Church guide

Church Family, here's an update on my sister, Tara: Tara had a wreck last week in which she flipped the van four times. We are supposing that one of the results of this wreck was an aneurism on her Aorta. Once the soreness of the wreck subsided, a pain in her abdomen continued. She went to the Emergency Room in Bainbridge on Monday. From Bainbridge, she was life-flighted to Gainesville, Florida (Shands Hospital). Within minutes of arriving, she was prepped for surgery. We arrived at Shands by car at 10:00 last night. She was taken to surgery just before we arrived. We were told to expect an 8 - 12 hour surgery and that we would be updated on her progress every 3 hours. At about 3:00, the doctor came to tell the family that the surgery was over; Tara had done very well; and that we could see her within the hour. Surgery went as well as it possibly could (5 hours instead of 8 - 10). She would be kept on the ventilator for two days and in the hospital for a week minimum. This morning, about 7:30, they discontinued the ventilator. Later today, they removed all tubes except IVs used to give her medications. She was attempting to speak to our mom this afternoon. I know many of you were praying with us and for her. People across America were lifting her in prayer. Tonight, I ask you to continue. I returned to Blakely this afternoon for clothes and medications and I will be returning to Gainesville tomorrow morning. Thank you!!!

Proudly United Methodist!!!

Church family: please hold Brad Boyett in your prayers as he grieves the loss of his mother, Stonna. Funeral services will be held at first Baptist Church Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock. I hope to see You there

Great to see the turn out for tonight’s Tenebrae Service

2019 Kolomoki Methodist Church Camp applications will be available THIS AFTERNOON! Registration is due May 22. Please contact Jennifer Brown or Lisa Turner for questions.

Church Family: Your turn out for today's Noon Worship Service was phenomenal. Thank You, Harriss Brown for leading music. I'm looking forward to a great rest of the week. Tomorrow at Southside BC at Noon.

Church Family: Please include Kris Wentzell and his family in your prayers. Kris’ grandmother passed away this AM, shortly after he arrived to say “goodbye.” She lived in Massachusetts. Please include Ms Shoemaker in your prayers. She is in the hospital in Donalsonville, fighting Pneumonia. She has been weakened but was able to acknowledge my presence and thank me for coming. I told her of your care and love for her!!

In the backyard at the parsonage are two grapevines. A few weeks ago Lori cut them back, and Dennis and Sara came over and put up the fencing. Since then those grape vines Have served as a picture of death. There was no life visible. But today I found a life springing from what seem to be death. Where is God bringing life to you in places that seem to once dead?

Our Children’s Ministry Program is the best! Kingdom Kids and Xtreme at Peanut Proud. Many thanks to Amy Smith and her Team for helping our kids represent the Kingdom of God to our community.

Come join the Kingdom Kids! Wednesday Nights @ 5 p.m. . Heavenly Heart Transplant ~ A New Heart

Hey Church Family: Did you practice Sabbath time today? Are you planning your weekly Sabbath?

Go Green Wednesday - Kingdom Kids / Xtreme

Kolomoki Methodist Church Camp is in need of adult counselors (especially men) in order to be able to have camp this summer. If you would be willing to be blessed through this ministry, please call Jennifer Brown at (229)254-6051.

Ash Wednesday Worship at 5:30 tomorrow I will begin my Lenten Sermon Series: Lead Me to the Cross. I’m expecting a big crowd. Y’all come and invite friends too

Church Family: In the last week, Methodists have spent time, energy, and resources debating human sexuality. In the last week, Methodists have spent time, energy, and resources watching GC2019 from a distance an praying and hoping for a good outcome. In the last week, what have we - the church family at Blakely FUMC - done to introduce someone to Jesus Christ and bring them to discipleship? What is our mission?

Church Family: General Conference 2019 ended today with a fury of protest and emotion. Earlier today, a minority report was presented to the Conference. It was defeated yesterday in committee, yet still considered today as the minority report. It was the ONE Church Plan and it was defeated. Then, the Conference began work to perfect the Traditional Church Plan. There were many attempts to prohibit the perfection of this report and the work was painfully tedious. However, the Traditional Church Plan passed. This led to major disruptions and protests. It was painful to watch. I hurt that our Methodist siblings felt hurt. I am embarrassed by their actions and I wish there was a better way for General Conference to work. However, I am confident that General Conference 2019 made the correct decision in adapting the Traditional Church Plan. What does this mean? * All people matter to God. * All people matter to the UMChurch. However, * Homosexual marriages will not be performed in UMChurch buildings or property. * Homosexual persons will not be eligible for ordination in UMChurches. So, nothing changes as far as the Book of Discipline is concerned. There is a provision for those churches who are unable to live in the UM Covenant and who choose to leave the denomination. I will need further clarification on this issue before reporting. Again, please let me remind you: ALL people matter to God. Therefore, to mistreat anyone - by word or deed - is an afront to God. We will not be the church that hates gay people. We must be the church that LOVES people into the Kingdom of God. So, please ... LOVE and welcome EVERYONE - RED, YELLOW, BLACK, WHITE, GAY, STRAIGHT, TRANSGENDERED. And then, the world will know we belong to Jesus.

Church Family: I want to bring you up to date about General Conference. Delegates from Annual Conferences around the world have been meeting in St. Louis since Saturday. After a day of worship and prayer, the delegates met as a "committee" to consider several plans and a few extra petitions related to those plans. Each of these plans and petitions has been presented as a possible "Way Forward," around and beyond the debate over human sexuality that has gridlocked our church since 1972. Only one plan passed through to the plenary session tomorrow. When delegates begin their work tomorrow, they will be considering and perfecting the Traditional Plan, a plan that maintains the church's current stance on human sexuality. Parts of this plan will need work because they have been deemed "unconstitutional" because they contradict other parts of the Book of Discipline. For example, the Traditional Plan calls for increased accountability for clergy who are "self avowed, practicing homosexuals." But this increased accountability strips the Resident Bishop of his/her authority to appoint pastors. So, the Conference will have to re-work those sections deemed unconstitutional so that they conform to the church's constitution while at the same time, increasing accountability for all clergy in the connection. What does all of this mean? We don't know yet! We will have a clearer picture tomorrow. However, I want share my heart with you, my Church family!! As children of God, you and I have one, just one responsibility: LOVE! Ours is not the task of conviction; that's the work of the Holy Spirit. Ours is not the task of judging; that's God's role. We are to LOVE - saint and sinner, conservative and progressive, gay and straight and everyone else. Blakely First is my 6th appointment in United Methodism. In each appointment, I have met persons who are lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, etc. I have sought to love each of them without reservation and with no strings attached. That is our calling. While each one of us has deep convictions about Biblical teaching, our convictions DO NOT override Jesus' command to love. I have also sought to welcome everyone! There is no vow of church affiliation or membership that asks any of us to testify about who our partner is. We only ask that those who worship with us and join our church family promise to be faithful to God and to our church family with their prayers, their presence, their gifts, their service, and their witness. If we ever start to remove people from consideration based on things we may not agree with, then I fear I will be among the first to be asked to leave. Just as we love all, we welcome all and we leave everything else to God. I don't know what will happen at General Conference tomorrow or what the ultimate outcome of today's decisions will be. However, I know that none of this has escaped God's knowledge nor His ability to transform and redeem. So, whatever happens, let's love and welcome. Grace and Peace to You All ... Pastor Tucker

Marriage Enrichment Weekend Fri PM - 6:00 - 8:30 6:00 - 6:30 - Supper 6:30 - 8:30 - Session 1 Sat AM - 9:00 - 11:30 Session 2 Time for you and your sweetheart to celebrate Y’all. We need a few more couples.

Church Family: Later this week, in St. Louis, Mo, delegates will gather from every Annual Conference in United Methodism around the world. Their task is to approve and/or perfect the Report of the Commission on the Way Forward. The Report on the Commission on the Way Forward was requested by General Conference 2016 to end our denomination's conflict over human sexuality by getting us around the debate to a framework which will eliminate the resolutions which come before General Conference every four years. The task of our delegation and of every delegate is a huge burden. I ask you to join me in praying for a move of the Holy Spirit at General Conference so that our delegates will hear the voice of God and be given wisdom and courage to follow His voice. Many (including me) are not very optimistic about this General Conference. Some believe that no matter what decision is reached, our denomination will split into several groups or denominations. Yet, I still believe in the power of God to transform hearts and minds and lives. So, I believe the only hope we have is for a move of God in OUR hearts, in our churches, in our conference, and in our denomination. So, brothers and sisters, trusting in God and God alone - not in our human reason or in what we THINK is right or wrong - let us pray ....

Our Children’s Ministry is tops!! Thank you, Amy Tabb Smith.

Teamwork

Youth group is running into marvelous light this morning, what about you??