January 2021 MESSENGER - First United Methodist Church
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January 2021 MESSENGER
From the Pastor been difficult for all of us, our church family, and
our nation. With two vaccines and the steps we
Dr. Richard Reed
have been taking, it will not be long before we
Is everyone happy to say, “2020 is officially back together and engaging in ways that are
over!” I am so glad we are in a new year with familiar. We will continue to evaluate our
many new possibilities. We know that COVID- ministries and plans for 2021 in light of God’s
19 will continue to intrude in our lives and be calling upon us and how we understand our
with us until vaccinations become more mission. I look forward to the taking this
available, and we also know that COVID-19, journey with you as we serve the Lord.
like everything else, will “come to pass.” There
will be many changes in our lives, church, Grace and Peace,
denomination, and country in 2021 and we will Dr. Reed
face every change and challenge together. As
we begin this new year, I ask you to join me in Announcements
several things.
Sermons by Phone
First, pray for one another, our church
We are happy to share with you a new way to
family, and our country. In Romans 12:12
hear the sermon each week. You can now
we read, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in
listen to the sermon on your phone! Call 817-
tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Praying
363-7530 and you will hear the Sunday
for each other is one of the most important
sermon. The sermon will be recorded on the
things we can do.
number each Sunday afternoon. This is a local
Second, I ask you to please support each number so there is no charge to call.
other. In John 13:34-35, Jesus states, “I
give you a new command: Love one Please share this information with anyone who
might be interested or does not use computers,
another. Just as I have loved you, you are
tablets, or smartphones.
also to love one another. By this everyone
will know that you are my disciples, if you
love one another.” Supporting each other
is crucial to God’s people. As we support
and take care of each other, we honor the
Christ who lives in us.
Third, walk with hope. Romans 5:5 tells us,
“Now hope does not disappoint, because
the love of God has been poured out in our
hearts by the Holy Spirit [which] was given
to us.” We affirm the need to walk with
Jesus in all we do, and the past year
reminds us how important it is to cling to
Christ. As we open the door to a new year,
walking with hope is possible because
Jesus walks with us and that hope never
disappoints.
I believe as we pray for each other, support one
another in our faith journey, and walk with You can watch worship services live-streamed,
hope, we will be able to fulfill all the Lord will lay or later at your convenience, on either of the
upon our hearts. The past nine months have
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January 2021 MESSENGER
church Facebook pages (First United Our church staff are in the office at the following
Methodist Church of Azle, Texas or The Bridge times: Monday-Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to
– Modern Worship at FUMC Azle), or our noon. If you have a need outside of those
YouTube Channel. Our YouTube web address hours, please contact Ken Leemon or Dr.
is: Reed.
www.youtube.com/c/firstunitedmethodistchurc
hofazle Pastoral Care Needs
The worship services are left on each site so If you need to reach Dr. Reed (972-742-9770)
that you can watch them at any time or share or Pastor Thomas (254-479-0608) we are both
them with a friend. The YouTube videos can ready to assist you in any way. You can also
also be accessed through the church website email Dr. Reed at rreed@fumcazle.org or Rev.
(www.fumcazle.org). Thomas at tim@fumcazle.org. If you know of
someone with a special need, please contact
the church office or one of the pastors.
Confirmation
Plans are being made for the next Confirmation
Class. We will be incorporating those who did
not get to complete confirmation this year with
a new class. Be watching for details.
Upper Rooms Are Available
Sacrament of Holy Communion
The current Upper Rooms are available for
your devotions. We have placed them on the We will observe the Sacrament of Holy
porch of the office building in a small box for Communion on Sunday, January 3, 2021, at all
you to pick up at your leisure or we can deliver morning worship services and from 3:00-4:00
one to your home. Please contact the church p.m. at the covered entrance to the church
office if you would like one delivered. (atrium entrance). All who love Jesus are
welcome at His table. Please note the new
Financial Gifts hours for the drive-in communion in the
afternoon. If you would like the Sacrament
Thank you for your continued and faithful brought to your home, please contact the
giving. You can make financial gifts online church office.
through REALM, mail a check to the church, or
put your gift in the mailbox at the church. The
mailbox at the church is across the street from
the offices and it is a secure lockbox. Anything
put in the mailbox drops into a locked and
secure box that is emptied daily.
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January 2021 MESSENGER
Adult Small Groups 4. Raises HDL and protects LDL from
Monica Goth oxidation.
5. May reduce heart disease risk
Happy Anniversary! 6. May protect your skin from the Sun
7. Could improve brain function
and from Dr. Reed,
8. It's good for the soul!
Dr. Reed
1. Laugh once a day minimum, if it kills me.
2. Listen to my Professor Horner Bible 10
Chapters a Day reading app first thing
every morning before the work of the day
Jack and Janet Stevens celebrated their 52nd begins.
wedding anniversary on September 21st. 3. Listen to at least one fiction and one non-
fiction book a month on my morning walk
outdoors (all weathers).
4. Crochet several times a week during
conversations, car rides, etc.
5. Listen to uplifting music daily.
6. Try one new vegetable a month, preferably
locally grown from the Farmer's Market.
7. Go camping once a month, in every
weather (even hot).
8. Continue to banish "sugar" from my life
every day, in every form, except whole fruit!
Blessings, Pat Noe
Richard and Jeri Reed will celebrate their 45th
wedding anniversary on January 9th. In the New Year, I resolve to consistently eat
one serving of dark chocolate each day for
good health! � (By the way, I wonder how
large a serving size really is �)
Margaret Bolding
Mine is Simple. Happier New Year.
Bill Collins
Resolutions 2021 To be fun and playful and enjoy family and
friends as much as I can.
I resolve to never miss an opportunity to enjoy
a piece of chocolate every day, after all, a Barbara Pace
study revealed 7 Proven Health Benefits of
Dark Chocolate: Find a way to leave 2020 in the past, heal and
strive to display a loving kindness to all.
1. Very nutritious
2. Powerful source of antioxidants BJ Collins
3. May improve blood flow and lower blood
pressure.
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January 2021 MESSENGER
welfare and not for harm, to give you a
future with hope.
1. No More Procrastinating (Starting
Tomorrow). God gives each one of us gifts to use as we
2. Romans 12:1-12 seek to serve our Creator.
Pastor Tim Thomas There are many ministries in our church – you
are so welcome to be involved.
For those who cannot think of a good New
Year’s Resolution, listed below are some • For Music – there are opportunities for all
ideas: ages to sing and/or play instruments, to
organize music, to help with events, and to
1. Get your photo taken in five interesting help with children and youth
places. • For Worship – there are opportunities to
2. Make a new friend a month…search serve on the Worship Council and become
Realm for a new friend… involved in planning special services,
3. Join a small group at the Church… most events, and observances for seasons of
have zoom meetings… our Church Year.
4. Manage stress…with prayer…
5. Drink more water… Below are some pictures to enjoy from
December.
6. Move more, sit less…
7. Volunteer more often…
Worship services, Advent Candles Lightings,
8. Adopt an attitude of gratitude
Recording of Services for Christmas Eve,
9. Do a little act of kindness each week… Decorating the church inside and outside.
10. Ditch one bad habit…
11. Plan time to read your Bible and daily
devotions…
12. Memorize a favorite Bible verse…
May your days be merry and bright and full of
love, health, and joy!!
Monica Goth
Music and Worship
A New Year – What does that mean to each of
us?
What is it like to look at new possibilities?
How will our lives change? What new
directions will we go?
One thing is certain: God is with us.
In Jeremiah 29:11, it is written:
For surely I know the plans I have for
you, says the Lord, plans for your
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January 2021 MESSENGER
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January 2021 MESSENGER
Margaret Bolding
Director of Music and Worship
mbolding@fumcazle.org
Serving Ministries
Ken Leemon, Director
It was a long but fulfilling week with over 50
volunteers feeding 940 meals to the
community. Thanks to all who helped. Over
275 of the meals were delivered to their
doorsteps. Look at these volunteers; you could
be in next year’s pictures.
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January 2021 MESSENGER
Hurricane Response to assist our
neighbors in Louisiana.
Our Early Response Team, Ken Leemon,
Darryl Keen, and Deanna Keen, packed up a
tractor borrowed from Jim Shinsky of Tipton
Group Construction on November 8th and
headed to DeRidder, LA. We worked 4 days
on 3 houses cutting up trees and moving them
to the curb for pickup by FEMA.
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January 2021 MESSENGER
When gathering for major maintenance chores
and building projects volunteers from The
Refuge assist.
Good Neighbors Program: This program is
run by Servolution Network and consists of
volunteers from the community and business
gathering twice a year for 2 days to help
homeowners bring their homes back up to
building code status. To date, we have helped
over 100 families. These events are normally
held in March and October. We take our
mission trailer and assist, but they also need
runners for material and equipment, cooks,
DeRidder UMC was fantastic and very
prayer warriors to assist family members,
attentive to our needs by pointing out the best
photographers, and landscapers.
restaurants in town.
Local Missions: These are missions received
So really what is Serving Ministries? Well, for
through the Church and involve building
one, it is not all about hard labor and getting
handicap ramps, building decks, painting,
dirty. Let me list some of the things we do and
repairing existing buildings, storm doors,
see if you fit in.
hanging fans. These projects are normally one
day projects.
Our Community Garden is located at 415
North Main Street in Azle, just south of the new
Disaster Missions: These are natural
City Hall. It is on the backside of the lot
disaster missions after floods, fires, hurricanes,
occupied by Stewart Title. Currently, the
and tornados occur. For projects outside of our
garden is a 45 bed above ground system with
community, we are required by the Conference
its own irrigation system.
to wait for their invitation before we can go in.
You do have to take a ½ day training class to
Needs:
get certified and attend additional, on-going
• Individuals to pick produce one day a
training classes. The teams are either Early
week. This task normally takes about 2
Response Teams (ERT) or United Methodist
hours and it’s done in the morning when its
Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) teams. ERT’s
cool. We pick every day.
go in right after the First Responders as
• Groups of two to mow and weed around the chainsaw crews and to help evaluate damage.
beds every other week. Normally UMVIM’s team go in to help with cleanup, roof
completed in 3 hours. tarping, and mucking of the property.
• Groups of 4 people willing to learn
hydroponic gardening and will help build Thanksgiving Meal: This is normally a 4-day
and then maintain the new 8 bed area. project to feed the homeless and lonely. The
needs vary from cooks and bakers, carvers,
The plan this year is to rent out some of the drivers for deliveries, setting up tables,
beds to those wishing to grow their own fresh dishwasher’s, greeters, table decorators, and
vegetables and then planting the rest for the cleanup crew.
Church. The cost to have a garden is $15.00
each for the year plus 10% of food to be Operation Christmas Child: Shoebox
donated to the Community Caring Center. collection of toys, clothes, and small gifts for
children are sent out of the country to those
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January 2021 MESSENGER
who do not know Christ. This event usually Here are some of the things I learned last
happens in October and November. We need year……
volunteers to make displays, collect boxes, and
make announcements. 1. I can be flexible… where I used to be stuck
to the “way, how, or what I always did, I
Wednesday feeding the homeless: We discovered that those old ways and the old
gather on Wednesday mornings at 9:00 am to ways of thinking aren’t always the best. Be
cook donated food from Azle Food Bank for 50 open minded.
to 75 meals that will be delivered to homeless 2. Be prepared. I was a Boy Scout when I
camps from here to Saginaw. This mission was younger, and the Scouting Motto is
usually takes 2 hours. “Be Prepared.” I wasn’t. But I learned to
be out of necessity, and from my wife
Financial Update Cindy, who has always been one to think
ahead, “just in case.”
2020 Monthly Budget: $63,494 3. If at first you don’t succeed, change the
2020 November Contributions: $ 67,874 course. Or in other words there are
alternatives to every action. And if there
YTD through 11/30: $632,481 isn’t, perhaps we didn’t need to do that
YTD Budget through 11/30: $698,431 thing anyway.
4. Stay connected to the people you care
2020 Annual Budget: $761,924
about. One of the toughest things was not
being able to see our grown children and
Community Care their families as often as we would like. But
Pastor Tim Thomas we found some alternatives with the help of
modern technology.
During this Christmas Season I heard
something that made me laugh out loud. 5. Ministry can be done in different ways as
well. God is God even during a pandemic
(probably even more so). While worshiping
After listening to the familiar Christmas Song
through Facebook or You Tube wasn’t
“I’ll be Home for Christmas” one comedian
what we preferred, we were still
commented, “What do you mean I’ll be home
worshiping. That while connecting with
for Christmas? The fact is I’ve been here all
others by phone or Zoom when we couldn’t
year!” As the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz
said, “ain’t it the truth? ain’t it the truth?” visit face to face was strained, we were still
connected.
6. I also found myself doing things I have liked
It’s been a long year, and we all are anxiously
to do in the past but hadn’t for some time.
awaiting what 2021 will bring us. We can only
Like puzzles, and reading for fun, watching
hope and pray that it WILL be a much better
year. As we welcome in the new year it is things on TV that mattered (and being a
little more selective about the news I paid
customary to make resolutions (and then try
attention to).
our best to stick to them.) I’m still working on
mine. These are a few of the things I learned about
myself and about what I need to continue to do
As I look back on 2020 there are some things I when life as we have known it in 2020 settles
do want to change about myself, but I also down. From these I can begin to shape who I
recognize, as I’m sure you have as well, that want to continue to be in the New Year.
we learned a whole lot about ourselves during
the past year. Perhaps If we focus on what In closing, I want to leave you with one more
we’ve learned we can best shape our future. thought. Last year I had the opportunity to
preach on the last Sunday of the year. My
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January 2021 MESSENGER
Sermon titled: “What’s New with You” was
taken from Romans 12:1-12. I suggested that
if you were having trouble coming up with any
New Year’s Resolutions to let this scripture be
your guide. I offer it again.
It is my prayer for all that 2021 be all that you
hope it will be and that you will be all that God
created you to be as well.
God Bless and Happy New Year,
Pastor Tim Thomas
Youth
Joseph Cisneroz
Hey Church,
There are so many things that have been so
wrong about this year. But I know a God that
has been with us through it all. This Christmas,
the youth have decided to continue being their
amazing selves. Through all the hardships,
through all the unknown, they have still made
God a priority. I am so proud of them. We
thank you Church for keeping us in your
prayers as we have prayed for all of you. We
wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy
New Year!
Page 10 of 11January 2021 MESSENGER
Welcome our New Members! God Bless,
David and Linda Rollins
The C.C.C. wishes to thank the Tuesday
Morning Bible Study Group for their $100.00
donation. Our clientele has tripled since the
pandemic and your donation is greatly
appreciated. Thanks for your support.
Azle Community Caring Center
January Birthdays
If you know of someone not listed, please send
Bob & Lois Templeton joined our Church on an email to church@fumcazle.org.
December 13th!
Kim Cox 1, Mindy Goth 2, Melody Sims 2,
Peggy Davis 3, Kenneth Myers 3, Joshua Allen
Thank You Notes 5, John Cox 5, Kristen Bennett 6, Randy
Blackwell 8, Sheria Martin 8, Alex Wood 11,
Thank you so much for the Thanksgiving meal. Scott Arnold 11, Brandi Casner 11, James
Only problem, we realize how we miss you Adams 12, Judy Sheridan 12, Becca Stewart
all…. Streaming works and is cool, but it’s not 12, Kathy LaMorte 13, Kelly Rooker 13, Jerry
face to face. Take care and be safe. Flippen 14, Joe Penshorn 14, Morgan Redmon
15, Tony Brooks 16, Brandon Lavender 16,
Barb & Mike Daily Sherman Wall 17, Mike Davidson 17, Rich
Talbot 17, Mary Potts 20, Shawn Flynn 20, J.D.
Just a short note to tell you and your volunteers Parker 22, Dr. Tommy Giles 22, Shannon
how much we enjoyed the Thanksgiving Robinson 22, Alberta Burleigh 22, Adrian
dinner, and it was so very kind of you to deliver Hinckley 23, Vera Aguilar 25, Bill Rickert 26,
personally to the front door of our house Velda Froman 26, Claudine Parsons 27, Max
Burton 27, Chad Henson 28, Taylor Bovea 29,
Kent Meyerhoeffer 30, Joey Bunero 30, Crystal
Sincerely, Gagnon 31, Trevor Schreier 31, Chase Arnold
Unknown writer 31.
The CCC wishes to thank you for your monthly
gift of $500.00 and the $3,600.00 donation
from your fundraiser. Our clients have almost
doubled since the virus attack, and your
support and donations are very much
appreciated.
God Bless,
Azle Community Caring Center
Thanks so much for the wonderful
Thanksgiving meal. We are normally out of
state. It was so nice to have a meal provided
for the two of us.
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