6,197 Bags of Food Provided

We have just completed the third year of the Weekend Feeding Kids Program, commonly called the Backpack Program. We provide food for children at the Allie Yniestra Elementary School that are on the free lunch program and have been identified by their teachers as hungry. Each Friday before leaving school, the children go to the office and pick up food bags for each child in his or her family that is under fifteen.

We would like to thank the United Methodist Women for their generous support through the proceeds from Designing Women Luncheon and a Christmas Creations grant. Their generosity provided 2,350 food bags this school year. From October, 2007 through June, 2010, we have provided 6,197 food bags. We sincerely appreciate everyone who has supported us with cash and food donations, making Christmas stockings and providing grocery bags. Thank you for helping these children. By feeding their stomachs, we enable teachers to feed their minds, and hopefully provide a brighter future.

The Response of One

Swinson Schipman is a member of our congregation and active in the church choir. He recently volunteered his boat and services to BP by joining the fleet of vessels of opportunity. Below is his story about what is happening on the front lines of our shores.

Written by Swinson Schipman

I’m working on oil clean-up in the Gulf of Mexico. Our assignment is Task Force Four Near-shore Skimmers, and our fleet consists of about 20 charter fishing boats. Our day begins before daylight loading food, water, and supplies (pom-poms, sausage boom, diesel wipes, shovels, rakes, plastic bags, Tyvek suits, surgical gloves, rubber gloves, duct tape). After a meeting to go over safety and activities of the day before, we are assigned to look for oil within five miles of the beach. We usually work between Pensacola and Perdido passes.

Once oil is located, we first determine whether it can be collected. Collection can be difficult because the oil comes in many different forms: sometimes a patch as big as a bedspread, six inches deep, and the consistency of mayonnaise; sometimes tar balls of varying sizes; and sometimes a thin sheen on the water’s surface. If we determine it can be collected, the Hazwopper (Hazardous Waste Operations Person) and the deck hand get dressed for work. Collection uniform consists of a Tyvek coverall, surgical gloves, heavy rubber gloves, steel-toed rubber boots, and safety glasses. All cuffs are taped shut with duct tape. This is worn over street clothes (long pants, shirt, socks and shoes) AND life preserver. Very, very hot!!! We can work a maximum of 15 minutes in these uniforms, given the 100+ degree heat, followed by a mandatory 45 minute cooling down period. Then we repeat. At the end of our work day, each boat must go through decontamination. Oil is removed from the sides before the boat is allowed back into the bay. This is an attempt to avoid contaminating inland waterways. Most days end just before dark.

Sometimes we’re able to collect the “mayonnaise” with rakes and shovels, sometimes we must use adsorbent pompoms, sometimes absorbent sausage boom. What we collect is brought into the boat and double- bagged in huge heavy plastic bags, sealed with duct tape and zip ties to be deposited on a collection barge anchored nearby.

Three points I’d like to make: First: what we’re doing has never been done before. The BP and government agency people here on the job have willingly provided tools, supplies, and whatever we request. We’re all looking for techniques that work .However, it’s ALL NEW to EVERYONE involved! Second: it doesn’t help to try to place blame for what’s happened. All the people with whom we’ve come in contact have been most cooperative. Blaming and back-biting only serve to make a terrible situation that much worse. Third: another criticism has been about the money being paid. I’m sure there are some people profiting from this catastrophe. However, most of those working are people whose livelihoods have been directly affected by the oil spill. The money they’re making helps offset their losses.

People involved say very little about the situation. We all realize that our way of life is severely threatened, and the stress on the faces of many of the workers is clearly visible. Most of us have determined that we must do whatever is asked of us to help this community to survive.

First UMC Pensacola Featured in National Methodist Article

First UMC of Pensacola was recently featured in a national article regarding our Oil Spill response.  You may read the entire article on the UM Reporter website. The article has also been inserted directly below for your convenience.

Waiting and Praying: Oil Spill Prompts Church Response

By Mallory McCall, UM Reporter Staff Writer

Swinson Schipman, a longtime, faithful member of First United Methodist Church in Pensacola, Fla., has missed more than a few worship services and choir practices in recent months. That’s because he’s been taped up in a Tyvek protective suit while skimming oil sheen, tar balls and coagulated oil from the ocean’s surface in the Gulf of Mexico.

Mr. Schipman’s duties as a shipmate on a 37-foot charter fishing boat changed drastically when British Petroleum’s (BP) Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded April 20, killing 11 workers and leaking between 66 and 120 million gallons of oil into the Gulf.

“The waters are closed,” said Mr. Schipman. “We can’t fish now.”

The spill is already six times the size of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill off the Alaska coast—and is still growing. It’s devastated Gulf Coast tourism as well as the real estate, fishing and deep-sea drilling industries.

BP hired and trained crews from Mr. Schipman’s boat, the Nothin’ Matters, and other local charter boats to assist in the cleanup process. The boat’s crew works from sunrise to sundown, corralling oil within a 5-mile distance from the shoreline between Orange Beach, Ala., and Pensacola Beach, Fla., about a 30-mile stretch.

“Sometimes you have good days and sometimes you have bad,” said Mr. Schipman. “Right now, the oil really hasn’t coated the beach yet, so we really feel like we’re doing some good.”

It’s hard work, says Mr. Schipman. Some of the oil masses have the consistency of mayonnaise and can weigh a couple hundred pounds. The skimming crew uses “sausage booms,” shovels and stick-free mats to fish out the globs of oil. They wear two pairs of gloves and tall rubber boots taped over their protective suits, and in the Florida heat they can only work in their protective gear for 15 minutes at time before having to take a break and cool off.

“Every day is a new experience because it’s something no one has dealt with before,” said Mr. Schipman. “There’s no manual that tells you how to do these things. You got to crawl before you walk, and we’re just doing what we can do.”

Churches react

United Methodist churches near the Gulf are frustrated with the extent of the oil spill—and the fact that members can’t volunteer without going through extensive training to become Hazmat-certified—the safety training required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for people handling, transporting or even preparing paper work for hazardous materials.

“We can’t have a day when the church congregation goes out to clean up the beach,” says Mr. Schipman. “We are not there yet.”

“There are times we feel helpless, but that’s where prayer comes in,” adds the Rev. Geoffrey Lentz, associate pastor of First United Methodist Church in Pensacola, Fla.

At the Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference event, Bishop Paul Leeland asked everyone to turn to the person next to them and spend a few moments praying for the oil spill disaster unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico.

“As the days have unfolded, each of us has watched the news that has continued to increase our anxiety and uncertainty about the impact of this disaster on our environment and our people,” Bishop Leeland said. “This is the time for us to be the Church and not give into despair.”

Some United Methodist churches have hosted prayer vigils where people of all denominations and faith traditions were invited to pray for the Gulf and its people. Others have organized services of healing for creation and the community, and still others have posted suggestions for a more sustainable, environmentally conscious lifestyle on their church websites.

According to the United Methodist Church’s Social Principles, the church has a responsibility to place a high priority on change in economic, political, social and technological lifestyles to support a more ecologically just and sustainable world, ultimately leading to a higher quality of life for all of God’s creation.

“I believe the terrible crisis in the Gulf of Mexico demonstrates the relevance of God’s renewed creation,” said Florida Bishop Timothy Whitaker, who chairs the Council of Bishops’ God’s Renewed Creation: Call to Hope and Action task force.

A couple years ago, Bishop Whitaker said, it was difficult to get churches to respond to the call for creation care. But now he feels certain the spewing pump of petroleum and its ecological and economical consequences will get people’s attention.

“Our responsibility in this area is not peripheral, but central,” said Bishop Whitaker. “The God we worship created it all and has invited us to help take care of it.”

Louisiana’s response

The Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church’s Disaster Response Ministry is determined to offer relief to the coastal communities still recovering from the damage of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike, and are now faced with the fear of losing their marshlands, estuaries, animal life and possibly their jobs.

But the conference’s typical response for hurricane and flood relief does not necessarily apply to this situation.

“It’s much easier to gut a home and rebuild a home compared to what we are facing now,” said the Rev. Darryl Tate, executive director of the disaster response ministry. “This is territory that has never been plowed.”

Disaster Response staff members recently met with pastors and laity from the three Louisiana communities that have been hit the hardest—Buras, Dulac and Grand Isle—to learn how they could help. Pastors said first and foremost they are seeking to provide spiritual and emotional care for the families and workers.

The conference plans to send ministers who are certified in crisis counseling, volunteer teams to host Vacation Bible Schools and translators fluent in Vietnamese, Cambodian and Spanish to help communicate with immigrant fishing communities.

At the Louisiana Annual Conference event, clergy and laity also assembled 6,000 devotional kits, which included New Testaments and copies of The Upper Room donated by the General Board of United Methodist Men. The kits were sent home with local church pastors from Buras, Dulac and Grand Isle and handed out to the workers and community.

“We take Mr. Wesley’s ‘the world is our parish’ to be our mandate and want to help ‘the least, the last, the lost’,” said Mr. Tate.

Churches and Disaster Response are doing what they can, but feel limited in the ways they can help. Until the oil spill is declared a national disaster, the area cannot get the government resources it really needs.

Conference leaders are praying for direction, raising funds to hire case managers and encouraging people to support the Gulf Coast Civic Work Act, which would provide job-training opportunities and increase employment to aid in the recovery of the Gulf Coast region.

“This is every bit as dramatic as any hurricane, and when the hurricane resides, we rebuild,” said the Rev. Milton Gutierrez, district superintendent for the Dallas South District of the North Texas Conference, who was instrumental in helping with relief efforts following 2005 hurricanes along the Gulf. “But this hasn’t resided, and we can’t rebuild a marsh.”

Louisiana does not have beaches; its marshes act as a buffer between the Gulf and the City of New Orleans. Should the spreading oil kill the swamp, the city would be unprotected, making it an even more vulnerable to flooding and hurricanes.

“This blatant disregard for ecology is as much as an accident as drunk driving,” said Mr. Gutierrez. “The industrial carelessness is criminal.”

Making an effort

Even landlocked churches are making an effort to help the Gulf.

Linda Steele, a member of First United Methodist Church in Bryant, Ark., is collecting nylon pantyhose for the cause. She saw a segment on the news about a non-profit, ecological organization called Matter of Trust that is collecting pantyhose and hair clippings—both animal and human—to make oil-absorbing booms to send to the Gulf Coast.

“It’s such a great way to use resources that would otherwise end up in the landfill,” said Ms. Steele.

Although she has decided to leave the hair collecting up to the local salons and pet groomers, she has asked the women of Bryant FUMC to ditch their nylons for the summer and instead donate them to cleanup efforts.

Matter of Trust’s natural-fiber recycling mobilization is proving to be successful. Thousands of volunteers are signing up for “stocking stuffer” parties and “Boom-B-Qs” where they fill the legs of the hose with hair scraps. The homemade booms are then sent to one of the 19 donated warehouses located throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

Within the last month, enough materials have been collected to make 25 miles of oil-absorbing boom. Matter of Trust volunteers are now concentrating on booming and deploying in hopes of making more room in the warehouses. So far, 10 miles’ worth has been stuffed. For information, visit www.matteroftrust.org.

As for Mr. Schipman, he’s willing to try anything—hair booms, bigger skimmer equipment and especially prayer.

“I pray a lot. What else can we do?”

mmccall@umr.org

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Facts about the Gulf

• The Gulf of Mexico has 1,631 miles of coastline and over 16,000 miles of shoreline (including bays and inland waterways).

• Nearly half of all U.S. coastal wetlands—over 5 million acres—are located along the Gulf.

• The coastal plains of the western Gulf are used by nearly all of the migratory land bird species of the eastern U.S., as well as many western species.

• From New Orleans seafood restaurants to Florida vacation rentals, the Gulf’s annual tourist industry is estimated at over $100 billion.

• The Gulf is home to four of the top seven fishing ports in the United States and seven of the top 10 seaports.

• The Gulf is home to an estimated 45,000 bottlenose dolphins.

• The Gulf waters are home to 73 percent of the shrimp and 59 percent of the oysters harvested in the U.S. each year and a total of 1.3 billion pounds of seafood valued at over $650 million.

—Sources: Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Geological Survey, USA Today

Oil, gas exploration

• One-fourth of U.S. domestic natural gas and one-eighth of U.S. oil is extracted from the Gulf.

• The offshore oil and gas industry employs 55,000 workers in the Gulf.

• In 2006, the offshore rigs extracted 470 million barrels of oil.

• Dollars spent by BP on clean up: $17.5 million/day.

• BP profits (1st quarter 2010): $93 million/day and market value: $156.2 billion.

• Punitive damages for 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill: $1 billion (settled in 2009, reduced from original $5 billion).

• Exxon profits: $19.42 billion in 2009, $45.2 billion in 2008.

—Sources: Minerals Management Service, Environmental Protection Agency, The Washington Post, Fortune

2010 Scholarships Awarded

Congratulations to those individuals listed below, who were awarded various 2010 scholarships from First United Methodist Church of Pensacola.

Andrew Christopher Branch, Auburn University
Ann Pettersen Burgoyne Scholarship
Charles and Marian Trinkner Scholarship

Brad D. Bullock, Candler School of Theology
Willard E. and Luella Slater Scholarship
J. B. and Eleanor Nichols Scholarship
Dorothy Oglesby Stewart Scholarship

Matthew Allan Carr, Pensacola Junior College
Felton Harrison Scholarship
Steve and Pam Westerlund Scholarship

David Joseph Feliciano, University of West Florida
Henry E. Roberts Scholarship
Lisa Wallace Geise Scholarship

Gregory Dean Harrison, Jr., University of Florida
FUMC Scholarship

Tyler Toepfer Hermann, University of Central Florida
Jane Copelan Weekley Scholarship

Ian Christopher MacBeth, University of Alabama
Wallace F. King and Ann McAllister King Scholarship

Kate McMath, Candler School of Theology
Louise R. Barnes Scholarship

Kathleen Margaret Moore, University of West Florida
George W. Anderson Memorial Scholarship

John McKinley Netherland, University of Mississippi
Reverend Jessie Robert Mackey Scholarship

Charles Brett Olliff, University of Florida
Reverend Jessie Robert Mackey Scholarship

Madelyn Virginia Roycroft, Tulane University
Mary Estes Lundy Scholarship

Stephanie Kay Sharp, Florida State University
Emma M. Becker Scholarship

Melanie Ann Titus, Florida State University
Emma M. Becker Scholarship

Robert Martin Varnson, Pensacola Junior College/University of West Florida
John A. Hoefflin Scholarship
Reverend Jessie Robert Mackey Scholarship
Donatta Anderson Scholarship

Katherine Deborah Wachob, Huntingdon College
Catherine Bradley “Kitty” Weatherford Scholarship
Lauren Ramsey Scholarship
Hallie E. and Carol H. McNair, Sr. Scholarship

Alabama-West Florida (AWF) Annual Conference Summary

The 2010 session of the Alabama–West Florida (AWF) Annual Conference was held June 6-9 at Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church in Montgomery, Ala. Bishop Paul L. Leeland presided over his second annual conference with the theme of “Partnership in the Gospel: Nurturing Disciples.” Throughout the conference, ways in which clergy and laity are nurturing disciples were highlighted.

Opening Worship
The 2010 Annual Conference session was opened on Sunday evening, June 6, with a mass choir made up of close to 200 voices from throughout the conference. Bishop William Morris, who previously served as resident bishop of the AWF Conference, delivered the sermon: “This Is The Day.”

Service of Ordination & Commissioning
For the first time in the history of the AWF Conference, more women than men were ordained at the 2010 service of Ordination & Commissioning. Four deacons and 13 elders were ordained as members in full connection; and one provisional deacon, and two provisional elders were commissioned during the service on June 7 at First United Methodist Church of Montgomery, Ala. Bishop William Morris preached an inspiring sermon: “Who’s Calling.” An offering for the Ministerial Education Fund was taken, totaling over $2,600.

Service Remembers the lives of Clergy & Clergy Spouses
Twenty-four clergy and clergy spouses who died in the past year were remembered during a Service of Commemoration and Holy Communion on Monday, June 7. Dr. John Ed Mathison delivered the sermon: “Stirring Up Your Memory.”

Retiring Clergy Honored for Years of Service
Seventeen clergy retiring this conference year were honored on Monday, June 7. Together, they represent 370 years of combined service to the United Methodist Church.

Special Guests
Dr. David Stevens, author of Jesus, M.D., delivered the 2nd Annual “Mary Ellen Bullard Leadership Address” during Tuesday’s Laity Banquet. He shared his thoughts on nurturing disciples from the perspective of a Christian physician, while learning from the Great Physician.
Dr. Mickey Efird, Professor Emeritus of Biblical Interpretation, Duke Divinity School, led the conference in two morning Bible studies: “Is Morality Still Relevant” and “What Kind of Leaders Does the Church Need?”
Rev. Grace Imathiu, pastor of Brown Deer UMC, Brown Deer, Wis., provided two teaching sessions on Tuesday, June 8, discussing how to be “Bethany” churches.

Special Mission Offering Recipient: CCPI
Prior to this year’s conference, Bishop Leeland urged the churches of the AWF conference to receive a special offering for the Central Conference Pension Initiative (CCPI). Mr. Dan O’Neil, CCPI Managing Director, was present at Annual Conference to share an update of the ministry. The people of the AWF Conference responded by contributing over $49,000.

Other Matters
Resolutions: The Annual Conference adopted four resolutions during the 2010 session. Two resolutions dealt with gambling in the state of Alabama. One resolution advocated for the continuation of the National Day of Prayer, and one resolution dealt with tax reform in Alabama. The complete text of all adopted resolutions may be found at www.awfumc.org/ac2010

Oil Spill Weighs Heavily on Conference: Throughout the conference, Bishop Leeland encouraged moments of prayer concerning the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. “As the days have unfolded, each of us has watched the news that has continued to increase our anxiety and uncertainty about the impact of this disaster on our environment and our people. This is the time for us to be the Church and not give into despair.”
He encouraged those in attendance to find ways to link resources and help those in the affected areas with financial and emotional struggles. He expressed appreciation for all those that are leading the conference in response efforts and for the particular sacrifices of the coastal churches who are already directly affected by the oil spill. Rev. Neil McDavid, Director of Connectional Ministries, has invited churches in the AWF Conference to contact him if they would like to partner with a church in the area directly affected by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. These partner churches will provide prayer support for those dealing with circumstances surrounding environmental and economic stress as a result of the spill.

The annual conference also observed the following:
• Celebrated the ministry of the laity at the annual Laity Banquet, featuring the 2nd Annual “Mary Ellen Bullard Leadership Address” with Dr. David Stevens as the guest speaker;
• Received an offering of over $49,000 for the Central Conference Pension Initiative and heard an update from Mr. Dan O’Neil, CCPI Managing Director;
• Participated in the UMCOR relief kit drive yielding 2,375 kits headed for Haiti. Churches also provided funds to cover shipping costs and numerous bulk supplies. Special thanks to Coleman American Moving Services for their generosity in providing the truck and sign, as well as for transporting the kits and supplies to the Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, Louisiana;
• Celebrated the two winners of the Harry Denman Evangelism Award: Mrs. Frances Snell of Asbury UMC in Ozark, Ala. (laity); and Dr. Jerry Dooling of Sylvan Grove UMC in Midland City, Ala. (clergy);
• Recognized Christina Hale as the 2010 AWF UM Foundation Scholar;
• Established an $11.4 million budget for mission and ministry for 2011, down 35.6 percent from 2010. The decrease is due in large part to the conference’s 2009 adoption of directly billing for clergy and lay employees health insurance and pension, as well as a slightly more than 9 percent cut from conference Connectional Ministries;
• Celebrated Rev. John Weaver, Bradford’s Chapel UMC, Tuskegee, Ala. receiving the Francis Asbury Award for his work in the area of campus ministry;
• Recognized Ms. Esther Felt of St. Luke UMC in Pensacola, Fla. for earning her certificate as a Christian Educator;
• Honored Mrs. Ruth Gynther as the 2010 “Alice Lee Award” recipient;
• Celebrated Mae Edwards UMC (Milton, Fla.) as the winner of the Local Church Heritage Award;
• Enjoyed Sunday afternoon gospel music courtesy of churches within the Demopolis District
• Recognized Andalusia FUMC (Andalusia, Ala.) as the recipient of the Bishops Award of Excellence in Scouting;
• Greeted clergy serving in extension ministries;
• Served as a host for the Upper Room Living Prayer Line;
• Recognized newly licensed local pastors;
• Introduced a new WalkingWorks program for AWF Conference health insurance participants aimed at fostering healthier lifestyles;
• Greeted David Malloy, Annual Conference Liaison for The Advance. In 2009, the AWF Conference contributed over $262,000 to The Advance and as of today has contributed over $496,000 to the Haiti Relief fund;
• Fixed pastoral appointments, which may be found at www.awfumc.org/2010apt
• Celebrated over 148,000 members of the Alabama-West Florida Conference; and
• Announced the 2011 session of the AWF Conference will meet June 5-8 at Frazer Memorial UMC in Montgomery, Ala.

The conference membership stands at 148,803 down 1071 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 69,324, up 179. Church school attendance stands at 31,123, up 294.

Sanctuary Hearing Assistance Devices

Having difficulty hearing the Sunday Services? The church has eleven Hearing Enhancement/ Assistance Devices for your use. These are maintained by the Ushers and located at both entrances to the Sanctuary. So please use these devices, turn them off when you are done and return them to the Usher’s Stations. These devices are located in the center drawer of the Usher’s Cabinet or in the Tupperware container located on the bottom shelf of the Usher’s Stand. If an Usher is not available to help locate one of these great devices please feel free to get one yourself. Also, inform the staff should a device not be available or working during any service and and if we need to purchase more we will.

Christmas Creations 2010 Grant Applications

UMW Christmas Creations 2010 Grant Applications are now available. All organizations wishing to be considered for grants from Christmas Creations, please contact Allison Wheelis at 474-6964 for additional information and the 2010 Grant Application Form.  Deadline for application submittal is June 28, 2010.

FUMC Hurricane Policy

If severe weather is expected in our area, please place the safety of your family first.  We encourage our members to follow the instructions of local safety officials regarding preparation and evacuation. Please assist friends in your Sunday school class or small group to ensure the safety of our church family and neighbors.  If we are under a hurricane warning (meaning hurricane conditions are expected in less than 24 hours), the church office is closed.  Please use discretion in regards to attending Sunday worship.   We will have services if conditions permit.  However, if you find conditions are dangerous, please remain at home.  We will attempt to keep the website up-to-date as well as the phone system.  Immediately following severe weather please call the church if you need assistance or are willing to offer assistance to those in need.

New College Group

Summer is a time for college aged individuals to reconnect with their church family, share experiences, hang out, and explore their faith.  We are starting a college group and will meet at the Westmark house Thurs. May 27th at 6:30 PM for dinner.  If you are interested in joining us, please contact Kaye Westmark at 432-1434, on facebook or at kwestmark@pensacola firstchurch.com.

“Change the World” Sunday Summary

April 25th  was a great Sunday! The generosity of First Church’s response to our global emphasis, Nothing but Nets, was overwhelming.

As a congregation you gave over $1600.00 buying 160 nets for 160 children. As a congregation you responded to our service opportunities, willing to give your time and talents to God.  In the coming weeks we will be calling you, giving you instructions for the places you want to serve.  Please call me, Kaye Westmark, 432-1434, if you have not heard from someone in a reasonable time frame. This is a big job so we need your help getting everyone placed into service.

Our golden plunger recipients for 2010 are:  Pininah Simon, Marty Sherlock, Betty Hyatt and Peggy Groves. The golden spatula was awarded to Susie Schmidt.  The golden plunger and this year the golden spatula are awarded to those who give an outstanding amount of time and dedication to service. Well done,  good and faithful servants.

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