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A PUBLICATION OF FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
THEWINDOW 1411 BROADWAY | LUBBOCK, TX 79401 | 806.763.4607 | FUMC.COM |MARCH 2022
What’s Inside Page 02 Hospitality
JESUS’ LAST WEEK “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Page 04 Monthly Mission Focus
Page 05 Third Grade Bibles
Page 07 Memorials & Honorariums
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH•LUBBOCK
FIRSTLBK
MOVED BY JESUS. LOVING PEOPLE. SERVING ALL.
Our mission is to create a grace-filled environment in which Christ transforms lives.
Have you ever had SENIOR PASTOR to cram for a test, or Todd Salzwedel had the experience
of needing to learn about a new subject in a very short period? If you’ve ever had a loved one get seriously ill with something you have little experience with, gaining a grasp of the situation can become a daunting task. Words like cancer, heart bypass, Alzheimer’s become triggers to a whole new way of understanding not only those we love, but our own response to how we care for those affected. In some sense, it’s interesting because we generally have a familiarity at least with the words themselves. We are aware that these are medical terms that affect many people and can have drastic life changes associated with them. But we are not likely to become “experts” in these areas until we are confronted with them in our personal lives through either family or close friends. When that moment comes though, we are full of questions and experience an urgency to absorb as much information as possible. During the month of March into mid-April, we will be celebrating the six-week period of Lent that culminates with Easter weekend, the focal point of the Christian year. During Lent,
we will be focusing our energy in worship on Jesus last week prior to his crucifixion and resurrection. We will focus on the cramming the disciples are doing in terms of their own education. It seems somewhat evident that the disciples really couldn’t comprehend what they saw as the worst possible outcome taking place – the death of Jesus. What they could not have known was that this single act, coupled with his resurrection, would be the saving grace for the world. I find some corollaries with the disciples and the medical example I shared above. It’s not like the disciples were not made aware of Jesus’ impending death, or that he hadn’t warned them that he would not be with them much longer. The gospels are full of examples of him trying to prepare them for this moment. During Jesus’ final week, tension was high as Jesus’ popularity was reaching its zenith, and the disciples were much more aware of what was taking place around them. They still weren’t sure of the outcome, but I’m sure that when they later reflected on those events, they remembered details they might have missed in the moment. I’ve certainly had similar experiences at the bedside of someone ill in the hospital or in the confines of a doctor’s office. They say that hindsight is 20/20. Maybe. I think it is more accurate to state that we gain more wisdom when information is coupled with experience. During Jesus’ last week, the disciples got their fill of both! We have the luxury of studying, reflecting, meditating, and sometimes dissecting the accounts found in (continued on page 2)
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Dear Church Family, “Y’all Come!” One of the things I love about being a Texan is our history of friendliness and our predilection for hospitality. Generally speaking, we’re a nice bunch of folks… we just can’t help it. Shera Atkinson Minister of Spiritual Formation and Congregational Care
Some have the spiritual gift of hospitality and it flows naturally from their heart. Then there are others who practice hospitality because Scripture instructs us to:
Hebrews 13:2 “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers; for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Christ Jesus also tells us what hospitality looks like for His followers: Matthew 25:35-35 “For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited Me in; naked and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.”
As we grow in our Disciple Pathway, here are four ways to cultivate the practice of hospitality. 1. Look Around. Find those who seem uncomfortable and extend a friendly greeting. We have a large church with many worship services and it may be they have been members for many years, but you are just now meeting them. “Are you new here or have I just not had an opportunity to meet you yet?” Either way, take the initiative and be the first to say hello. 2. Listen. Listen for the sound of loneliness. Seems contradictory, right? As you look for new faces, look also for those who attend alone. Don’t let them pass by without a warm encounter with you. Invite them to your Sunday School class, choir practice, a cup of coffee. Do something so they know they’re not alone. 3. Choose. Choose to be inclusive. Choose to extend invitations. Choose to have an open, welcoming attitude. Choose to notice the likes, dislikes, and needs of others. Choose to open your doors to others (literally and figuratively). 4. Persist. Keep on keeping on developing a spirit of hospitality. It may not be your spiritual gift, but as followers of Christ, it is not an option. Soli Deo Gloria, Shera
(continued from page 1) the gospels. It allows us the opportunity to put ourselves in that place and imagine what our responses might be. That is a good exercise. The truth of the matter is that we never really know how we are going to respond until we are finally confronted with those difficult circumstances. Knowledge, familiarity, and forethought are surely helpful though when that time comes. As we journey together with the disciples and Jesus this Lent, let us be diligent in our own discipleship. Let us allow the spirit of God to work within 2 MARCH 2022 | THE WINDOW
us that we might both learn from the past and prepare us for the future. Let us recognize that our own confidence and understanding pale in comparison to the Savior of the world. And let us humble ourselves as we remember this is not a test to cram for, but a journey that Jesus walks with us. Grace and Peace! Pastor Todd
Ash j
WEDNESDAY MARCH 2 6:30 P.M. SANCTUARY
Lenten Study Lenten Book Study: Begins March 2
Books beginning forLenten $10. book will help OurGROWTH Lenten Study Bookavailble is The Walk by AdamFebruary Hamilton.20 This guide you on your disciple pathway! If you choose to participate in our Lenten Study, you may follow the reading schedule below. Further, each week you will receive a devotional email from the pastors. Please contact Gloria Ashby at gashby@fumc.com to obtain your book and register to receive the emails.
March 2 - Introduction and Chapter 1 March 7 - Chapter 2 March 14 - Chapter 3 March 21 - Chapter 4 March 28 - Chapter 5 April 4 - Chapter 6 April 11 - Postscript Be sure to join us for our Holy Week and Easter Sunday services!
GROWTH
INDIVIDUALIZED
SPIRITUAL FO R MAT I O N P L A N S (ISFP)
you interested inthe growing your discipleship? If so, This Join theAre many who have started IndividualinSpiritual Formation Plan process. holistic process is a personalized to assist you as your growfor in your discipleship. contact Shera Atkinson ataidsatkinson@fumc.com information To obtain your information packet continue yourplan journey the disciple about obtaining a and personalized forongrowth. pathway, contact Shera Atkinson, satkinson@fumc.com. GROWTH
Treasured Times Service Opportunity Our Alzheimer’s and Dementia Ministry, Treasured Times, is in need of volunteers. We have people on a waiting list, and we would love to get them into our ministry as soon as we can. Treasured Times is a respite care for those in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia. This ministry provides a safe and caring place in which participants may enjoy socialization outside of the home. It also provides a weekly respite for caregivers and enables them to care for themselves. If you are looking for a place to serve, Treasured Times could be the place for you. Diane Foard, a volunteer, said it best when she said, “God has a mysterious way of working. I believe He brought each participant, caregiver, and volunteer together to be a blessing to one another.” If you are interested in using your talents to bless others, please contact Challa Goedeke at cjgoedeke@ hotmail.com or call 806-799-7421 or contact George Ann Benson at bensonga@aol.com or call 806-7868015, if you don’t reach us please leave your name and phone number and we will contact you.
SERVICE
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MONTHLY MISSIONS FOCUS FOOD2KIDS Since the fall of 2020, First LBK has partnered with Food2Kids to provide weekend snack bags to children at Bayless elementary and other LISD schools who have limited access to food when not at school. Fist LBK has provided snack packs to Bayless for several years and through our partnership with Food2Kids, we are able to continue to help meet a need for the students of Bayless and the entire LISD community. Please consider how you can join the mission of First LBK through your prayers, presence, and gifts. If this outreach is how you feel called to connect and you would like to volunteer to help pack snack bags, please fill out the interest form at fumc.com/signup-to-serve and we will connect you with the available dates. Contact Sara Lattimore, slattimore@fumc.com
SAMANTHA EDGIN
Administrative Assistant for Traditional Music First LBK welcomes Samantha Edgin! Samantha is the new administrative assistant to the music department. She comes from years of experience working in ministry with youth, contemporary worship, and creative arts at previous other churches. Samantha is the oldest of many siblings, and graduated from Liberty University in 2019, with a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design. At home, she and her husband, Andrew, have a 4-year-old son named Luca, a German Shepherd puppy, a cat, and a baby on the way in June 2022. Some of her favorite things include fresh kettle corn, the Marvel cinematic
universe, going on walks with her boys, and tending to their house plants that she says she’s trying very hard to keep alive. If you stop by Samantha’s office, you’ll likely find her in a sweater with the heater running, since as a true Texas native she believes the ideal temperature is “swimming weather.”
Engage - A Family Experience Engage started back on February 20. Families ate tacos, played games, and spent time with friends and family!
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Third Graders Receive Bibles A rite of passage in many United Methodist churches, including First United Methodist, Lubbock, is presenting Bibles to third-graders. Every year, in congregations across the United States, third-graders line up at the altar rail to receive their Bibles. Third graders here at First LBK recently received their new Bibles in the contemporary and traditional worship services. Each student was given a Bible wrapped in layers of different paper. Tessa Armes, Director of Children’s Ministry, explained the significance of each layer, as students gently unwrapped their gifts. The brown layer represents the Bible was given for everyone, regardless of race, gender, age, education or socioeconomic level. The map layer represents the Bible is the road map for our life. When we’re lost, the Bible leads us in the right direction and helps us make good decisions. The superhero layer represents that the Bible is full of ordinary people who did amazing and fantastic things with God’s help. The gold layer represents that the Bible is more valuable than gold or silver. It is one of the most precious gift we’ve been given. When we study it and desire to know God more, our lives are changed forever. Tessa reminded the students that while it is tempting to want to keep their Bibles shiny and new, they are meant to be used and messed up. Leaving our Bibles in their boxes and on the shelf won’t change our lives. Bible recipients: Sydney Armes, Madison Damron, Savannah Denson, McLane Johnston, Chapel Jones, Kennedy Lattimore, Sloane Medina, Katherine Odom, Mason Ramsey, Isaac Rollins, Ben Seltzer, Margaret Tirey, Owen Welch, and Boyd West.
THANK YOU! We would like to give a special thanks to the HI Robinson class for generously donating the Bibles and engraving for all of our third grade students. – First Kids MARCH 2022 | THE WINDOW
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FIRSTSTUDENTS ENCOUNTER MARCH 2526
EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE APRIL 17
8:45 SERVICE Students, if you would like to participate in the 8:45 worship service, contact Dakota Bybee, dbybee@fumc.com First Students Winter Retreat Winter Retreat was an event put on to give students the space to experience God in a new way but in a familiar place. We transformed Memorial hall into a new space to worship but also to learn and process new concepts from different speakers. Special guests included Sergio and Ashley, who lead us in breakouts, Zahriya lead worship, and Jeff brought us a good word. We hope the students walked away impacted by God and with a desire to press into the youth group community a little deeper. While we spent a lot of time in worship and different sessions, we also had a blast with scavenger hunts around the church and playing classic Lock-in games! We made so many memories and can’t wait for next year! COMMUNITY 6 MARCH 2022 | THE WINDOW
ONE WAY CAMP
UPCOMING EVENTS
SUNDAY MEAL SIGNUPS
MIDDLE SCHOOL: Parents, please sign up to help provide breakfast JUNE 1317 and dinner for students HIGH SCHOOL: on Sundays this semester. JUNE 2024
SIGNUPS & MORE
We appreciate all you do for our ministry!
CONNECT WITH US @firststudents_lbk @FirststudentsLBK
Memorials & Honorariums – February 15, 2022 CHILDREN’S MINISTRY In honor of Shelley and Jill Montgomery, Von Aven, and Julie Armstrong by Tom and Lindy Jones
FRIENDS OF MUSIC In memory of Tony Ross Smitherman by Scott and Cathy Porte
In memory of William Robert Pasewark Sr., by Julie Albritton
MUSIC MINISTRY In memory of Betty Lowder by Jerry and Tobie Bailey
EVERLIVING CHURCH TRUST In memory of Betty Lowder by Pat Enloe
In memory of Jack Strong Jr., by Charles and Paula Key
In memory of Robert Taylor by Randy and Dyanne Humphreys In memory of Durwood Marcom, Tony Ross Smitherman, and Shirley Williams by Don and Robin Walker In memory of Lea Kidd by Don and Robin Walker In memory of Cheryl Kidd by Don and Robin Walker In memory of Jack Strong, Jr. by David and Diana Locke In memory of Lois Karr by Barry and Jana Johnston In memory of Mary Helen Jameson by Charles and Paula Key In memory of Mary Helen Jameson by Patsie Ross In memory of Mary Helen Jameson by Jim and Sarah Stebbins In memory of Betty Lowder by Patsie Ross
In memory of Tony Ross Smitherman by Joe and Pam Murfee SECOND HELPINGS In memory Orville Fox by Ken and Frances Doshier In memory of Burt Montgomery by Randy and Dyanne Humphreys In memory of Burt Montgomery by Don and Robin Walker In memory of Orville Fox by Don and Nell Furgeson In memory of Burt Montgomery by Ron and Marci Reed In memory of Orville Fox by Bob and Penny Cogdell In memory of Burt Montgomery by Bill and Ann Price In memory of Burt Montgomery by Tom and Lindy Jones
In memory of Jack Strong, Jr. by Bob and Dana Craig
In memory of Burt Montgomery by John White
In memory of Beth Bryan by Ambassadors Sunday School
YOUTH MINISTRY In memory of Marilyn Reed by Todd and Zoellen Fields
In memory of William Robert Pasewark Sr., by Art and Kate Anderson Charitable Fund In memory of Lois Karr by Wright Family Foundation
Query from Archives
Our Life Together NEW MEMBERS to Jeremy and Kari Dickson on joining First Lubbock Sunday, February 6, 2022 in Bowman Chapel by Dr. Shera Atkinson. Congratulations to Lupe Carrasco on joining First Lubbock Sunday February 13, 2022 in 11T service with Dr. Todd Salzwedel. Congratulations to Rick and Susan Gordon on joining First Lubbock Sunday, February 20, 2022 in Bowman Chapel by Dr. Shera Atkinson. They are transferring from St. Stephen in Amarillo.
SYMPATHIES Sympathies to the Jameson family on the death of their mother, Mary Helen. Mary Helen passed away Friday, February 4, 2022. Visitation was held in the Resthaven Abby Chapel on Monday, February 14 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. A memorial service was held in the Resthaven Abby Chapel on Tuesday, February 15 at 1:00 p.m. A short burial service followed immediately at the Resthaven cemetery. She was a member of the Homebuilders Sunday School, Friends of Music, and a member of First Lubbock since May 11, 1969. Her husband, Lex, preceded her in death December 23, 2020
We were recently contacted by someone who would appreciate some answers about the history and symbolism of this window that is supposedly from our old church. If you know anything about this window, please contact Vi Zeeck, vzeeck41@ gmail.com.
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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH•LUBBOCK
FIRSTLBK
PAID
Lubbock, Texas Permit No. 594
MOVED BY JESUS. LOVING PEOPLE. SERVING ALL.
1411 Broadway Lubbock, TX 79401 Return Services Requested
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FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH•LUBBOCK
FIRSTLBK
MOVED BY JESUS. LOVING PEOPLE. SERVING ALL.
WORSHIP SERVICES Traditional
8:45 a.m. - Sanctuary 9 a.m. Bowman Chapel 11 a.m. Sanctuary
Contemporary
9:30 a.m. Christian Life Center 11 a.m. Christian Life Center 1411 Broadway, Lubbock, TX 79401 fumc.com The Window is a monthly publication of First United Methodist Church, Lubbock 8 MARCH 2022 | THE WINDOW
@fumclbk @fumclbk