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JANUARY 2010 VOL 5, ISSUE 2 |
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Soaring Eagles
A Newsletter of Faith and Friends| Family Portraits to be Taken in March for New Church Directory |
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| Begin on March 1, 2010. Afternoon times for seniors; evenings for our families who can come no other day. PLEASE SIGN UP SOON! |
Our new 2010 FUMC Pictorial Directory will help us all to better put faces with names; and to all know & be able to pray for one another regularly by face. PLUS... What a gift...in the comfort of our church...wotj mo sitting fee... to be able to capture a moment in time with your family or friemds...to cherish for years to come. The possibilities include such things as: ...a 3-generation family pose while those you love are still around ...a photo of your children with their Golden Retriever that will help preserve their special childhood memories ...Individual & family portraits for Easter, Mothers Day, graduation, etc. (Please allow one total hour at the church for your sitting, selecting & any purchases.) |
How to Sign Up for Your Family Photo Appointment
Sign Up before or after church in February!
Every household photographed will receive a free 8x10 of your directory pose, and a free Pictorial Directory, & will be able to purchase additional portraits (if desired).
For more information contact Dorothy James @756-2118 or
Mary Brown @ 755-0141.
The Season of Lent?
If it seems we just celebrated Christ’s birth at Christmas, it’s because we did! Yet as you read this we are almost into the season of Lent! As you prepare for Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season, let us pause to understand this season of preparation and self-examination.
What is Lent? According to the United Methodist Book of Worship, “Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday.” Lent is not that stuff that you pull off your dryer vent. “Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon word lencten, which means ‘spring’. The season is a preparation for celebrating Easter. Historically, Lent began as a period of fasting and preparation for baptism by converts and then became a time for penance by all Christians.” Each Sunday has special theological significance and should always be reminders of the joyful expectation of the Resurrection. The Sundays during Lent have also been considered “little Easters” for this reason.
We will begin the season of Lent with the traditional service of the Imposition of Ashes on Ash Wednesday (February 17th) at 7:00pm. Please plan to join us for this meaningful observance. There can be no Easter celebration without the penitential journey though the season of Lent.
24 Hours That Changed the World
Nancy McDougall will begin a Lenten Study on the book “24 Hours That Changed the World” by Adam Hamilton on Sunday, February 21st, from
5 p.m. until 6:30. The study is on the last 24 hours in the life of Jesus and includes the viewing of a DVD of sites of the Holy Land that are important to this last day of Christ’s life.
The study lasts until Easter and a donation of $15 for the study books will be appreciated. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Nancy McDougall at 325-388-3752.
These times, they are a changing
I like to collect interesting items from previous eras. I have a “candle stick” phone without a dial, dated 1915. For those who don’t watch old movies, you picked up the ear piece and tapped on the arm that held the ear piece and the operator answered. That phone worked great when there were just a few phones in town and one person could handle the work. As the work load increased, the phone company came up with the rotary dial so the phone would not depend on one person. As electronics improved, the rotary dial was replaced by the touch tone. Then came the cell phone (about the size of a notebook) and the phone no longer needed to be attached to a phone line. Now I have a cell phone that fits in my pocket but it is fairly simple and will not do all the texting and internet work that I would like to be able to do. Who would have dreamed that we would go from an operator to texting in 100 years?
The point is that the world does not stand still. The future comes on us whether we are ready or not. Change is inevitable. Will we be ready for it? How will we respond? We can lament that we do not use rotary phones or we can figure out how to best utilize the new technology to accomplish our purposes. The world is changing around the church. Will we be able to communicate the gospel in a way relevant to people who are quite at home in this new world?
“Boofest” and “Veggie Tales” are two attempts to reach people who might not otherwise even consider church as a possibility. Let’s come up with other ideas and programs. Let’s invite, invite, invite. And be open to where the Spirit might lead us, even if it makes us a little uncomfortable.
My friends, I think you and I can relate to what Tim is saying here. The world will continue to change, with or without us. The people of God will continue to hunger and thirst for the Word of God and the people who have no relationship with God will continue to be in need of hearing the Good News. Travis Clark just helped me get my Facebook page set up, something I thought I’d never do. (Thanks, Travis!) But the world moves on and so must we if we are to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God for the opportunity to do so!
Re-Think Church
Submitted by Debbie Clark, FUMC Lay Leader
On January 16th, there were 11 members from this church who attended the “Equipping the Saints” workshop in Kerrville. I attended a presentation on the Rethink Church initiative that is being introduced.
One question that is asked is “What if church were not just a building? Not a noun, but an action verb?” Here is the response that was given:
Jesus gave the Great Commission, and told us to “Go into the world” doing the things that he did: teaching, healing, feeding hungry people, speaking out about the injustice, and calling the world to move to more faithful living. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to empower the disciples to begin a movement.
In too many places, we have lost that sense of being a movement and have convinced ourselves it was enough to gather in our buildings and wait for people to come and find us. Jesus sent the disciples, and sends us, out to meet the world. We do that when we encounter the world at its points of greatest need. We learned that it’s not about us, it’s all about the other person.
The term we (UNITED METHODISTS) are using for these touch points is “doors.” Jesus consistently used a door as a metaphor to present opportunities to engage and invite his listeners to be part of the building of God’s kingdom here on earth. I invite your to visit www.10thousanddoors.org and see what doors you can open to help someone.
On Saturday, January 30th, there is a Re-think Church Event planned in Austin at Westlake UMC from 9 am until 12:30 p.m. Please contact Debbie Clark at 512-355-3219 or 512-797-4413 if you would like to attend. There is no charge for attending and I guarantee you will enjoy it!
Christmas Eve Care Baskets
Christmas Eve has come and gone, but the loving, caring spirit that was present then continues…
Thank you to everyone who baked, wrapped, shopped, donated time and money to this yearly project in recognition and thanks to those who work on Christmas Eve caring for and keeping us safe. If you came by the Fellowship Hall that evening you would have seen the baskets bulging at the seams with goodies. Thanks also to those of you who came to help with the great stuffing event and to you who offered your time on Christmas Eve to deliver a basket. We no longer are amazed at the generosity of this congregation, but are in awe of what is possible when we are filled with God’s love.
Thanks be to God for the opportunity to love others in this small way…
Wayne & Mary Brown
Community Kitchen Youth Angels
When Ben and Joann Thomas needed goody bags to give to the children at the Christmas dinner, guess who came to the rescue? Sean Moore and his outstanding youth group did! We asked, they accepted and delivered wrapped bags of cookies for the party.
This group continues to do wonderful things that are often “under the radar” going unnoticed and unacknowledged. Well, many noticed and we are all so thankful for your kindness, your work, and the spirit of Christ that shines through each of you.
A Note From The community Kitchen
“A thoughtful act or a kind word may pass in a moment, but the warmth and care behind it stay in the heart forever.”
Thank you, thank you not only for the donations to the Community Kitchen, but a wonderful evening with food, soup and friends.
Ben & Joann Thomas
A Note From the Dowdle Family
To all the wonderful ladies at the Burnet First United Methodist Church,
Thank you so much for your prayers, kindness and generosity during such a tragic time in our lives! The food and paper goods were wonderful and so helpful! We are blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives. Thank you again!
Angela & the Family of Coy Dowdle
“The John Wesley Adventure”
By Dr. Tom Fuller
Dr. Tom Fuller, noted lecturer, Wesleyan Scholar, UMC General Evangelist is coming to the Highland Lakes.
During his time in the Highland Lakes, Tom will engage, educate, inform and inspire during presentations about Wesley and his vision, his devotion to personal holiness, and his personality. Dr. Fuller is the author of five books and has preached, taught and sung across North America as well as in Great Britain and India.
Dr. Fuller will be at Highland Lakes UMC the following days:
Sunday, February 7th at 10:45 a.m.
Monday, February 8th at 10:00 a.m. (Clergy Only)
Monday, February 8th at Noon (General Public)
Tuesday, February 9th at Noon
For more information please contact Highland Lakes UMC at 325-388-4187.


FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS
1ST Adele Wilkin, Herman Johns
2nd Steve Claiborne
4th Gene Cagle, Woodrow Null, Christopher Levens, Kellis Winn, Jackie Roberts, Mildred Harris
5th Korey Cain, David Nantz, Thomas Cooper-Hicks
8th Christina Hughes
9th Scott Hughes, Kathy Grimes
10th Donna Safarick
12th Steve Christian, Roger Crowder
13th Gene Bird, Jody Eveleth, Macyl Orman, Mike McDougall
14th Josephine Harrison
15th Jessica Devaney
16th Margery Felps, Bill Neve, Caryl Calsyn
17th Chaz Fliss, Wayne Brown
18th Helen Frady
19th Denise Elkins
21st Kelly Collins, Stephanie Louis
23rd Hazel Garrett, William Neve
24th Katherine Cain
25th Bobby Beckner
27th Don Glover, Gloria Null
28th Hudson Dickens
MARCH BIRTHDAYS
2nd Julie Collins
3rd John Wing
4th Bud Green, Ina Cooper, Kiley Burton
5th Ruby Glover
7th Mary Brown
8th Benjamin Johnson, Korlee Carruthers
12th Margaret Brown, Sherrye Faulkenberry, Lori Blend, Keegan Blake
15th Alice Leech
16th Jo Foulds, Hailey Hibler
17th Josh Scott
18th Kathy Snider
19th Jann Barnett, Jill Ringstaff, Jesse Benjamin, Ethan Sethman
24th Jeff Gastineau
25th Tanya Blake
26th Avery Donaldson
28th Dorothy James, Frank Stone, Jessica Beckner
29th Ladema Jones
31st Ella “Mae” Brown, Steve Donahue
The Publisher apologizes for any birthdays left off this list. Please help us update our records. Call or email and give us your birthday!
Nurse Ministry
Submitted by Marjorie Bronk
WINTER HEALTH CHECK LIST
The beginning of the year is a great time to catch up on health care
appointments. Here are four health checks to consider:
üSkin cancer check. Our skin is paler during the winter, making it a good time to detect skin abnormalities. See your dermatologist if you spend much time in the sun.
üBone density test. Start with a densitometry test as early as in your 30's. This basic information is helpful as we age. Special x-rays measure how many grams of calcium and other minerals are packed into our bones.
üLadies need an annual PAP and if over age 40, a mammogram. Ask your doctor about a test for HPV (the human papillomavirus) which may lead to cervical cancer. This can be done with the PAP test.
üColon Cancer Screening, if 50 or over. One should be done every 10 years, or more often, if there is a family history of colon cancer or polyps.
Four nutrients that you need more of in the winter are:
1. Vitamin C. Full of antioxidents, it helps our system fight off
viruses and bacteria or reduce the length and severity of
symptoms. Find this vitamin in citrus fruits, tomatoes, strawberries,
winter squash and broccoli. Try for about 150 mg daily.
1. Vitamin D. Sunlight prompts your body to make vitamin D,
which is critical to everything from bone health to weight
maintenance. Try for about 1,000 to 2,000 IU (International
Units) daily.
2. Probiotics. Help build up good bacteria in the intestines and
improves your disease-fighting ability. They "up" energy and
help to digest and absorb nutrients quickly. Look for these in
yogurt or other "live culture" foods like sauerkraut.
3. Zinc. This mineral will increase body production of white blood cells and has been shown to help decrease the length of a cold. Research shows that zinc improves mood and energy, as well as curbing appetite. Find zinc in yogurt, meat, nuts
(almonds), legumes and oysters. The RDA (Recommended Daily
Allowance) suggests 8 mg.
Washing your hands regularly throughout the day is an absolute must! You may need an extra scrub if you come into contact with these six "GERMIEST" places:
1. Shopping carts. E.coli was found on 80% in a sample study.
1. A kitchen cutting board. There are more harmful bacteria on
this kitchen staple than on your toilet seat.
2. First floor elevator button. Everyone touches this button
throughout the day, increasing the amount of germs drastically.
3. ATM enter key. More fingers, more germs.
4. Your desk top. There is a higher bacteria count found there
due to the food eaten as we remain at the desk and sneeze
and cough throughout the day.
5. Playground. Almost every child that comes in from playing on the jungle gym and monkey bars has major bacteria (even fecal) all over their hands. March them right to the sink and have them suds up really well. When unable to scrub, use a hand sanitizer. Keep several available, it's just as effective as soap and water, and you never know when you'll need it.
Winter is the best time to add some fun into your life. Do activities that you enjoy to stimulate your brain to produce dopamine, a mood enhancing hormone that can help to stave off feelings of depression.
USED MEDICAL SUPPLIES
We have a great "used" medical equipment loan system and have helped MANY individuals with short term and long term needs. There is a “sign out” notebook in the volunteer office to help us keep track of where items are being used. Often we get a call and this record can locate a needed item that is no longer being utilized. Tammy and Jim will be glad to help you if Marjorie is not available. We encourage anyone to use these supplies, but need to know where they are currently located.
The First UMC-Burnet Missions Calendar
The Missions Committee met on January 25, 2010 and set the following monthly calendar for 2010:
JANUARY “Souper Supper” Fundraiser for Community Kitchens
Blood Drive during Angel Food, Health Kit’s for Haiti
FEBRUARY Meals on Wheels “Cup of Cheer Valentine Recognition”
MARCH Prison Outreach Focus (NIV Bibles, Shampoo, Deodorants
APRIL “Nothing But Nets” Fundraiser (Basketball/Golf Tournament)
Or “Noisy Offering”
MAY Focus on the Homeless (Sleeping Bags, Socks & Caps)
JUNE La Care: Diapers and Fans
JULY School Supplies & Six Month Blood Drive
AUGUST “Undie Sunday” with socks and underwear for school children
SEPTEMBER “Chili Supper” Fundraiser in conjunction with Burnet/Marble Falls Football Game
OCTOBER Community Work Day, Christmas Boxes/Operation Christmas Child, Crop Walk
NOVEMBER Older Adult Rural Services (OARS), Heaters for La Care, Coat Drive
DECEMBER Christmas Baskets, Christmas Cards for Prison Ministry
Ongoing monthly/weekly efforts: Monthly Car Checks during Angel Food Ministries, Angel Food Ministries, La Care, weekly H.L. Respite Center program; Community Kitchen desserts for Thursdays; Community Service work with the Trustees, Probation Youth and other youth needing Community Service hours; UMC Nurse Ministry; Medical Supply Loan Program and Disaster Preparedness.
Sunday Bus Service
Monthly Donation to Meals on Wheels
Outreach beyond our community: Solar Bakery in Africa (Diana Wiley); Nothing But Nets and Community Mission Travels.

KID’S CHOIR
3rd, 4th, and 5th graders began WNL music classes on January 13th, eager to be back with their friends. New Testament stories will be taught through songs and Godly play for the next few weeks. (If you’d like to observe, we welcome visitors). Whenever possible, this choir will sing on the 3rd Sunday of each month at the 10:50 church service. Jackie, Judy, Janelle, Betty and Steve-praise God for this privilege to get to know, love and teach children from our church and community.
JOY CHOIR
Our rehearsals are at 7 pm each Wednesday. New members are always welcome. You do not have to be able to read music or be an accomplished singer to join our group. We just ask that you have a desire to serve the Lord with your voice and heart.
JUBILEE RINGERS
The handbell choir will continue to practice on Monday evenings at 6:30 in the “Pairs & Spares” classroom. Spring and Lenten season numbers are being prepared and whenever possible, we will ring on the 4th Sunday of each month at the 10:50 service. Our prayers continue to uphold members unable to be with us due to caretaking of loved ones or their own ill health. We are grateful for new members, Cheryl and Alexandra Hahn who joined us in January. We still have positions for two more ringers. If you have questions, contact Kristine Robinson at 512-755-4886.
RESPITE GROUP MUSIC
We occasionally like to play “Singo” (musical Bingo) with persons who attend the Tuesday Morning H.L. Respite Center group held in our Fellowship Hall, so we need small prize items to give to the winners. If you come across things in your home that would be appropriate and are willing to donate them, please give them to one of these volunteers: Wayne Hawley, Jackie Roberts or Betty Stevenson. Thank You!
The preschool is back in action after a wonderful Christmas break. We are making snowflakes, pinecone bird feeders and painting with frozen paint! We had a “snowball fight” with white socks and have gone skating on paper plates. The “Gingerbread men” have been decorated, baked and ran away, only to be found hiding in various rooms in the church and then promptly eaten by eager young children! All through it, they are reminded that God loves them “snow” much!
The BBC Preschool Board and parents are prepaing for our annual fundraising luncheon on Thursday, February 18th from 11 am until 1 pm. The funds will be used to purchase equipment for rainy, cold day activities that will be used in the Family Life Center, when play outside is impossible. Tickets are $8 for “eat in” or “take out” for adults and $8.50 for delivery and children under 6 are $4. Tickets will be sold in the Fellowship Hall after church on Sundays before the luncheon date and in the preschool office during preschool hours.
Pre-registration is underway for next year with our current parents. It will be opened to our community in March. We are attempting to grow into a five day preschool program beginning next year. Please continue to support us with your prayers and your generous financial help with scholarships for the kids. There are many hurting families out there that desire a Christian atmosphere for their children to learn in and your prayers and financial support make this happen.

Confirmation Classes to Begin
Reverend Ely will conduct the annual confirmation class for all 6th grade students beginning on Sunday, March 7th. The class is open to all 6th graders or older students who have not had the opportunity to receive this training and be confirmed as full members of the church. Parent class participation will be required for the student to participate. The class will be held each Sunday morning (excluding Easter Sunday), from March 7th – May 2nd during the Sunday School hour. The confirmation service will be held on Mother’s Day (May 9th). All parents of 6th graders or other potential students are invited to attend a parent’s information meeting on Wednesday, February 24th at 5:30pm in the Pastor’s Office. For more information, please call Reverend Ely in the church office (756-2229).
