This week's scripture lesson

This Sunday's sermon scripture lesson comes from Philippians 3:4b-14.

Super Sunday!

It was a terrific Sunday at the First UMC in Iraan with food, fellowship, worship and learning being shared! Our fourth Sunday potluck was a wonderful time with the table filled with all sorts of tempting treats. Burton made his traditional biscuits & gravy, Deanna made one of her famous 'dessert' pizzas and Cathy made a fantastic pumpkin bread. Rounding out the table were delicious caseroles and sausage rolls, fresh fruit and more from Wanda C., Wanda M., Belinda and Evans! Thanks to everyone who provided for this morning's meal.

Joys:
+Delicious brunch potluck at church this morning.

+Homecomings. 
+Laughter in church.  
+Visits with families and friends. 
+The Iraan High School football team won again last Friday. They are now 4-1 on the season. 
+Women’s Bible Studies on Tuesdays @ First Baptist Chuch are going well.

Concerns: +Continued prayer for rain and relief from the drought.

Prayers for healing: Tommy D.K.B., Ed C., Eddy C., Jacob C., Snooks C., Jonnie D., Greg H., Kash K., Billie M., Shane M., Kathy P., Doug S., Eva S., Sue S., Alfred L.T., Colton W., and Tammy W.

Continued Prayers: Our church - our schools - teachers, staff & students - Our country and our leaders - our military (and their families) - the unemployed - the homeless - victims of natural disasters - countries fighting for freedom.

Sunday is potuck breakfast Sunday

Remember: Sunday, September 25th is the fourth Sunday of the month and that means it's time for another Breakfast Potluck!  Come for the food and fellowship at 8:30 a.m., stay for worship at 9:30 a.m. and then enjoy the adult church school class at 10:30 a.m.! 

This week's sermon text

This week's sermon text comes from Philippians 2:1-13.

Passing of the Rev. Pamela Kilpatrick

The Rev. Pamela Kilpatrick, 65, of Brownsville, died Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in Brownsville. Rev. Kilpatrick was a clergy member of the Southwest Texas Conference and the pastor of the First UMC in Brownsville (in her third year).

Visitation is from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Johnson’s Funeral Home in San Angelo. Service is at 11 a.m. Thursday at Sierra Vista United Methodist Church (San Angelo) with burial in Fairmount Cemetery.

Survivors include her mother, Janie Kilpatrick; sons Aubrey Dunham of New Orleans, La., Tobin Dunham of Bandera and Hardin Dunham of San Angelo.

Today with the First UMC in Iraan

Many blessings were ours today in Iraan and at the Convalescent Center in McCamey. Perhaps it was the cooler weather or maybe just the fact that we have a wonderful church family, but there was a definite joy in the air this morning!

Joys:
+Ed C.'s 81st birthday last Thursday.
+The rain we received on Ed's birthday!
+The Iraan High School football team won again last Friday. They are now 3-1 on the season.
+Wanda & Ed C. and Lee M. had run-ins with rattlesnakes last week and dealt with the issue with no harm done (to the humans!). Kirke M. also had a rattlesnake encounter on his ranch a week or so ago. Word to the wise: Not all rattlesnakes make a warning rattle.
+We're looking forward to next week's breakfast potluck.
+Adult Bible study had a great turn-out last Sunday!
+Vera L. (Mccamey Convalescent Center) turns 90 on Tuesday!

Concerns:
+Colton W. was taken to the hospital in Lubbock yesterday with a fever.
+Continued prayer for rain and relief from the drought.

Prayers for healing: Tommy D.K.B., Ed C., Eddy C., Jacob C., Snooks C., Jonnie D., Greg H., Kash K., Billie M., Shane M., Kathy P., Doug S., Eva S., Sue S., Alfred L.T., Colton W., and Tammy W.

Continued Prayers: Our church - our schools - teachers, staff & students - Our country and our leaders - our military (and their families) - the unemployed - the homeless - victims of natural disasters - countries fighting for freedom.

September Ad Board meeting

The monthly FUMC - Iraan Ad Board met Wednesday evening and a productive meeting was enjoyed by all!  Deanna & James Jordan, Cathy Allen and Pastor Charles came to discuss church business and make plans for the coming months.

Among the items discussed:

+The Sunday morning adult class, led by James, had a great turn-out last Sunday.  They are beginning a study of the epistle to the the Romans.

+The annual church conference will take place during the 9:30 a.m. worship service on November 6th.  This being the first Sunday of the month (as well as being All Saints Sunday) we'll be celebrating communion.

+With Christmas Day being on a Sunday this year, Pastor Charles asked for input regarding a worship service that morning.  Please let the pastor know your feelings.

+A streamlined nominations process is hoped to yield greater participation in the conducting of church business.  Look for details in the October newsletter.

This week's scripture text

This coming Sunday's sermon text starts a new book after eleven weeks reading from the epistle to the Romans. Our text, Philippians 1:21-30, begins four weeks in this letter to the first church Paul established in Europe.

September 11th @ FUMC - Iraan

Joys:
+The cooler weather we've experienced over the past week.
+Iraan High School won again on Friday in football.
+The start of a Beth Moore study and a Dave Ramsey study at First Baptist Church.
+A visitor in our worship service.

Concerns:
+Cody and Maddy Seale (children of Shawna Seale).
+Those traveling this weekend.
+Those dealing with the on-going fires.
+The memorials for the victims of the 9/11 attacks.

Prayers of the comfort for the family of Carolyn McKenzie (Kirke's sister-in-law).

Prayers for healing: Tommy D.K. B., Ed C., Eddy C., Jacob C., Snooks C., Jonnie D., Greg H., Kash K., Billie M., Shane M., Kathy P., Doug S., Eva S., Sue S., Alfred L. T., Colton W., and Tammy W.

Continued Prayers: Our church - our schools - teachers, staff & students - Our country and our leaders - our military (and their families) - the unemployed - the homeless - victims of natural disasters - countries fighting for freedom.

Fear is not...

Following the 9/11 attacks, The United Methodist Church placed a billboard one block from Ground Zero which proclaimed, "Fear is not the only force at work in the world today." In remembrance of those who lost their lives, we invite you to use this photo.

A Payer for the Tenth Anniversary of 9/11

(Trinity Church - Wallstreet, New York City)

Almighty God, the events of 9/11 are indelibly inscribed in our memories.

We looked with horror on the terrorist attacks of that September morning.  But we looked with honor on acts of courage by ordinary people who sacrificed themselves to prevent further death and destruction.

We shed our tears in a common bond of grief for those we loved and lost. We journeyed through a dark valley, but your light has led us to a place of hope. You have turned our grief into determination. We are resolved to do what is good, and right, and just.

Help us to remember what it means to be Americans — a people endowed with abundant blessings. Help us to cherish the freedoms we enjoy and inspire us to stand with courage, united as one Nation in the midst of any adversity.

Lord, hear this prayer for our Nation. Amen.

(Paraphrased of a prayer compiled by a Navy chaplain in the days following the attacks.)

9/11 tribute at Iraan Elementary

The elementary school cafeteria was packed with hundreds of students, faculty, staff and parents this morning, as the school remembered those who lost their lives ten years ago on Sunday.

Pastor Charles was invited to share his experiences from that day with the students. He told them about being a Navy chaplain at the Naval Hospital (at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina) and about his tim spent with a family when they learned of the death of their son in the attack on the Pentegon. The students were very attentive and seemed to appreciate hearing about Petty Officer Christopher Lee Burford's life and funeral.

McCamey Convalescent Center today

There were a lot of smiles at the McCamey Convalescent Center this morning during the weekly gathering for donuts & coffee. It seemed as though everyone could feel the cooler weather bringing relief to one and all!

UMCOR appeal for Texas Wildfire support

Here is the UMCOR advance number and a note from Bishop Dorff.

"The central Texas fires have been devastating to several of our communities and church families. The communities of Bastrop, Cedar Creek, and the Steiner housing development in Austin have been particularly devastated. We are deeply grateful for the prayers and other expressions of support. Our churches and pastors are hard at work providing shelter and support for those left homeless. Our God is present in these communities and renewal will occur."

If you would like to make a donation to UMCOR please use advance number 901670 and mark: Texas Wildfires.

Bishop Dorff

This week's sermon text

The sermon scripture passage this week is Romans 14:1-12.

"The distinguishing marks of a Methodist are not his opinions of any sort. His assenting to this or that scheme of Religion, his embracing any particular set of notions, his espousing the judgment of one man or of another, are all quite wide of the point. Whosoever therefore imagines, that a Methodist is a man of such or such an opinion, is grossly ignorant of the whole affair; he mistakes the truth totally.

We believe indeed, that all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and herein we are distinguished from Jews, Turks [Muslims], and Infidels. We believe the written word of God to be the only and sufficient rule, both of Christian faith and practice; and herein we are fundamentally distinguished from those of the Romish [Catholic] church. We believe Christ to be the eternal, supreme God; and herein we are distinguished from the Socinians and Arians.

But as to all opinions which do not strike at the root of Christianity, we think and let think. So that whatsoever they are, whether right or wrong, they are no distinguishing marks of a Methodist."

"The Character of a Methodist" (1739); in The Works of the Rev. John Wesley in Ten Volumes (1826), Volume IV, p. 407.

A Litany for Labor Day

A Litany for Labor Day

Blessed are you, ever-creating God, in your image, our lives are made; in your glory, we offer all the work of our hearts and hands and minds.
Blessed are you, O God, now and forever!
Blessed are you, whose work is repaid, for by your work, and by the payment you receive your lives and the lives of others around you and around the world are blessed.
We thank God for you day by day.
Blessed are you whose work is unpaid, who offer what you can to enrich the lvies of others, through time, talents, skill, strength, and love.
We praise God for your generous labor!
Blessed are you who seek work but have not found it, or whose work now is not yet what it may be yet still you seek, that your gifts may be shared more fully.
We praise God for your diligent seeking and pray you may soon find!
Yours is the glory in their labors.
Yours be the glory in all our lives, in Jesus' name.  Amen.

-Taylor Burton-Edwards, The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church.

Joys and Concerns from this morning

Joys:+Thank God for the cooler weather!
+Iraan Braves won their football game last Friday (now 2-0!)
+Improving health
+The Lee family pew!
+Burton and Jo L. are back with us after being gone for much of the summer.

Concerns:
+Those traveling away from Iraan on this holiday weekend.
+People on the east coast recovering from Hurricane Irene and on the Gulf coast who are recovering from Tropical Storm Lee.
+Prayers of the comfort for the families of Shawna Kay Graham Seale and Lee Roy Lowrance.+Prayer for healing: Tommy D.K. B., Ed C., Eddy C., Jacob C., Snooks C., Jonnie D., Greg H., Kash K., Billie M., Shane M., Kathy P., Eva S., Alfred L. T., and Colton W.

Continued Prayers: Our church - our schools - teachers, staff & students - Our country and our leaders - our military (and their families) - the unemployed - the homeless - victims of natural disasters - countries fighting for freedom.