hope your kids were at FUMC's Youth Weekend Friday, Aug. 20 through Sunday, Aug. 22.  And I hope they took a good bath on Sunday night.  That's because that weekend offered a ton of fun, good music, and thought-provoking messages, and 29 or so of our future leaders participated.  Glenn Green performed at their Ragamuffin Coffeehouse on Friday night, and they joined in an Amazing Race on Saturday afternoon.  Youth evangelist Duke Underwood, founder of R.E.A.C.H. Up USA in Lubbock, was again the featured speaker.  The weekend was capped off with mud fest - one reason soap sales wnt up in Quitman in august.

Click here to see more pictures from the weekend.

This church has honored QHS's graduating seniors with a breakfast for for years now.  On Tuesday, August 17, it initiated what may become a new tradition.  Over 150 teachers, staff, and board members from QISD were treated to breakfast as they spend the week getting ready for school to begin.  J.O.Y. Hall provided a beautiful and accomodating setting for the breakfast, and those serving felt a real sense of appreciation from the crowd.

In addition to a scrumptious breakfast, the honorees were treated to a slide show that celebrated the teaching profession and recounted a little history in the school district, and Jack and Pat Neel distributed a variety of gifts from local merchants, including All of Us, Brookshires, Dairy Queen, Lake Fork Creek Restaurant, Papadale's, Peoples Telephone, Peralta's, Quitman Flower shop, Tea Room, and Village Shop.

Thank you to all who made the event happen.  And THANK YOU, faculty and staff of QISD!

As a church, we are accustomed to taking care of our own, reaching out to others, donating to worthy causes, and making ourselves visible in this community.  But this Uncle John's Coffee House project is a little different.  We may not know exactly how to treat Uncle John's - because it really doesn't fit the mold that we are familiar with.

Uncle John's Coffee House is mission work.  It doesn't feel like mission work - because it's an entertainment event.  But it tries to accomplish two goals:

1. Provide something that our community will value.  Quitman doesn't offer a lot of entertainment opportunities on Saturday nights - especially live music.
2. Support Wood County service organizations. At the end of this year, net proceeds from Uncle John's Coffehouse will be distributed to non-profit service groups across the county.

The fact that somebody might enjoy themselves in our facilities - and that that might lead, eventually, to a strengthening of their relationship with God - would be a welcome bonus, but that is not what is driving Uncle John's.  What happens on the second Saturday evening of each month except December in J.O.Y. Hall is a gift to this community, and the best way we church members can help is to let the rest of the world know about it.  It is time to share our little secret.

To date, we have had three outstanding performances.  And we have three more lined up to finish the 2010 schedule.  If you didn't hear Kevin and Carmel Johnsen in June, you missed some real talent.  Then, in July, Jeff and Ann Norris regaled us with a wide variety of popular and western music, another evening to remember.  And Matt Tolentino, who was here August 14, was simply amazing;  what an entertainer! 

The rest of this year promises to be just as outstanding, so ask yourself:  Who do I know that might enjoy an occasional evening out - a cup of coffee, a slice of pie, and terrific music - for much less than big-city prices.  Then invite them!

Well, we may not be in the army, but the UM Army surely is in FUMC Quitman - all over it, all week!  The seige began the afternoon of Sunday, July 11, is likely to last until Saturday, the 17th.  There are 42 youth and 14 sponsoring adults practically living here!  In fact, the only time you won't find this bunch at church is when they're out scouting the community for properties they can spruce up with their hammers and saws, lumber and roofing materials, paint and who knows what else.  They've even taken over the parking lot with tools and materials.  They're here from four churches in Texas, on a mission aimed at bettering the lives of some individuals in our community who can use some help.  We have an idea that the greastest gifts may be received by these folks who've come to give so much.

We at First United Methodist Church in Quitman built our new J.O.Y. Hall with this kind of service to the community in mind, and are delighted to have UM Army with us this week.

It's just part of the cycle - spring moving into summer.  But we at FUMC get a close-up look at some aspects of that shift that most other folks just never see.

For example, Wednesday Night Live! - since it follows the school year - held it's last session until fall on May 26.  Weather threatened, but our children and youth had quite a party.  (Click the picture ==> to see more of the goings-on that evening- and earlier in the year.)

Our preschool finished another great year, and proud students and their families participated in Graduation ceremonies in J.O.Y. Hall on May 24.  Watching those children perform was a treat for all who came.

On June 3, QHS graduating seniors were treated - for the fortieth time - to breakfast at our church.  What a fine tradition that has become. (Click here to see more.)

 

And we said good-bye to a pastor and his family, then turned right around and welcomed the next.  Ken and Helen, we will surely miss you, and wish you well.  Dick and JoAn, you can't believe how delighted we are to have you join our family!

So, the cycle continues.  Maybe we should invite some others to be part of this!