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Contributing Writers: David Mathis | Tim Perkins
Past Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard
Faith
January 8, 2016 - First Pentecostal Church of Joaquin invites everyone to come and help welcome our new pastor and his wife, Rev. Clark and Sis. Charlotte Bynum to Joaquin, Tx and Shelby County. An installation service will be held Sunday, January 17, 2016 at 6pm with Cornerstone UPC from Lufkin, Texas ministering in praise and worship.
They are both natives of the Pollok area about 5 miles North of Lufkin, on Highway 69 North. Rev. Bynum graduated from Central in 1983, and Sis. Charlotte graduated from Central in 1986. They have two children: Carli Joy Moore, Carson James Bynum and one grandson Cooper. Carli is married to Kade Moore, the son of Brother and Sister Phillip Moore who Pastors at Cornerstone UPC, in Lufkin, Tx.
Bro. and Sis. Bynum both have been very active in all facets of Sunday School for all ages. They have been involved in Music Ministry together since Rev. Clark received the Holy Ghost in July 1986. She was the piano player in the local church they attended. Rev. Bynum has held Local License with the United Pentecostal Church since 1991. Together they have been very active in Sunday School teaching, Singing, and Preaching in many churches around East Texas.
Rev. Bynum holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from SFA, and a Master of Education from SFA. He has been in the public school system for 21 years. He was a classroom teacher for 10 years, and has been a campus principal for 11 years. Sis. Charlotte holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting Degree from SFA, and a Master of Science in School Business from Texas A & M Commerce. She has been in corporate accounting, and public school accounting.
We are so excited about what God is doing for our church. We have a new Sunday School department that is awesome and would like to invite you to come and worship with us.
We are blessed and honor to have Rev. Philip Moore and His wife Sis. Tina Moore from Cornerstone UPC, Lufkin, TX helping to welcome Rev. and Sis. Bynum to Joaquin, Tx. And Shelby County. Rev. Philip Moore will be preaching and Sis. Tina Moore will be leading the Praise and Worship Team. You do not want to miss this you will truly be blessed.
“If any should not work, neither should he eat…” - I Thes. 3:10
January 4, 2016 - Spot, a Painted Bunting that I’ve photographed the past three years, has a new family in the sand hills near Center, Texas. Today all three fledglings flew into the grass where their parents often feed. They are fully feathered and except for their lack of color and yellow at the corner of their mouths, they look like adults. After their crash landing, they began frantically fluttering their wings to get fed.
But instead of feeding them, Spot angrily fussed and chased them away. These determined little birds not only tried to get food from Spot, but from every other adult that flew into their feeding area. All the adults wisely ignored their begging like Spot did.
Although our country has a large number of people who can’t feed themselves, we also have a lot of folk who could but won’t ….and unless we stop serving them, they never will.
Even the birds know that.
January 4, 2015 - Sunday was Epiphany Sunday. Happy New Year wishes to everyone. I really don’t know what happen to 2015 it went by far too quick! In fact every year since 1999 seems to just fly by. Today is the Sunday that we remember the wise men who came to Bethlehem to see the new king. To find this story we must read from the Matthew Gospel as it is the only one that mentions wise men. Tradition says there were three wise men but actually Matthew doesn’t tell us. I guess it could be thirty. The light draws them to Jesus and the dawning of a new age—the Kingdom that will be central to Jesus’ teachings some thirty years later.
Joy and Gene’s kids, their spouses and grandson Austin were up from Houston to celebrate the New Year. It is always great to see them. Austin spoke the Lord’s Prayer perfectly and so clearly—pretty impressive. We don’t often have school age kids but I looked and found a red bucket with a bulletin to color, colors, a little game, and a puzzle book. Fannie had a good lesson taken from Genesis. So many things from these old texts confuse and bother us modern folks. But you can always pull from the words a valuable spiritual lesson. Joe and Hilda brought us our music this morning and we sang two Fannie Crosby songs.
We have three birthdays coming up. We send out Happy Birthday wishes to Bill Thompson, Jake Watson, and Steven Joe Watson. In January we will be collecting cans of tuna for area food pantries. We have three ministry opportunities this month. On Monday, January 4, we will visit Green Acres starting at 2:00. On Tuesday, January 19 at 2:00, we will visit Holiday . On Thursday January 28th we will visit Lakeside Assisted Living. All are welcome to join us.
In fine Methodist fashion, pastors have been working on and putting together “end of year” reports. No matter how big or small, Methodist churches answer pages and pages of questions. I had really good help from Gene who keeps the church’s financial records. Not too many years ago, all pastors went to the District Office on “Report Day” and the records were audited. Today, all that information is done with computers.
“Whoever you are, in whatever faith you were born, whatever creed you profess; if you come to this house to find God you are welcome here.” Paxton United Methodist Church is an inviting church that takes to heart the idea of “Open Doors, Open Hearts, Open Minds.” Sunday School starts at 9:15 and Worship begins at 10:00. Our email address is paxtonumc@yahoo.com. If you would like the weekly email newsletter about Paxton Methodist you can send me your email address to the Paxton email address and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed!
Randall Smith, Pastor
December 31, 2015 - Pastor Marlin Cloudy Sr., lead Abundant Love Ministries and members of the community, on a Prayer Walk, on Christmas morning. The walk began with singing and prayers at the site of the building, and former night club, known as the "Drippet." Pastor Marlin had a brother who lost his life on these grounds over 30 years ago.
The walk stopped at the building, known in the community as Buckleys, and at the "four way," with prayers in both stops. The group turned and ended the walk back at the Drippet, with congregational hymns being sang and ending with testimonials and a Prayer.
The message in the Prayer Walk was "Where one life was lost, many will be gained."
Abundant Love Ministries is located at 1246 Shelbyville Street, Center,TX. Sunday services begin at 12pm, with Sunday School at 10:30am. Bible Study is on Wednesdays at 7pm. You are always invited and welcome.
December 30, 2015 - Shelbyville United Methodist Church is beginning it's 191st year of ministry in Shelby County. You are invited to join us as we begin this new year with an exciting look at the history of ministry through this church and how/where God is still working through us today.
Sunday Worship:
9:00am Short United Methodist Church
11:00am Shelbyville United Methodist Church (also live streamed)
www.ShelbyvilleUMCWorship.weebly.com
“Gifts, Strengths, & Mission: God Working Through Us"
NEW worship series January 3—February 7, 2016
How is God gifting us and working through us to make real change in the world? What are your God-given strengths, gifts, and passions for missions? This 6 week series will help us discern how God is working in and through our lives. We are invited to dream about God’s vision for our lives, our church and our community.
Jan 3: “Who You Are”
Jan 10: “Discover Your Gifts, Strengths, Talents”
Jan 17: “Vision the Mission”
Jan 24: “Understanding Gifts & Strengths”
Jan 31: “Living into Gifts”
Feb 7: “The Mission”
In Christ,
Rev. Ryan Stratton
Shelbyville & Short UMCs
December 30, 2015 - Pastor Marlin Cloudy and Abundant Love Ministries will host “Watch Night” services, Thursday, December 31st, beginning at 10’oclock pm. You are both welcome and invited.
Regular Wednesday night service for this week is cancelled.
December 30, 2015 - House of Refuge Apostolic Ministries at 215 Church St. will hold a Watch Night Service at 10:00 on Thursday, December 31st. The Watch Night Service will be held by Apostle W. E. Nash Jr. Pastor. Everyone is invited to attend, hot soup will be served.
December 29, 2015 - Triumph the Church and Kingdom of God in Christ, Hwy 87 South, Shelbyville is hosting a Shepherd and Wife's Appreciation for Elder Archie and Sharon Thompson.
Once again the time has come for us to honor our Shepherd and Wife and will be celebrating on January 9th and 10th, 2016!. Musical honoring our Shepherd and Wife will be on January 9th at 6pm. Appreciation service will be January 10th at 2:30pm. Speaker to be announced. Come and join in lifting up the Name of God. For more information, please call Feleshia Thompson at (936)590-4561.
December 28, 2015 - Bennet Chapel M.B.C. family will be celebrating their Annual New Year Watch Night Service on December 31st, at 9pm. Service will be held at Bennet Chapel Church with Bishop C. Martin, pastor.
Special guests will be Joe Lewis and the Southern Wonders. The Anointed Voices along with other musical guests.
We're asking all that can and will to come out and join us in celebrating Jesus as we bring the new year in.
December 28, 2015 - “You meet people who forget you. You forget people you meet. But sometimes you meet those people you can't forget. Those are your 'friends.'”
Walter was my roommate during my first two years at East Texas Baptist University in the early fifties. Our friendship grew from attending classes together to cutting classes together to fish in Marshall’s Scout Lake. We were always the first ones to swim in the Lake’s icy water at the beginning of spring. Walter and I hitchhiked to Springfield, Missouri one year…left with seven dollars between us …ate grapes and apples from roadside farms along the way. On our way back home we wound up a few miles out of Mena, Arkansas… broke and hungry. As we stood waiting for a ride, an elderly man walked down from a nearby house and said, “Boys, God told me to give this to you” and handed us each a silver dollar. He couldn’t have known how hungry we were…or how deeply we appreciated his help…or how good the hot dogs were a few minutes later.
While visiting with me at my first pastorate in Patroon, Texas, Walter met and later married one of our sweetest teenagers, Jane Runnels. A few months after performing their marriage ceremony, I entered the Army and lost touch with them. From time to time I got information from Jane’s Mother and Dad who still lived in Patroon but it was never convenient to go visit them. As the years passed by, I was Pastor of churches in Oregon, Ft. Worth, Amarillo and Louisiana….and during those years I promised myself many times that I’d locate Walter and his family.
The year reached 2009...and yesterday I suddenly realized over fifty years had passed since I had seen my friend. So I quickly made a resolution to find him …regardless of what it took. I started by searching through my Book of ETBU Alumni. After that failed, I typed “Walter Bishop” into the White Pages in my computer and could hardly believe my eyes when I found the listing: Walter Bishop, 6410 Highway #90, Madisonville, Texas. It also listed his zip code and telephone number.
Reaching for the phone, I hurriedly dialed the number and after few rings, I heard a familiar “Hello” ….and even after all these years, I knew the voice was Jane’s. I hastily asked her a series of questions and then asked, “How’s Walter?” A noticeably long silence followed before she replied: “Douglas, Walter crossed the Jordan ten months ago.” “I found him dead in his bed”.
A deep sense of remorse gripped my heart as I realized my many plans to see my friend had come to an end. “Jane, I’m so sorry”. “He was one of my dearest friends but I’ll never see him again until I cross the Jordan, too…” That’s right”, she said.
“None of us will”.
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