Frazer Kindergarten Graduation
Smiles, waves and joyful tears were in abundance in the Frazer Sanctuary this week as the 42nd class of Frazer Kindergartners graduated from K5. The children delighted the crowd of parents, grandparents, friends and siblings with a wonderful concert singing songs like “Our God is an Awesome God” and reciting Bible passages. This ceremony was especially meaningful for Mrs. Janice Dunman (the marshmallow lady), who is retiring after 31 years with Frazer’s school. Mrs. Gayle Elmore is retiring from the Frazer Church staff but will continue working with Frazer Kindergarten. These two ladies along with Jill Struthers and the teachers at Frazer Kindergarten make this school a highly respected place of learning and love. There is already a waiting list to get in the K5 program in the fall! Many prayers and praises for these little ones who graduated this week.
Missions-Life Coach Speaker
Several volunteers attended a seminar offered by Missions to learn some effective ways of ministering to those living in poverty or in difficult circumstances. Life Coach and UMC pastor Lonna Lynn Euler Higgs shared tips on sharpening your communication and listening skills. While this was organized for volunteers working in Frazer’s Transformation Montgomery, all who attended said they walked away with a deeper understanding of how to be a good listener and how to help others think through obstacles and hard times.
Community Ministries—In Christ’s Way
Did you know when you give to Frazer, you’re a helping hand to someone in need. Many times you may hear our ministers say, “Today’s communion offering is going to In Christ’s Way.” “In Christ’s Way” or ICW provides a hand-up to people who hit a rough spot but are working to get back on their feet. Take a look at some of the assistance offered by the Frazer family in April:
-ICW assisted 14 families in the month of April
-Ten families received assistance with rent for a total of $7,369.15.
-Rent and the water bill of $667.48 was paid for another family.
-One month’s mortgage and car payment were paid for another family totaling $893.72.
-A power bill of $298.51 was paid for a family.
Total rent — $7,804.15
Mortgage – $493.55
Power – $298.51
Auto Payment – $400.17
Water – $232.48
-Grand total for April $9,228.86
Charitable Trust Fund — Scholarships & Ministry Support
More than 50 individuals and 16 ministry areas received support and scholarships through Frazer’s Charitable Trust Fund. Your giving to this fund allows many people to complete or further their education and ministries to expand and reach numerous lives with the love of Christ. The Charitable Trust 2015 distributions totaled $603,000, including close to $50,000 in scholarships to individuals.
Some of the recipients include:
Student Scholarship/Interest-Free Loan Support
Frazer Missionary Support
Medical Outreach Ministries
King’s Ranch
In Christ’s Way
TurnAbout Ministry
Camp Scholarships
Frazer Christmas Store
Adoption Support
Fishin’ Mission
Disaster Relief
Hands & Feet
MARC Christmas Party
Leadership Training
Building Improvements
Website Development
Please consider making a donation to the Charitable Trust Fund, your dollars will multiply in this fund and the blessings provided through your giving will be immeasurable.
Singles Ministry – For Missions Flea Market
Frazer’s Singles Ministry carried on a strong tradition this past weekend with strong results! The For Missions Flea Market brought out hundreds of people selling and buying. With 155 booths to browse through you can bet there was something for everyone. Organizers are still adding up the numbers but already it appears the event raised close to $10,000 for Missions. The Singles Ministry wants to thank the church family for all their donations that helped make this event a huge success!
Older Adult Ministry
Have you ever walked through the Frazer Atrium and stumbled upon an Art Studio? That’s a special ministry that happens under the direction of Doris Bell. Everyone is invited to come and display or find their artistic sides! Doris offers free instruction to anyone who brings their own supplies. The results are always impressive and the fellowship is rewarding. Stop in one second Thursday of the month.
DON’T MISS THIS-Sunday, May 22nd in the Frazer Atrium
A 300-Year-old Torah scroll, rescued from the Nazis, will be on display in the Frazer atrium Sunday morning, May 22. Scrolls like this are usually at a museum behind glass. The Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Torah scroll when rolled out is more than 93-feet long. The Torah was painstakingly copied from earlier manuscripts and edited for accuracy around 1750. It is said to be one of very few scrolls that survived when the Nazis burned 267 synagogues and destroyed more than 800 scrolls during WWII. It takes a year to make a Torah, which has 304,805 letters. It’s made of 100 kosher animal calf skins cut into parchment squares. Hides are stretched and scraped to the correct thickness, because if it is too thick it will not roll up. The squares are then sewn together to make the scroll. Stop by between services in the Frazer atrium on Atlanta Highway, May 22 to get a look at this historic artifact.
This is just some of the Breaking Good News happening in our Frazer Family! Stay tuned for more details of how God is moving through Frazer UMC.