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March 30, 2016 A Bi-Monthly Publication

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Covington, TN

What a joyous celebration of Christ’s resurrection took place in our Sunday morning worship services on Easter! As Wade reminded us in his sermon, we must not go back to “business as usual” after the season of Lent and the joy of Easter. If we are indeed “Easter people”, forgiven and reconciled to God through Christ’s sacrifice for us, then the way we live each day should be a reflection of Christ.

As Jesus prepared his disciples to carry on his ministry after his death, he offers them this blessing in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” What does it mean to have the peace of Christ within us and surrounding us? In examining Jesus’ farewell conversation in John 14, we find several things that his peace confers to us as his followers:

· “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” (vs. 1). A sense of calm assurance that even during the trials and heartaches of this life, Christ is always right beside us, guiding, comforting and strengthening us.

· “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself.” (vs. 3). We need not fear death because Christ goes ahead of us, preparing a place of eternal rest with God the Father.

· “The one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (vss. 12-13) We are given guidance and power to continue the work Jesus began in his name, so that God may be glorified and his Kingdom may come here on earth.

· “The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.” (vs. 26) We receive the power and presence of the Holy Spirit to help us, teach us, and comfort us.

We often say within the context of worship, “The peace of Jesus Christ be with you.” And the traditional response is, “And also with you.” This greeting and blessing from one follower of Christ to another has evolved from the earliest days of the faith. When we offer this blessing to one another in worship, we are recognizing and affirming Christ’s holy presence – his peace – that abides within each of us as Christ’s beloved child. With that peace comes assurance, comfort, guidance, and power that we each need to do God’s work in the world.

This Sunday, as our focus is the “Radical Hospitality” of God that we in turn are to offer to our neighbors, we will explore the text from Luke 24 in which Jesus appears after his resurrection to followers walking along the road to Emmaus. They invite him to stay the night with him and as they gather for a meal, he becomes the host, breaking the bread and sharing the cup with them, and their eyes were suddenly opened to recognize him. This Sunday, as we celebrate the sacrament of holy communion, we will have the opportunity to experience the hospitality of Christ at his table and to offer the peace of Christ to those around us in worship. As you do that, think carefully about God’s gracious invitation to us for new life in Christ. See that person near you as a beloved child of God and offer a blessing to them to fully receive Christ’s peace in their lives, and then listen with an open heart as they offer that affirmation to you. Christ’s peace dwells within each believer AND within the body of believers as Christ’s Church so that “thy Kingdom [may] come, thy will [may] be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

The peace of Christ be with you, Grace Phelps

“Leading Others to Christ, Learning to Be Disciples, Loving through Service.”

Pastoral Staff Rev. Wade Cox Senior Pastor

wadecoxfumc@bellsouth.net

Rev. Grace Phelps Minister of

Outreach and Program gphelps@covingtonfumc.com

Care Staff

Dr. Faye Beckett Congregational Care

fbeckett_fumc@att.net

Kendy Erwin Hospitality Care

kerwin1962@att.net

Program Staff Sara Galyon

Youth Ministries sara.r.palm@gmail.com

Charlotte Quinley

Children and Nursery Ministries cquinley@covingtonfumc.com

Dr. Bonnie Wright Director of Music

bwright@tipton-county.com

Office Support Staff Sandy Burgess

Administrative Assistant sburgess@covingtonfumc.com

Holley Mills Morris

Business Administrator hmmorris@covingtonfumc.com

Musician

Justin Hanson, Organist

Facilities Rebecca Paris

Custodian

Kenny Summers Maintenance

FUM C Of f ice H our s: 9 :00 a .m .- 5 :00 p .m .

M onda y-F r ida y

The Peace of Christ Be With You

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March 30 Tom Bready June Whitley April 1 Tom Rogers April 2 Cayla Cook Staci Sullivan April 4 Maddie Pugh April 5 Loren Crown Isabella Hughes Liz Newman April 6 Tommy Flanagan Ava McCalla Jonathan Stewart Camille Whitley April 7 Barbara David April 8 Eden Badgett Hallie Bryant Ella Locke April 9 Daniel Rogers

April 10 Neely Turner April 12 Keith Phelps April 14 Michelle Coulston Megan Dorgan-Carpenter Kimberly McDaniel April 15 Stefanie Beasley Charles Brasfield Nate Lazure Jeremy Maxwell April 17 Cynthia Ford Adam Simpson April 20 Leah Beasley Laurin Cromwell Elizabeth Miller April 22 Jasper Lindley Kathy Wallace April 24 Bettye Davis April 26 Roger Ganier

The Children’s Department is supporting Hannah’s Hope this semester by filling “Baby Bottles of Hope”. Each Wednesday night, children and their families may contribute their offering into large baby bottles provided in each classroom to help support this local West Tennessee ministry. This ministry is offered at no cost to any woman in need through the support of churches and individuals, so that women and their babies can experience the grace of Christ in their time of need. The mission statement for the Pregnancy Counseling Ministry of Hannah’s Hope is: To love God's children by: Helping pregnant women in crisis explore healthy options, providing the option of adopting with a Christian family prepared to parent for a lifetime, and supporting children, pregnant women and families through the adoption process and beyond. Collection will take place each Wednesday through April 20th.

HANNAH’S HOPE

NOTE OF THANKS

CONGRATULATIONS!

Hudson Tyler Glass, son of Fran and Jeff Glass, arrived March 18th weighing 6 lbs., 6 oz. Baby Hudson’s FUMC family include his grandparents Henry and Betty Glass and his great- grandparents, Henry and Gwen Glass.

Hannah’s

Hope

The family of Cindy Graves would like to

express deepest appreciation for all the

prayers and kindness shown during her illness

and passing. We feel so blessed to have been a

part of your ministry. You all have shown the

love of God in so many ways. We are very

humbled by your generosity and love. May

God continue to use each of you for his service.

Sincerely,

Cindy Graves Family

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YOUTH NEWS

Youth from Covington and Munford United Methodist participated in the Memphis Conference Spring retreat at Lakeshore UMA March 11-13. Through discussion and worship, students had the opportunity to discover what it means to be a disciple and follow Jesus more closely.

NEW SERMON SERIES

People are searching for a church shaped and sustained by Radical Hospitality,

Passionate Worship, Intentional Faith Development, Risk-Taking Mission and

Service, and Extravagant Generosity. These fundamental practices are critical to

the success of congregations. Their presence and strength demonstrate

congregational health, vitality, and fruitfulness. By repeating and improving these

practices, churches fulfill their mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the

transformation of the world.

Rev. Wade and Rev. Grace will focus on these practices in a new five-week sermon series:

Sunday, April 3rd: Radical Hospitality

Sunday, April 10th: Passionate Worship

Sunday, April 17th: Intentional Faith Development

Sunday, April 24th: Risk-Taking Mission and Service

Sunday, May 1st: Extravagant Generosity

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The Executive Committee will meet Monday, April 4th at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

The Spring General Meeting will be held, Wednesday, April 13th, at 11:00 a.m. in the Christian Life Center. The guest speaker will be from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation with the topic of human trafficking. All women are invited to attend.

United Methodist Women are planning a retreat to Lakeshore United Methodist Assembly April 29-May 1. The theme will be "Take Me Away-Resting in the Lord". Registration forms are available on the tables in the Christian Life Center and the hallway leading to the Sanctuary.

CIRCLE MEETINGS

Ruth Circle 2nd Monday of each month

at noon in the Fellowship Hall

Mary Martha Circle

2nd Tuesday of each month at 9:30 a.m.

New Beginnings Classroom

MorningSong April 3 McKenzie Howard and Sydney Pilkington April 10 Charlotte Quinley Traditional Service April 3 Brenda Wrather and Lydia Anderson April 10 Jaime Hunter and Stefanie Beasley MorningSong April 3 Jennifer Winberry and Jack Owen April 10 Kathleen Burk and Neely Turner Traditional Service April 3 Kacee McCalla and Leah Beasley April 10 Yvonne Bryant and Raygen Escue

CHILDREN’S CHURCH WORKERS

NURSERY WORKERS

UPPER ROOM PRAYER MINISTRY SCHEDULE

April 3 MorningSong Service Traditional Service Ellen Clark Arnold Bull Doris Ann Gray

April 10 MorningSong Service Traditional Service Volunteers Needed Cathy Adams

91 110 117 60

$2,823.00 $4,276.00

March 13, 2016

MorningSong - Sunday School - Traditional Worship - Bread of Life Worship - MorningSong Offering - Traditional Worship Offering -

UMW CORNER

134 295 90

$8,012.00

March 20, 2016-One Worship

Sunday School - Traditional Worship - Bread of Life Worship -

Traditional Worship Offering -

130 117 277 86

$2,114.00 $8,652.46

March 27, 2016

MorningSong - Sunday School - Traditional Worship - Bread of Life Worship - MorningSong Offering - Traditional Worship Offering -

The Communion offering

for Sunday, April 3rd will

benefit the Carl Perkins

Center for the Prevention

of Child Abuse.

Communion

Offering

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SAMARITAN FUND TOTALS

# of

Awards

Amount Type of Assistance

0 $ 0 Bus Ticket

0 $ 0 Food

14 $ 896.00 Lodging

0 $ 0 Miscellaneous

2 $ 100.00 Rent

16 $ 803.28 Utilities

3 $ 65.00 Vehicle Gas

35 $1,864.28 Totals

Children: Senior Adults: Adults: Total Individuals: Fixed Income: Lost Jobs:

Samaritan Balance: $3.88

21 2

50 73

7 1

March 5 through March 25, 2016

As of March 25, 2016

January 1, 2016 to Date

# of

Awards

Amount Type of Assistance

1 $ 41.50 Bus Ticket

0 $ 0 Food

75 $4,768.00 Lodging

3 $ 75.00 Miscellaneous

9 $ 450.00 Rent

85 $4,251.07 Utilities

4 $ 85.00 Vehicle Gas

177 $9,670.57 Totals

Children: Senior Adults: Adults: Total Individuals: Fixed Income: Lost Jobs:

150 11

231 392 34 10

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus

Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who

comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be

able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the

comfort with which we ourselves are

comforted by God.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

ROUNDUP UTILITY ASSISTANCE

March 5 through March 25, 2016: 17 Households were interviewed CES 11 Households interviewed 3 households approved totaling $ 289.87 8 households declined totaling $ 1,967.42 CGWS 8 Households interviewed 2 households approved totaling $ 388.46 6 households declined totaling $ 677.08

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LAKESHORE SUMMER CAMPS

Camp builds community and community gives us the courage to encounter life, love and the God of Grace. Lakeshore is now accepting registration for 2016 Summer camps. Many different camps are being offered for children ages 5 and up. Information and an application is available on the bulletin board leading to the Sanctuary. Registration may also be completed online by visiting Lakeshore’s website, www.lakeshoreuma.com. Covington FUMC pays 50% of one camp per year. Offered to children of members.

Thank you for your generous offering of $486.00 to the

Memphis Conference’s annual Lenten Hunger

Offering.

Maddie Smith and Maddie Pugh competed in

Nashville with the HOSA (Health Occupation

Students of America) Health Education category.

These 2 girls (along with Taylor Vickery and Jalen

Faulk) were awarded 1st place at Regionals in

February and then 1st place on a State level March

24th. Covington High School had 5 additional 1st

place finishes in various other categories. Both

Maddie’s and the other students will now prepare for

National competition in June. This is a great

accomplishment for these students and

demonstrates their hard work and dedication!

JOB WELL DONE!

PALM SUNDAY

Palm Sunday was celebrated

March 20th with the children’s

palm processional and One

Worship service featuring

“An Easter Mosaic” Cantata

by the Chancel Choir. After

the service, everyone

enjoyed fellowship at a

potluck lunch followed by

the children’s Easter egg

hunt.

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Bread of Life Feeding Ministry Update

March 2016

Thanks to everyone who served and donated to the Bread of Life food pantry in February! The youth group at Covington First Baptist Church had a weekend lock-in event in early March and collected canned and dry goods for our pantry. Thanks to them for over 2,000 items donated to be added to food bags.

We are also grateful for the donation each week of loaf bread from the Sara Lee distributor which is delivered to our pantry locations by Allen Black from Millington. Allen works with a food pantry in Millington and this bread is overflow they cannot distribute. God’s abundant provision at work!

March 2016 Year-to-Date

Households served: 222 (Covington) 256 (Covington) 184 (Munford) 213 (Munford) 406 (Total) 469 (Total)

Individuals served: 731 (Covington) 659 (Covington) 635 (Munford) 659 (Munford) 1,366 (Total) 1,318 (Total)

Volunteers serving: 175 persons served at least once

Pounds of food: 9,533 (MSFB) 37,695 (MSFB) 955 (Kroger) 1,720 (Kroger)

4,288 (Wal-Mart) 14,543(Wal-Mart) 2,000 (donated/purchased) 3,500 (donated/purchased)

16,776 (Total) – 8.4 tons 57,448 (Total) – 28.7 tons

Cost of food: $665.45 $2,801.39

Cost per pound: 3.9 cents 4.9 cents

Average cost per household: $1.64 for a distribution of food in March

Attendance in food pantry worship: 355 persons

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CONDOLENCES

Janice Baker, sister of Mary Jane Crotty, passed away unexpectedly March 25th. Please keep Mary Jane, Paul and family in your prayers.

Mrs. Elizabeth Bryant passed away March 22nd. Please keep her sons, Ray and Elton, and family in your prayers.

Condolences to the family of Rev. William Springer. He died March 17th. He was a retired United Methodist Minister and a veteran of the U.S. Army. Rev. Springer served as pastor of Covington FUMC from 1989-1995. Please remember the Springer family in your prayers for comfort and peace. Mrs. Springer's home address is 2164 Misty Hollow Cove, Germantown, TN 38138.

Peter Turner, Sr., father of Pete Turner, Jr. passed away March 30th, 2016. Mr. Turner was a farmer and a lifetime member of the St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Covington. Please keep his wife, Emily; his son Pete; and grandchildren, Jerah and Cole in your prayers.

The visitation for Mr. Turner will take place Saturday evening from 5-7 p.m. at the Maley-Yarbrough Chapel. The funeral service will be held Sunday, April 3rd, at 2 p.m. at the St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Covington. Interment will follow in the Covington Memorial Gardens with Father Don Brooks officiating the services.

NOTE OF THANKS

Pastor Cox and the Body of Christ at First Methodist,

Thanks for remembering the work of the Gideons International ministry. We are now in a position to impact 97% of our world’s population with the Word of God. Thanks for the communion offering of $408.30.

In Christ,

Steve Tynes

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Billy Anderson Mark Armour Donna Beard Inette Bennett Tom Bready Rosemary Brewington David Buchanan Don Chastain Terri Rice Chumley Clara Conley Bobby Coulston Jeff Cromwell Phronia Dailey Darryl Dickerson Billy Dycus Jack Allen Edwards Carol Fenton Mike Fleming Henry Glass, Sr. Thad Glenn Rusty Hamilton

Marian Hendricks Becky Horstkoetter Carole Hughey Ricky Hunt Mykle Johnson Jean Jones Sherry McBride Jones Mary L. Kimery Greg Knox K. D. Laxton Lori Butler Lindley Dave Marshall Peggy Massey Wallace Mathis Edith McBride Catherine McCalla Pete McDow Tibithia Miguel Charlie Moss James Neely Martha Poole

Raymond Poole Paul Reed Carolynn Scruggs Dave Seagrave George Robert Shoaf Neil Simonton Chad Smith CH Sullivan Martha Thornton Jimmy Turner Laurene Turner Tripp Turner Ashley Whaley Bart White Hazel Whittiemore Jo Wigington Dr. Barney Witherington III Martha Yarbrough

COUNSELING

Counseling is available for individuals, couples or families. Fees are based on ability to pay.

Cindy Pease, M.H.S.P., Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified. For appointments call the FUMC office 476-9694, ext. 18.

Faye Beckett, D.C.C. Doctorate in Christian Counseling, Master of Science in Psychology. For appointments call the FUMC office 476-9694, ext. 19.

Thank you to my FUMC church family for your kind words,

prayers and cards during the loss of my mother, Elizabeth

Bryant. I am especially thankful to those who prepared

the bereavement meal and to Rev. Wade Cox and Rev. Tim

Carpenter for the celebration of life service to honor her.

Your support during this time is greatly appreciated.

Elton Bryant, Raymond Bryant and families

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Memorials and Tributes In Memory of L.C. Bierman Worship and Choir Fund by Nadine Davis Worship and Choir Fund by Henry and Gwen Glass Good Samaritan Fund by Russell Lindsey Worship and Choir Fund by Mary Martha United Methodist Women Circle, FUMC Worship and Choir Fund by Sara Parsons Food Pantry Fund by The Tipton County Election Commission Good Samaritan Fund by Michael and Hope Turner In Memory of Travis Bolton Good Samaritan Fund by Henry and Gwen Glass In Honor of Tom and Shirley Bready Congregational Care Fund by Earl and Faye Beckett In Memory of Janet Brown Food Pantry Fund by Chris and Sara Gangaware Worship and Choir Fund by The New Beginnings Class, FUMC Food Pantry Fund by Tim and Kathy Wallace In Memory of Elizabeth Bryant Congregational Care Fund by Earl and Faye Beckett FUMC Operating Fund by L.J. and N.N. Brooke FUMC Operating Fund by Jimmy and Yvonne Bryant Food Pantry Fund by Joey and Ann Caldwell Worship and Choir Fund by Don and Ellen Clark Good Samaritan Fund by Keith, Brenda and Bryan Elzie Good Samaritan Fund by Skip and Kendy Erwin FUMC Operating Fund by Muriel Fryer Good Samaritan Fund by Henry and Gwen Glass FUMC Operating Fund by Raymond and Bonnie Griffin Congregational Care Fund by Ricky and Jacqueline Lancaster Worship and Choir Fund by Bernie Liles and Gary Liles Good Samaritan Fund by The New Beginnings Sunday School Class, FUMC FUMC Operating Fund by James Reeves Good Samaritan Fund by Michael and Hope Turner Food Pantry Fund by Tim and Kathy Wallace FUMC Operating Fund by West Tennessee Polled Hereford Cattle Association In Memory of Lois Carpenter Good Samaritan Fund by Tom and Shirley Bready In Memory of Norman Crittenden Worship and Choir Fund by Sara Parsons In Honor of Bill Jim and Helen Davis Congregational Care Fund by Earl and Faye Beckett In Memory of Claudine Elder Good Samaritan Fund by JoAnn Lewis In Memory of Hugh Hanson Worship and Choir Fund by Henry and Gwen Glass Good Samaritan Fund by Russell Lindsey

“The Lord is close to

the brokenhearted

and saves those who

are crushed in spirit.”

Psalm 34:18

continued on page 11

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In Honor of Bob and Shirley Hensley Congregational Care Fund by Earl and Faye Beckett In Memory of Linda Holt Good Samaritan Fund by Henry and Gwen Glass In Honor of Sue Jones Good Samaritan Fund by Skip and Kendy Erwin In Memory of Dwight Liles The Bready Chimes Fund by Bernie Liles and Gary Liles In Memory of Tom Liles The Bready Chimes Fund by Bernie Liles and Gary Liles In Memory or Wayne Locke Good Samaritan Fund by Henry and Gwen Glass Good Samaritan Fund by Russell Lindsey Good Samaritan Fund by Michael and Hope Turner In Memory of Jimmie McDaniel Good Samaritan Fund by Tom and Shirley Bready In Memory of Richard McKenzie Good Samaritan Fund by Henry and Gwen Glass Good Samaritan Fund by Russell Lindsey In Memory of Bobby Pace Good Samaritan Fund by Tom and Shirley Bready Good Samaritan Fund by Russell Lindsey In Memory of Newt Portis and James Portis Good Samaritan Fund by Peggy Portis and Marsha P. Greenwood In Honor of Emogene Ray’s Retirement Good Samaritan Fund by Russell Lindsey In Memory of Polly Sanders Good Samaritan Fund by Henry and Gwen Glass Good Samaritan Fund by Russell Lindsey In Memory of Tom Scudder Good Samaritan Fund by Tom and Shirley Bready In Honor of Dave and Marlyn Seagrave Congregational Care Fund by Earl and Faye Beckett In Memory of Tim Sloan Worship and Choir Fund by Nadine Davis Good Samaritan Fund by Henry and Gwen Glass In Honor of Ed and Marie Timberlake Congregational Care Fund by Earl and Faye Beckett In Memory of Eddie Twohig Good Samaritan Fund by Henry and Gwen Glass In Memory of Kenneth Weir Good Samaritan Fund by Henry and Gwen Glass

continued on page 10

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WORSHIP TIMES

Morning Song Service Sundays at 8:30 a.m. Christian Life Center

Sunday School 9:45 a.m.

Traditional Service Sundays at 11:00 a.m.

Sanctuary

First United Methodist Church 145 W. Church Avenue Covington, TN 38019

Phone: 901-476-9694

Fax: 901-476-5352

E-mail: covingtonfumc@covingtonfumc.com

Website: www.covingtonfumc.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FUMCCovington

Twitter: twitter.com/FUMCCovington

DVD Study

God gave an assignment to His people thousands of years ago: bring “lost sheep” back into the love and safety of His kingdom. It’s still our task today. In this 13th volume of the “That the World May Know” video series with Ray Vander Laan, we will explore the urgency and rewards of welcoming the strangers and prodigals the Lord longs to embrace. Each lesson illuminates the historical, geographical, and cultural context of the scripture. Filmed on location in the Middle East, this study will transform your understanding of God and challenge you to be a true follower of Jesus. Wednesday Night Adult Study

March 30 - April 27, 2016 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Fellowship Hall