tennison tower...tennison tower february 2020 pg. 2 2020 vision come and see it’s a new year!...

Tennison Tower February 2020 pg. 1

TENNISON February 2020

TOWER

Tennison Memorial United Methodist Church

313 N Church Street, Mount Pleasant TX 75455

903.572.5341 ~ www.tennisonumc.org

The novelist Frederick Buechner once wondered what would happen if God, instead of depending upon our faith, did decide to give us a proof.

What if God did decide to clear all this religion business up and give us something scientific, something tangible, that would be beyond the shadow of a doubt.

"Suppose," Buechner imagined, "that God were to take the great, dim river of the Milky Way - stars flowing across the night sky -- and were to bright-en it up a little and then rearrange it so that all of a sudden one night the world would step outside and look up at the heavens and see not the usual haphazard scattering of stars, but written out in letters light years tall the sentence:

I REALLY EXIST.

What would happen?”

Well, the reaction would be dramatic. Churches would spill over into football stadiums. Crime would cease. Wars would suddenly stop. An un-canny hush would fall over the world —for a while.

But then, there would be the message in the stars night after night, month after month, year after year. Every night the sky would proclaim "I REAL-LY EXIST," and it would become a normal part of nature.

"I REALLY EXIST." So what? What difference would that make?

For, as Buechner says, what we really want in our deepest need is not proof that there is a God somewhere who exists or even scientific evidence

FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK

Pastor Mike Cline

(cont’d. on pg. 3)

CALENDAR

Feb. 1 Emmaus planning mtg.

Feb. 3 Cub Scout Pinewood Derby

Feb. 4 Trustees mtg.

Feb. 9 Confirmation Class

Feb. 9 Scout Sunday

Feb. 14 Register - UM Army, Big House

Feb. 15 Emmaus planning mtg.


Feb. 17 Finance Committee

Feb. 19 Master’s Chefs

Feb. 20 Inter-church Prayer mtg.

Feb. 20 Girl Scouts World Thinking Day


Feb. 25 Martha Ministries

Feb. 28 Youth Ignite Retreat

Feb. 29 Parent mtg—UM Army/Big House

Feb. 29 Luke’s Eagle Court of Honor

WORSHIP SERVICES

8:45 am The Gathering

Comfortable and casual

Kid friendly

Sing with the Praise Band

Meets in the Gathering Hall

9:45 am Sunday School

Classes for all ages

Meet in Education Building

10:45 am Traditional Worship

Service with Chancel Choir

Meets in the Sanctuary

www.facebook.com/tennisonumc

www.tennisonumc.org


2020 VISION

Come and See

It’s a new year! I’d like to share some aspects

of the life of the church through this column.

We held our annual churchwide planning meet-

ing on Jan. 18 and I asked the group of church

leaders to think about what draws you to Ten-

nison each week.

The question was asked:

“Why are you here?”

Some of the responses received at the meeting

were:

Family and friends

Fellowship

Christian examples

Wesleyan message

Service opportunities

Non-judgmental

Scripture

Loving attitude

Legacy

Bible studies

Worship

Sense of belonging

Acceptance

Commitment

Sunday School classes

Why are you here?

If you’d like to share your reason for being at

Tennison, please contact me and let’s talk.

People around us are aching for hope. They’re

looking for kindness. The world needs the

church. And, the church needs you!

Ric Springstead

Administrative Board Chair

IN MEMORIAM

Faynelle Taylor

May 4, 1923 — December 31, 2019

Faynelle Reese Taylor, 96, passed away Dec. 31, 2019 in Mt. Pleasant, TX. She was born in Delight, AR.

She was a longtime member of Tennison Memorial United Methodist Church and is remembered fondly as a woman who was kind, sweet and gracious.

Faynelle was predeceased by her husband Harry Taylor and her parents, Estes Reese and Ruby Reese.

She is survived by her daughter Suzanne Childress and husband Les of Bainbridge Island, WA and her son Tim Taylor and wife Chessy of Mt. Pleasant.

Her grandchildren are Chris Taylor and wife Tracy, Lockie Ealy and husband Warren, Melissa Frazier and husband Nicholas, Tay-lor Childress and wife Courtney and Anne Gibbons and husband Bobby.

Great-grandchildren are Logan Jacobs, Colt Taylor, Tristan and Olive Ealy, Austin, Beck-ham and Roma Frazier, Carter and Caroline Childress and James and Cameron Gibbons.

She is also survived by her sister Sue Stark of Garfield and her cousin Anita Elliott.


that a resurrection happened some time ago in history.

What we need is a God who is right here, knee-deep in the mud and mire of human existence. A risen Christ who comes to us every day to give life and hope.

That is a God who comes not in evidence but in the relationship of trust we call faith. God cannot be seen when we draw a line in the sand and say, "Give me proof or I don't step over the line."

God can be seen only by those who already step over the line in trust. When we do, our eyes are opened, and the world is full of resurrection light.

When we encounter that Christ, when we experi-ence the power of that presence, then we know in faith that Christ is raised from the dead and our faith is not in vain.

Everyone needs this. I do and you do. All the people we know do. AND...all the people we DON'T know need this. Invite them to it.

— Mike

CHILDREN’S DEPARTMENT

Art of Kindness Class meets 4-5pm up-

stairs each Wednesday. This class is a

way to share God's love with others

through art. Kids get a chance to see

their art work lift others and I see God's

wonderous love through the children.

Sewing Class also meets 4-5pm upstairs

on Wednesday. Children learn to sew in

many different ways through their pro-

jects. The skill and dedication of the

teachers and children is amazing.

We are feeding the kids a meal from 5-6

pm in room 105. Learning about God

and community is hard work and the

kiddos get hungry. Food and fellowship

are important to people of all ages.

Last, but certainly not least, is the kids

bible study meeting from 6-7pm in room

105. We are currently learning about

the Jesse Tree and making our own Jes-

se Trees. The Jesse Tree is a carved dec-

oration depicting the events from crea-

tion to the birth of Jesus.

With all this going on, I really need an-

other adult with me on Wednesdays dur-

ing art and bible study. I could also use

someone to help clean up after the meal

on Wednesdays.

If any of these jobs sounds right for you,

please call or text Corey Mills

at 903.746.5484.

It is about time to start working on VBS!

It is going to be great fun this year. With

your help we can accomplish great

things. Be on the lookout for more infor-

mation in the coming weeks.

Your Children's Director,

Mrs. Corey

From the Pastor’s desk (cont’d.)

What does our Milky Way Galaxy look like from afar? Nobody

knows for sure. Drawn above, however, is a good guess based

on many different types of observations. In the Milky Way's

center is a very bright core region centered on a large black

hole. The Milky Way's bright central bulge is now thought to

be an asymmetrical bar of relatively old and red stars. The out-

er regions are where the spiral arms are found, dominated in

appearance by open clusters of young, bright, blue stars, by

red emission nebula, and by dark dust. The spiral arms reside

in a disk dominated in mass by relatively dim stars and loose

gas composed mostly of hydrogen. What is not depicted is a

huge halo of invisible dark matter.


YOUTH FUNDRAISER A SUCCESS

Last month, Tennison's Youth Ministry was able to

raise over $700 at its baked potato sale. Thanks

to the congregation's generous support, several

students are able to attend the Texas Annual Con-

ference's Ignite Retreat free of charge. Ignite Re-

treat is a spiritual retreat where something is

sparked in the young people’s faith.

Thank you again Tennison, for your continued

support and guidance of the future's journey with

Christ.

—Liz Sanders

Youth Director

IN MEMORIAM

Faye Hardman

July 19, 1924 - January 21, 2020

Faye Davenport Hardman, 95, passed

away Jan. 21, 2020 in Mt. Pleasant, TX.

She was born July 19, 1924 in Little Rock,

AR to Robert Smith Davenport and Eula

Gray Davenport.

She was a member of Tennison Memorial

United Methodist Church. She was also a

member of the 20th Century Club and was

an active leader of Boy Scouts and Girl

Scouts.

Faye is survived by her daughter, Diane

Davis of Longview; son and daughter-in-

law, Keith and Patty Hardman of Mt. Pleas-

ant; daughter-in-law, Kathy Hardman of

Mt. Pleasant; grandchildren, Brent Davis,

Robert Davis, Laci Crouch, Brock Hard-

man, Melanie Knight, Keith Hardman II,

and Blake Hardman; numerous great

grandchildren; and special friends, Valli

Thompson and Kim Cobern.

She was preceded in death by her par-

ents; her husband, Dr. Robert L. Hard-

man; son, Robert “Bobby” Hardman;

granddaughter, Holly Hardman; son-in-

law, Sonny Davis; sister, Eula Mae Hay;

and brother, Bill Davenport.

MUSIC NOTE

If you consider the old youth adage "WWJD", or

“What Would Jesus Do”, we remember that chasing

people out of a temple with whips is within the

realm of possibility. But what about music?

There are only two verses in the Bible that refer-

ence Jesus singing. Mathew 26:30 from the NIV

states "When they had sung a hymn, they went out

to the Mount of Olives." Mark 14:26 is similarly

worded. The scriptures are set right after the last

supper, before Gethsemane. Jesus and the disci-

ples sang a hymn together. Oh, to have been a fly

on that wall.

It's wishful thinking to dream of Jesus singing

"Amazing Grace," or another hymn that means so

much to us as the Church. I suppose what song it

was is lost to history. Still, to me it's a beautiful im-

age of a leading Savior. Full of praise.

—David Mills

Music Director


LUKE NICHOLS ACHIEVES EAGLE SCOUT RANK

Dr. Brian and Mrs. Kerri Nichols

and Boy Scout Troop 101

cordially invite our Church Family

to attend the

EAGLE SCOUT COURT OF HONOR

for Luke Nichols

Saturday, Feb. 29 at 2 pm

Tennison Memorial UMC Sanctuary

313 North Church Avenue

Mount Pleasant, Texas

A reception following the ceremony

will be held in the Gathering Hall.

Luke Nichols has been in Scouts since he was

a first grader. He started in Cub Scouts with

Chapel Hill Pack 17 led by Mrs. Linda Ham-

monds. He achieved his Arrow of Light in May

2016.

Luke started Boy Scouts in June 2016 with

Troop 101 in Mt. Pleasant. He earned all his

badges and ranks and completed his Eagle

Scout Board of Review on Dec. 15, 2019.

At 14 1/2, Luke

is the youngest

scout in Troop

101 to earn the

Eagle Scout rank.

His Eagle Scout

leadership pro-

ject was assem-

bling benches for

the Chapel Hill

Jr. High recrea-

tion area.

Dr. Brian Nichols, Luke Nichols and Kerri Nichols are

pictured with scouting memorabilia.


CONTACT US

Church office: (903)572-5341 Mailing address: PO Box 967, Mt. Pleasant TX 75456

Office hours: Mon-Thurs, 8:30-4:30, closed for lunch 12-1 Closed on Fridays

Pastor: Mike Cline, [email protected] Administrative Assistant: Melissa Pearson, [email protected] Finance Secretary: Jeani Guest, [email protected] Music Director: David Mills, [email protected] Children’s Director: Corey Mills, [email protected]

ANNIVERSARIES

WELCH, Wes & April (14) 2/11

HUFFMAN, Chuck & Kathy (46) 2/15

PRICE, Jason & Beth (21) 2/20

ROESLER, Marvin & Jan (55) 2/27

BIRTHDAYS

BOWERS, Shirley Ann 2/01

WITHERSPOON, Richard 2/01

SHELTON, Chris 2/02

MENHENNETT, Lara 2/03

PEARSON, Read 2/04

ANDERSON, Rick 2/05

LOVELESS, Rick 2/08

BOWERS, Jana 2/09

ANDERSON, Ella 2/10

ANDERSON, Jake 2/10

NICHOLS, Kerri 2/11

ENGELHARDT, Sandra 2/15

SHELTON, Cale 2/15

WHITE, Lupe 2/15

KING, Tommy 2/16

WARD, Mitchell 2/16

COBB, Kathy 2/17

ANDERSON, Luke 2/19

PRICE, Beth 2/20

SPEARMAN, Bobby Joe 2/20

WARD, Kelsey 2/20

LOVELESS, Julie 2/22

FENDER, Michael 2/23

SPRINGSTEAD, Ric 2/23

BARRY, Judy 2/24

HARGROVE, Kay 2/25

HARGROVE, Justin 2/26

MCCLELLAN, Linda 2/27

WORSHIP ATTENDANCE

Jan. 5 120

Jan. 12 115

Jan. 19 152

Jan. 26 142

PRAYERS NEEDED

Lucretia Alexander, Jack Greenlee, Shirley Ann Bow-ers, Harold Sanders, Bob Dunegan, Randy Dungan, Jeani Guest, Sandra Hargrove, Randy Hodge, Kathy Huffman, Galand Nuchols, Jerene Sarratt, Socorro Sausedo, Chris Shelton, Melba Spann and the families of Faye Hardman, Faynelle Taylor, Nancy Hairston and Sally Ratliff.

Confined to Home: Judy Barry, Patsy Morrison, Bob Nuchols

Military: Jeff Cody, Nicklaus Kirkham, Christopher

Bridal Shower Invitation

The ladies of Tennison are cordially invited to a bridal

shower for Rebecca Farr on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 4pm

in the Mt. Pleasant Music Studio, 901 N. Jefferson in

Mt. Pleasant. The bride is registered at Bed, Bath, and

Beyond and Mason's Hardware. RSVP to Sarah Guthrie

903.563.1762.

Confirmation Class Begins

Pastor Mike Cline invites youth ages 10-12 to join him

for Confirmation Class. The class begins on Sunday,

Feb. 9 at 9:45am and will last for 12-14 sessions. Par-

ents are welcome to call the pastor or church office

with questions.

Inter-Church Prayer Meetings

All are invited to the participate in inter-church prayer

meetings held the third Thursday of each month at 10

am. The next meetings are:

Feb. 20, Logos Christian Center, 804 W 5th St.

Mar. 19, St. Mark’s Episcopal, 205 E. Pecan

April 16, St. Andrew’s Methodist, 2019 E. Edwards

May 21, St. Michael’s Catholic, 1403 E. First St.

June 18, Calvary Chapel, 411 N. Van Buren

tennison tower...tennison tower february 2020 pg. 2 2020 vision come and see it’s a new year!...

Documents