The Brady Beacon
Jan. & Feb. 2017
Mark 16:6 (NRSV)
But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed.
You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who
was crucified. He has been raised. He is
not here."
As most of you have heard, both my mom and dad
recently died suddenly - only nine days apart.
Whereas I am grateful for the fact that neither of
them suffered a lingering illness or hospitalization
or protracted suffering, the sudden double shock
has taken its toll on me. If you have ever been
through this process, you know how many
decisions have to be made in a very short period
of time. Deb and I had to do it twice. We are
profoundly weary. Personally, I'm having some
trouble finding focus. I do things and then don't
remember doing them. I misplace things and can't
find them. Sleep is elusive. Sometimes the brain
simply stops and I forget to start again.
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
401 South Blackburn
PO Box 1030
Brady, TX 76825
Phone: 325-597-3436
Web: fumcbrady.org
N. P. “Phil” Steinbach, Pastor
fax: 325-597-7856
May God give me the grace to
understand that the world is
too small for anything but
LOVE
I realize all of this is a normal part of grieving.
Because I am a pastor, I frequently walk with
people through the process. Still, it's been a while
since I've been on this side of grief. I am surprised
by it. However, I'm not alone.
The disciples and followers of Jesus were
surprised by his death, too. All four of the
resurrection accounts recorded by the gospel
writers describe the same alarm. When the sun
came up on that first Easter morning, the grave of
Jesus was discovered to be empty. The people
were astonished at what had happened. Only then,
did they remember the many times Jesus told them
what must happen in order for death to be
defeated.
Dad was 94 and mom was 91. They were married
for over 70 years. I was fortunate to have had my
parents for such a long time. Even though I dearly
miss them, they are still very much part of me.
They always will be. I take comfort in knowing
that God's promise of resurrection has been
fulfilled for my mom and dad. Death has been
defeated. The surprise and sorrow of sudden death
has given way to a peaceful assurance within my
soul. I know they will live and breathe forever in
the presence of a loving and merciful God.
Jey Jones, Youth Director
I'll see you in church!
Phil...
The Brady Beacon 1
The Susanna Wesley Circle will be putting
Valentine Boxes together on February 7th in the
fellowship hall. They will be doing 9 boxes this
year. Anyone wanting to help with donations for
the boxes are welcome. Bring goodies to the
fellowship hall or the office .
SPRC
Committee Meeting
February 13, 2017
5:30pm
Conference Room
Thank you to my church family
for the staff love offering
and all the Christmas cards,
gifts, food and blessing.
Wishing you a happy New Year!
Charlotte
THE UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
Marjorie Barnhill
Greetings First United Methodist Church,
The youth group has several talented, hard- working
Youth Workers. You might be wondering what is a
Youth Worker. A Youth Worker is someone who has
a passion for youth, cares about their personal lives
and wants to invest time in present because that will
affect their futures. Jey, is looking for someone who
wants to promote spiritual growth and awareness of
God’s presence is their lives. He is looking for
someone who is willing to put a little mileage on the
body and work with middle and high schoolers. If
interested give Jey a call at First United Methodist
Church office or email him at
[email protected]. This is a volunteer
position.
Thank you to the following for doing the meal
deliveries to Helping Hands during the month
of January.
Fay Lawler
Julianna Lindsay
Bill & Donna Robinett
Joe & Joy Millsap
Thank you to the congregation of
FUMC for the Christmas love
offering. Your thoughtfulness and
love have always meant the world to
me. May God Bless all of you with a
wonderful new year.
Donna
The United Methodist Women had a successful year.
Quarterly, we pledge to the Rio District. We sent monies
for Prayer and Self-Denial and World Thank Offering.
We planted 4 Buford Holly and 16 Algerian ivy in front
of the new administration building. The staff was
remembered with Thanksgiving/Christmas gifts. Using
the money gained from last year’s rummage sale, the
women gave money for ceiling tiles for the foyer and the
two halls in the Sanctuary building. Then, we donated
money to the building fund. During December, the UMW
gave to Methodist Home, Providence Home and Concho
Valley Home for Girls. Locally, we gave to The Haven,
Casa Care, Wesley Nurse Program, Sunset Center,
Helping Hands, Brady Clergy, and Hope from the Heart.
To be a 5-Star Unit, money was sent to the district in
honor, in memory of, as well as to the World Thanks
offering. A special recognition pin was given also.
For Candle Burning at district, money was given in honor
of two individuals and for our prayer blanket program.
Lunches were given to three bereaved families; hams
given to two bereaved families; and a reception to one
family.
Refreshments were furnished for the children’s Christmas
Program.
The unit made 1296 visits to our shut-ins. We held
Valentine and Halloween parties at Brady West while the
executive committee provided refreshments to the Jubilee
House during the summer.
It is time for Valentine boxes to be sent to our college
students and those needing our help. The Suzanna Wesley
Circle heads up this project. They welcome goodies to fill
the boxes.
Cookies are furnished by various women of the church
for early and late Sunday services.
We invite any lady to attend/visit/join one of the UMW
circles.
In 2015, the UMW worldwide collected $13 million.
The Brady Beacon 2
Thoughts from your Lay Leader
Okay folks the Capital Campaign is over, pledge cards were turned in, and the building committee is
moving forward with the new fellowship hall, family life center project, so what now??
What vision do we have? Now I do not mean what you think it will look like, I am asking us what vision
for the future we have. What will we use the facility for? How will we use it to bring people to Christ?
How will it benefit our community, and so on? That is what I mean about vision.
I realize a lot of thought and planning went into the project, and yes the old facility is definitely wore out,
and we needed to upgrade, but just upgrading to upgrade is not the purpose in itself.
If we need a new life center to just have an occasional pot luck lunch, or for the UMM to have a fish fry or
two per year, or for the women’s breakfast to meet, or so on and so on, we could have continued on as we
were doing. What is our VISION??
How can we utilize this facility to educate? How can we use this facility to comfort? How can we use
this facility to protect? How can we use this facility to have fun? How can we use this facility to reach
out? How can we use this facility to bring others to Christ? How can we use this facility to make others
feel welcome and included? The list can go on and on.
My point is, we cannot just build a facility to build a facility, we must build a facility to build up the
Christian community and show the face of Christ to others. So again I ask the question, what vision do
we have? If you have a vision, and a thought as to how we can use this facility, I would love to hear from
you. So please call me 597-6931 or email me at [email protected] and lets brainstorm and talk
about the future of this great and exciting new life center and how it will make a difference in Brady
America and how it will make a difference in the Kingdom of God.
Monte Owens
It is hard to believe that it is time to begin preparing for the Easter
Cantata! I will be ordering it in the near future, so if you would like to
join us, please let me know so I can get you a book and a practice cd. Easter
is on April 16 this year. We will begin rehearsals in mid-February.
I still have DVDs of our Christmas Cantata. If you missed this cantata, you
can make up for it! It has been said that it was “the best one ever done!!!!”
Please see me if you would like one.
We have had a few gifts of music:
In honor of the FUMC Handbell Choir:
Commercial National Bank
Brady National Bank
An Anonymous Gift of New Handbell Tables
(Special thanks to these nameless angels!)
Thank you very much for your gifts.
Don’t forget you can enhance our music ministry by purchasing gifts of music.
You may do this in honor or memory of loved ones.
Please contact Kathleen Gray at 325-456-3691 or [email protected] if you have questions or
would like to purchase a gift of music.
The Brady Beacon 3
Building Committee
The Building Committee met on January 10 to review the current status of the new Fellowship Hall project.
The Committee was presented information concerning the status of the fund raising project. To date the Capital
Campaign has raised in actual funds and pledges for the funding the project:
Capital Campaign Pledges
2,016
2,017
2,018
2,019
Total
94,678
106,746
125,746
58,574
385,744
Total Funding Available
Capital Campaign
385,744
Cleta Allen Estate
1,220,851
Total Available
1,606,595
Based on the funds available the Committee decided to go forward with having RVK, the architects for the
project, prepare the plans for the Fellowship Hall. After the plans are received the Committee will go out for bids for
the project. The Committee has received estimates for the project ranging from $2,000,000 to $2,400,000. However
these estimates are just that, merely estimates, based upon some preliminary information provided by the architects.
A full set of plans is needed for a contractor to bid on the project. It should take from 6 weeks to 2 months for the
architects to do a full set of plans.
It is anticipated that the project will cost no less than $2,000,000, so as you can see additional funding is
needed. We would like to be able to pay for the entire project without having to borrow any funds. If you have
made your pledge, thank you. If you have not made a pledge, please consider doing so in the near future.
It has come to my attention that some of the packets were missing the
campaign pledge cards. If you do not have one, I have extras in the office and
narthex. You can come by and pick one up or I can mail you one if you let me
know.
Donna
The following recipe was found on a paper dated September 12, 1982 when the kitchen cabinets were taken
out of the “old parsonage” this week.
TEXAS BEST ONION RINGS
1 can (12 oz.) beer (may be flat)
2 cups flour
2 very large white onions
Mix beer and flour with fork or wire whip. Cover tightly and let stand for at least four hours. It won’t hurt to
leave it all day.
Peel onions, slice crosswise in 3/8 inch slices. Drain. Heat oil for frying. Dip drained onions rings in batter and
fry until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
Serves 4-6
The Brady Beacon 4
El'em! (Elementary)
Echo Youth.
In this amazing series, kids are going to travel
through the Bible and visit great Bible stories!
They will get a better understanding of events
that happen in the Bible that are real!
Youth & Youth Workers!
Ignite Conference is for
Middle school & High school
(6th-12th grade).
Mark your calendars!
Book this event!
"When we encounter Jesus for the first time or in a long time, Jesus changes things." - Jey
The Brady Beacon 5
In January the Youth Group began their series entitled: Meant to live.
Every time a new year comes, we tend to think of fresh starts. In a sense that is true. A new year creates many opportunities for
those fresh start moments. People go as far as to lose weight, balance money better, making long lasting friendships, to not be a
jerk and many other goals. I think we have to remind ourselves that every day is a fresh start and that we need to take advantage
and be the change we need in our lives and in the world.
In this series our youth will look at making goals and allowing Christ to lead them in their own personal lives this year. God wants
us to know that we were made to live for so much more than what we want for our lives.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.
The Brady Beacon 6
From the Finance Committee
DECEMBER 31, 2016
2016
2016
YTD
YEAR TO
YTD
BUDGET
DATE
BUDGET
VARIANCE
INCOME
291,368
311,714
(20,346)
TOTAL INCOME
291,368
311,714
(20,346)
Program Expenses
11,080
17,425
(6,345)
Administrative Exp
8,049
7,570
EXPENSES
Trustee Expense
Human Resources
Other Expenses
TOTAL EXPENESE
Transfer to TMF
NET INCOME
479
49,338
48,098
1,240
188,410
195,573
(7,163)
42,776
43,048
(272)
299,653
311,714
(12,061)
10,000
-
10,000
(18,285)
-
(18,285)
We have so much to be thankful
for. Our congregation is a caring
and giving congregation. Our
ministries programs are growing
and our plans for upgrading our
facilities are evolving to meet our
community’s needs. The Finance
Committee has provided you
with the final budget comparison
for 2016. We fell slightly short
of our budget but at no time did
we fail to meet our financial
obligations. As a congregation,
we need your continued prayers
and support as we go forward
with our new budget for 2017.
Thank you in advance for your
continued generosity.
Sue Owens
Finance Committee Chairman
PROPOSED
BUDGET
2017
2017
2016
YTD
YTD
YTD
BUDGET
BUDGET
BUDGET
VARIANCE
$
309,974.00
$
311,714.00
(1,740.00)
-0.56%
Program Expenses
$
12,425.00
$
18,925.00
(6,500.00)
-34.35%
Administrative Ex
$
7,520.00
$
6,070.00
1,450.00
Trustee Expense
$
48,985.00
$
48,098.00
887.00
1.84%
Human Resources
$
201,080.00
$
195,573.00
5,507.00
2.82%
Other Expenses
$
39,164.00
$
43,048.00
(3,884.00)
-9.02%
$
309,174.00
$
311,714.00
(2,540.00)
-0.81%
INCOME
EXPENSES
TOTAL EXPENESE
The Brady Beacon 7
23.89%
Failure does not mean I am a failure.
It does mean I have not yet succeeded!
Failure does not mean I have accomplished nothing.
It does mean I have learned something!
Failure does not mean I have been a fool.
It does mean I had enough faith to experiment!
Failure does not mean I have been disgraced.
It does mean I dared to try!
Failure does not mean I do not have it.
It does mean I have to do something in a different way!
Failure does not mean that I am inferior.
It does mean that I am not perfect!
Failure does not mean that I have wasted my life.
It does mean I have an excuse to start over!
Failure does not mean that I should give up.
It does mean that I must try harder!
Failure does not mean that I will never make it.
It does mean that I need more patience!
Failure does not mean that You have abandoned me.
It does mean You must have a better idea!!!!
Amen!
Alternative Bible Study
-
BROWN BAG B S
You are invited to join this group which is meeting every
Wednesday at 11:00 am in the Starting Point classroom across the
courtyard (playground) from the Fellowship Hall. Please
bring a sack lunch (if you feel like it) and participate in an
open discussion of the Scriptures as to what was happening
at the time they were written and what is happening in our
world today.
Contact Sharon Sharp at 281-455-7781 or the church office
if you have questions.
Our homework for our next meeting is to look up on the internet or google::
"John Wesley" - "Middle Way"
The Brady Beacon 8
COME, BE A PART
YOUTH GROUP MINISTRIES
The Brady Beacon 9
From your Wesley Nurse....February: Healthy Hearts
It’s that time again, it’s a new year. What better time to put the focus on our health. If we don’t take care
of ourselves, we won’t be around to take care of others, especially our loved ones. We want to be around
for our spouses, our children, our grandchildren and our friends. Even the Lord wants us to take care of
ourselves. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 tells us…“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy
Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a
price. Therefore honor God with your body.”
Therefore, I am encouraging you to know your blood pressure numbers and if it’s too high, to make
control your goal. You can gain control by eating healthier, exercising most days of the week, adequate
sleep, and some form of daily relaxation.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure leads to heart attacks and strokes. In the beginning, high blood
pressure may not show any signs and symptoms which is why it is called the “silent killer.” Blood
Pressure screenings are easy and available. You may get your screenings at the doctor’s office, at
pharmacies, your Wesley Nurse, or you may use your own blood pressure machine and check it at home.
Get in the habit of taking your blood pressure on a routine basis.
If you know you have high blood pressure, keep all follow up appointments with your doctor, take your
medication as prescribed, watch your sodium intake and keep an updated diary of your blood pressure
screenings. If you smoke, try to quit and talk to you doctor about smoking cessation techniques. If you
don’t smoke, don’t start.
Please join me in wearing Red for Healthy Hearts month and visit my “Healthy Hearts Booth”
before services on Sunday 2/12/2017. I look forward to seeing you there.
The Brady Beacon 10