The Flame
Branson United Methodist Church Newsletter

Health and Wellness: Relieving Pain

I recently read an article from The Johns Hopkins Medical Letter ~ Health after 50 for January, 2011 (pg3) that reminded me that there are topical pain medications that can be used for pain relief. According to this article, topical medications might be a safer choice for pain relief many times. Topical medications are the ones like lotions and patches that are applied to the skin. They do not have to be absorbed in the stomach and usually not in the blood stream.  Many meds called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (medications like Ibuprofen, Aleve, Advil, and Motrin) can have side effects that can be a problem to people that use them too frequently and for a long time.  These medicines are often referred to as just “NSAIDs”.  People that have stomach problems, heart problems, or blood clots have to be very careful using these medicines.  Sometimes the physician will tell them not to use the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications because of this. The topical medicines are used for local pain, like a knee or ankle injury. I don’t think of those medications, most times, when I need pain relief and I probably should.

If one only needs medication occasionally for pain, the oral ones are probably an acceptable choice, but if pain relief is needed over an extended time we might do well to think of the topical ones.  Many of them are over the counter medications. Some are by prescription.

The John s Hopkins medical letter for January 2011 page 3 states:  “…the pain relieving effects of topicals may be as strong as those of oral NASIDs.” It also states: “This may mean similar effectiveness minus the risks, making topical medications a good choice for people with certain conditions.” The conditions it is referring to are people with stomach ulcers or older people subject to heart attack or stroke or with liver or kidney problems. Of course, if one keeps one’s physician aware of your use of over the counter drugs, the physician can monitor these risks and also how, or if, these meds cause problems with other medications one may be using. So just a reminder to consider topical medications and keep your physician aware of over the counter medications you take for pain. Sometimes one forgets to list these medications on the medication list we give to the physician.

Virginia Youngdahl R.N., Parish Nurse

Going Forward In Fellowship & Friendship

Having been raised in a loving Christian home, I have always felt blessed to be a part of the church family, regardless of our location. After our move to Branson, we were welcomed in to BUMC. Our short time here has been filled with blessings. Working as a Registered Nurse for many years, and serving as a Stephen Minister in the Methodist church, I have been shown the real need for compassion all around us. It is my desire to serve and witness as I feel God has given me the opportunity.

The theme chosen this year for UMW is “GOING FORWARD IN FELLOWSHIP AND FRIENDSHIP”.  Fellowship to include our mission ministries, and friendship to represent our open invitation to all women in the church to participate. Going forward in a new direction includes a new meeting time, new program ideas, and even a few surprises. The UMW Mission Team (officers) will meet on the 2^nd Tuesday of the month at 1:00 p.m., usually followed by the Unit meeting from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. Upcoming scheduled meeting dates are: Mission Team on Tuesdays, Feb. 14 and March 13 at 1:00 p.m.; and a Unit Meeting on Tuesday, March 13 at 2:30 p.m.  If you need a ride to a meeting, please give me a call at 336-9888 during the day or at 336-4710 in the evening.

Let’s look forward to an inspirational and fun year. With your and God’s help, we will touch lives with Christian love as we all continue our faith walk together.

In Christian Love,

Betty Nell Tatman, UMW President

Summer Church Camp info available now!

See Miss Cora and start planning your summer camp adventure.

Have a Heart During February!

Donate a NEW stuffed animal to the Tender Critters Project, sponsored by the Junior Auxiliary of Taney County.  All animals are donated to the Emergency Room of our local hospital and given to children who are suffering a trauma, or are scared and need comforting. Look for the containers provided around the church and help make a difference in a child’s life! For more information or to make a monetary donation, please contact Cathy Brown of our church family at 335-1366.

NEWS FOR United Methodist MeN

2012 Officers Have Been Elected!

President: Howard Hawkins        Vice-President: Ray Marcy

Secretary-Treasurer: Ed Piland

Congratulations on your new positions, gentlemen!! Our thanks to all of you that served in 2011. All men are invited and encouraged to join us at our March 3^rd, 2012 meeting in Skagg’s Magnolia Room. Hope to see you there!                          

Witness Ministry Team Needs You!

The Witness Ministry Team is looking for members!  We will meet on Thursday, February 16th, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. in the Susanna Wesley Room.  We have some new ideas for 2012 and will need several team members to help us carry them out.  If you are interested, please call Becky Arnoldy at (417) 496-2465, or join us at our meeting on February 16^th. We encourage prospective members to attend. It will be a good chance to find out about our ministry and our goals for 2012.  Join us!       -Becky Arnoldy, Chairperson

Small Church 101 Workshop ~ Going from Good to GREAT!

On Saturday, Feb. 25, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, “Small Church 101” will be offered at the First UMC of Lebanon. Pick up a program/registration form in the church office or Welcome Center for full information about this excellent event. Featured speakers include Rev. Dr. Clayton Smith of the Church of the Resurrection, Ozarks North District Superintendent Rev. Dr. Bart Hildreth, Ozarks South District Superintendent Rev. Dwight Chapman, and others. Choice of classes include Seven Steps from Good to GREAT; Church Leadership by Size; Staff/Parish Relationships; Community Prayer Walks; Go Fish; Youth Ministry in the Small Church; and Beyond the Walls. Check it out!

LAITY CONNECTION – AN EVENT FOR LAITY

“Remember the Future; The Challenge of Leadership”

On Saturday, March 24, 9:00 am-3:00 pm, Bishop Robert Schnase will lead this event at Aldersgate UMC in Nixa. Laity in ministry is a 24/7 Connection to God! Lay Ministry is Discipleship! It includes study, relationship with Christ, and the sharing of faith with others by word or deeds. Join us in worship, learning, fellowship and communion with Bishop Schnase and other District/Conference leaders. Pick up an information/registration sheet in the church office or Welcome Center and get registered – space is limited! The $10 fee includes lunch.

LENTEN SEASON BEGINS

Our Lenten Season will begin Wednesday evening, February 22^nd, at 6:30 in Holt Chapel with an Ash Wednesday Service. The Service will incorporate the imposition of ashes on our foreheads (or hands), a devotional, and the Sacrament of Holy Communion. The service will conclude at 7:00, allowing the choir and other groups to meet.

LENTEN SERMON SERIES

 8:00 AND 10:45 SERVICES—“THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE—NOT”.  These 7 Lenten Sermons will focus on biblical characters and issues in our lives for whom the “path of least resistance” is soooo tempting and tantalizing.   Some of the biblical characters the series will explore will be Abram and Sarai, Noah, Moses, Aaron, Elisha, Naomi, Gideon, Jeremiah, David, Esther, Ezekiel, John the Baptist, Stephen, Peter, Ananias, Paul, the Macedonian Church,  and Jesus.  Be a part of this series February 26, March 4, 11, 18, 25, April 1, and Easter Sunday, April 8.

The 9:30 “PRAISE SERVICE” Preaching Series, through February will be:

o   February 12—The Fall Part 1: “The Difference Between Good Naked and Bad Naked”

o   February 19—The Fall Part 2:  “The Desire to be God”

o   February 26—The Fall Part 3:  “The Deafening Sound of Silence”

o   March 5—The Fall Part 4: “The Fall Fell and Keeps Falling….”

Either/Or—either select a preaching series to be part of, the 8:00 or 10:45, or, the 9:30, or both.  See you each of the 7 Sundays in the Lenten Season leading us to Easter’s Celebration and shout—“HE LIVES!”

MAUNDY THURSDAY TENEBRAE SERVICE will be Thursday, April 5 at 7:00 p.m.  Our SONRISE service will be Easter Sunday morning, April 8^th at 6:30 a.m. celebrating the “sunrise” at 6:49 a.m. and the “SONRISE” all day!

CONFIRMATION CLASS

BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS:  Have your blood pressure checked the 1^st Sunday of the month at Branson United Methodist Church. Virginia Youngdahl and Jane Sickels, our two Parish Nurse volunteers, graciously give their time and nursing skills to staff our BUMC Blood Pressure Check Station. They set up shop just off the Welcome Center in the room next to the Cry Room. They’ll be glad to take you by the arm and get a blood pressure reading for you. This is part of our Health & Wellness Ministry. Thank you, Virginia and Jane.

SERVICE OF HEALING AND WHOLENESS: Branson United Methodist Church will offer this service on the following Sundays this year: April 29^th, July 29^th, September 30^th and December 30^th. Those interested will be invited to the Chancel area for the anointing of oils during the closing hymns. 

THANK YOU…

Jessica, Haley and Whitney Davis for the special music offering last Sunday, during the Offering time in the 10:45 service.  “Well done, good and faithful servants”.   Matthew 25:21

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

With great joy we welcomed Donald & Patricia Jolly into church membership on Sunday, 

January 29^th. Don and Pat come to us from Indiana and Arkansas.  They have been active in

Sunday school and in helping with Loaves ‘n Fishes. Look for them around BUMC and say 

hello!

LOAVES ‘N FISHES

Every Thursday evening through March 15, Branson United Methodist Church hosts our community-wide “Loaves ‘n Fishes” ministry. This is an event area churches and businesses promote every night from January 2 through March 15.  Our church not only hosts the event every Thursday, but provides 2 of the meals. The next meal that we cook, set up, greet, serve, and clean-up after is Thursday, March 1^st.  This is one of those “all-hands-on-deck” events where a lot of us are needed. Call the church office or Gail Schroeder at 699.4411 to sign up. Thank you to all who stepped up to serve Thursday, February 2^nd. 

ATTENTION!!

I am looking for anyone interested in sharing their love of Christ with Branson’s homeless.  There is a new ministry starting soon at Jesus Was Homeless’ new facility.  It would involve some very simple crock-pot cooking one Tuesday evening a month. If you are interested or would like to know more, please call or text me at 417-331-2512 or e-mail me at elm217@aol.com.       –Jane Sickels

DISCIPLESHIP TEAM

Branson UMC is forming a DISCIPLESHIP TEAM.  One of the thrusts of this team is “SCREEN DOOR” MINISTRY. Tom Austin, Larry Johnson, Jim Daughtery and the late Doug Sharp have all participated in this ministry. Joe and Sue Probasco are currently “staffing” our “Screen Door” Ministry.  Here’s what they do:

ü  Get a list of visitors from Sunday’s services

ü  Find where the visitors live in the area (thank you Mapquest, Googlemaps, city maps, and ONSTAR)

ü  Casually drive to the homes of the visitors

ü  They look around as they drive (alertly watching the roads) enjoying the Ozarks terrain and beauty

ü  Get out of their car, walk to the door and knock, or ring

ü  They hand our visitors a BUMC coffee mug, with church materials tucked inside

ü  No one home?  They leave materials at the door

ü  They say “Thank you for helping and being a part of celebrating God’s love this morning at Branson United Methodist Church”

ü  They ask “Do you have any questions we might answer about Branson United Methodist Church?”

ü  Sometimes they offer a short blessing, walk back to their car, drive home for a nap or ballgame

If we talk to Joe & Sue real nicely, they might let others share in the privilege of being a part of this ministry.  We are looking for more teams (at least 2 per visit from the church) on rotating Sundays to share in BUMC’s “Screen Door” Ministry.  It is fun meeting people, welcoming folks to the area, seeing parts of Taney and Stone counties, or Boone County (northern Arkansas) you might not have visited before.  All in the name of helping do the Lord’s work.  Pray about it.  Step up to be a part of this “Screen Door” rotation ministry. Call 334.3423 or e-mail bransonmethodist@yahoo.com or pastor@bransonumc.org.  Or, stop by the church office and plug in to this fun, vital ministry.

Coming Events at

Branson United Methodist Church

Sunday, February 12

            8 A.M. - Traditional Worship Service in the Sanctuary

            9:30 A.M. – Contemporary Worship Service in Sanctuary

            9:30-10:30 A.M. - Sunday School for all ages

            10:45 A.M. – Blended Worship Service in the Sanctuary 

Tuesday, February 14    (Happy Valentine’s Day!)

            1 P.M. – UMW Mission Team Mtg. in the S.W. Room

            6:30 P.M. – Cast of Characters Study in Friendship Room

            7 P.M. – Men’s Bible Study in the Library

Wednesday, February 15

            6:30 A.M. – Early Birds Prayer Group at Thrift Shop

            4-5 P.M. – God Squad on the Landing upstairs

            4-5 P.M. – Confirmation Class in the Youth Room

            5-5:30 P.M. – BUMC Stars Kid’s Choir in the S.W. Room

            5:30 P.M. – Dinner in FLC

            6:30-7 P.M. – Holt Happenings in Holt Chapel

            6:30-8 P.M. – Chancel Choir Rehearsal

            8-9 P.M. – High School, College, and Young Adults meet at Vintage Paris in Hollister

Thursday, February 16

            9:30 A.M. – Gamblers Anonymous Mtg. in Holt Chapel

            11 A.M. – Lunch Bunch

            5:30 P.M. – Loaves & Fishes in the FLC

            5:30-9 P.M. - Love Inc. using facility

            6:30 P.M. – Witness Ministry Team Mtg. in the S.W. Room