In celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Milk ‘n Honey, we are highlighting this important ministry in The Methodist Witness. Be sure to read about the history and life-changing programs that they are offering.  In the coming months, stay tuned for success stories that, with the support of First Church, have become a reality.

Milk and Honey has four major programs starting with our After School Tutoring program.  The program provides services to 25 children, Monday through Thursday, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Services include academic tutoring, counseling, computer training, and a weekly Bible study.  Volunteers help with basic reading and math skills as well as homework assignments.

After noticing the children in the neighborhood had too much unsupervised time during their summer break period, Milk and Honey started their 8-week Summer Camp program.  This summer program operates from June to August, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 to provide safe, fun, enriching activities in a Christ-centered atmosphere.  Our Summer Camp is an opportunity to make a positive difference in their lives.  Weekly, an average of 30 students participate in Summer Camp that includes a daily breakfast, lunch, and snack.  Activities include swimming, skating, bowling, weekly trip to local library, and field trips to museums and other places of local interest.  We also provide ongoing Christian education and partner with local churches to provide Vacation Bible School.

Girls Embracing A More Excellent Way (GEMS) is a program targeted to African American girls, 10-17 years old, who are from a single family home an/or from a high crime neighborhood.  Milk and Honey recognizes that girls with the above background need a support system to ensure successful entry into adolescence.  For many of these girls, there is a family history of teen pregnancy, lack of parental involvement, peer pressure for sexual activity, inadequate positive role models, inadequate communication between children and adults, and large quantities of idle time.  A series of Friday night workshops provide one-on-one mentoring with positive role models where the girls will learn strategies for effective goal setting, support for a commitment to a lifestyle of sexual abstinence until marriage, appropriate methods for interacting with peers and adults, and how to identify their spiritual gifts.

Spring Break Camp is similar to Summer Camp and provides an opportunity to provide a safe, nurturing place for children when they are out of school.  Activities include a spiritual focus each day with Scripture, music, crafts, and fellowship.  In addition, there are character building workshops to deal with issues of anger management, conflict resolution, drug prevention, arts and crafts, dance, and sports activities.  Approximately 20-25 children attend each day.

GET INVOLVED! The list below contains needed items for our Summer Camp. All donations are greatly appreciated!
Sports Equipment: 4 Baseball Bats, 6-8 Softballs, 4-6 Baseball Mits, Volleyball Net with 3-4 Volleyballs, Hula Hoops, Croquet Set, Jump Ropes; Games: Uno, Connect Four, Remote Control Cars and Hellicopters; Arts and Crafts, 8 Movies, 3 First Aid Kits, Teaching Materials, Coolers with Spouts (and wheels if possible), Refrigerator (not mini – apartment size; urgent request), Breakfast Cereal, Stockpile of Dinks/Juice, Paper Towels, Napkins, Paper Plates, 6-8 oz. Paper Cups, Hand Sanitizer, Towels, Swim Wear (girls ages 6-13 and a few large sizes i.e. 16 ladies)

Dear Friends,

I was thinking today of how fortunate I have been to have people in my life who, in their great wisdom and tender mercy, have tried to help me understand better the mysteries of life and to live the mystery better. One such person for me is Thomas Lane Butts Jr. I usually refer to him as “our good friend Tom Butts,” and that he is. When last he preached here, everyone said, “Please ask him to return. It’s so good to hear a really good sermon.”

I agree. I love to hear Tom preach. I do hope that soon he can come back to Pensacola and share God’s love with us. You deserve to hear a really good sermon, and “a really good sermon,” is the only kind of sermon that he preaches. But Tom writes, too; he writes really well, and truly well, too.

In one of his recent newspaper articles, “our good friend Tom Butts,” was at it again. The following is but some of the wisdom he shared.

“Many years ago Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote in ‘An Ode to W.H. Channing,’ that ‘Things are in the saddle and ride mankind.’ He had it right then, and it is still right.

‘Dr. Rachel Remen, in her book, My Grandfather’s Blessings, tells of becoming friends with the little son of one of her friends. The boy had two little cars he loved to play with. Dr. Remen would play with him when she visited. Seeing how much the child loved these two ‘Hot Wheels’ cars, she decided to collect more of them for him. A major oil company was giving one of these cars with each fill-up. She persuaded her entire staff to buy this brand of gasoline for a month. They collected one of each of the ‘Hot Wheels’ made. She carried them to the child in a big box. They filled every windowsill in the living room. And then Dr. Remen noticed that the child stopped playing with the cars. Puzzled, she asked why he did not like the cars anymore. The child looked away and in a quivery voice said, ‘I don’t know how to love this many cars, Rachel.’

“Many of us have more things than we can love, use, or appreciate. And all the time we have been thinking we were unhappy because we did not have enough. That is not it at all. Being unhappy when we have too much is a symptom of a deeper and more profound emptiness. Having too much makes us feel that something is missing, something which having too much will not cure.

“‘Things are in the saddle and ride mankind.’ Can you hear what I am saying? I hope so. It begs to be heard.”

I called Tom just the other night. The mystery was thick, dark. We talked for over an hour (as we usually do!). We laughed and laughed and laughed. I remembered something my father said: “If ever you have a true friend, wise and kind, one who shares with you, out of his own heart, the mysteries of life, you will be not just fortunate; you will be blessed of God.”

I have been blessed of God. So, too, have you, because “our good friend Tom Butts,” has reminded us that sometimes, “too much is not enough.”

And what does this mean? There is but one thing that will satisfy the hunger in our hearts. This one thing is a person. He is Jesus Christ the Lord. He, alone, is enough, more than enough. He alone is life, and He is indeed the mystery we are called to live.

I was thinking today of how fortunate I have been to have people in my life who, in their great wisdom and tender mercy, have tried to help me understand the mysteries of life and to live the mystery better. I thought of “our good friend Tom Butts.”

I look forward to seeing you, “good friend,” in church this Sunday!

Congratulations to the 2012 Confirmation Class at First United Methodist Church of Pensacola, who were confirmed on Sunday, April 16th.  The class of thirty four (34) includes:

Join us on June 3rd for a wonderful fundraiser including the Youth Talent Concert and Dinner to benefit our youth and the 2012 Youth Choir Tour.  At 6 PM a delicious gourmet meal will be served in The Wright Place for you to enjoy before the Talent Show.  Their is a cost for the meal and reservations are required.  Directly following the dinner at 7:00 PM, the youth will be presenting the Youth Talent Concert in Wesley Abbey.  The talent concert (free and open to the public) is a wonderful event featuring the diverse talents of our wonderful youth.  Also included in the Talent Show will be “Hey, Hey” by Dispatch (performed by the Testostertones) and “Mamma, I’m a Big Girl Now” from the Broadway musical “Hairspray” (performed by Nothing But Treble).  We look forward to seeing you on Sunday evening June 3rd.

Sunday, June 10th  4:30-7:30 p.m.  &  Monday, June 11th – Thursday, June 14th  9:00 a.m.-12 noon
Your VBS Team is planning a soarin’ good time for children ages 3 (as of Sept.1st 2011) – completed 4th grade.  It will include some of our usuals, but be on the lookout for a few new and exciting additions including Family Takeoff Night.   This year we will kickoff our VBS with a Family Night where parents are invited to attend with their kids.  Together kids and adults will enjoy a ” typical” VBS day where they can  experience the music, the crafts, the Bible story and so much more!  More details to follow.

Come join the VBS fun all week as we need over 100 volunteers to make this an exciting week for our children.  Our biggest need is “flight attendants” who can travel with our kids to the different destinations.  We also need people to work our craft rooms.  If you would be willing to give a little of your time…we would love the help.  Please contact Laure Nickel at laurebelle18@gmail.com or Lisa Bond at  lbond@pensacolafirstchurch.com.

REGISTER ONLINE NOW!

VBS WORKDAYS
April 28th  9:00 a.m.-12noon   
If you are handy and would like to spend some creative energy that will make our VBS extra special, please come join us as we create the setting for our VBS.  Our co-pilots, Mike and Anne Olroyd will guide us as we paint, cut and build all sorts of props and sets that will make our VBS look spectacular.  Everyone is invited, so please give us a shout if you can join us.  Contact Lisa Bond at 549-8967.

As spring is upon us, (although we never seemed to have made it to winter!) we are all cleaning out our closets and trying to get rid of “stuff”.   I would like to ask, those of you, who are considering giving clothing items to Suit Yourself, please keep in mind that our clients are between the ages of 18 and 30 years of age.  Our true need is items that are stylish, current, and classic.  More than likely, if you would put it in your garage sale or it is left over from a garage sale, we would not be able to use it.  Please take these items to one of the other charities where they could put them to good use.  If we get clothing that falls into this category, the time and effort that it takes to sort and go through these things, takes away from our service to our clients.

We do have a need for costume jewelry and shoes sizes 8 ½ and up.  Please if you make a donation:  Make them Only SPRING AND SUMMER ITEMS.  Also remember to make sure they are clean and preferably on hangers.

I want to invite anyone who would like to come and tour our ministry, to do so.  As of now, we are only open on Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. until 12noon and 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.  We are always in need of volunteers.  Please let me know if you would like to work with us.  We have a great group, have lots of fun while we are working and are very flexible when it comes to hours.  I can’t say that the pay is good but I can say that you will be blessed in many other ways!

CHILDREN:

Ruby Ring
May 19th
2nd-4th grade girls and their moms

Vacation Bible School
June 10th – 14th, 9:00 a.m. – 12 Noon
Age 3- 5th Grade

Family Nights
June 15th, July 15th, August 15th

Elementary Summer Camp
July 16th – 21st,
Current 3rd and 4th Graders
Blue Lake Camp – Babylon

2012 Worship Arts Camp
August 6th -10th, 9:00 a.m. – 12 Noon
For K-5th graders

Kids Camp Night
June 29th; 4:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Current K – 1st and 2nd graders

Preschool  Storytime
July 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th,  9:30 -11:00 a.m.

Summer Devos for 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders
June 20th, 27th, July 11th, 25th

TWEENS:

Summer Splash – June 10th – 14th
A week of messy fun, swimming and bible study.  We will also take a trip to Sam’s Surf City .  The camp runs from 9 to noon unless otherwise stated.  Registration forms can be found on line, in the front office or in the children’s office.  Cost: $65

Family Nights – June 15th
Come join your church family for ice cream and a movie!  There will be great intermission games! Additional family nights will be July 15th & August 15th

Camp Six – June 24th – 29th
Cost: $245 (scholarships available through Blue Lake )
A $15 chaperone fee is also needed to help defray the cost of those who generously take time off to be with our students.
A camp specifically designed for those students just completing fifth and sixth grades at beautiful Blue Lake .   We will hike, swim, play on the summit, have archery, and grow closer to God. Go to the Blue Lake website to register.  Transportation is not provided for summer camp.

R U Afraid of the Dark? – July 20th – 22nd
Cost: $130 (Scholarships available through Blue Lake )
A $15 chaperone fee is also needed to help defray the cost of those who generously take time off to be with our students. It’s the middle of the night, you hear animals and insects all around you, and you can barely see anything. You think to yourself, “shouldn’t I be asleep?”  That’s when you remember that at this camp we don’t sleep till the morning. Come stay up late and sleep in late as we explore camp at night and learn that with God we have nothing to fear, not even the dark.
Play all night and sleep all day!  A fun retreat at Blue Lake .  Go to the Blue Lake website to register.  Transportation is not provided for summer camp.

YOUTH:

Summer 2012 Youth Weekly Calendar
Everything listed below is for ALL 7th-12th graders unless otherwise specified! Dates subject to change.

Wednesday, June 6th
Summer 2012 Kick- Off in the evening!!

Sunday, June 10th
Summer Sunday School begins

June 10th-14th(Sunday-Thursday)
Mid High Week for all 7th-8th graders!

Wednesday, June 15th
Summer UMY moves to Wednesdays

Monday, June 18th
Mission Mondays from 2:30-5:30 p.m.
begins, with dinner from 5:00-5:30 for $4