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The SPR and the Church Family would like to recognize Jeremy and the Woodley family during the Second Sunday Brunch on June 11th for their contributions to the church and the community.  We will have an abbreviated service that day so that Jeremy may be able to actually grab a plate of food without rushing out the door to preach in Navasota.  As always, feel free to bring a dish to share!

We will have VBS this summer in connection with First Presbyterian Navasota once again. The theme is Twists and Turns: The Backyard Kids Club meeting June 26-29 from 5:30-7:30 PM at the Presbyterian church. Join us for this fun time of ministering to the kids of our community! Contact the office for registration at 936.825.3342.

The season of Lent is quickly coming to an end as we worship our way through Holy Week. We have opportunities to join together not only with our congregation but with other churches to worship. If you are able, we are collecting donations of eggs and candy for our annual Easter Egg hunt following the service on Easter morning. 

Palm Sunday (April 2)
9:15 AM, worship in the sanctuary
6:00 PM, Community Passion Service presented by Grimes County Ministerial Fellowship (Faith Outreach Christian Center, 11596 Hwy 6 South)

Good Friday (April 7)
5:00 PM, worship in the sanctuary

Easter Sunday (April 9)
9:15 AM, worship in the sanctuary with Holy Communion followed by an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids. Please bring your Easter baskets for the hunt! 

Below are the minutes from our latest Admin. Meeting (to be approved at the next meeting) to keep you up-to-date on the life of the church.

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ANDERSON

ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL MEETING – March 29, 2023

Meeting Minutes

ATTENDEES: Jeremy Woodley, Ed & Jackie Martin, Hershel Perry, Reggie & Tessa Dent, Phillis Allen, Mark & Nancy Hvizdos

HANDOUTS: The following handouts were available at the meeting:

• 2023 Administrative Council of Ministries Makeup
• October 2022 Meeting Minutes
• Account Balance Sheet as of 3/28/23
• Church rosterCALL TO ORDER @ 6:05: Pastor Woodley opened in prayer.
  APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Phillis made a motion to approve the minutes from the Oct 18th meeting whichwas seconded by Ed. PASTOR’S REPORT:

• Charge Conference & District Superintendent – Last December, there was a special charge conference. Our current District Superintendent is leaving and Kip Kiltz will be taking over in July. His district will include both the Central North District as well as ours which is a change in set up, as there are now only 5 District Superintendents to take care of 9 districts. Kip has a home in the College Station area. The current district office at Christ Church in CS, will probably not be available to office in.
• Jeremy’s Move – will be moving July 1st. On March 25, there was a meeting with both Navasota and Anderson SPR, Jeremy, and the District Superintendent to discuss the path forward. At that time, the SPR filled out a profile with church goals and characteristics we’d like to see in our new pastor. Pat Gruner, from Navasota SPR had a template from the previous time which was still pretty much on target. The two positive things that we have with the search for a new pastor are: 1. Together, the 2 churches have a good compensation package. 2. The church has a good reputation, is in a good area, & people seem to get along.
  Jeremy was asked to keep us posted and let the church know if there is anything we can do to assist him with the move and transition.
• We now have a new bishop, Bishop Harvey, for two years only so that we can get back on our four- year schedule. She is from our conference who has worked with UMCOR at a world level as well as served as bishop of LA. On the conference website there is a link to her first open speaking tour.
• SPR REPORT – Nancy reported that the SPR had their quarterly meeting in February where we looked at our goals for the current year. As mentioned above, we had an additional meeting on March 25th discussing Jeremy’s family move. Over the next few months the District Superintendent will work with the team as needed in the selection and introduction of the new pastor.
• TRUSTEE REPORT – Ed reported the following:

• Ed will check with Foster Stain Glass in Bryan to see what can be done on the old stain glass windows where the lettering is no longer legible.
• Revisited the need to have the floor in the sanctuary refinished preferably using the 5th Sunday break for timing (April and July have 5th Sundays with a preference in April while Jeremy is still here). Ed will check with a contact that his daughter used. If need be, we could have the pews moved into the hall area and even have service there or outside while be worked on. The old bids varied between $3.5K – 10K.
• The door thresholds are rotting and need some attention as well as the front door needs to have a more durable finish put on. It was last done in 2018 which was a big undertaking. Mark mentioned that perhaps we could use a Marine Finish of some type.
• Phillis mentioned that we need to have someone meet with Ike, the sprinkler guy, to get them checked out before we start the watering season. Phillis will check with his schedule and notify Ed, Mark, Hershel and Reggie so that all can meet up and get an understanding of the system.
• April 5th, Bedford Insect Co will be at the church at 1:00 and will be spraying around and under the church and will need to have access. Mark or Nancy will be available, and Phillis will leave a check. Note: This does not include a termite inspection at this time.
• Ed also made mention if the church had considered helping out financially with the playground which we may address by or at the next Administrative Council Meeting.
• PLAYGROUND REPORT – Nancy & Phillis reported the following:

• Fundraisers: the garage sale brought in just shy of $4000 and the coin collections, nearly $850.
• Total to date: $20,322.75
• Path forward: it is now time to start entertaining vendor visits now that we have $20K. We hope tohave a meeting the second part of April with more information to follow. 
• FINANCE – Phillis reported from the account balance handout

• The on-line giving account was rolled into a CD getting 4.4% interest. There was discussion on how to keep an on-live option still viable while paying minimal maintenance fees as well as to see what Navasota was doing. If it was as simple as needing an email address associated with an account, Jeremy could work with Stacey and Phillis and perhaps handle with just a click on a link to make the donation.
• The TMF (TX Methodist Funds) are not FDIC insured.
• The overall total balance of $236,883.25 includes the $20,322.75 from the playground fund.OTHER – there was mention of the new administrative council members and all were encouraged to grab that handout.
• The meeting was adjourned at 7:10.

Our third outreach ministry with the Salvation Army for 2023 is Thursday, March 30th, 10:00-2:00.  This gives us an opportunity to serve our community by connecting those in need with resources that we have available. To provide adequate hospitality we have needs for volunteers to be onsite serving in four areas. We will have a sign-in table, application helpers, lunch tables, and a clothes closet (upstairs). Sign-in table duties include welcoming guests and taking down names in order of arrival. Helping with the completion of applications requires someone to assist the certified Salvation Army representative by sitting with applicants to make sure all the information is filled out correctly. Two food tables will be set up for anyone who would like to make a lunch to take on the road or eat while they wait to be connected with Salvation Army services. Our clothes closet upstairs will be available for anyone who has a need for the clothes we have received as donations. Please register to serve HERE. 

Upcoming dates for service:
April 20
May 25
June 29

We are having our first quarter Administrative Council Meeting on Wednesday, March 29th, at 6:00.  Everyone is welcome to attend, hope to see as many of you as possible. Below are the minutes from our last Admin. Council meeting of 2022.

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ANDERSON

ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL MEETING

October 18, 2022

Meeting Minutes

ATTENDEES:  Pastor Woodley, Phillis & Kenneth Allen, Kristy LaBorde, and Mark & Nancy Hvizdos,

CALL TO ORDER @ 6:10 – Pastor Woodley opened in prayer after waiting an additional 10 minutes for more attendees.

HANDOUTS:  The following handouts were available at the meeting:

• Administrative Council Meeting Minutes from 8/31/22
• The list of those nominated to serve in the church during 2022
• The result of the Discernment of Disaffiliation Survey 

The Meeting Minutes from 8/31/22 were approved by all, after a motion was made by Mark Hvizdos and seconded by Kenneth Allen.  

PATH FORWARD FOR THE UNITED METHODIST DENOMINATION – We discussed the results from the 21 members who had filled out the Discernment of Disaffiliation Survey. The majority believed that holding an official vote was not necessary and 2/3rds of the 21 votes would vote to continue in the UM denomination if asked to vote at that time.  We discussed the outcome and questioned if the sample size was sufficient.  It was determined that those who voted were the “regulars,” validating the number.  Since 2/3^rd of the votes would be needed to disaffiliate, we discussed that the current path forward would be to carry on as we did prior to entering the discernment process noting that this can always be revisited in the future if need be. 

OTHER ITEMS OF MENTION:

• Addressing Long-Time Absent Church Members:  In an effort to reach out to those members that have been absent since covid, Jeremy will work with Stacy in sending out a card, letter on Methodist letterhead or something from a catalogue in attempts to reengage these members and let them know that they are missed.
• All Saints Day:   is coming up and mentioned that Mr. Clyde Thomas would be remembered on this day.
• Christmas, Dec. 25:   is on a Sunday this year and decided that Jeremy did NOT need to hold a service in Anderson on this day since we were having a Christmas Eve Service on Saturday.  Should Navasota UMC decide to hold a service, we would all be welcome to join them if desired.
• Charge Conference:
  • November 10^th at our church with the District Superintendent in attendance.  Prior to that, prayers are requested as the nomination committee looks to fill vacancies especially filling the lay leader position and engaging more younger members. 
  • We provided input on four questions that the District Superintendent was asking of us prior to the meeting focusing on the purpose of the church, the strengths, struggles and how he can assist.
• Church Communications and Email distribution lists:  
  • Jeremy will include a comment in the bulletin for those not receiving electronic communications to contact Stacy at the church office.  
  • A link to the most recent Administrative Council Meeting Minutes will appear in the email blasts so that those who could not attend the meeting, have an opportunity to view the minutes.
  • Upcoming Administrative Council Meetings, will continue to be advertised in both the bulletin and email blasts as well as an opportunity to be added to an agenda ahead of time.
• Finance and Playground Committee:  
  • Phillis gave a report that we currently have $6,602.31 in the playground fund.
  • On November 13th, we will start a drive with the kids decorating and passing out cans to fill with coins (or bills).  One of our youth will give an update in church that day.
  • Memorial funds – Phillis asked about the possibility of earmarking funds of $3183 that have accumulated from Memorials be transferred and used towards the playground.  A motion was made to move forward with this by Nancy Hvizdos and seconded by Kristy LaBorde with the condition that these folks being memorialized will be remembered in some manner.  All were in favor.

THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 7:30.

Next meeting was not decided.

Our annual Ash Wednesday service will be held on February 22nd, 5:00 PM in the sanctuary. This service will begin our season of Lent with a somber time of worship and reflection. 

Our second chance to offer financial assistance through the Salvation Army for 2023 will be Thursday, February 23^rd from 10:00 to 2:00 in the FUMC Navasota fellowship hall. We were able to receive applications from 33 families in need last year. If you would like to serve during this mission opportunity please contact the church office! 

Saturday, March 4th, from 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM, FUMC Anderson will be hosting a garage sale benefitting the playground fund.  All proceeds will go to the completion of a new playground for the church. If you would like to help with this ministry please call the church office.

Saturday, Dec. 17^th, 8:30-11:30 AM at FUMC Anderson. Join us for pancake breakfast, pictures with Santa and craft activities. $5.00 per plate.