Over and Above the Call
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Welcome Back to Decatur County Schools
Our Church welcomed all Decatur County Schools employees back for another school year by presenting them with a First Methodist Church pen as a small token of our appreciation for their service to our children. July 23, 2018 
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Lauren Turner, Susan Steen, and Beth and Ruth Yarbrough welcome back our Decatur County Schools employees with a gift.
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Eastpoint Florida Fires
Curtis Robinson helped coordinate a community response to help people affected by the recent fires in Eastpoint, FL, and we were asked to help. The call was for canned goods, boxed pasta meals, diapers, and flip-flops for all ages and sizes—toiletries and water were not needed (someone else already responded to those needs). Donations were brought to the Church Office and picked up for delivery on Friday, July 6, 2018. Thank You! to everyone who gave donations. Thanks! also to Curtis Robinson for picking them up from the church, and Thanks! to Vanessa Arthur for carrying them to Eastpoint! |
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UMCOR Hygiene Kits in Response to Hurricane Harvey
Last Wednesday night (September 21, 2017), our Youth and their adult helpers put together 216 Hygiene Kits. Along with those made, we are sending along your financial contricutions which will allow approximately 240 more kits to be made. All told, we estimate 450 Hygiene Kits will come from Bainbridge First UMC. Thanks for your generosity! Steven Hayes, October 3, 2017 UMCOR Hygiene kits provide basic necessities to people who have been forced to leave their homes because of human conflict or natural disaster. Items included in the kit are:
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2017 Spaghetti Meal for Hurricane Evacuees
As I reflect on Hurricane/Tropical Storm/Tropical Depression Irma, however, I think about our response as a church over the weekend, and, if you’ll forgive the grammatical transgression, “we done good”! What started as a suggestion to make some sort of response became a plan to which our church members responded with overwhelming generosity! Our Lay Leader, Larry Nichols, suggested that we make some sort of effort in meeting the needs of those who would be evacuating to our community. I handed it off to Lauren Turner, our Events Coordinator, who did a marvelous job in putting together our Spaghetti Luncheon for the evacuees. So many people were involved in so many ways—through monetary donations, donations of food, donations of time, and donations of “goodies” for the children. Some of us spent time talking with the evacuees, trying to offer comfort, and, of course, there were opportunities to pray with and for these people who had to abandon their homes and livelihoods and who have no idea of how things will really be when they get home. I was personally blessed that whatever we had left over—both of food and materials—didn’t go to waste; the leftovers were sent to the Coliseum, which was opening as a shelter as we were finishing up here on Sunday. It was also a blessing to see children, youth, and adults helping—by my count, we had over forty volunteers! And I know there were wonderful acts of hospitality that took place beyond our corporate response! People’s lives were touched by our actions. As I talked with folks, they expressed their gratitude for our hospitality—and not only ours, but the hospitality of the whole community. Some who may have had some doubts about Christians have decided that we are good people—so perhaps some seeds were planted that God will grow into faith commitments and discipleship! Rev. Mike Brown September 17, 2018 |
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Cookies for Teachers
There’s always a team that needs to be fed or a meeting that could use a plate of cookies or spread of sandwiches. It’s often joked that Methodists love to eat and cook, so why not spread love and a little cheer through some great homemade treats (or even some delicious store-bought snacks)? They will be eaten quickly and appreciated long after the goodies are gone. Bainbridge First United Methodist Church did just this when they baked about 1,000 cookies for teachers and employees of Decatur County schools and Grace Christian Academy. They handed out the cookies and greeted county school employees at the annual pre-planning convocation, where all employees meet together before the school year starts. It was a great way to say thanks to all of them at one time, Turner said.
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“I’m a retired educator myself, so I know what it means for somebody to say thank you,” said Lauren Turner, Bainbridge First UMC’s events coordinator. “We wanted to let them know that we appreciate them and we’re here to serve them.”
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