OOTBWC Blog

Announcements 

Pastor Pam Sutherland will bringing the message at both the 9:00am and 10:30am Worship Services at Out Of The Box Worship Center on Sunday 5/20. Pastor Ronnie and his family are on vacation.

New Sermon Series Starting 5/27, “Change Your World in 52 Days” – There’s a slice of the world just waiting for your imprint. How will you shape it? Learn how you’re uniquely qualified to make a difference in Change Your World in 52 Days. This sermon series is based on the story of Nehemiah.

New Out Of The Box Life Group – starting soon and meeting on Thursdays for 10 to 12 weeks with Pastor Ronnie and Misty! This life group will be meeting in the homes of the individuals in the group. If you are interested in joining this life group, please email Pastor at ronnie24317@yahoo.com.

A Call to Fast – Pastor Ronnie is calling everyone at Out Of The Box Worship Center to fast in 2012. Please pray about this and if you would like to commit to fasting in 2012, email Pastor Ronnie at ronnie24317@yahoo.com.  There is also a calendar in the lobby at the worship center where you can indicate the dates you are fasting.

R.A.M.P.  – This is a Ministry for young girls about Respect, Attitude, Modesty and Purity and will involve an event on Saturday, 9/15/12 at FUMC Hillsville. Event planners are working on ideas for this event and recruiting volunteers. Also needed are donations of money, desserts and door prizes. If you would like to participate, please contact Misty Collins at misty24317@yahoo.com.

Spring Sing – Thursday, 5/24, from 10am – 1:30pm at Rural Retreat UMC. This is a gospel sing, a visit from Susanna Wesley and performances by a choir made up of clergy serving in the Wythe District. Lunch is $5.00

Church Picnic – Sunday, 5/27 at Noon at Playground 2000 for both FUMC and OOTBWC. The church is supplying hotdogs, hamburgers and buns. If you would like to donate desserts, condiments and fixings, please contact or email the church office. 276-728-2434 or fumcoa@embarqmail.com

Crafters for Christ ~ Knit/Crochet/Sewing Ministry – If you can knit, crochet or sew (or you would like to learn) and want to get together and make service projects for others, contact Beth Brooke (336) 953-1293 or easeagraves@gmail.com. The next meeting is Sat, 6/2, and then 6/16 & 6/30.

Children’s Day at Camp Dickenson – Sat, June 2^nd from 10am – 2pm. Worship, crafts and games for kids K-5^th Grade. If you are interested, contact the church office for more information. 276-728-2434.

Camp Dickenson - is in need of folks who have a heart for sending children to summer camp. Please call the camp office at 276-744-7241 to provide a scholarship donation to help children go to summer camp this summer.

2012 HANDS-ON-MISSION PROJECT for Wytheville District

Health Kits for Liberia

Each Kit Should Include the Following Items:

1-Bath Towel      1-small bottle /perfumed spray/cologne

1-Washcloth       2-Tubes of Toothpaste(6 oz. or less)

2-Toothbrushes  1-Bottle Shampoo (12oz. )

1-Bottle Roll-on Deodorant    1-Bottle Lotion(11oz. Or less)

1-Tube Antibacterial Ointment   1-Bottle Aspirin or Tylenol (24 count).

Please place all items except Bath Towels in a 2 Gallon Zip Lock Bag -  we will pack the Bath Towels separately.   PLEASE INCLUDE $5.00 PER KIT FOR SHIPPING COSTS. PLEASE DO NOT PUT MONEY IN THE KITS.     Deadline for these to be at the FUMC-Hillsville Fellowship Hall is Sunday – June 3rd.   Thank-you for your contributions to this great project!!

Red Cross Blood Drive – Sat 6/9 from 10am – 2pm in the Fellowship Hall of the Fulcher St location. Snacks and drinks are provided to donors.

Blessing of the Animals – Sat, 6/30 at 9am at FUMC Hillsville on Fulcher St. in conjunction with the Twin County Humane Society. All animals are welcome and dogs must be on a leash and small animals must be caged.

Baptism Service is being planned for Sunday, 7/1 at Noon. The service will be outside at FUMC Hillsville on Fulcher St with a picnic following. Everyone is invited! Contact Pastor Ronnie at ronnie24317@yahoo.com if you want to follow the example of Jesus and be baptized on this day.

Consumed: Week 1 119907659

Consumed Week 2 119914336

There’s a slice of the world just waiting for your imprint. How will you shape it? Learn how you’re uniquely qualified to make a difference in Change Your World in 52 Days.

The following messages will be preached at both locations of 1st UMC Hillsville

FUMC Hillsville @ 225 Fulcher Street @830 and 11am

and

FUMC Downtown “Out of the Box” on Main Street @9 and 1030am

Tri-Area Pregnancy Resource Center

Baby Bottle Campaign

Sunday is Mother’s Day and we will be participating in the Baby Bottle Campaign, collecting spare change and donating it Tri-Area Pregnancy Resource Center.

Empty Baby Bottles will be available at the Church on Sunday and we invite you to take one with you and fill it with your spare change. Bring the bottle back to church with you on Father’s Day, 6/17. All monies collected will benefit the Tri-Area Pregnancy Resource Center.

Thank you so much for making a difference in the lives of babies and their Mothers in our community!

Announcements 

New Out Of The Box Life Group – staring soon and meeting on Thursdays for 10 to 12 weeks with Pastor Ronnie and Misty! This life group will be meeting in the homes of the individuals in the group. If you are interested in joining this life group, please email Pastor at ronnie24317@yahoo.com.

A Call to Fast – Pastor Ronnie is calling everyone at Out Of The Box Worship Center to fast in 2012. Please pray about this and if you would like to commit to fasting in 2012, email Pastor Ronnie at ronnie24317@yahoo.com.  There is also a calendar in the lobby at the worship center where you can indicate the dates you are fasting.

R.A.M.P.  – This is a Ministry for young girls about Respect, Attitude, Modesty and Purity and will involve an event on Saturday, 9/15/12 at FUMC Hillsville. Event planners are working on ideas for this event and recruiting volunteers. Also needed are donations of money, desserts and door prizes. If you would like to participate, please contact Misty Collins at misty24317@yahoo.com.

Congregational Care Ministry Meeting Tuesday, 5/8 at 6:30pm in the library at FUMC Hillsville, Fulcher St.  Everyone who will accept the call to this vital ministry should attend this meeting.  Contact Pastor Pam at pamsuth57@gmail.com for more information.

Wonderful Wednesdays Cookout Celebration – Wed, 5/9 at 5:30. This is an end of the season celebration for all of the children and parents involved in the program this year. There will be hotdogs, games and outdoor activities. The program will resume in the fall. 

Crafters for Christ ~ Knit/Crochet/Sewing Ministry – If you can knit, crochet or sew (or you would like to learn) and want to get together and make service projects for others, contact Beth Brooke (336) 953-1293 or easeagraves@gmail.com. The next meeting is Sat, 5/19. June meeting dates are 6/2, 6/16 & 6/30.

Spring Sing – Thursday, 5/24, from 10am – 1:30pm at Rural Retreat UMC. This is a gospel sing, a visit from Susanna Wesley and performances by a choir made up of clergy serving in the Wythe District. Lunch is $5.00

Church Picnic – Sunday, 5/27 at Noon at Playground 2000 for both FUMC and OOTBWC. The church is supplying hotdogs, hamburgers and buns. If you would like to donate desserts, condiments and fixings, please contact or email the church office. 276-728-2434 or fumcoa@embarqmail.com

Children’s Day at Camp Dickenson – Sat, June 2^nd from 10am – 2pm for K-5^th grade. Worship, crafts and games for kids K-5^th Grade. If you are interested, contact the church office for more information. 276-728-2434.

Camp Dickenson - is in need of folks who have a heart for sending children to summer camp. Please call the camp office at 276-744-7241 to provide a scholarship donation to help children go to summer camp this summer.

2012 HANDS-ON-MISSION PROJECT for Wytheville District

Health Kits for Liberia

Each Kit Should Include the Following Items:

1-Bath Towel      1-small bottle /perfumed spray/cologne

1-Washcloth       2-Tubes of Toothpaste(6 oz. or less)

2-Toothbrushes  1-Bottle Shampoo (12oz. )

1-Bottle Roll-on Deodorant    1-Bottle Lotion(11oz. Or less)

1-Tube Antibacterial Ointment   1-Bottle Aspirin or Tylenol (24 count).

Please place all items except Bath Towels in a 2 Gallon Zip Lock Bag -  we will pack the Bath Towels separately.   PLEASE INCLUDE $5.00 PER KIT FOR SHIPPING COSTS. PLEASE DO NOT PUT MONEY IN THE KITS.     Deadline for these to be at the FUMC-Hillsville Fellowship Hall is Sunday – June 3rd.   Thank-you for your contributions to this great project!!

Red Cross Blood Drive – Sat 6/9 from 10am – 2pm in the Fellowship Hall of the Fulcher St location. Snacks and drinks are provided to donors.

Baptism Service is being planned for Sunday, 7/1. Contact Pastor Ronnie at ronnie24317@yahoo.com if you want to follow the example of Jesus and be baptized on this day.

Link to the sermon 119907659

Announcements 

New Out Of The Box Life Group – staring soon and meeting on Thursdays for 10 to 12 weeks with Pastor Ronnie and Misty! This life group will be meeting in the homes of the individuals in the group. If you are interested in joining this life group, please email Pastor at ronnie24317@yahoo.com.

A Call to Fast – Pastor Ronnie is calling everyone at Out Of The Box Worship Center to fast in 2012. Please pray about this and if you would like to commit to fasting in 2012, email Pastor Ronnie at ronnie24317@yahoo.com.  There is also a calendar in the lobby at the worship center where you can indicate the dates you are fasting.

Fred and Libby Dearing…are an Individual Volunteer couple from the Holston Annual Conference and they are assigned by Global Ministries to serve in Yei, South Sudan. We are excited that they will be speaking in our district on Wednesday, May 2nd, 7 PM at Mt. Olivet UMC on Hwy. 58 between Hillsville and Galax. Fred and Libby will also be showing a power point of what they are doing in Sudan, and the church will bless us with refreshments afterwards. Everyone is invited.

R.A.M.P.  – This is a Ministry for young girls about Respect, Attitude, Modesty and Purity and will involve an event on Saturday, 9/15/12 at FUMC Hillsville. Event planners are working on ideas for this event and recruiting volunteers. If you would like to participate, please contact Misty Collins at misty24317@yahoo.com. There is a planning meeting on Thursday, 5/3 at 6pm at OOTB.

Graduates Dinner/Youth Fundraising Luncheon – Spaghetti luncheon by donation at the Fulcher Street site at 12 Noon on 5/6, for the Graduating Seniors in our church and also for Youth Ministries to provide Alabama Tornado Relief. The youth will serve a delicious Spaghetti Dinner and the cost will be donations that will help send our youth to Alabama for this mission work.

Special Confirmand Led SNC Service Sunday 5/6 at 6:30pm, FUMC Hillsville, Fulcher St. The youth confirmation class graduates will be leading the service.

Congregational Care Ministry Meeting Tuesday, 5/8 at 6:30pm in the library at FUMC Hillsville, Fulcher St.  Everyone who will accept the call to this vital ministry should attend this meeting.  Contact Pastor Pam at pamsuth57@gmail.com for more information.

Wonderful Wednesdays Cookout Celebration – Wed, 5/9 at 5:30. This is an end of the season celebration for all of the children and parents involved in the program this year. There will be hotdogs, games and outdoor activities. The program will resume in the fall. 

Crafters for Christ ~ Knit/Crochet/Sewing Ministry – If you can knit, crochet or sew (or you would like to learn) and want to get together and make service projects for others, contact Beth Brooke (336) 953-1293 or easeagraves@gmail.com. The next meeting is Sat, 5/19. June meeting dates are 6/2, 6/16 & 6/30.

Spring Sing – Thursday, 5/24, from 10am – 1:30pm at Rural Retreat UMC. This is a gospel sing, a visit from Susanna Wesley and performances by a choir made up of clergy serving in the Wythe District. Lunch is $5.00

Children’s Day at Camp Dickenson – Sat, June 2^nd from 10am – 2pm for K-5^th grade. Worship, crafts and games for kids K-5^th Grade. FUMC/OOTBWC Kids are going as a group. If you are interested, contact the church office for more information. 276-728-2434.

Camp Dickenson - is in need of folks who have a heart for sending children to summer camp. Please call the camp office at 276-744-7241 to provide a scholarship donation to help children go to summer camp this summer.

2012 HANDS-ON-MISSION PROJECT for Wytheville District

Health Kits for Liberia

Each Kit Should Include the Following Items:

1-Bath Towel      1-small bottle /perfumed spray/cologne

1-Washcloth       2-Tubes of Toothpaste(6 oz. or less)

2-Toothbrushes  1-Bottle Shampoo (12oz. )

1-Bottle Roll-on Deodorant    1-Bottle Lotion(11oz. Or less)

1-Tube Antibacterial Ointment   1-Bottle Aspirin or Tylenol (24 count).

Please place all items except Bath Towels in a 2 Gallon Zip Lock Bag -  we will pack the Bath Towels separately.   PLEASE INCLUDE $5.00 PER KIT FOR SHIPPING COSTS. PLEASE DO NOT PUT MONEY IN THE KITS.     Deadline for these to be at the FUMC-Hillsville Fellowship Hall is Sunday – June 3rd.   Thank-you for your contributions to this great project!!

Safe Sanctuaries Training – The training video is available online on the church website at www.hillsvillefumc.com. This training is mandatory for anyone involved with the children at the church. Please contact Patti Holderfield at hebronhokies@embarqmail.com if you have any questions.

What you consume will eventually consume you. Every person worships something or someone because we are made to worship. May 6th and 13th we will dive into the topic of Worship. Is Sunday morning about worship? Do we all worship alike? (Not) Do we even understand worship?

I hope you will come and invite your friends.

May 6th and 13th

Out of the Box Worship Center

516 Main Street in Hillsville

9am & 1030am

Sermon Week One: Being Your Best In The Game Of Life 119888865

Sermon Week Two: Running Your Race 119894416

Pastor Ronnie

I hope you will join us as I will speaking to the church over the next two weeks on ”Being your best in the game of life.”

Be sure to invite your family, friends, and neighbors and join us at 9am or 1030am each Sunday.

April 15th and April 22nd

Our Scripture will be 2 Timothy 2: 3-6

³ You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴ No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs ofthis life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. ⁵ And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.

NKJV

Pastor Ronnie

Follow the links to the messages.

Ash Wed Servive – Journey to Hope – The Journey Begins 119841094

Journey to Hope – 1st Sunday in Lent 119841146

Journey to Hope – Remember Who You Are 119851005

Journey to Hope – Humility 119853918

Journey to Hope – Drifting into Temptation 119861421

Journey to Hope – Eternal Life 119867088

Journey to Hope – Suffering 119877659

God’s Intervention – Easter Sunday 119883599

United Methodist Women of First UMC Hillsville

United Methodist Women of FUMC Hillsville invites all women of our church to learn how they can promote love for each other, for those in need, and for children, youth and women of all ages.

At a local level we are organized as a Unit with two circles:  “Sunshiners” circle meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 2:00 pm.  “Lamplighters” meet on the third Monday at 7:00 pm for the months of April – September and meet with “Sunshiners” for the colder months of October – February.  Exception:  Combined Unit meetings are held during the months of March, June, September & December.

Who is a member of United Methodist Women?  Who belongs?  Any woman, young or old, may become a member if she chooses to join and commit herself to the purpose of the organization.  Women of theUnitedMethodistChurchare not automatically members of United Methodist Women, though all are welcome and encouraged to belong.  Membership is for those women who wish to work for mission by participating in this organization through prayers, giving, action and service.  The majority of members will be members of theUnitedMethodistChurch, but only the president is required to be a member of theUnitedMethodistChurch.

We are…

• One and a quarter million women, Christian/global citizens working together on the task to bridge gaps between church women and women’s movements in society by rejecting superficial distinctions between the sacred and the secular and affirming wholeness

• Working to examine our own lives and attitudes

• Working to bridge gaps between older and younger women, between single women and married women, between women employed outside the home and those who are exclusively homemakers

• Working in the world of our communities

• Working through the global ministries of the church to get the jobs done.

Our Purpose:  The organized unit of United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.

UMW of First United Methodist Church, Hillsville has several projects and programs that we do on an annual or ongoing basis, as follows:

• Each year in February, we send Valentine Goodie Boxes to our college students or military who are within 4 years of high school.  The boxes include items such as baked goods, packaged snacks, school supplies (pens, pads, highlighters), and personal items such as chapstick.

• In March, we have our Prayer and Self-Denial Service and Agape Meal.

• For our June and September combined circle meetings, we have a covered dish meal and program.

• In May, we choose a Mother of the Year, recognize her on Mother’s Day and recognize all mothers with a Mother’s Day Bulletin.

• Starting in 2012, we will choose a Father of the Year, recognize him on Father’s Day and recognize all fathers with a Father’s Day Bulletin.

• In November, we lead worship services on UMW Sunday, featuring a special guest speaker.

• Each November we collect for the World Thank Offering.

• On the first Tuesday in December, we combine with FUMC Happy Seniors to have the annual Happy Seniors Christmas Luncheon.  Senior adults in the community are invited, and the meal, entertainment and goodie bags are free.  In recent years, we have had over 90 participants.

• We coordinate and maintain FUMC’s Altar Flower List of Volunteers.

• One of our ongoing projects is selling a cookbook that was compiled from church members’ recipes.  Proceeds from this and other projects, plus our pledges to mission, enable us to donate to various mission causes.  In recent years we have given to a missionary inSudan, the local Hospice, the Big Stone Gap Renewal Project, Free Clinic of theTwinCounties, Pulaski County Tornado Relief,CampDickensonscholarship, Pleasant View UMC Helping Hand Ministry for a tornado victim, and the annual Wytheville District UMW Hands-On Mission Project.

• Each year we have a special “Hands-On” Project.  In 2011 we made prayer shawls at our September Unit meeting for shut-ins/nursing home residents.

• We added two new projects in 2011:  (1) “Adopt a Meal” campaign for the local “Open Table” ministry and (2) an “Angel Tree” ministry to provide Christmas gifts for local needy children.

Announcements 

A Call to Fast – Pastor Ronnie is calling everyone at Out Of The Box Worship Center to fast in 2012. Please pray about this and if you would like to commit to fasting in 2012, email Pastor Ronnie at ronnie24317@yahoo.com.  There is also a calendar in the lobby at the worship center where you can indicate the dates you are fasting.

Safe Sanctuary Training DVD is available and arrangements can be made to obtain the DVD by contacting Julie Russell at the Church Office. 276-728-2434.

* Congregational Care team meeting on 4/10 at 5:30pm in the library at FUMC Hillsville, Fulcher St 

Community Outreach Activity – “Love Your Neighbor” – Saturday, 4/14, Brenda Harmon is organizing a meal for Westview Terrace Apartments in Hillsville and we need volunteers to come and help. Contact Brenda at backharmon4@yahoo.com if you can volunteer or bring food.

Crafters for Christ ~ Knit/Crochet/Sewing Ministry – If you can knit, crochet or sew (or you would like to learn) and want to get together and make service projects for others, contact Beth Brooke (336) 953-1293 or easeagraves@gmail.com. The next meeting is Sat, 4/28 at 10am at OOTB. The next project is prayer shawls and lap throws. 

Call to Prayer Service – On Sunday, 4/15, at 4 p.m., each of Holston’s 12 districts will hold a special service that will unite church members in praying for the future. The service for our district will be held at the Dublin UMC, 424 E Main St, Dublin, VA. District Superintendent, Meg Taylor will be speaking. There will be no SNC service this Sunday evening so that our members can attend the service in Dublin.

Emory & Henry vs. Ferrum Baseball Game – Wed 4/18 at 7pm at Calfee Park in Pulaski, Va. Admission Adults $4, students $2, scouts in Uniform admitted free. E & H and Ferrum Students free with ID. Proceeds benefit Camp Dickenson.

Life in the Spirit Experience Weekend Coming Soon - April 27 – 29. We need volunteers for a book table and also to run the media/sound. Call the church office if you can help.

Fred and Libby Dearing…are an Individual Volunteer couple from the Holston Annual Conference and they are assigned by Global Ministries to serve in Yei, South Sudan. We are excited that they will be speaking in our district on Wednesday, May 2nd, 7 PM at Mt. Olivet UMC on Hwy. 58 between Hillsville and Galax. Fred and Libby will also be showing a power point of what they are doing in Sudan, and the church will bless us with refreshments afterwards. Everyone is invited.

Graduates Dinner - Covered dish luncheon at the Fulcher Street site at 12 Noon on 5/20, for the Graduating Seniors in our church. Everyone is welcome to come and honor our graduates that day and please bring a couple of dishes to share. Also, parents of upcoming Graduates need to get a picture and information about your senior to the church office so that we may put these up on the screen that Sunday as well.

FUMC Hillsville Food Pantry – Food Pantry is in need of volunteers on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Call the Church Office if you can help. 276-728-2434. The Food Pantry is also in need of donations of Boxed Cereals, Boxed Mac & Cheese, Canned Tuna, Personal Hygiene Items, and all sizes of Disposable Diapers and Pull Ups.

CAMP DICKENSON SPRING WORK WEEKEND APRIL 20-22 - If you plan to attend the work weekend please notify Judy Beasley by this Sunday, April 15th, so that she can make arrangements for projects and for food for Saturday’s lunch. Judy can be reached by phone at 398-4214 or e-mail at judybeasley@yahoo.com.

2012 HANDS-ON-MISSION PROJECT FOR WYTHEVILLE DISTRICT : HEALTH KITS FOR LIBERIA…EACH KIT SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

1-Bath Towel      1-small bottle /perfumed spray/cologne

1-Washcloth       2-Tubes of Toothpaste(6 oz. or less)

2-Toothbrushes  1-Bottle Shampoo (12oz. )

1-Bottle Roll-on Deodorant    1-Bottle Lotion(11oz. Or less)

1-Tube Antibacterial Ointment   1-Bottle Aspirin or Tylenol (24 count).

Please place all items in a 5 Gallon Zip Lock Bag-(If 5 Gallon Bags cannot be found use a 2 Gallon bag & we will pack the Bath Towels separately.   PLEASE INCLUDE $5.00 PER KIT FOR SHIPPING COSTS. PLEASE DO NOT PUT MONEY IN THE KITS.     Deadline for these to be at the FUMC-Hillsville Fellowship Hall is Sunday – June 3rd.   Thank-you for your contributions to this great project!!

04/14 Meeting Cancelled–That’s this coming Saturday. Crafters For Christ will still meet at 10 a.m. April 28. Contact Beth Seagraves Brooke at easeagraves@gmail.com or (336) 953-1293 if questions.

Mark 12: 28-31 GWT

²⁸One of the scribes went to Jesus during the argument with the Sadducees. He saw how well Jesus answered them, so he asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of them all?”

²⁹Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Listen, Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord. ³⁰So love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ ³¹The second most important commandment is this: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

Jesus, the creator and savior of the world said the first commandment after loving God with everything in you, is to love your neighbor as yourself. Wow

This is what we are doing this Saturday, Out of the Box Worship Center and 1st Hillsville will be going out into our community and simply loving our neighbors. There are no strings attached, there is nothing that we expect in return, except to please the Lord.

We are going into one of our local communities and cooking lunch for more than 100 people and we are going to just get to know them and what their needs are. If you are part of our church or the community and you would like to join us, then do.

Pastor Ronnie

Announcements 

A Call to Fast – Pastor Ronnie is calling everyone at Out Of The Box Worship Center to fast in 2012. Please pray about this and if you would like to commit to fasting in 2012, email Pastor Ronnie at ronnie24317@yahoo.com.  There is also a calendar in the lobby at the worship center where you can indicate the dates you are fasting.

Easter Sunday – Invite your family and friends to church this Easter Sunday and bring fresh flowers to adorn the cross.

SNC – “Sunday Night Connect” – Sunday Night Connect Services will not be held in April due to other worship service opportunities:

4/8 Easter Sunday

4/15 Call to Prayer service at Dublin UMC at 4pm

4/27-29 Life in the Spirit Experience

Safe Sanctuary Training DVD  is available and arrangements can be made to obtain the DVD by contacting Julie Russell at the Church Office. 276-728-2434.

Maundy Thursday Service – 4/5 at7pm in the Fellowship Hall at FUMC Hillsville, Fulcher St. Our Maundy Thursday observance will be held in the fellowship hall at the Fulcher Street site at 7:00pm.

We will have an interactive Passover Seder presentation in which participants will taste the bitter herbs of parsley and horseradish, the matzah, the karoset, and the fruit of the vine.  We will go through an order of service used by many Messianic Jews (Christian Jewish people) as we tell, not only the story of God’s rescuing the Israelites from Egyptian bondage but how Jesus – the Messiah- is pictured in the Passover. (We will not be partaking of the actual meal, however.)

Good Friday Prayer Vigil – FUMC Hillsville, on Fulcher St., will be open on Good Friday, 4/6 from 6:00 am to 6:00 am. You are invited to participate by coming to the church for your special time of prayer. If you are unable to come to the church, you are encouraged to set aside a time to pray at home.

Children’s Ministry Easter Celebration – on Friday, 4/6 at 6pm in the Fellowship Hall at FUMC Hillsville, for kids birth through grade 5. Come and hear the Easter Story, make some fun crafts, color some eggs and have an egg hunt. There will also be pizza and cake for supper. If you would like to volunteer to help, donate candy, plastic eggs or hard boiled eggs, please contact Leona Brown at browns4rams1@comcast.net or 276-728-7775.

Red Cross Blood Drive – Sat, 4/7 from 10am-2pm at FUMC Hillsville

Congregational Care Ministry needs volunteers. Information on this ministry is on the table in the Lobby at OOTBWC. 1^st meeting will be on 4/10 at 6:30pm in the Library at FUMC Hillsville, Fulcher St.

UMW – ALL WOMEN INVITED to our Sunshiners Circle Meeting on Tuesday, April 10th at 2:00 pm in the church library.  Pastor Pam Sutherland will be joining us to give information on FUMC’s NEW Congregational Care Ministry.  Here’s another great opportunity to hear from Pastor Pam, and also learn how to be in ministry with our very active local UMW group!

Community Outreach Activity – “Love Your Neighbor” – Saturday, 4/14, Brenda Harmon is organizing a meal which will be taken out into the Hillsville Community and served. This is a brand new idea and is in the planning stages, but, we need volunteers to come and help. Contact Brenda at backharmon4@yahoo.com if you can volunteer.

Crafters for Christ ~ Knit/Crochet/Sewing Ministry – If you can knit, crochet or sew (or you would like to learn) and want to get together and make service projects for others, contact Beth Brooke (336) 953-1293 or easeagraves@gmail.com. The next meeting is Sat, 4/14 at 10am at OOTB. Scheduled meetings for the next few weeks are: 4/14 & 4/28. The next project is prayer shawls and lap throws.

Call to Prayer Service – On Sunday, 4/15, at 4 p.m., each of Holston’s 12 districts will hold a special service that will unite church members in praying for the future. The service for our district will be held at the Dublin UMC, 424 E Main St, Dublin, VA. District Superintendent, Meg Taylor will be speaking. There will be no SNC service this Sunday evening so that our members can attend the service in Dublin.

Camp Dickenson Spring Work Weekend – April 20 – 22 – Come join the Hillsville First United Methodist’s leisure ministry committee for our annual spring work weekend at Camp Dickenson.  We will be building a cover for the pool pump, painting some signs, cleaning up brush that has blown down during the winter, and other “sprucing up” chores.  There will be time of work, fellowship, and worship throughout the weekend.  Friday and Saturday dinners and Saturday and Sunday morning breakfasts will be potluck.  Bring your favorite covered dish/camp dishes.  Saturday lunch will be provided by leisure ministry. Please let Rick and Judy Beasley know if you will be attending so plans can be made.  (276-398-4214 or judybeasley@yahoo.com).

Life in the Spirit Experience Weekend Coming Soon - April 27 – 29. We need volunteers for a book table and also to run the media/sound. Call the church office if you can help.

Graduates Dinner - Covered dish luncheon at the Fulcher Street site at 12 Noon on 5/20, for the Graduating Seniors in our church. Everyone is welcome to come and honor our graduates that day and please bring a couple of dishes to share. Also, parents of upcoming Graduates need to get a picture and information about your senior to the church office so that we may put these up on the screen that Sunday as well.

FUMC Hillsville Food Pantry – Food Pantry is in need of volunteers on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Call the Church Office if you can help. 276-728-2434. The Food Pantry is also in need of donations of Boxed Cereals, Boxed Mac & Cheese, Canned Tuna, Personal Hygiene Items, and all sizes of Disposable Diapers and Pull Ups.

Missions – FUMC Hillsville Church member Beth Day, owner of Today’s Mercantile on Main St in Hillsville, has generously donated a portion of her store space for the sale of donated items to benefit the Local Missions ministry. Local Missions will use these funds to help those in our community who are hungry, struggling with rent and utility bills, homeless, or otherwise in need. Local Missions will receive 100% of the sales price of items for sale in this area of Beth’s store. Please consider donating items to this cause. Items donated should be similar to the items Today’s Mercantile specializes in such as new and gently used furniture, household accessories, and décor. Items should be in good condition. Books and clothing will not be accepted and should instead be donated to the Golden Harvest Thrift Store. Local Missions is also seeking suggestions for a name for the new sales area. Please submit name suggestions to Joe Stilwell, Missions Chair and contact Joe or Beth if any questions.

Here is the link, listen to the sermon: 119877659

Why suffering? Consider the source.

Job is the poster child for suffering. Job Chapter 1: 1-12

The Purposes of Suffering

1. There is no doubt we sometimes suffer because of our own sins.

There are consequences of our actions. What you sow is what you also reap. You live by the sword, you die by the sword.

2. We suffer because we live in a broken world that has been corrupted by Adam’s sin. Genesis Ch. 3 

3. Suffering restrains us from falling in love with this sin stained world. I John 2: 15-17

4. We suffer because the faith we demonstrate in the midst of suffering brings honor and glory to God. I Peter 1: 6-7

5. We suffer because the enemy of our souls desires to destroy God’s children. I Peter 5:8

We have an enemy, you have a real enemy that wants to destroy you.

6. We suffer for purposes known only to God Himself. Romans 11:34     Illustration Job 38:1-12 & 33-37

7. We suffer because in the suffering we are becoming like Christ. Hebrews 2: 9-10, 18 

8. God allows us to go through times of testing (suffering) because trials refine us. James 1: 2-4 & Malachi 3: 1-3