Longview First United Methodist Church

FUMC Senior Adult Ministry is excited to announce some quarterly 2022 events for our members and friends of retirement age!! After a careful break due to life’s circumstances we have been brainstorming and planning to reintroduce events for all who have patiently waited a return and those looking to spread their wings with new opportunities. 

Who is considered to be in Senior Adult Ministry? Experienced People in Christ! You may be newly retired, looking for new friends, searching for fun, or a longtime faithful participant, but what qualifies you to be part of Experienced People in Christ is attaining the elite status of being 65 or older and desiring to be in community.  

Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts. Acts 2:46 

This scripture is a wonderful example of what we hope you will find at EPIC (Experienced People in Christ). As we begin a new year we are exploring ways to offer diverse opportunities for the varied interests of our Senior Adult community.  EPIC is the large umbrella that will cover day trips, socials, celebrations, lunch programs and even special trips to places such as Eureka Springs or the Holy Land.  

We are excited to announce our first event will be the Golden Anniversary Celebration for couples on Friday, February 11. If you and your spouse have been married 50+ years we hope you will let us celebrate you. Are you unsure if we have your special date in our records? I encourage you to call Betty in our church office so we may send you an invitation (903-753-4463). 

Following this Celebration, we hope everyone will join us for PRIME TIME on Thursday, March 17 in the Faith Center. This will be some “New” mixed in with “Past Favorites” for a time of lunch, entertainment and social. Currently we are planning a “shamrock” of a good time with PRIME TIME occurring quarterly. To round out our upcoming offerings a day trip/boxed lunch opportunity within Longview is being explored for April. Please stay tuned to our Voice, Facebook and your mail box for upcoming EPIC news and 

opportunities.

We hope you will find connective spaces and places and enjoy faithful fellowship at FUMC.

Peace in Christ,

Janice Crane – EPIC staff representative

Volunteers are needed for the food distribution at the fairgrounds this Friday, January 14th 7:30-10:00am. No sign-up needed - just show up ready to serve!

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

Corinthians: Gifts, Grace, Glory

Acolytes - it's time to sign up for Spring 2022 dates!

All children in grades 2-5 are invited to participate as an acolyte during Beacon Worship. Parents, please check your calendars and click here to sign your acolyte(s) up to serve! 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 - will begin on January 19. The children's evening begins at 6:00 PM with music, followed by dinner and activities ending at 7:30 PM. An average of 45 children join us each week, and volunteers are needed to assist with dinner and activities. We welcome all volunteers, and parents are encouraged to volunteer once a month for WNL. If you'd like to volunteer for one or multiple evenings, click here. This link allows you to select the date and age group you'd like to work with. You can be sure to be blessed in your time spent with our children as you guide them on their faith journeys and build important relationships within our 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. For more information, contact Jana at [email protected], or 903-753-4463.

Keep an eye on our Facebook page for information regarding online registration for "The Rise" youth event. Registration can also be picked up at any Youth Ministry event.

Youth Ministry would like to kindly ask for volunteers to feed our food-loving youth on Wednesday Nights. We feed approximately 35 students who come hungry for fellowship, faith and food. We accept monetary donations through lvfumc.org or by contacting [email protected]. 

We love home-cooked meals or, if you’d rather, you can pick up and deliver. We appreciate all who have helped support us feed our students with "food" and most of all spiritual food.

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.

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.