Special To The ShowMe Times
By Reader Michelle L. Worth

The First United Methodist Church is hosting a parenting conference “iParenting 11…Is there an app for that?”   The event will be held on October 1st at 2 p.m. in the Family Life Center at First United Methodist Church in Sikeston. 

As many of you know, this generation of children are much more electronically savvy and think they are much smarter than some of us!  Dr. Tim Elmore will help walk those attending through how to parent, and or lead our children through this way of life.

THE ONE CONFERENCE EVERY PARENT, TEACHER, COACH, AND YOUTH WORKER SHOULD ATTEND.

iParenting 11 will paint a compelling and sobering picture of what could happen to our society if we don't change the way we lead today's teens and young adults.  Dr. Tim Elmore will move you beyond sounding an alarm to outlining practical strategies to help you:

• Guide unprepared adolescents to productive adulthood.
• Correct crippling parenting styles.
• Coach them toward real success instead of superficial "self-esteem".
• Equip Generation iY to lead us into the future.
• Based on Tim Elmore's best-selling book.

If you or if someone you know are interested in purchasing a ticket, they are available online at www.iparentingconference.org or by calling 573.421.1824.  Seats are limited!!!!  Don’t miss out on this opportunity! 

The congregation of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Dexter will host a Kettle Beef Dinner on Sunday, Oct. 2.

The meal will be served from 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the church's Disciple Center. Cost of the meal will be $7 for adults ad $3.50 for children age 10 and younger.

The First Christian Church is located at the corner of Stoddard and Poplar streets in Downtown Dexter.

The First United Methodist Church in Dexter will participate in a statewide day of service on Saturday, Sept. 10. The local projects are part of a state-wide effort that involves United Methodist Churches throughout the ShowMe State called SERVE2011.

Members from the Dexter United Methodist Church will spend Saturday, Sept. 10 in service in the community.

From serving those in nursing homes, to helping with cleanup in the city and helping at the local Rescue Mission, United Methodists in Dexter will be taking “the church outside the walls and out into the community.”

The local congregation is also sponsoring an American Red Cross Blood Drive from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Wesley Hall on the First UMC campus on North Walnut Street in Dexter.

The day Saturday will end with a community 9-11 Service of Remembrance at 3 p.m. at the “gathering spot” – the grassy property across from Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home on Stoddard Street in Downtown Dexter.

“We invite our friends and neighbors to join us as we pause and remember that tragic day 10 years ago,” said Loretta Reid, chairperson of the local SERVE2011 event. “Many of us remember our community coming together in grief and fear and shock 10 years ago in a community time of worship. This service will provide us the opportunity to remember the events of that day, and the sorrow and grief that swept across our nation.”

The service, she said, offers a chance to “observe this anniversary in a way that offers hope and to remember that God brings light into all darkness.”

Serve 2011 is a collaborative experience among the congregations of the Missouri Conference. Of the United Methodist Church. Each congregation in Missouri is challenged to serve their community outside the walls of their church the weekend of Sept. 10-11 and beyond. Through Serve 2011, Missouri United Methodists will be active, visible and outreaching to create disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of His world.

A very special birthday party will be held this weekend for one of Dexter’s very special people.

A celebration will be held Sunday for Beth Weber to mark her 50th birthday. The party will be held following the 10:30 a.m. worship service at First United Methodist Church, from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. The family invites friends to drop by Wesley Hall on the church campus to wish Beth a happy birthday and they request no gifts.

Beth is the daughter of Joe Weber and the late Joyce Weber. She is very activity in the ministries of the First United Methodist Church, where she is a member of the friendship Sunday School Class and has served as Assistant Sunday School Superintendent for many years. She is active in the programs at the Stoddard County ARC Day Activity Center and loves to send and receive cards.

Friends unable to attend the party are invited to send Beth a birthday card to 315 South Walnut in Dexter.

Photo Above: Beth Weber with her father Joe after a presentation last year at the First United Methodist Church in Dexter.

The 2nd Annual Orange Event was held at the First Baptist Church of Dexter this past Sunday with a large crowd in attendance. The event was planned around a large amount of fun with a very important parenting message being shared with everyone.

The promotion of Orange 1 & Orange 2 has been a little vague in the way First Baptist Church promotes this event. The underlying meanings behind the events name "Orange" is solid and promotes good things within our community yet a little ellusive in the way the church promotes the event.

The past two years, mysterious signs and promotional material begins to appear throughout the community simply designed with the word "ORANGE" and a date. The idea was create curiosity among members of the community to inspire them to seek out what "ORANGE" was all about.

There is a deeper meaning to the Orange Event that truly brings a hope to the people of the Dexter area through God and our community churches.

"Yellow stands for the light Christ sheds in our lives through the church. Red stands for the love of a family. Orange is the combination of the two," noted Pastor Steve Easterwood of First Baptist Church. "It's the church and family working together to raise up champions in the next generation."

Pastor Steve's message reminded those attending of the excitement and hopes that were present when each of our children were born. Then the overwhelming fears of inadequacies that we felt toward the responsibilities as parents to raise these young miracles in a very tough world.

What are our goals for our kids? Are our goals for our children to have them accepted to a great college, get a good job or to meet the perfect mate for life. Of all the goals, we should teach our kids to love God.

Pastor Steve spoke from Deuteronomy Chapter 6 where Moses offered the Israelite parents a teaching plan to "...teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."

All of us want for our kids a great life filled with the certainty of good things and a Godly plan was offered by Pastor Easterwood:

1. Attend Church Next Three Weeks as the sermons at First Baptist will be teaching parenting God's way.

2. Establishing Core Values of Your Family. An example was given of one family that painted their family values on the wall of their home that were: - Love God - Family First - Be Kind - Work Hard - Tell the Truth

3. Enroll Your Kids in the AWANA's program at First Baptist Church where your kids will learn the Bible first hand.

4. Enroll yourself in a Wednesday Night Class at First Baptist Church so that you too can deepen your relationship and knowledge of Christ. All sorts of classes exist from parenting to finance and will provide your kids with a new you.

5. Make Christ The Center of Your Life.

After the sermon, members and guests were treated to a fun time of fellowship with games, BBQ hamburgers and music provided by "Cost of Living". If the success of an event could be judged by the smiles on everyone's face, Orange 2 certainly met all expectations of a great day.