The Methodist Messenger

First United Methodist Church

Edinburg Texas
January 2011

A HOME FOR OUR STEEPLE

The steeple that graced the sanctuary our church family
occupied when it worshiped at a downtown location has been
sitting in a field for several years now. However, a plan has
been proposed that would provide our church family with an
outdoor prayer garden, and that garden that would serve as a
home for our steeple.
The proposed site for the prayer garden is the area im-
mediately east of our main building and immediately north of
the children’s playground. The garden will include a gazebo
that will be topped by the steeple, a sitting area and landscap-
ing. This space will provide us with a place to reflect and pray
while surrounded by a natural setting. It will also provide suffi-
cient space for special worship services such as Easter Sunrise
service and Good Friday service. The space could further be
utilized for small weddings or other events.
We must raise $50,000 to bring this plan to fruition. I
encourage you to consider making a pledge toward this goal. A
pledge to “A Home of the Steeple” can be a one-time gift or a
pledge that can be stretched out for 12 months. Any gift that
you choose to give should be above and beyond the regular
gifts you already provide to help finance the work done by your church family.
We will hold several meetings this month to help our church members learn more about this proposal.
If you are unable to attend one of the gatherings but wish to learn more about “A Home for the Steeple,”
please contact Dwayne Bair, Larry Hunter, Susan Wiesehan, Jimmy Billings, Jackie Billings, Dana Villarreal,
Jon Patterson or Pastor Laura.
When Jesus was troubled, weary or in need of strength or guidance, he would often seek a secluded
spot where he could pray. We, too, could benefit from such an oasis. Let’s join together to create a prayer
oasis and simultaneously provide a home for our steeple.

Mission Work in Central America-

America-
Exploring the Option

If you are interested in investigating the possibility of serving on an interna-

tional work team, you are invited to an exploratory meeting that will take place at
noon on Sunday, January 23. During this session, we will simply gauge interest in
sending a team to a Central American nation. Possible work sites are in Costa Rica,
El Salvador, and Nicaragua.
 Laity Banquet & Ministry Fair
Our Lay Persons of the Year – Dana Villarreal, Ray Knox and Nancy Murray –
will be recognized at a district-wide banquet which will be held at St. Mark
UMC on Sunday, January 30. The banquet is $10 per person, and reservations
are required. To make a reservation, call Josh at 381-9806. The deadline is
January 17.
This year, the Laity Banquet will be preceded by a Ministry Fair. The Ministry
Fair will feature representatives from a variety of ministries, including: Trustees,
Finance, SPRC, Missions, Campus Ministries, UMM, UMW, Justice for Our
Neighbors, Rethink Church, and Youth/Camping Ministry. Resource persons
will be available to answer questions and share experience on these areas of min-
istry. The event will close with worship; Rev. Laura Merrill will preach and pre-
side. The Laity Banquet will follow the worship service.
The Ministry Fair will be held from 3:30 – 4:45. Worship will take place at 4:45 – 5:30. The Laity
Banquet is scheduled from 5:30 – 7:00.

Haiti Project
Dozens of new dresses, backpacks and boys’ shorts will soon be gifted to chil-
dren in Haiti thanks to the efforts of several women in our congregation. These women
have been sewing these clothing items throughout the past year. On December 19, the
items were presented to David Draeger who will now take the items to Haiti.
The Haiti Project is a year-round project. You can help by making a clothing item any time during the
year. You can find patterns for dresses and shorts at the Haiti Project display table in the church lobby.

Living Nativity
Our church presented an outdoor Living Nativity on December 12 as a gift to our community and in
recognition of the reason for the season. The Living Nativity featured costumed participants, live animals, and
music. There was also an opportunity to purchase gift items from the Holy Land. Thanks to everyone who
participated in this effort.
Below are a few photos from this event.
 Just Get Started! A note from Wesley Nurse Cindy Bishop RN BSN

Traditionally, January is the time when we set goals and look forward
to what we would like to see happen during the year. This year is no excep-
tion. Throughout 2011, we are going to be focusing on ways to improve our
health and quality of life. Each month you will notice at least one program
that is health-related. Let’s challenge, motivate and encourage one another to
fulfill our goals and keep on track this year.
As you think about goal setting, remember that the most important
step is to just get started. Be sure to set realistic goals that are attainable.
Rather than trying to change many behaviors all at once, focus on one area at
a time. For example rather than deciding you will lose that extra 20 pounds,
exercise every day and make more healthy food choices, choose one goal at a
time. Most often the goals are inter-related anyway so one will help with an-
other. Be sure you have a specific time frame for the attainment of your goals. Remember that it takes time to
change habits, so be patient with yourself and allow for imperfection. Commit to your goals and develop a
schedule for working on the goal. Be sure to make it fun so that you will continue and not give up.
Two big changes that impact all of health are diet and exercise…words most of us don’t like to hear. I
challenge you to consider one of these goals for the new year. Perhaps the easiest way to follow through with
your goal will be to join one of our exercise classes. We continue to meet on Monday and Wednesday at
5:30pm for a walking class (Walk the Walk) and Tuesday and Thursday at 10 am for a stretch and
strengthen exercise class done mostly while seated. (Faithful Feet). If the current schedule is not convenient,
come talk to me and we may be able to work out a different time schedule. If you would like to have ac-
countability, I am available in the office to visit with you, listen, offer advice/suggestions/resources and to
monitor your weight if you so desire.
There will be “bumps” along the way, but be consistent and persevere with your plan. Keep looking
forward to those goals you set. Be kind to yourself when you fail, and don’t use a few set-backs as excuses to
give up.
We will kick off the year with heart healthy ideas. LOOK FOR DETAILS ABOUT UPCOMING
EVENTS SUCH AS A FITNESS CHALLENGE FOR ALL OF US! Show your support of Women’s
heart health by wearing RED on Sunday Feb. 20. A special tea for ladies is also planned for February.

“Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
I Thess. 5:11.

ADVENT CONSPIRACY-
Many of you took the Advent Conspiracy challenge and
curtailed your Christmas spending; you then gave a portion of the
money you saved to our special Christmas Eve offering. That of-
fering totaled $4103.93.
Our entire Christmas Eve offering will be sent to Living Water In-
ternational, a ministry that builds water wells in impoverished communities around the globe in an effort to
provide clean drinking water to people in need in the name of Jesus.
Our donation to LWI will almost certainly save lives. 1.8 million people die every year from water
born illnesses. That includes 3,900 children a day. Our gifts will help Living Water International provide a
solution to the water crisis.
LWI has completed more than 9000 projects in 26 countries since it began in 1990. To learn more
about this ministry and how our offering will further the work of this ministry, go to www.water.cc/
 Committee Orientation and Training
Persons who have been elected to serve in the following administrative and
programming committees for the 2011 calendar year are asked to attend an
orientation and training session on Sunday, January 16th.
Finance Committee: Dana Villarreal (chair), Darris Hable, Jean
Paraskevas, Kim Wilke, Laura Grabowski, Brad Cowan, Dwayne Bair,
Shirley Heyn, Larry Kaiser.
Trustees: Jon Patterson, Jimmy Billings, Sam Diaz, Ed Payne, Mark Carl-
son, Donna Woodward, Ken Heyn, Ray Knox, Chris Cowan.
Missions Committee: Shirley Bair (chair), Jean Paraskevas, Nancy Murray, JoAnn Bair, Sandra Green,
Marilyn Houts, Ana Verley, Donna Woodward, Mary Grace Messmore.
Children’s Council: Kelly Carlson (chair), Evelyn Hury, Judy McClelland, Dee Muzquiz, Alicia Henderson,
Amorey Plant, Grace Jailor, Eunice Rodriguez, and interested parents.

Administrative Council to Meet

The 2011 Administrative Council will hold its first meeting on Monday,
January 17 at 7:00 pm. Members are: Linda Henrichson (chair), Marilyn
Dunphy (recording secretary), Susan Wiesehan (treasurer), Evan Brough
(lay leader), Brad Cowan (annual conference delegate), Chris Rierson
(chair, SPPRC), Dana Villarreal (chair, Finance), Kim Keebaugh (chair,
Worship Committee), Jane Wilke (chair, Congregational Life); Trustee’s
Chairperson, to be elected by Trustees; Shirley Bair (chair, Missions),
Marjorie Flanagan, (chair, History and Archives), Nan Marie Smith
(chair, Memorials), Kelly Carlson (chair, Children’s Council), Jackie
Billings (chair, Discipleship), Deb Myers (chair, Health and Wellness), Jean Paraskevas (UMW President),
UMYF President, chair of Trustees.

IRS Sets Mileage Rate

The Internal Revenue Service has set the 2011 optional standard mileage rates used to calcu-
late the deductible costs of operating an automobile for charitable purposes. Beginning on
Jan. 1, 2011, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel
trucks) will be 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations. If you drive
youth group members on an outing, take donations to the domestic violence shelter on behalf of the church,
etc., you can take a deduction on your taxes.

Dear Church Family,

Heartfelt thanks for your prayers, cards, calls, visits, and FOOD during my
recent illness. Your concern and support meant so much to Howard and
me! Special thanks to Ed Keebaugh and Nancy Murray, who organized
choir folders, and Ed rehearsed and conducted the Chancel Choir without
missing a beat—thanks, Ed!
With much love and appreciation,

Lois Kildahl
 “When in our music God is glorified…
It is as though the whole creation cried, “Alleluia!”

What a wonderful Christmas season it has been with

choirs singing, handbells ringing, the congregation enthusiasti-
cally responding...all to the glory of God! Congratulations to
Gabriel’s Chorus and all of the children, under the direction of
Evelyn Hury and Amorey Plant, who participated in presenting
“The Story of Christmas” at our early Christmas Eve service.
Special thanks, also, to pianist Alice Hury for accompanying the
pageant.

Heartfelt thanks to the chancel choir for their presenta-

tions as part of the “Lessons and Carols” service, and on Christ-
mas Sunday for their meaningful interpretation of “A Thrill of
Hope”, narrated by Judy McClelland, accompanied by Ann Graf and Stephanie Keebaugh.

Not the least of thanks goes to our handbells, formerly known as the “Glorybelles”, now fondly know
as the “FUMC Glory Bellringers”, (since adding two gentlemen to our bell choir, we can no longer be
“belles!”). This group was extremely busy throughout the community, playing on five different occasions at
five different places! This involves transporting three heavy cases of bells, two cases of chimes, six folding
tables, six pads for the tables, six table covers, metal music podiums and stands for 12 players, a folder of mu-
sic and 2 mallets for each player, a director’s stand, 12 Christmas hats and 12 pairs of red gloves! Then, when
we arrive at the site, all of this must be arranges, making sure that each player has all of the equipment needed
for the performance, and perfectly in place! Any misplaced bell is cause for panic! Needless to say, this re-
quires the cooperation of all members, and I am personally grateful for and proud of every single member! (I
won’t even detail the procedure of re-packing our cars after the performance, and transporting the equipment
safely back to the church!)

As the new year begins, we renew our commitment to use the gift of music in a joyful, spiritual way,
and to encourage congregational singing as we lift our voices and instruments together in praise of God!
There is room in our music program for YOU! Please feel welcome to attend any of our rehearsals...the only
requirements for ‘membership’ are that you love music and are willing to rehearse regularly. You can make a
real contribution to our worship services by sharing your time and talent with us. The fellowship is warm, and
the rewards are forever.

Yours in for Christ,

Lois Kildahl
Music Director
First United Methodist Church Non-Profit Organization
3707 West University
Edinburg, TX 78541 U.S. Postage Paid
Rev. Laura Brewster, Pastor
Permit No. 1
Office: (956) 381-9806
Fax: (956) 381-9807
Email: edinburgfirst@sbcglobal.net
Web: www.edinburgfumc.org
Sunday services at 8:30 & 11:00 am.
Address Services Requested

Letters & Calls to Our Church Family

“Sure miss all of you down there. I wish I was there

now. It is 17 degrees and two inches of snow on the
ground…. I finally joined the church up here last
week. You all have a very Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year.” Bud Fitch, 2200 Green Tree
North, Apt 1114, Clarksville, IN 47129

“Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.” Phyllis

Schroeder

“I miss you all.” Ann Washington, 1060 Rambling

Oaks Drive, Apt 214, Norman, OK 73072

“Wishing you peace, happiness and joy this holiday

season.” Love, Chuck Mann, 1400 Hilltop Circle,
Kerrville, TX 78028

“Merry Christmas to all.” Kevin Savage, 2020 East

Kerr, Apt J407, Springfield, MO 65803