WILDWOOD/VILLAGE MILLS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
METHODIST MESSENGER
VOLUME 21, NUMBER 2 MARCH, APRIL 2017
FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK
LENT AND EASTER
Even though Christmas is still in our rear view mirror, we are already preparing for Easter. Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter being the two major seasons in the Christian Year. The Season of Lent begins this week. Lent is our preparation time for Easter. Lent begins this Wednesday March 1st at 6pm with our annual Ash Wednesday Service. The season concludes on Easter Sunday is April 16th.
The sermon series for Lent/Easter is called “Miracles of Lent” and it examines the miracles that took place during Jesus last hours on the cross. Here is the outline of our special Lenten programs:
Ash Wednesday The Miraculous Darkness
1st Sunday in Lent The Miraculous Tearing of the Temple Curtain
2nd Sunday in Lent The Miraculous Earthquake
3rd Sunday in Lent The Miraculous Splitting Rocks
4th Sunday in Lent Passover Presentation by Bill Katz
5th Sunday in Lent The Miraculous Raising of the Saints
Psalm Sunday The Miraculous of the Roman Soldiers
Day of Prayer Wednesday April 12th 7am-7pm
Maundy Thursday The Miraculous Found in Holy Communion
Easter Sunday The Miracle of Easter
We are excited to have Bill Katz from Chosen People Ministries join us on March 26 to share with us his ministry as a Messianic Jew (a Jew who accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior). His primary mission is to bring Christ to the Jewish Community but an important part of their program involves teaching Christians how the Jewish Scriptures (OT) ties into the ministry of Jesus.
GOALS FOR 2017
We are about our goals for 2017. Our emphasis this year is on expanding our outreach to our community. We are continuing our outreach programs from last year and adding 2 more programs.
2016 Programs
1. Continue our Methodist Matinee program as a community outreach.
2. Continue to expand our COF Estate Sale ministry growth.
3. Continue our new resident Evangelism program.
2017 Programs
1. New Community Games Night Fellowship program.
2. Establishing regular Social Media events listed on our Facebook page.
WVMUMC Phone: 409-834-2234 Sunday Morning
P.O. BOX 332 Fax: 409-834-2809 9:00am Worship Service
5943 FM 3063 www.wvmumc.org 10:05am Refreshments
AT WILDWOOD RESORT Office Email: secretary.wvmumc@aol.com 10:15am Sunday School
VILLAGE MILLS, TX 77663
Staff
Pastor: Rev. Randy Carrion Secretary: Chelsea Hartman Choir Director: Chelsea Hartman
randy.wvmumc@aol.com secretary.wvmumc@aol.com Handbell Director: Jeanne Jones
409-834-2222 (home) 409-834-2234 (Office) Organist: Barry Johnson
409-543-9026 (cell) Pianist: Chelsea Hartman
Nursery: Dawn Stanley
PRAYER CONCERNS
Please notify Jan Wright, prayer team coordinator, with any prayer, illness, or hospital concerns. 409-834-2410
CHURCH MEMBERS
Jack Barbee Gerry Blackman Juanita Bridwell Randy & Rene Carrion
Tom Clark Dale Hillyer
Jim Horn Brady & Merline McCoy
Tim & Janie Meredith Ollie Murphy
Ray & Nancy Reid Ed Spears
Family & Friends
Rose Ann Brashier Jerry Brewer
Sherry Burkes Tommy Clegg
Emmet Greene Austin Halter
Kay Kelly Ricky Keltz
George Marsh
Eldon & Christine Reed
Regina Rudrud George Sanner
Scot Smith Bob Tate
Butch Troy
"Earth has no sorrow Heaven cannot heal."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
March
01 Delene Oistad 24 Paula Seiley
04 Kathlynn Schultz 25 Marie Combs
05 Bill Green 26 Chloe Craus
06 Mike Boyette 29 Susan Williams
07 Ron Turner 31 Betty Barbee
09 Ethan Moore Janet Gibson
16 Jack Barbee
April
01 Jerry Stewart 16 Jack Pedigo
02 Rowland Priddy 17 Emma Cullen
03 Jim Horn 20 Ian Stewart
05 Kirstan Stanley Robert Gilbert
09 Zachary Cheney 21 Gil Jornet
10 Tom Clark Lesley Moore
12 Betty Tupper 22 Beverly Mallgrave
Dawn Stanley 25 Barney Gaspard
14 Aaron Cox Larry Dixon
Don Schreiber 29 Betty Peters
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
March
02 Robert & Ollie Erickson
April
01 Patrick & Mary Stidham
03 Darryl & Karry Craus
11 Harold & Marilyn Woodrom
Rowland & Jackie Priddy
12 Felix & Carolyn Smith
26 Loren & Max Clay
NEWS FROM THE PEWS
OUTREACH
During the months of January and February, we collected 2 lb bags of flour and sugar. The Outreach committee divided 115 bags of sugar and 99 bags of flour between the Christian Loving Care Center in Kountze, Caring is Sharing in Woodville, and the pantry in the Warren Methodist church. Thank you so much for your donations and support! Here are the upcoming donation items.
Food Item Donations
MARCH Grape/Strawberry Jam/Jelly
APRIL Cornbread Mix (8.5oz Box or package)
We also collect empty egg cartons. You can bring those at anytime. Please bring donated items and place them in the outreach box in the Fellowship Hall, to the left of Pastor Randy's office. Thank you!
VALENTINE’S 2017
With the help of Family Life Ministries, the United Methodist Men hosted the annual Sweetheart banquet. It was a great evening of food, fellowship, and fun! Jack & Betty Barbee were awarded as the Longest Married couple, followed by Jack & Alberta Pedigo as the Second Longest Married. Pastor Randy walked away with both the Most Children and Most Grandchildren award.
Carol Smith is your 2017 Sweetheart.
Jeanne Jones is the Woman of the Year.
SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY
Wilma Walton walked away with the silver ladle on Feb. 5, 2017, marked the winner of the Souper Bowl cook-off!
Thank you to all the participants, we raised over $1,000 to divide between the Kountze and Warren schools to buy supplies for the students.
GAME NIGHT!
March 16th at 6:30pm, come join us in an evening of games, food, and fellowship! Bring your favorite game, or just bring yourself and play what is already set up!
METHODIST MATINEE
Friday, March 10, join us to go see the movie The Shack! Meet at the church to carpool to Tinseltown theaters in Beaumont. The movie time has yet to be determined, but we will stop for lunch at Cheddars restaurant, which is near the theater.
LAST SUNDAY MEALS
The Last Sunday Meals will be Sunday, March 26th and Sunday, April 30th.
VITAL SIGNS
OF THE CHURCH
MEMBERSHIP
Total Net Membership
February 2016 February 2017
177 164
ATTENDANCE
Worship Average
February 2016 February 2017
81 78
August Sunday School Average
44
JANUARY 2017
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
BUDGET PERFORMANCE
Jan. YTD
Contributions $18,412 $18,412
Expenses $ 11,026 $ 11,026
Difference $ 7,386 $ 7,386
2017 Budget $153,795
OTHER ITEMS IN JAN.
Checking Account $ 78,802
Money Market Fund $ 10,083
Total $ 88,885
Restricted Funds $ -29,520
Available Funds $ 59,365
MUSIC CORNER
CHOIR
There’s lots of music being worked on in the choir. Anthems from Chris Tomlin, Twila Paris, and Keith Getty will be sung for the Lenten/Easter season! The choir only has three more months of practice before breaking for Camp Meet days! Come join us for practices on Tuesdays at 6:45pm in the music room.
~Chelsea Hartman, Director
HANDBELLS
We welcome our newest ringer: Zach Cheney! The handbell choir is working on new music to play sometime in April, around Easter time. There are spots available, and we could use more ringers! If you’re interested, come join us Tuesday evenings at 5:15pm.
~Jeanne Jones, Director
"Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; sing the glory of His name; give to Him glorious praise!" (Psalm 66:1-2)
CALENDAR
Mar. 10 10:00 am Methodist Matinee "The Shack"
Mar. 16 6:30 pm Game Night - Fellowship Hall
Mar. 25 8:00 am United Methodist Men Breakfast
Mar. 26 9:00 am Chosen People Ministries
Mar. 27 6:30 pm Long-Range Planning Meeting
Apr. 6 10:00 am Homebound Communion
Apr. 12 7am-7pm Prayer Vigil
Apr. 13 6:00 pm Maundy Thursday Service
Apr. 17 OFFICE CLOSED
Apr. 22 8:00 am United Methodist Men Breakfast
Apr. 23 9:00 am Outdoors Service
Apr. 24 6:30 pm Church Council Meeting
Apr. 30 9:00 am 5th Sunday Contemporary Service
Regular Scheduled Program
TUESDAY
8:30 am Prayer Group
9:30 am Exercise Group
5:15 pm Handbell Practice
6:45 pm Choir Practice
THURSDAY
9:30 am Exercise Group
PUBLICATION STATEMENT
THE METHOTDIST MESSENGER is published every other month by the Wildwood/Village Mills United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 332, Village Mills, TX 77663, (409) 834-2234, Chelsea Hartman, Publisher. Church-related news items should be mailed, e-mailed, or delivered to the church office for receipt by no later than the 15th of the month prior to publication. Items are published on a space available basis and are edited at the discretion of the publister. When moving, please promptly send change of address notice to the church office.