We want to welcome you into the fellowship of Christian believers known as First United Methodist Church in Iraan, Texas. We are a community of persons who are seeking a deeper relationship with God, through the example of Jesus Christ, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. May you experience God's grace while you are a part of the ministry here at First United Methodist Church.

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Holy Week Begins Tomorrow!


Make sure you reach out to someone today and do whatever it takes to make sure they know about the events and services taking place in our church and community.  There are people in Iraan and Sheffield who don't have a church home, don't realize what a relationship with Christ can be for them, and are missing out on some fantastic fellowship with our members. 

Remember: everything you do is evangelism.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Palm Sunday @ FUMC - Iraan
    April 1...     9:00 a.m., Fellowship - 9:30 a.m., Worship -
                     10:30 am Church school

United Methodist Men supper
Apr. 2 @ FUMC - McCamey, 6:00 p.m.

Maundy Thursday Service

Apr. 5 @ FUMC - McCamey, 7:00 p.m.

Good Friday Tenebrae Service

Apr. 6 @ FUMC - Crane, 7:00 p.m.

EASTER – APRIL 8    
Community Sunrise Service
@ the cross on the hill, 7:00 a.m.
Community Breakfast

@ First Baptist Church after the sunrise service
 Easter service @ FUMC -
                           Fellowship, 9:00 a.m., worship, 9:30 a.m.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Anniversary of the death of Charles Wesley

Charles Wesley died on March 29, 1788 in Marylebone, London, England.  His final hymn was dictated to his wife. On his deathbed, he wrote:

In age and feebleness extreme,
Who shall a helpless worm redeem?
Jesus, my only hope Thou art,
Strength of my failing flesh and heart,:
O, could I catch a smile from Thee
And drop into eternity!


He was buried in the Marylebone Parish Church, London, an Anglican church.  He did not wish to be buried in unconsecrated, Methodist ground. His gravestone reads:
HERE LIE
THE REMAINS OF
THE REV.
CHARLES WESLEY, M.A.
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
THE 29TH MARCH 1788
AGED 80 YEARS.

WITH POVERTY OF SPIRIT BLESSED
REST HAPPY SAINT IN JESUS REST.
A SINNER SAVED THROUGH GRACE FORGIVEN
REDEEMED FROM EARTH TO REIGN IN HEAVEN.
AND LABOURS OF UNWEARIED LOVE
BY THEE FORGOT ARE CROWN'D ABOVE
CROWN'D THROUGH THE MERCY OF THY LORD
WITH A FREE FULL IMMENSE REWARD.

Greetings from the McCamey Convalescent Center

With a warm spring day unfolding in McCamey, it was time to gather at the Convalescent Center for the weekly coffee & donuts time with the residents.  What a delightful group of folk!

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

April e-newsletter

The April e-newsletter for the United Methodists in Iraan and McCamey is now available at this link.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Things are a-happening in Iraan!

Lunch bunch!
First Baptist Church - Iraan
Bluebonnets in front of the Iraan hospital
A bloom at the Iraan hospital
 We are blessed to have a community that is so alive!  Today's lunchtime gathering at Godfather's Pizza was a real treat for one and all.  Jo Lanehart's sister, Lois, is visiting and was able to join us today.

There are some beautiful bluebonnets in front of the First Baptist Church and some of our state flowers are starting to emerge in front of the Iraan Hospital.  What a great time to be in Texas!


Prayer request

Donny Wiley (Lay Leader at FUMC - McCamey) called that one of his sons is stationed with the US Army in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan, and that a soldier in his son's platoon was killed in the attack described in the article at this link.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Palm Sunday scripture lesson

Fresco in the Cappella degli Scrovegni, also known as the Arena Chapel, in Padua, Veneto, Italy.
Next Sunday (April 1) is Palm/Passion Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week.  Our scripture text comes to us from Philippians 2:5-11 and we'll be looking at why Jesus came.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Lovely morning in Iraan


Joys from this morning:
+Eighteen were in worship this morning!
+The breakfast potluck was fabulous!  We have some amazing cooks in our church family!
+We had a guest at our breakfast and in worship this week!
+Kirke's granddaughter, Carolyn, is 17 this week.
+Callie Jo A. was back with us this morning from her medical mission trip to Africa.
+Our Bible study was going to be held after worship, led by Wanda C.
+Burton L.'s health is improving.
+Jo L.'s sister, Lois, is in town to help Jo look after Burton.
+The tree trimming results look great - thanks to Allen T. for removing the branches.
+Pastor Charles enjoyed some song birds singing outside his office this morning.

Concerns from this morning:
+Colton W. has not been released from the hospital as we had previously thought.
+James and Deanna J. are tending to their retirement home this weekend.
+Billie Lou H., (Lois Ann M.'s aunt) has been admitted to a care facility.

Continued Prayer Concerns:
Aaron B., Tommy B., Jonnie D., Denise D., Greg H., Steven H., Billie Lou H., Burton L., Julie L., Shane M., Kathy P., Jack P., Naomi S., Colton W., and Ronnie W.


Continued prayers:
+Our church +Our community youth +Our schools, athletes, coaches, teachers and students +Our nation, government, & leaders +Our military and their families +The homeless +The unemployed +Unspoken requests +Victims of natural disasters +Countries fighting for freedom.

Prayer for the Fifth Sunday in Lent


Beginning of Gospel According to John, chapter 12
Durham Gospel, later 7th century
Lenten Prayer for the day: 

As we begin this final time before Holy Week, dear Lord, help us to use it to reflect more fully on the sacrifice you made for us as you made your way to the cross. Forgive our undisciplined life, our indifferent witness and our yielding to fear. Transform us this day by your grace and your love. Amen.

 (~ from Moravian Daily Texts ~)

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. - Psalm 51:10

Friday, March 23, 2012

It's happening in Iraan!

FUMC landscaping is looking great!
There is a building-boom going on in Iraan with several new structures going up along 6th Street (US 190).  The lunch today at the senior center was all-abuzz with the changes taking place around town.  Now, if we could just get a general store to move in we'd have it all!

Site of new Iraan wellness center (with new hotel behind)


New hotel going in Iraan

New bank building in Iraan





Thursday, March 22, 2012

Potluck this Sunday!

Remember: Out monthly fourth Sunday breakfast potluck is this coming Sunday (March 25) at 8:30 a.m.

This is a great way to introduce someone (a friend, relative, or neighbor) to the First UMC family.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

March Ad Board


The Ad Board met tonight with eight in attendance.

PPRC - Rev. Ken Houston, Jr. was introduced as the new pastor (as of July 1) at a meeting with McCamey last month.
Trustees - Termite treatment of the Iraan parsonage is being planned.
Finance - the account for the church phone has been changed.  A former pastor had been shown even though he had been gone for a long time.

Upcoming activities were highlighted including:
March 25 - 4th Sunday breakfast potluck
April 1 - Palm Sunday
April 5 - Maundy Thursday Communion @ McCamey
April 8 -  Easter Sunrise Service, 7am @ the cross of the hill
June 7-10 - SWTX Conference in Corpus Christi

Attending tonight were: Cathy Allen, Pastor Charles Alkula, Wanda Carpenter, Dr. Edwin & Chris Franks, James & Deanna Jordan, and Ronnie Ward.

Where are the youth?

Author and blogger Rachel Held Evans posted the following on her blog today.  What do you think?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Eight million twenty-somethings have left the church, and it seems like everyone is trying to figure out why.

Last week, Christian Piatt offered seven reasons here, and four more reasons here. David Kinnaman recently authored a book entitled, You Lost Me, which details the findings of Barna researchers who interviewed hundreds of 18-29 year-olds about why they left the church.

I left the church when I was twenty-seven. I am now thirty, and after trying unsuccessfully to start a house church, my husband and I are struggling to find a faith community in which we feel we belong. I’ve been reluctant to write about this search in the past, but it seems like such a common experience, I think it’s time to open up, especially now that I’ve had some time to process. But let’s begin with fifteen reasons why I left:

        1. I left the church because I’m better at planning Bible studies than baby showers...but they
        only wanted me to plan baby showers.
2. I left the church because when we talked about sin, we mostly talked about sex.
3. I left the church because my questions were seen as liabilities.
4. I left the church because sometimes it felt like a cult, or a country club, and I wasn’t sure which was worse.
5. I left the church because I believe the earth is 4.5 billion years old and that humans share a common ancestor with apes, which I was told was incompatible with my faith.
6. I left the church because sometimes I doubt, and church can be the worst place to doubt.
7. I left the church because I didn’t want to be anyone’s “project.”
8. I left the church because it was often assumed that everyone in the congregation voted for Republicans.
9. I left the church because I felt like I was the only one troubled by stories of violence and misogyny and genocide found in the Bible, and I was tired of people telling me not to worry about it because “God’s ways are higher than our ways.”
10. I left the church because of my own selfishness and pride.
11. I left the church because I knew I would never see a woman behind the pulpit, at least not in the congregation in which I grew up.
12. I left the church because I wanted to help people in my community without feeling pressure to convert them to Christianity.
13. I left the church because I had learned more from Oprah about addressing poverty and injustice than I had learned from 25 years of Sunday school.
14. I left the church because there are days when I’m not sure I believe in God, and no one told me that “dark nights of the soul” can be part of the faith experience.
15. I left the church because one day, they put signs out in the church lawn that said “Marriage = 1 Man + 1 Woman: Vote Yes on Prop 1,” and I knew the moment I saw them that I never wanted to come back.

“I am convinced that what drives most people away from Christianity is not the cost of discipleship but rather the cost of false fundamentals.” – Evolving in Monkey Town, p. 207

“We aren’t looking for a faith that provides all the answers; we’re looking for one in which we are free to ask the questions.”Evolving in Monkey Town, p. 204

In the weeks to come, I'll be sharing more about why I stayed with the Church--with a capital-C-- and about our search for a local faith community.

Why did you leave the church?
Why do you stay?

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

A Prayer in Spring

Today is the first day of spring - Enjoy!

A Prayer in Spring


Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers to-day;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,
The which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends He will,
But which it only needs that we fulfil.

- Robert Frost

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Next Sunday's Sermon Text

The scripture lesson for the 5th Sunday in Lent (March 25) comes from John 12:20-33.

"Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal."

(John 12:24-25, The Message)

Sunday in Iraan


Joys from this morning's service:
+Marie R.'s daughter, Ann, emailed her (from Kuwait City) yesterday that she was watching a goat sale in Louisiana involving family members.
+The buzzards are back!  Hummingbirds were seen at the Mann's on March 6th.
+Laura Lee (Wanda M.'s sister) is with us today!
+Belinda had a nice visit with her mother last week.
+Pastor Charles had a nice chat with his mother on the phone last Friday.
+A friend of the Alkula's from their time in the Navy (in Cornwall) has been accepted to attend a seminary in Wisconsin.
+Pastor Charles' Uncle Bob (who will be 89 on Wednesday) has joined the ranks of Facebook members!
+Jonnie D. (Wanda M.'s sister) and her husband, J.C., will be celebrating their 70th anniversary in the near future.
+Colton W. has a great picture on Facebook.  His health is improving a lot since his most recent medical treatments.

Concerns shared this morning:
+Burton L. is in the hospital.
+Wanda and Ed C. are taking care of an elderly relative this weekend.
+Traveling mercies for those not in worship with us this morning.
+The recovery work being done in those areas hit by the recent tornadoes through UMCOR (today is designated as The One Great Hour of Sharing).
+Ronnie W. has not been feeling well lately.

Continued Prayer Concerns:
Callie A., Aaron B., Tommy B., Jonnie D., Denise D., Greg H., Steven H., Tommy H., Billie Lou H., Kash K., Burton L., Julie L., Shane M., Pat M., Kathy P., Jack P., Mary R., Naomi S., Colton W., and Ronnie W.
Continued prayers:
+Our church +Our community youth +Our schools, athletes, coaches, teachers and students +Our nation, government, leaders +Our military and their families +The homeless +The unemployed +Unspoken requests +Victims of natural disasters +Countries fighting for freedom.

A Nicodemus Moment

'Christ Instructing Niccodemus' by Crijn Hendricksz, 1604
(From Anna Murdock, a friend of Pastor Charles)

A Nicodemus Moment (John 3:14-21)
She sat in a darkened sanctuary
expecting little
yet hoping for much.
She sat in a darkened sanctuary
alone …
and then Light walked in,
uninvited and unannounced,
whispering, “For God so loves you….”

Her heart beat faster
as she heard that
God had loved her in her ‘befores’ …
… before she asked for this Love,
… before she admitted to
needing this Love,
… before she sought to
understand such a Love,
… before she realized that she
wanted this Gift of Love.
 

Friday, March 16, 2012

St. Patrick's Day Collect


St. Patrick's Cathedral - Dublin, Ireland
Saint Patrick's Day Collect

Almighty God,
who in Your providence chose Your servant Patrick
to be the apostle of the Irish people,
to bring those who were wandering in darkness and error
to the true light and knowledge of You:
Grant us so to walk in that light,
that we may come at last to the light of everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and ever.

Amen.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Coffee & Donuts

The McCamey Convalescent Center was abuzz with activity this morning during the coffee & donuts time with the residents. Pastor Charles and Jean Myrick (from FUMC-McCamey) were on hand along with other community members in sharing this weekly gathering

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Pizza Party Today!


Today we had a church pizza party at Iraan's Godfather's Pizza!  Thanks be to God for all the varieties of pizza!  No one left hungry.  That's for sure!

The food and fellowship made for a GREAT party!  Yea, God!!!

A letter from Bishop Dorff

The following letter was received by our church from our bishop:

March 1, 2012

My dear friends in Christ and colleagues in ministry:

This letter is to express to you my sincere gratitude for the amazing work you are doing for Christ and the church.  In the San Antonio Episcopal Area, we are right at the tipping point of moving from slow, but steady decline, to slow, but sustained growth in our common mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The number of vital congregations in this Area is substantial and growing.

I specifically want to thank you for your wonderful witness of faith in your commitment to the opportunity for Connectional giving.  Your 100 percent payment of apportionments is a testimony to your understanding of the significance of your place in the larger church.  I know this commitment often involves great effort and sacrifice.  I also know our Lord has given 100 percent of himself to us and we have the great joy of giving to others, as individuals and congregations.

As you review the ministry of your church in 2011, please celebrate the full payment of apportionments as a great achievement and faithful offering.  Please look to 2012 as another opportunity to move forward in advancing the cause of Christ in your community and beyond.  Our ministry is never-ending. 

Thanks again for your faithfulness!  The journey continues.  God bless you.

Sincerely,
James E. Dorff

Monday, March 12, 2012

Scripture lesson for March 18th

Our lesson for the Fourth Sunday in Lent is John 3:14-21.  This passage contains what is argueably the most famous verse in all of the Bible, John 3:16:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

The question to ponder this week as you make your way on the pilgrimage path, is just what does this passage mean to you and to those you encounter on The Way.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Another beautiful Sunday in Iraan!


Joys from this morning:
+We had some very much appreciated rain this past week.

+Signs of spring are in the trees and flowers. 
+The spring cleaning taking place around the church's north side. 
+Colton W. had a succesful stem-cell treatment last week.
+Guests in worship.
+Lots of goodies to share during our fellowship time today.
+Spring break for Iraan schools!!!

Prayer needs from this morning:
+Callie C. is having a great experience on her Kenya mission trip.

+Jack P. (from McCamey) is in an Odessa hospital.
+Those away from our community this Sunday.
+Those dealing with domestic abuse.
+The people of Japan on the first anniversary of the 2011 tsunami.
+There was a 4.6 earthquake last Wednesday in Haiti.
+The on-going recovery efforts from the tornadoes in the midwest and southeast in the US.
+We continue to need rain.

Continued Prayer Concerns:
Aaron B., Tommy B., Jonnie D., Denise D., Greg H., Steven H., Tommy H., Billie Lou H., Kash K., Julie L., Shane M., Pat M., Kathy P., Jack P., Mary R., Naomi S., Jean V., and Colton W.


Continued prayers:
+Our church +Our community youth +Our schools, athletes, coaches, teachers and students +Our nation, government, leaders +Our military and their families +The homeless +The unemployed +Unspoken requests +Victims of natural disasters +Countries fighting for freedom.



Third Sunday in Lent

The Collect

We beseech thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty, to be our defence against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Spring Forward Tonight

Set your clocks ahead one hour before going to bed tonight - Daylight Savings Time begins tomorrow!

Fellowship: 9:00 a.m. - Worship: 9:30 a.m. -
Sunday school: 10:30 a.m.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Spring Cleaning at FUMC


There is evidence of "spring cleaning" taking place on the north side of the church building.  The trees have needed trimming for sometime and they look great and already in bud for the coming of spring!



Monday, March 5, 2012

Scripture lesson for March 11th

"Jesus Cleansing the Temple," Jeffrey Weston
This week's sermon scripture lesson moves from Mark's account of the gospel to John's. The lesson, John 2:13-22, describes Jesus clearing the temple of those whose purpose for being there wasn't to worship God.

A question to consider this week as you prepare for the Third Sunday in Lent, is what would Jesus say about you and the 'stuff' you bring with you when you come for worship?

Remember: Spring forward on Sunday with the time change.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Great Sunday in Iraan

Spring is coming!

What a blessing today was at the First UMC in Iraan!  It was a cool start to the day, with tempratures in the low 30s, but with little wind it felt quite nice.

Our fellowship time was a feast for the soul and body as Marie Richardson and Jo Lanehart brought treats to share before worship and for the Sunday school class.

Joys from this morning:
+Belinda is back in Texas and in worship this morning!
+Wanda C. and Burton L. are leading the Sunday school in James' absence.  The class is beginning Second Corinthians this week.
+Signs of spring are in the trees and flowers already.  (Remember to Spring Forward next Sunday!)
+Colton W. and Mac C. have good health reports.

Prayer needs from this morning:
+Callie C. is going off to Africa on a medical mission trip this week.
+Families of Otha Peeples and Gene Berry.
+Ronnie W. has been under the weather recently.
+Jack P. (from McCamey) is in an Odessa hospital.
+Those away from our community this Sunday.
+We continue to need rain.

Continued Prayer Concerns:
Aaron B., Tommy B., Mac C., Jonnie D., Greg H., Steven H., Tommy H., Billie Lou H., Kash K., Shane M., Pat M., Kathy P., Jack P., Mary R., Naomi S., and Colton W.

Continued prayers:
+Our church +Our community youth +Our schools, athletes, coaches, teachers and students +Our nation, government, leaders +Our military and their families +The homeless +The unemployed +Unspoken requests +Victims of natural disasters +Countries fighting for freedom.

Collect for the Second Sunday in Lent

The Second Sunday in Lent

ALMIGHTY God, who seest that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves; Keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(from the Book of Common Prayer)

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Midwest Tornadoes

February 29, 2012—The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is in contact with United Methodist annual conference Disaster Response personnel in conferences affected by last night’s severe storms, to assess relief needs.

UMCOR executive for US Disaster Response, the Rev. Tom Hazelwood, reached out to Disaster Response coordinators in the Kansas East, Missouri, Illinois, and Illinois Great River annual conferences, where tornadoes were reported to have touched down and caused widespread damage.
“It is still too early to know the full extent of the damage,” Hazelwood said as he asked for prayers for the affected families and individuals.

Initial reports from the Kansas East Conference indicate that about 60 percent of tiny Harveyville, Kansas, population 250, was affected by the storm.

According to news reports, at least eight people were injured, three of them critically. An apartment complex and the parsonage of the local United Methodist church were among the damaged buildings.
In Harrisburg, Illinois, according to news accounts, 35 to 40 homes were destroyed by a presumed twister that raced through the town at 5:00 this morning, local time. At least 10 people from the town of just 9,000 are reported to have died.

Another person was killed when a mobile home park was struck by a twister outside of Buffalo, Missouri. An early report from the Missouri Annual Conference indicates there were at least five reported tornadoes and that three communities—Kimberling City, Arcola, and Lebanon—were affected.

Branson, Missouri, a popular tourist destination, also suffered severe tornado damage, and at least 30 people there were injured.

For updated reports and information about how you can help, please check UMCOR’s website (www.umcor.org ), Facebook page (www.facebook/umcor), and follow UMCOR Disaster Response executive Tom Hazelwood’s Twitter feed (@TomUMCOR).

Your support for US Disaster Response, UMCOR Advance #901670, helps those who are affected by natural disasters such as these tornadoes in the United States. Online Giving