Church News
Dinner Bell Menu for February 19, 2020
Diversified Storage Systems is the Community Partner
RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY! COME AGAIN NOT ON A DINNER BELL DAY!
Mexican Lasagna and Our Own Salsa
Pinto Beans
Tortillas and Butter
Salad with a Mexican Flair
Lemon Cream Cheese Bars
Baked Pears (the no added sugar dessert)
Same time (11:45 a.m.). Same place (Fellowship Hall of the First United Methodist Church).
We always need rain, but not on Dinner Bell Day! Hope to see you on Wednesday.
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
Annual 5th Grade Bash February 15th, 2020
The annual 5th Grade Bash will be held at the ROC, 115 Putman St. in Sulphur Springs from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. The event is a fun filled night of games for all 5th graders in our community.
Kids Celebration of Afton Oklahoma, will be leading the game. Instead of individual games spread around the facility, Kids Celebration puts on a game show. They work to get everyone up on stage and involved during the evening. “It’s the largest group of 5th graders we have even seen!” says Bill Buchanan. “Our game show is boys v.s. girls. That age group really gets into it.” Bill’s company travels the country conducting events with fun games and activities for state fairs, schools, churches and other events.
Free Pizza Inn pizza will be served and thousands of dollars in door prizes will be given away.
Some of the prizes include
- Segway Mini Pros
- Hoverboard Go Karts
- drones
- electric scooters and wheelies
- arcade games
- gift certificates to Shenaniganz
- gift certificate to Academy sports
- Six-Flags Family Packs
- Splash Kingdom
- I-Fly Vouchers and more.
All fifth graders in our community are invited to attend. Everyone will leave with a $25-plus gift to take home. Contact First Baptist Church at 903-885-0646 or visit ssfbc.org for additional details.
Crossroads Church in Greenville Hosts Christian Wrestling
Crossroads Church in Greenville will be having a missions fundraiser. The event will feature Christian Federation Wrestling and concessions on February 22nd, 2020.
Dinner Bell Menu for February 12, 2020
Hopkins Rains County Farm Bureau is the Community Partner celebrating FARM CONNECTION WEEK. This week celebrates connecting producers with consumers to their mutual benefit. We must thank our farmers, ranchers and dairy producers for keeping us (consumers) healthy and fed with an abundance of products.
Our Anniversary Meal– starting the ninth year of weekly meals at DINNER BELL
Meatloaf and Gravy
Mashed Potatoes
Bacon Infused Green Beans
Garden Salad
Yeast Rolls
Strawberry Cake
Strawberry Pineapple Cream Cheese Dessert (the no added sugar dessert)
Same time (11:45 a.m.). Same place (Fellowship Hall of the First United Methodist Church).
Come celebrate Farm Bureau and Dinner Bell!
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
Children's Revival at the First United Pentecostal Church of Sulphur Springs
A Children’s Revival is happening this weekend hosted by the First United Pentecostal Church of Sulphur Springs. It is a three day event from the 7th to the 9th.
The times are as follows:
- Feb. 7th @ 7 pm
- Feb. 8th @ 6 pm
- Feb. 9th @ 10 am.
GREATER EMMANUEL M.B.C. 19th ANNIVERSARY
The GREATER EMMANUEL M.B.C. at 901 Como St. Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482 will be celebrating a 19th ANNIVERSARY.
On Sunday, February 9th, 2020 at 3:00 pm
Special Guests: Rev. C. J. Shelton Piney Missionary B.C.
Mt. Pleasant, Tx.
All Surrounding Churches, Friends and Family are Welcome
Pastor-Founder: Rev. D.K. Young
Assistant Pastor: Rev. B.W. Neal
…and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which,
being interpreted is God with us. Matt. 1:23b
Dinner Bell Menu for February 5, 2020
V F W Post 8560 is the Community Partner
No matter the weather outside, it is always warm and comfortable in Fellowship Hall!
Ham with Balsamic Glaze
Macaroni and Four Cheeses
Fried Cabbage and Kale
Garden Salad
Buttered French Bread
Peach Cobbler Crisp
Peach Gelatin Dessert (the no added sugar dessert)
Same time (11:45 a.m.). Same place (Fellowship Hall of The First United Methodist Church). Hope to see you as ALL are welcome who NEED a meal.
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
Dinner Bell Menu For Wednesday, January 29th, 2020
City National Bank is the Community Partner
Whether sunny or cloudy this Menu will surely comfort and please you.
Hamburger Steak with Brown Onion Gravy
Mashed Potatoes
Oven Roasted Root Vegetables
Garden Salad
Buttered French Bread
Assorted Cookies (sugared and lightly sugared)
Same time (11:45 a.m.). Same place (Fellowship Hall of the First United Methodist Church).
The makings for hot chocolate will be available. Come early and visit while enjoying a cup of chocolate. Hope to see you!
Dial Study Club members are helping prepare the meal on Tuesday evening.
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 Baptist Church is Hosting a Free Concert January 23rd.
First Baptist Church of Sulphur Springs is hosting a free concert Thursday, January 23rd, beginning at 7PM, in the FBC Worship Center. The East Texas Singing Men of East Texas, comprised of Ministers of Music, Pastors, other Church and associate staff, teachers, and laymen actively involved in the music ministry, is scheduled to perform. The concert is free to the public. A love offering will be taken to offset the expenses of their mission and recording projects. All churches and the community are invited to come and enjoy the concert.
Presbyterian Church Receives Approval For Sign
First Presbyterian Church‘s request for a variance from the downtown design guidelines sign requirements was approved Tuesday night by the Zoning Board of Adjustments and Appeals.
The request marked the second time FPC members requested permission to put up a digital sign. However, the request was denied the first time at a Nov. 19 meeting 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.
City staff in November recommended the request not be approved because it didn’t meet requirements. 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 ZBA that letters h ad 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.
It was also pointed out that First United Methodist Church has a sign similar to the sign the Presbyterians wanted to install. The location of FUMC’s sign is just outside the map for requirements regarding downtown signs. FPC is located about the same distance from downtown, but on the map within the restricted zone. It’s a short distance to the railroad tracks on College Street, and owns the property to the tracks. The church is not within what is considered easy walkable distance to downtown, according to Niewiadomski.
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 sign that was at the church was in such bad shape that it had to be taken down. He promised the new sign would be “something that looks good.”
ABA member Jay Julian said the based on the guidelines given to them for downtown towns, in Chapter 8.14 of the design guidelines, the church doesn’t meet the size guidelines and could be construed as “out of character historically” as an “attention getting signs are inappropriate.”
McLeroy pointed out that the Presbyterian church property is about the same distance down College Street as the Methodist church is on Church Street. However, half of FUMC’s property is outside the district. The sign is on the half just outside the district.
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.
Teetes presented the ZBA with a printouted image of the sign.
“It looks like a tasteful sign to me,” Litzler said, adding that he had no problem with a church being allowed to advertise service times and functions on a sign on their property.
ZBA Chairman Brad Burgin said he agreed. He said he doesn’t think the church’s location within the overlay boundaries is inside the line intended for the sign design guidelines, considering the location of the FUMC property and sign on the map.
Burgin recommended, and Kevin Mohl seconded the motion, that the sign be allowed. Litzler also agreed to the request. Jay Julian would neither approve nor decline the request, opting to abstain from voting on the matter.
Discussion continued, with the church and other council asking him about his decision.
Julian said the church is on the map in the district. The rules should not be left for interpretation. He said he applied the same method to all matters presented. He said the rules and ordinances were in place, and he tried to follow them.
Julian also pointed out that animated signs are prohibited.
Burgin pointed out that one business on the square has a sign that is lighted and could be considered movement in the window.
Church members Red Cross and Myra Grant asked if the lights on the courthouse which change colors would fall into that category as that isn’t keeping with the historic look for the area and about First Baptist Church’s lighted sign. Also suggested was building a structure on the property and putting the sign under it so it meets the terms like signs in business windows.
McLeroy pointed out that the colored lights on the square are just that, lights, so the sign guideline doesn’t apply to them. Lizler conceded that historically, the courthouse was not flooded with purple lights. It was pointed out the FBC sign is a neon sign, not a digital animated one.
Mohl asked what it’d take to change the boundary or clarify the design guidelines. The DRB would have to approve it, then it would likely be presented to the City Council.
After further discussion a second vote was called. Three members of the ZBA voted to allow the sign. Julian again abstained.
McLeroy said it is his legal opinion that the 3-1 vote should allow the measure. He said he was reminded that while state statues stipulate an underlying majority of four must approve appeals, the matter is a request for a local regulations variance. It’s not in the city ordinances, so agreement of a super majority should be enough to approve the sign design variance guideline request, McLeroy said.
