Longview First United Methodist Church

With Valentine’s Day around the corner it seems fitting that we are celebrating couples within our church who have been married 50+ years on Friday, February 11. There is a lot of love to celebrate with 74 couples and a combined total of 4,199 years of marriage among them. This event is extra special as it marks the return of our annual Anniversary fete and is our first senior adult event under our new senior adult ministry name, EPIC.

How does one get to 50 years or more of marriage? What enables partners to go the extra mile, celebrate the highs and persevere in the lows? I wanted to know.

I liked the idea of asking our honorees and several took time to answer my questions. Norma and Bob Bruce will be celebrating 57 years in 2022 and she shared her greatest influencers about marriage were her parents. In her words, “they set the bar for marriage and I witnessed a great example of partnership.” She understood her marriage was a vow for life and although they are opposites Norma shared as a couple, “we complement each other well.”  Sandy Orban remembers meeting her husband, David, in college and found him to be down to earth, smart, athletic and handsome. As they prepare to celebrate 53 years this year, she conveyed that it is important to be each other’s best friend, discuss everything, have the same goals and to work together. These two ladies reminded me of Ecclesiastes 4:9, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return on their labor: if either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” 

Next I reviewed couples in the Bible and what we could learn from their partnerships. Of course, we first must look at Adam and Eve. Maybe not the best couple to emulate about decision making but we do know God loved them and showed them compassionate love by not destroying them. His grace allowed them to continue their lives together although not in Eden, thus we are reminded to keep God at the center of our relationships and decisions. I moved on to Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel, Boaz and Ruth, Elkanah and Hannah, Mary and Joseph and even Hosea and Gomer.  Esther used her influence with King Xerxes to bring out the best version of himself and Abigail helped guide David with her wisdom to prevent his foolishness. Each couple had ups, downs and lessons to remember: forgiveness, acceptance, second chances, compassion, patience, restored trust, and peace.

So 50 plus years takes work! And it takes a commitment to a person and to God. It is victories and defeats, happiness and sadness, but it takes two and it takes God being in presence with the two. I will leave you with the words on a painting Kelly and I received almost 25 years ago on the occasion of our wedding, “Love is patient, love is kind, love does not boast, love does not envy, love is not rude, love is not resentful, love rejoices truth, Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

Thank you to all the couples celebrating 50 and more years of marriage. We as your church family are appreciative of your witness and example and offer our loving congratulations!

Peace in Christ, 

Janice Crane

Join us in welcoming our new members!

Pilar and Stephen McLemore joined Longview FUMC this past weekend.

Mission Month is underway! Check out how you can be involved in being a Beacon of Hope for All!

This year the Mission Envelope Fundraiser is supporting the summer 2022 mission activities, including the Alaska Mission Trip and SOS. Participating is easy. Select an envelope and place the designated donation amount in the envelope, complete the info section on the back, and return to the blue box on the table or the church office. Envelopes range in amounts from $1 to $100 and there are also special envelopes for specific mission projects. For more information contact Pastor Romnie at [email protected]. Thank you for Being a Beacon of Hope for All.

Church wide Work Day at the South Campus

NEXT SATURDAY Feb. 19, 2022 beginning at 8:30am

Lots of cleaning and organizing as we prepare for our next step in ministry. Contact Pastor Romnie for more information. No need to sign up, just show up ready to work. 

IT’S COMING….

FALL, 2022-SPRING, 2023 

SCHOOL FOR LITTLE CHILDREN REGISTRATION!

School for Little Children, First United Methodist Church’s early childhood weekday ministry will begin registration for our First United Methodist Church families on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 7:15 a.m. in the School Office. SFLC offers an excellent Preschool, Kindergarten and Infant/Toddler program that provides children with the highest quality of education and care within a nurturing Christian environment. 

Registration will open to the public at 7:15 a.m. on 

Thursday, February 17, 2022 in Room 223.

Call the School Office at 903-753-3121 or email Dallas Lemmon, Director, or Sherel Conklin, Nursery Director, at [email protected] if you have questions or would like a tour of the school.  

Let’s welcome Pastor Rick Aguilar to the FUMC family!

Welcome Reception in Cook Foyer

Sunday, February 20  9:40 am – 10:30 am



We want to bless Rick and his family with gift cards as they settle into their new home with FUMC.  Bring gift cards to your favorite Longview establishments to the reception on February 20^th or you may drop them off at the church office during the week prior.

Join us Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 10:45 for our sermon series -

Corinthians: Gifts, Grace, Glory

Come and Sing with the

Chancel Choir!

Wednesday evenings in the Music Suite from 6:30 - 7:45pm

There has never been a better time to join Chancel Choir! In addition to rehearsing anthems for Sunday mornings, we are also working on an exciting music program for Holy Week, including our Easter Cantata "No Greater Sacrifice" on Palm Sunday, April 10!

We are keen to encourage new singers to join our ranks for the time between now and Easter! Please consider joining us as we praise God through the gift of music! We would love to have you sing with us, and you will be made very welcome!

Paul Roberts   

Director of Music & Fine Arts

CALLING ALL ACOLYTES - it's time to sign up for Spring 2022 dates!

All 2nd to 5th graders are invited to participate as an acolyte in the Beacon worship service. Parents, please check your calendars and click here to sign up your acolyte(s) today! This will allow us to print their names in the bulletin each Sunday. Email Jana at [email protected] with questions. Let's get the calendar filled through May!

Regular meetings for children ages pre-k through fifth grade - including music, dinner, and other activities - CONTINUES TONIGHT! The children's schedule begins at 6:00 PM with music, followed by dinner and activities ending at 7:30 PM. An average of 45 children attend each week, and volunteers are needed to assist with dinner and activities. Anyone is welcome to volunteer, and each parent is encouraged to volunteer once a month for WNL. Here is the link to sign up. This link allows you to select the date and age group you'd like to work with. You can be sure to be blessed by your time with the children as you guide them on their faith journey and build important relationships within the church family!

Dinner is now provided for all children on Wednesday nights! A kid friendly menu has been created, and will include favorite entrees, vegetables, and fruits. A donation of $5 per meal would be appreciated to help with food and preparation costs. Here is the link: Wednesday Night Live Children's Dinner Donation. See you Wednesday for faith, fun, and fellowship! For more information, contact Jana at [email protected], or 903-753-4463.

Youth Excursion THIS Saturday, February 12 5-8:30 p.m.

“Get that Disco Beat”

We are headed to a Silent Disco Party at St. Luke’s Methodist Church in Kilgore.What is a Silent Disco? An event where people dance to music listened to on wireless headphones and have a BLAST! You like Gaga and your friend likes Ed Sheeran? No problem, you can both dance and listen to what you like the best! Dress comfortably and ready for fun, add some glow necklaces, and come join us for some fellowship.

We will meet at 5 p.m. at FUMC Longview North parking lot to eat at Panda Express before going to dance the night away at St. Luke’s. Parent Pick Up will be at 8:30 p.m. at FUMC Longview North Parking Lot.  

Bring money for your meal.

Wednesday Night Live is back for Youth TONIGHT! 6th-12th graders, the best time of the week is here!

Join us 6pm - 7:30pm in the Youth Wing for dinner, devotion, and some recreation time in the Faith Center gym! We have new additions and old favorites! You will receive a gift tonight! Drop-off and pick-up are at the North parking lot doors.

Parents interested in joining together to provide a youth meal, please contact Janice at [email protected]. With your support, we provide an exciting, meaningful time for students to gather and learn more about faith in Jesus Christ.

Volunteers needed to cook and serve breakfast at Newgate Mission on the 2nd Sunday each month. Sunday school classes, Bible study groups, families, or individuals can sign up to help. The cost of the breakfast menu is $220. Contact Pastor Romnie to sign up or for more information.

If you’ve lost a spouse, child, family member, or friend, you’ve probably found that this can be a painful, confusing time, maybe feeling isolated or have questions about things you’ve never faced before. Grief Share can help you face these challenges and move forward toward rebuilding your life through the following elements: (1) video seminar with experts; (2) support group discussions with focus and (3) personal studies and reflection (workbook).  After my husband passed away 8 years ago, I tried different grief studies, but I could not truly move forward toward rebuilding my life until I went through Grief Share, which was quite by accident. A friend of mine promised her pastor she would go 3 times but needed a ride. So I was sitting through the first session with my friend, as her driver, and realized this was where I needed to be, maybe divine intervention. Through Grief Share, I finally was able to put one foot in front of the other and start rebuilding my life, from mourning to joy.



We will be offering Grief Share in a few weeks at FUMC, not only for members, but anyone in the community who needs help and guidance moving forward. If you’re interested or know anyone who would benefit from these classes, please contact Shirley Lancaster, [email protected], or by phone, including texts, at (913) 706-3874. You may also contact one of the Pastors if you would like to discuss whether this might be right for you.

To submit an article for The Voice, please email [email protected]. Info must be submitted by

Friday at 5 PM in order to be in next week's edition of The Voice.