T he 2014 edition of Running 4

Clean Water, Garland’s commu-

nity fundraiser to help build clean,

safe water wells in Africa, has entered the

home stretch.

Sponsored by First United Methodist

Church, New World United Methodist

Church and Lifewell Church of Garland,

the goal of this annual event is simple - to

save lives.

Dirty water

threatens lives

and destroys live-

lihoods on a dev-

astating scale.

Proceeds from

Running 4 Clean

Water sponsors

and participants

go to Seven Hills

Global Outreach

and Zion Minis-

tries, all for the express purpose of provid-

ing clean, safe drinking water in rural re-

gions of Sierra Leone.

More than 150 people have already signed

RUNNING 4 CLEAN WATER ENTERING THE HOME STRETCH

Helping in the hills

Page 2

Upcoming events Page 2

Safe today,

healthy tomorrow Page 3

New

members Page 3

Jonah’s

volunteers Page 4

IN THIS

ISSUE

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | GARLAND, TEXAS | 801 W. AVENUE B | (972)272-3471

May 19, 2014 | Volume 04, Issue 27

firstmethodistgarland.org

up for the 5K Run or the 1 Mile Fun Walk,

but that’s simply not enough.

This year’s challenge goal is to break all

previous records by signing up more than

350 runners and walkers.

And all members and friends of First

Methodist Garland can help…

… by registering yourself to participate,

assuming you haven’t done so already, at

r4cw.webconnex.com/register.

… by giving a Running 4 Clean Water bro-

chure (available from church office) to a

friend and encouraging him or her to at-

tend.

… by putting up a poster (also available

from the church office) at your favorite

supermarket, coffee shop or watering hole.

… or by promoting Running 4 Clean Wa-

ter thru Facebook, Twitter and other social

media.

It’s not too late for you to help save and

improve the quality of lives by promoting

and participating in Running 4 Clean Wa-

ter, all to the glory of God!

S ince 1931, Sacramento (NM)

Christian Camp and Confer-

ence Center has provided a

beautiful setting - in the Sacramento

Mountains, surrounded by Lincoln

National Forest - for retreat and re-

flection.

A year-round facility, Sacramento

provides affordable lodging and

staff support for groups as large as

400 people.

This is made possible in part by do-

nations of time and labor for con-

struction, repair, painting, grounds

keeping and more.

And a team of current and former

First Methodist Garland young

adults (high school grads thru col-

lege) pitches in August 4-9.

It’s not all work. Sightseeing in

Cloudcroft, Alamogordo and White

Sands is also on the agenda.

The cost is $115 per person, including

transportation and most meals. A $50

deposit is due May 31. Balance is due

July 1.

A mandatory meeting is scheduled for

Sunday, June 15.

For more information, contact Laurie

Serman (llserman@verizon.net).

Helping IN THE HILLS

UPCOMING EVENTS

RUNNING 4 CLEAN WATER Saturday, May 31, 8:30am O’Banion Middle School 5K Run, 1 Mile Fun Walk. Supports build-

ing safe drinking water wells in Africa. r4cw.webconnex.com/register

NEW LIFE NEW HOPE Breast Cancer Support Group Tuesday, June 3, 7:00pm, Room 103-105

Guest speaker Leilani Tickman, MBA,

physical therapist, Baylor Institute for Re-

habilitation.

BEREAVEMENT LUNCHEON Thursday, June 5, Noon, Schreiber Hall

Sponsored by VNA of Texas. Lunch pro-

vided at no charge. Contact Sue Rafferty at

(214) 689-2922 or Nelda Klawetter at

(972) 272-3471.

MEN’S BREAKFAST Saturday, June 7, 8:00am, Schreiber Hall

Jonathan Buck’s ‘Blue Ribbon Break-

fast’ ($4) and guest speaker Fred Durham,

Senior Pastor.

BREAKFAST @ AUSTIN STREET Sunday, June 8, 5:00-6:00am Austin Street Center, Dallas Set up, serve breakfast for more than 300

homeless men, women, children. Van

leaves church parking lot 4:15am, returns

7:00am. Donations of wrapped sand-

wiches, fresh fruit, boiled eggs, breakfast

bars, bottled water appreciated.

WEST MISSION TRIP Sunday thru Friday, June 8-13 First Methodist Garland team helping with

on-going clean-up, rebuilding from last

year’s fertilizer plant explosion.

FEED THE INTERNS Monday, June 9, 4:30 - 8:30pm Glencoe Park (near SMU) Grillers, servers needed to help feed more

than 100 Project Transformation interns.

Also donations hamburger patties, hot

dogs, bratwurst, buns, chips, potato salad,

fixings, veggie or fruit trays, banana pud-

ding, pies and cakes.

Page 2 | First News

Children from the Learning Academy prepare sandwiches for First Methodist Garland’s

quarterly trip to serve breakfast to the homeless at Austin Street Center in downtown Dal-

las. Next scheduled visit is Sunday, June 8, 5:00 - 6:00am (van leaves church at 4:15am).

First United Methodist Church Garland

2014 Budget - Where We Stand (as of May 1, 2014)

Needed $330,123 Received $292,234

By Nelda Klawetter, Director, Senior Adult Ministries

M ay is “Older Americans Month,” an annual observance re-

named from President John F. Kennedy’s declaration of

“Senior Citizens Month” in 1963.

This year’s theme is “Safe Today, Healthy Tomorrow.”

So how do we define "older adult?” Typically at least 10 years older

than we are - and for the most part, this may be true.

The number of First Methodist Garland members over 65 and still fit,

energetic and busy helping and encouraging others is truly amazing.

Their minds are sharp. Their bodies are often in better health than 30

years ago. Their wisdom, faithfulness and sense of humor are inspira-

tional to all.

The younger generation can certainly watch, learn and benefit from

what they share. And in the process, greatly enrich their lives. Unfortu-

nately, this opportunity is often missed, especially with respect to

homebound older adults. Out of sight, sadly, can be out of mind.

To be forgotten by your own church can be a sad and lonely experience.

I witnessed this first-hand when my mother was ill. And that, among

other reasons, is why I’m very passionate about this ministry.

We have 50 older adult members, all bearing witness to Christ’s love, a

strong spirit and a deep love for this church in spite of their limitations.

The younger generation can… benefit from what [older adults] share.

Thankfully, First Methodist Garland is

blessed with the ever-faithful George Topper,

Pastor of Homebound Ministries, and a team

of volunteers dedicated to calling, visiting,

running errands for and serving communion

to these treasured people. Ensuring they are

not forgotten. Ensuring they are treasured

and loved.

I am honored to be associated with these dis-

ciples of Christ as Director of Senior Adult

Ministries.

If you feel led to this ministry, I hope you’ll

contact me. As always, your ideas and sug-

gestions for ministry that can help keep our

older adults “Safe Today, Healthy Tomor-

row” are encouraged and appreciated.

Safe today,

HEALTHY TOMORROW

Page 3 | First News

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Linda and Juston Coffman

Savannah and Natalie Markham

Melissa Oehler

Tanya, Meryl and Jerad Dickey

T he production of Jonah’s

Druthers, the children’s mu-

sical presented on Mother’s

Day Sunday, May 11 was a huge,

concentrated effort involving more

volunteers than ever before.

The children’s choir staff - includ-

ing Heather Olson (set, costumes

and choreography); Linda Fletcher

(choreography); Kimberly Ingram

(drama); Dollie (props/signs) and

Mike Self (choreography); Mersha

Elliott (props, display boards and

choreography); Betsy Henderson

(coordinator) with Chris Garner,

Drew Plummer, Ian and Mikayla

Self (teens) - wishes to thank the

following for many contributions:

Bulletin/Posters: Mark Buford and

Wesley Duncan

Sound/lighting: Richard Grigsby,

Wes Jacobs, Colin McDonald and

Oren Peacock

Stage set-up: Choir staff with

Randy Adair, John Bibb, Wesley

Duncan, Mark Olson, Oren Pea-

cock, Mark Robinson, Zack Robin-

son, Fritz Steininger and Ron Wat-

kins

Stage clean-up: Choir staff with

Chris Dudley, Mary Duncan, Mike

Elliott, Ethan Farley and Gary,

Blake Ingram, Sylvia Johnson, Neal

Okerblom, Mark Olson, Oren Pea-

cock, Drew and Julie Plummer,

Luke, Mark and Zack Robinson,

Dwight Sears and Fritz Steininger

Stage props from ‘Camp Pea-

cock’: wagon, saddle stand, rope,

chaps, rifle holder and saddle bags

JONAH’S DRUTHERS THANKS, VOLUNTEERS!

Page 4 | First News

Dresses donated by: Jo Crom, Mersha

Elliott, Betsy Henderson, Annie Laurie

Newman, Heather Olson, Dorothy Sut-

ton and Kitty Williams (some of the

dresses were 40 years old, having been

used in previous musicals)

Alterations: done by Jessica Olivarez

and Heather Olson

Jacket for Dylan’s character: donated

by Carole Shugart with boots donated

by Katie Ingram

Cowboy hats and bowlers: donated by

Dollie Self and Resistol

Jonah’s (Jas Sauz) jacket was worn in

the production of “Oklahoma” years

ago; dresses worn by Madeline Watkins

First United Methodist Church

801 W. Ave. B

Garland, TX 75040

and Aubrey Youngman were worn in

“The Sound of Music;” and Ashlyn

Youngman’s dress was made by her

great-grandmother for her grandmother

Jug-band donations: jug and guitar

from Heather’s brother, Rod;

washboard from Sarah Day and violin

from Kitty’s uncle

Bones and skull: donated by Caroline’s

brother-in-law

Thanks to Amie Goins for sending pic-

tures of the musical, to choir families

for faithful attendance and to Kitty

Williams for constant support and in-

spiration.