the Voice
The newsletter of Longview FUMC
903-753-4463 | longviewfumc.org
400 N. Fredonia St, Longview, Texas 75601
July 8, 2015
Rags by Roy James
Beaux is our shy dog that has no fear of thunder or lightening, but will amaze vet technicians when
we take him to the doctor by flattening himself against the floor of their lobby. He is so “shiveringly”
afraid that he looks more like an earthworm crawling across the floor than a medium size black and
white part-English pointer.
I love Beaux. He is the best dog to run or walk with because he stays right with me. He will match my
pace and never slow down or wander. From the first time I ran with him he was right with me. He will
hardly ever even need to stop for puppy dog needs until I am finished with my run, and we are walking
home. Beaux is a wonderful companion when I step outside in the early morning for my cup of coffee.
He seems to loves the scratch behind his ears almost as much as I love to give it.
If you remember, Beaux is the dog Merryl picked up last winter on a farm road in an icy rain storm.
There is no way to know where he came from or what precipitated the fear he has.
The other evening as I took my novel and coffee out to the porch, Beaux came lumbering over to meet
me. I scratched his ears and he looked at me in ecstasy. Then Queenie ran over for her pet and scratch.
Beaux stepped back, looked at me and then slunk away to the doghouse.
It wasn’t so much that he left me. It was that he slunk away in his crawl mode, and he slid into the far
back of the doghouse where I couldn’t even reach without crawling inside.
I called to him. I offered a treat. Nothing could pull him out of his “slunk downness.”
Just as I shook my head in disbelief of what he was missing, it struck me. That is the same thing I (we) do
with God. I’ve slunk away from God too many times. I am not sure what God is offering me. I wonder
if it’s going to be a slap down like I’ve gotten here or there from this or that situation. God has never
slapped me down, but life has.
What if I stopped “slunking away” and lifted my ear to God? I bet the scratch would be pretty amazing.
Grace &peace,
Roy
Please send all submissions for The Voice to [email protected]
The Voice (ISSN-USPS 662-420) is published bi-weekly by Longview’s First United Methodist Church, 400 North Fredonia Street,
Longview, TX 75601. Periodicals Postage paid at Longview, TX.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE VOICE, 400 North Fredonia St., Longview, TX 75601.
Pioneers July 9
CHURCH NEWS
Join us at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 9,
for our Pioneer Fellowship in the Faith
Center. We welcome the talented Rock
Stops, an East Texas cello ensemble
comprised of students from Longview,
Marshall, New Diana, and Gilmer. They
play popular music that is transcribed
for cello choir. Pam Martin and Joanie
Russell lead the group.
Pioneers welcomes anyone, especially
those who are retired or of retirement
age. Please call the Longview FUMC
office at (903) 753-4463 to make a
reservation for the delicious $5 lunch.
UMW Project
Saturday, July 18 | 8 a.m.–n oon
UMW’s hands-on mission project for
this year is School Bags for UMCOR.
We will be assembling the school bags
at the UMW meeting on August 11 in
the Heritage Room. We are asking for
donations of supplies (see list) or money
for purchase. Donations can be made
in the Longview FUMC Church Office
and sacks will be around the church to
collect school supplies.
A church-wide day of community missions.
Supply list for each school bag: ALL
Items Must Be New
• 1 pair rounded tip scissors—no
plastic scissors
• 3 pads of paper: Spiral or top bound
pads; 150 sheets or less of loose-leaf
paper can be substituted for 1 pad;
• Combinations of spiral, top-bound,
side-bound, or loose-leaf paper is
acceptable
• 1 30-centimeter ruler
• 6 unsharpened pencils
• 1 2-inch or larger-size eraser
• 1 24-count box of crayons
Note: No advertisements, religious,
patriotic, military, or camouflage
symbols. Cartoon characters are
acceptable.
See website for more information: www.
umcor.org.
The Projects
• D.O.R.S. Youth Transition Center: Painting apartment for program graduate
(indoors) at Parkway Gardens on McCann Road.
• Heartisans (limited space project): Letter printing, handwork, sewing, handcraft,
and manufacturing at 112 W. Methvin.
• Newgate: Indoor painting and outdoor mowing/gardening at 207 S. Mobberly
• Longview Community Ministries: Sorting and bagging food items at 506 N.
Second St.
• Community Outreach: Music and lemonade at the gazebo in Magrill Plaza
at 500 N. Green St.
• Summer Meadows: Building raised gardens at 301 Hollybrook Dr.
• Nursing Home: Singing to the residents. Meet in North Parking lot to ride buses.
• Community Cares: Creating fleece throws, assembling craft kits and newborn
gift baskets in the Longview FUMC Parlor.
• Youth Project at Asbury House: Asbury House playground work at 320 S.
Center St.
• Children's Project: Assembling hygiene kits and bird feeders in the Longview
FUMC Cook Foyer.
Sign up for a project and a t-shirt on Sunday! For more information, contact Steffani
Chapman at (903) 753-4463.
CHURCH NEWS
Combined Adult Summer Sunday school
Sunday, July 5 we began our combined
adult summer Sunday school class. This
great study, written by Adam Hamilton,
will explore the life and message of the
Apostle Paul.
This class will gather in Nicolson Chapel
during the Sunday school hour each
Sunday in July. Coffee and doughnuts
will be served outside the chapel.
Thank you!
Thank you to Elaine Callaway for her handmade quilt hangings that will be
donated to Longview FUMC.
Our Stewardship
Asbury House Garage Sale
For the Month of May
Income
$110,641
Expense $150,295
The annual Asbury House Garage Sale will be held on Friday, August 7 and
Saturday, August 8 in the Longview FUMC Faith Center. All proceeds will go to
the Asbury House Child Enrichment Center.
YTD Actual as of 5/31/15
Income$813,414
Expenses $806,114
Donations for the garage sale are accepted 7–8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays,
and 4–5 p.m. on Saturdays. Bring items to the storage container in the Longview
FUMC parking lot on Green Street. Please note that adult clothing will not be
accepted. Thank you for your donations!
Other Offerings Collected YTD
Dollars for Missions
$2,540
Society of St. Stephen $7,004
Fall 2015
Sager Brown Trip
Sign up now in the Longview FUMC
church office for this Mission Trip to the
UMCOR Depot in Baldwin, Louisiana.
This is a wonderful mission opportunity,
great fun and fellowship, and an
amazing place to be the hands and feet
of Christ!
The deadline to sign up is July 31. The
trip will be September 28– October 3.
Food of the Month
July: Mac & Cheese
Celebration Ministry Event!
Celebration is a woman-to-woman ministry of sharing, encouraging, and mentoring
in the faith.
What an amazing Saturday! On June 27, Cindy Coleman, Debbie Hayes, Michelle
Crum, and Steffani Chapman spent the morning at First United Methodist Church
of Carthage worshipping and praising God along with other women from our
area. We saw old friends, made new friends, and experienced the love and grace
of God. Judy Graham, president of Celebration, delivered a wonderful message
and the music was inspiring. We are looking forward to hosting a Celebration
event here at our church in the near future!
YOUTH AND CHILDREN NEWS
Lakeview Methodist Church Camp and
Mystery Ramble 2015 at Galveston Island
At Lakeview we focused on the “Spirit Living in Me.” We discovered, through
Galatians, the difference between good fruit and bad fruit, and how we can listen
to the Holy Spirit.
At Mystery Ramble we focused on Psalm 139:14 and Jerimiah 1:5. God knows us
in the womb, we are wonderfully made, and he has great plans for us. We talked
about heroes of the Bible and the plans God had for them. Like Sampson, we
may get off track from God, but he never gives up on us, and he allows us to be
redeemed by his love and grace.
Desserts Needed!
Youth Ministry needs donations of desserts for the BIG HOUSE mission team that
is staying at Longview FUMC July 16–19. Youth Ministry is providing dinner for
them and we invite church members to help provide desserts. Desserts will be
accepted in the Church Office July 14, 15, and 16.
We are feeding approximately 50 people and only need dessert for the first night.
If you have any questions, please call Janice, Youth Director, at (903) 753-4463 or
email [email protected].