Church Conference date & time

The San Angelo District office has set the dates for the 2010 Church Conferences.

The First UMC in Iraan will hold its 2010 church conference on November 7th during the morning worship service.

More information will be coming to church officers and members in the coming weeks.

Thought for Sunday, August 29

The Rev. John Wesley's Journal entry for Sunday, August 29, 1790:



Mr. Baddiley being gone to the north, and Mr. Collins being engaged elsewhere, I had none to assist in the service , and could not read the Prayers myself; so I was obliged to shorten the service, which was shortened to three hours. I preached in the afternoon near King's Square; and the hearts of the people bowed down before the Lord.

Midweek Message

Question: Three frogs were sitting on a log. One decided to jump off. How many frogs were left sitting on the log?


















Answer: Three. Just because the frog decided to jump off the log, it doesn't mean it actually did.

Reflection: Just because a church decides to become a M.R.I. (Missional, Relational, Incarnational) church or become certified as a Welcoming Church... does not mean that it will become one.

(posted by Dr. Leonard Sweet on Facebook this morning)

This morning in Iraan

The monthly breakfast potluck this morning brought an energetic group to the First UMC in Iraan! And no one went away hungry!

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Also this morning everyone was given a copy of "Pigskin Preview," the annual look at high school football in the Permian Basin. The magazine is published each August by CBS 7 (out of Odessa/Midland). The reason everyone got a copy was that for the first time, First UMC was featured in an ad and shown on the Iraan High School page.

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We are looking forward to the return of a number of our community in the coming weeks. School starts in Iraan tomorrow and our prayers go with those who will teach and those who will be learning.

The Monthy Potluck is coming!

The fourth Sunday breakfast potluck will be held this coming Sunday, August 22 starting at 8:30 a.m. Please be sure to invite a friend, relation or neighbor to break bread with us!

Mount Wesley Retreat

Pastor Charles and Belinda attended "The Gospel of John" study at Mount Wesley (in Kerrville) this week.

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The study, sponsored by Sierra Vista UMC and the SWTX Conference's Board of Ordained Ministry, was led by Dr. Jaime Clark-Soles (of Perkins School of Theology - SMU). They learned so much about the fourth gospel account and look forward to sharing with the congregation!

A Very Special Worship Service Today!

Sixteen people and one lovely dog named "Red" came together this morning at the Iraan First United Methodist Church to worship God.

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Having "Red" with us.... made us "paws" to really think about the words we were singing when we sang the part of the doxology: "...Bless Him all creatures here below..."!

Great Fellowship This Sunday Morning!

This morning, we had a great time of fellowship before the worship service at Iraan's First United Methodist Church. Praise be to God!!!

Ad Board meeting tonight

The sky was just a bit heavy this evening as we gathered for the monthly Ad Board meeting. Kirke McKenzie got caught in the downpour but didn't complain, we need the rain!

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The meeting covered the church budget, the status of the pastor's pension/health care, the improvements to the church grounds and a look at the church calendar for the coming months.

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A lot of people are still away for the summer and so tonight's meeting was attended by only five of us: Ronnie Ward, Kirke McKenzie, James & Deanna Jordan and Pastor Charles.

A blessing in Iraan

Each day in Iraan seems to yield a blessing in the most unexpected places. This afternoon, as Pastor Charles was leaving the Senior Center lunch, he spotted some unusual and beautiful flowers at the corner of Harte & 6th. Our God is certainly amazing!

August 8th in Iraan

It is special time in Iraan, even though the heat is on and a number of our members are away on vacations and at work. The Spirit of God could really be felt moving through the community of faith.

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Our fellowship hall was adorned with beautiful decorations provided by Deanna Jordan and Belinda Alkula. They picked up the pretty flower center-pieces from the "Joy for the Woman's Heart" retreat held in Iraan this weekend.

Women's Retreat in Iraan This Weekend

With Pastor Charles Alkula's encouragement, love and support... Belinda attended the 16th annual Women's Retreat in Iraan this weekend. The theme was "Joy for the Heart." If you want to read all about it and see some great pictures... you can go to the Alkula's personal blog at http://www.alkula.blogspot.com/ . (The women who participated in this year's retreat had such a marvelous time. They are already looking forward to next year's retreat!!!)

The Joy for the Heart Women's Retreat

Please be in prayer for the 2010 Joy for the Heart Women’s Retreat (August 6th and 7th) in Iraan.

This event promises to be well-attended, and the women (and their home churches) will be blessed as a result of being a part of this.

Lunchtime in Iraan

You had to be early today at the Iraan Senior Center if you wanted any of the great ribs available for lunch. Several First UMC members were on hand for the food and fellowship. Seen today were Dottie & Lee Mann, Wanda Morrow, Evans Turpin, and Ronnie Ward.

We're over 2,100 visits

We reached another milestone in our blog this morning by going over 2,100 visits. Please keep spreading the word about the First UMC in Iraan - the best is yet to come!

Happy August 1st!

There was nary a cloud in the sky this morning over Iraan, which promised another hot, dry day in west Texas. Not to be deterred, the faithful gathered for fellowship and worship this morning. It was a blessing to everyone who came!

The buriel of Susannah Wesley

[The Rev. John Wesley's Journal entry...]

Sunday, August 1, 1742:

Almost an innumerable company of people being gathered together, about five in the afternoon I committed to the earth the body of my mother, to sleep with her fathers. The portion of Scripture from which I afterwards spoke was, 'I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it; from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened... And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.'

It was one of the most solemn assemblies I ever saw, or expect to see on this side of eternity. We set up a plain stone at the head of her grave, inscribed with the following words:

Here lies the body of Mrs. Susannah Wesley, the youngest and last surviving daughter of

Dr. Samuel Annesley.

In sure and steadfast hope to rise and claim her mansion in the skies,

A Christian here her flesh laid down,

The cross exchanging for a crown.

True daughter of affliction she, inured to pain and misery,

Mourned a long night of griefs and fears,

A legal night of seventy years.

The Father then revealed his Son,

Him in the broken bread made known.

She knew and felt her sins forgiven,

And found the earnest of her heaven.

Meet for the fellowship above,

She heard the call, 'Arise my love."

I come, her dying looks replied,

And lamb-like, as her Lord, she died.

I cannot but further observe that even she (as well as her father, grandfather, her husband, and her two sons) had been, in her measure and degree, a preacher of righteousness.