Vol. 10, No.

10
Vol. 12, No. 4

October 1, 2014
April 1, 2016

RMUMC Lending a Hand at Gospel for Asia

Some of our
volunteers helping to
stuff envelopes with
art work from children
to their GFA sponsors.

Light in the World

Welcome Our Newest Member

We are very excited to welcome our
newest member, Ms. Suzie Birdwell!
Suzie joined the church in March
after moving back to Wills Point from
Minnesota. When you see her, please
be sure to let her know how happy
we are to have her back!

In this Edition
Children and youth (pg. 2)
Nursery News (pg. 3)

Important Dates (p. 4)

Calendar (p. 5)

Something happened
during the Good Friday
worship service that I
found to be moving.
Although it was
completely unplanned,
the timing couldnt have
been better. It happened
during the long sequence
of scripture readings that
we know as the Passion of
Christ. As I stood at the
pulpit and began to read
the scripture, I noticed
that sunlight was coming
through one of the
windows on the west side
of the sanctuary and
shining directly on me. As I
progressed through the
narrative of Jesus trials
and suffering, the light
slowly faded as the sun
set. By the time I got to
the
(cont. on pg. 6)

Crosses of Courage

The Wills Point Rotary Club is hosting their

annual All Fore Kids charity golf tournament
on Friday, April 22 at the Van Zandt Country Club.
Entry fee is $400 per team. All proceeds support
the childrens programs of the Rotary Club (Felix
Massey Educational Grants, Lester Park
playground, Backpack Program of East Texas
Food Bank). Sponsorships for businesses are
also available. Contact Jeff Aston, Herschel
LyBrand, Jerry Huff, or Pastor Dave for more
information. Registration forms and information
are available at the church office.
Walk Where
Jesus Walked
Have you ever
considered
seeing the Holy
Land? If you
would like to
travel to Israel,
please come to our next gathering on Sunday,
April 17th at 6:00 p.m. We will meet at the home
of Adele Monning, which is at 202 S. Mary
Street. We will try to set a date for the trip. If
you would like more information on the trip,
come by the church office for a brochure.
K5 Kids Choir & K5 Kids
are off to a great start!
Join us on Wednesdays
for choir, then stay for
dinner and devotional
time from 5:30 p.m.
until 7:00 p.m.

Remember your service

member with a Memorial
Day cross! The crosses,
sponsored by the Wills
Point Historical Society,
will be on display from
5/23-6/3 in front of the
caboose in town. They cost just $20.00. You
can contact Herschel LyBrand (903-603-0960)
or Jerry Hollister (903-873-2422) for additional
information.

Food Drive
We are sponsoring the
Middle School back pack
program once again. This vital
program sends backpacks
filled with food home each
weekend with students in
need. Items should be easily
opened and consumed by a child (nothing
requiring a can opener). Small containers and
single-servings are helpful, as well. I was hungry, and you gave me food. (Matthew 25:35)

The Youth Group meets every Wednesday

night, from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. This year,
they are starting a band! Come join us for the
fun, fellowship and FOOD (dinner is served
each Wednesday!)

Methodist Day School

Our sign is on the fence and it really looks good. Thank you Rusty Miracle and Robert Greenwald!
Our Methodist Day School is going into the 21st century. We bought 10 laptops for our students to
use. We will have educational
programs for them, getting
them ready for big school. We
will have special days for
computer class and art class.
The fire inspector came last
week and the school passed all
inspections. The fire
extinguishers have been
serviced .
We have 90 children enrolled
and 9 full time staff members.

Thank You Notes

Dear RMUMC Church Family,
Thank you so much for my Valentine for working with the children of our church. It is my absolute pleasure spending time with all of the
children of our church. I love being able to pass
my love of music to all the children who are
open to receive it and look forward to continuing as long as the Lord allows! Again, thank you!
Love,
Amy Skinner
RMUMC,
We appreciate the flowers you sent to moms
funeral.
Love,
Ron & Family

Neighbor 2 Neighbor

Our lovely Neighbor 2 Neighbor helpers loading

up food for delivery at our lunch in March.

Community Outreach Program

Neighbor to Neighbor Lunch
11 am-1pm
Fourth Saturday of each month
Deen Building - George Hall
OPEN TO ANYONE
WHO CHOOSES TO COME

Please contact Gerda David for

details (214-538-0192).

Happy Birthday!
Karen Forester
Linda Greenwald
Maxine Clopton
Lois Butts
Andrea Brown
Zac Moore
Daniel David
Tom Butts
Barbara Lathem
Lori English
Michael Keller
Angie Smith
Abby Wilcoxson

4-1
4-1
4-7
4-11
4-12
4-12
4-13
4-15
4-20
4-21
4-24
4-24
4-25

Amber Davis
Suzanne Hetmer
Daniel Turner

4-26
4-29
4-30

April Worship Assistants

Altar Guild: Kathleen Bobbitt (Chair), Judy Powers, Becky Hardy,
Theresa Turner, Fritz Gilbreth
Ushers: Robert Greenwald (Head), Barbara Lamb, Dave
Lutzinger, Dee Lutzinger
Our Presence and Our Gifts
Feb. 28
March 6
March 13
the early service
47
59
50
Sunday School
90
87
99
Traditional Worship
97
100
108
$4,864.00
$7,328.00
$7,129.00

March 20 March 27
51
65
86
107
105
176
$4,509.252 $4,039.38

Calendar of Events for April

Dates to Remember!
4-2, 10:00 a.m. Cake at Crestwood
4-5, 6:00 p.m. Bridge Building Team
4-9, 9:00 a.m. UMW Brunch Meeting
4-12, 12:45 p.m. Jesus Girls
4-16, 9:00 a.m. Crafting with Christ
4-17, 12:00 p.m. Church Council
6:00 p.m. Holy Land Trip Meeting
4-23, YOUTH RUMMAGE SALE, 11:00 a.m. Neighbor to Neighbor
4-24, 9:45 a.m. Brunch
4-26, 12:45 p.m. Jesus Girls

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Pie Ministry
We are restarting our Pie Ministry! Do you know someone that could
use a pie? Maybe someone thats been under the weather, a new visitor, a new member? Let us know and we will get a pie to them to show
them how much we care! Contact the church office (903-873-2569).

Friday

Saturday

2
10:00am Cake at
Crestwood

3
8:30 am Early
Service
9:45am Sunday
School
11:00am Worship

4
10:00 am Ladies
Prayer Group
6:00pm Trustees

5
6:00pm Bridge
Building Team
7:00pm Cub
Scouts

6
5:30pm K5 Kids/
Youth Group
6:00pm Ladies
Hand Bells
7:30pm Adult Choir

7
10:00am Pastor
Daves small group
12:00pm Painting
with Patt AuBuchon

9
9:00am UMW
Brunch

10
8:30 am Early
Service
9:45 am Sunday
School
11:00 am Worship

11
10:00 am Ladies
Prayer Group
5:00pm Day
School Board
6:00pm Finance
Committee

12
12:45pm Jesus
Girls
7:00pm Cub
Scouts

13
5:30pm K5 Kids/
Youth Group
7:30pm Adult Choir

14
10:00am Pastor
Daves small group
12:00pm Painting
with Patt AuBuchon

15

16

17
18
7:30am UMM
10:00 am Ladies
Breakfast
Prayer Group
8:30 am Early
Service
9:45 am Sunday
School
11:00 am Worship
12:00 pm Church
Council
2:00 pm Crestwood
6:00 pm Holy Land
Trip Meeting

19
7:00pm Cub
Scouts

20
5:30pm K5 Kids/
Youth Group
7:30pm Adult Choir

21
10:00am Pastor
Daves small group
12:00pm Painting
with Patt AuBuchon

22

24
8:30 am Early
Service
9:45am BRUNCH
11:00 am Worship

26
12:45pm Jesus
Girls
7:00pm Cub
Scouts

25
10:00 am Ladies
Prayer Group

Communion offering
this month will go
toward sending youth
to summer camp.

27
5:30pm K5 Kids/
Youth Group
7:30pm Adult Choir

9:00am Crafting
with Christ

28
29
12:00pm Painting
with Patt AuBuchon
7:00pm Scout Committee Meeting
7:00pm Chamber of
Commerce Banquet

23
Neighbor to
Neighbor
Lunch 11 am1pm
Youth Rummage
Sale

30
Fundraiser for
Rylin Green

(cont. from pg. 1) account of Jesus death, the sun was completely down and there was no
longer any direct sunlight coming into the sanctuary. The fading of the sunlight during that service
seemed to have been very fitting. The biblical account portrays a day when the power of human
pride and hatred was overwhelming. Darkness certainly seems to have claimed a victory.
The darkness experienced on Good Friday helps to accentuate the contrast between that day and
Easter morning. I dont know what the sky looked like on that first Easter morning. Most of us
probably imagine it to have been a beautiful morning, one where the sun rose majestically over
the Mount of Olives. I think we do so because Easter is the day when light overcame darkness. In
the resurrection of Jesus Christ, God claims victory over all the darkness of the world. The light
shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5 ESV). As dark as Good Friday
may be, it always gives way to the light of Easter.
I find this to be encouraging, especially in a world where it seems that darkness has the upper
hand. We are frequently reminded of the hate-filled work of groups like ISIS, who inflict death and
destruction wherever they are able. We listen to the discourse of politicians and their constituents,
often amazed at the boundless personal attacks and even physical violence engaged to gain an
advantage over opponents. Often we cannot even have conversations around social issues
without accusations of hate leveled at those who may disagree. I could go on mentioning many
other symptoms, and they would all point to the same reality that this world is under a power of
darkness.
Thanks be to God that there is light, and as the Church we are people of light. Our presence in the
world should help to overcome darkness. As great as that task may seem, we know it is possible
because we know the One who accomplishes it. Regardless of how it may feel, we live in a time
when the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining (1 John 2:8). When we
put our efforts into the ministries of the church, let us remember that we are doing so to
participate in this work of spreading light and dispelling darkness. Some day God will bring this
work to completion. Until then, remember that no darkness is powerful enough to overcome the
light of God in Jesus Christ. Easter is our annual reminder of that.
Pastor Dave

Opportunities to Dedicate
Are you looking for a special way to honor or memorialize a special person or people? We have a
great way to do just that! You can donate a 1/2 pew ($300), a hymnal ($30), and/or a Bible ($15) in
honor/memory of your loved one(s). Contact the church office if you are interested.

Remember in Prayer:
Allen Thompson
Andy Anderson
Annette & Gerald Clemmons
Ben Carter
Betty McCormick
Billy & Dorothy Bruster
Chip Dickey
Chuck Currie
Conner Mitchell
Crestwood Nursing &
Assisted Living
David Cartwright & Family
David Page
Dennis & Beth Basham
Denny McCormick

Desiree Ramirez
Methodist Church (RMUMC)
Homeland Security
Jeff & Debby Roberts
Ret. Col. Jim Hunt
John Buffington
John Neil
Justin Nations
Kelly Smith
Liz Ellis
Mack Waller
Mark & Betty Batchel
Mary Helen Castleberry
Melinda Thomason
Missionaries in Iraq
Molly Curtis Case

Memorials
In memory of Stan Reed
Given by Candace & James Hays, Jean E.
Meadows, F.G. & Becky Hardy, Bruce & Molly
Lacy, Judy & Lenna Powers, Billy & Dorothy
Bruster, Ted Deen, Sr., Pat Mitchell, Robert &
Linda Greenwald, Liz Ellis, Dr. Bob & Fritz
Gilbreth, Seekers Sunday School Class,
Adele Monning, and Jean Miracle.
In memory of Virgil Kulwicki
Given by Ted Deen, Sr., Dr. Bob & Fritz Gilbreth,
and Robert & Linda Greenwald.
In memory of Margaret Butler
Given by Dr. Bob & Fritz Gilbreth, Sara Bullard,
Robert & Linda Greenwald, Friendship Class,
Judy Powers, F.G. & Becky Hardy, Seekers
Sunday School Class, Pat Mitchell, Larry &
Theresa Turner, Billy & Dorothy Bruster,
Dorothy Humphries, and Ted Deen, Sr.

Nancy Pride
Norma Hundley
Our Armed Forces, America
Our World
Mark Brown
Shirley Reed
Sim Caldwell
Students, Teachers, &
Administrators
Susan Stewart
Susie Dawson
Theresa Turner
Thomas Roddy
Tom Geisler
United Methodist Women
Windy Howard

In memory of Eldon Hiler

Given by Molly & Brad Brittain.
In memory of Esta Candy
Given by F.G. & Becky Hardy.
In memory of Billy Deen
Given by Friendship Class, and Betty Pratt.
In memory of BW Wade
Given by Inez Wade.
In memory of Denise Estes
Given by Inez Wade.
In memory of Harry Reaves
Given by Larry & Theresa Turner, and H.T. &
Colleen Reaves.
In memory of Jim & Edna Melton
Given by Linda Daniels.

Rev. David Cartwright, Pastor

Nancy McDonald, Office Administrator
Theresa Turner, Ladies Hand Bells Director
Denise Ross, Pianist
Amy Skinner, K5 Choir Director

Dr. Bob Gilbreth, Music Director

Fritz Gilbreth, Organist
Kelli Huff, K5 Kids Coordinator
Jackie Cockerham, Financial Administrator
Jerry Don Huff, Youth Director

Join us Sunday Morning!

Contemporary Worship @ 8:30
Sunday School @ 9:45 Traditional Worship @ 11:00
Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday

The Russell Report

Russell Memorial United Methodist Church
A Family Rooted in Christ and Reaching Out in Love
201 S. Fourth Street
P. O. Box 335
Wills Point, TX 75169

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED