Arab First United Methodist Church
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors

February Letter

 
 
Arab First United Methodist Church
 
February 2012 Letter
 
 
  
Lenten Season
 
Ash Wednesday February 22; everyone meets in the Sanctuary at 6:00 pm to begin the Season of Lent together. We will have Lenten devotionals for each family to use during the 40 days of Lent.
 
Lent can be a very fruitful season in every believer's life. It can help us grow in our spiritual maturity. It should be a time of spiritual development and preparation for the Resurrection.
 
Let us resolve together to grow closer to our Lord Jesus and become more like him during this Lenten Season as individuals and as a congregation.
 
Growing together,  Kenny
 
 
 Hebrews 13: 20-21 “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
 
 
 
*****Welcome To Grace Place!*****
Grace Place started its 7th year this past August!   It is hard to     believe that 7 years and so many children have come and gone. This fall, for the first time, we are teaching preschool as well, and it is going great! For those of you who don’t know about us we keep children from ages 6 weeks to preschool. We are opened Monday through Friday 6:45 am to 5:00 pm and follow the Arab City Schools calendar. During the summer we offer a two-day a week program. If you visit the church during the week you may see us on the play ground, or exploring the building! Sometimes during the week you may even see us out and about in town visiting the library or other interesting places! We are so fortunate to have such    wonderful children and parents to work with and to have such a great place to spend our days!   It is our goal to provide a high    quality, loving, Christian, safe and FUN environment for our little ones!   We currently have a waiting list and will be taking registrations for next fall soon! Please call Kim Taylor 256-586-5794 for more information!
 
 
 
*****Youth Ministry Input*****
 
Christian music abounds in all forms and the youth have plenty of opportunities to hear Christian music as well as testimonies from bands and speakers.  On Friday January 27th, the youth attended The Rock & Worship Road Show in Huntsville featuring Mercy Me, Tenth Avenue North, LeCrae, Hawk Nelson, Disciple, Sidewalk Prophets and speaker Bart Millard.  The arena was packed to capacity with 1500 people turned away.  Afterwards, we related the concert to the Holy Spirit’s gift of tongues and the equally important Holy Spirit gift of interpretation of tongue:  some of the words were not understood by all but through use of videos and words projected on screens, the words could be interpreted for all to receive and understand the message. 
 
February 6th is Souper Super Bowl Sunday this will be the ninth year the youth will be participating in this world-wide food drive.  The youth would like to collect at least one can of soup and one dollar from everyone at worship which will be used to help support those in need here in Arab via TESA.  Following the 9:30am service, the youth will be serving a soup lunch in the Fellowship Hall for $5 with further donations gladly accepted.  Dine-in or take-out soup, cornbread or crackers, dessert and drink is on the menu.  This lunch is a fundraiser to help support our Discovery weekend.
 
Discovery Weekend is February 17-19th and not enough can be said about it.  Discovery Weekend for youth is comparable to Emmaus for adults and the sense of community and cooperation generated in our church family is phenomenal with the participating youth experiencing the love of all as well as the blessings of the Holy Spirit.  This is our eleventh year of Discovery with the theme being “Discovery:  Discover God’s Love Through Scripture.”  We have been contacting people to help in every possible capacity with this event (cooking, set up and clean up, shower hosts, group leaders, music, gifts and monetary donations, housing, prayer and worship teams, etc), please feel free to call the office or contact Mrs. Dawn Liebner to volunteer or offer your support. The entire church congregation is invited to a special prayer service held at 630 pm Saturday February 18th. As a part of Discovery 2012,  the youth will lead in worship on Sunday, February 19th at 9:30am; this worship service is open to all.  As always, please keep us in your prayers.
 
Upcoming Events
 
Super Bowl Party is will be held on February 5 at 5pm at Lois Bright’ house.  Guys bring drinks, girls bring eats.  (10991 Union Grove Road in Union Grove, 256-498-2097   DIRECTIONS:  Take 231 towards Huntsville, turn right on Union Grove Road, Go 1.3 miles and her house is on the right.)
 
Winter Jam is February 11 in Birmingham at the BJCC.  Concert features Skillet, Newsong, Sanctus Real, Building 429, Peter Fuller, Kari Jobe, Group1crew, illusionist Brock Gill and speaker Nick Hall. 
 
Explosion 2012 is March 18 at the Bevill Center on the Snead campus in Boaz.  Concert features the Newsboys’ God’s Not Dead Tour.  This annual concert is a fundraiser for The Real Life Pregnancy Center.
 
Relay For Life is May 11-12 with the annual yard sale + car wash youth fundraiser for this event set for May 5. 
 
 
*****First Family News*****
 
Brian Malone, one of our new members, has been invited to participate in People to People 2013. If you would like to find out how you can help, please call his mother, Rachel, at 256-990-5068
 
LifeSouth Blood Drive was here on Sunday, January 31st.  We had of goal of 12 pints and we collected 15 pints. Praise the Lord!  Serve Joyfully and Live Generously.
 
Emmaus Cluster Meeting will be Tuesday, February 14 at 6:30 pm at Arab First United Methodist Church. All previous Walk participants are asked to please make plans to attend.
 
Young in Heart dinner meeting for all 50+ adults will be on Thursday, February 16th at 6pm in the Fellowship Hall. Steve Downs of Marshal Manor (Terrace Lake Village) retirement community will be our guest speaker.
 
 
*****AFUMC Decal*****
 
 
Do you recognize the cross and flame symbol with the words Arab First United Methodist Church next to it?  Maybe you have seen it around town on the back of cars? This is the official logo of Arab First United Methodist Church. Any time you see this logo, you know it is our church logo. Some of you have them on your cars, faded but they are there. We have new ones in the office if you would like to replace your present decal.
 
 
*****Welcome New Members*****
Bambi Bradford
Arie, Jennifer, Arica, Audrey, Aiden, and Julianne Oberle
 
 
 
Children’s Moment                          Kid’s Own Worship
 
February 5—Kenny Baskins                                February 5— Shea Beard
February 12—Boy Scouts                                   February 12—Leah Bishop
February 19– Jennifer Arrington                          February 19– Bambi Bradford
February 26—Brenda Reed                                 February 26— Natalie Burke
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dear Friends,
 
         
          A cartoon from a few years ago showed a woman saying to her husband, “Good grief, Henry. Here’s Christmas at our throats again!”
 
          Amid the preparations for Christmas each year, there always seems to be a few voices like hers, proclaiming a “Bah, humbug!” on the whole business. And if the truth be known, some of us feel less than excited about Christmas ourselves. The expense, the crowds, the overindulgence, the hurried schedules and all the other trappings of Christmas Celebrations are enough to make all of us take a jaundiced look at the season.
 
          In the face of the humbug state of affairs, it is helpful to remember that God did not send, Jesus to be “at our throats”, but to be “in our hearts.” The difference between those two concepts defines the gap between gloom and glory. There’s a reason we call the gospel Good News. As John so aptly put it, “For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” (John 3:17)
 
          Jesus is God’s gift to our world – and to our hearts. When Jesus resides within, whether we enjoy or merely tolerate the flurry of seasonal preparations; Christmas itself is a grand opportunity to say thank you to God for the gift of the Son.
 
          In the light of this, we are planning a number of opportunities in December to thank God together for the priceless gift of Jesus; the enclosed calendar is a list of these upcoming opportunities.
 
          Please join us as we seek to celebrate Christmas in our hearts.
 
In God’ peace,
 
 
Kenny Baskins