items until the Fall Festival.
2) Volunteer where you can – details coming soon!
3) Sunday School Classes and other groups and individuals - please start making decisions on what you can contribute to the Live Auction.
Our Mission Chair, Julie Bair, will look forward to hearing from you as we plan for this special weekend. For questions or additional information, please email Julie Bair at: juliekbair@sbcglobal.net
Finding Contentment – A Stewardship Devotional
“But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” ~1 Timothy 6:6-8
It had to be a lot easier to find contentment in life when the Apostle Paul wrote these words in First Timothy. People then had few possessions and were fortunate indeed if they had enough to eat and anything more than simple rags with which to cover themselves. Jesus Himself had little if anything more. After He left his parents’ home in Nazareth to begin his ministry, He told a “teacher of the law,” according to both gospels Matthew and Luke, that he had no place of his own to lay his head. In fact, Bible scholars tell us that Jesus lived in the home of His disciple, Simon whom He renamed, Peter. From there He traveled about on foot with his disciples to preach, to teach and to perform many miracles. Archaeologists believe that they have found this home, what remains of it. It’s in Capernaum not far from the western bank of the Sea of Galilee.
People today look for contentment in all sorts of places. Some look for it in a high-paying jobs, yet feel discontent when they are passed over or don’t get a raise. Some look for it in large homes, yet feel discontent when a neighbor upgrades theirs. home with added rooms, a swimming pool or new kitchen appliances. We feel like we have to “keep up with the Joneses.” We seek contentment in the purchase of a new car, yet another pair of new shoes, or a Bottega Veneta handbag? But why? Is it human nature to need more and more stuff? Can we ever truly be content? Yes. But we will never find it in having more; more never ends. We can find it in giving more. Yes, but it’s found in the giving NOT the getting.
We can easily understand how contentment leads to generosity – the less we need, the more we can give away. But inverse is also true. Generosity also leads to contentment; the two coexist, psychologists tell us, in a way that encourages each to exist all the more?
Consider for just a moment how generosity leads to contentment: Generous people have a healthy understanding of how much they already own. By sharing in a need with others, the fulfillment of those needs, that joy, is shared with us. People who give to those in need quickly realize how much they have to give; People who give away possessions hold their remaining possessions in higher esteem; People who give their time make better use of their time remaining, and; people who donate money are far less wasteful with the money left over.
Generous people live happier, more fulfilled lives. Researchers at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke have shown that generous people are generally happier, healthier, and more satisfied with life. And once they find this satisfaction through generosity, they are less inclined to search for it elsewhere.
Generous people have more fulfilling relationships. People always enjoy the company of a generous giver to the company of a selfish hoarder. People are naturally attracted towards others who have an open heart to share with others. And a good friend is the best gift you could ever give yourself.
Father God, help us to understand that having more is not what Jesus meant by “Life More Abundant”. Inspire us to be content through loving our neighbor, giving and sharing our Time, Talents and Treasures. Amen
Sunday, September 12, 2021
In-Person/Online Worship Service at 10:30 am
Sermon: We Are Missional
by Pastor Abril Goforth
Scripture Readings: 2 Corinthians 9:1-15
The United Methodist Men will meet on Monday, September 13th at 7 pm in 414. Make plans now to attend!!
OPEN TABLE Curbside Pick-Up
Great Food! Special Blessings!
Every Saturday
5 pm - Aldersgate Parking Lot
Last Saturday Open Table was blessed to serve some 65+ meals. Once again, the Open Table families picked up dinner and groceries. Praise God for all the volunteers that made it happen!
Open Table Ministry continues to seek the Lord's guidance and provision for this ministry as we continue to serve the community by
sharing the FUMC Duncanville love of Christ.
We would love to have you be part of this vital & vibrant ministry.
Spots are available for anyone who would
like to volunteer in the coming weeks.
For questions or additional information please contact
Alisha Vance at 214-641-5675.
Volunteer Cooking Leaders Needed
Our regular cooking teams will need a break soon. If you are willing to lead the cooking duties for a week, please reach out to Alisha. Vacations or just a short break, both are important for the leadership teams with Open Table. Please contact Alisha at 214-641-5675.
This week the pantry is low on Beef Stew, Canned Fruit, Canned Spinach, and Cereal. Please no pasta, sauce or macaroni & cheese.
Thank you Church, your generosity
is greatly appreciated!
First Methodist School – First Day of School!
The 2021-2022 school year began Tuesday, Sept. 7!
Please keep our students and staff in your prayers as we forge
ahead in a new year of learning and growing.
We believe bright days are ahead!
Proverbs 4:18 - The road the righteous travel is like the sunrise, getting brighter and brighter until daylight has come.
Open enrollment for the 2021-2022 school year (ages 1 year - kindergarten) is going on now! If you know a family with young children, please tell them about our school so they can learn and grow with us!
We are taking extensive measures in accordance with the CDC and the Dallas County Health Department guidelines to make our learning environment as safe as possible. We are learning and growing and happy to see everyone again!
Serving the families of the Best Southwest since 1968!
Pledges, offerings, and memorials for week ending 9/5/21: $ 12,011 YTD Pledges, offerings, and memorials:$ 342,623 Expenses for week ending 8/29/21:$ 5,035 Expenses YTD: $ 434,520
Outstanding balance on Campus Revival TMF Loan: $ $53,438
Attendance for Worship: 99
God is good!
Most of us make our donations and pledges in the offering plate, and it is an adjustment when we are not meeting together physically to worship. In an effort to simplify giving, there are several options available: 1) the drop box on the south side of the administration building is attended daily; 2) mail - 403 S. Main St., 75116; 3) online – there’s a link on the website –www.fumcd.com;4) automatic drafts from your bank or other financial institution; or 5) credit card (Just call me at the office with your credit card information. Please do not send this information in an email.) If you need pre-addressed envelopes, call Sharon at 972.298.6121.
If you would like have altar flowers in memory/honor of someone special for the church altar, please contact the church office at 972.298.6121
Flower Arrangements are provided by Posey's N Party's
If you or someone you know need to be lifted up in prayer please send Prayer Requests to communications@fumcd.com or call the church office 972.298.6121.
If you would like to make a monetary donation in memory/honor of someone special please contact the Church Office at 972.298.6121 or mail in a check to First United Methodist Church Duncanville
