In honor of Count von Zinzendorf

(Zinzendorf monument in Herrnhut, Germany)

This week marks the 240th anniversary of the death of Count Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf.  To mark the occasion, here is a prayer from the Book of Common Prayer [I'm sharing it because of the HUGE influence he and the Moravians had on John Wesley]:


"God of life made new in Christ, you call your Church to keep on rising from the dead: We remember before you the bold witness of your servant Nicolaus von Zinzendorf, through whom your Spirit moved to draw many in Europe and the American colonies to faith and conversion of life; and we pray that we, like him, may rejoice to sing your praise, live your love and rest secure in the safekeeping of the Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen."


-The Book of Common Prayer

A Dinner for Mothers & Daughters

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The annual UMW Mothers & Daughters Dinner was held tonight.  There were happy faces all around the table!  Jean Myrick was joined by her two daughters and granddaughter.  And Belinda Alkula was joined by her mother, Sheila Hammitt.

Praise be to God for the faith of our fathers AND mothers... which has brought us all to the point of faith we now enjoy!!!

The Bat Patrol at FUMC

Donny Willey and Bill Lester, accompanied by Nic (Bill's son-in-law), were hard at work this evening putting the last touches on the bat prevention measures at the First UMC.  Bobbie Lester and daughter Amy were there to lend moral support!  Belinda and her mother stopped by to chat and everyone had a good laugh as we were watching the beautiful sun set.

Happy Mother's Day in McCamey

The community gathered for worship in McCamey today to give glory to God and to honor mothers.  Bobbie Lester presented corsages to Theodora Matthews (oldest mother), Jennifer Aguilar (youngest mother), Donna Wiley (most children), and Jean Myrick & Maurine Jacobsen (most grandchildren).

Sarah Hill and Cytha Peters presented a clarinet-piano duet for the anthem, what a blessing these two are for us!

Pastor Charles presented Donny Wiley, Belinda Alkula, Bobbie Lester and Bill Lester with certificates for completing the Lay Speaking Basic Course.

Our time at the McCamey Convalescent Center this afternoon was wonderful with a number of visitors joining the residents for worship.

Mother's Day Proclamation

Mother's Day Proclamation by Julia Ward Howe (1870)

Arise then...women of this day!  Arise, all women who have hearts!  Whether your baptism be of water or of tears!


Say firmly: "We will not have questions answered by irrelevant agencies, our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience. We, the women of one country, will be too tender of those of another country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."


From the bosom of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with our own. It says: "Disarm! Disarm!  The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."
Blood does not wipe out dishonor,  nor violence indicate possession.  As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil at the summons of war, let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel.


Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.  Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means whereby the great human family can live in peace... Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar, but of God.


In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask that a general congress of women without limit of nationality, may be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient and the earliest period consistent with its objects, to promote the alliance of the different nationalities, the amicable settlement of international questions, the great and general interests of peace.

Joe Arana's Funeral Service

The McCamey community said goodbye to one of its own this morning.  The service for Joe Arana, 82, was held at the First Baptist Church.  The lunch following the service was held at the Park Building. 

Thanks to the FUMC volunteers for their contributions and support for the luncheon: Ruthie Andrews; Louise Carll; Joan Coe; Lou Ann Elliott; Maurine Jacobsen; Alice Kephart; Bill & Bobbie Lester; Theodora Matthews; Billie Mitchell; Jean Myrick; Gloria Odom; Sherry Phillips; Pam & Glen Smart; Lou Ann Watson;  Debbie White; Belinda Alkula; Donny & Donna Wiley; and Jim & Mary Witcher.

Also providing support were members of the First Assembly of God Church, First Baptist Church, Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Iglesia Apostalica.

Inside and Outside @ FUMC - McCamey

The choir gathered this evening to rehearse the music for this coming Sunday (Mother's Day).  The Mother's Day hymn, "Faith of Our Mother's" sounded so heavenly, you'll want to bring your mother to church on Sunday to hear it sung!

Meanwhile outside the church, Donny Wiley and Bill Lester were applying more caulking to the eaves of the church.  They are working at keeping the bats under control(the bats have taken to roosting in the church roof).  They are hoping to have the majority of the work done before the next wave of the migration takes place.