Bishop's Convocation

Pastor Charles is attending the Bishop's Convocation at Mount Wesley (in Kerrville) today and Tuesday (2/28 & 3/1). Rev. Mike Slaughter, senior pastor of the Ginghamsburg UMC in Tipp City, Ohio, is the speaker for the event. Rev. Slaughter said the church needs to have an outward mission focus rather than an inward one, if it wants to grow.

Sunday, February 27 @ FUMC - Iraan

The Spirit was moving in Iraan this morning, as we gathered for fellowship and worship. Today our monthly potluck's table was filled with loads of tasty fare!

To see the prayer joys/concerns from today, please see the new church website at http://www.firstumciraan.weebly.com/.

The e-newsletter is also available on-line. Please look under the Witness tab of the website.

E-News from FUMC - Iraan

The First UMC in Iraan has added another tool to its e-ministry tool-kit: Our very own web site! Now introducing http://www.firstumciraan.weebly.com/.

It joins other e-ministry elements: A blog, an e-newsletter and a Facebook group... in giving church members and guests more sources for information. More resources will be added to the web site over the coming weeks, so come back often and see what we're all about at the FUMC - Iraan!

Pastors & Professionals Meeting in San Angelo

The San Angelo District held the monthly meeting of district pastors/professionals this morning at Sierra Vista UMC. Pastor Charles was the preacher at the communion service. His message reminded those present to remember why they said "yes" to God's call and to celebrate that with their faith communities.

Service for Lewis Blackburn

The funeral service for Lewis Blackburn took place this morning at the First UMC in Iraan. It was a beautiful day to celebrate the life of this adopted son of Iraan. Following the service in the sanctuary, we made our way to Restland Cemetary north of town where the strains of "Taps" could be heard amidst the cedars. There were a lot of stories being told around the fellowship hall about Lewis. It was hard to tell what was more enjoyable, the food or the stories!

Thanks to everyone who made the lunch possible: Belinda Alkula, Cathy Allen, Blake Andrews, Wanda & Ed Carpenter, Chris & "Doc" Franks, Deanna & James Jordan, Burton & Jo Lanehart, Lois & Kirke McKenzie, Wanda Morrow, Jean Owens, Marie Richardson, Mary Rylander, Pat & Lawrence Schneider, Verna Sigmos and the Iraan Senior Center.

Funeral service for Lewis Blackburn

The service for Lewis Blackburn will held at the First UMC in Iraan on Wednesday, February 23rd at 10:30 a.m.

A luncheon will follow the graveside portion of the celebration of Lewis' life.

Sunday, February 20th

With beautiful weather abounding, we assembled for fellowship, worship and learning today in Iraan.

The funeral service for Lewis Blackburn is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. with a lunch to follow.

Passing of Lewis Blackburn

It is with sadness that the news of the passing of Lewis Blackburn was received yesterday. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Prayer Requests

Two prayer requests have come in this morning -

Leigh Scallorn is asking for prayers of support and discernment in dealing with an issue at work.

Pat Schneider is asking for prayers for Kim Radford Avirett, an Iraan H.S. grad who is scheduled for major surgery on Tuesday.

Good news from the convalescent center!

The McCamey Convalescent Center dining/community room renovation is nearly complete. Today was the first time that the Thursday morning coffee/donuts gathering was held in the newly renovated space. Metal art outside and new artwork inside contribute to making this an inviting space for the residents.

Mid-week message for February 19th

"The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy." -Leviticus 19:1-2

This week's sermon, "In simple terms," is based on the passage from Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18. In this reading, Moses relays the message from the Lord describing, in simple terms, the conditions upon which the people are to base the life of the community.

*What does it mean to be a community of faith?
*What are the limits to our responsibility to the community we live in?*What is the connection between how we treat our neighbors and our relationship to the Lord?

Saint Valentine's Day

(Shrine of St. Valentine, Whitefriar Street Church, Dublin)

"Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it." —Song of Songs 8:6-7

Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors.

It was another wonderful Sunday of good fellowship and wonderful worship! Belinda passed out candy hearts to folks and wished them heart-felt "good wishes" for a "sweet" Valentine's Day observance tomorrow. Of course, every day we live in God's Kingdom, we feel warmed by God's LOVE! Thanks be to God!!!

Mid-week message for February 13

The sermon on Sunday (Feb. 13) is titled, “In simple terms” and uses Deuteronomy 30:15-20 as the text:

"See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.

This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."

Here are some questions that might help to focus our thoughts leading up to worship:

*What is your response to this offer that God extended to the people of Israel and now extends to you?

*How do you explain your choice to friends, family and others?

*Where is your choice lived out?

Our Sunday in Iraan

It was communion Sunday in Iraan and our time of fellowship and worship were filled with joy! Belinda got the congregational "heart" (decorated by the congregation last week) placed on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall. What a blessing it is to be able to come each week where love is celebrated!

A thought for Sunday morning, Feb. 6

Mid-week message for February 2

(Punxsutawny Phil didn't see his shadow today, meaning an early spring is on the way.)

The sermon this coming Sunday, February 6th, "Salt and Light," is based on Matthew 5:13-20. In this lesson, Jesus is continuing his teaching from the Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus tells his disciples that they should be both "salt" and "light." How do you live out your saltiness each day? Where do you put your light?

Jesus goes on to say that the law must be fulfilled, even to the last detail. Where are you when it comes to fulfilling God's commandments?

Are you ready?

(Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona, Arizona)

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"If Christianity is dangerous, then we need to act like it. Teenagers aren’t afraid of risk, but they want to know that Jesus is worth it. Young people are going to demand that we, the church, be who we say we are–people who obviously follow Jesus, which makes us “weird” in a culture based on self-actualization and self-fulfillment–or they’re just not going to bother with us at all."

Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean, Princeton Theological Seminary

(Dr. Dean was the associate pastor at University UMC in College Park, MD, the church Pastor Charles mentioned his sermon a few weeks ago)