A Message from Perdido Bay United Methodist Church

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APRIL 2011

For the Calendar of Events, Birthdays & Anniversaries, please visit:

www.pbumc.net

PASTOR'S PEN

Dear Friends,

During the last few days here in the church office, I've had lines from two very different songs running in my head. The first is very "preacherly," as it comes right out of the United Methodist hymnal. It's the much loved tune Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing, and the line that keeps running in my head is at the end of the first verse: Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it, mount of thy redeeming love. I may be singing it out of context, but I do so in celebration of the fact that our future Associate Minister will be with us sooner than later.

The Rev. Jeremy Mount and his wonderful family will be making the transition from Okinawa to Pensacola at the end of May, and I anticipate that Jeremy will be introduced to the congregation on Sunday, June 5. Many of you are well versed in the experience of moving your family across the country, so I ask that you hold Jeremy, his wife, Elissa, and their children, Brianna, Steffen, Isaiah, and Zoe, closely in your prayers. As our new Discipleship Pastor, Jeremy will be the church's primary coordinator of discipleship ministries, including the implementation of strategies for connecting, strengthening, and serving in the name of Christ for the transformation of the world. His purpose here will be to further assimilate new and existing believers into the body of Christ, to help them identify a sense of Christian vocation, and to assist in equipping them toward that end. As a church, we are already working to clarify our disciple-making process. Jeremy comes to help us make it happen!

The Mount Family

Zoe, Brianna, Steffen, Isaiah, Jeremy, Elissa

Jeremy will also be leading our Worship on the Water service at the Flora-Bama later this summer, which leads me to the second song in my head, as sung by the late, great, Marvin Gaye: oooooooo I heard it through the grape vine...

Truth be told, I've heard some great rumors lately of things I plan to do in the church...most of which are news to me! This is natural, I suppose, when new developments are underway (which, I am glad to say, is often the case here at PBUMC), and I must admit that I find the creativity behind some of these tales to be wildly entertaining! Still, lest there be unnecessary anxiety, I will offer one bit of feedback: as we make plans to incorporate the Worship on the Water service into our weekly schedule, I do not foresee the need to change our existing worship schedule as it now stands. I want to be open to the Spirit's leading on the issue, so I hope we'll all be ready to respond in service to the greater mission if the need for change does arise, but as for the current worship schedule, I have no "secret plans."

Of course, you never know what might start running through my head next...but then again, you can always just come and ask me, right?

I'll bet you wonder how I knew...

Thanks, Marvin.

Love,

Darren

Holy Week Schedule:

April 17, 2011

Easter Cantata

8:15 & 11:00, Sanctuary

April 21, 2011

Maundy Thursday Service

6:00pm, Sanctuary

April 22, 2011

Good Friday Service

6:00pm, Sanctuary

April 24, 2011

Easter Sunday

9:00am & 11:00am, Community Center

Children's Easter Egg Scramble & Photos

(from 10:00 to 11:00 on the lawn)

BRICK PATH IN THE PBUMC PRAYER GARDEN

brick path

Bricks are available for $50.00 each. You may purchase one in honor or in memory of a loved one. Order forms are available in the church office or online at pbumc.net. Order yours today!

LEAVE A LEGACY THROUGH ENDOWMENTS

leaves

Perdido Bay United Methodist Church Endowment Fund Tidbits...

You can share your faith beyond your lifetime by careful estate planning which includes the church in your will. During your lifetime you will have the joy of knowing that whatever you do not use in this life will continue in ministry through your church after your death.

Here at PBUMC a group of leaders established a Permanent Endowment Fund for the purpose of providing the opportunity to members and friends to make charitable gifts to PBUMC.

Our Endowment Fund is handled by our Alabama-West Florida United Methodist Foundation, Inc. If you have questions, please call Flor Cruz at the church office (850) 492-2135. You can also contact Terry Turner, the Methodist Foundation Executive Director at the foundation for more information at (334) 793-6820 or email at foundation@alwfumc.org.

April POP

The combined choirs of PBUMC will

be presenting the Easter Cantata,

"Behold the Lamb"

Sunday, April 17, 2011

at the 8:15 and 11:00 services.

We hope you will join us as

we celebrate

the Passion of our Christ.

Ms. Margo

Dear Families & Staff of PBUMC:

I would love to take an opportunity to thank you

from the bottom of my heart.

It has been a divine privilege to be here and share the

love of Jesus with you and your children.

Our family will miss this wonderful place and we wish

you all the very best God has to offer!

All my love, Ms. Margo

EASTER CELEBRATION FOR THE CHILDREN

If you have youngsters, please join us on the PBUMC front lawn on Easter Sunday to participate in some fun activities we have planned just for them!

We will have an hour (from 10 - 11 a.m.) of celebration time for the children in between our two Easter services. So, if you come for the 9 a.m. service, plan to stay a few minutes later; and if you come for the 11 a.m. service, plan to arrive a little bit early! We will have several Easter "Scrambles" going on for the different age groups, and the kids will be able to collect a prize once they have collected their eggs. Additionally, your little ones will have the opportunity to have their photos taken in their Easter finest by a professional photographer at a photo station. We will also provide some light refreshments. We are looking forward to sharing the celebration of Easter with your children!

If you would like to help out with the celebration, we are taking donations of individually wrapped candies, such as jelly beans, skittles, sweet-tarts, etc. (NO chocolate, please). Please leave your donations in the church office.

To learn about other ways to help out or to volunteer to participate in the event itself, please contact Becky Cowan at (850) 529-9098, or feel free to drop by one of our meetings held weekly on Thursday evenings at 6:00 in the Community Center.

FOCUS

OFTEN TIMES WE FIND IT DIFFICULT TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE LORD. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE WHEN WE OVERLOAD OURSELVES WITH ACTIVITIES AND RUSH TO CATCH UP. WE MAY HAVE A HUNDRED THINGS ON OUR MINDS AND UNFORTUNATELY, GOD MAY NOT BE ONE OF THEM. WHEN WE DON'T FOCUS ON THE LORD, TWO THINGS USUALLY HAPPEN. FIRST, WE DON'T PRAISE THE LORD WITH OUR EFFORTS, AND SECONDLY WE DON'T KNOW IF WHAT WE ARE DOING IS WHAT GOD INTENDS FOR US TO DO.

OSWALD CHAMBERS IN MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST, SAYS IT THIS WAY, "IT IS NOT LACK OF EXPERIENCE THAT LEADS TO FAILURE, BUT LACK OF LABORING TO KEEP THE IDEAL RIGHT." HE GOES ON TO SAY, "LEARN TO DISCERN WHERE THE AMBITION LEADS AND YOU WILL SEE WHY IT IS SO NECESSARY TO LIVE FACING JESUS CHRIST."

PAUL STATES IN 1 CORINTHIANS 9-27 "LEST MY BODY SHOULD MAKE ME TAKE ANOTHER LINE, I AM CONSTANTLY WATCHING SO THAT I MAY BRING IT INTO SUBJECTION AND KEEP IT UNDER." IN OTHER WORDS, UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE NEVER IN CONTROL AND MUST ALWAYS BE SUBJECT TO OUR LORD'S DESIRE FOR US, EVEN THOUGH WHAT WE ARE DOING APPEARS NOBLE AND RIGHTEOUS TO US.

FOCUSING ON GOD IS LIKE STOPPING TO SMELL THE WISTERIA. THEY BOTH HAVE AN INVIGORATING AND RICH PRESENCE. JUNE AND I HAVE FOUND THAT THE WALK TO EMMAUS IS A GOOD PLACE TO STOP AND REST WHILE GOD'S PRESENCE SURROUNDS US AND HIS GRACE FALLS ON US LIKE SWEET WISTERIA PETALS. THIS EXPERIENCE MAY HELP US TO REMEMBER ANOTHER OSWALD CHAMBER'S QUOTE, "MY WORTH TO GOD IN PUBLIC IS WHAT I AM IN PRIVATE."

GOD BLESS,

JOE WILDES

Bereavement Committee News

The PBUMC Bereavement Committee is an outreach of caring concern and love to the bereaved family. The committee members met earlier this year and decided to make some changes. We will now provide a meal for the immediate family at their home whenever they would like. If they wish to have a reception after the Memorial Service, the committee will reserve the Banquet Room in the Community Center.

The committee will provide the following: sweet treats (cookies or any sweet that can be considered finger food), coffee, water and punch.

If the family wishes to have something other than what is provided by the committee, Paul Pipes will have a menu available and the cost will be discussed at that time. If the reception is scheduled on the weekend, the family will be provided with phone numbers for several catering companies in the area.

We need your help.... volunteers are needed to provide cookies, set up, serve and clean up after the reception. To participate or help with your time, talents or monetary contributions, please call Shelva Ott (at the church office on Mondays) or at home (251) 980-1487 or cell (330) 714-0173. Thank you!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SAYING THANK YOU WITH FLOWERS - Ruth Circle would like to thank everyone in the congregation for supporting all of the Ruth Circle fund raisers through the years. The funds raised have supported our efforts to help families in need at Christmastime. As a Thank You to the congregation, Ruth Circle is providing a colorful flower arrangement for the sanctuary to be used on Sundays when there are no fresh flowers. We look forward to your support of our next fund raiser sometime this fall.

~With Love From All The Ruthies

PBUMC PICTORIAL DIRECTORY is in the works! We will be listing home addresses, alternate addresses, home phone numbers, cell phone numbers and email addresses. If you do not want certain information printed in the directory, please call the church and let us know by April 11 (850) 492-2135.

THANK YOU CHURCH FAMILY - Ms. Marie (caregiver for her three great grandchildren) would like to thank everyone who has helped her family in their time of need. It was greatly appreciated!

BLOOD DRIVE on Sunday, April 3, from 9:00am to 1:00pm in front of the Community Center. A thank you gift offered to all who give the gift of life.

EASTER CELEBRATION - Come! Let your hearts be blessed with the sounds of Easter Joy! Wednesday, April 13, at 6:00 p.m. in the gym, our Preschoolers, Elementary children and Youth will be sharing special music with us in preparation for Easter! Join us for dinner and then sing Hallelujah's with us!

AUDIO/VISUAL TECHNICIAN NEEDED - The Church is looking for individuals who would be able to serve as an Audio/Visual Technician for the 9:00 worship service and other special events. Those interested are invited to contact Pastor Darren at darren@pbumc.net

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