Methodist Messenger Our Mission: Welcome All, Win to Christ, Equip to Follow, Serve Christ’s Mission

Your Monthly Source of Information & Inspiration from Clanton First United Methodist Church June 2013

Larry Anderson Senior Pastor Brian Dovey Associate Pastor Jeff Herron Youth Minister Greg Faulkner Minister of Music Christi Mitchell Children’s Minister Elisabeth Smith AdministrativeAssistant Lynn Best Office Manager Mary Morris Accompanist/ Organist Barbara Perdue Kitchen Coordinator Annella Smith Counselor in Residence Linda Niles Preschool Director Barbara Lewis Treasurer Judy Holley Custodian Deanna Bonagura Cynthia Childers Elaine Johnson Jessie Webb Nursery Staff Office Hours 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Office Phone (205) 755-0490 Care Line (205) 755-3455 FAX (205) 755-0840 Worship Services 8:30 AM River 9:30 AM Hydrate 11:00 AM Traditional 11:30 AM Hispanic Sunday School 9:30 & 11:00 AM

Dear Church Family,

As I reflect upon nine wonderful years as your pastor, my thoughts turn to Paul’s word in Phillippians 3:12-14. He says, “… I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me…But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Paul says we’re to press on toward the purposes for which Christ “took hold of” our salvation. I urge you to press on in your personal daily time with God in the Bible and prayer. Press on in doing the thing Christ wants you to do. Press on in getting to know Him better and loving Him more every day. Press on in your ministry at First United Methodist Church and in committed relationships in this Body of Christ. The Lord says through Paul that we are to “forget” what is behind. While we certainly want to remember and celebrate all God has done in the last nine years, we want to “forget” it in the sense that God calls us not to remain where we are. This is true in our relationship with God, with others, and as a congregation in terms of the ministry He calls us to collectively. Please know I will always hold you and our community dear to my heart. You are the finest church with which I have ever been associated! I will never forget the awesome things God has done in your lives and mine. Yet, I must “forget” in that He is calling me to another place and ministry. I will always love you, I will pray for you, but I will no longer be your pastor! Paul tells us to “strain toward what is ahead”. For us that means a new day with new appointments. For you, it means receiving Brothers Rob West and Barry Holmes with open arms and hearts. It means praying for them, helping them to “get their feet on the ground” here, and responding to God’s ministry through them. For me, it means releasing you to them in terms of pastoral care and duties- weddings, funerals, counsel, etc…. And it means receiving the folks at St. Luke in Pensacola into my heart as “my people” whom God has given me to serve. Paul closes this thought by saying we must “Press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus.” This life is a journey and we’re called to seek Christ first before anyone or anything else. For the ultimate prize of Heaven and seeing the Lord Jesus face to face awaits us! I sincerely trust that you and your family have made major strides in the last nine years toward Heaven and (as Paul implores us) that you press on the rest of your life! Don’t allow anything to stop you from that ultimate goal of Heaven! Our time with you has been the best years of our lives thus far. THANK YOU for all you’ve done for us! Linda and I especially appreciate all who have invested in our children. Please know that the Anderson Family- Linda, Karis, Wesley, and Bethany wish you God’s best in the days ahead! Bro. Larry

Gifts Have Been Given In Memory of:

Jack Springer By: Mr. & Mrs. James Darnell Ray Gary (Betty Gary’s Father-in-law) By: Mrs. Joyce Vaughn, Mrs. Jane Conradi Bruna Sharman (Gail Sharman’s Mother-in-law) By: Mr. & Mrs. Mike Graham, Mr. & Mrs. Johnney McKinney, Chancel Choir, Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Jones, and Mr. & Mrs. Richard Davis Jane Shafer By: Mr. & Mrs. Mike Graham, Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Springer, Mrs. T.E. Blackmon William Heaps By: Mrs. T.E. Blackmon Bill Popwell By: Mr. & Mrs. Mike Graham Jay Griffin By: Mike & Alice Graham Margo Gibson By: Mr. & Mrs. Richard Davis, Mr. & Mrs. Ron Robinson, Mr. & Mrs. George Harris, Mr. & Mrs. Mau McCallum, Mr. & Mrs. Mike Graham, Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Springer, Mr. & Mrs. Sonny Sharman, Mrs. Edythe Tucker, Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Jones, Mrs. Elizabeth Wise, Ms. Terri Vickery, Mr. & Mrs. Doug Stegall, Mrs. Donna Giles, Mr. & Mrs. James Darnell, Mr. Gene Estill, Mrs. Jane Conradi, Mrs. Betty Wall.

On Behalf of the Staff Parish Relations Committee and the Church Body:

We express our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Pastor Larry Anderson and Pastor Brian Dovey for all of your leadership, friendship, love, and pastoral care through the years. We will truly, truly miss you and pray God’s blessings on your family’s path.

First United Methodist Church Congratulates Chilton County’s

2013 Seniors! Congratulations!

Victoria Byrne – Thorsby High School

Denham Childress – Thorsby High School Dustin “Trey” Cleckler – Thorsby High School

Austin Rossi – Chilton County High School Stuart Scott – Thorsby High School

Britnee Thompson – Chilton County High School

“A great, big, thank you to the church for the support that we received at the spaghetti dinner & auction. It was a great success and we were able to raise $15,290.00!! Thank you to so many of you who gave donations, others bought tickets when you could not come, those of you who made the auction fun by your participation and those who gave their time and food donations. Thank you to Tommy Glasscock who can take your money and leave you laughing. Please remember when we go to Guatemala that all of you will go with us and you will receive rewards in Heaven for what you have given. You all warmed the Missions Team’s heart when we asked for your help in clearing the gym- everyone just picked up and started working! We had people from every service and it was like a family gathering. God wants us to have joy and you have given that to us. We pray the same back for you. It was a success because of you.” God Bless You, The Missions Team

You are invited to

FeFe’s Fight For A Cure Yard Sale Fundraiser

Saturday, June 22

7:00 am until 2:00 pm Helen Parrish Activity Center

(Sponsored by Friends of “Fefe” Phyllis Wilkins) All proceeds will benefit Fefe’s Fight with brain tumors. Help support Brain Tumor Awareness- donate yard sale items, children/infant clothing, and come out to support us at the yard sale! To donate yard sale items, please contact Virginia Springer at 205-217-2228 or email fefesfight@gmail.com If you have any large items (furniture, etc) and are not able to get it to us, please contact us and we will pick it up the weekend before the sale. Thank you.

June 16 – Remember to bring your Carenet Baby Bottles back.

Please join us on: Sunday, June 8 at 12:15 in the gym for:

Pastor Larry Anderson’s,

Pastor Brian Dovey’s, and their families Going Away Party

This will be a covered dish luncheon- so please bring your favorite dishes to share with your family as we love these families and wish them well in their future. There will be two baskets for you to leave your cards of uplifting words, encouragement, and prayers.

Dear Church,

As our time comes to an end, I would like to take this

opportunity to share with you a few of the things I will

always remember about Clanton FUMC: Leading the ladies through Beth Moore Bible Studies

All AWANA lessons with the children and using Mr.

Warwick as our guinea pig

Miss Helen & her bone room (I still have two skulls

checked out from her.)

Imposing the children with ashes during Ash

Wednesday

Larry baptizing Bethany in the Hill’s swimming pool

TWICE (I missed the picture and he had to do it a

second time.)

AWESOME worship services

Road trip to the Extraordinary Women’s Conference

in Tupelo and the lesson they taught me at the truck

stop in the bathroom

The renewal of our wedding vows on our 25th

anniversary

The hilariously-funny and spiritually-deep small

group time with the ladies at Corley’s

The opportunities that I had to pray with children to

receive Christ

The boxes of Jello & pudding on my front porch

(Sorry, it wasn’t enough for wrestling.)

Love, Linda Anderson

PLEASE NOTE- A list of recommended daily prayers

is enclosed within this newsletter. We encourage you

to use these as guides for daily prayers during the

month of June. “Thank you” to Mrs. Shirley McAfee

for her leadership in this prayer ministry.

HERE WE GROW AGAIN We welcome the following to Our church family: Billy & Eathyl Short PO Box 833 Clanton, AL 35045 Joey & Stephanie Hamm 143 Country Road 1070 Jemison, AL 35085 Sam Whisner (205) 567-5298 PO Box 215 Verbena, AL 36091 Brian & Mandy Hightower (205) 755-4853 204 1st St North Clanton, AL 35045 (251) 223- 2497

You are invited to a Bridal Brunch – Saturday, June 8

10:00 am, Clanton First United Methodist

In honor of Charsy Martratt

Bride Elect of Lawrence Wesley Anderson Hosted by New Horizons Sunday School Class

Charsy Martratt

& Lawrence Wesley Anderson

Together with their families

Invite you to share in the joy of their marriage Saturday, June 29

2:00 pm, Grace United Methodist Mobile, Alabama

For more information, visit

www.wesandcharsy.ourwedding.com

Butterfly Bridge Run / Motorcycle Ride Benefiting Chilton County’s Child Advocacy Center Saturday, June 8 7:30- 8:45 am – Registration/Breakfast at Wal-Mart Ride at 9:00 am! $30 per Bike, $10 for additional riderFor more information, Contact Jana at 755-4205 or visit us online at www.facebook.com/ButterflyBridgeRunMotorcycleRide

First United Methodist Church U.S. Postage Paid 207 8th Street North Permit No. 77 Clanton, AL 35045 Non-Profit Org.

Clanton, Al

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Youth News

& Notes JUNE!!!!!

SCHOOL’S OUT FOR

SUMMER!!!! SCHOOL IS OUT AND WE HAVE A CALENDAR FULL OF EVENTS FOR THIS SUMMER- Tuesdays at Through the Grace of God! Wishful Wednesdays! Barron’s Game Movie Nights Swim Parties (Pools and river)!! Peach Park!!! DV8 Youth Group will continue to meet on Wednesday nights at 6:17 pm (Activity Center), Sunday mornings at 11:00 (Old House on the corner "Faith House"), and Sunday Nights! For more information, please contact Jeff Herron at 217-1589, “friend” him on Facebook or contact Jan Davis at (205) 902-7545.

Office Hours- 8:00 AM- 4:30 PM Mon- Fri

Office Phone- (205) 755-0490

Fax #- (205) 755-0840

Care Line- (205) 755- 3455

Worship 8:30 AM(River), 9:30 AM,

11:00 AM

Sunday School 9:30 & 11:00 AM

San Juan Hispanic Service 11:30 AM

View our Newsletter online at

www.clantonfumc.org

Children’s Page

A Publication of FUMC Children’s Ministry

June 2013

Bibles will be presented to uprising 3rd

graders on June 2 during the Hydrate

service at 9:30. Bible covers will be

given out at the 11:00 service.

FAMILY SUMMER KICK-OFF LUAU

on Saturday June 1 at 5:00PM in the gym

for ages 2 (toddler) through 6th graders and

their families. Join us for food, fun, and

fellowship as we celebrate the beginning

of an exciting summer of children’s

activities!

Promotion Sunday

Sunday June 2 is Promotion Sunday. Children will attend their new Sunday School class for the first time this day. Preschoolers that will enter Kindergarten in the fall will move to the K-2nd class which meets at 9:30 in room 110 in the Education Building. Uprising 5th graders will attend Hydrate at 9:30 and Sunday School at 11:00 in the Activity Center classroom. Potty trained 3 year olds will move up from the Toddler Nursery to the

Preschool class which meets upstairs in room 209.

MEANINGFUL MONDAYS For all Meaningful Mondays in June, we will

meet at 9:00AM in Crossroads Café, do a

service project, have a snack, and have a fun

activity before dismissing.

June 10: 3rd

– 6th graders, dismiss at noon

June 17: K – 2nd

graders, dismiss at 11:00

June 24: Toddlers & Pre-K, bring a scooter or

riding toy for a Roller Derby in the gym after

our project. Dismiss at 10:30.

Wednesday June 12: Painting party for K-4th

graders in Crossroads Café at 5pm. Come and

create a masterpiece of your own along with a

cross painting to distribute in our Welcome Bags.

MISSION OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES Our children and their families will be helping to

host the first ever VBS at San Juan Mission! The

dates are June 17-21 from 5:30-8:00PM.

Prayerfully consider signing up to help serve one

or more nights as a family at this FUN event!

We need people to help serve food, help shepherd

children around, help with games, and decorate

the San Juan Mission. We will be working

hand-in-hand with volunteers from our San Juan

congregation, and they are SO excited about this

huge event for them!

GAP AT THE LAKE

SUNDAY JUNE 22

3:00 – 7:00 PM

Come swim, canoe, kayak, fish, and enjoy a

cookout! Please bring a life jacket and

whatever float you’d like to use. Contact

Christi Mitchell for directions!

VBS TRAINING- Thursday June 13 @ 6PM

in Crossroads Café. This training will be for

both San Juan VBS and FUMC VBS. Please

make plans to attend if you want to help.

Vacation Bible School: July 8-12, 5:30-8:00PM

for age 3 through 6th grade.

Sign up now to help by contacting Christi

Mitchell: children@clantonfumc.org

God’s World

July 16, 23, 30;

August 6.

9:00-11:30 AM

Field trips on July

25 and August 1.

If you are not receiving the weekly parent email and would like to, please contact Christi Mitchell: children@clantonfumc.org

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of

the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19

BIRTHDAYS ANNIVERSARIES

1 Gwen Davis, Kailee Williams 1 Mr & Mrs Channing Barron (Rebecca) 2 Martha Bialas, Brooks Bentley, Clayton Collum 2 Mr & Mrs C. Edward Britton (Betty) 3 Will Petty Mr & Mrs Bob Hafner (Robbie) 4 Morgan Eason, Merry Kelley, Dana Kelley Mr & Mrs Robert Jennings (Donna) 5 Tyler Bailey, Robert Jennings Mr & Mrs Tony Rutherford (Misty) 6 Al Headley Mr & Mrs Aaron Overby (Julie) 7 Faye Brown, Kris Trentman 3 Mr & Mrs Chuck Kalanick (Lane) 8 Logan Bice Mr & Mrs Jeremy Carter (Susan) 10 Ellie Grace Reece Mr & Mrs Chad Gray (Rhonda) 11 Kyle McRae 4 Mr & Mrs Bill Hurst (Ann) 12 Mitchell Jennings 5 Mr & Mrs Todd Reece (Kellie) 13 Melissa Brown, Mikenzee Barnes 6 Mr & Mrs Mike Dover (Darcy) 14 Marvin Green, Jennifer Zuelzke, Hannah Barnes 8 Mr & Mrs Rick Mims (Reba) 16 Shelly Bice, Brian Childress 9 Mr & Mrs. Tim Linderman (Mary) 17 Joe Ellison, Roy Mulhorn 10 Mr & Mrs. Joe Dennis (Adriane) 18 Alex Bryant, Bryleigh Ray, Melane Tanksley Mr & Mrs Mark Nolen (Mary Ann) 19 Amy Robinson, Kayla Windham 13 Mr & Mrs Ted Chapin (Sarah) 20 Sherri Calhoun, Lisa Mims, Bill Popwell, Jay Porter Mr & Mrs Toy Mulhorn (Willetta) 22 Jeff Bailey, Nash Carter Mr & Mrs Sam Pierce (Sandra) 23 Nancy Bentley, Rennie Teel 15 Mr & Mrs Cory Cleckler (Amy) 24 Albert Byrd, Jerry Hargrove, Mark Nolen, Aaron Overby, Kathy Zuelzke 17 Mr & Mrs Carlis Shaw (Katrina) 25 Kyland Frazier 18 Mr & Mrs Hunter Easton (Morgan) 26 Linda Cobb 21 Mr & Mrs Art Zuelzke (Kathy) 27 Nicolas Lyn 22 Mr & Mrs Louie Bentley (Nancy) 28 Peyton Keel, Tonya Marsh 27 Mr & Mrs Shawn Simms (Rachea) 29 Donna Jennings, Max Scott 29 Mr &Mrs. David Locke (Kimiera) 30 June Little, Sweda Muir, Paige Randolph, Ian Velasquez Acolytes

Ushers: Ken Baldwin, Max Scott, Al Headley, and Byron Thornhill June 2- Grace Nolen, Hannah Ellison, Jaycie Porter, Abbi Calhoun,

Ashley Beth Jones, and Claea Bice

Traditional Greeters- Aldersgate Sunday School Class June 9- Chloe Barron and Kailee Williams

Hydrate Greeters June 16-Zoe Batchelor and Connor Simms

June 2- John Cornelius, Alice Graham, Andy & Colleen Kennedy June 23- Haley Herron and Laura Hall

June 9- Ron & Nancy Dovey, Stephanie Gibson, Mau & Becki McCallum June 30- Isabelle Alexander and Lydia Patterson

June 16- Chuck & Lane Kalanick, Tonya Marsh, Karen Smith June 23- Rick Mims, BJ Patterson, Drew & Jennifer Zuelzke June 30- Jeff & Erin Moore, Cade Williams, April Teel