Newsletter ofFirst United Methodist

ChurchIsle of Palms,

South CarolinaNovember 2014

Our mission is to discover, celebrate and share God’s love!

First United Methodist Church P.O. Box 807 21st Avenue & Palm Boulevard Isle of Palms, SC 29451 (843) 886-6610 iopmethodist@bellsouth.netwww.iopmethodist.comOffice Hours: Monday – Thursday9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.Friday 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Thomas Smith, Pastor,iopthomas@bellsouth.netKristen Lesesne, Director of Ministry,iopchildren@bellsouth.netHarry Sewell, Director of Youth,iopyouth@bellsouth.netCarol King, Director of Outreach,iopmembership@bellsouth.netJan Pickens, Director of Music Ministries,janpickens@hotmail.comMargaret Herlihy, Administration,iopmethodist@bellsouth.netJanis J. Crosby, Finance,iopfinance@bellsouth.netChristine Lites, Contemporary Worship,litesc@comcast.net

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDISLE OF PALMS, SC

PERMIT No. 1

SUNDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE

8:30 - 9:30 First Service (traditional)

9:00 - 10:00 First Friends (fellowship time)

9:15 - 10:00 Island Praise (contemporary

9:45 - 10:00 Children’s Rehearsal

10:00 - 10:45 Sunday School

11:00 - 12:00 Third Service (traditional)

EVENSONG WORSHIP SERVICE

Wednesday nights at 5:30 in the sanctuary

“”Oh, give me that book! At any price give me the book of God. Let me be a man of one book.”

--John Wesley

God’s Word should be central to any church’s worshiping life. In our worship we gather in God’s presence, we hear God’s Word read and preached, we respond to God’s word in prayer and song, and God’s Word equips us to depart and serve God in the world. To borrow from Wesley, let us be men and women of one book!

There are many Bible translations. For almost 30 years the United Methodist Church has used the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) in official liturgy and denominational resources. Within the last five years, the United Methodist Publishing House has published the new Common English Bible (CEB). The CEB is the translation we have been using in worship and in ministries with children and youth for the last year. Denominational resources now use the CEB as do new liturgy and worship resources. When the new Hymnal and Book of Worship are published, they will predominantly use the CEB.

Our current pew Bibles are the NRSV. They were a gracious gift from our Disciple Bible Study group, who donated them at their own expense at a time when we had no pew Bibles. The gift of these Bibles has aided in our worship and helped our church family experience the Word of God. Our church family owes this group a debt of gratitude.

Over the next few weeks we will begin replacing the NRSV pew Bibles with the Common English Bible while honoring the gift and the givers of the current pew Bibles. This would offer the following benefits:

1. We would no longer need to print the Scripture in the bulletin. 2. People would be encouraged to pick up the Bible and read it for themselves as it is read

in worship. 3. The Bible version in the pews would be more accessible to those with no church

background.

In recognition and thanks for their generosity, the existing pew Bibles will be offered to those who gave them. Any Bibles not taken by the original donors will be kept by the church for use in our various ministries.

To purchase new pew Bibles, we are inviting you to purchase a Bible (or more than one Bible) in memory or in honor of a loved one. Dedication markers will be placed on the inside cover of each Bible. The cost per Bible is $14. You can find more information about purchasing a Bible inside this newsletter. Please consider purchasing a Bible to help First Church share and spread God’s Word.

Yours in Christ,

Greetings from Carol

It is that special time of the year again when we stop what we are doing and extend a grateful “thank you” to our God for all of the special things God does for us on a daily basis. Here at First Church we have many blessings to be grateful for. Each Sunday there are a number of folks who come to worship with us who are visitors. The most important person for a visitor to talk to in order to feel at home in a new church is you! It is not the pastor, greeter or usher, but a word from an individual sitting next to a visitor who takes the time to welcome them.

YOU can make a difference in someone’s life – take a moment and reach out to the person sitting next to you!

Blessings,Carol

PRAYER LISTIf you are interested in receiving our weekly e-mail

prayer list, please contact Carol King: iopmethodist@bellsouth.net.

You won’t want to miss our Christmas party on December 2 at 7:30 p.m. Please bring an appetizer or dessert and a white elephant gift for our gift exchange. So come join the fun and be ready to “steal” that wonderful gift.

Thank you to everyone who attended our October meeting. Will Hegler, who grew up here at First Church, shared his art with us.

Our Leadership meeting will be Tuesday, November 18.

Welcome to our November Senior Luncheon! This month our lunch will be on Thursday, November 20th at noon. We are going to Liberty Grill located at 1028 Johnnie Dobbs Blvd. in Mt. Pleasant, phone 971-7777. Several of our group have enjoyed dining here, so please plan to join us! Remember to call Ann at 866-7640 to make your reservation.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

NEW MEMBERS

Are you interested in joining the First Church family?

There are several ways you can join the Church.Transfer Letter of Membership,Profession of Faith & Baptism,

Affiliate (United Methodists) or Associate (Other Denominations) Membership

is available for those persons who desire to keep their main church affiliation in another community.

Please speak to Pastor Thomas or Carol King for additional information about membership.

A SHEPHERD’S PRAYER

Every day your Shepherds intercede in prayer for our church, members, families and friends. Please call the church office and tell us when you are in need of prayer for a loved one. We pray for all who ask and for whom God places a burden on you ask. Below is a sample you can pray for yourself, family and friends. Please call out by name all those for whom God has given you a prayer need.

Our Father, please forgive me for my sins of doubt, fear and anxiety. Please cleanse my heart and mind from worldly influences so I can hear YOUR voice and pray through the HOLY SPIRIT.I know YOU love me and all the other people in this world and you desire they all accept Your Son as the Lord and Savior of their lives. YOUR Word tells me to keep asking, seeking and knocking for the desires of my heart. I know YOU arrange all things for good and for the benefit of YOUR people.Please join my prayers with others seeking YOUR Will and grace for our friends, families, Church and others you place on our hearts. Lord, please grant healing and peace for___(names)______. I know YOUR Will is always done and healing is a part of YOUR Will. Lord grant YOUR blessings to our church and staff. They labor for you and care for YOUR children. Please fill them with YOUR HOLY SPIRIT and help them keep YOU first in their lives.I intercede for my church family - members, family, friends, and visitors facing illness and disease, financial burdens and other troubling issues. Please grant cures to cancers, heart disease, blood pressure, diabetes, depression, allergies, painful treatments and difficult therapies. By YOUR Grace give them peace, calm spirits and return joy to their lives.Please stand beside me every day, all day long and watch over me during the night. Fill me with the HOLY SPIRIT and bolster me with the knowledge that YOU cause all things to work together for good for those who love YOU (Rom 8:28). I ask you to protect my country from all the forces coming against it. Please help our leaders prevent outbreaks of disease like Ebola, stop discrimination between our citizens, find a peaceful solution to a war-torn Middle East. Help all who face uncertainty and anxiety to have that peace that passes all understanding (Phil 4:7).LORD, please help me to Fully Rely on GOD, to trust that YOU are leading me along YOUR path and to understand all that happens is YOUR will as you prepare me to be more like Jesus.I ask in the name of my LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST. Amen

A. Shepherd

FUMC IOP MEN

The next meeting will be November 10 at 6 p.m.in Lupo Fellowship Hall.

All singers, you’re enthusiastically invited to come to Chancel Choir Rehearsals on Wednesday nights from 7 until 7:40 in the sanctuary to take part in our Advent/

Christmas Concert preparation. The concert will be held on December 14th at the 8:30 and 11:00 worship services, and is entitled “An Early American Christmas of Lessons and Carols”. You may go to jwpepper.com to hear snippets from this

delightful and revealing cantata. Come be a part of this most wonderful morning with us!

To all children participating in “Shepherds, Sheep and a Savior”, our children’s musical to be presented on Sunday morning, December 7th, at 10 and 11, we will continue our Sunday morning rehearsals at 9:45 in the choir room! We will also

rehearse on Saturdays at a time to be determined. There might be the need to alter times to fit everyone’s schedules. Dress rehearsal on Saturday, December 6th, is

extremely important, and also great fun and excitement!

WELCOME DIRECTORY UPDATE

We welcome our newest member to our church familyOscar C. Fitzhenry

of Isle of Palms

Dick and Bunny Johnson4 Conch Court

Isle of Palms, SC 29451843-886-3301

Island Praise and Worship

Band Come join us at 5:30 pm on Thursday to practice! Let’s Praise

and Worship the LORD a little different

Please let Kristene Lesesne, iopchildren@bellsouth.net, know if you are interested in participating in a mid-morning Mom’s bible Study on Fridays from 9:00-10:30.

Janalyn and Ray Bowden 15Jackie and Matt Scarafile 17Jane and Ben Pearman 28

Jackye Johnson 1 Tisha Aycock 1Cassandra McLeod Baker 2Claire Nelson 2Ginny Moser 3Ashley Player 3Jason Sewell 3Glenn Bowden 5Patty Hause 6Stefanie Mitchell-Smith 8Doug Van Scoy 9Arnold Karig 11Harry Sewell 11Mike Holman 13Drucella Smith 13Lu Ann DeBerry 14Ella Grace Edwards 14Sal Moscatello 15Ethan Heine 15Thomas Leydic 15Matt Thiesing 15

Join us for our monthly Children’s Program!

JAM & JAM-On (3 year olds - Kindergarten) (1st, 2nd & 3rd grade)

November 12thOh, So Thankful

Check-in begins at 5:30. / Pick up by 7pm.Dinner included.

RIPTIDEMonthly program held especially for

4th & 5th graders5:30 - 7:30

Dinner includedNovember 7th - Chocolate

Save the date . . .

SundayDecember 21stJoin us as we celebrate the 4th Sunday of Advent, with a day of family fun, crafts and caroling.

ACOLYTE CELEBRATION& TRAINING

Sunday, November 2nd, we will have a special celebration for 8:30 acolytes following the first worship service, as well as for the 11:00 acolytes & crucifers following the third service. At this time, we will also have a training for new acolytes as well as review for those already trained.

KIDS:Don’t forget to join us for

Sunday SchoolSunday Mornings

10:00 - 10:45

Virginia Gwinn 16Jim Neipp 16Karen Vesely 16Caroline Moseley 17Janey Whitley 17Margaret Dullanty 20Harper Smith 20Cal Lipscomb 21Cullen Harper 21Cher Duke 21Inge Baechler 22Bob Coffman 24Marie House 25Clay Rice 26Bella Vesely 26Bev Costello 27Jimmy Brakefield 28Sarah Player 28Hoyt Rowell 28Ned Watson 29Gary Lauderdale 30

Youth Bible Study

Sunday from 4 -5 pm.

November 9th and 16th!