First United Methodist Church of St. Cloud
February 2022 Newsletter
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February, the month of Love! |
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From the Desk of Pastor Cathy |
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Dear friends!
Our sermon series is Renovation! and continues through Sunday, February 27th. I love HGTV and watch all the home renovation shows like Hometown with Ben & Erin Napier; Fixer Upper with Chip & Joanna Gaines; and Renovation Island with Bryan & Sarah Baeumler. The Baeumlers are from Canada and purchase a rundown motel in the Bahamas to renovate. Then a hurricane hits the island and then COVID hits. As you know, these shows take run down homes (businesses) and turn them into amazing up-to-date dream homes! This is what God does in our lives, in our hearts, and in our families as we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. We are new creations! The Bible says, “If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation. Everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” 2 Corinthians 5:17(NRSV) I look forward to seeing how God renovates our families, our marriages, our finances and more!
Starting on March 6th, we will begin our Lenten sermon series called “The Way Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus” by Rev. Adam Hamilton. Pastor Hamilton will take us to the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized and the wilderness where Jesus was tempted. Finally, we will visit Jerusalem, where Jesus spent his final days. As always, there is an opportunity for you to go deeper in our virtual Bible study class on Tuesday nights at 7:00 PM. Just click on the link in your bulletin.
February is the month of love! We will talk about and celebrate the love of that special someone on the Sunday before Valentine’s Day, February 13th. We will have some personal marriage testimonies. As we grow older, this romantic love that attracts us to our special someone grows deeper and stronger and becomes God’s love (agape). I can honestly say that this agape love (God’s love) comes through difficulties, struggles as well as from joys and blessings. In February, we celebrate the gift of love!
After Christmas, Rusty and I went to the mountains in Georgia to have some peace and quiet. We were blessed to have all our family here for Christmas and wonderful Christmas Eve services, but felt we needed some rest and relaxation after all the shopping, wrapping, decorating and baking! Here’s a couple of pictures from that time.
Let’s strive to love more this month! A song we sang while growing up in youth group says, “They will know we are Christians by our love!”
I love you and I am blessed to be your Pastor!
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Cathy & Rusty in Mountain City |
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Introducing Renee Bronson |
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Renee Bronson was born and raised in Kissimmee, Florida. Her parents were O’Dell Bronson and Madelyn (Keene) Bronson. Her mother was brought up in the First United Methodist Church of Kissimmee and the family continued to attend when Renee was growing up. Renee’s grandfather on her mother’s side was the Mayor of Kissimmee. Renee’s father, O’Dell Bronson was a distant relative of the late, Senator Irlo Bronson, Sr. Her father was a builder not a rancher like most of the Bronson family. He always said that he was the “Bronson without cows.”
Renee married her husband, Gary Mogensen twenty-six years ago. They have seven children between them. Gary’s two children still live in the area but four of Renee’s children live in various locations around the country. The fifth, her daughter, Lindsey is in heaven. They have fifteen grandchildren together. This keeps them very busy with family gatherings. In 2005 they had 5 grandchildren born in the same year.
Renee attended FUMC of St. Cloud when her children were younger, about twenty years ago. She was involved with the church while she was attending but after several years went back to the FUMC of Kissimmee, where she then held a leadership role as a lay-leader. After Pastor Cathy became the Pastor at FUMC of St. Cloud, Renee moved her membership to our church. She has been serving on the finance committee at FUMCSC since 2021. She recently was asked to be the leader for our new "Love All Team." Her vision for this mission is to raise awareness and consciousness of racism within the universal church. Through the activities that the team holds she would like our congregation to gain knowledge and be informed on how we can be more compassionate to all races.
For the past 34 years Renee has been a licensed mental health counselor and psychotherapist specializing in energy psychology and eating disorders along with cognitive behavioral therapy. She has several degrees starting with Western Kentucky University where she majored in Psychology. She then went to Rollins College where she earned a Master’s degree in counselling and human development. Then in 2010, Renee received a post master’s certification as a Diplomate in Comprehensive Energy Psychology. Renee also had the opportunity to attend the Academy for Spiritual Formation in Leesburg at the UMC Life Enrichment Center for twelve years. This program formed her spiritual life today and continues to be a factor in her occupation.
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Serving Others with Our Mercy Ministries |
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Bags of Love is expanding as we distribute bicycles, food, and clothing to the less fortunate in our community. We continue to need items for the Bags of Love lunches, but now you can also show your love for those in our community that have needs they cannot meet on their own by purchasing needed clothing items using our online Bags of Love Store. This is a new way that you can show a bit of kindness. There is a new tab on our website, www.firstchurchstcloud.org titled Bags of Love Store. Just click on the link and you will be given instructions on how to access the customized shopping tool. You can also receive a donation receipt for you tax purposes.
You may still help supply the need through the Bags of Love lunches by bringing any of these items to the FUMC office; Vienna sausages, canned tuna or chicken, Beanie-Weanies, bags of chips, cookies, peanut butter or cheese crackers, fruit cups, pudding snacks, applesauce, bottled waters. As our numbers continue to go up we thank you for helping us serve the community!
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Elmer's Kitchen
FUMC of St Cloud serves as the host site of Elmer’s Meal Kitchen, partnering with the St. Cloud Ministerial Association. Each Sunday at 2:00 pm in the Family Life Center, a free nutritious meal is served to the unemployed or underemployed by a different church or local group.
First Sunday of month: First Presbyterian Church of St. Cloud
Second Sunday of month: Boy Scouts
Third Sunday of month: Soul City Church
Fourth Sunday of month: Christ the Savior Church
Fifth Sunday of month: FUMC of St. Cloud
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On the Fifth Sunday of January
our youth and several adults volunteers
served meals at Elmer's Kitchen to the less fortunate.
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Christmas Day Community Lunch
Photos of our volunteers at the Christmas Day Community Lunch were not available before the January Newsletter was posted so here are a few from that spectacular day.
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Osceola County Cold Night Shelters are opened when the temperature gets to 40o F or below. We work with the area agencies to determine the dates. The Emergency Managment Department makes the call based on the National Weather Service. We open our FLC here at the church and the Hope Center rents motel rooms in Kissimmee. On the night of January 23 there were 2 locations in Osceola County who participated in the Cold Night program: our church & the Ramada 20 miles west from us on 192. We had 6 people and sent one gentleman to the Day Zee Inn because he had a service animal because we do not take pets. We hope we can have these same arrangements with Day Zee Inn for special situations again. We receive cots from Osceola County Emergency Management Department and meals from the Council on Aging. Each person must fill out intake forms for the Homeless Services Network and agree to wear a mask. We also provide blankets, sweaters, jackets, socks, etc. We also give them a personal kit to go with a breakfast bar, hand sanitizer, scarf, bottled water and stocking cap.
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Cold Night Shelter: Andrew from Emergency Managment, Pastor Cathy, Donna Regn, & Keith from Positively Osceola |
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Dave Daniels serving a Cold Night guest |
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Love All Mission
The Love All Team will be meeting soon. Several people of our congregation have already shown interest in being on this team and plans are being made to get started. If you are interested please contact the church office. This team will work together as an extension of the UMC Florida Conference. The conference of the United Methodist Church has put forth a call to move congregations toward dismantling racism. The Love All Team will facilitate our congregation’s response through a series of events which began on January 12th at our monthly Church-Wide Dinner where the movie, Best of Enemies was shown. The attendees decided to view the movie in two one hour long sessions so you can still view the second half at our February Church-Wide Dinner on February 9. We hope to see you there.
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Each month we hold a Church-Wide Wednesday night dinner followed by an activiity. It is a great time to get to know your church family. Please plan on joining us for the next dinner on February 9 at 5:15 PM. Immediately following dinner the second half of the movie, Best of Enemies will be shown.
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Brook, Kathryn, and Olivia |
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Rijean, Megan, Amber, and Amanda |
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Lou, Joyce, Bobby, and Pamela |
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Jerry Bergeron Cleaning up after the Church-Wide Dinner |
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Ann, Myrna, Martha, and Pat |
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Amanda and Rijean making popcorn for the movie |
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January 23, 2022 - New Members |
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New members: Rob & Janice Morgan and their granddaughters, Charlotte & Isabel; Flo Shrum; Denise Perkovich; & Scott Weyrauch. |
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Showing the Love of Jesus
Smooth Stones Bible Study meets at 10:00 AM on the 2nd & 4th Monday of each month. They are currently studying the Disciples. This study is led by Vivian Kravitz. The group pauses during the summer months from May through August.
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CALLING ALL ALTOS!!!
Our choir at the traditional service is blessed with four or five wonderful sopranos – but where are the altos? I know you're hiding out there somewhere, right? Seriously, our 8:30 service features a small but dedicated choir. We have room for two more ladies who can read music and sing alto. As our congregation grows, we need to expand the choir. More male voices would be a great bonus too. We practice at 7:00 Wednesday nights in the sanctuary, so if you want to sing, please just show up and join our happy group. I'm always open to comments or suggestions.
Thanks for listening!
Lou Murray, Music Director
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Safin Karim in his red bow tie and blue jacket |
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We have beautiful new banners hanging in the sanctuary! |
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Sabrina Brooks, Nick Brooks, and Scott Weyrauch |
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Amber Smith and Chuck McLendon |
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Our Extremely Talented Handbell Musicians |
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Mark Your Calendar
Upcoming Events
Februaray 2 - Beth Moore Bible Study ~ 1:00 - 3:00 PM
February 9 - Church-Wide Dinner ~ 5:15 PM
February 9 - Best of Enemies Second half of Movie ~ 6 PM
February 10 - Beth Moore Bible Study ~ 1:00 - 3:00 PM
February 11-13 - Youth Confirmation Retreat
Regular Meetings
Sunday
- Traditional Worship Service ~ 8:30 AM
- Serendipity Sunday School Class ~ 9:00 AM
- Blended Worship Service ~ 10:00 AM
- Newcomer's Luncheon ~ 3rd Sunday Quarterly, 11:00 AM
- Elmer's Kitchen ~ 2:00 - 3:00 PM (FUMCSC - 5th Sunday)
Monday
- Power Hour Prayer Group ~ 8:30 AM
- Seasoned Souls ~ 1st & 3rd Monday, 10:00 AM
- Smooth Stones Bible Study ~ 2nd & 4th Monday, 10:00 AM
- Boy Scouts ~ 7:00 PM
Tuesday
- Bags of Love ~ 9 - 11 AM (Hot Breakfast to Go)
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Online Bible Study with Pastor Cathy - 7:00 PM; Please join using your computer, tablet or smartphone. https://us04web.zoom.us/j/4346020464 use passcode: 62397
- Cub Scouts ~ 7:00 PM
Wednesday
- Church-wide dinner FLC (2nd Wednesday) ~ starting at 5:15 PM
- Youth Group ~ 6:00 - 7:00 PM
- Children's program ~ 6:00 - 7:00 PM
- Adult Choir Rehearsal ~ 7:00 - 8 PM
Thursday
- Bags of Love ~ 9 - 11 AM
- Beth Moore Video Bible Study (9 Week Study) ~ 1 - 3 PM
Please Note: Our Church Services can be viewed on
FACEBOOK LIVE on our FB page or later on our YouTube
Channel. Click on the links at the bottom of this newsletter to
find these videos.
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The children had a blast learning about the season of winter and polar animals. The cooler weather helped reinforce what winter feels like and gave the children the opportunity to wear their wintry weather clothing. Each child had the opportunity to “hibernate” in a cave just like the bears do for the winter. We heard lots of snoring around the campus! This month’s theme is Friendship and Healthy Bodies. The Bible story is Mary and Martha. Wild Florida will be visiting with their furry friends on Thursday, February 17th.
Open enrollment for the 2022-2023 school year has begun. We have already received twelve registrations. More information can be found on our website at www.firstumcpreschoolstcloud.com.
Smiles,
Ms. Denise
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The children of First Church meet on Sunday mornings during the Blended Service after the Children's moment and on Wednesday night for their "B.E.A.C.H. Club" program from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. During the month of February the children are learining about the love of Jesus at the Wednesday night program. They are also focusing on John 3:16. |
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The youth were treated to new FUMC of St. Cloud t-shirts that were designed and printed by Amber and Rijean Smith. They were funded by Max Siegel (Youth Parent) owner of A - A/C. Go Green.
Thank you Mr. Siegel!
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On January 29th our youth attended Rock the Universe at Universal Studios. Dispite the cold temperature they had a great time listening to all of the Contemporary Christian musicians.
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February 1 – Don Walther
February 2 - Lynn Chevalier
February 3 – Denise Dunn
February 3 – Richard Fortner
February 3 – Dennis Tripp
February 10 – Dick Hatch
February 7 – Raymond McAbee, Sr.
February 9 – Judy Kochur
February 9 – Lee Miller
February 10 – Dick Hatch
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February 11 – Augusta Lovejoy
February 13 – Rosemary Logan
February 15 – Wyatt Scarlett
February 16 – Cassidy Crisp
February 16 – Mikaela Crisp
February 16 – Avery Rocker
February 23 – Helen Harris
February 27 – Penny Justice
February 27 – Myrna Lee
February 29 – JoAnn Cumbie
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February 5 – Mike and Judith Kenna
February 21 – Tim and Kathy Blades
February 26 – Larry and Celia Finch
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Note: If you know of someone whom we have missed in this birthday or anniversary list please notify the Church Office.
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The Word of Our Lord
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
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Your safety is our No. 1 concern!
We will continue to monitor the latest guidance from the CDC and new COVID cases. We will re-evaluate in-person worship should anything change. For now, we ask that you continue to practice these essential guidelines:
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Please monitor your symptoms and if you feel sick, stay home if you feel sick.
- Masks or cloth face coverings are encouraged indoors and optional outdoors.
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Every other pew will be closed.
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Please maintain at least six feet of social distance.
- Family units may sit together.
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No congregational singing.
- No passing of the offering.
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Deposit your attendance card and offering in the box at the back of the church when you leave.
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There will be no meet and greet.
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Ushers will seat and dismiss you.
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Please dispose of your bulletin as you leave or take it with you to reference upcoming events.
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The Sanctuary is sanitized after every worship service.
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Staff Members & Email Addresses
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First United Methodist Church of St. Cloud
1000 Ohio Ave., St. Cloud, FL 34769
407.892.3128
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