What’s going on in Room 109?

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Well on Sunday, December 11th, that room was filled with 22 happy smiling children. The room was beautifully decorated by Dianne and Jolene. They also had the foresight to bring in large tables and more chairs. Our theme was, “Happy Birthday Jesus.”

Pastor Richard opened our program with a prayer.

Ruth told the Christmas story featuring the shepherds, angels, and the big star. The star led us to Bethlehem. Becky explained what swaddling clothes and the manger meant. We had handouts for all the children. They colored, matched, found the answer and then got together to make a mural. What fun!!

Craft time presented a little problem since we thought 12 to 15 children would be a good number to expect.

We were running low on craft supplies and while I freaked out and went looking in the supply room for a substitute, Jolene, Linda, and Nancy gave a good lesson on sharing and we had plenty of “snow” to go around, and some left over.

After pizza, cookies, and drinks, Dianne gave each child a bag of goodies to take home.

So what is going on in room 109? Love, joy, and especially God’s Love in abundance.

Watch announcements for our next event. We hope to see all the children again!

Ruth Sizemore,
Chair of Children’s Ministry 2016

New Year’s Resolutions.

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The beginning of a New Year is a time that many of us make “New Year’s Resolutions.” Unfortunately for most of us, these are broken before the last football game is finished. Regardless of what our resolutions are (to go on a diet, to exercise more, to give up some bad habit, or to do something good for someone) we find it is so hard to do these things. So often we get discouraged and quit.

This struggle to bring about a change in our life is not something that is new with our generations. The apostle Paul also had to deal with this problem. To the church at Rome he wrote: “For even though the desire to do good is in me, I am not able to do it. I don’t do the good I want to do: instead I do the evil that I do not wnt to do.” [Romans 7:18-19 T.E.V.]

However Paul learned that, even though he could not change himself, Jesus could change him! The key to being the person God wants you to be is allowing Jesus to have control of your life so he can change you. Therefore, I would like to offer the following New Year Resolutions for us all to help bring about this Jesus centered change not only in our life but in the life of the church as well: In 2017 I resolve to pray more, read and study the Bible Regularly, support my church by my attendance and giving, get involved with Sunday School Class, or other Study Group, invite and bring someone to church with me, volunteer some of my time in service to others, make an intentional effort to put the needs of others above my own.

If we can do these things and can allow Jesus to replace self as the number one priority in our lives, then 2017 will be a tremendous year and our New Year’s Resolutions will not be broken by January second.

Richard

Altar Arrangements

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As 2017 is fastly approaching, we will start a new calendar for altar arrangements. If you would like to have the altar flowers in commemoration of a birthday, anniversary, or in memory of a family member, please let Jolene Bilbrey know by email (fumcgalax1@gmail.com) or call the church office at 276-236-2311.

UMW News – November 2016

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The members of the UMW would like to express our sincere appreciation to all who came and supported our UMW Sunday and to those who came to the meal following the second service. Also, thanks to all who took part in the service and who helped downstairs. It helps us to know that our church family cares. Due to the November election, our next meeting will be on November 1st at 10:00 am in the UMW room. This will be our World Thank program and Mariah is in charge. Please try to attend.

THANKSGIVING

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Well, it is that time of year again! November brings Thanksgiving and the start of the Holiday Season. Before we know it we often get so caught up in our hectic schedules and holiday agendas that we really have time for nothing else.

I truly do not think that is what Thanksgiving should be about. Rather it should be a time to draw apart, a time to “be still” and know God, a time to share blessings with others. These things should be our aims and goals not just for Thanksgiving but also all through the year.

May I suggest a way to share your blessings and show your thankfulness? I would like to call this the “Adopt a Friend” method. This is a way for you to take personal responsibility for, and show interest in someone else. Maybe you know a shut-in who needs a ride to church, an elderly person, or nursing home resident who needs a visit, card, or phone call. A family that is grieving the loss of a loved one, a younger person who has a long term illness and needs to know that the church still cares or a new resident who may come to our church if they are shown a personal interest; in these and other ways your talents and your time can be used to share your blessings with someone else.

I think you will enjoy Thanksgiving and the holiday season a whole lot more if you share with those who need a friend. Try it and see.

Richard

Christmas Poinsettias Available Now!

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If you would like to place a poinsettia in the sanctuary for Christmas in honor or memory of an individual, orders are now being accepted. 8 inch red Poinsettia’s will be ordered from Personal Touch Florist and the cost is $20.00 each. Ruth Sizemore and her helpers will also be making bow’s for the poinsettia’s. If you would like to order a poinsettia please submit your order by Nov. 9th with the payment to the church office. You can download the form by clicking here.

UMW News – October 2016

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October is fast approaching and will be a very busy month for our UMW.  October 11 is our regular meeting day.  Linda Burnette has our program and we will also install officers for the upcoming year On October 22 we will travel to Jordan’s Chapel for Wytheville District UMW Fall Annual Meeting.  Let me know if you’d like to join us for that trip!  Due to elections in November our UMW meeting has been changed to November 1.

We are getting things ready for the Angel Tree project since Christmas is just around the corner.  More on that will be coming soon.

Mark your calendar for our UMW Sunday on Oct. 16th and plan to bring your favorite dish for our covered dish meal following the 11:00 service.  We will provide meat, bread, and drinks.  I’m sure you will want to hear our new district superintendent, Rev. Kim Goddard and to have the opportunity to meet her.

State of the Church – 2016

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2016 has been an interesting year again we have lost many members, and members’ family to death.  So our membership and average attendance continues to decline.  However in spite of this trend, we remain in good shape financially.  We are facing the fact that the cost of maintenance and necessary repairs, some of which should have been done in the past, on our building will continue to raise, and take a large portion of our resources.  So far we have been able to pay these costs with interest earnings; however we may have to spend principle for future needs.

Things we continue to do well; our music department adds so much to our worship; our United Methodist Women remain a vital and strong unit; our Missions Committee again this year donated to each of the thirty-eight Holston Conference Projects under the four categories-International Advance (5), U.S. Advance (11), UMCOR (5), and Conference Advance (17).  We also participated in the Annual Conference Hands-On Mission Project, Charge for Children Offering, and had a good response for the Cleaning Buckets after the flood in West Virginia.  All of this is in addition to our Health and Welfare Assistance Program each Tuesday that makes a real difference to those in need.  Our congregation as a whole also supports the “Angel Tree” program, the Christmas Shoe Drive, Back Pack Buddies in Galax, and Grayson County.  We also contributed to the Tri-Area Pregnancy Resource Center’s “Baby Bottle” campaign.  Each of these programs has an impact on our local community.   We also pay our Conference Tithes and District asking’s each year.

We also reach out to our community by allowing the use of our building by the following groups: Mountain Top School, Alcoholics’ Anonymous, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts.

Perhaps our greatest success continues to be our Kids’ Junction Ministry.  This provides diapers, formula, baby food, school supplies, and clothing for children’s sizes 0 to 8.  These items are not covered by SNAP benefits so they greatly help those families in need.  In preparation for the opening of this school year, our congregation provided fifty-nine back packs filled with needed school supplies.  Way to go!

As the words of a song from my youth said; “The times are a-changing.”  We at First Galax United Methodist Church earnestly seek to know what God’s will for us is in these changing times.  Please join us in this endeavor.

Richard

UMW News – Foster Falls Trip, September 2016

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After taking the month of August off, the UMW is ready to get busy with our fall activities. We are looking forward to our annual trip to Foster Falls on September 13. The bus will leave the church parking lot at 10:00 am. Bring a sandwich. Everything else will be provided. All women are invited to attend our meeting. Please join us on the 13th. We will be leaving for Lake Junaluska for Houston Conference UMW Annual meeting on September 16th. It’s not too late to make plans to go with us. Mark your calendars for UMW Sunday scheduled for October 16. Rev. Kim Goddard, Wytheville District Superintendent, will be our guest speaker. We will have a covered dish meal following the 11:00 worship for our church family. The UMW will provide meat, bread and drinks. Please bring your favorite side or dessert and enjoy a time to meet our new District Superintendent and fellowship together.

Lifeline Screening – 09/23/2016

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Life Line Screening, a leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings, is pleased to offer a preventive health event at Galax First United Methodist Church on 9/23/2016. Five screenings will be offered that scan for potential health problems related to: blocked arteries which is a leading cause of stroke; abdominal aortic aneurysms which can lead to a ruptured aorta; hardening of the arteries in the legs which is a strong predictor of heart disease; atrial fibrillation or irregular heart beat which is closely tied to stroke risk; and a bone density screening, for men and women, used to assess the risk of osteoporosis. Register for a Wellness Package which includes 4 vascular tests and osteoporosis screening from $149 ($139 with our member discount). All five screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete. In order to register for this event and to receive a $10 discount off any package priced above $129, please call 1-888-653-6441 or visit www.lifelinescreening.com/community-partners/.