Newsletter - First United Methodist Church, Marble Falls

Church Staff
Senior Pastor: Ellen Ely
Assoc. Pastor: Jon Weems
Education: Janiece Collier
Music Director: Joni Bedard
Youth Pastor: Robin Dahl
Administration: Sharon Pehl
Worship Leader: Jeremiah Jantz
Bldg. Super.: Larry Dowers
Missionaries: Ray & Lidia Zirkel
George & Ginny Olsen
Kevin & Jessica Langford
First United Methodist Church of
Marble Falls
1101 Bluebonnet Drive
Marble Falls, TX 78654
830-693-4341 voice
830-693-2922 fax
Web site fumcmarblefalls.com
Email fumc@nctv.com
FIRST UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
1101 Bluebonnet Dr.
Marble Falls, TX 78654
Address Service Requested
THE MESSENGER
In This Issue...
Pastor’s Message
VBS Scenes
Volunteer Opportunities

From the Pastor’s Heart…
June 2, 2013
Budget $20,344.14
Other 7,554.00
June 9, 2013
Budget $18,210.50
Other 2,128.00
June 16, 2013
Budget $12,507.00
Other 1,093.00
June 23, 2013
Budget 9,051.50
Other 1,604.00
Budgeted thru 6/23/13 $471,333.20
Received thru 6/23/13 $498,506.41
Spent thru 6/2313 $374,938.46
Pastor’s Message
In mid-March I went to the Hill Country Lawn and Garden show in Burnet. I bought several garden seedlings
from a friend of ours, Gary Rowland of Hairston Creek Farms. Wade wanted a salsa garden: tomatoes, Serrano peppers,
and jalapeno peppers. I wanted the tomatoes and cucumbers. Very shortly after the lawn and garden show, mom’s
condition took a sudden decline. Needless to say, we got distracted and it was actually several weeks before we finally got
the seedlings into the ground.
We planted them, watered them, and since we planted them at our place at the lake, we caged them to protect
them from deer and raccoons. We planted them in a good spot where they would get lots of sunshine. We even added
some compost material to the soil because the natural soil is just a poor mixture of granite gravel with very few nutrients.
Wade installed a soaker hose set on a timer so they would get regular water in our absence.
The plants have grown up to look pretty healthy but we have had little or no harvest. One day Wade pulled off a
handful of cherry tomatoes. The jalapenos have started forming but don’t mature. The same thing with the larger
tomatoes; they have developed and are green, but don’t seem to be getting ready to turn red. The cucumber vine looks
healthy and there are many blooms but so far we have only spotted one small cucumber, about the size of a short cigar.
We could get very frustrated but we know what the problem is. We are not there often enough to do the kinds of
things that these plants need. We’re not there to tend the garden; to fertilize or to prune. If the timer fails to come on, we
don’t notice until we see the plants wilting when we come a few days later to check. The game camera we set has shown
us a few raccoons and cats but nothing that is harming the plants. The harm is our neglect because we are not there.
My friends, as Wade and I were looking at what seems to be healthy plants and talking about our dilemma, we
decided it’s much like our faith journey. We look so healthy and happy on the outside, but at times when we don’t actively
tend our faith, it wilts. When we are absent from God things happen that, without daily care and nurture, eventually can
cause an otherwise healthy appearance to be very hollow inside. There is no maturity of fruit and no harvest. Summer
can be hard on vegetable gardens. Summer can also be hard on our faith if we don’t actively tend and nurture it.
This summer, come and join us as together we tend the gardens of our souls in worship, Bible study and other
family activities. Have a safe, wonderful summer!
Blessings,
Ellen
Dear Volunteers,
I hope everyone is staying cool!
We gave out 35 blankets this month. Five went to the
Marble Falls Crisis Center, 30 went to the Children’s Advocacy
Center in Burnet. To date we have distributed
248 blankets. A job well done! The agencies we supply
cover seven counties. Summer is here and the blanket
count usually goes up. Our supply of yarn is very low
and we need help. Even small balls are accepted...we use
every bit. Monetary donations are also welcome and tax
deductible.
I would like to welcome our new volunteers to
the World of Linus. Thank you for helping a child!
Sincerely, Edee Walters
Highland Lakes Area Coordinator
325-388-9346

To A Great Church…
On May 13th, I was in Austin Heart Hospital having a
procedure done. They installed a pacemaker/defibrillator. Pastor
Ellen came in shortly after they took me away and stayed
with Sandra, our son, and my twin brother and had a prayer
before leaving. Not too long after that, Jack Kennedy came and
prayed with us. The next day, Theron and Joan Brooks came
for a visit and prayed with us. Jon Weems also called a couple
of times. Keith has been bringing us tapes of all the services.
Many phone calls and cards were received as well. It is hard to
say how much all this meant to us. We are richly blessed to
have Ellen and Jon here at FUMC. They are truly a “dynamic
duo.” Thanks from the bottom of our hearts!
Love, Marion & Sandra Staton
Thank you so much for the scholarship. It truly means so
much. I know the decision was difficult in who would receive
the funds you worked so hard to raise. I am absolutely honored
that you chose me as a recipient.
Kendall Walker
Dear FUMC,
Thank you so much for your continued support and for
the scholarship! It has truly been an honor to be a part of this
Marble Falls family. I promise to make you proud.
Thanks, Carolyn O’Connor
Dear FUMC,
Thank you once again for awarding me this scholarship.
Your generosity has touched my heart and I appreciated
your consideration.
Sincerely, Katelyn Corley
I would like to express my utmost gratitude for being chosen to
receive this scholarship. I intend to put this reward
toward my education and future accomplishments. Again, I am
extremely grateful for this reward. God bless you!
Sincerely, McKenzie Emery
Dear FUMC,
Thank you all for the very generous scholarship, as
well as the on-going support that you have all given me
throughout my life.
Justin Gregg
I love y’all and thank y’all so much for the scholarship. It
means everything to me that you have been a part of my life for
10 years and will continue to be for the rest of my life.
Thank you for everything, Ashley Kuhlmann
Thank you very much for the scholarship! I’m one step closer
to my dreams.
Tyler Castenada
Dear First United Methodist Church,
Thank you for awarding me the Lee and Jack Raesener
Memorial Scholarship. It is an honor to be a member of such a
supportive church family. This scholarship will help to achieve
my educational goals.
Sincerely, Stacy Heinatz
Dear Church Family,
From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank you for
the love and support you have shown Dustin over the last year.
Your constant prayers and concerns are vey much appreciated. The
volleyball benefit was such a special event. It was evident that the
body of Christ came together to support this precious little boy. My
family is so thankful to be part of such a loving and supportive
church family. We are so blessed by each one of you and love you
dearly. Thank you again for everything you did to put this event
together. It took a lot of people working together to create such a
fun event.
God bless each one of you in a very special way.
Yours in Christ,
Wes, Tracy, Bailey, Garrett and Graham Goggans
Dear Ellen, Jon, the FUMC family, and the 4th, 5th, & 6th grade
Sunday School class,
Thank you so much for hosting a “Team Dustin” fundraiser.
We are very appreciative of the donation towards our sweet Dustin. We
are very lucky to be part of such a supportive church family. Cancer is a
hard disease to fight alone, yet we knew Dustin is not alone in his fight.
God has been with Dustin from the beginning and will continue to keep
His healing hands on him as he fights to win his battle. Dustin is so
strong and continues to amaze us with his strength. We will continue to
travel from Austin to NYC (Sloan-Kettering) for his treatments this
summer and fall.
Thank you so much for your support. Dustin is a lucky little
boy to have so many people praying for his complete healing. We also
want to thank the Goggans family for sharing their church
family with us. We feel so blessed.
God bless you,
Kelly, Jeff, Braden, Dustin, & Collin Pickel

Austin Fryar 07/01
Dean Kuhlmann 07/01
Beth Voglino 07/01
Holly Harton 07/02
Nina K. Horlen 07/02
Jarred Shackelford 07/02
Jeff Brown 07/03
Bud Culbert 07/03
Cene Dalton 07/03
Larry Hamlin 07/03
Mihaela Hammond 07/03
Mike McClung 07/03
Michael Ricks 07/03
Tanner Clakley 07/05
Elizabeth Morren 07/05
Roger Taylor 07/05
Mary Ann Gardner 07/05
Bob Goodwin 07/06
Francis Jette 07/06
Ethel Mae Raesener 07/06
Jack Stoner 07/06
Brandie Melton 07/07
Noah Taylor 07/07
Jerry Campbell 07/08
Emily Alton 07/09
Danisha Roberson 07/09
Ted Burget 07/10
Find Your Place . . . . Youth Summer Happenings
Volunteer Needed...
Last Christmas many of the Marble Falls churches came
together in a fund raising event to make Christmas more
enjoyable for many of the less
fortunate families in Marble Falls. We had a Christmas
Golf tournament that raised over ten thousand dollars for
these families. We will do it again this next fall. However,
this year we want to appoint a volunteer Project Chairman
who will help other volunteers in the selection of the
families that will be helped...what kinds of articles and
what amount of money will be spent on each family,
making sure these gifts are obtained, wrapped and distributed.
This is a big job but we feel that
selecting one person to manage/coordinate these efforts
will make this year’s event even more meaningful than
last year.
If you have the time and inclination for this type
of ministry and would like to volunteer for a leadership
role in this project, please contact Russ McNeill at 830-
693-1106 to discuss it further. Participating in the golf
tournament is not a requirement for this role.
July 1-31
Bill Cossey 07/10
Kylie Goebel 07/10
Mimi Oehmigen 07/10
Bernice Clarke 07/11
Sean Paris 07/11
Jay Taylor 07/11
Cathy Newton 07/12
Linda Frazee 07/13
Jennifer Jackson 07/13
Janet Roehrig 07/13
Sherry Culbert 07/13
Betty Knowles 07/14
Kristina McClung 07/14
Amber Weems 07/14
Joni Bedard 07/15
Paka Goodwin 07/15
David McGaugh 07/15
Jack Frazee 07/16
Bobi Klaeger 07/16
Elissa Haynes 07/17
Martha Hiatt 07/17
Helen Hunter 07/17
Caroline Ragsdill 07/17
Ira Untermeyer 07/17
Gage Untermeyer 07/17
Wendy Bingham 07/18
Barbara Edwards 07/18
Taylor Hoffmans 07/18
Martin McLean 07/18
Kelly Neal 07/18
Les Fenter 07/19
Don Keith 07/19
Tammy Matthew-Christman 07/19
Sarah Savage 07/19
Ernest Seitz 07/19
Dorothy Swift 07/19
Alisa Wagner 07/19
Wanda Wallace 07/19
Bonnie Gilmore 07/20
Cade Rice 07/20
June Saint 07/20
Edee Walters 07/20
Melinda Kirkpatrick 07/21
Rose Skeen 07/21
Debra Yates 07/21
Deborah Dorsey 07/22
Dean Fairleigh 07/22
Carol Inman 07/22
Paula Mays 07/22
Hardy Sivells 07/22
Tessie Dingle 07/23
Afton Heinatz 07/23
Grayson Morris 07/23
Kreg Penny 07/23
Andrea Dillman 07/24
Ainsley Summerlin 07/24
Layne Turner 07/24
Jeff Ford 07/25
Sheree Kaspar 07/25
Kasey Penny 07/25
Bernece Mahan 07/26
Bill Thompson 07/26
Celeste Kemper 07/27
Herb Sohl 07/27
Natalie Taylor 07/27
Zach Atchison 07/28
Dee Donaho 07/28
Shawn Toliver 07/28
John Walters 07/28
Clint Neely 07/29
Cade DeSpain 07/30
Sara Giddings 07/30
Ellen Harris 07/30
Kelly Osborne 07/30
Morgan Weems 07/30
Chris Houtz 07/31
Elizabeth Mezger 07/31
Anastasia Thomsen 07/31
Beach Camp (Jr. and Sr. High Mixed)
July 8-11, 2013
$315 Students { 6th thru 12th}
Port Royal, Port Aransas
Register Online at reachingyouth.org
Assistance available—Register early—Limited Space
Contact Robin at 830-385-5218
Parent meeting for attendees June 26th after Youth
Day Trips - Leave church at 8 am
Bring money for food and drinks!
Must text Robin at 830-385-5218 to reserve tickets and have a
signed permission slip.
Thursday, June 27th Sea World—$31.00
Thursday, July 25th Fiesta Texas—$27.99
Another Volunteer Opportunity…
Is God calling you to serve Him? Have you ever
considered volunteering? Highland Lakes Pregnancy Resource
Center in Kingsland needs volunteers. We offer you the opportunity
to share Christ’s love to others, work with other Christian
women, and make a difference in someone’s life. Right now we
are in need of peer counselors, data entry, and assistance with our
material goods program. All training is provided. Do you have a
few hours a week to give? If so, please call Dolores Bacon at
325-388-0354.

Betsy Kemper
Glenn & Beverly Slay Carolyn Beck
Richarad Bowers
Tommie Davis Max & Suzie Lantz
Maxine Bell Tommie Davis
James & Marie Herbort Bill & Jeanette Pickard
Margarete Guthrie
Darv & Glenna Deskins
Cora Lee Gregg
Jay & Shirley Lane Bud & Edna Lowry
Maxine Bell Paul & Marti Sullivan
Carolyn Beck Kathy & Randy Savage
Richard & Gay Bergman Fellowship Class
Jennifer Todd Mark & Nona Fox
Helen Tourignay
Don & Judy Cannon Paul & Marti Sullivan
Darv & Glenna Deskins Don & Judy Cannon
Dick Bowers
Paul & Marti Sullivan Mary Lou Reaser
Gailon Turner
Darv & Glenna Deskins Jon & April Bergstrom
Bob & Nancy Spickelmier
Dear Church Family,
First we want to thank our Lord for
the blessings He has sent our way, along with
prayers and care. Rich and Sandee have been
so special to share time and stories with us
plus help us with any needs. Which leads us
to the next special group...our very own
“Ramp Brigade” came to our rescue with Ben Redler leading
the troops to plan and execute the building of a ramp for mom
that truly has been such a “Godsend.” This crew was so special
to watch them interact together and with us. It was remarkable!
Our special Gina who always surprises us with special
treats and visits, and to all of you who keep us in prayers
and let us know you care. And to Rev. Ellen Ely, whose
warmth and encouragement makes us reach higher.
Our prayers are for God to continue to move you and
the church and to bless and keep you all.
Amen, in Jesus name,
The Family of Wanda Wallace
Sherry Beaman & family in the passing of her mother,
Bobbie.
Connie Welch, Valerie Elliott & family in the passing
of Tom Elliott.
The Bright family in the passing of Dunning.
Ryan & Cara Taylor in the passing of their infant
daughter, Audrey Noelle.
Carrie Jo Blackshear
Joined 6/9/13
Aaron, Liz & Brantley
Powell
Joined 6/16/13

Agee, Donna Chemo treatment is working. Bruce Agee’s mother.
Aguilar, Edward 26 year old with leukemia.
Archuleta, Wade Serving in Afghanistan. Campbell’s grandson.
Barron Greg Heart attack
Bateman, John Medical problems
Bales, Novella Surgical procedure 6/20
Berlin, Mary Lou Brain tumor. Sister-in-law of John and Mary.
Bluhm, James In Seton Main for more tests
Bowser, Beth Chemo & radiation. Relative of Charles Nutter.
Brown, Mary Brain tumor. Friend of the Webb’s.
Butler, Ben Cancer diagnosis. Marj Kruse’s brother.
Casteneda, Cindy Breast cancer surgery
Church, Sherry Diagnosed with lung cancer. Rob Ellis’ mother.
Collier, Janiece Back injury
Cooke, Ronald Heart Hospital
Dalton, Gayle Health issues
Dalton, Kent Home
Dingle, Tessie Dysautonomia
Dorsett, Gene Health problems. Nephew-in-law of LaVelle
Haynes.
Farley, Will Mental illness
Ferguson, Fergie The Summit in Austin
Fowler, Kym Car accident. Niece of Gina Ronhaar.
Garren, Pat Complications from fall. Cindy Lester’s mother.
Gatton, Courtney & Brandon Baby Remi has health problems
Hamlin, Hazel ALS (Lou Gerig’s disease)
Harter, Matt Illness and out of country
Hergemiester, Barbara Heart problems
Highfill, John Serving our country in the military.
Hinkle, Janie Home recovering. Ongoing chemo.
Horlen, Nina Medical problems
Hufford, Ray Chemo
Jones, Randall Improving
Keiser, Birck Brain cancer. Friend of Jeanie Hunter.
Keith, Liz Stroke. Expected to make a full recovery.
Kuhlmann, Buster Cancer. Dean’s uncle.
Kuhlmann, Jim Pray for healing of spinal injury.
Lindgren, Allan Diagnosed with MS. Dianne Pride’s son-in-law.
Lindsay, Lisa Divorce. Dianne Pride’s daughter.
Littlefield, Dale Working in Afghanistan. Ragsdill’s son-in-law.
Malina, Philip Colon cancer
McAlpin, Patty Breast cancer-taking chemo
Mitchell, Amanda Cancer
Moore, George Ongoing treatment
Parks, Aaron Brain tumor
Pehl, Clemens Keerville Hospital
Pestor, Pat Cancer. Friend of Linda Frazee.
Pickel, Dustin Radiation treatment
Rapstine, Michael Serving in Afghanistan
Ritchie, Greg & Mendy Mendy’s mother has brain tumor.
Roehrig, Ken Outpatient rehab at home
Rose, Kathy Ongoing cancer treatment
Ross, Tani MS
Schnelle, Kelly Working overseas
Seals, Opal Recovering at home
Seelig, Joe Chemo treatments
Simmons, Courtney Colon cancer. Friend of Debbie & Lamar Smith.
Sivadon, Ted Parkinson’s. Tracy Goggan’s father.
Staton, Marion Home recovering
Stripling, Hayes Pneumonia. Kyle Stripling’s father.
Turner, Debbie Breast cancer. Louise Smith’s relative.
Webb, Mary Lee Finishing radiation
Avenshine, Carol Gateway Villa
Bennett, John Gateway Villa
Burnham, Tina Windcrest, Fredericksburg
Curfman, Janet Horseshoe Bay with daughter
Curfman, Ruth Windchime, Kingsland
Dalton, Gayle Granite Mesa
Deal, Yvonne Home
Ebeling, Jack & Francis Home
Hammerschmidt, Pauline Gateway Gardens
Horlen, Fred & Nina Claremont
Jackson, Loraine Gateway Gardens
Jackson, Ruth Moved to Ft.Worth
Keith, Liz Gateway Gardens
Kemp, Levi Windchime, Kingsland
Larson, Jack Granite Mesa
Laycock, Helen Windchime, Kingsland
Mezger, J.Lee Home
Mezger, Kookie Burnet Oaks Nursing Home
Minard, Margo Country Oaks Assisted Living
Offers, Ed & Dorothy Gateway Gardens
Owens, Lucille Claremont
Raesener, Ethel Mae Gateway Villa
Slack, Aline Waco
Smith, Travis Granite Mesa
St. John, Merle Gateway Gardens
Wallace, Wanda Home
Willis, Betty Granite Mesa
Wilson, Johnnie Home

VBS 2013—SonWest Roundup—
Jesus at Work

. . . . .and then we celebrated with an Ice
Cream Social and His Hands Youth Minstry
Team puppet presentation
What a GREAT WAY to finish a
FABULOUS week. YEA JESUS!!!!!!