JANUARY 2019 The ONNE TION - storage.googleapis.com...growing our Greystone Church Family by “drawing all kinds of people to Christ and building a culture of invitation.” This

The CONNECTION

Happy New Year! Wow! What a beautiful Advent Season of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love has been celebrated as we now enter into a new season and new year with Church-Wide goal-setting, calendar-planning, and Vision Excite-ment in the air! January promises to bring much to our Greystone family in many ways, one, being a Church-Wide Wednesday night Bible Study combined with our Sunday Worship theme titled, “Get Their Name, Growing Your Church by Building New Relationships.”

This January/February theme promises to build excitement among us as we envision growing our Greystone Church Family by “drawing all kinds of people to Christ and building a culture of invitation.”

This first invitation is to you, our Church Family. For this invitation process to work, we need you to commit to being a part of this journey. Every member of our congregation will be given a book on

Wednesday night, January 9th or Sunday morning, January 13th and invited to please read this book as we move through its pages together. This exciting program officially begins on Wednesday night, January 9th and will go through February 27th, so your participation will be vital to what lies ahead in God’s Vision for Greystone United Methodist Church.

Furthermore, you are asked this question: Will you be one of our 30? To set a realistic goal for starters, Ann Hart and I are looking for 30 congregants to say “Yes! I will come on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings to help our Church move forward into 2019 in a big way!”

We need our Administrative Council leaders … our lay servants … our staff … our Sunday School teachers … our worshipers … we need YOU to join with us as we embrace the awesome opportunity to learn and practice a new way of invitation and radical hospitality.

Again, Happy New Year! I look forward to sharing this great ministry with you as we get excited about our fu-ture. Remember, we are bet-ter together!

Will you be one of our 30?

Blessings, Teresa

OUR VISION

Living up to our heritage of reaching each new generation for Christ.

Sundays

9:00am Sunday School

10:00am Worship Service

5:30pm Prayers & Praise Service

Wednesdays

5:15pm Family Night Supper

6:00pm Bible Study

OUR MISSION

To Put Jesus F.I.R.S.T. In Our Lives, Our Church, and Our Community.

JANUARY 2019

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FELLOWSHIP MINISTRY Strong Community Life Matters to God

January 6

Sunday School 9:00 A.M. Worship Service 10:00 A.M.

(Greeters) Kaylan Alvarado & Kimberly Lambert

(Ushers) Bill Hart/Allen Brackin/Jim Kinney/Mike Johnson

K1 KIDZ— Patty Johnson—Need Volunteers Pre-School—Mary Bullard—Need Volunteers

Nursery:-Suzanne Harden, Interim

Coffee Nook Nibbles: Allen Brackin

No Evening Service

January 13

Sunday School 9:00 A.M. Christmas Cantata 10:00 A.M.

(Greeters) Allen & Mary Beth Brackin




Coffee Nook Nibbles: Need Volunteer

SPR Meeting at 4:30 P.M. Prayers & Praise Service 5:30 P.M.

January 20


(Greeters) Emory & Frances Foster





Prayers & Praise Service 5:30 P.M.

January 27


(Greeters) Tom & Mary Walsh





Calendar Meeting at 4:00 P.M. Prayers & Praise Service 5:30 P.M.

Thank You’s from Marianna

Thank you for all that you have done for our church, our community, and the people of Marianna. You have

helped us tremendously in beginning to rebuild our town and our lives. You have shared the love of Christ with

us and we have been blessed, uplifted, and strengthened through it to face the difficult road that lies ahead of

us. This is but a small show of gratefulness that exists in the community. Thank you again.

Sincerely, Nathan Attwood and Matthew Montgomery

Dear Greystone, We are grateful for all of your generous hearts. May God richly bless you. The generosity

shared blessed many in our community through our connectedness as United Methodists.

Terri and Ron Martin from First United Methodist Church in Marianna

Dear Friends at Greystone, Thanks so very much for your service and generosity during the time of Hurricane

Michael. God works in miraculous ways.

Thanks again, Van Kunde from First United Methodist Church in Marianna

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4

Greystone’s Cookbook

Our church cookbook has a lot of great recipes!

These make great Gifts for any occasion!

Proceeds from the cookbook sales help support our church ministries.

Cookbooks are located in the lobby.

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January 15th at Noon

here at the Church.

Bring a dish to share.

Come join us for a time of

Friendship, Laughter and

Fellowship.

Please Remember to bring a

friend!!

Contact Shirley Brackin or Jennifer

Hamilton for more information.

Hosts:

Shirley Brackin & Allen Brackin

Christian Women United Circle Ministry Groups

Donation for Love In Action: Shampoo Donation for Wesley Place: Bingo Prizes

C.W.U. March 5th at 12 p.m. at church

. FAITH CIRCLE

January 8th at 9:30 a.m.

Grace-Love Circle January 21st at Mama Rosa’s at 6 p.m.

FELLOWSHIP MINISTRY Strong Community Life Matters to God

Fellowship Lunch February 3rd

Bring your favorite side dish & enjoy the fellowship after the

morning Worship Service & eat some lunch. The church provides the

chicken & beverages.

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Greystone UMC Youth News Someone said to me the other day, “Thank you for what you do for the Lord.” While I really

appreciated the person telling me that, I got to thinking, “Is everything I do really “for the

Lord?” While I try to represent Jesus when I deal with others, I know there are times when

people can’t tell me from a lost person. Even though I might not use foul language or disre-

spect others, can they really see Jesus in me?

The Lord has placed it in my heart that no one is going to see Jesus in me as long as I am do-

ing things for Him. I can work hard, be the best person I can be, and serve others until I am

exhausted but not make an impact until I stop doing it FOR Him and start allowing Him to do

things THROUGH me. You see, people can’t see Jesus in me until I allow Him to shine through

me.

So, my challenge to the youth in 2019 will be to stop doing and start allowing. Please contin-

ue to keep us in your prayers and we learn to stop, listen, and obey the Holy Spirit as He leads

us next year.

Also pray for the youth (and 5th graders) as we travel to Gatlinburg to attend the Winter

Xtreme Youth Conference. Pray that we will come back refreshed, energized and excited

about our journey with Christ.

Don’t forget:

Sunday School at 9:00 am with Mrs. Patti Walker. I have yet to leave one of her classes

without learning something new!

Sunday night Stick Ministry practice with Patsy Marteney.

Wednesday nights as we continue “The Quest.” This is a challenging and engaging Bible

study that has challenged me as much as the kids!

A big Thank you to the youth and children for sharing “Happy Birthday Jesus” with us!

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INSTRUCT MINISTRY Spiritual and Relational Health Matter to God

Wednesday Night’s in January

Join us for an exciting Bible Study, “Get Their Name,” beginning January 9th at 6 p.m. There is hope, and you will find it in these pages. Farr, Kotan and Anderson reveal the ways most churches unwittingly misdirect their reach into the community. The authors show in practical terms how to change the habits of leaders and entire congregations, so that invitation is natural, constant, systemic, genuine, and easy.

Monday Morning Bible Study

Robyn Robbins is leading “Job” Women’s Bible Study on Monday’s at 9 a.m. Just ask Job, the man from Uz who clung to God’s goodness while all his worldly joys were stripped away. But how is it possible to hold onto such joy in times of sorrow? In this 7-session study by Lisa Harper, discover the redemptive side to Job’s story of suffering. Learn to use pain to strengthen your faith, point others to the gospel, and remember God’s providence will never take you to a place where His grace will not sustain you.

Young Adult Sunday School at Greystone Join us on Sunday mornings at 9 a.m. for the Young Adult Sunday School Class! Mike Johnson is teaching “God of Armor” by Priscilla Shirer. If you are a Young Adult, consider this great Sunday School Class!

We have 3 adult Sunday Schools, a young adult Sunday School, Youth Sunday School, Children’s Sunday

School, and Pre-K Sunday School! Our nursery is also available for your little one’s. See you Sunday at Greystone!

Wednesday Night Bible Study

Kids and youth will be exploring “The Quest for Kids” by Beth Moore. This is a 6-week Bible Study on Wednesday evenings at 6pm. This Bible Study is an Expedition Toward a Deeper Relationship with God.

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Join us the First Thursday of every month. We share food donated by Greystone members. And share the Love of Christ with them through Prayer. . January 3rd 5:15-7:15pm 276 W. Main St., Dothan

Love In Action International Ministries spreads the

Gospel of Jesus Christ through acts of compassion in

our hometown of Dothan, Ala., inner cities

throughout the US, and other parts of the world.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 25:35-40 that we are to take

care of the neediest among us. In verse 40 He says, "I

assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of

these brothers of Mine, you did for Me."

They also believe in carrying out the Great

Commission Jesus gives all of His followers in

Matthew 28:19-20. “Therefore, we go to the nations

reaching the lost and unreached people with the

Gospel of Jesus Christ, and make disciples.”

Items for Wiregrass Animal Shelter will be collected the 1st Sunday of each month.

REACH MINISTRY People Want Their Lives to Matter and Make a Difference

“In His Words” is a Ministry began by Wanda Schamp. Wanda and a few people from Greystone put together bookmarks with scripture to hand out to minister to people. These bookmarks are touching the lives of many with God. If you would like to volunteer and pick out scripture or beads for the bookmarks, please contact Wanda Schamp at 334.596.4015.

Merry Christmas!

On behalf of our board, staff, and the children and families we serve, I’d like to wish all of our supporters and their families a most Merry

Christmas! The support you provided this year allowed us to touch over 1100 lives with the hope of Christ for a better home and way of life. Please

know how much we appreciate your willingness to help provide the ultimate Christmas gift – a place to call home. I pray our Lord’s blessings upon you

and yours in 2019!

Blessings,

Dr. K. Blake Horne President/CEO

United Methodist Children’s Home

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Stephen Ministry is Christ caring for people through people. If you, or someone you know, are going through a difficult time, consider having a Stephen Minister.

Stephen Ministers listen, care, encourage and provide emotional and spiritual support. The care is confidential and helpful. For more information on receiving

care contact Pastor Teresa and/or Bob Willis.

Good Neighbors at Greys one

REACH MINISTRY Lost and Disconnected People Matter to God

Ways You Can Help Honeysuckle Middle School We are collecting food again for the students to take home on Fridays. The

needs are: Peanut butter, sleeves of crackers, macaroni and cheese, pop tarts, tuna, beenee weenee, drink boxes, ravioli or spaghetti o’s, peanut butter crackers, cookies, and chips.

Here is an easy way to bless Honeysuckle Middle School. The 3rd Monday of every month, you can eat at Red Elephant (dine in or carry out) and the school will receive 15% of the proceeds. You must tell your server that you are supporting HMS.

SERVE MINISTRY

People Want Their Lives to Matter and Make a Difference

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Cheerful Ministry 2019

SERVE MINISTRY


As the new year begins it is with great joy we celebrate the wonderful opportunity we have experienced in serving others through the Cheerful Hearts ministry to four Spectra Care Adult Homes. The Christmas party brought smiles, laughter, and expressions of love and apprecia-tion to each one: those receiving as well as those of us giving. Sweet Anna was one of those who spoke up to say, in her quiet manner, “I always love coming to this church.” Gina never fails to say how much she appreciates our church family. Bob, now 75 and showing it, humbly tells us every event, “I love you.” This year, as our party came to a close, one of the Spectra Care staff persons asked to share her thoughts. She began to say how much she appreciated all that this church family has done for the residents of the group homes. She went on to say that in the brief time she has been with Spectra Care, she has been amazed at the outpouring of love to each one and that she could tell the love was genuine and truly an expression of God’s love coming from the hearts of our church family. What a blessing for us to hear her testimony of seeing God in this ministry. As Pam Pilcher has expressed numerous times this year, “we are receiving such a blessing from God each and every time we have the opportunity to minister with our Spectra Care friends God has placed in our lives.”

A simple expression of thank you does not seem enough for all this church family has done to support this ministry and keep it fresh and effective over the past seven years. Your loving and generous donations and active participation is a testament of your love and commitment to Christ. Your faithfulness to His calling to serve others is evident at each event. Thank you for making time for these people and for your prayers on their behalf throughout the year.

That being said and with a new year ahead of us, what will God offer us, individually and as a church family, as new opportunities to share His love beyond our doors and outside our family of faith? Will there be new opportunities for spiritual growth and outreach within the ministry of Cheerful Hearts? Will there be new ministries other than Cheerful Hearts? How will God use Greystone and bless us with His outpouring of grace and love in the coming months? In what ways has He gifted and equipped us in 2018 in preparation for sharing His love and compassion in new ways throughout the coming year? Thanks be to God for allowing us to share in ministry to a hurting world. Our challenge is to be open, each one of us, to receive His grace and direction in the coming new year.

"Do all the good you can... at all the times you can... for as long as ever

you can." J. Wesley

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From the VISION TEAM

“Behold, I make all things new!” What exciting words! What words of expectation and anticipation to begin

the NEW YEAR in the life of our church and in each of our lives. A new day is coming: a new work in our

individual lives; a new vision for our family of faith. Wow, God will be moving in a new way! How do we

know? From Isaiah 43:19 we hear these words: “ Behold, I am doing a new thing;

now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

I will make a way in the wilderness

and rivers in the desert.”

Again in Isaiah 65:17 we read: “For behold, I create new heavens

and a new earth,

and the former things shall not be remembered

or come into mind.”

And again, from Revelation 21:5 we read: “And he who was seated on the throne said,

“Behold, I am making all things new.”

“Write this down, for these words are trustworthy

and true.”

Yes, there is no doubt, our Creator God, our Loving Father, the Wonderful Counselor will be in our new year

doing new things! Last year is gone. Hopefully we were engaged in the work God had for us in 2018. But a

new year is upon us; a new challenge for growth with new opportunities for ministries. What does God have

in store for us this coming year? What is the ground work He will lay in our faith and in our ministries for

the VISION He has for Greystone UMC for the following years? Yes, we know God has a plan for our future.

We know He is an active and creative God, “longing to be gracious to (us), rising to show His compassions to

(us)”, ready to equip us for a new work. Will we enter the new year with old habits and old expectations? If

we do then we will surely not be part of God’s plan in “making all things new.” Hear another word of chal-

lenge as we reflect and consider familiar scripture, the Living Word of God: “making disciples of all people”;

“bring great joy to all people”; “making all things new.” God challenges us to share this newness with others.

Do we all not enjoy the rising of the sun on a new day, the burst of color in a new flower on an old shrub, the

wonder of the birth of a new baby? New is exciting and fresh. New is a sign of rebirth and of growth.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (Corinthians

5:17) Do you believe it? Are you expecting it? Are you anticipating a new work from our God who makes all

things new! Happy NEW Year!!!

Please pray specifically (openness to God’s leading, equipping by the Holy Spirit,) for your new Vision Team:

Steve Benak, Jan Willis, Joe Walker, Charm Russler, Susan Loftin, Allen Brackin, Patsy Marteney, Julie Hartley,

Pam Pilcher, and Ann Hart. The committee will be set up as other committees of the Administrative Council

in that members will serve rotating terms of up to three years. New members will be added in the subse-

quent years. Please pray also for your equipping to serve in the coming years. Pray for unity of spirit within

the church as we eagerly seek to capture God’s Vision for our future. “Behold how good and how pleasant it

is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” (Ps 133:1) God’s Word is full of encouragement and direction for

us. Thanks be to God.

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The United Methodist Church is a

connectional denomination. That

means all UMC’s are connected to

one another through annual

conferences. Keep up with what’s

happening and learn more about

your Alabama-West Florida

Conference from their website:

awfumc.org

A.R.M.E.D., Men’s Club, meets 2nd Mondays

at 6:30pm in the church sanctuary for a

meal, fellowship, and planning.

-January 14th at 6:30pm at the church

SERVE MINISTRY


Interested in joining the choir?

.For information contact Chris Adkins at 334.794.6725

We are currently looking for a Choir Director and Pianist, if you know of anyone that may

be interested, please let Bill Hart know.

Interested in joining the Praise band? For

information contact Chris Adkins at

334.794.6725

Have a request? Let us know!

We would love to play your favorite Worship

song!

THANKS MINISTRY God Inhabits the Praises of His People

Dear loving church family,

Thank you for all for the

prayers, phone calls, visits,

food and cards. You all mean

so much to me and my

family. Please continue to

keep us in your prayers as

we head into the new year.

Glenda and The Sanders

Family

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Birthdays, Anniversaries And Other Important Stuff

December 2018

Income: $24,747.26 Expenses: $17,898.30

ATTENDANCE

December 2 December 9

Sunday School: 39 Sunday School: 41

Worship: 74 & 26 Worship: 113 & 23

December 16 December 23

Sunday School: 40 Sunday School:34

Worship: 85 & 60 Worship: 83

December 30

Sunday School: 47

Worship: 87

JANUARY ANNIVERSARIES

Bobby & Sherry Dean 1/12 Allen & Mary Beth Brackin 1/21

Do you have something that you would

like to go into the monthly Connection? Or

a suggestion for our newsletter? You can

put it in the basket in the Common

Ground, or you can email it to at

[email protected]

January Birthdays

Joan De Loach 1/04 Michelle Godwin 1/09 Sherry Dean 1/15 Larry Easterwood 1/15 Suzanne Harden 1/16 Terry Bauldree 1/21 Jay Helms 1/22 Tim Carnley 1/31 Jan Willis 1/31

Please welcome our newest

member at Greystone UMC,

Priscilla Bird

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NURSING HOME RESIDENTS

Vernon & Lindy Sears

Mike Hartzog

Billie Rabon

Richard White

Gerald & Ann McCallister

Nora Joyce McNair

Candace Helms

Polly Fortson

Jeanette McLendon

Debbie Batchelor

Elliot Dasinger

Martha Woodall

Larry Taylor

Marge Wood

William Martin

Mike Robbins

Lawanna Dykes

Suzie Robbins

Kimberly Lambert

Ruth Perdue

Michael McMoy

Eva Munguia

Linda McCall

Sherry Smith

Johnette Daniels

Davis Loftin

Steve Tice

Beverly Sanders

Megan Rettig

Glen Hughes

The Family of John Sanders

Ruth Bryant

Barbara Bird

The Family of Teddy Sherrill

PRAYER LIST

homebound

Polly Fortson (110 Hampshire Street, 36305)

Lois Christensen (5913 Granger Road, Marianna, FL 32446)

Clyde & Billie Cunningham (102 Pearce Street, 36301)

Nora Joyce McNair (2416 W. Main St., 36301)

Gerald & Ann McCallister (PO Box 286, Midland City 36350)

Marge Wood (707 Canterbury Dr., 36305)

. "Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive." Matthew 21:22

Somerset Extendicare Myra Shewmake(#102) Vernon Sears Westside Terrace Margrette Joiner Jeanette McCollum Sara Williams Wesley Place Billie Rabon Janie Arnold Angelina Walsh Troy Health & Rehab Center Nelda Kelley Jerrie Hollis Richard White

***Please update or make additions to our prayer list by con-tacting the church office.

Our Church, Our Community, and Our Country

Those Serving our Country.........

SFC Matthew Kingsbury (Alabama) Gunny Sgt Michael Monday - USMC (California) (son of Allen & Mary Beth Brackin) Sgt. Chris Moore - USMC (Japan) (nephew of Allen & Mary Beth Brackin) Cpt. Justin Shaw (Georgia) (grandson of Buford & Polly Fortson) Austin Philpot (Washington) (son of Toby & Veronica Philpot) LCPL Dakota (Cody) Justice (North Carolina) (son of Chris & Connie Justice)

Private Penny Justice, Army Reservist (Tallahassee) (daughter of Chris & Connie Justice) SR Robert Williams (Great Lakes) (grandson of Bob & Wanda Schamp) SPC Justin Outlaw (Afghanistan) (great-grandson of Glenda Sanders) Petty Officer 2nd Class Mathew Dwayne Wilson (Charleston) (son of Rick & Sue Wilson) Private Cheyenne Anderson (Ft. Leonard Wood) (granddaughter of Curt & Sherry Anderson)

Our Military past, present, and future

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Church Staff Teresa Seevers Senior Pastor Congregational Care Pastor

Chris Adkins Mark Robbins

Worship Leader Sound Tech

Mike Johnson Patty Johnson

Director of Youth Ministries Director of Children’s Ministry

Mary Bullard Nursery Pre-K Teacher

Jennifer Hamilton

Church Administration/IT Tech Choir Director

Heather Adkins

Custodian

Church Office Hours

Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m.

OFFICE: (334) 794-6725 FAX: (334) 712-9717

Email: [email protected]

F.I.R.S.T. Team Leaders

Fellowship Charm Russler

Instruct Jim Kinney

Reach Susan Loftin

Serve Barbara Haymon

Thanksgiving Carolyn Johnson

Website: www.greystonedothan.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/

GreystoneUnitedMethodistChurch

Twitter: @GreystoneUMC

Instagram: greystonedothan

Memorials

A donation was made to Greystone United Methodist Church

In Memory of Brother John Sanders

By Buford & Polly Fortson



By Cornelia Cooper



By Bobby & Sherry Dean



By Steven & Jennifer Howe



By Tom & Mary Walsh

Documents

JANUARY 2019 The ONNE TION - storage.googleapis.com...growing our Greystone Church Family by “drawing all kinds of people to Christ and building a culture of invitation.” This