M A R C H 2 0 1 3

V O L U M E 2 1

I S S U E 3 F I R S T U N I T E D

M E T H O D I S T

C H U R C H O F

C O M M E R C E

Inside This Issue:

Birthdays & Anniversaries 4

Calendar 5

General Announcements 2, 6

Praise and Prayer 3

March 5th @ 7:00p–

PPR Committee

March 10th @ 4:00p–

Annual Easter Egg Hunt

March 12th @ 6:00p–

Finance Committee

@ 7:00p– Admin Council

March 13th @ 6:00p–

Emmaus Fundraising Dinner

March 18th @ 7:00p–

Circle 3

March 19th @ 2:00p-

Hannah Circle

@ 7:00p– Circle 5

March 24th – March 31

Holy Week Services

March 25 @ 6:15p–

Stephen Ministry

March 26 @ 6:00p–

Altar Guild

@7:00p– Trustees

The Season of Easter

We are blessed to live in a community of churches who come together each year to observe and celebrate the season of Easter. Palm Sunday services will be held on March 24.

If you have not been present before to celebrate with us our Savior’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, please join us this year. The enthusi-asm and joy of our congregation’s children as they process waving palms will fill you with joy. On Monday through Wednesday of Holy Week, the churches of Commerce take turns hosting a noon luncheon and devotional. This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy fellowship with your fellow Christians. We will be hosting the Maundy/Holy Thursday worship service on Thursday night March 28 at 7:00 pm. Join us as we share in the Last Supper with our Savior. We are working on a special skit to deepen your experience. The First Baptist Church of Commerce is hosting Good Friday worship on March 29 at 7:00 pm, while our friends at Commerce Pres-byterian are hosting Easter Worship and breakfast on Easter morning, March 31, at 7:00 am. We will be holding regular Easter services here at CFUMC at 11:00 am. We serve a risen Savior. I hope this year you will take as many opportunities as you can to worship during this most blessed season.

David

Holy Week Schedule

Sunday, March 24: CFUMC Palm Sunday services at 8:30 and 11:00 am

Monday, March 25: Noon luncheon and devotional at CFUMC

Tuesday, March 26: Noon luncheon and devotional at Commerce Presbyterian

Wednesday, March 27: Noon luncheon and devotional at Commerce First Baptist

Thursday, March 28: Maundy Thursday service at 7:00 pm at CFUMC

Friday, March 29: Good Friday worship at 7:00 pm at Commerce First Baptist

Sunday, March 31: Easter worship and breakfast at 7:00 am at Commerce Presby-

terian, Easter worship at 11:00 am at CFUMC

P A G E 2

Tuesday, March 5th @ 7:00p- PPR Committee

Tuesday, March 12th @ 6:00p- Finance Committee, @ 7:00p–Admin Council

Tuesday, March 25th @6:15p- Stephen Ministry meeting

Tuesday, March 26th @ 6:00p- Altar Guild, @ 7:00p–Trustees

Circle 3 will meet on March 18th at 7:00 pm.

Hannah Circle will meet on March 19th at 2:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall.

Circle 5 will meet on March 19th at 7:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall.

Lenten Community Luncheon March 25, 2013

On March 25, 2013, we will host worship and provide lunch for the local Church Community in our Fami-

ly Life Center. This gives us a wonderful opportunity to serve. Will you help by providing food for lunch? We will need soups,

sandwiches, corn bread, desserts, tea and lemonade. We will also need help for set-up, serving and clean-up. Please call Sheila

Sales at 706-335-6693 and let her know how you will be helping.

Join us for an Emmaus Fundraiser on March 13 at 6:00 pm!

There will be a fundraising dinner in the Fellowship Hall sponsored by the Emmaus Community. We’ll be having homemade soup and cornbread, crackers, baked potatoes with the “fixins”, salad, beverages and dessert. This will be our fellowship dinner for March. Please make your reservation by March 10 so we will know how much to pre-pare.

Please accept our sincere thanks for the many kind expressions of sympathy extended to us during the loss of

our mother Dola Rector. We know that she is now sitting at the right hand of God, or at least close by, taking

notes with David’s pen. She’s also probably doing a little dusting and straightening up the place while spend-

ing time with loved ones and the many many friends she made over the years. Thank you for your love and

care. — The Rector Family

Thank you to our church family for all your love and support during a special time in our lives. We have

been blessed in so many ways and want to thank you again for your compassion and generosity.

— Dennis and Stephanie Barnett

Circle 5 is spearheading a drive to send “Breakfasts for Champions” to Afghanistan for troops in the Sharana Camp. In prepa-

ration for the base’s eventual closing, breakfast is no longer being served at this base. We will be collecting items during

March to mail by April 1. There will be boxes in the Sanctuary, Chapel and Fellowship Hall for your items. Items you could

donate would be old-fashioned oatmeal; instant oatmeal packets; instant coffee; instant grits; brown sugar; raisins and other

chopped, dried fruit; energy bars; breakfast bars, etc. High protein foods are preferable. If you’d prefer to make a financial

donation, please designate your contribution for “Breakfast for Champions.”

Join us at the Bowers' farm for our annual Easter Egg Hunt and Picnic. There will be Easter egg

hunting, face painting, games, and more. Bring a covered dish to share; we'll provide chicken and beverages.

The Bible Begins:

We all know that the Bible begins with the words “In the beginning….” But now we are invited to watch “The Bible,” an epic,

five– week, 10 hours television ministries that will premiere on Sunday, March 2, at 8:00 pm on the History Channel. The minis-

tries is the work of “Touch by an Angel” star Roma Downey and her Emmy award winning husband Mark Burnett.

P A G E 3

Charles Matthews, brother of Carolyn Stephenson, prayers for healing

Bev Nesbit, prayers for healing

Ray Wright, friend of Art & Rose Richard, prayers for healing, cancer diagnosis

Kay Franklin, sister of Att Stephenson, prayers for healing

Joel Benton, son of Lucy Benton, prayers for healing, undergoing radiation

Joy Hodges, friend of Gina Hagan, prayers for healing

George Rodrigue, request of Rose Richard, prayers for healing

Judy Buffington, prayers for healing

Constance, daughter of Linda & Ches Howard, prayers for healing, cancer diagnosis

JP Stanley, request of Peggy Purcell, 5 yrs old, prayers for healing, undergoing chemo

Ian Warshack, request of Sara McClure, prayers for healing after amputations

Peyton Minish, friend of Billie Bowen, prayers for healing

Susan Wuerzner, sister of Billie Bowen, diagnosed with multiple auto-immune problems

Charles Hutchins, request of Judy Paugh, prayers for peace and healing

Kathy Wolfe, request of Rose Richard, prayers for healing

Bobby Hooper, brother of Jimmy Hooper, prayers for healing

Kent Studdard, request of Michele Gaissert, prayers for healing, undergoing chemo

Jessica Rice, request of Anna Diemond, prayers for healing

Ernestine Dickerson, mother of Mackie Nix, prayers for healing

Hubert Eddleman, request of Linda Brake, prayers for healing

Emily Booth, request of Kathleen Hooper, prayers for healing

Joseph Hix, 5 yr old, request of P&C, prayers for healing

Danielle Frazier, mother of Jacob Bailey, prayers for healing, awaiting diagnostic results

Sandra Sheffield, sister of Jeff Sheffield, prayers for healing

Roberta Venable, request of P&C, prayers for healing

Ed Sweeney, request of Mike Sales, prayers for healing, undergoing radiation

Marie Sweeney, request of Mike Sales, prayers for healing

Hawk Harrison, infant son of Katie and John Harrison, prayers for healing after surgery

Cheyenne Hutchins, infant, request of Jeff Sheffield, prayers for healing

Joan Bailey, request of Stephanie Hill, prayers for peace and healing

Alison Lambrechets, request of Anna Diemond, prayers for healing

Lynn Simonton, mother of Michelle Karles, prayers for continued healing at home

Cathleen Anderson, mother of Maxine Seagraves, prayers for healing

Joan Dumas, request of K. Ellen Hagan, prayers for healing, undergoing chemo

Mandy Prescott, niece of Chris Harmon, prayers for healing, completed chemo

Roger Jenkins, request of Disciple 3, prayers for healing

Debra Moore, grandmother of Jacob Bailey, prayers for healing, awaiting diagnostics

Greg Hodges, request of Gina Hagan, prayers for healing

Nelson & Dale Grams, request of Jeff Sheffield, prayers for healing

Sissy Landross, request of Jeff Sheffield, prayers for healing

Swayne Anderson, father of Maxine Seagraves, prayers for healing

Charles Jones, request of Trish Edwards, prayers for healing

Sewell family, request of Disciple 1, prayers for healing for unborn infant

Colleen Florence, sister of Chris Harmon, prayers for healing, upcoming surgery

George Blake, brother of Annabel Seltzer, prayers for healing

Lindley Jones-Leggett, daughter of Shonda and Sol, prayers for healing after surgery

Katie Savage, safe travel, in Croatia for 3 months with UGA program

Bill Lehman, request of knitting group, prayers for healing

Annabelle Seltzer, prayers for healing after back surgery

Ed Adams, prayers for healing after surgery

Shonda Jones-Leggett, prayers for healing, upcoming surgery 3/20

Madison Hoxit, request of Michelle Karles, prayers for healing

Owen Newman, request of Stephanie Barnett, prayers for healing, undergoing chemo

Second Sunday

Report

The Results:

Our Congregation brought

13 bags of spaghetti and

sauce and other food items

on February 10, 2013.

Our Next Challenge:

March 10th–

Tuna, Salmon

or Instant Potatoes

Also, there is always a

need for Breakfast Food,

and cornbread and biscuit

mixes.

Please remember, if you

cannot attend church on the

second Sunday, you can

always drop items off at

the church office.

Cash contributions are also

accepted and appreciated.

The staff at the Food Bank

has expressed gratitude for

the kindness and generosity

of the FUMC family.

Thank you!

“For I was hungry and you

gave me something to eat.”

-Matthew 25:35

P A G E 4

Week 1- Emily Aiken

Week 2- Maddie Fowler

Week 3- Tatum Jones

Week 4- Abigail Suarez

Week 5- Addie Mitcham

K. Ellen Hagan, Linda Lamb, Rese Tiller

TBA

Marie Canady, Barbara Hendricks,

Debbie Manus

March 3rd-

Luke 13:6-9

March 10th -

Luke 15:1-32

March 17th -

John 12:1-8

March 24th-

Luke 19:28-40

March 31st-

Luke 24:1-12

Week 1- Adolfo & Joanna Suarez

Week 2- Jessica Outz & Lynn Gibson

Week 3- Kelly & John Cassidy

Week 4- McKenzie & Stewart Smith

Week 5- Rory & Jennifer McClintock

Week 1- Dave Moon, Art Richard

Week 2- Tom Murphy, Al Fleming

Week 3- Marty Seltzer, Jack Legg

Week 4- Jimmy Bolton, Lee Hagan

Week 5- Dave Moon, Art Richard

Stewart Smith

3/5—Ricky and Becky Vickery

3/6—Stanley and Maxine Seagraves

3/20—Bryan and Judy Harbin

John and Becky Huss

3/25—Stan and Jeannie Aiken

Don and Marie Canady

Ron and Donna Wilson

3/4—Beverly Nesbit

3/5—Blake Baxter

3/7—Shirley Parham

3/9—Alvin Hogg

3/10—Pam Barnett

Ray Lamb

Grover Martin

3/12—Clarissa Marie Gregory

3/14—Bette Rose Bowers

3/15—Lee Hagan

3/18—Peyton Maddox

3/19—Jim Williamson

3/20—Roger Beauchamp

3/22—Emily Lupica

Jessica McFadden

Kinsey Phillips

3/26—Anne Fleming

Brittany Malner

3/27—Warner Fleming

3/29—Pat Purcell

3/31—Jean Davis

P A G E 5

Weekly Prayer Guide

Monday: Ask God to place a protective, solid hedge around your child by name.

Tuesday: Pray that your child would use godly wisdom in selecting friends and peers who will make a positive difference in their lives.

Wednesday: Pray that your child would stay pure in thoughts and deeds.

Thursday: Pray that they will be convicted if they wander into cheating, lies or mischief. Friday: Pray that they will be alert and thinking clearly as they attend school and extracurricular activities,

and as they take exams.

Saturday: Pray that God would stir their hearts to participate in the church community. Sunday: Ask God to help them live their lives for him in a radical way.

Children’s Ministries:

Easter is coming, March 31, and we will celebrate as a church family, Sunday, March 10, with our annual picnic and

Easter egg hunt at the Bowers farm. Festivities begin at 4pm. During our time together we will enjoy Easter egg

hunting, face painting, games, a jelly bean counting contest, time to relax and plenty of food. Bring a covered dish

to share. Chicken and drinks are provided. Special thanks to Bette Rose and Mike for hosting our afternoon of fun.

Please let us know you are coming, by calling the church office or using the sign up form in the bulletin.

Directions to the Bowers: From Hwy 98 and Hwy 441 take 98 toward Ila for 1.9 miles, turning right on Sandy

Creek Rd. Go another 1.9 miles. The Bowers’ farm (1989 Sandy Creek Rd.) is on the left.

Vacation Bible School will be June 2-6.

Sign up to work . . . coming soon!

March Children’s Church:

March 3 – Adolfo and Joanna Suarez

March 10 – Jessica Outz and Lynn Gibson

March 17 – John and Kelly Cassidy

March 24 – Stewart and McKenzie Smith

March 31 – Rory and Jennifer McClintock

Praying for our Children and Youth Prayer is a wonderful conversation with God in the life of a Christian individ-

ual. We pray for our friends, our families and for ourselves. I dare say every

one of us prays for our children, whether they are 3, 13 or even 33. It is a nat-

ural thing to take the joys and trials of our children to the Lord for his safe

keeping. Now, as a grandmother, I find this prayer continues to a second gen-

eration. One youth conference I attended offered a weekly Prayer Guide for

youth. I encourage you to take this list as a guide for your own youth and

children (or grandchildren). Of course, you may wish to modify it for younger

children and for your own child’s specific trials and joys.

Preschool Registration

Preschool Registration for the 2013-2014 school year has begun, Church members

are guaranteed a spot if registered by March 15th, If you are interested,

please call the preschool, 706-335-9589.

Sunday, March 3, 5:30-7. Relay for Life planning at the church. As our spring mission project we will be

supporting the upcoming Relay for Life on May 31. This Sunday evening we will plan our fund-raiser. Will

it be a dinner?? An auction?? Come be part of the planning! Snack supper provided. Meet in the youth

room.

Wednesday, March 6, Getting a Grip on the Basics for Teens, 5-6 pm.

Sunday, March 10, 3:15 pm. Easter Egg Hunt at the Bower’s farm. Easter is coming, March 31, and we

will celebrate as a church family, Sunday, March 10, with our annual picnic and Easter egg hunt at the Bow-

ers farm. Festivities begin at 4pm. During our time together we will enjoy Easter egg hunting, face paint-

ing, games, a jelly bean counting contest, time to relax and plenty of food. Bring a covered dish to share.

Chicken and drinks are provided. Special thanks to Bette Rose and Mike for hosting our afternoon of fun.

Please let us know you are coming, by calling the church office or using the sign up form in the bulletin.

Youth will meet at the church at 3:15 to ride to the Bowers’ in the van for Easter egg hiding!

Wednesday, March 13, Getting a Grip on the Basics for Teens, 5-6 pm.

Sunday, March 17, 2:30 - 7:30. Gwinnet Gladiators game begins at 4:05 pm. We will meet at the church at

2:30, leaving for the Gwinnett Arena by 2:40. Tickets are $17 or $15 if we have a group of 20. Please bring

money for snacks, etc. at the game. We will return to the church after the game, approximately 7:30. Lynn

will be purchasing our group of tickets on Tuesday, March 12, so please let her know you (and any

friends) are coming to the game by Monday, March 11.

Wednesday, March 20, Getting a Grip on the Basics for Teens, 5-6 pm.

Sunday, March 24, 5:25 – 7. We will celebrate the Easter season as we decorate Easter cookies with our

Peachtree Village friends. We will leave for Peachtree Village by 5:35!

Wednesday, March 27, Getting a Grip on the Basics for Teens, 5-6 pm

Sunday, March 31. No youth this evening. Happy Easter!

Financial Update:

Expenses: YTD Jan 2013 (spent) $32,587.69

Receipts : YTD Jan 2013: $32,380.32

___________ Shortage: $207.37

Piedmont CASA, Inc. whose coverage area is Jackson, Banks, and Barrow counties, recruits and trains

volunteers to be Court Appointed Special Advocates. These volunteers are assigned children in foster

care and advocate for them in juvenile court and other areas to give them a voice in those proceed-

ings. You are invited to attend Piedmont CASA’s 2013 fundraiser on March 23rd at the Jefferson Civic

Center. This year’s theme is “HeARTs for Chocolate, Hearts for Children”, a chocolate and art af-fair. Tickets are only $35.00. Details on their website at www.PiedmontCASA.org or call their office

at 706-367-6375.

Visit us online at: WWW.COMMERCEFUMC.ORG

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage Paid

Permit No. 3

16 Cherry St.

Commerce, GA 30529

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

706-335-4018 (Office)

706 335-2031 (Fax)

Email us at: cmcoffice@windstream.net

Visit us online at: WWW.COMMERCEFUMC.ORG

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Editor: Libby Christiansen