Deaths in Our Church

Louis Stackley died December 30th and Wautine Powell died December 31st. Our love and prayers surround these families.

Christmas Day 2011

We had no breakfast nor Sunday School today but our Morning Worship began at 10:30 am for a special 90 minute service.  We had 3 laypersons who gave a Christmas memory–Shirley Smith, Lenna Morris and Kevin Carter.  Some churhes cancelled services since Christmas fell on Sunday but we had our usual number in attendance and a good number of visitors.

Last night we had drop-in communion from 6 to 7:30 pm.  Jennifer Elder was home and played piano during the service.

 

We had a cantata this month “Down From His Glory” with a combined choir from our church and Baxley Fist UMC under the direction of our music director Jeffery Spell. They sang at Baxley on Dec. 11 and here on Dec. 18. We had a sanctuary very full with many visitors.

Our youth director Christina Hayes is taking our youth to a winter retreat in W. Virgina this Tuesday thru Friday.  First Baptist and Southside Baptist will be joining our youth on this trip.

Lazy Days of Summer

Thank you Lord for the recent rain. It has been so dry until about a week ago.

Even though it is summer it has still been very busy around the church this week. New youth pastor Christina Hayes impressed us all last Sunday night with her sermon!!

Tuesday at Senior Adult Luncheon we had some of our favorites do the program–Frank & Pam Hendrix!

We will be taking the church bus Thursday night to the Tattnall Camp Meeting.

On July 31st at 6 pm we will travel to Baxley 1st UMC for a sub-district worship with our District Superintendent Ben Martin preaching. Our own music minister Jeffery Spell will be the worship leader along with our choir.

New Youth Pastor and Newest Member of our Family

Our new youth pastor will begin with us July 1st. Her name is Christina Hayes and she will be graduating this May from Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, GA.

Alan and Brenda Strawn are the proud parents of a baby boy, Daryl Alexander Strawn. Daryl was born on Friday,January 28, 2011, weighed 9 pounds, 2 oz. and 21 inches long.  Delle Strawn is the proud grandmother.

Holy Week Services 2011

We had another successful Holy Week services this year. We averaged about 75 daily. Great meals served every day by the 5 United Methodist Women circles.

Our speakers were Robert Wigley, Bob Powell of Bridgeford Church of God, Ben Glossen of Southside Baptist, Thad Harvey of Baxley 1st UMC and Pam Deen from Lumber City Church of God.

Deaths and Serious Injury

Our love and prayers surround the family of Virginia Mills and Ken Shope, who both died April 6th.

Maria Rea was in an automobile accident on February 25, 2011. She had just taken Rylie Brooke to Mt. Zion and was on her way to work when she lost control of her car and was ejected 75′ away into a field. She sustained a broken shoulder, hip, pelvis, and tibia fracture. She had internal injuries to her liver, spleen, ribs, and lungs. Her t11 and t12 vertebrae were crushed and she had a severe spinal injury. She was sent to Savannah Memorial and was in ICU for 13 days. On March, 9 2011 she was moved to Sheperd Center in Atlanta. She was in ICU for 7 more days. At this time, she does not have movement in her legs, but we still believe and are praying God is not finished working on her.

Congratulations to Frank

Our own Frank Roussert was named Citizen of the Year for Hazlehurst– Jeff Davis County last week at the Chamber of Commerce meeting.  Frank has not only been one of the hardest workers in our church but he was chosen for all the hard work he does in the community.

26 seniors attended the Forever Young trip Friday night at McRae’s Cedar Lane Supper Club. This was one of our biggest groups  (but we usually do have a large group attend each month on the first Friday as we go to area restaurants).

Also,  our youth director Ken Sellers has been accepted to the Dental School at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta.  He  and his family will be leaving us to move to Augusta in August.

About 24 went to Jacksonville, Fla in February to the Alhambra Dinner Theater for a play about Patsy Cline called “Just a Closer Walk With Thee.”

Homecoming a Huge Success!

Hazlehurst First United Methodist Church had a very special homecoming September 19 as the church celebrated their sanctuary’s 100th birthday.

Former pastor Rev. Bill Hurdle was the speaker. Other clergy present included former pastors Mike Morgan and Richard Aultman along with Hamp Watson, Dr. Bill Hinson, Emory Gilbert and current pastor Rodney Porter.

Rev. Hurdle’s whole family was present which included wife Betty and children Harriet, Caroline, Billy and John.

To see video of the service and photos of the weekend go to hazlehurstmethodist.org

100th Celebration of our Sanctuary

Former pastor Rev. Bill Hurdle will be the guest speaker this Sunday at a very special homecoming celebrating the centennial of the present sanctuary at Hazlehurst First United Methodist Church announces Rev. Rodney Porter, pastor.

Hurdle was pastor from 1963 to 1969. He and wife Betty have 4 children: Harriet, Caroline, Billy and John. He also served churches in Cordele, Moultrie and Mulberry Street in Macon. For 11 years is was Executive Director of the Georgia Commission on Higher Education and Campus Ministry. For the past 13 years he has been chaplain of Wesleyan College in Macon. He is a graduate of Emory Univesity and has a honorary doctorate from Lagrange College.

On Saturday from 12 pm to 5 pm a Fun Day will include food, water slide, activities and games for all ages. Gospel singing will begin at 2 pm in the Frazier Youth Center. Some groups that will be singing are the James Benjamin Family, John & Rose Hunt, Brian Sellers, Kyle Sellers, Bill Summerlin, Brooks Hughes “AND many more of your favorites” announces Jeffery Spell, minister of music.

Sunday’s celebration service begins at 10:30 am with worship in the church’s 100 year old sanctuary. Built in 1910 the sanctuary is one of the oldest buildings in Hazlehurst.

Graduation Sunday Was Today

Today we celebrated our 8 high school graduates: Allison Day, Zander Day, Colby Jowers, Long Nguyen, Chris Merritt, Andrew Morris, David Porter and Johnel Roussert.

Ken Sellers is our new youth pastor beginning May 1st.

We purchased a used bus this week. Instead of a van which we have always had this is a walk down the middle aisle bus which will be a big help for our older members.

After using our youth center for exactly 1 year now we will finally have a dedication service this Sunday at 6 pm for our Joe and Margaret Frazier Youth Center.