Church News
Dinner Bell at the First United Methodist Church Cancelled For 2 Weeks
Dinner Bell at The First United Methodist Church will not serve meals the next two weeks, March 18, 2020 and March 25, 2020. Large groups are being discouraged from assembling due to the worldwide pandemic.
Future meals and the serving of them will be discussed in the next week. DINNER BELL IS NOT SUSPENDING the serving of weekly meals. We value the health and welfare of both those who come to eat and those who prepare the meals. A two week suspension may be the time needed for the disease to be on a downward spiral.
Other ways to distribute meals will be discussed and evaluated. This ministry is too important to disband. Time is needed to examine this service.
Sadly I send this message hoping all will understand.
Judy Gilreath @ Dinner Bell
AG Paxton Establishes Resource Webpage For Volunteer Security in Houses Of Worship
AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton today launched a webpage containing educational materials and resources for volunteer security teams to legally and effectively protect houses of worship.
The webpage at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/houses-worship details Texans’ constitutional rights, necessary laws and licenses related to carrying firearms, and training resources for security volunteers in houses of worship.
“As we recently witnessed in the heroic actions of Jack Wilson during the White Settlement Church shooting, volunteer security at houses of worship can provide immediate, life-saving responses that protect worshipers in dangerous situations,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Nobody should fear for their life while attending a worship service. With this easily accessible webpage, the brave men and women who make up volunteer security teams across the state can be equipped with the information and resources they need to protect their communities.”
Texas law allows churches, synagogues, and other established places of worship to establish security teams without obtaining a license or permission from the state, if the volunteer security team members are:
- unpaid volunteers;
- providing services on the premises of the place of worship;
- not wearing a badge or uniform that identifies them as security or creates the impression that they are law enforcement officers or personal protection officers.
In addition to clear descriptions of the law, the new webpage also features pathways to security training programs and grant funding opportunities that empower volunteer security teams to protect worshipers from any potential threat.
Wildcats Baseball Team Plays Well in Wylie East Tournament But Final Game Is Disappointing
After a nice tournament run to get into the championship game at the Raider Classic in Wylie East, the Wildcats Baseball Team came close to winning but a late rally by Dallas Lake Highlands spoiled the day Saturday, March 7.
Jaxon Chaney drove home two runs in the bottom of the fifth to give the Wildcats a 3-1 lead. Lake Highlands scored three runs in the last two innings to win, 4-3.
After the game, Wildcats Coach Jerrod Hammack expressed disappointment. He said he expected more than five hits off of Lake Highland’s pitchers. He said too many Wildcats’ hitters were easy outs. The Wildcats hit into double plays in both the sixth and seventh innings. With the late lead, Coach Hammack said he was hopeful for a win especially with the solid pitching he was getting from Jace Evans.
He said the defense was playing pretty well until a sixth inning error. He also said there was a mental error when an outfielder threw to the wrong base allowing two Lake Highland’s runners to get into scoring position. Unfortunately, only one of them scored in that inning. Coach Hammack said the Wildcats just did not play well down the stretch.
Overall, the Wildcats went 3-1-1 in the tournament tying Frisco Liberty and defeating Dallas Lake Highlands, North Forney and Frisco Liberty before losing to Lake Highlands.
The Wildcats are now 7-3-1. They open district play Tuesday night at home against Royse City at Wildcat Park.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Dinner Bell Menu for March 11, 2020
The Messengers Sunday School Class is the Community Partner
Herb Crusted Pork Loin
Colcannon (St. Patrick’s Day is coming– this is an Irish dish of mashed potatoes and cabbage)
Garden Salad
Yeast Rolls and Butter
Lemon Cake To Die For
Chilled Lemon Cake (the no added sugar dessert)
Same time (11:45 am). Same place (Fellowship Hall of the First United Methodist Church). It is Spring Break Week. Students on a holiday are very welcome. We hope to see them. Places at the tables are open for them.
The mission of the Dinner Bell is to end hunger in Hopkins County. Fresh, hot, nutritious meals are prepared by volunteers each Wednesday and served to our guests at the First United Methodist Church. Through the generous support of church and community members and corporate sponsors we have been able to serve over 20,000 meals to those in need since opening our kitchen in 2012.
If you or your business would like to sponsor a Dinner Bell meal, give them a call at 903.885.2185
Knights of Columbus Fish Fry Again This Friday
St. James Catholic Church in Sulphur Springs, TX will be serving up fish on Fridays.
Last Fridays event may have been the biggest ever.
Battered cod or boiled shrimp will be available Fridays from 5:30pm to 7:30pm from February 28 till April 3, 2020.
Prices range from $5 – 15 depending on your choices.
Dinner Bell Menu for March 4, 2020
Our generous Community Partner wishes to remain Anonymous.
Dinner Bell Menu
Ham and Cheese Vegetable Soup (truly a meal in a “bowl”)
Super Salad
Yeasted Drop Biscuits and Butter
Banana Cake
Sauced Banana Cake (the no added sugar dessert)
Same time (11:45 a.m.). Same place (Fellowship Hall of the First United Methodist Church). This soup is oh so good, a full meal in a bowl! You will definitely want seconds!
The mission of the Dinner Bell is to end hunger in Hopkins County. Fresh, hot, nutritious meals are prepared by volunteers each Wednesday and served to our guests at the First United Methodist Church. Through the generous support of church and community members and corporate sponsors we have been able to serve over 20,000 meals to those in need since opening our kitchen in 2012.
If you or your business would like to sponsor a Dinner Bell meal, give them a call at 903.885.2185
First Presbyterian Church Sign Being Installed
First Presbyterian Church should soon be able to list service information on the new church sign, which a crew was installing earlier today.
The sign was donated to replace an old sign that was in such bad shape it had to be taken down. However, the church’s initial request to the city zoning board to put up the sign was denied.
The sign required approval of a variance. The church members were told following a Nov. 19 zoning meeting the request was denied due to the size of the sign and the fact that it would or could have animated images, which was not thought consistent with the historical appearance for the property. The sign is 6.27 feet; the rule is for 6 feet.
However, Tuesday, Jan. 21, after speaking with church members and further investigation into the matter, city staff recommended granting the request to allow the church to place the sign on their property.
Sulphur Springs Community Development Director Tory Niewiadomski told the Zoning Board of Adjustments and Appeals that letters had been sent to the 12 property owners around the church who would be most impacted by the sign. Only two returned letters regarding the request, and one was undecided.
Niewiadomski said church members were not represented at the November meeting, but were present Jan. 21 to discuss the matter.
City Attorney Jim McLeroy told the board that he believed had there not been a breakdown at the meeting, which the church members did not attend, the request never would have been presented to the ZBA.
ZBA member James Litzler asked the church members if they were willing to make adjustments to meet the qualifications, including reducing the sign to six feet and asked if it would be a color to match the brick on the building.
Lee Teetes said the sign would be pretty close in color, although the exact color of the building would be hard to match. The brick on the building is more than 100 years old, the length of time the church has been on the property.
Teetes said unfortunately, the sign, which is 6.27 feet can’t be reduced in size because it has already been purchased and is stored inside the building. The $10,000 was donated and the sign was purchased and given to the church.
The city attorney said the boundary lines, which include overlays for the tax reinvestment zone, were established 10-15 years ago with the intent that additional funds would be raised from improved property values within the reinvestment zone to pay for bonds used to fund improvements on the square.
“We tried to identify properties that would have enhanced value. The whole city was affected, but some properties were more directly affected,” McLeroy said.
The church doesn’t fit into that category for increased tax value, even if significant changes were made to increase the property value because it is a church, McLeroy explained.
Litzler pointed out that any lighted sign would be out of character historically for the building due to the age of it.
After further discussion, the church was granted the variance permitting the sign to be installed at First Presbyterian Church. A crew was on site Thursday to install it.
Knights of Columbus Fish Fry Starts February 28, 2020
St. James Catholic Church in Sulphur Springs, TX will be serving up fish on Fridays.
Battered cod or boiled shrimp will be available Fridays from 5:30pm to 7:30pm from February 28 till April 3, 2020.
Prices range from $5 – 15 depending on you choices.
Dinner Bell Menu for February 26, 2020
Bear Littleton State Farm Agency and Julia Wilhite State Farm Agency are this weeks Community Partners.
Dinner Bell Menu
Hopkins County Stew and the Usual (Cheese, Pickles and Crackers)
Cornbread Muffins and Butter
Super Salad
Lou’s Pineapple Cake
Orange Gelatin Dessert (the no added sugar dessert)
Same time (11:45 a.m.). Same place (Fellowship Hall of the First United Methodist Church). It is still nippy outside. Enjoy a bowl of our country’s best with us. Hope you can join us!
The mission of the Dinner Bell is to end hunger in Hopkins County. Fresh, hot, nutritious meals are prepared by volunteers each Wednesday and served to our guests at the First United Methodist Church. Through the generous support of church and community members and corporate sponsors we have been able to serve over 20,000 meals to those in need since opening our kitchen in 2012.
If you or your business would like to sponsor a Dinner Bell meal, give them a call at 903.885.2185
Evening Chapel C.M.E. Friends and Family Day
Evening Chapel C.M.E. Friends and Family Day will be February 23rd, 2020 at 3:30PM. Lunch will be served from 1PM till 3PM.
