participated by giving of their time, talents, gifts, service and witness!

Add one hundred volunteers, a beautiful spring day, four great projects and the spirit of God, and amazing things happen! The work day was a wonderful way for our church to come together during the sea-son of Lent and “spur one anoth-er on toward love and good deeds!”

A large group of volun-teers went to Mercy Ships in Garden Valley and did a variety of tasks from pre-paring packets to cleaning-up around the campus. Many folks worked at Marvin Church to prepare approximately 300 UMCOR health kits and work on encouragement cards for our military and for Mercy Ships patients. Another group worked at the Wesley Foundation at TJC to do landscaping and

“fix-it” tasks. Our final group worked at Earle’s Chapel UMC in Jacksonville con-structing a fellow-ship hall. A “Loaves and Fish-es” team fed all the workers and other support folks ran errands, took pictures and kept everyone hydrated and happy during the day!

Thanks to everyone who

Gary Bishop and Dr.

Doug Baker at work.

Great Day of Service

HEARTS AND HANDS V O L U M E 3 I S S U E 5 M A Y 2 0 1 1

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

Menders

at work 2

Farewell

reception 2

Military

Care 2

Menders

celebration 3

Mercy

Ships volunteer 3

Warren

Chapel 3

Diaper

Drive 4

F I N D O U T

M O R E

For more in-

formation

about any-

thing you see

in this news-

letter, visit the

Missions pages

on Marvin’s

web site

(www.mumc

family.org/

ministry/

missions).

A N E W S L E T T E R

A B O U T M I S S I O N S

A T M A R V I N

U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T

C H U R C H

From the top, assembling health

kits for UMCOR; Caleb Bowers;

Joyce Martin

P A G E 2

Mission Week 2011

June 17-25

It’s coming! Watch for

exciting information

concerning projects

and plans! On-line reg-

istration and shirt sales

begin May 15!

Farewell reception

Adopt a Soldier rate Independence Day July 4. Make your dona-tions payable to Marvin UMC–Adopt a Soldier.

Please submit contact information for soldiers serving overseas for our mailing list. Fill out a post card in the Welcome Center or send the sol-

During the month of May the Marvin Military Care Committee will have an “Adopt a Soldier” Cam-paign. For just $20 you can help adopt a soldier serving overseas. With the funds received, the committee will mail care packages to commemo-

dier’s name, address, branch of service and info about their mission to Marty Fazand (903.581.7662 or mfa-zand@suddenlink-.net) or Melissa Brigman (903.592.7396 or mbrig-man@marvinumc.com).

with the goal of becom-ing a United Methodist pastor serving in Tanza-nia. Alfred has been ac-cepted at Africa Univer-sity, where he will be able to finish his studies, accompanied by his wife and daughter whom he has not seen for many

years. If you would like to contribute to a love offering for Alfred, make your check payable to Marvin UMC and mark “Love Offering.” You can bring your gift to the reception or deliver it to the church office before May 22.

The Friendly Class and the Missions Team invite you to a come-and-go reception honoring Al-fred Njau from 9:30-11 a.m. on Sunday, May 22, in Pirtle Hall. Alfred is a member of Marvin who has been attending Per-kins School of Theology

H E A R T S A N D H A N D S

Marvin’s staff and

Menders at work.

Progress at Earle’s Chapel

The Marvin Menders have been working at

Earle’s Chapel UMC out-side of Jacksonville for the last few months. This historic church had a beautiful sanctuary, but had no fellowship hall, restrooms or running water.

Great progress is being made, thanks to our ded-icated Menders working almost seven days a

week! The Menders were joined by a great work crew on the Great Day of Service in March and by the Marvin Church Staff in April.

If you would like to help with this wonderful con-struction project, con-tact Menders Coordina-tor Ewell Dickerson (wedatdunn@aol.com).

Menders celebrate 20 years P A G E 3 V O L U M E 3 I S S U E 5

The Marvin Menders cele-brated their 20th anniversary on April 1 at the Chamness Lodge at Meadow Lake. Af-ter a great meal, the group enjoyed sharing stories and taking a look back at two decades of ministry.

Three individuals were pre-

sented with the Carpenter Cross in recognition for their important contribu-tions throughout the years. Brad Braddick was recog-nized as being one of the founding Menders, while Kim Hawkins and Ewell Dicker-son were recognized for their outstanding leadership roles.

A special highlight of the night was the announcement of a new award called the “Marvin Menders John Wooten Spirit Award.” This award was established as a living memorial to the spirit and commitment of John

Wooten. Vida Wooten ac-cepted the award in recognition of John’s love for Christ and the Marvin Menders. A surprised Ewell Dickerson was hon-ored as the first re-cipient of this very special award.

May God continue to bless the mission hearts and mission hands of the Marvin Menders! Amen!

two-month field service as a nurse with Mercy Ships. Stephanie will be volunteer-ing onboard the Africa Mer-cy from April 24-June 20.

She will blog from the ship to give our church a first-hand look at this incredible ministry (go to www.stephinwestafrica.blogspot.com) or follow the link on the Marvin web site.

Please keep Stephanie and all who serve in your prayers!

We are excited that Stepha-nie Duncan is beginning a

Mercy Ships volunteer

Rev. Cleran Gipson and members of

Warren Chapel CME Church came to

last month’s Missions Team meeting to

present a plaque of appreciation to

Marvin UMC and the Marvin Menders

who renovated their church in January.

Above, Kim Hawkins is recognized for leadership; below, Vida Wooten accepts the John Wooten Spirit Award.

DIRECT OR

OF MISS IONS:

MELISSA BRIGMAN

MBRIGM AN@

MARVINUMC.CO M

903.592.7396

Bits and pieces Communion offering

Our May Communion offering will be used for the NOAH Fund. Our church helps families and individuals with emergency needs, such as transportation, housing, util-ity and medical expenses. Your gifts to the NOAH Fund echo the words of Jesus, “What you do unto the least of these, you do unto me.”

Diaper drive

During the month of May we will collect diapers for PATH. Please bring your do-nations to the baby bed located in the atrium. Thank you, mission hearts!

On-going missions collections in the Welcome Center

HOTEL SIZE TOILETRIES (soap, shampoo) for the St. Paul Children’s Foundation

EYEGLASSES for the Lions Club to use in mission work

HEARING AIDS for use in medical ministries in Haiti

We’re on the Web! www.mumcfamily.

com/ministry/ missions

Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage

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Tyler, TX

M A R V I NM A R V I NM A R V I N UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

300 West Erwin Tyler, TX 75702

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