FUMC E-News... 07.05.23

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FROM THE PASTOR

As soon as we moved into our new home in Graham, Jennifer began making a list of things she wanted done. One of the things I was tasked with was removing a chandelier. This light was in the formal dining room that we wanted to convert the space to a study. We purchased a ceiling fan, I gathered the tools and began the process. I am very qualified at the demo, but installation is another matter.  

Even though wiring and assembly are not my greatest talents, I felt very confident as I completed the process. I hung the fan, assembled the blades and made sure everything was working properly. I then added the light kit, globes and bulbs. It looked great. I walked over and turned the switch, no light. The fan worked perfectly, but the lights would not come on. I tried the other wall switch, I changed the bulbs and still nothing. It was evident I was not getting power. In order to check the wiring it required removing the bulbs, globes and light kit. Then the fan blades had to be removed and the ceiling bracket taken down. I was no longer feeling very confident.  

Sure enough, I had connected the wrong wires in my initial installation. I corrected my mistake, reinstalled the ceiling bracket, blades and light kit hoping for the best. Once everything was in place, I flipped the switch and there was light and a working fan. So often we desire something more in our life or we hope God will move in some way. However, we are not connected to the power or we seek power from the wrong source. John 15:5 says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” If we are not connected to Christ in our daily life, we will fail to experience an abundant life. We connect to Jesus through worship, prayer, and the study of scripture.

May you be connected to the power that gives life.

Grace and Peace,

Bryan

"VOICES FROM THE HEART" COMING THIS SUNDAY, JULY 9

This Sunday, July 9, "Voices From the Heart" choir will be leading us in worship! Make sure you join us to hear this wonderful group!

"Voices From the Heart" is a Special Ministries Christian choir that God started 22 years ago through the First Baptist Church of Graham. The members are a combination of people with disabilities, their families, and friends. Our theme song is "Nobody" by Casting Crowns. It not only tells about things that have happened to all of us some time in our life, but also the purpose God put us on this earth and put this choir together. We only sing songs about Jesus and have had the great privilege to that in many churches and nursing homes in and around this area. We have performed at Morgan's Wonderland and Sea World in San Antonio, on the mountain at Ski Apache in New Mexico and many other places. We sing from our hearts about the One who saved our soul.

Our choir members are Gary Dean Ainsworth, Alan Bolognas, Christina Bowles, Eric Bridges, Michelle Carter, Chris Cavender, Joey Chank, Julie Cox, Tara Hayes, Judy Hayes, Ed Heath, Katie Heath, Dennis Heath, Andy Heath, Angel Johnston, Vera Lary, Gracelyn Ligon, Michael Moore, Tracie Moore, Keri Novak, Betty Novak, Grady Perryman, Jim Perryman, Debbie Perryman, Teresa Ramsey, Mary Ramsey, Chandler Ryan, Kyla Jo Wright, Bobby Hall, and Barbara Hall

-Sally Stacey, Director of Voices From the Heart

HOSPITALIZED...

PRAYERS for Our Church Family, Extended Family

and Friends ...

Rusty Allen

Lavonna Birdwell

Pete Brown

Jack Cody

Billy Cypert

Cade Davidson

Dakota Day

Jamie Epperson

Joanna Gellner

Worth Gragg

Christi Grisham

Leon Hamlin

Melissa Hays

Mary Heartfield

Ed Hinson

Susan Hinson

Allen Hodge

Joie Mayhugh

Alecia Morrison

Tim Miller

Millie Perryman

Jackie Pitcock

Wayne Ramsey

Doris Richeson

John Salas

Haven Snow

Phil Szilva

Sue Waggoner

Joe Wheeler

Tony Widner

(If you know of someone in our church family, a relative or friend of a church member or a community member who is hospitalized or in need of prayers, please call the church office to add them to our Prayer and Concerns board. Please remember we always want to respect people's privacy and ask that you make sure that whomever you are adding to our board is aware of being added and that his or her name will be distributed in our FUMC publications to our members.)

If you are a visitor or you don't have a church home, we invite you to join us on Sundays or you can watch our live service at 10:50 a.m. on our webpage at www.fumcgraham.org or you can catch us on our Facebook page at Graham First United Methodist Church.

JULY BIRTHDAYS ...

1 - Julie Crelia

2 - Reese Echols

4 - Mike Frederick, Michael Jeter

5 - Geurin Pettus

6 - Matt Williams, Becky Gober, Hank Graham, Kate Lopez

7 - Leon Hamlin, Fran Edens, Michel Graham

9 - Mary Ann Rankin, Michaela Grafton, Mia Heartfield

10 - John Puryear, Vera Lary, Curtiss Collins

11 - Gloria Bragg, Chris Isbell

12 - Shanna Iles, Nicholas Martin

13 - Allen Oliver

14 - Jim Senkel, Madalyn Miller

15 - Billy Wood, Krisa De La Cruz, Jot Thorne, Addie Gober

19 - Fay Heck, Della Mayfield, Curtis Buchanan

20 - Dru Isom, Wyatt Pettus, Jett Echols

21 - Neal Montgomery, Graham Heartfield

22 - Ken Haggart, Vickie Coleman

23 - Sherrill Pettus, Hudson Weatherman

24 - Rita Choat, Sarah Curd, Kumar Mittal

25 - Becky Roberts, Kent Karper

26 - Beth Wadkins, Beth Gober

27 - Dana Loomis

28 - Cam Bennett, Jason Oliver, Collier Bennett, Tinka Street

29 - Keress Stuckey

31 - Georgia Martin

(If your birthday or a family member's birthday is not listed, please call the church office

and make sure we have your date of birth in our church records.)