Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Writer
Dexter, Missouri - It's that time of the year when the weather is somewhat cold and you want nothing more than a nice bowl of delicious chicken and dumplings.
The First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will have a Chicken & Dumpling lunch on Friday, February 1, 2013.
Chicken & dumplings, vegetables, dessert and a drink will be served between the hours of 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Disciple Center.
The First Christian Church is located at 224 E. Stoddard St. in Dexter.
Rev. Michael Williams invites anyone and everyone to stop by for a bowl and tasty homemade desserts.
Tickets may be purchased at the door. Price is $7.00
All proceeds for this event will go toward the Building Fund.
Submitted Article
A Dexter church choir will present a special evening of uplifting, heart-warming music in concert next month – music of praise to God and to help a young boy fighting a valiant battle.
The Chancel Choir of the Dexter First United Methodist Church will present “With A Voice of Praise” – an evening of singing and praise. The concert will be held at 6 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 24 at the church on South Walnut Street in Dexter.
According to church music director MaryRuth Boone, the evening of music fulfills two purposes the choir hopes to achieve in this special evening of music.
“We learn in the Old Testament that we are to sing praises to God,” Boone said. She said the psalmist wrote in the 47th chapter in the Book of Psalms ‘Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.’ This evening of music is being planned to carry out for that purpose.”
The concert program will include selections from the Chancel Choir of the church. Boone noted that the choir is a unique and talented ensemble – with members young and not-so-young; members who have joined the fellowship in recent months and members who have been a part of the choir for decades.
“This is a wonderful, talented, dedicated group of people who love the Lord, love music, and love our community,” she said. The evening will also include performances by vocal soloists and a rousing piano performance.
Boone said a “love offering” will be collected during the concert to help a young boy with community and church ties.
Young Drew Albritton has been fighting ganglioneuroblastoma, a rare form of childhood cancer. Drew is the 3-year-old son of Mike and Elizabeth (Carrol) Albritton who live in the Greater St. Louis area, where both are teachers. Drew is a patient at Children’s Hospital in St. Louis.
Elizabeth is the daughter of Carolyn and Dean Carroll of Dexter and is a Dexter native. The Carrolls are members of the First United Methodist Church, and Elizabeth and her brother Clay grew up in the church, were active members of the church Sunday School and youth programs, were acolytes, and sang in the Chancel Choir as teens. Elizabeth is a graduate of Dexter High School.
Since his diagnosis of cancer this summer, Drew has undergone several rounds of chemotherapy with more in his future, a major surgery, and a stem cell transplant, radiation, immunotherapy, and extensive physical therapy are all a part of the young boy’s future, Boone said.
“The choir members wanted to do something to reach out and help the Albrittons during this time,” Boone said. “This evening of music is an opportunity for the choir – and the community – to show our love and support, and to let them know we love them, and are thinking and praying for them every day.”
The public is invited to the Feb. 24 evening of music, “With A Voice of Praise.” The evening will begin at 6 p.m. and admission is free, but the “love offering” for young Drew will be accepted.
A special reception hosted by the FUMC Agape Circle will follow the concert in Wesley Hall on the church campus.
Photo courtesy of Andrew Cato
The group was led by four church leaders in the actual ceremonial act. Reverend Fred Leist (District Superintendent), Barb Capps (wife of the late Gary Capps, Co-Chairman of the Capital Fund Drive), Tony Thorn (Chairman of the Sanctuary Building Committee) and Larry Smith (Chairman of the Fellowship Building Committee) all joined together to light the mortgage papers and place in the bucket in front of the group.
Buddy Heaton, Dale and Cissy Williams and Annette Lumsden provided several song and hymns for the group and many stakeholders, both past and present stepped to the podium to share their joy and excitement about this milestone.
"I shared with Gary Capps that if we were able to pay this off in 15 years we would be doing good," commented Bill Aslin, Co-Chairman of the Capital Fund Drive. "To do this in only 7 years is a remarkable miracle."
Larry Smith delivered some humor to the event as he discussed his past expressions at meetings that "he hoped the Church would get on fire for the Lord". He further noted that he didn't mean to actually have a fire in the Church.
The Church was honored by the attendance of Bishop Robert Schnase. Bishop Schnase has served as the Bishop for the Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church since 2004. This Missouri Conference includes nearly 900 congregations with 175,000 members, offering ministry through local churches, colleges, campus ministries,social services and mission projects throughout the world. The Church was truly inspired by his message entitled, "Nibbling Our Way Lost".A reception followed shortly after the ceremony and closing benediction in the fellowship hall. Mrs. Trish Vandeven made a most beautiful and delicious cake for everyone. Also a very special thanks to Rosemary Walker who brought it all together. Elizabeth Williams stated, "What a great program put together by Miss Rose." and Barbara Rice also commented, "She is a stellar planner, whatever the occasion!" Cathy Chasteen took some fantastic pictures of the ceremony and dedication and posted them on the Trinity United Methodist Church facebook page.
This was truly a blessed event. What a wonderful day everyone had praising God and dedicating the church to God's purposes. No one realized seven years ago that they could have managed such a miracle by paying off the mortgage so soon. So many people had faith and worked very hard to ensure the success of the church and its congregation.
There are so many magnificent and committed people in our community who want a place to worship and feel welcomed. Trinity United Methodist Church opens its doors to anyone who wishes to be faithful to God.
For Additional Pictures: Go to the Trinity United Methodist Facebook Page by clicking HERE!
Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Writer
Southeast Missouri – Before the Christian band Third Day hits the road again in the spring to launch The Miracle Tour you will have the opportunity to see them right here in Southeast Missouri. They are a great group of gentlemen from Atlanta, Georgia and there is no denying the power of music.
Cape First Church in Cape Girardeau, Missouri has a concert scheduled, you do not want to miss. Third Day will be performing their hits from The Miracle Tour on Wednesday, January 16, 2013. The concert will begin at 7 pm; however the doors will open at 6 pm.
Featuring “American Idol” finalist Colton Dixon and Josh Wilson a singer-songwriter, they will tour mostly major cities like Memphis, Dallas, Atlanta, Nashville, and Chicago before wrapping up their tour in May.
Their latest album, Miracle is full of life-affirming lyrics based on their faith and is their 12th album. The album’s title track and first radio single, was inspired by a conversation the band had with a couple from New Jersey after a concert. “Their son was in a really depressed place in his life. He drove into the woods to commit suicide and he turned on the radio. The boy heard “Cry Out to Jesus” and it literally change his heart and gave him encouragement to keep going. Lead vocalist Mac Powell took the essence of that story and penned the song, “I Need a Miracle”.
“Music can truly spark a miracle, you just have to listen and believe,” states Powell.
Cape First is located at 254 South Silver Springs Road in Cape Girardeau. Tickets are $25.00 in advance or $35.00 at the door. You may gain access to some of the best seats in the house by going to their website www.ThirdDay.com or iTickets.com. Tickets are also available at the church, Lifeway Bookstore, Paul's Bookstore in Sikeston. You may also order by phone at 1-800-965-9324.
Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Writer
Dexter, Missouri - The American Legion Post #59 of Dexter, Missouri established a Disabled Veterans Wildlife Facility on the farm owned by Tom Love. Many disabled veterans have hunted, camped and just spent hours enjoying the peacefulness of this beautiful and breathtaking hide-away located just north of town.
One of the veterans who truly enjoyed using the facility was Mr. Ed Gayle, a WWII veteran who served in the European Theatre where he received his Purple Heart. He loved the outdoors and made several trips out to the facility always enjoying the fresh air, the smell of pine and watching deer and turkey.
Ed was the former owner of Gayle’s Jewelry in Denver City, Texas for 47 years, a former city council member and mayor of Denver City as well. Mr. Gayle was also very patriotic and one of his most wonderful experiences was getting to place a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery while he was on the World War II Honor Tour in 2007. He enjoyed many things in life, mostly the outdoors, horseback riding and farming.
Mr. Gayle attended the First Baptist Church in Dexter, Missouri where he was a member of Bob Coffey’s Sunday school class. With Ed’s passing in November of 2011, Bob’s Sunday school class wanted to do something special in his honor. They began raising money to donate to the Disabled Veterans Wildlife Facility where Ed had spent so much time.
A plaque was made in his honor and Ed’s wife, Dolores, was flattered to hear the news. She wanted the plaque to remain in the cabin to give recognition and honor to the Disabled Veterans Wildlife Facility and the American Legion Post #59 as Mr. Gayle was such a strong supporter of this project. The money raised by the Sunday school class was also donated and will be used for projects to help disabled veterans enjoy what the facility has to offer.
This week Mrs. Dolores Gayle along with American Legion Post members Mr. Darryl Lapierre and Mr. Jim Adams took the plaque to the Disabled Veterans Wildlife Facility. Mr. Bob Coffey from the First Baptist Church Sunday school class was on hand as well to honor such an amazing veteran and outdoorsman.
