July/August 2019

FUMC EDNA Newsletter Celebrate Freedom!

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!” John 8:36

Celebrate! It is time to celebrate! Celebrate Freedom!

This time of the year, we celebrate or at least are reminded of the great freedom we have living in this country. How will you celebrate? Maybe you will be spending time with friends and family? Maybe you will be grilling or baking or feasting? Maybe you will be playing games or telling stories or enjoying the outdoors? Maybe you will be watching parades or fireworks? Maybe you will be preparing care packages to our active military, or calling/ sending cards to veterans thanking them for their service?

It is important to celebrate the big events in life as well as the small, seemingly insignificant events as well! It is very important to celebrate!

Our freedom in this country is a gift and is not available in many countries around the world. Our freedom was not free, but costly. This is why we celebrate the gift given to us, thanking God for: those who sacrificed their lives, and their loved ones. How will you celebrate?

We have an even greater freedom in Christ!! The freedom God gives us through Christ is a gift! This freedom was not free, but costly. Christ died and rose for us! With Christ, we have hope and this hope shines bright even in dark times (Isaiah 60:1-2, Romans 5:1-5 & 15:13, Hebrews 6:19)! With Christ, we have peace – the peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7)! With Christ, we have power over addiction and receive new life (2nd Corinthians 5:17)! With Christ, we have an inheritance (1st Peter 1:3-4)! With Christ, we will never be abandoned by God (Matthew 28:20b, Hebrews 13:5b, Deuteronomy 31:8)!

These are just a few of the gifts that come with freedom in Christ! Thanks be to God! This is something worth celebrating every day! How will you celebrate this freedom? Thanking God, serving one another, seeking to make difference in someone else’s life, sharing how freedom in Christ shaped your life, offering hope to those low on hope, learning how to be more like Christ, getting involved in local and global ministries that positively impact people? How will you celebrate?

Celebrate your freedom in this country and your freedom in Christ! If you want to know more about the freedom God gives us through Christ, talk with me.

How will you celebrate?

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Kelli

July

1st ~ Trustees Committee, Parlor, 6 pm

4th ~ Independence Day, Office Closed

8th - 11th ~ Vacation Bible School, 3 yrs. - 5th

Grade, Volunteers Needed, Contact Jennifer Storz

or Sherrie Bergstrom for more info, 5 pm -

7:30 pm

17th ~ Fan & Water Drive, Moon Building, 4 pm

Donations Needed

19th ~ Emmaus Gathering, Grace Presbyterian

Church, Victoria, 6:30 pm

26th ~ Golden Crescent Food Bank, Carver

Elementary, Volunteers Needed, 9 am

28th ~ Noisy Offering, to support FUMC Edna

Blessing Box, 9 am & 11 am Services

28th ~ Young Adult Gathering, Brackenridge Park,

Contact Zane Strickland for more details,

3 pm

29th ~ Safety Committee, Parlor, 5:30 pm

August

1st ~ Brown Hearing Center, Parlor, 10 am

1st ~ Soul Food Thursday, Fellowship Hall,

11:30 am

3rd ~ Church Workday, 8 am - 12 pm

8th ~ Little Church School Board Meeting, Parlor,

5 pm

11th ~ Back to School Celebration

12th ~ Finance Committee, Parlor, 5:30 pm

12th ~ Trustees Committee, Parlor, 6 pm

13th ~ UMW Salad Supper, Fellowship Hall, 6 pm

14th ~ Edna ISD, Back to School

14th ~ Industrial ISD, Back to School

19th ~ Church Council, Moon Building, 6 pm

21st ~ Sept/Oct Newsletter Submission Deadline

21st ~ Ganado ISD, Back to School

24th ~ Men’s Emmaus Team Meeting, Fellowship

Hall & Wesley Center, 8 am

30th ~ Golden Crescent Food Bank, Carver

Elementary, Volunteers Needed, 9 am

Stay tuned for more info on an upcoming study in August/September!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fan/Water Drive is happening Wed., July 17th at 4pm in the Moon

Building!! Donations needed and can be dropped off at the

church office!

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All are welcome to come to our monthly Soul

Food Thursdays! We meet the 1st Thursday

each month at 11:30 am for a bible study

followed by a nutritious meal and time of

fellowship! Call the church office to RSVP!

361.782.3561

Harmony Chimes Rehearsals Will Resume on Sept. 4th at 5 pm

Choir Room

Chancel Choir Rehearsal Will Resume in August

6:15 pm Every Wednesday Choir Room

Wednesday Nite Live 3rd - 12th Grade

Will Resume Sept. 4th at 6 pm Fellowship Hall & Moon Bldg.

Lighthouse #2911 4 pm Every Tues & Thurs,

Moon Building

Jackson Co. Homeschool Co-op September - April

Moon Building

Girl Scouts August - May 4 pm - 5 pm,

1st & 3rd Tues. Fellowship Hall

Jackson Co. Wellness Center Exercise Class Mon. (July Only)

5:30 pm Mon. - Tues. - Wed. (July Only)

5 am & 5:45 am Tues. & Thurs. ~ 5 pm

Wesley Center

Soul Food will be taking the month of July off and will resume

normal schedule on August 1st.

Exciting News!

There is now a Drop Off Box on the door!

No one around? You can now securely

place your item in the secure lockbox!!

Thank you Jimmy Braunholz and Ronnie

Kubecka for installing this in the door! We

appreciate you!!

What is Noisy Offering? The Noisy Offering is an outreach idea that supports our Outward church goal:

“Create Authentic Outreach events out of existing

outreach programs.”

The Worship Committee asks Worshippers to bring their coins the last Sunday of each month and drop them in

our cans. We chose organizations around the area that could use the financial support as they help those in

need.

Here are the groups who will receive donations - one each month.

Blessing Box (July), Lighthouse #2911 (August)

May Noisy Offering was collected and

donated to Victoria County Long Term

Recovery Group for the month of May.

$127 was collected and

donated!

July: Blessing Box - 24/7 micro food pantry box of non-perishable food outside on the Allen St. side of FUMC Edna. “take what you need, leave the rest for others”. Brief video on our missions page of our website www.fumcedna.org

August: Lighthouse 2911 – is a non-profit organization seeking to serve the needs of at-risk youth and their families in the Texas Golden Crescent (Victoria, TX and the surrounding communities). Sharing hope and brightening the future. Led by Rev. Paul Beard and meeting at FUMC-Edna campus year around.

“Ideally our trained staff members have direct contact with youth and their parents. Every moment of contact becomes an intense learning experience. Youth are taught healthy life concepts and skills and are mentored and supported. Our staff members assist youth in applying valuable life lessons in their everyday lives. Parent programs give parents a valuable resource for support, crisis management, and parent education. Positive Attitudes & Life Skills (PALS) is a multifaceted program directed at improving the attitudes and life skills of youth. It is a drug-use and violence prevention and educational support program as well. This comprehensive program includes: support groups, social skills outings, summer camp, community service restitution, summer program, education services, workshops, early offender programs, and placement alternative programs.” http://www.lighthouse2911.org/

June Noisy Offering was collected for

United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).

$97 was collected and donated!

FUMC YOUTH Summer Activities

Beach Camp 2019

We took 14 youth, 1 college student leader, & 5 adults to beach camp at the Laguna Beach Christian Retreat in Panama City, Florida. The group departed June 9 and returned home in the early morning hours of June 15. Together with youth and adults from Houston Northwest Baptist Church there were over 180 in attendance. God was moving all week long as the kids were being guided to “make room” in their lives. This group worshiped in closed spaces as well as on the beach, hearing the message of God, singing praises to Him until their voices were weak. Worship was led with music from Kyle Thurman & a message spoken from Brandon Freeman that had them anchored. On Wednesday our camp boarded buses, heading out for “Mission Day”. Kids & adults loaded up to set out for two elementary schools in Panama City that had been damaged from the Hurricane last fall. There we moved furniture, cleaned up the landscapes, sorted out donated clothes & shoes as well as school supplies. Thursday after lunch our Edna High School seniors & youth minister, JP, experienced an unforgettable day snorkeling & swimming with dolphins. Our youth met new friends, created friendships with the leaders they were placed with & grew a stronger bond with each other. As we returned 3 desired to reaffirm their faith with our Heavenly Father & 1 of our seniors feels a move to ministry. It is amazing watching this generation growing in their faith walk & making plans to plant a change in others.

From left to right: Melissa Strickland, Leah Smith, Taitelin Strasner, Adrian Rodas, Katelyn Letbetter, JP Strickland, Laney Curlee, Javonte Seymore, Keaton Graham, Cara Beames, Karson VanPelt, Kaylee Hanys, Shelly VanPelt, Kristina Lazzari, Shelly Riddle, Madison Riddle, Jesse Riddle, Ryan Riddle, Kate Schaffer, & Taylor Strasner

Update from Building Committee: We have met with TSG on the concept drawing and are developing our next steps. In the meantime, we have turned our attention to replacing the Education Building roof. We are applying for a loan from Texas Methodist Foundation (TMF) and have found a roofer. We will provide updates as they are available. Please continue to be in prayer for this process and get excited as we move forward on these projects!

Little Church School would like to introduce our new director. We are excited to welcome Brittany Powell.

Mrs. Powell was our 4 year old teacher this year and did an amazing job. We are looking forward to the 2019-2020 school year!

Registration is open for 2 yrs. old—4 yrs. old, forms are in the office. First day of Little Church School is Tues., 9/3.

We are pleased to introduce our new

Nursery Director, Bertha Medina.

Some may recognize her from Little

Church School. Please welcome her!

She has exciting plans for our Nursery!

Dear Edna FUMC Members,

Thank you for the laundry basket of supplies and gift cards. All of it will be very useful when I go to

school at Texas A&M. Thank you for also honoring me with the luncheon. I appreciate all the support my

church family has given me.

Sincerely,

Reese Orsak

Dear Methodist Congregation,

Thank you very much for your generous gifts. It was greatly appreciated and will help me as I move into

this new direction of my life. I will be attending Wharton Jr. college to further my education in processing

technology as an operator. Please keep me in your prayers throughout my journey as your well wishes will aide

me in my success. Thank again for thinking of me.

Sincerely,

Hunter Thompson

Reaffirmation of Baptismal Covenant: Taite & Leah 6/16/19

Taite & Leah felt called by God to reaffirm their side of the covenant with God believing God is faithful to the promises God made at their baptism. Thank you for your example and trust in God!

Walk to Emmaus Location: Spiritual Renewal Center, Victoria

Men’s, Oct. 17th - 20th Registration & more info: www.cremmaus.org

Back to School Celebration is scheduled for

Sunday, August 11th! EISD & IISD starts

Wednesday, August 14th.

GISD starts Wednesday, August 21st!

Join us on Saturday, August 3rd from

8 am—Noon for church workday!

A variety of skills are need for

various projects!!!

Wednesday Nite Live will resume on

Wednesdays, September 4th!

Enjoy your summer!

Women are invited to attend the UMW Salad Sup-

per on Tuesday, August 13th at 6 pm in the Fel-

lowship Hall!

Pre-K through 5th Grade Sunday School Classes are collecting items for the

FUMC Edna Blessing Box

*The box is located on Allen Street outside the Fellowship Hall Building

Mark your Calendars - Bring your items to your teacher, the 1st Sunday of Every Month

The Children will help load the Blessings Box with their teachers

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,

and he will reward them for what they have done” Proverbs 19:17

Item suggestions: Pull-tab microwaveable mac-n-cheese, Vienna Sausages or ravioli, pull-tab

fruits, tear-open Tuna packages, small jars of peanut butter & jelly, gum, packaged nuts &

cheese & crackers, toothbrushes & toothpaste, etc.

For all who volunteer or work with children or youth (Sunday School teachers & assistants, Youth Ministry

leaders & assistants, Youth Mid-Winter Retreat, Vacation Bible School, Youth Summer Camp, Nursery, etc.):

Training certification lasts two years. Please register at www.riotexas.org/safesteps . If you have questions,

please ask Pastor Kelli. Thank you for loving our children, youth and God!

First UMC, Edna seeks Music Director to direct Choir and Harmony Chimes, and to play piano/organ for the 11

am Sunday Traditional worship service, and other special services throughout the year. This is a part-time

position and compensation will commensurate with experience.

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Contact Jeff Fellers at fumcedna@gmail.com or 361-782-3561 for questions, job description, or to apply.

Interested in assisting us in worship? (greeter, usher, acolyte, Scripture reader, Holy Communion server, sound

system tech, etc.). Please let Pastor Kelli or the church office know! 361-782-3561

What: Vacation Bible School

Ages: Ages 3 years old – 5th grade

Where: First United Methodist Church Edna, 216 West Main, Edna, 77957

When: Monday, July 8 – Thursday, July 11

Time: 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Fun, Music, Lessons, Crafts, Games, Light Dinner & Snacks

For more information, please call the church

office at 361-782-3561 or Sherrie Bergstrom at

512-940-9176

Online Registration available on church website at:

www.fumcedna.org

Interested in making a gift tax-free with an IRA?

If you are 70½ years old or older, you can take advantage of a simple way to benefit First UMC Edna ministries and receive tax benefits in return. You can give up to $100,000 from your IRA directly to a qualified charity such as First UMC Edna without having to pay income taxes on the money.

The new law removed the ending date, so you can make annual gifts from your IRA to our church this year and future years.

How do I set this up?

Call your bank or financial institution that holds your IRA. Ask them how much is your Required Minimum

Distribution is for this year.

Request them to directly send all, part, or more (at your discretion) to: First UMC Edna, 216 W. Main St./ PO Box 790, Edna 77957

Note: if they make it out to you for you to send in, you will be generous; and IRS will count it as taxable income to you.

Upon receiving your financial gift from your IRA, like other financial gifts, it will be listed on your church giving statement. Then include your giving statement with your other tax paperwork when you file your tax return.

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Internal Revenue Service (IRS) answers questions on IRA distributions

(scroll halfway down for info for people 70 ½ years old.)

https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/retirement-plans-faqs-regarding-iras-distributions-withdrawals

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UMC Global Ministries answers questions on IRA giving:

https://umcmission.myplannedgift.org/ira-charitable-rollover

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Texas Methodist Foundation (TMF) answering questions about giving from IRAs

https://www.tmf-fdn.org/blog/four-most-popular-questions-about-charitable-gifts-from-iras/

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US News article on donating your Required Minimum Distribution to charity:

https://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/iras/articles/2017-12-04/how-to-donate-your-required-minimum-distribution-to-charity

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These above links are also on our website for your convenience, www.fumcedna.org.

To be expected, you should first consult your tax advisor and your financial institution to ensure that this strategy will work for you and that you meet all the criteria.

If you have questions about your giving statement, please call the church office 361-782-3561. Thank you for your continued prayers and generosity!!

Grey & Adelaide Kealeigh Alex Victoria Atkinson Bentley Bacak Elyse & Kassie Bauerle Eldred Bergstrom, Sr. Bruce Birdwell Linda Seal Browning Linda & Tommy Charbula Dorothy Cherry Sue Clark Dorothy Davis Frances Dragoo Pauline Ellis Corinne Garza Micki Gomez Jeanine Hoskins Sarah Boxwell James

Rev. Sheldon Johnson Sadie Juroske Gaylynn Lambert Holly Larkin Alroy Malina Gladys Manning Nancy Melton Lance Moody Carolann Moore Peggy Murff & Family Butch Norrell Morris Orsak Kaden Peebles Jackie Powell Jerry Powell Kathy Powell Family of Marcella Ramsbacher Cindy Brown Rosalez

Kim Shilling Janie Sowell Patsy Storz Marlene Tedder Family of Brenda Webster Rose Wiegand Lylamae Hutcheson-Williams Betty Willis Mary Worsham

Prayer Request

*Prayer request will remain on the list for 4 weeks unless notified otherwise. You may submit your prayer

request to the church office* Names in Italics are on-going prayer request.

Slow Cooker Sweet Buttery Corn on the Cob

6 Large Ears of Corn 1 (14 oz) Can Coconut Milk 2 Tbsp. Pure Honey 1 Tbsp. Salt 1 Tbsp. Black Pepper 1 Stick Butter, Sliced 1/2 Tbsp. Cajun Seasoning (optional)

Instructions: 1. Shuck corn, break each ear in half and place into a slow cooker.2. Add in coconut milk, honey, sliced butter and seasonings.3. Cover and cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours.4. ENJOY!!

If you have a favorite recipe you’d like to share in our newsletters, you may submit them to the church office!

Pastor

Rev. Kelli Williamson

Secretary

Rachel Fuller

Music Director

Open Position

Praise Band Leader

JP Strickland

Custodian

Victor Cruz

Nursery Director

& Attendants

Bertha Medina

Rachel Hobratschk

Frances Lindberg

Wesley Nurse

Lindsey Floyd, RN

First United Methodist Church

216 W Main St

PO Box 790

Edna, TX 77957

return service requested

Phone: 361-782-3561

E-mail: fumcedna@gmail.comwebsite: www.fumcedna.org

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/fumcedna

Check out our updated website at www.fumcedna.org and

our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/fumcedna