On March 20th we had our first Administrative Council meeting since the vote to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church. Our church is solid on our finances because of the Frazier funds and the generosity of our
members. We should be able to fund the estimated $125,000 cost to disaffiliate from the United Methodist with funds in our savings accounts.

But this is only a small part of the discussion of the meeting. The real flavor of the meeting was First Methodist church’s love and service for others.
​
The Trustees reported that they are planning a new handicap ramp to be built on the Church street side of the sanctuary to make access from handicap parking much closer. The height and grade of the building is
lower there which will make entering the sanctuary much easier. The project was conceived after the loss of one of our most precious members, Jason Mills. Jason loved his church but had difficulty entering the building. This new ramp will be built in loving memory of Jason’s love for his Lord and his church.

Jonathan reported that the children and youth are helping to pack bags of school supplies for girls in
Ghana, Africa. This project will help to keep girls in school and is done in coordination with “Unto the Least
of His” ministries and our friend the Rev. Bobby Gale. They are also sending computers to help kids in
school in Costa Rica. Megan reported that we are sending ten children to camp this summer at Epworth by the
Sea. Many of these kids would not be able to go to camp if not for your generosity and love. There will be a
fund raiser Car Wash for the kids going to camp on April 22nd . Megan says you can pay to have your car
washed or pay the kids not to wash your car but either way we are fulfilling Jesus’ command to love and care
for children.

Shelley Gay with the UMW said that the ladies had taken up a special offering for the Methodist Children’s home. The question was asked if a disaffiliated Methodist church can still support the Methodist Children’s home and the other very worthy ministries we have supported over the years. The answer is a resounding Yes! It might even be that we can give more to these ministries than we have in the past. We are still the same church. A very loving and generous church that realizes that Jesus has called us to make a difference in this world. We know that we don’t all agree on the politics of any one particular denomination but we can agree to love and respect each precious member as well as everyone who comes in our doors. For this is what the authority of the scriptures and the love of Jesus commands us to do.

Pastor Allen

Psalm 95. 6-7: Come let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God
and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.

“Come let us…,” the Psalmist says.

When I was much, much younger (and dumber), someone from my home church saw me in the
grocery store. He said, “We’ve been missing you in church lately. Where’ve you been?”
 I felt guilty about not going to church but I wasn’t about to let on. I said, “Oh, I’ve been here and
there, doing this and that. I don’t have to be in church to worship God. I can worship God out on the lake, just
driving my car- anywhere. But thanks for asking.”

My friend wasn’t fooled. He said, “Scott, I know you can worship God while your fishing or in your
car. But, do you?

He had me there. No matter whether it is a church building, at the lake, or on the highway, it is difficult
to worship God while clinging to an exaggerated sense of your own self-sufficiency. Doing what I want, when
I want- how I want- is not an attitude that lends itself to worship no matter where you are. Those who
do worship though, truly worship, are also truly thankful. They understand that their life is a gift, not something
we can make on our own.

Church attendance and worship produce gratitude. It keeps us fully awake, aware, and alive, to God
the Giver. You can go to a concert, and no matter how great the music, you would miss something vital if you
were the only person present.

In that same vein, imagine trying to appreciate the full meaning of your life- with all of its highs and
low, twist and turns, beauties and sorrows- alone. Someone once described an atheist as a person with no one
to say “thank you” to when things are going well, and no one to complain to when its not. There are many
things in life that are, and perhaps, must be experienced alone. Usually those things have a sad quality about
them. All by itself, just the word “alone” has a daunting and tragic quality to it.

However, both the little and the large things of our lives have more significance when lived and
shared with others. Worship brings us together, with God and each other, where we may see for ourselves that
we are not alone, not really. We are never truly on our own. If there is no one else around you, God is.
​
There is great value to the realization that Christian worship- our faith- is not just a personal experience,
but something that belongs to the whole community- a community that includes people we don’t know
yet and spans the generations. That is because there are times when it is easy for me to believe, and there are
other times when it is not so easy to believe. It’s good to know that worshipping God does not always depend
upon what I believe, feel or understand, at any given moment. It depends upon God who cares and is really
there for us, and on the faith of His Church as a whole. Not just me.

You’ve probably heard the saying, “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian anymore than
going to McDonalds makes you a cheeseburger.” That’s probably true.

However, not going to church-not worshipping God on a regular basis- makes it less likely that you
will ever want to be anything more than you already are, or believe any more than you already do- which is a
shame. The Lord has more joy, more life, to share with us all. It would be a shame to miss it by demanding to
be left alone.

 So, “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker, for he his is our
God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care (Ps. 95.6-7).

This then, is an invitation: To come and worship God with others who share this life with you. It’s not
a matter of can or can’t, should or shouldn’t. It’s a matter of will. Will you give yourself to something- Someone-
larger than yourself? Will you give yourself to Someone willing to lay down his life that we all might
live? Not can you.

Will you?

May God keep you in his care ‘til we worship again,
​Bro. Scott Brenton

Hello Hazlehurst Methodists!
 
It's been a while since I last posted one of these. Let me update you on some new things happening at the church as well as some personal news. 
 
Our New Relationship with Philadelphia
 
This past Sunday was my first Sunday at Philadelphia UMC. That means that we are now on a charge with them. That doesn't mean a whole lot for our church as far as changes. The only logistical change is that we will be rotating Sunday evening services between FUMC and Philadelphia. We'll meet on Sunday evenings at their church the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month and we will meet at FUMC the 2nd and the 4th Sundays. They are really excited about joining together with our church. I believe that the UMC in Hazlehurst can be stronger as we join to do ministry together. 
 
Swing Bed Ministry
 
You will be hearing more about this soon, but we are about to begin an exciting new ministry with our hospital. Not long ago JDH started a Swing Bed Program, a Medicare program designed to provide skilled care to those needing extra time to heal. Sometimes their stay can be lengthy, causing loneliness and a disconnect from others. So we are going to be partnering with JDH to ensure that their patients have a great experience in our hospital. Vicki Roussert will be coordinating our new Swing Bed Ministry. Will we visit their once a week, providing them with fresh flowers, a visit, and prayer. If you would like to volunteer for this ministry please contact Vicki or Josh. The gospel is full of stories of healing and this is a chance for our church to participate in the healing ministry of JDH. I hope that you'll consider participating. We'll have a training meeting soon!
 
 D.Min Program

 
This summer I began my Doctor of Ministry degree program at Asbury Theological Seminary. This will be a three year degree program and I'm thrilled to be getting back into the classroom! I do a lot of my academic work here, but I'll have to go to campus for two weeks a year. I'll be headed up to Wilmore, KY on July 6th and will return on July 22nd. On those two Sundays that I'll be gone we will be in good hands. Retired UMC pastor, Larry Bird (not the basketball player!), will be preaching July 9th and our very own Sue Woodard will be preaching on the 16th. Be in prayer for them as they prayerfully prepare to preach. 
 
Also, don't forget about the Ice Cream Social this Sunday at 6pm. Bring your favor homemade ice-cream and something from home that you wouldn't mind giving away. No expensive gifts please! Gag gifts are preferred! Hope to see you there!
 
--
Rev. Josh Duckworth 
Hazlehurst First United Methodist Church

I bet most of you have gotten a card from our prayer group that meets on Thursday morning. My granddad and grandma both spent some time in the hospital this past month. When they got home, a card from our prayer group was waiting on them in the mail. You wouldn't believe what that did for their spirit! It let them know that someone was praying for them. Someone cared about them. 
 
What do you think a card or letter from a church member would do for someone who hasn't been to church in a while? It would no doubt bless them and remind them of how much their church loves them. 
 
Consider sending a card to someone. It shouldn't be a "Where have YOU been?!" type of card, of course! But simply tell them, "We love you and miss you and hope to see you soon!"
 
Idea #5 tomorrow!
 
--
Rev. Josh Duckworth 

 
We all have family members who for whatever reason have fallen out of the habit of coming to church. Perhaps that's your husband, wife, child, etc. Maybe they have good reasons for not coming. Why not invite them back this Sunday! I'm sure that you've asked them so many times that you feel like you are nagging them, but don't give up! Keep inviting them. Keep sharing with them how important your church is to you. Keep telling them about the difference that being part of the family of God has made in your life. I'll be praying as you share your faith and love for your church with family this week!
 
Idea #4 tomorrow!

 
--
Rev. Josh Duckworth 

Hello First Methodist!
 
Next Sunday, September 18th, is Back to Church Sunday! We've had a great summer (hot, but great!), but now fall is almost here and that's the time to get back on schedule at church. I'm hoping to see all you in your places this Sunday!
 
This week I'm going to send out a daily email to you giving you ways to prepare for Back2Church Sunday! So here goes!
 
Back2Church idea #1: Invite someone to church this coming Sunday. 
 
Did you know that 82% of people would consider going to church if asked? (according to Tom Rainer's book, The Unchurched Next Door.)  
 
Who can you invite? Who will you see in the grocery store? Who will you talk to on the telephone? Perhaps a simple invitation could be the beginning of their lives being changed forever by encountering Christ. Let's all invite at least one person to church this Sunday!
 
Look for Idea #2 tomorrow!
 
--
Rev. Josh Duckworth 

Paying Attention
 
Happy Tuesday! I hope that everyone had a wonderful Labor Day weekend. This week, as we all go through the routines, I want to encourage you to pay attention. If you are like me, much of the day is raced through from church work to soccer practice to parenting. And at the end, I've missed so much along the way. Pay attention to the world around you. Pay attention to the people in the grocery store. Pay attention to God's beautiful creation. You never know what divine encounter God might have planned!
 
Also, pay attention to the needs of our community. In what areas are people struggling in Hazlehurst? And how can we as a church come alongside those in need to help? We'll have a discussion soon about this on a Wednesday Evening. Bring some ideas when we do!
 
Back to Church Sunday-September 18th
 
September 18th is National Back to Church Sunday. It's the day that symbolizes the end of summer for churches and a time to recommit to being faithful in worship. Here's what I'd like from everyone as we prepare for the day:
 
1. Come to Morning Worship. 
I know that many of us have been traveling a lot this summer. We've done some as well and it's been nice to get away to rest and rejuvenate our souls. Let this be the Sunday when we all recommit to being at worship. There's nothing more than meeting weekly with your church family to worship God and grow in your faith.
 
2. Invite someone to worship
Who have you not seen at church in a while? Why not pick up the phone and let them know about Back to Church Sunday?! Who do you know who's not a part of a church family? Invite them to come on September 18th. Invite invite invite!
 
3. Offer to pick up someone to bring them to worship
Who do you know that would love to come to worship, but can't? Call them and offer to pick them up and bring them to church.
 
Let's all be in worship together and bring someone on Back to Church Sunday!
 
Packing Flood Buckets on Wednesday, Sept. 14th
 
Through your great generosity, our church raised $700 to help pay for flood buckets! A group from Park Avenue United Methodist Church in Valdosta will be going to Baldwin, LA next week to help UMCOR and deliver flood buckets. Gina Morris will be leading an effort at our church to put together these flood buckets on Wednesday, Sept. 14th. Please contact her if you are willing to help her shop for supplies and set-up. Thanks for making a difference!
 
--
Rev. Josh Duckworth